Get Ready for War by Ni-Ni Simone Page A

believe she said that. And Knox? I know she didn’t bring up Knox. The mere mention of Knox’s name at this moment was a declaration of war and I know London didn’t want it. So I shot her the same nasty look she gave me, but before I could cuss her out and instruct her to watch her mouth, my phone rang. For a moment I thought about taking my ringing phone and slamming London in the head with it. Then I looked at the caller ID: Knox. And my heart dropped.
    She’d conjured him up. And now the flood of emotions that I’d been able to push to the side had crept back into my chest and hung out there. I could feel tears beating in the back of my eyes, but there was no way I was going to cry. No way in hell. At least not while I was standing here.
    Instead I gathered my purse and slid it on my shoulder.
    Justice looked me over and said, “Lil Sexy, you bouncing already? What’s good? When can I call you?”
    I shot London a slow, nasty look that rose from her toes to her head and said, “Maybe you should ask L-Boogie for permission.” I walked over to London’s bedroom door and slammed it behind me.
    Trick-ass! I can’t believe she played me like that.
    Knox’s call rolled into voice mail. Once I was at my car I leaned against the driver’s-side door and sucked in a deep breath. Don’t cry . . . don’t cry . . .
    Memories of Knox pained the hell out of me. It had been a week since we’d broken up, and although he’d been calling me every day—sometimes three or four times a day—I refused to answer the phone. He’d hurt me and he would have to deal with that.
    Â 
    I whipped into my driveway and almost crashed into the garage.
    What . . . in . . . the . . . hell . . . is Knox’s car doing here?
    Is he crazy?
    I swallowed and slowly walked up the stairs. I opened the front door and there in the foyer was my baby. The only man I’d ever loved with my whole heart. The only man who’d ever loved me—and not just for my body, but simply because . . . he just did.
    I looked at Knox and almost smiled. But then I quickly reminded myself why we were in this situation in the first place. “What are you doing here?” I asked him snidely. “Last I heard from you we weren’t doing this anymore. And who let you in here?”
    â€œI did.” My mother’s words cut across our conversation and she stared at me without blinking. Disgust was written all over her face. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to bring it to my throat again . . . but she didn’t. Instead she said, “Make this quick.”
    â€œReally?” My eyes brightened. “You’re going to let him stay?”
    â€œDon’t get it confused,” my mother said sternly. “I’m still not pleased with you. And you do not have my blessing. But since you’re a grown woman, I’ma let you handle this. But just know that you will not be bringing your men up here in my home. Get your own spot. Now, like I said, make this quick.” She turned on her heels and left us standing there, her wrath lingering behind her.
    â€œNow why are you here?” I turned back to Knox.
    â€œWassup with the attitude?” He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed.
    â€œDon’t worry about that. Now why are you here?”
    â€œI didn’t come here to argue with you, so watch your attitude and take it down.” He took two steps toward me. “We need to talk.”
    â€œWe don’t need to do a thing but part. You go home and live your life, resurrect Nikki, and I’ma go on and do me.”
    â€œHere we go with this bull! You’re back on that again? Things don’t go your way and you throw a tantrum! I don’t have time to be playing with you—”
    â€œYou’re right you don’t have time to be playing with me, or to be sneaking and creeping with me at eleven thirty, twelve o’clock.