Page 27 of Unlucky You

“Nah, I don’t. Not on my fries.” Another smile spilled onto his face.

“Then I’m like you.”

“Or maybe I’m like you.” I brushed a hand over his head and his smile expanded.

“You’re older than me so it means I’m like you. I’m gonna be like you with everything.”

My chest tightened because I didn’t want that shit. I wanted so much more for my son than I would ever be but he wouldn’t understand because in his eyes, I hung the gotdamn moon and stars.

“I want you to be better than me, Raidy.”

He shook his head, exposing a partially toothless grin. “Nope, I’m going to be just like you because you’re the best dad ever.” He shrugged as if his words solidified the truth and just made sense. I fucking loved this kid so much I didn’t know how to handle the emotions that consumed me. I only prayed he didn’thate me when he was old enough to understand what I cost him. Because the minute that love shifted, it was gonna fucking destroy me.

EIGHT

Saniya.

“All over and through me, he’s a part of me now. Connected, mind, body, and soul, his presence is loud…”

“Sis, I need you to pull some strings to get me front row at Leijah’s concert when she comes to Diamond Falls.”

“How the hell do you expect me to do that?”

“Shit, I don’t know, just do your thing.” She lifted her hand and made a motion with her fingers like she was sprinkling something while she continued belting out lyrics to “Deeply Rooted”. The song was nasty as hell but also a play on words so it depended on how you perceived it. My sister Sameena swore that since Bleu wrote the lyrics, it was a dedication to how deep her feelings were for her new man Ezren, but that wasn’t it. Iwas at the listening party and saw the looks and smug smiles of Ezren and Bleu. The lyrics were about them fucking.

“I don’t have any pull for front row seats to her concert, or hell, any seats for that matter.”

I pulled into a spot right in front of Shay Belle’s and I swore my mouth watered. As soon as my sister showed up at my place and dragged me out the door, promising to buy me breakfast because she didn’t want to eat alone, I could already taste the sausage stuffed pancakes and maple syrup. They were one of the specialties but everything at Shay Belle’s was the absolute best.

“Sis, you have pull with everything. Even the stuff you don’t think you have pull with. No pressure or anything, but if you don’t get me free tickets, I might be disowning you. And what in the world would your life look like after leaving the best sister in the world.”

I choked on a laugh. “Bitch…you think blackmailing me is being the best sister in the world?”

I swung my head in her direction and she smiled brightly, causing me to roll my eyes. “Of course you do.”

“Good. Now that we have the matter settled, let’s eat.” She blew me an air kiss, yanked the handle, and pushed the door open. I followed and got out, meeting her in front of my car where she looped her arm through mine and we moved to the diner. It was just after nine and there was still a heavy chill in the air, so the leggings and lightweight hoodie I was wearing did very little to keep me warm. Since Sameena rushed me out the house, all I’d managed to do was brush my teeth, wash my face, and yank a skully on my head to hide my bed head.

Please don’t let me see anyone important.

“Grab a booth, I’m going to head to the bathroom.”

“Girl, you and that pea-sized bladder. We just left your house.”

I shoved my sister in the shoulder with enough force to make her stumble. “Fuck you. I didn’t go before we left since you damn near dragged me out the house.”

I was already heading to the back.

“I didn’t drag you. I offered to pay and you ran out the door.”

I grinned over my shoulder. “Because you never pay.”

As soon as I turned around, my eyes met with a dark and angry pair shooting heat rays at me. Outside I felt the chill, but in here, with his angry glare burning through me, my clothes felt too tight on my skin and so fucking hot.

This man was so intense I could feel the weight of him even as I passed the booth he occupied. I picked up my pace and grabbed the handle to enter the bathroom, growing anxious because I was so damn intrigued by Grand and had no idea why.

I rolled my eyes as I entered the stall. I knew exactly why. He was sexy as hell, mysterious, and troubled. I was drawn to trouble. My past boyfriends were all proof. Javen, who was currently serving five years for assault with a deadly weapon, Troy, who sold more drugs than a pharmacy, and my most recent break up a year ago, Neshawn, who I left because he almost got us both arrested because he was riding dirty with stolen assault rifles in his trunk. Two days after that near miss, he got arrested while we were together at a club and I decided I needed a break from dating until I could make better choices. I was currently still single because…

You like living on the edge, Saniya.