Page 5

The circle traded smiles and subtle chuckles for a few unaccounted minutes before they heard a female voice calling Auto’s name.

They all looked behind them to see a girl with long bouncy dreadlocks walking up the stairs with some fine ass yellow nigga behind her. His wild hair and frowning face made Forever blink twice. He wasn’t necessarily her type, but fine was fine, and he was most definitely that.

“Azayna,” Nova gushed. “I thought you were going to miss it!”

“I told her ass to hurry up. Dressing up for this nigga like she single or some shit,” Mr. Fine Ass snapped just as they stopped next to everyone else.

The frown on his face was so deep that it was almost funny. It was too early in the morning to be that angry already.

“Shut up, Egypt.” Azayna rolled her eyes at him and waved at everyone else. “Hey y’all, I’m Azayna. This is my grouchyhusband, Egypt. Excuse him. He’s terrible like this twenty-four-seven.”

“Girl, I literally just had to apologize to these people for his friend,” Nova told her.

“You all friends of Blue?” Eternity asked. “I heard him say you were trying to dress up or something like that.”

Forever held in her smirk while Goody did no such thing and giggled. Forever should have known that neither of them had missed that little comment, even if she had tried to ignore it. She’d heard Egypt too, but was going to let it slide since, clearly Azayna was with him.

“Fuck no,” Egypt spat. “We aight, but I’m not the nigga friend. Her lil’ hot ass used to fuck with him back in Dade, but I wrapped all that shit up, so they ain’t shit now.”

Unable to help herself, Forever gave Azayna the once over checking her out. She was indeed a pretty girl with a nice little body, and it made Forever a tad bit jealous. She was just about to look away from her when Auto’s voice interrupted them.

“Forever’s itty-bitty ass ain’t feeling that shit,” he chortled hard, as if the situation was really funny.

“Which one of y’all are Forever?” Azayna questioned.

“Her,” Eternity said that one word as hard as she could while pointing at Forever.

Azayna looked at her and gave her the same once over that Forever had just given her before breaking out into a large grin and hugging her.

“Thank you so much for doing this for him. My daddy told me all about you.”

It took a minute for her to put two and two together, but when she did, Forever hugged her back. “You’re Pat’s daughter?”

Azayna nodded with a smile.

“Whew girl, I thought I was gon’ have to dust your ass. Thank you for clearing that up for us,” Eternity told Azayna.

“Oh my god, Yummy. Shut up,” Goody shushed her.

“She’s fine,” Azayna assured with her own laughter. “I would have been the same way,”

“Now that the pleasantries are over, we should get going.” Jerrico told everyone while ushering Goody toward the stairs with his eyes on Forever. “The woman of the hour has somewhere to be.”

“Thank you, Man Hoe.”

Laughter and comments were exchanged as they all finally filed into the building. When they found the room Blue’s hearing would be conducted in, they took up the first two rows behind the lawyer table Forever had just occupied. With her nervousness returning, she sifted through her things, preparing herself for court to begin. Her breathing was harsh, and her hands were beginning to sweat, but she had to push through.

“Hey,” Jerrico filled the chair next to her and leaned closer so he could speak lowly. “You know you’re the best person for him today, right?”

Forever exhaled heavily. “Why don’t I feel like it? I’ve been so sure up until now. Now, I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

“Because you’re overthinking it like you did that shirt color question he asked when you all first met.”

Forever smiled at the memory. She’d felt like the most incompetent person in the world that day.

“You were so worked up that you momentarily forgot how good you are, and that’s all you’re doing now.” Jerrico grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You’re a Black female lawyer, Forever. A fucking good one. If you being a Black woman isn’t enough to show you’re the best person to fight for him today,the fact that you know the law too should be. Whether they admit it or not, every person in the world feels inferior to a Black woman. Especially one in power. Y’all are scary as hell, especially Paradise.”

They shared a laugh with him maintaining eye contact.