Read Keeping You: KJ Elite Inc. for Free Online Page B

Please, go!” I used my hands to shoo her.
    Taylor glanced from me to Noah, and then to Tommy, coming back to me.
    “I…”
    “No. Tommy, I do not want to see her for at least a week.” I demanded, using my diva tone. It was a tone of voice I perfected early on in my career; it’s why people also called me “Mega Bitch”. With all my phobias and need to be in control of myself, especially my career decisions, it just seemed easier for me if people wanted to avoid me. When people think you’re made of honey, they want to stick on, but if you’re made of vinegar, they stay far away never to mingle. Being Mega Bitch helped me to maintain space and control; though I never treated one person with disrespect, I was cold and calculating. My first few years my foster mother “managed me” while I was still a teenager. Then came along Taylor who brought Matt. Matty had never managed or represented a model before, though when I mentioned how I was without one, he jumped right on and put or rather kept me on a path to success.
    “Seriously Annie O. Unless you’re ready to hide his cold, dead body and come see how a real man operates, take this major pain in my ass outta here. You’re doing us all a favor. One I’ll be sure to pay back later.” Noah nodded his head at her suggestively which was received by a sharp-tongued devil named Tommy who was having none of their on-going flirting.
    Apparently they had been doing it for years just to irk him. Needless to say, it worked then and it works now.
    “I’ll deal with you later.” She looked back to me and asked, “Matt can come stay with you?”
    “I’ll be fine with Noah.” I answered her, not hesitating to answer.
    All of their eyes opened marginally, staring at me.
    “Go.” I point to the door.
    She leaps over to me, jumping on the bed and wraps her arms around me.
    “I love you like chocolate, James.” She says, same as always when she’s over the moon with me.
    “I love you like french-toast, Tay.” I answer her, kissing her cheek and squeezing back.
    She’s my best friend; as she says, she’s my sister from another mister…and misses.
    Tommy comes over and grabs Taylor gently, throwing her over his shoulder like she’s a bag of air. “Call if you need anything. He might be my brother, but I’ll kill him if he does anything to make you uncomfortable or hurts you.” The look they exchanged conveys the message directly to Noah and he nods.
    “Thanks, Tommy. Have fun.”
    “Oh, I will.” He wiggles his brows at me comically and leaves.
    “Is it just me or does Tay spend more time over his shoulder than she does with her feet on the ground?”
    “I think you’re right, but it is sweet how much he loves her. A woman would do anything for a man that devoted and perfect.” A man who wouldn’t beat her senseless and pimp her out. I know I’d do anything for one of those men.
    “You should have seen them when we were all younger. We all knew they were made for each other, despite Taylor’s vehement arguing. Even then, she was always hitching a ride on his back. They were ‘cute’ as women like to call it, at every age and stage of their relationship. We joked he was afraid to upset her but truthfully, they’ve always been on the same wavelength so what one thought, the other felt or agreed with. They never fought and the only time they were separated was when Tay left. Even slept together growing up.”
    “Really?” I’m pretty sure my face looked comical with my brows pulled together and a silly smile on my lips.
    “Oh yeah. Her daddy, Nic, trashed so many ladders. Tommy would wait ‘til bedtime and climb into her room with a ladder. It started when they were about 6. Taylor couldn’t or wouldn’t sleep without Tommy; said he chased her nightmares away. Ma and Mrs. Vic thought it was the most adorable thing and really, they were six – what trouble were they going to get in to?” He shrugged and chuckled at the memory.
    “They kept