Page 12 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

I knew this would happen, but I didn’t picture it this badly. I figured Unique would make a couple jokes, and my other brothers would just stare him down or comment some things, but I didn’t expect Unique to go so hard. Nor did I expect his lack of handshake etiquette and posture to come into play.

I assumed my sisters-in-law would help the situation, too, but it was clear they agreed with their husbands and therefore could only alleviate the situation when they felt it was over-the-top.

“Man, what?” He whipped around, face balled up. I realized only then that he’d never gotten angry with me, because I didn’t recognize him.

“Don’t yell at me!”

“Why not? You took me in there and let them niggas play on my fucking top!” he snapped just as a black truck pulled into the last empty parking space.

“Let? You are a grown ass man! You heard my brother, stand up for your fucking self!”

“And what would that do, Banks? Huh? Piss them off and in turn piss you off! You know I can’t say half the shit they was saying to me without you getting upset!”

“That is not true! I want a man who can walk in there and talk his shit back if needed! Why on earth would I want a man I love or desire to go in there and not stand up for himself? Do you hear yourself?” I pointed to my ear and calmed down when Trayvon said nothing, only balled his lips in vexation.

Sighing, I said, “Look Tray, I know you are embarrassed, and I am sorry for that. But this should show you that are not the man for me. You have a lot going for you and are a great man, just not for me.”

“Man. Fuck this.” He waved me off just as two men climbed out of the big black truck that had pulled up moments ago.

Trayvon halted momentarily until he realized they were just attending the party. I recognized Low and Free immediately, noticing the way Low stared Trayvon down in the eyes as he bypassed him.

“Sup.” Free nodded, hugging me into his side very lightly.

Before he even pulled away good, my eyes had latched onto Low’s. I tried to tamper down the smile I felt brewing within me, but it was difficult and a futile effort.

“Hi.” I waved, speaking softly, which was stark in comparison to how loudly I’d been talking with Trayvon minutes ago.

“Sup.” Low, too, failed to hide the smirk tugging at his sexy lips.

Free whipped his head back and forth between us and groaned. “Aww fuck. Sif gon’ kill this nigga.”

“Kill him for what?” I snapped out of my trance. “Because I spoke to him?” I pointed at Low.

“Spoke?” Free looked me over with a deadpanned expression. “Y’all was looking at each other like you was waiting on him to come down the aisle.”

“The woman walks down the aisle, nigga.” Low chuckled cutely.

“Whatever! I don’t give a fuck if they skip down that muthafucka arm in arm. That’s how y’all was looking, and Sif gon’ murk you.”

“No reason for him to,” was all Low said and very dryly.

“Yeah, aight. Well I’m heading inside. I’ll tell them you went to take a piss as the reason for the hold up.” Free shook his head as he rounded the corner to get to the front entrance.

“I need to check that nigga? Why he hollering at you?” Low cocked his head, staring down at me.

He smelled so good, and even though he was in a somewhat fitted white T-shirt with a wife beater under, dark Amiri jeans, and his favorite navy blue low top Chuck Taylors, he looked so fine.

His gold chain and watch looked perfect against his dark syrup colored skin.

“Thank you.” I simpered. “But no. He was kind of right to yell at me.” I looked down at my sandal heels and the gravelly ground beneath them.

“I can’t imagine that, Banks.”

“Well, it’s true. He finally gained the courage to meet my brothers, and oh my gosh, Low, they tore his ass up in there.

” The laughter that followed my statement between the both of us made me feel even more like shit.

“Unique was the worst. My other brothers weren’t even trying but still did damage. ”

“Damn.” Low shook his head. “I know Sif told him he was a bitch but in a slick ass way.”

We chuckled because he knew my brother well. He was the only person I knew that could put you down in an uplifting way.

“Right. Even worse, I invited him because I knew it would happen. I tried explaining that we were done, but he kept hounding me, so I had to get rid of his ass and show him he wasn’t built to be my nigga.”

“You shouldn’t feel bad though, baby. That’s what that nigga needed, clearly. Only a real nigga can walk in there and face them niggas head on, no issue.”

“Could you ?” I put it like a joke but didn’t know if I truly was joking.

When he shot me a look, I giggled.

“You already know the fucking answer to that. No nigga on this earth can say he put fear in my heart. And any nigga that attempted to press me ain’t never walked off without getting pressed back or with a bullet to his dome.”

“I don’t know, Willow.” I smiled, making him shake his head.

“Just know if you was mine, I’d walk in there and tell them niggas that. Long as you was with that, ’cause I know you love ’em.”

“I do.” I nodded to affirm. “So you’d be down to test it out by taking me in there and dancing with me?” I folded my arms across my breasts and didn’t miss Low’s eyes darting to them before his tongue journeyed across his bottom lip.

“Are you mine?” He took a step toward me for some reason, thick eyebrows lifting a smidgen.

His hand went up to stroke his beard, causing his muscular biceps and forearms to flex a bit, making it look as if his tattoos were moving. My clit had begun to thump like it always did when he and I were vicinal to one another.

“I gotta make sure I like you first. You fine, and I like how you think, but that’s not enough yet.”

I did like him but in the ‘I barely know you and am just very attracted and moved by everything you do’ way. For me to go in there and start shit between Low and my brothers, I would need more than that.

“Then nah, lil mama. I ain’t taking you inside to dance. I’d be starting a fucking war, and I ain’t doing that if I can’t have the prize in the end.”

“So you’re saying you’d win said war?”

He shrugged subtly, glancing off briefly before focusing back on me with a lick of his tantalizing lips. I wondered if my thumping clit would start an earthquake at this point. The seat of my panties had become hot and damp, and this man hadn’t even touched me.

“I don’t really lose when it come to shit like that.”

“So you’re undefeated?”

“Something like that. But you not ’bout that life, so quit talking.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do. I watch you, study what I see. You a party girl, and you like to have fun. You enjoy toying with niggas ’cause you know they’ll endure whatever you require to have a minute of ya time.

” Running his hand down his fade, he continued.

“I ain’t trying to be in that boat with you.

You can’t have no fling with me, Banks. You’d either be fucking with me, or you won’t.

I ain’t no relationship, lovey-dovey type nigga, but just from being around you, I know I ain’t strong enough to play house with you while you hold a rolodex of niggas in ya pocket. ”

Before I could speak, I heard Kailey’s voice. “Banks!” She rounded the corner and froze, smiling that same smile the Grinch did when he had a sneaky plan. “Presley is looking for you.” She tried to hide her smile, speaking with a high-pitched voice.

“Okay.” I gave Low a look once more, and he nodded for me to go.

I did so but knew he was standing in the parking lot, unmoved still.

When I got inside, I started to the back where Presley was, in order to help her bring the cake out which I’d told her I wanted to do.

“You must’ve had to change that crybaby ass nigga’s diaper and put him down for a nap as long as you was gone.” Unique looked me over dubiously.

I simply threw up my middle finger and continued walking, until I heard a little clamoring, making me peer over my shoulder to see tall ass, fine ass Low making his entrance to the section.

I gulped down some water to quench my thirst before dropping it into the water bottle pocket of my gym bag on my way out.

The sight of Low’s truck halted my steps, and like clockwork, butterflies consumed my stomach.

Naturally, my heart began to beat wildly in my chest as he climbed from the driver’s seat, reaching for my bag like this was his everyday.

“What are you doing here?” I smiled as he walked me to my car, which was one space over, and put the bag in.

“Following you home so we can eat.”

Smiling, I said, “I need to go to the grocery store. I’ve been too busy and have nothing to make.”

“It’s straight.” He started backing toward his car. “I’m cooking.”

Cheesing like a fool, I got into my Jeep and started out with Low following.

We made it to my place, and after letting him in, I went to take a shower while he did his thing in my kitchen.

After putting on a pair of thin gray shorts that were a little loose along the thighs, I pulled the matching cami over my head, leaving my hair down since I wasn’t the chef for tonight.

“Smells sweet.” I ventured into the kitchen to see Low’s body was void of the hoodie he’d originally been in. His arms looked even more enticing in the wife beater clinging to his tall, stocky frame.

“Waffles.” He kept his eyes on the bacon he was flipping in the skillet.

“You know you can’t hide me forever,” I joked, sliding into a seat at my table.

“I’d take you out right now, but big bro gon’ have questions by the morning. You cool with that?” He shot me a quick glance, already knowing the answer.

Asif didn’t run my life, just like none of my brothers did, but I knew Low popping out with me was deeper than my brothers not wanting me to date him. He would be betraying a loyalty, and if he gave that up, I would want to be sure it wouldn’t be for nought.

The worst thing would be for us to cause this divide, only to realize we weren’t meant and didn’t like each other.

“What would you say?”

“That I like kicking it with you, and long as you wanna kick with a nigga too, I plan to keep doing it.”

I smiled, knowing his back was to me.

“I’ll let you know when I’m ready,” I answered, and he gave a quick nod, moving the bacon from the skillet to a plate covered with a napkin.

I liked that everything was on my terms and that Low wasn’t afraid to do what I wanted and when I wanted it done. I had yet to meet a man like him.

“There you go.” He set a plate of waffles, bacon, and eggs down for me. The bulge at the crotch of his sweats made me nibble my lip while my leg bounced nervously. This man made me feel like I was in heat. “Try that waffle without syrup first.” He sat adjacent to me after grabbing his own plate.

“Why?” I frowned.

“Good waffle don’t need that shit.”

Lifting a brow, I asked, “You think yours is that good?”

“I know.” He ate some of his own after slicing it.

I did the same and then forked one of the fluffy squares into my mouth. I shut my eyes out of reflex at the buttery and sweet taste before popping my eyes back open. It was too late to front though. Low peeped game and smirked.

“Ugh, you get on my nerves!” I rolled my eyes as he laughed a little more than usual.

“You a real life hater if my shit being good makes you angry, lil mama.” He snickered slightly as he dove back into his plate.

I wanted to kiss him as I stole a couple glances at his modelesque side profile.

I chuckled at his comment before eating some more.

“This is amazing though, Low. I didn’t think you could cook.”

“I got a lot of experience with cooking,” he replied, but I caught on, knowing he meant drugs.

“Why aren’t we having this meal at your place? Do you have a live-in girlfriend?” I hiked a brow.

“I don’t.”

“Well?”

“My mama and siblings live there, so ain’t no real privacy, unless you don’t mind being hounded.” He finally gave me some eye contact.

“Oh. You have all this money and choose to live at home?”

“My mama live with me, Banks.”

“How many niggas have said that and be lying?”

“I can’t say, but you know I’m getting bread, so why would I lie?” He sat back, plate empty except for a few crumbs.

“True. You don’t want your own space?”

“I do, but umm”—He sipped out the bottled orange juice he’d supplied for us—“my mama ain’t really in a place to be motherly, but she also don’t wanna be without her kids, so I’m kind of stuck.

I’m the provider, protector, and glue of that household, so I can’t be too far.

Working from Vegas all that time caused me to be back and forth constantly. ”

“I see.” I watched him, noticing he didn’t want to discuss this, due to his rigid body language. “I know you have Waverley, but who is your other sibling?”

“Little brother. Wyatt. He sixteen.”

I nodded, deciding to change the subject since I could see his discomfort.

“So how many women do you cook for, Willow?”

Smirking a bit, he responded. “If Waverley counts, then just one until tonight.”

“You have never made food for a woman outside of me and your sister? Your mama doesn’t count.”

“I haven’t.” He gave me eye contact. “I don’t typically do shit like this, Banks.”

“Damn, the girls you smash can’t even get some waffles?” I jested, making him laugh, which had become the highlight of my days.

“They can, just not mine.” He took down some of his orange juice.

“I’m special, then, I see.”

“You already knew that.” He tapped my thigh innocently, but all of a sudden, I felt anxious and slightly balmy.

We talked some more before he rose, having to leave and do some work.

Like always, I walked him to the door, but this time before he opened it, he hooked his arm around my shoulders to bring me in.

For a moment, we stared into one another’s eyes, him moving the errant strand of my hair from my face as if he wanted to see me better.

Leaning down, he kissed the corner of my mouth, causing my nipples to harden and my pussy to contract a little.

Being up against his hard chest, encased in his strong arms, and smelling his scent had me super turned on.

Reaching up, I caressed his handsome face as his forehead lowered and pressed against mine. I felt a little drunk, though I’d had no drink or anything that would have me intoxicated, so I knew it was him.

“Low,” I whispered as our noses grazed, knowing if he tried to fuck me right now, I would allow it.

Our faces were so close that when he said, “Good night, lil mama,” I felt his sugar and cinnamon tainted breath on my lips, making me lick them as if I could taste it.

As soon as he let me go and backed away, I immediately felt like whatever stupor I’d been in had vanished like an evanescent bubble.

“Good night,” I murmured as he swaggered past the threshold and to his truck.