Page 56 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

“I’m gonna start bringing my own fucking drinks because this shit be too strong.” Kailey slurred as she lay beside me on the pool table.

We were both buzzed off whatever drink concoction Free had available. He’d had it placed in bottles so they couldn’t be tampered with, and whatever his mixologist had come up with was enough to knock someone out if they finished the bottle.

Kailey and I had only drunk half of the mixture aptly named L.A. Water, and I was already thinking deeply as Jhene Aiko crooned over the thick kickback.

Clearly, whatever woman Free was entertaining for the night had put on “To Love & Die,” because from coming to these parties, I’d learned that his choice of girl for the night always got music privileges.

“Right. How do these people party and drink this shit every weekend?” I asked, smiling as Low walked over, hovering above me before kissing my lips. “Mmm.” I moaned.

“ West side, west side, by the way! ” The party erupted in unison, singing along with Jhene repping our city.

“You be on some other shit when you got that liquor in you.” Low pecked me once more, tucking his lips in some as if he wanted to savor the taste as he drank me in visually.

“Hey, y’all.” An annoying but familiar voice rang out over the room, making both Kailey and I scoff.

I knew it was Gaia, and though I couldn’t stand her, this wasn’t my house nor my party. Free wasn’t my man either, so he could invite whomever he wanted, for now.

“What’s up, y’all?” Another woman’s voice followed behind Gaia’s, and I smirked with my eyes closed, realizing she’d brought reinforcements in case things went left like the last time I’d seen her thirsty ass.

Low was sure not to speak as the room clamored in response to her before continuing their conversations.

“Hi, Banks,” she just had to say to me. I was trying to be good, enjoy one of the rare nights I could actually drink. I was also becoming fed up with her and felt it was a better idea to ignore her because we just didn’t mesh, and I would end up fighting her ass. “Hello?” She pushed.

“Gaia, keep it moving,” Low intervened.

“I don’t get why you’re so pressed to speak to me when you wanna fuck my nigga.” I chuckled and Kailey followed suit. “Bitches are weird.”

“Anyway, Willow?—”

“No. No. There are plenty of other niggas you can talk to, or better yet, take your ass home some time and talk to your own nigga.” I sat up on the pool table.

Low kept it mute like he should’ve as Gaia and her friend stared at me like they wanted to say something. Gaia’s light face had reddened, and I could tell she was close to exploding.

At that moment, I realized she felt something for Low, and me keeping her from him was disturbing her deeply.

“You think ’cause you let him fuck that you mean something?

Grow up! Bitches get fucked every day, and niggas don’t give a fuck!

Ain’t nothing different about your uppity pussy and the next bitch’s!

I probably fucked him the day before you did!

” she ranted, rendering everyone in the room silent, the music still bumping loudly.

“Aye—”

I cut Low’s words off by decking Gaia in the face. There was nothing else to be said at this point.

Unfortunately, my hair was down, and she went right for it, yanking me off the table as I kept punching her face.

I couldn’t see well because my hair was long, in my face, and being pulled, but I could feel her nose, eye socket, and mouth under my fists as I slammed them into her face over and over.

She tried to toss me around, but it was clear she spent her free time drinking and smoking while I worked out, because she was unsuccessful.

Due to the fact that she was so focused on trying to pull my hair and throw me, she was getting pounded in the face repeatedly. I kept my core tight, which caused me to be immoveable no matter how much strength she used in an attempt to rag-doll me.

“No, bitch! You bet’ not! Let that bitch lose on her own!” I heard Kailey bellow before commotion sounded off, letting me know she was fighting Gaia’s friend.

Finally, Gaia broke from me, releasing my hair which was a relief. I chased her ass around the room, us both slipping, ducking, and barging through people as I did my best to catch her.

It was complete mayhem at the moment with me hunting Gaia and Kailey fucking her friend up on the other side of the room.

Gaia eventually escaped the game room, which was dumb on her part because it was clear and not full of people, so I was able to make a direct shot for her ass.

She booked it, and I was right on her ass, kicking her in the back once I was close enough and sending her into the floor of the foyer with a scream.

A cacophony of loud voices and hollers peppered the room, letting me know the party had followed us in effort to see the fight.

She clawed at my arms and wrists, trying to stop me from hitting her, before resulting to yanking on my hair, hurting my neck from how roughly she did it, but I zeroed in on hitting her, ignoring the pain.

Suddenly, Low and Free appeared with the former gripping my hands and bear hugging me as he pulled me from being atop Gaia.

Free hooked his arms under her pits to pull her from the floor as she hollered, mouth full of blood and a humongous knot under her eye.

“Stop letting this stupid ass bitch kick it, Free!” I shouted.

“She showed up on her own, B, but aight.” He bobbed his head, carrying Gaia out of the house. “Bring her homegirl!” He called out as Low carried me off through the house and to the back where the sunroom was.

“Wait, where is Kailey?” I tried to leave the room once he set me to my feet.

“She good. You need to be worried about Gaia’s homie.” Low blocked me, directing me to sit down on the couch.

“Fuck her. She clearly tried to jump me.” I sat down, trying to catch my breath and sucking my teeth at how wild my freshly done hair was. I knew my mama would have questions when I asked her to fix it.

“I mean, jump ain’t really the word. If someone was fucking Kailey up how you was doing Gaia, you’d try to jump in too.”

I chuckled, relaxing against the back of the couch. “I guess,” I replied, knowing damn well he was right.

“Brothers must’ve taught you how to get in the field,” he cracked, falling against the back of the couch as well, his shoulder brushing against mine.

“Not really taught . I learned on my own growing up, but they always told me to keep my head up so I could see what I was doing and come from my shoulders.” I looked his way, and Low nodded approvingly with a smirk.

So many girls fought by windmilling and/or keeping their heads down or turned in order to protect their faces, and ultimately, it resulted in them getting fucked up most times.

My brothers wanted to be sure I wasn’t a part of that group, reminding me that if I was scared to get hit, then I would lose.

As for Gaia, I wasn’t sure what her plan was since she kept yanking my hair the whole time, but the ho did have my scalp and neck currently throbbing, so I guess that was a win on her part.

She tried windmilling later, but she didn’t have the momentum for it to work and refused to look at me in effort to protect her mug.

It was clear she was one of those hood bitches that couldn’t fight but would. She wasn’t a punk. I think she only ran to get a reset, because she couldn’t get a leg up on me for shit at the start.

“I’m glad. I ain’t wanna have to put Gaia in a headlock ’cause she was fucking you up.”

“You would do that?” I giggled.

“Hell yeah.” His brows furrowed as if he were shocked I even asked that. “Why would I stand there and let some bitch fuck you up? I ain’t gon’ hit her, but I’ll headlock a female in a minute to calm her ass down.”

I laughed at the thought, trying to imagine that.

“Glad I didn’t need you.”

Low was silent for a moment then said, “She was lying by the way, Peep. We was locked in well before we went there.”

“I know.” I nodded, giving him some eye contact before he kissed me. “I like how honest you are. It eases my jealousy.”

“You ain’t got reason to be jealous, baby. I’m jealous enough for the both of us. Trust me.”

“Don’t have reason? Yeah, right.” I smacked my lips. “You’re everything.”

He craned his head to stare at me then sat up, sighing. I did the same, minus the sigh, before looking to see his distressed face.

“Uh,” he grunted, running a hand down his face. My stomach sank, realizing he was holding something back from me.

“What is it, Low? Tell me.” I didn’t wanna touch him, so I fought the urge to put my hand on his back as his face rested in his own. “I can’t promise I won’t fuck you up, but now is the time to say whatever it is.”

He bobbed his head in agreement before dropping his hands, letting his arms hang over his knees before turning his head to his left to look me in the eyes.

“I . . . love you.”

I blinked a few times because I’d been bracing myself for a deep, dark, soul shattering secret.

“Is that what you have to tell me, or is it some type of preamble?” I felt comfortable enough to rest my hand on his knee now.

“No, that’s what I had to tell you.” He picked that hand up to inspect then kissed it. “I ain’t telling you so you’ll say it back though. I just needed to be honest and tell you. Shit been eating me up, and I keep slipping up, so I figured I’d get it out.”

“I think I’ve loved you since I first saw you in Vegas, but probably as a teenager too.”

“Ugh.” He laughed, making me nudge him.

“Told you I used to fantasize about you taking my virginity and then us being together.” I grinned, shaking my head at my younger self.

“Well, you told me about the virginity shit, but is the real thing or fantasy better in regard to being with me?” He put his arm around my shoulders to bring me closer.

“Real thing. The fantasy was boring and much less colorful than the real thing.” I kissed him slowly. “You’re always gonna be better than any fantasy.” I talked against his soft lips.