Page 39 of A Kingpin’s Weakness

“See you found your man,” Josh said, smirking.

“Very much single,” I replied, not even blinking.

RJ shot me a look. “Stormi…”

“Nah, you were just rushing to get to this man.” Josh poured shots and passed them around.

“That was before I caught him out here entertaining groupies,” I snapped, snatching my shot and tossing it back without hesitation.

Everyone suddenly got real interested in the floor or their drinks. “Well let’s toast to another year,” RJ said quickly, trying to shift the vibe. We all raised our glasses again.

I took two more back-to-back, needing something to cool the heat bubbling inside me. I didn’t come all the way here to be embarrassed or play pick-me. I headed to the bar, and right on cue, I felt him trailing me like a shadow.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.

“Anything strong. Surprise me.” I leaned over the bar, letting the cold air from the ice keep me grounded.

“Can we talk?” Seth’s voice was softer now. Closer.

“About what, Seth?” I asked, not even turning my head.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were in town? How long you been here?”

“Got in today. Wanted to surprise you.” I took the drink from the bartender. “Guess I was the one who got surprised.”

“Man, that wasn’t shit”

I turned and looked him dead in the face. “To you, it wasn’t. But to me? It was everything. I don’t do disrespect, Seth. Especially not from the man who claim he wants to be with me.”

He didn’t follow me after that. Instead, he turned and went back up to where Rich and Southside were. But even from across the yacht, I felt his eyes on me. Like he was watching, but didn’t know how to fix it. Like he wanted to say more, but didn’t know if I’d still listen.

So, I decided to give him a show. If Seth wanted to play stupid, then I could play petty. I was in my Dior two-piece, curves sittin’ just right, face beat for the gods, and I wasn’t about to let my night be ruined by no half-ass apology or excuses.

But of course, I forgot who RJ was. Every time I bent over to twerk, RJ was right there lifting me back up like I was somebody’s little sister. Every time a guy even thought about approaching me, RJ was already posted up, blocking like I was his girlfriend.

I turned toward him, tight-lipped and irritated. “You know you’re my friend, right?” I looked at him sideways, eyebrows raised.

He shrugged like he didn’t know what I was mad about. “I’m just tryna make sure you have a good night.”

“Yeah? Cuz it feel like you tryna babysit.”

He sighed, eyes flicking around the party. “You think I didn’t hear about what happened at the club that night?”

I narrowed my eyes. “So he can pour shots in bitches' mouths, but I can’t dance?”

“It was just a shot, Stormi.”

I scoffed and looked at Ari. “Ari, would you be cool with RJ pouring a shot in another girl’s mouth?”

Ari didn’t even hesitate. “Hell no. Stormi, I’m on your side with this one.”

“Thank you,” I said, giving RJ a pointed look.

RJ held his hands up. “I’m not sayin’ he was right, Stormi. Or that you wrong. I’m just saying let’s not do tit-for-tat right now. Especially not with everybody watchin’.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes, the irritation still burning in my chest. “I have to pee. I’ll be back.”

Ari looked at me like she knew something was up. “You want me to come with you?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good.”

RJ gave me that big brother look again. “Right back, Stormi. For real.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered as I walked away.

But as I weaved through the people, I could still feel Seth’s eyes on me burning holes through every move I made. Watching me like he had the right. Like his little performance earlier didn’t just stomp on every emotion I’d been holding close.

And just like that. The tears I didn’t want anyone to see started welling up, threatening to spill over, but not out here.

Not on this yacht. Not in front of them.

I needed a moment alone. I walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, pressing my back against it like I needed it to hold me up.

The second I caught my reflection in the mirror, my chest tightened, and just like that the tears came. I didn’t even try to stop them.

I had held it in all night. Swallowed the lump in my throat when I saw Seth with that girl. Bit my tongue when he chased after me, spewing bullshit like I hadn’t just witnessed him being everything he swore he wasn’t. But now, in the silence of this cramped little bathroom, I cracked.

Why the fuck was I so emotional right now?

I wasn’t built for this soft, vulnerable shit.

I wanted to fight. To scream. To storm out onto that deck and slap him dead in his damn mouth.

How he gon’ mess up my surprise I came early for him.

I was supposed to be in his arms, wrapped up in kisses and "I missed you’s.

" Instead, I got a front-row seat to the same disrespect I thought I was protected from.

Seth was sexy God, was he sexy but he was also rich.

Connected. Dominant. The kind of man women didn’t mind sharing if it meant catching even a piece of his lifestyle.

But I wasn’t built to share. I wasn’t about to fight no bitches for the attention of a man that told me I was the only one…

and the thing was, I believed him. I let my guard down for him.

I gripped the edge of the counter and stared at my blurred reflection.

“Get it together, Stormi,” I whispered. I must be about to get my period because Jo didn’t raise no punk ass bitch.

Then it hit me like a gut punch. My period. “ When was the last time I even had one?” I thought back, mind racing. I remembered bleeding a few weeks before Noah got shot, but that was what... March?

My heart thudded in my chest. Stress could mess up your cycle yeah.

I’d read that. I’d told myself that. But two months?

Almost three? That wasn’t stress. That was a damn red flag waving in my face.

I wiped my face fast, pulling my phone from the little clutch I had tucked in my cover-up. My fingers trembled as I texted RJ.

Come to the bathroom. You & Ari.

Seconds later, there was a knock at the door. I pulled it open and quickly let them in before locking it behind them. The second I saw their faces, fresh tears filled my eyes.

“You okay?” RJ asked, voice low.

I shook my head. “No. Not even close.”

“Seth’s out there waiting on you,” Ari said carefully, studying my face. “He keeps looking over here every two seconds.”

“I hope you not in here crying,” RJ added, rubbing the back of his neck.

I sniffed and wiped at my face again. “So what if I am? Why he gotta be like all these other niggas, huh? He told me I was different. Told me it was only me. But that shit didn’t mean nothing when that girl opened her mouth, huh?”

Ari gave me a sympathetic look. “I get it, sis. But this? This ain’t you. You came here with love in your heart. Don’t let him turn you cold before y’all even talk.”

I swallowed hard. Then said the one thing I hadn’t even fully processed yet. “I just realized I haven’t had a cycle in three months.”

Ari’s eyes widened. “Stormi.”

RJ stared at me like I just said the sky was falling. “Wait and you’ve been drinking?”

“I didn’t know until just now when I tried to figure out why I couldn’t stop crying,” I said, rubbing my temple. “I thought it was stress… school, Noah, Seth… But three months? I gotta take a test.”

Ari gently grabbed my hand. “We’ll get you one tomorrow. But for tonight?”

RJ gave me that protective look again. “No more drinking. And definitely no more trying to make that man jealous. Especially not if you might be carrying his baby.”

I nodded slowly, trying to get my breathing under control. “Okay. You right. No more dumb shit tonight.”

RJ pulled me into a hug. “You gonna be alright, Stormi. I got you. Always.”

After one more squeeze, they both slipped out of the bathroom, leaving me alone again.

I stared at my reflection for a few more seconds, fixing my ponytail and wiping away what was left of my makeup tears.

I took a deep breath and reached for the door.

And that’s when Seth walked in. Closed the door behind him.

“You good?” Seth asked, his voice low, watching me like he already knew I wasn’t.

“Yeah,” I muttered, brushing past him. I didn’t make it far before his hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me cold.

“I’m sorry.”

I turned, slow. My eyes met his, and for a second, I almost softened almost.

“Sorry for today? Or you including all the shit you might’ve been doing while I was gone?” My voice cracked at the end, and I hated that he heard it.

“This exactly why I don’t trust long distance, Seth.”

He ran a hand down his face, stepping back like he needed space to choose his words. “That girl… she’s Southside’s cousin. We grew up together. It wasn’t nothin’, Stormi. I swear.”

I laughed, humorless. “Maybe to you it wasn’t. But to me? Nah. That shit felt like a slap in the face.”

He licked his lips, frustrated. “You want your get back? Go ahead. Have the bartender pour a shot in your mouth too. I won’t trip.”

“It’s not the same and you know it.”

He crossed his arms, stepping in closer. “Alright, cool. Let RJ do it then.”

That made me really laugh. A hard, bitter laugh. He really thought this was how this was about to go.

“If I wanted a shot in my mouth, I’d pick who poured it. Don’t get it twisted.”

His jaw clenched. “So, who you want to do it then, Stormi?” he asked, moving even closer. His breath brushing my lips now, hot and heavy, like the heat rolling off his body.

This boy had the nerve to be jealous of a situation he created. I could feel his anger, thick in the air, but also something else desire. That unspoken pull between us, tugging at my resolve like it always did.

“Back up, Seth,” I said, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. My voice was weak, and I hated it.