Chapter Four

**Kahh**

**Dom**

**Noel**

**Janelle**

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After a week of Kehlani bugging me, I finally gave in and decided to go back to New Orleans to support Lani at Voodoo Fest. I had been dreading going back after Janelle's big blow up, to be honest. I knew she was going to go back home to talk shit about me and go through her typical Waiting To Exhale shit. I hadn't been back in New Orleans since the previous Christmas, so Lani had to be special to get me to go back there. It wasn't that I didn't want to be there, I just had outgrown the environment and the bullshit that came with it. After I moved my mom and I to New York, there was no looking back.

I walked around City Park with Kahh, Tyler, Cooth, Noel, and Shaina re-familiarizing myself with the area. Tyler was that one friend that kept me sane while I was in New Orleans. We met my freshman year in college before I decided to say fuck it all and leave home. He was that good kid that was straight to the books but knew the tricks of the streets. And in this case, he swore he knew everything about Lani.

"So y'all seriously dropped everything for Kehlani? Y'all are crazy. Dominique is sprung. Cooth is being stupid and allowing Dom to get away with this. Shaina is the mindless fuck going along with everything. And Kahh... well, he's just here to get his money. Kahh you're the only smart one here," Tyler said shaking his head.

"What you trying to say, fam? You should be happy Lani brought my ass back here," I said taking a pull from the blunt as we headed to the golf cart to get to Keh's trailer, looking at my phone.

"I'm just saying. I would expect this from Chance... not from you. You barely know her. She just magically told you 'Hey come to New Orleans with me' and you did. Yeah, yall have been up under each other for the last few weeks almost a month, but that's no time Dom... Get your head out of her pussy and smell the roses. She may not be who she seems to be. She seems like she's gonna break your heart," He said taking the phone out of my hand. "What about Janelle, huh?"

"Well, technically, I am smelling the roses," I laughed as Shaina punched my arm. "But, forreal, she's a good girl and you will see that when you meet her. Plus, Janelle was never my girl... you know that... we just got caught up and I had to finally get shit straight."

"Yeah, okay... With your sprung ass... cuff her and get it over with," Shaina said bursting into laughter.

"See, even Shaina sees it... and that's a first," Cooth said as she stepped off of the back of the golf cart.

"Whatever... Leave Dom alone... we've all been there," Kahh said opening the door to the trailer.

She was sitting at the mirror staring intensively at her reflection as her make-up artists worked on her.

"Hey boo, I thought you had decided to stay in New York," Lani said as I walked in. "Hey, everybody... Kahh It's about time you get here... I'm just waiting for you to work your magic."

" You know they don't call me the Slaygawd for nothing, sis," Kahh said opening his bag.

"Then come jump in Mr. Slaygawd... We're running low on time," Lani chuckled. "Dom come here... Stop acting like a stranger."

"Yeah, Dom. Stop acting like a stranger," Noel said pushing me towards Lani.

"Leave my punkin alone Noel... You just mad cause I told you I'm not gonna help you get Sevyn yet."

The room burst into laughter before Lani's security escorted out everyone except for me and Kahh.

Kahh took about an hour and a half to finish Lani's hair. I sat the the entire time just amazed by her beauty and her process.

"So are y'all like official yet?" Kahh asked as Kehlani fixed her purple Fanta outfit. "I just need to know."

I snapped my head up as I heard Yani start to cough up whatever she was eating. Noel sat there sipping on her drink tapping Cooth who got up and turned to walk out the trailer. The room fell silent as everyone waited for a response.

"Well, not yet. You just have to wait," Kehlani said looking at me through the mirror, giving me a slight smirk. "Y'all ready... we have to be on the stage in less than 10."

She turned to the door walking out without saying another word.

***

I was dressed in all white with gold accessories. I hopped in my charger to pick Lani up from the hotel. I'm not even gonna lie, I was nervous as a mothafuck. I drove uptown towards the Garden District, pulling up to the Henry Howard Hotel. I could see Jaws walking out of the lobby on some secret service shit. Keh walked out stepping in front of Jaws in her white and grey netted top, her white jeans, and her black heels. She looked gorgeous.

"I'll be following behind you guys, boss. Dom, drive carefully, or I'll have to... well... you don't wanna find out," Jaws said cracking a slight smirk before we pulled off.

We pulled up to the lake, barely catching the sunset. I turned the keys, cutting the car off. I turned to face her.

"So, what do you wanna know about me, since you say I know more about you than you do about me," I said looking into her eyes and licking my lips. "I mean, we have hella time till our reservations anyway."

"I guess let's start off at what caused you to leave New Orleans. It seems like you love it so much. You have a different passion in your eyes here," Lani said completely cutting the radio off.

I reached in the glove compartment, pulling out a pack of backwoods and a few grams. We sat there just talking and smoking. A few times we found ourselves lip locked. I just didn't understand it. She had me caught up in a way that took full control of me. I could vibe with her like she was my homie, but I was falling for her like she was waayyy more.

We made it to Houston's about a quarter after eight. When we walked in, heads began to turn. I stepped back and let her be Kehlani, the artist. I walked over to our booth to wait on her. I looked over and made eye contact with this girl. Nah... Nah I'm trippin...

"So what about Noel," Kehlani said sitting down.

"What you mean, baes?" I said arching my eyebrows.

"Sevyn... We gotta help them meet before Noel drives me crazy," She giggled. "I mean Sev has a show soon..."

"Nope. Nope... You already know her ass don't know how to act Lani," I said laughing with her.

"Let me work my magic, Dom" she said leaning over wiping the juice off of my lip before kissing me.

She stared at us the entire meal. I knew it was her. I Just knew it.

When we exited Houston's I saw her reflection in the window of the door. My heart began to race. My face turned pale and my hands began to clam up. I took Kehlani by the waist and moved her in between me and Jaws.

"Janelle crazy ass is behind us. Watch Lani, fam," I said nervously.

"Gotcha boss," I let go of Keh letting Jaws lead her ahead of me. Kahh stepped behind me blocking me from Janelle.

Janelle sped up and push Kahh out of the way before slapping me in the back of my head.

"So, I guess this is why you didn't answer my texts, huh. This is why you're just gonna act like I don't exist anymore."

"Janelle THE FUCK!"

Lani spun around too late. She couldn't stop me. I grabbed Janelle's hands, only leaving inches of space between us.

"We're DONE! FUCK!... HELL WE WERE NEVER TOGETHER! DON'T COME HERE JUST TO START DRAMA... SHIT!"

I spun back around and started speed walking to the car. I hopped in. Lani soon followed.

"Dom... What was that? I want the truth," Kehlani said snatching the car keys out of my hands. I sat there silent. I was fuming. And to be honest, it took my brain a second to even remember who the hell I was talking to. "Answer me."

"What did it look like Keh. The bitch can't take a hint and she won't get out of my life," I was shaking with anger and I was trying to contain it.

"I care about you and all, Dom but you have to cut this drama with Janelle or I can't deal with you," her voice was soft and it sounded as if she didn't want to accept her own words.

"Don't you realize I left her alone Kehlani. I'm trying to build something with you, but from the sounds of it the feeling can't be mutual," My voice was rough at this point.

"Obviously you're not if she thinks it's okay to do what she just did... I can't have this around me," She stated.

"Well look Ima drop you off at your hotel and you could just leave it at that. I rather cut my losses here if you don't want me cause of Janelle," I took the keys out of her hands and started the car up. " I can't control her or keep you here so you know what fuck it."

"Dom... That's not-"

"Nah, fuck it... it's cool," I turned up the radio. Nothing more was said the entire ride back. When she got out of the car I could see a tear fall from her face. She slammed the door and that was that.

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