Page 16 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

“When I was younger, like seven and eight, my mama used to bring ’em to me because she knew I loved ’em.

This was way back when you could only get them muthafuckas during Easter.

So getting ’em outside of that holiday was like a treasure for real.

” He reminisced. “And every time I would see her pull a box out of the bag, every bad thought, problem, or worry I had would vanish for the moment. You give me that same feeling.” The corners of his mouth lifted subtly into the faintest smile.

“Matter fact, that’s yo’ new name—Peep.”

“Anyone else calling me that would get a stern slap to the face, but it’s cute coming from you.”

“Cool.” He moved a tendril of hair from my face.

“I like you more every time we spend even a moment together, but I can’t lie and say I’m not afraid, which is the reason for my hesitation as far as telling my family anything , even something as small as us kicking it or being cool.

“I’ve never been heartbroken, Low-Low, but I’ve witnessed it, and I have too much I’m striving for to be stuck in a can’t eat, can’t sleep type of lifestyle over a man, especially one who doesn’t seem to know the first thing about being in a relationship.”

He chewed on my words as we held unwavering eye contact while my heart thundered in my chest, hoping he would say something to mitigate my anxiety and worries about delving deeper with him.

“I wish I could tell you otherwise, Peep, but I ain’t never made promises on shit I couldn’t come through on.

” His words felt like a punch to the chest. “I would love nothing fucking more than to swear and pledge that a nigga was gon’ do everything right and be perfect, but I can’t and I won’t.

I only vow to do shit I know I can without fail. ”

“You don’t need to be perfect, Willow.” I got off his chest to sit up and look down at him.

“Yeah, I do.” He nodded. “That’s what you deserve.

Somebody like yo’ brothers and ya father.

I ain’t never been close to perfect in my life.

Everything I’ve done has come with strife.

And as badly as a nigga wants to give you the world without flaw, my track record says otherwise, and I don’t wanna take you on that type of ride, Peep. ”

“You don’t even wanna try?” I frowned.

“You deserve a nigga that’s gon’ do , not try.”

Nodding, I tossed my legs off the edge of the bed before requesting, “Can you take me home?”

Without a word, Low got off the bed as well before walking to the door to hold it open for me as I slipped my shoes on.

Leaving the hotel, we said nothing to one another as we waited for valet to bring his car around.

Once inside and on the road, he stressed, “Peep, baby, I’m sorry.” He glanced at me, but I kept my eyes focused on the front windshield, disinterested in his apology.

“I don’t know why your sorry ass brought me on a date, or cooked for me, or been sniffing behind me period.” I laughed humorlessly and shook my head.

“For a minute, I thought I could be the nigga I wanna be for you, but you mentioning getting heartbroken and shit put that into perspective. I don’ broke a bitch down before, Peep, and it wasn’t a good feeling. I don’t wanna do that with you.”

“Whatever.” I pulled out my phone to meander about on it.

I knew he was talking about Rue, because everyone knew how she famously went out sad behind Low. I didn’t know the details, but I knew I heard stories of her crash outs while I had a crush on Low and well after.

“I could’ve lied to you, played the game, fucked on you, and dogged you out unintentionally. That’s what you wanted instead of a nigga being honest?”

“And I would’ve made sure one of my brothers smoked your ass too,” I shot back.

He chuckled, shaking his head.

“You don’t know me well enough if you think I give a fuck about dying, Peep.”

I looked his way, finally, but his eyes were on the road, his hand shielding his mouth as the other controlled the vehicle, as if he were in deep thought. I wanted to prod, find out why he didn’t care about dying but decided against it.

“And stop calling me that.”

“Aight, Banks,” he responded, and I already missed the gentleness behind the way he said my short-lived nickname. Being called Banks felt too cold and callous now.

We stayed quiet for the remainder of the drive until he pulled up in front of my townhouse.

“I guess my brothers were right to warn me off of you.” I tugged on the handle of the door to step out.

“Guess so,” was all he said, making me turn and switch off, leaving his stupid door open so he’d have to climb his sorry ass out and close it himself.

As soon as I crossed the threshold of my doorway, my phone chimed, making me yank it from my purse, thinking it was Low coming to his damn senses.

Seeing my brother’s name on it instead made me roll my eyes. As I read the message, my stomach tanked.

Shakur: Where you at? Presley came by to bring the food and yo’ ass wasn’t even home.

Before I could conjure up a lie or an excuse, he sent another.

Shakur: I know you ain’t been in no fucking library this damn long, Banks. You graduated already.

Me: Not that kind of library, the one where you check out books, nigga. Stay out of my business and tell my sister I’m sorry.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way upstairs and into my bedroom, kicking off my heels and plopping down onto the chaise within my bedroom before dialing Kailey.

“Hello—”

“The library, Kailey?” I intercepted her greeting, chuckling some at the excuse I knew she’d given Shakur.

I hated how some of my brothers went so hard to find my whereabouts like I wasn’t a grown ass woman. If I wasn’t home or wasn’t answering the phone, it was none of their fucking business as to why. And it wasn’t as if they were worried. Shakur, in particular, was just being a fucking hawk.

Usually, I would’ve told him to kiss my ass, but since I was sort of up to no good, I panic-explained to him.

“Bitch, I was nervous when he called me and just shouted the most humbling thing I could think of!”

We fell out in laughter before I said, “Thank you regardless.”

“You’re welcome, but you went against the code, Banks. You’re supposed to tell me where you are or are going at all times for safety reasons.”

“I know.” I sighed, still replaying the horrible night I’d had with Low.

I wished we could go back to silently flirting and leave the shit at that, because now I felt anxious and off. I’d never been the type of girl to become preoccupied with niggas and the conflicts they caused, so the fact that Low would have me up all night stressed, irritated the hell out of me.

“So were you with a man? Someone named Low?”

“I was, and it went to shit.”

Kailey gasped.

“How? Why? What the fuck did he do?” She interrogated.

“Took me to some fancy ass restaurant in Malibu and then we got a hotel, just for him to tell me he couldn’t promise he wouldn’t fuck me over and that I should be happy he even told me that.” I ascended, padding to my en suite to start the shower.

“What? I’m confused.”

“As am I. He claims he thought he could do it until I mentioned never having had a broken heart. Also, that he’s broken a heart before and doesn’t want me to be next.”

“I mean, I hate to say this, but he did Rue dirty, and we only know a piece of the shit they went through. I can’t imagine the shit we don’t know.”

“So you’re on his fucking side.”

“No, no, I’m not. I’m always on your side, even when you’re wrong, but maybe the nigga has a point.”

“Maybe so, because my mama taught me long ago that if a nigga tells me I’m too good for him, then I need to believe it.”

“Facts!” Kailey cosigned. “So, did you at least find out if he has a big dick.”

“You know damn well I didn’t fuck him but . . .” I paused, chuckling at Kailey going silent. “I did see it, and it’s big as fuck. Made it easy for me not to slip up and fuck him.”

Kailey and I guffawed in concert before it dissipated slowly like a balloon losing its helium.

“Well friend, it was nice while it lasted, right?”

“I guess.”