lxiii. WHAT A WEEK. (pt.2)
March 15, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Los Angeles, California.

Kendrick's eyes fluttered open, his senses slowly coming to life as the unmistakable scent of bacon wafted through the air. For a moment, he was disoriented, his mind foggy from sleep as he tried to piece together his surroundings. Then it hit him—Sedona's apartment. Her couch. Her. 

A sleepy smile crept across his face as memories of the previous night flooded back. They'd watched Hercules, laughed at his commentary, and cuddled until she'd drifted off on his chest, clinging to him like he was her personal pillow. He glanced down, noticing the soft throw blanket still draped over him, and chuckled quietly. She really tried to make him comfortable, even in her sleep. 

Stretching his limbs, he sat up, his muscles pleasantly sore from a surprisingly good sleep. The scent of breakfast grew stronger, and his stomach growled in response. Then he heard it—the soft, sultry voice of Anita Baker floating from the kitchen, filling the space with a nostalgic warmth. 

Curiosity getting the better of him, Kendrick stood up, adjusting the pink bonnet still on his head. He chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of how she'd insisted he wear it, her voice echoing in his head: "You will not ruin my hard work."

He made his way to the kitchen, his steps quiet as he approached the source of the heavenly smell. And what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. 

There she was, standing at the stove, her back to him as she swayed her hips to the rhythm of "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker. She wore a cropped tank top and oversized sweats that hugged her curves perfectly, her bare legs on full display as she moved with an effortless grace. Her curls were a little wild, cascading down her back as she hummed along to the music, completely lost in her own little world. 

Kendrick leaned against the kitchen wall, his arms crossed as he watched her, his eyes taking in every detail. She was beautiful. Stunning, even. The way she moved, so carefree and unguarded—it was a side of her he rarely got to see, and he didn't dare interrupt. 

His gaze shifted to the stove, where she had a spread that would put any diner to shame—eggs, bacon, pancakes, and even some fresh fruit on the side. It wasn't extravagant, but it was perfect. Just the right amount for the two of them. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and he couldn't help but cringe. 

But as much as he wanted to stand there and watch her all day, he couldn't ignore the growing need to freshen up. After all, he'd just woken up, and the last thing he wanted was morning breath while talking to her. 

"Hey," He called out, pushing off the doorway. "I'mma use your bathroom real quick." 

Sedona jumped, nearly dropping the spatula as she whipped around, her eyes wide in surprise. "Oh my God! You scared me!" She placed a hand on her chest, exhaling sharply before narrowing her eyes at him. "How long have you been standing there?" 

Kendrick grinned, sauntering over with his signature swagger. "Long enough to see you getting your two-step on. You were feelin' yourself, huh?" 

Sedona rolled her eyes, turning back to the stove as she flipped the bacon with a little more force than necessary. "Whatever. I like Anita Baker. Sue me." 

"I didn't say I had a problem with it," Kendrick laughed, leaning against the counter. "Matter of fact, I love me some Anita. You got good taste." 

Her lips twitched into a smile, but she kept her focus on the skillet. "Good. So, There's mouthwash and spare toothbrushes in the guest bathroom if you want to use that one. Don't be talkin' to me with that morning dragon breath." 

Kendrick's jaw dropped in mock offense. "Wow... just gonna call me out like that?" 

She shrugged, unbothered, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Just keepin' it real." 

He shook his head, laughing as he walked down the hall. "You lucky I like you." 

Her laugh followed him, light and carefree. "Yeah, yeah. Guest bathroom's to the left, if anything." 

He found the door easily, pushing it open to reveal a neatly kept space with a subtle lavender scent. It was simple but cozy, the towels perfectly folded, and the countertops spotless. She really did have her life together. 

True to her word, there were spare toothbrushes in a small basket, along with mouthwash and other necessities. He grabbed a toothbrush, running it under the water before adding toothpaste. As he brushed his teeth, he glanced at himself in the mirror, the pink bonnet still firmly on his head. He chuckled, shaking his head at the sight. If his boys ever saw him like this... 

But then again, he didn't care. It was for her, and for some reason, that made it okay. 

Once he was finished, he splashed some water on his face, drying off with one of the plush towels before heading back to the kitchen. The smell of bacon was even stronger now, making his mouth water as he approached. 

Sedona was still at the stove, her hips swaying as she flipped the last pancake onto a plate. Anita Baker's "Angel" was playing, and she was humming along, completely lost in the melody. 

Kendrick paused in the doorway, his eyes softening as he took in the scene. There was something so perfect about it—her in her element, comfortable and at peace. It made his chest tighten, an unfamiliar feeling creeping in as he watched her. 

He cleared his throat, stepping into the kitchen. "Alright, I'm fresh and clean. Can't say you didn't warn me." 

Sedona glanced over her shoulder, her eyes flicking to his mouth before she nodded in approval. "Good. Now I don't have to fight you off with the spatula." 

He grinned, moving to stand behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. "You know you like having me close." 

Sedona's lips curved into a smile, but she rolled her eyes. "Just stay outta my way before you get popped." 

Kendrick laughed, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "Yes, ma'am." 

She relaxed against him, his warmth seeping into her as she plated the last of the food. "You talk a big game, but you're eating my cooking." 

He nuzzled her neck, his voice low and playful. "You got me there. Smells too good to pass up." 

Sedona's laughter was light, the sound mingling with Anita Baker's soulful crooning. "Alright, lover boy. Go set the table." 

Kendrick reluctantly let her go, his hands lingering on her waist before he moved to the cabinets. He moved around her kitchen like he belonged there, grabbing plates and utensils with ease. Sedona watched him from the corner of her eye, a warmth spreading through her chest at the sight. 

They sat down to eat, Anita's voice still floating through the room as they dug into their breakfast. Kendrick took a bite of the pancakes, his eyes widening as he looked up at her. "Damn, woman... these are perfect." 

Sedona's face lit up with pride, her eyes sparkling. "Duh, I can cook." 

Kendrick's eyes softened as he watched her, his heart warming at the sight of her smile. Yeah... this was exactly where he wanted to be.

—

After breakfast, Kendrick insisted on washing the dishes, playfully nudging Sedona out of the way as she tried to help. "You cooked. Least I can do is clean up," He reasoned, his hands already submerged in the soapy water.

Sedona leaned against the counter, watching him with an amused smile. "You're really tryin' to earn that second plate, huh?"

Kendrick looked over his shoulder, his lips curving into a grin. "Damn right. Those pancakes were life-changing. You might've messed around and made me fall in love with 'em."

Her heart did a little flip, but she played it off with a laugh, nudging him with her hip. "Stop playin' and wash the dishes."

He winked at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yes, ma'am."

As Kendrick finished up, Sedona disappeared into her bedroom. He could hear drawers opening and closing, faint rustling sounds filtering down the hallway. When she returned, she was carrying a neatly folded stack of clothes, setting them on the arm of the couch.

Kendrick's eyebrows shot up. "What's this?"

Sedona shrugged, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall. "They're Zeke's, but I doubt he'd care if you wore 'em. Figured you'd be more comfortable than walkin' around in yesterday's fit."

Kendrick looked down at his own clothes, realizing just how wrinkled and lived-in they felt after crashing on her couch. He glanced back at her, his eyes softening. "That's thoughtful, D. Thanks."

Sedona waved him off, but a small smile played on her lips. "Don't mention it. You can use the guest bathroom or mine. But letting it be known that you will smell like shea butter and vanilla."

Kendrick's eyes widened in mock horror. "Aw, hell. You tryna have me walkin' around smellin' all sweet?"

Sedona laughed, the sound light and melodic. "I mean, ain't nothin' wrong with a man smellin' good."

Kendrick picked up the clothes, shaking his head with a chuckle. "You got me usin' all your fancy stuff. Next thing I know, you gon' have me exfoliatin'."

Sedona gave him a once-over, her gaze lingering just long enough to make his pulse quicken. "Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

Kendrick's grin widened. "Alright, I see how it is." He turned towards the hallway, glancing back over his shoulder. He was in too deep. And didn't mind it.

"Now where did I put my phone," She murmured, eyes sparkling with amusement.

He nodded, making his way down the hallway, her playful laughter echoing behind him.

A few minutes later, Kendrick stood in the bathroom, taking in the carefully curated selection of products on the counter. True to her word, everything smelled like shea butter and vanilla. He picked up a bottle, sniffing it curiously. It was subtle but undeniably good. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, "She really got me doin' this."

When he emerged from the bathroom, he was wearing Zeke's clothes—gray sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt that fit him comfortably. He looked down at himself, the faint scent of shea butter and vanilla following him as he walked. Damn. He did smell good.

Sedona looked up from the couch, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. A slow smile spread across her face. "See? Not so bad, huh?"

Kendrick shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it get to your head."

Sedona laughed, her curls bouncing as she got up and headed to the kitchen. "You hungry again? I got some fruit, or we can head out and get somethin'."

Kendrick followed her, leaning against the doorframe as she rummaged through the fridge. "Actually, I was thinkin'... I heard about this little record store downtown. You wanna check it out?"

Sedona's eyes lit up. "I've been wantin' to go there! Say less. Lemme grab my shoes."

Thirty minutes later, they were in Kendrick's car, the windows down as they cruised through the city. He played an old Jodeci album—specifically Diary of a Mad Band, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel. Sedona sang along, her voice soft and melodic as she leaned back in her seat, her curls blowing in the breeze.

When My Heart Belongs to You came on, she sat up a little straighter, her eyes lighting up as she turned to Kendrick. "Oh, you done messed up now," She teased, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

He glanced at her, already knowing what was coming. "Here we go..." He muttered, shaking his head but smiling all the same.

Sedona didn't hold back, turning the car into her personal stage as she sang, her voice clear and powerful:

"Whatever you want. Whatever you need. My heart belongs to you..."

She closed her eyes, her head swaying to the beat as she leaned into the chorus.

"Whatever you want, baby. Whatever you need. There's nothing I won't do..."

Kendrick laughed, his eyes on the road as she belted out the lyrics, fully committing to her impromptu performance. "You gon' blow the speakers out," He joked, but his voice was full of admiration. Her passion was magnetic, her voice flawless even when she was just playing around.

Sedona opened her eyes, giving him a dramatic side-eye as she held an imaginary mic. "You know I gotta give Jodeci their respect," She said, her voice playfully serious. "Besides, it would've taken God himself to keep me away from DeVanté Swing—oooh, that man was and is fine."

Kendrick nearly choked, a laugh bursting out of him as he shook his head. "Here you go..."

Sedona laughed, shrugging unapologetically. "I'm just sayin'. I ain't blind."

He gave her a mock look of betrayal. "That's crazy. I'm sittin' right here, and you talkin' 'bout another man?"

Sedona smirked, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "You ain't got nothin' to worry about. But I'd be a fool not to acknowledge God's work."

Kendrick's laughter filled the car, the sound blending with Jodeci's smooth harmonies as they continued down the street. The night was theirs, the music playing loud and the love between them even louder.

The record store was everything Sedona had hoped for—walls lined with vinyl, the faint smell of old paper and incense lingering in the air. She immediately made a beeline for the R&B section, her fingers gliding over the album covers with reverence.

Kendrick watched her with a smile, his heart warming at the sight of her so genuinely happy. It was rare to see her so unguarded, so free. He joined her, pulling out a vinyl and holding it up. "What you know about this?"

Sedona's eyes widened. "Atlantic Starr? Oh, you got taste."

"You surprised?"

She shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "A little. But it only means you got good taste."

Kendrick scoffed, feigning offense. "I was raised on this. Saturday mornings, my mom would blast this while cleanin' the house. You ain't heard Secret Lovers until you heard it at full volume while dustin' the furniture."

Sedona burst out laughing, the sound pure and unfiltered. Kendrick's chest tightened, his gaze softening as he watched her. Damn, he could get used to this.

They spent over an hour flipping through records, debating over the best R&B duets and singing snippets of their favorite songs. By the time they left, Sedona was carrying three vinyls—Anita Baker, Sade, and Lauryn Hill—while Kendrick held onto his Isley Brothers find.

As they walked back to the car, Sedona's stomach growled, loud and unapologetic. She stopped mid-stride, her eyes wide with embarrassment. Kendrick burst out laughing, doubling over as she smacked his arm. "Shut up!"

"Nah, that was a roar. I think I felt the sidewalk vibrate," He teased, dodging another playful hit.

Sedona huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Keep playin'. I'll make you starve next time."

Kendrick threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Alright, alright. I'm done. C'mon, let's get you fed before you turn into a gremlin."

She rolled her eyes but leaned into him, her body fitting perfectly against his. "You so dramatic."

"You the one that's growling," He shot back, guiding her to the car.

They ended up at a small soul food spot that Kendrick swore by, the kind of place with mismatched chairs and old family photos on the walls. Sedona took one bite of the fried catfish and let out a satisfied moan. "Okay... you weren't lyin'. This is hittin'."

Kendrick's chest puffed up with pride. "Told you. Ain't nobody touchin' Miss Gladys in the kitchen. She a legend."

Sedona took another bite, her eyes practically rolling back in her head. "I see why. I'm about to hurt myself."

Kendrick laughed, his gaze lingering on her as she ate with pure joy. It was the little things—her love for good music, the way her face lit up over good food, how she hummed to herself when she was content. He'd always been drawn to her, but moments like this... they were making it damn near impossible to resist.

—

Later that day, Kendrick found himself leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed as he watched Sedona carefully stack her new vinyls on the shelf beside her record player. Her movements were precise, almost reverent, as she made sure each album was perfectly aligned. He couldn't help but admire her attention to detail. It was clear she cared about the little things.

"You really serious about this music stuff, huh?" Kendrick teased, his lips curving into a smile.

Sedona looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You act like you didn't just spend an hour arguing about why Between the Sheets is the greatest love song of all time."

Kendrick laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "A'ight, a'ight, you got me there."

Sedona turned back to her shelf, smoothing her hand over the spines of the vinyls. "Music's always been my thing. I used to spend hours in my room, just listenin'... drownin' everything else out." Her voice softened, a distant look in her eyes.

Kendrick noticed the shift and took a step closer, his voice gentle. "Everything else, huh?"

She looked at him, her eyes flickering with something he couldn't quite place before she quickly shrugged it off. "Just... life. Music made it all a little easier, y'know?"

Kendrick nodded, understanding all too well. "Yeah... I know."

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Sedona suddenly brightened, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. "You know, my birthday's comin' up."

Kendrick feigned surprise, even though he'd marked it on his calendar weeks ago. "Oh yeah? When's that?"

"March 21st," She answered, turning to face him fully, her eyes sparkling. "Which I'm sure you already knew. I'm about to be 28. Another year of becomin' even more sexy."

Kendrick chuckled, shaking his head. "You confident, huh?"

"Confident? I'm realistic," Sedona shot back, striking a dramatic pose before laughing. She flopped onto the couch, her curls bouncing as she made herself comfortable. "But seriously, I can't wait. I spent last year in the house, bored outta my mind. Not tryna do that again."

Kendrick leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he watched her with an amused smile. "So what you wanna do this year?"

Sedona's eyes lit up. "I wanna be outside. I'm talkin' dressin' up, good food, good music, and bein' around people who actually know how to have a good time. No stayin' in the house, no Netflix and chill. I need somethin' memorable."

Kendrick nodded, pretending to think it over. "Sounds like a plan. But what if I took you somewhere you ain't expect?"

Sedona's eyebrow arched in curiosity. "Somewhere I ain't expect? Like where?"

Kendrick just smiled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it?"

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile creeping onto her face. "You play too much."

"Nah, I just know how to keep you on your toes," Kendrick teased, pushing off the wall and moving to sit beside her on the couch. "But I hear you. Outside it is."

Sedona looked at him, a flicker of appreciation in her eyes. "You really listenin', huh?"

Kendrick shrugged, his gaze softening. "I pay attention to the important stuff."

She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well... good. 'Cause I don't wanna have to cuss nobody out on my birthday."

Kendrick laughed, his deep, warm voice filling the room. "Yeah, we definitely don't need that."

They fell into an easy silence, Anita Baker's voice drifting softly from the record player. Kendrick leaned back, his arm resting on the back of the couch, his fingers just inches away from her curls. He wondered if they were as soft as they looked.

Sedona tilted her head back, closing her eyes as she listened to the music. "You know... I think this year's gonna be different. I can feel it."

Kendrick looked at her, his chest tightening as he took in the peaceful expression on her face. "Yeah... me too."

Eventually Sedona found herself fighting to keep her eyes open, her body sinking into the couch even deeper than she'd think she'd be able to. Kendrick chuckled, grabbing a throw blanket and draping it over her. "Food got you down for the count, huh?"

Sedona mumbled something incoherent, her eyes already closed as she snuggled into the couch. Kendrick watched her for a moment, his heart doing that weird fluttering thing again.

He bent down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Sweet dreams, D."

She smiled in her sleep, her body relaxing even more. Kendrick stood there for a moment longer, his eyes tracing her features, memorizing every curve and line.

Yeah... he was in deep. And for once, he didn't mind one bit.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Sixty-three.
— ０２／２６／２５
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#Plotting.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
-shea