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"Ay! Sorry to intrude, Real's girl, but where my OG?" Juvie snapped.
My neck whipped around so fast, I was surprised I didn't break it.
"My name is not 'Real's girl' and you know that! And your OG is a grown ass man. Call him or some shit," I snapped back.
He grilled me but couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes. I'll be damned if this bad ass 12-year-old backed me down!
"My bad,Love," he taunted.
The distinctive sound of Real clearing his throat had me whirling to meet his eyes.
"Watch ya mouth, Julien," he said calmly, his gaze pinned to where I rested against Danny's side.
"So, that's the delinquent's real name?" I teased, wanting attention on anything except Real's quiet study of Danny and me.
Juvie chuckled. "Don't seem like I'm the one in trouble, shorty."
I wanted to argue with him, point out there was no way my very grown, very single ass could be "in trouble," but Real’s eyes and the way he shifted his body had me deciding to keep quiet a little longer.
"Hey, Danny! Hey, Sister! I knew you two would find each other. Ev, I know you've probably had enough of this place. Y'all wanna come with Prime and me to Darnita’s? The food here is fine, but I'm craving hers," Emory spoke loudly as she and Prime approached and joined our little pile up.
Real moved again, then smirked at me.
"Nah, she ain't going. Sounds like a double date and she doesn't date. Ain't that right, Love?" he asked.
His voice was calm, but the challenge was clear. Danny stiffened. Sighing inside, I released Danny's arm and stepped between them. Danny wasn't quite as thick and muscular as Real, but he wasn't a small man and I'd seen him beat guys twice his size. I didn't want trouble.
"Montréal, you can go back to the Stone House with Markel andJulien—" Juvie growled as I smiled inwardly. "Danny and I need to catch up, then?—"
Real laughed softly. "You gotta meet me halfway or some shit, Love. I'm trying real hard not to fuck up your little reunion and send ya friend Cowboy Woody back to cry on Buzz Lightyear's shoulder, but I feel like you just fucking with me at this point."
My mouth dropped open as Danny made a little warning sound. I scrambled for words, but Real spoke again.
"I'm going back to the Stone House, but you going, too. Say your goodbyes, Love,” he instructed.
Danny placed a supportive hand on my lower back, his deep voice finally rumbling out his anger.
"I know you think you done run up on some country bumpkins and I been laughing that shit off. But you pushing it. My baby love ain't gotta go nowhere she don't wanna go. She needs?—"
Real's head snapped back, and his eyes narrowed.
"I’ma tell you this one time: don’t be calling her that shit. And I'm the one who gives her what she needs. You think she doesn't want to go with me?"
He turned toward me. I knew it was part of the pissing contest with Danny, but having that razor-sharp focus on me was a little unnerving. He stepped closer and used his index finger to tilt my chin.
"Tell them, Love. Where you going?"
"I—"
I'm going to Darnita's, is what I was trying to say. I really believed I meant that. But the heat of Real's brown eyes staring down at me as multiple emotions danced in them was compelling. His thumb trailed across my lips, and I inhaled sharply.
"We really do have things to talk about," he murmured.
That much was true. We definitely had things to talk about, to clear up, so I could send him on his way back to Texas. So, I wasn't going with him because of what I saw in his eyes or how his touch made me feel, I reassured myself. I was going because there was a conversation to be had. That was it. That was all. I reached behind me and squeezed Danny's hand, then looked at my sister. She was already smirking.
"Y'all—” I began.
Emory waved a hand. "Whatever, bitch," she said, but her eyes weren't as hard as they'd been earlier. "Gon' witcho lil' man."