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“Money? You there?”

“Oh yeah, yeah. I’m here. I was just checking to see did you made it home, but I can see that you did.”

“Yeah, I been here. I left when you did, remember? You walked me out.”

Marcellus frowned because he couldn’t remember seeing her leave. Maybe he was drunker than he’d thought.

“Not really.”

“What, nigga? You drunk?”

“Hell yeah,” he wiped his hand over his face lazily before snatching it off when he heard Forever’s loud, squealing laughter.

His stomach churned because she only laughed like that when she was really happy. He used to make her happy.

“Zurich! Stop gang! You gon’ wake up the baby.”

“Don’t try to bring my niece up because you know I’m on your ass.”

Blue’s voice made the hairs on the back of Marcellus’ neck stand up.

“That’s my fucking niece,” he grumbled to himself.

Automatically thinking of Bridges’ term from earlier, he was stewing. He could feel his entire body getting warm, even the palms of his hands.

“Aight, Goody. I’ll catch you later.”

“Wait! Where you at? You made it home?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he told her as he noticed her background growing quieter.

“You straight? Or you in your feelings? Because you walked me out to your brother like you always do when he doesn’t come. Now you’re calling me, not remembering nothing. What’s going on?”

Marcellus exhaled heavily because, though Goody was his girl, he really didn’t want to talk to her about his feelings for Forever. She’d made her standpoint crystal clear, and he knew for a fact that she wasn’t budging. As she shouldn’t. He’d handled Forever so recklessly, that he was surprised Goody even still fucked with him. Not only was she mean, but she was overprotective of her sister and didn’t mind letting it be known.

“I’m sure you know the answer to that, but I’m good.”

“You lying, but you’ll be alright after while. Heartbreak only lasts as long as you let it.”

“I feel like shit.”

“You fucking should. It never feels good watching somebody you love be loved by someone else. Especially when they tried with you first. It sucks monkey balls.”

“Damn, just rip the band-aid off.”

“I hope you didn’t think I was finna coddle your grown ass. You made it like this, so be the big boy I know you know can be, and just take this chin check and keep it moving.”

Marcellus balled his lips into his mouth, contemplating his next words. He’d known Goody wouldn’t provide any method of comfort, but he hadn’t expected her to happily make it worse.

“Listen, Money, you my nigga like no other, but this isn’t something you can change. I know you like to micromanage shit, but this isn’t something you can do like that. The best advice I can give you is to just stay away from her until you feel like you can handle it. You have Bridges’ pretty ass over there. Stay in her face until you can get over Rabbit.”

“I don’t want to get over her,” his voice raised some as he removed the hand he’d had pressed on the bridge of his nose.

When his eyes landed on Bridges, his chest sank into his back. She was perched on the door frame with one hand covering her mouth and the other resting on her stomach. The water in her eyes pooled, but didn’t fall.

“Bridges, baby,” his voice was low and empathetic as he summoned her.

“Marcellus, you got to get your shit together. You fucking up all over the place. This isn’t the Money I know. Please find whatever it is that you need to do, and do that. Go holla at your wife. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”