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PART I

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG

1

SERENITY BRADSHAW

"You all packed, Tootie?"

My daddy’s voice broke through my focus as I sat on my bedroom floor, zipping up my last suitcase. I turned my head, meeting his warm brown eyes.

"Almost." I smiled.

This trip to New York had been all I could think about for weeks. Getting my early acceptance into NYU-Tisch over Christmas break was the best thing that had ever happened to me. After all the screaming, crying, and happy dancing, my grandparents had suggested that my cousin and best friend Arielle and I get an apartment together since we’d both be on the East Coast for school. The apartment was their gift to us, and I couldn’t have been more excited.

Arielle had already been in New York since August living her best pre-law life at Columbia. She was only six months older than me, but my late Halloween birthday meant I started school a year behind her and everybody else my age. That shit was always annoying, but now that I had college locked in, all I had to do was make it through the rest of senior year.

Daddy walked further into my room settling on the edge of my bed. He exhaled, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe this was real. "I can’t believe you about to be on your own."

"Not yet." I shoulder-bumped him. "Still got a few more months at home. Then you and Mama gonna be empty nesters."

"This is crazy." He let out a low chuckle, but his expression turned more serious. "It’s also harder than it was letting Sevyn go."

I snorted. "You ain’t really let Sev go though, Daddy. He got his own place, but he be over here all the time. You know your wife ain’t letting her golden boy be away too much."

Daddy gave me a pointed look. "My wife, huh? You mean your mama?"

"Debatable."

He sighed that deep, familiar sound I’d heard too many times when it came to me and my mama.

"Tootie—"

"She ain’t up here checking on me though," I muttered, standing up and stretching my arms. "She always got some negative shit to say. I’m over it. Being in New York means I get a break from her."

"So basically, she the reason you running away to New York?"

I smirked, grabbing my carry-on. "No. And yes. She’s infuriating. But also, New York has always been the dream."

Daddy nodded, his expression softening. "I know, Toot. And I’m sorry about Juilliard."

I shrugged like it didn’t matter even though it still stung. Juilliard had been my dream forever. But I hadn’t gotten in. Tisch was a damn good second though, and I refused to let rejection kill my joy.

"It’s alright. I’m still gonna be in New York."

He nodded, standing up and grabbing one of my bags. "Alright then. Let’s go. Sevyn should be here soon."

As we made our way downstairs, I heard her before I even saw her. "You’re all packed and ready to go, I see."

My mama’s voice was smooth, polished, the voice of a woman who always made sure she sounded like she had it together with the slightest hint of her New York accent shining through. She had been born and raised in Brooklyn but after all this time you could barely tell, except when you made her mad, that accent was front and center.

"Yup," I mumbled, keeping my expression neutral.

"Despite what you think, I am glad you’re going to New York for school," she said, crossing her arms over her silk blouse. "My issue is you staying in an apartment as an eighteen-year-old with your nineteen-year-old cousin. For the life of me, I don’t understand why your grandparents thought this was a good idea."

I sighed already knowing where this was going. "Ma, please, let’s not have this conversation again. It’s happening. Nona and Poppi already agreed to pay for it. At least it ain’t coming out of your pocket."

"That’s not the point. I could pay for it if I wanted to."