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“Fuck you, nigga. Play dice,” Blue warned coolly, already feeling his buzz fading.

The way Rico’s hands went up in mock surrender while his smile widened, let Blue know to gon’ and get ready to slap his ass. Moving his feet from the bar on the stool to flat on the floor, Blue resituated his arms so that his beer was in his weak hand. He needed his dominant hand on go, because if the next thing out of Rico’s mouth was towards Zurena in any way, he was going to be picking himself up off the floor.

“Just like a nigga to get sidetracked to keep from getting his ass whooped,” Pat intervened.

Outside of Zurena, he knew Blue the best and, depending on the topic, he knew him better than his sister did.

“You wish I was scared, go.”

Just like that, the party went back to where it had come from. The music was playing loudly, the vibe was back right, and Blue was busy texting his girl.

Mine Forever: Who told you to go to a party? You better have your eyes closed.

Blue: Closed why baby?

Mine Forever: So, you can’t see no other BITCHES

Blue: What I tell you about that cussing? Want me to fuck you up?

Mine Forever: I see you didn’t say anything about those other girls *rolls eyes*

Blue: Girls? What are those? I don’t know nothing but you baby

Mine Forever: Cute…real cute. I guess you still mine

Blue: Forever and after. Stay up so I can talk to you when I leave here

Blue was waiting on Forever to respond when he felt Zurena leaning over his arm.

“Who you texting, Forever?”

He nodded while tapping away, demanding her to tell him what was taking so long to text back.

“Should have known,” her tone wasn’t as nasty as it usually was, which made Blue look up into her smiling face. “What? I’m happy for you. She’s cool. I’ll still drag her by her big ass teeth, but I kinda like her a lil’ bit.”

“Damn, you had to check my baby teeth like that?”

“They’re fucking huge. I know you love her, but you can’t miss them big rabbit ass teeth in her mouth.”

If Blue didn’t know his sister’s heart, he would have let her know to keep Forever and her teeth out of her mouth, but he chilled. She was finally loosening up, and he didn’t want to ruin it off a few remarks made out of misplaced jealousy.

“That’s her nickname,” he chuckled.

“Rabbit?” Zurena burst out laughing, slapping his arm and thigh like all black people did when they were really tickled. “You lying?”

When Blue shook his head, she laughed harder. Before long, they were both laughing. His comedy coming from the sheer joy of having good times with his best girl once again, and hers probably the same. It may have stemmed off Forever’s back, but it was long gone and now replaced with the love and friendship they’d always shared.

“Uh oh, the twins dun joined the party!”

Zurena’s laughter faded when Rico spoke again. Blue felt her rigidness, and it pissed him off, so instead of being thebigger person that time, he finished his beer and sat his bottle on the bar next to him. He’d just rubbed his hands together and was preparing to stand when the girl coming around the corner caught his attention.

“What’s up y’all?” Dylan yelled loudly, moving around the room, hugging everybody she passed.

Blue grumbled inwardly because if Dylan was there, that only meant one thing.

“I know the party didn’t start without us,” Journey made herself seen, confirming Blue’s gut feeling.

She’d sauntered around the corner behind her sister, smiling and waving like she was running for mayor. She and Dylan were both very pretty women and were dressed impressively, but they still annoyed Blue without trying. Annoyed by their presence alone, he voluntarily took the beer from Zurena’s hand and finished it off before looking everywhere but at either of them. They were like twin vultures. His peace would run for the hills the moment one of them noticed him.