Page 22 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

Banks closed the gap between us before saying, “I’m sorry.

I want you to know I understand, and I get it.

I couldn’t imagine doing anything behind Kailey’s back, and she’s just my best friend and hasn’t done half of what Asif has done for you.

But it’s because I love her, and you love my brother.

” She pulled me to sit on the chaise within the bathroom which was some bougie shit if I’d ever seen it.

Dropping my head into one of my hands for a moment, I admitted truthfully, “You too good for me anyway, Peep. All I know is the fucking streets, hustling, and everything surrounding that shit. I don’t know a damn fucking thing about relationships, romance, none of that.

” I stared down at my calloused hands as she caressed my back gently.

“Shit, Sif treats his wife like gold, and she still be on that nigga’s head. ” I smirked when Banks chuckled.

“I’m sure he be on the phone telling her ‘you right, baby,’” she added, extending our chortling.

“Yeah. Nigga said when he check her and be right, she start crying, and he feel like shit, so agreeing is easier.” I shook my head with a half smile as Banks giggled.

“Women are always right, sorry.” She shrugged, leaning forward and pressing her elbows into her thighs so she could see me. Turning to her left a bit to keep her eyes on mine, she said, “I’m not too good for you, Willow.”

“You need a nigga like ya siblings. A nigga that’s gon’ do right for real. A muthafucka that don’t need to be taught.”

“How do you know you wouldn’t do right?”

“The one time I had a girlfriend, Peep, when I got done with her, she ran to God. She in the church heavy, and that’s because of me.”

“Then you did her a favor. Most people need to be closer to God. So maybe that’s what I’ll get out of being with you.” She smirked with her pretty ass, making me snicker subtly at her joke.

I pondered for a moment before replying, “I just got a lot going on, and this ain’t the time for you to hitch yaself to me, as badly as I want you to.

This game I’m in, every nigga is out for self at the end of the day.

The game breeds selfish individuals, and I’m one of them.

The old me would’ve fucked with you because I wanted you and wouldn’t care about the consequences or outcome of that shit, but the me right now, I can’t be selfish with you, Peep.

I don’t blame you for not wanting to tell ya people about this.

Shit, I wouldn’t either if I were you. I’m extremely afraid of hurting you, baby.

” I looked into her eyes, hoping she understood and that this wasn’t just some bullshit.

“I know, and the fact that you’re afraid is a good thing.

But I can’t make you try, Low. You have to want this with me badly enough to do so.

You have to be afraid of losing me to do right.

” She spit some real shit that only eased my worries a small percentage.

“The right woman will make you do right on your own. Do you want to be different?”

“I wanna change a lot of shit about myself,” I admitted.

“It’s easier said than done though, Peep.

” As her hand graced the side of my face, I could only shake my head at how comforting and settling her touch felt.

Every time, I got goosebumps all over, and I wasn’t sure if she’d noticed the shit.

“End of the day, though, I don’t want you betting on a nigga like me right now.

You too pretty, too ambitious, too smart, too every fucking thing to be wasting time on me.

I can barely keep my family in one piece, let alone ya heart. ”

Rising, she eased herself into my lap, pressing her lips to my forehead, making my lids shut and a moan escaped my lips unintentionally. Her fingers brushed my forearms, skimming the goosebumps that prickled my skin, and upon recognizing that she’d noticed the shit, I opened my eyes.

She was looking right in them before she said, “Don’t put too much on it, Willow. Let the chips fall where they may. If we fall in love, then we do. If we stay friends and nothing more, then we do.”

There was no fucking ‘if’ when it came to falling in love with Banks St. Thomas. It was a matter of when, and when felt a lot like right now.

“Who made this shit again?” I asked, scarfing down some of the chicken dish Free had given me in Tupperware.

Nodding with his brows up as he chomped down on his own, he said, “Ya cross the street neighbor.”

“Nigga, you fucking my neighbor?” I frowned, pausing with my fork full of food midway.

“I am. Pussy is even better than this food.” He put his empty Tupperware down and gulped his can soda.

I could only shake my fucking head.

“Don’t piss her off, nigga. She know where the fuck I stay.”

“Exactly. She know where yo’ ass stay, not me.” He laughed. I just shook my head, finishing off my food that was too good to toss out, even though I truly wanted to. “You must got some shit on ya mind, cuz. You stay zoning out.”

“Nothing other than the fact that I’m fucked.” I put the finished plastic container on the coffee table and wiped my hands with the napkin.

“Banks?”

“Banks,” I confirmed, falling back against the couch with my arms folded as I watched the rerun of Sanford and Son but not processing shit. “Thought we could kick it and be cool but nothing else. This shit, though, is . . . different. I ain’t never experienced this in my life.”

“Maannn, I don’t wanna know this shit!” Free’s brows furrowed as he scooted to the edge of the couch, craning his body some so he could face me.

“What you gon’ do, nigga? ’Cause you can’t fuck with her in secret, and you damn sho’ can’t fuck with her publicly.

And you bet’ not play her ass like you do these other bitches, ’cause that’s gon’ have a domino effect on this money we making. ”

“I know, nigga. I ain’t even touched her in that way.

” I wouldn’t reveal that I’d kissed her, in order to protect Free if shit did hit the fan.

I didn’t want him wrapped up in the shit Banks and I were doing in secrecy.

All he would know is that we kicked it. “Before I touch her, touch her, her people gotta know what’s up, mainly Asif. ”

“Touch her, touch her?”

“Fuck, dummy.”

“Oh.” He rocked his head back and then nodded to agree. “Yeah, do that. ’Cause if she pop up pregnant, we all gon’ be in a war.” Free shook his head, exhaling loudly. “Out of all the women coming at you, you fall for Banks?”

I smirked, making Free groan loudly and talk shit.

“I know. I know.” I scooted to the edge of the sofa, peering down at the floors as I swam through my thoughts.

“She like a light in a dark ass room, cuz. Everything around me is pitch black until I see her.” I shook my head.

I couldn’t believe how months ago, this woman wasn’t even on my radar, and now it was like I needed her.

As if she was the remedy to all my fucking issues.

“She headstrong, funny as fuck, but actually funny unlike most females. And she makes a nigga wanna open up and tell her shit even though I’ve yet to do so. She outgoing?—”

“Fine than a muthafucka. That’s what it really is, nigga. She could’ve been an unfunny ass introvert that was so far from peaceful it ain’t even funny, and you’d still be sick over her ass ’cause she fine. I told you she would be, and you tried to check me back then.” Free huffed as I chuckled.

“I was taking up for the homie, nothing more,” I spoke honestly.

I knew Banks was crushing on a nigga back then, but I couldn’t have been any less interested than I was at the time.

She was a minor, for one, and on top of that, I got a thrill out of fucking older women.

“But that’s not true. It’s more than how she look, with her persistent ass.

I’ve never met a woman like her, and I fuck with that shit. ”

“You shocked? Look who she related to! All them niggas hunted, stalked damn near, and made sure their now wives fucked with them,” he called out, sending us into a fit of laughter.

“That’s true, but it’s not a thirsty persistence. That shit is sexy. It’s more like ‘do you want this, nigga? ’Cause I want you but will definitely get another nigga.’” I smiled as Free chortled. “I feel like a fucking peasant when I’m around her though.”

“How, nigga? You rich too.”

“Nothing to do with money. She got a rich ass aura, and I don’t. I don’t think we equally yoked in that department, know what I mean?”

“I do.” He nodded. “So what the fuck you gon’ do? A woman like Banks ain’t gon’ be available to you for long.”

“I’m already knowing. But damn . . . cutting her off would be like a nationwide blackout ’round here.

” I shook my head, feeling horrified at just the thought of not having Banks to talk to or to look forward to spending time with.

A random bitch wouldn’t suffice. It had to be Banks.

“I need to hold on to that little piece of heaven for as long as I fucking can, cuz.”

Free opened his mouth to speak, just as Wyatt came dragging his fucking feet across the threshold like he’d been working a cornfield in the high heat all damn day.

“You good, lil bro?” Free questioned, recognizing how worn Wyatt looked.

“I am.” He dropped his bag. “Do I have to still keep a job?” He pleaded with me.

“You still wanna work the streets?” I asked, and when he hesitated, I said, “Then yeah, you do. Maybe I can get you a Saturday off from the women’s center, though, and you can take Waverley to the movies or some shit.”

“Damn! This nigga got two jobs?” Free frowned.

“Yeah, Banks’ idea.” I shrugged, and Free shot me a knowing look that I ignored.

“Nah, I can’t.” Wyatt shook his head with finality. “Banks said she would clip my ass if I missed a day or didn’t show up, and I believe her.” He grabbed a soda from the fridge, popping it open.

“She what?” I tried to smother my laughter.

Swallowing the soda within his mouth, Wyatt explained. “She told me if I missed a day or didn’t show up, she would shoot me then fuck you so that you wouldn’t care.”

Free and I fell out in laughter as Wyatt shook his head in irritation, stomping to his bedroom.

“Aye, if you don’t get with Banks, nigga, I will. I need that type of spiciness in my life. I know she a freak.”

“Go ahead and get smoked, nigga, and I ain’t talking about her brothers being the one to do it.”