Stone's Diary: Kairo

Chapter 78.) Won't Leave Your Side

"Jeet?" Ava repeated, staring at Lucky with confusion etched on her face. They were doing some grocery shopping but Lucky was also trying to teach her the way that Philadelphians articulated their words.

"What does it sound like?" he chuckled.

"Jeet," she repeated and he laughed harder.

"Jeet," he casually said, "Did you eat," he explained.

"Ohhhhh," her eyes widened then she face palmed herself and giggled, "Duhhh."

"It'll hit you quicker after a while... I 'ont know if I'll be using dat with you tho," he replied as he examined the different cases of water.

"I think you should," she smiled, "You should stop hiding, I'm not gonna judge you," she added.

"I ain't worried 'bout dat," he placed the forty pack at the bottom of the cart then nudged her forward, "I rarely use my native for real... with tha' shit I used to do, I always had to adapt to tha' city I was working in."

Curious, Ava glanced at him as they headed down the aisle, "When you came here, did you have to teach yourself how to talk like everyone else here?"

"Tha' thing about Virginia, niggas country than a ma'fucka here but each district strangely has their own lingo or way they say things."

Ava was a bit confused. If she were being honest, exploring Virginia on a deeper level that Lucky had was nowhere near her thoughts. To her, everyone sounded the same but it was obvious to understand who was from out of state or born elsewhere.

"You confused?" he smirked.

"Is it dat obvious?"

Lucky shook his head, "Reading body language and picking up on vibes was something I had no choice but to learn how to do. I just read you well," he shrugged then glanced down at the list.

"Well... I was able to pick up on your accent when we first met," she reminded.

Lucky cut his eyes at her and smirked, "I let you."

"You did not," she shoved him, "Such a liar."

Lucky chuckled, "I liked what I saw," his gaze lingered on hers for a moment, "Either way, I was gon' snatch you up."

"So..." she pursed her lips, "You were stalking me?"

"I'm flattered," he bowed and she busted out laughing.

"You play too much, I'm trying to be serious," she giggled.

"I am too," he said, "I ran into twice before we met at tha' store, dat only happens to me if I'm trailing niggas."

"Interesting," she turned toward the shelf and searched through the snacks.

"On a serious note tho," he grabbed the big box of quaker yogurt bars for her, "You got a talent engraved in you dat you don't even realize."

"Talent?" her brows creased in wonderment.

Nodding, Lucky grabbed a couple of boxes of protein bars, "You picked up on my accent, nobody else ever did dat."

"That's not talent, I just have good hearing."

Lucky laughed, "Nah, that's yo pops DNA. Pay attention to stuff like dat, I ain't tha' only nigga 'round here living a double life."

Ava softly frowned at the last part, "I don't think I was supposed to hear dat last part."

"I said it for a reason."

Ava stared blankly at him.

"Niggas like me pass you by on'a daily, pretending to be some regular-ass nigga."