Page 99 of Anything Goes

“Like I said before, she’s not my girlfriend,” he replied.

“I keep telling you that you don’t have to lie to me anymore. Why do you make that shit so hard?”

“I’m not lying. Am I fucking her? Yes! But we’re not together. There!”

Throwing up my hands, I said, “Finally, some damn honesty. See how easy that was. Let’s keep this shit going.”

“Whatever.” Laughing, he stood up. “Like I said, I'm really sorry about everything that went down. I guarantee you that you won't be getting any more calls or messages from her, and I'm not going to act a fool when your little cop nigga comes back in the picture.”

“Wait a minute, how did you know that he used to be a cop?”

“Come on now,” Latrell said, taking a step back and looking me up and down. “You know I have people all over this city. I know how to get information.”

“Yeah, well, I would appreciate it if you didn’t dig too far into my business.”

“Oh, when it comes to a nigga being around my kid, I’m going to dig until I can’t dig no more. Luckily, your boy came up clean. Everything I heard was good.”

Sighing, I said, “I’m not surprised. Law is a good man.”

Latrell reached for my hand and helped me up from my seat. “Don’t trip, he’ll be back. I guarantee it. If you want, I’ll go have a chat with him and let him know that—”

“No! Don’t you do shit.”

“What?” he said, laughing. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. Let’s just focus on Layne.”

“I got you.”

“I’m not playing, Latrell.”

“I know. I’m not going to do anything.”

“Mmhmm, I hope not,” I said. “We have more important things to handle. Layne has really been bothered about what’s going on between us, and you didn’t really help by saying some of the things that you said.”

“Yeah, I know. I want to go inside and apologize to you both. If you’ll let me, that is.”

Feeling that he was being genuine, I nodded and made my way inside.

This wasn’t the first time that Latrell had claimed that he was going to do better. But this was the first time that I actually felt like his words matched up with his actions. For once, he wasn’t trying to get me to change my mind about being with him, and he was actually being fully honest with me.

This was all that I ever wanted, and I really hoped that it would stay this way.

32

Law

I couldn’t focus.

Every time I tried to keep my eyes in one direction, they darted across the damn field and landed right on Alauni. I couldn’t seem to control the shit. It was like she had me in some kind of spell.

All day, I had managed to keep it together. Not once had we bumped into each other. Not even in the gym. But as soon as we crossed paths on the track, everything in me shifted. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to say something…anything. But the words wouldn’t leave my mouth.

I didn’t even know what to say.

“Good job, ladies,” she said, leaning forward and clapping her hands together.

Is it just me, or are those damn leggings hugging her extra tight today?