Page 50 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

Today I had some errands to run, but my most exciting one was having found a ballet history book at the local library.

Parking, I climbed out of my Jeep, enjoying the hot sun as I crossed the lot. To the side of the building, a woman and a man who was talking a mile a minute to another girl were holding a stack of flyers.

As I neared the entrance of the library, the woman looked over, causing me to smile out of habit until I realized I recognized her—Rue.

Moving from who I assumed was her man’s grasp, she stepped toward me and reached out a flyer to which I took. Looking over it, I saw it was an advertisement for new members to come to her church.

“Thank you,” I said awkwardly, slipping it into my Louis Vuitton bag before continuing into the library since she was just staring at me.

I hadn’t been browsing the shelves for five minutes before Rue appeared at the end of the aisle, walking toward me while hugging her stack of flyers to her chest.

She looked the same, her light skin still clear and young looking. Her hair was in a short cut that brushed her shoulders every time she moved, but she was dressed much more modestly than she used to years ago.

“Banks?” She threw out, making me turn to look at her fully instead of out of my peripheral.

“Hey, yeah.” I leaned on the shelf, watching her absorb me, my outfit, and my clothing.

“Do you remember me?”

“I do.” I straightened up, leaning off the shelf. “I hope there are no hard feelings from years back.” I smiled. “I was young and had a major crush.”

She smiled mildly, but I could tell something was still bothering her from that time as her eyes fell to the floor for a millisecond.

“Is that the case when you’re clearly with him now?” She gestured toward my iPhone resting in my hand that displayed my home screen, which was a photo of Low and I hugged up.

“I mean . . . this is recent though. Low didn’t even look my way back then. He barely talked to me, so the shit I was starting with you was just some little girl with a crush shit.”

“Well . . .” She huffed, looking around some as if she didn’t want the man she was with to overhear just in case he’d ventured inside the library.

“It doesn’t matter now, Banks, because I’m past that.

” She showed me the modest diamond resting on her ring finger.

She tried to grin, but her eyes remained sorrowful.

“Congratulations.” I bobbed my head and smiled.

“Thanks, girl. People downplay marriage, but I love it, especially since my husband is a great, God-fearing man.” She blushed somewhat.

“You be careful of Low though. He isn’t a good man and has a troubled life and past that he often takes out on the people closest to him.

I’m honestly quite surprised that a woman as beautiful and put together as yourself would even be dating him. ”

Trying to remain cool, I chuckled mirthlessly, then said, “No offense, Rue, but you don’t know Willow anymore.”

“Willow.” She simpered. “You’re definitely in love with him.

I remember that sense of superiority I used to have when I used his government name too.

Now that I know that, I’m sure you’re fucking him, and now that he’s fucked you, you’re gonna be spiraling out over the smallest things in regard to him. ”

Though Rue wasn’t going to get to me in the way she wanted, her last statement hit me where it hurt a little. I was never the jealous type when it came to niggas and usually would have to force myself to give a damn about them entertaining other women.

Trayvon used to frequently press me, asking if I truly liked him because I didn’t care that he was having lunch with another girl.

However, with Low, I didn’t even want him having conversations with business associates that were women and more.

So, Rue had a point when it came to that one observation, but I wouldn’t let her know that.

“Rue, we are different women to Low . I hate to be like that, but it’s true. And he has matured a lot since you’ve been with him.”

“Matured a lot since the previous year?” She caught me off guard. “Yeah, a few nights before my wedding last year, I panicked and fucked him. He was the same trash nigga he was when I was his girl too. But if you say he’s matured that quickly, then I have no choice but to believe you.”

“Exactly.” I fake smiled, keeping my composure, even though I wanted to rage. “Here. I won’t be attending. I have my own church home.” I dug the flyer from my purse and handed it back.

She took it before flipping around and walking off.

I tried to remain pretty collected while searching for my book, but eventually, I had to ask the librarian for assistance.

Thankfully, by the time I got what I needed, Rue was back outside with her husband.

I refused to look her way as I trod back to my truck, hopped in, and sped off to my next destination.

I wasn’t sure why her comment about fucking Low only a year ago bothered me so damn much. This jealous shit was like an out-of-body experience, and I didn’t like it one bit.

Pulling through my brother’s large gate and driving down the private road, I parked near the big stone fountain that sat in the center of the driveway before gathering my thoughts and climbing out.

My sister-in-law Anastazia had made some of her famous glazed poundcake and some jerk chicken, so I was here to pick up my food so I could take it home and eat it in front of the TV. I would be getting enough to share with Low since he said he would stop by for a minute tonight in between work.

“I almost thought you weren’t coming.” Anastazia answered the door, grinning. She was in a burnt orange halter dress that clung to her shapely frame and complemented her brown skin.

“I don’t know why. I need my poundcake,” I answered honestly as she shut the door, laughing.

She clipped her long curly hair up with a banana clip as I trailed her to the kitchen where she washed her hands while I sat at the big, beautiful island in the middle.

“I need to get some advice from you.”

This wasn’t the plan, but after running into Rue, I needed some words on how not to be jealous. I refused to be like Rue, looking stupid and ruining Low’s night every time we went somewhere, like she used to.

“Okay.” She continued divvying up the food into the containers for Low and me.

“I am not a jealous person. I never have been. I’m the only girl, so I got special treatment from everybody,” I started, making Anastazia chuckle.

“And niggas usually have an attachment to me, not the other way around. But now, it’s not like that.

Bitches love Low, and not just when we go to hood functions, but even at restaurants, and he doesn’t even notice like an idiot. ”

We guffawed.

“Yeah, Sif is like that sometimes too. And he acts like I’m exaggerating. It’s like the woman has to start sucking their dick for them to realize they’re being checked for.”

“Exactly! Then we argue because he doesn’t see the big deal.”

“But let a nigga smile at us or be genuinely nice, then it’s a problem.”

“Oh my gosh. So true.” I shook my head. “Anyway, I need you to tell me how you don’t get jealous so I can implement it into my life, because it’s not cute.” I curled my lip, causing Anastazia to laugh as she closed up one container.

“You won’t ever not be jealous, Banks. If you don’t care, you have a bigger issue. It’s healthy and normal to feel that way.”

“So you’re jealous too? Why? My brother is obsessed with you.”

“I am at times, but most of the time, I don’t say anything, and usually, he has no hand in it. Like when I posted him for Father’s Day, I had to turn the comments off because of how crazy and disrespectful it got from some of these bitches.”

I broke out into laughter.

“I was wondering why you did that.” I smiled.

I would never mention to Stazi how Kailey and I cracked up at the girl who commented asking how much longer would she be married to Asif or the one chick asking if he wanted a side baby.

“Talking about some ‘can he be my daddy too?’” We cackled as she rolled her eyes.

“I was pissed about it, but I didn’t say anything because he can’t help that.

” She smiled. “It’s all about how your man handles it.

If he’s feeding into it, then that’s an issue.

If he’s just existing, you can’t really be mad at him, and you don’t want to be arguing with your man over women who will never have him. It’s pointless.

“Plus, Low is warring with your brothers over you. That man is not worried about anyone but you, or else he wouldn’t waste his time.”

“I get it. I ran into his ex from way back at the library and she told me she fucked him last year, and I was pissed! He wasn’t even mine then!”

We shared a chuckle.

“You must have had sex with him.”

My smile dissipated as she stared at me over the counter, having finished bagging up the Tupperware for Low and me.

“Why you say that?”

“Because that will heighten your jealousy, especially when you think about another girl getting what you get.” Her brows lifted briefly.

“Maybe like once,” I jested before we giggled.

“Yeah, okay. I won’t tell.”

“Okay, a lot of times, and yes, I hate thinking about Rue doing what we do with Low.”

“That’s normal, but back then, she wasn’t even really his girlfriend, Banks.

I used to feel bad for her because it was so clear how little he cared, if at all, but she kept accepting, so I stopped giving a damn.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Low like he is with you, and I barely know him in that way. ”

“That makes me feel better.” I sighed, still somewhat wishing I could take a non jealousy pill and be like the old Banks.

What Low and I had was so intense that it was exciting, fun, but also scary as hell. He could literally crush me with one simple move, and I wasn’t used to this. I had never been at a nigga’s mercy.