Page 39 of Definitely Not a Thing

“A couple of them needed a little help – I’ll make my way to the hardware store so I’m ready for next time. But, yes. I got my windows open.”

“Good,” he nodded. “I remember you working with the ones at our—at my place.”

“Right. Is your new girlfriend in the affected area?”

Why the fuck did you ask him that, girl?!

Hunter’s eyebrows went up. “Uh… nah. I’m actually about to head over to kick it at her place. Was just… making sure you were okay.”

“Yeah. Well… thanks for checking on me, I guess.”

“I’ve always tried to make sure you were good. But… Idoget to move on, right?”

“Nigga – I didn’t come to your door, you came to mine, the fuck?!” I snapped, and he immediately put up his hands.

“I’m talking about earlier, at UG – that look you gave me!”

I sucked my teeth. “I didn’t give you a look – I dropped a dish and I was embarrassed – it was on my face whenyoulooked atme.”

He gave me that fake, close-mouthed smile people give you when they think you’re a liar, and nodded.

“If you say that’s what it was… okay. That’s what it was.”

I will put this door through your head.

“Everything good out here?”

Suddenly, Calvin’s hand was at the small of my back, grazing my ass. I watched Hunter’s gaze climb up, and could imagine what this looked like through his eyes.

Me standing at the door in lounge shorts and a cropped spaghetti-strap tank, nipples hard, sweat building now that I was away from the AC. Calvin behind me, tall and fine and shirtless and that tattooed copper skin contrasting against my smooth, darker tone.

I literallywatchedthe vein pop up on his head.

This is lovely, really.

“Yeah,” Hunter scoffed. “Everything is good.”

“Cool,” Calvin said, giving me a quick tap on the ass before he walked off.

I… man, okay.

“Seriously, Amelia?” Hunter chuckled – in a dry, aint-shit-funny kinda way. “So you really are fucking him? I should’ve known.”

My eyes narrowed. “You have the nerve to comment on that wearing a hoe-fit on your way to spend the night with somebody?”

“A hoe fit?”

“That’s what I said!” I hissed. “But you know – it’s none of my business, just likeheis none of yours. Do not call, do not text, do not drop by. We don’t need to do… whatever this is.”

“Well excuse the fuck outta me for still giving a damn about you.”

“You’re excused!” I quipped, then stepped back to fling the door shut.

Wait a minute.

“I should’ve known.”

What thefuckwas that supposed to mean?!