Page 51 of Definitely Not a Thing

“Girl,what?!” she shrieked. And then, “Who?!”

“Calvin Cross.”

“The Crossover?!” she yelled, standing up from her seat. She fumbled with the phone a second before it came with her, putting her face back into view. “Amelia… you didn’t know?!”

“Kae – do Iseemlike the type of bitch that would know?!”

She laughed. “I mean… generally speaking, no. He’s not like… superstar level like a Kevion Ward, but girl… I know Hunter hates your ass.”

“What does he have to do with it?”

The grin slid off her face. “Wait… so… if you didn’t know who Calvin was… oh, friend.”

“Oh my God,what??”

“Do you remember that time I came and stayed in the Heights with you – you had moved in with Hunter already, but he was going out with his friends.”

I nodded. “Yeah, they went to a Brawler game, and like a party after or something. They stayed in Blackwood.”

“Yes, that’s exactly the night I’m talking about. I was there when Hunter left to go out… wearing a Brawlers jersey. More specifically, wearing aCalvin Crossjersey.”

“Nooooo!”

“Ohyes,” Kae started cackling. “I remember because Calvin got in major freaking trouble that same night – suspended for the rest of the season, actually. It was a big deal, and I meant to ask Hunter about it, but… I don’t like talking his ass, so I just didn’t.”

“Oh my goodness,no wonderhe’s been so damnpressedabout every interaction.”

“Not you fucking on his favorite playerrrrrr,”

“Not on purpose!” I defended, but she just kept laughing.

“That’s what makes it so good. Oh man… what a great turn of events.”

“Kae!”

“What?!”

“That’s so mean. I’mmortified.”

She sucked her teeth. “Whatever. Didn’t you say Hunter already had a new boo anyway?”

“Yeah, but?—”

“But nothing,” Kae spoke up. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s notyourfault he lost his girlandhis favorite player – he can take it up with whoever he pissed off enough to stick them needles?—”

Mid-rant, a knock sounded at the door.

A fresh grin spread over Kae’s face. “Is that him?”

I didn’t even know whichhimshe was referring to, but I desperately hoped it was neither as I made my way to the door to peek out.

Calvin.

Still with no shirt on.

“Okay I’ll talk to you later,” I told Kae, who immediately burst into a fit of giggles. “Oooh, she’s getting off the phone to talk to her booooo!”

“Oh my God,shut up,” I hissed, then ended the call, hoping like hell Calvin hadn’t heard her loud ass through the door.