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AVERI

I wasn’t running.

I just… needed some space. Okay, maybe that was a damn lie. Because ever since that night with Royal, I’d been tripping.

I was second-guessing everything, overanalyzing the way I walked, the way I talked, the way I breathed around him. All of a sudden, I cared what he thought. And that was the problem because I wasn’t supposed to be falling for a nigga like Royal.

But here I was, thinking about his hands on me, his lips, his voice when he commanded me, his smirk that pissed me off and turned me on at the same time.

I wanted to fuck him again, real fuckin’ bad.

I craved him while we were supposed to be working.

I imagined him bending me over the console and we made a different kind of music right in the damn studio.

I knew I couldn’t do that though. So, I figured, I needed a reset.

Which was why I found myself flying to Toronto to visit Egypt while she was shooting her new movie; very last minute and making an excuse to Royal like she needed me when really, I needed her.

I needed to vent to my friend and have her tell me to be reckless like only she would.

The moment I stepped into her trailer on set, I exhaled, grateful for a change of scenery. She was still filming, so I made myself comfortable, scrolling through my phone until it rang with a Facetime request.

Serenity.

I smiled, answering. “Hey, Toot. What’s up?”

“Ave,” she started, way too sweetly. “I need a huge favor.”

I immediately sat up straighter. “Oh shit. What is it?”

She hesitated; I could see her mind formulating the right way to ask me. “I want you, no… I need you to sing me down the aisle.”

I damn near choked on my spit. “Bitch, what?”

“You heard me.”

I sputtered. “Absolutely the fuck not Serenity.”

“Come on, Averi, please?” she begged, using that voice she knew always worked on me.

“Serenity, you know I don’t do that. I write. I produce. I don’t perform.”

“That’s exactly why I need you to do this,” she countered smoothly. “I don’t want a big name doing it. I want it to be personal. And I can’t think of anyone else better than you.”

“Ask Egypt.”

“She’s already doing the first dance… Come on Averi, for me?”

I closed my eyes, groaning. “Serenity…”

“Please?”

I exhaled. This was my best friend’s wedding—her one-year-anniversary vow renewal, technically—but still. She had done so much for me, been there for me through a lot. Our entire friend group had been through so much with each other. I couldn’t tell her no and her evil ass knew that.

“Fine,” I muttered.

Serenity cheered. “I knew you’d come through. I love you Avie wavey.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t help but to smile. That was short-lived, though, because then she paused, her tone shifting. “You good?” she asked. “Something seems off with you.”

I hesitated, but just as I was about to spill the tea, the trailer door swung open. Egypt waltzed in, looking gorgeous as ever, make up done looking like it was painted on by the Gods, hair up in a messy bun, skin glowing under the studio lights.

She froze, noticing my expression. “Oop—hold up. I just walked in on some shit, didn’t I?”

Serenity laughed. “Yeah, you did. Ave was just about to tell me what’s up.”

Egypt’s eyes lit up as she quickly crossed the trailer to sit down next to me on her couch. “Oh, do tell.”

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands. “I fucked Royal.”

Egypt eyes got wide before she let out a squeal of excitement, clapping her hands. “Bitch, finally!”

Serenity gasped. “Wait, y’all actually—oh, wow. Okay girl. I see you.”

I groaned. “It was a mistake.”

Egypt waved me off. “Mistakes don’t be having you looking like that. You’re fuckin’ glowing friend. What that man done did to you?”

Serenity hummed. “She’s right. You look shook.”

I rubbed my temples before biting down on my bottom lip, glimpses of that night flashed through my brain same as they had been doing since it happened.

“I just—I shouldn’t have done it. It’s complicating so much already.

Why the fuck do you think I hopped my ass on a plane to be in Toronto?

That man was doing shit to me with his eyes, making me second guess myself. ”

Egypt grinned. “Was it good?”

“It was everything. When I tell you that man was talkin me through it and my silly ass was obeying every single command.” My head fell back against the couch.

“How big was his dick?” that was Egypt, always asking shit she had no business asking.

I glared at her. “I’m not answering that.”

She cackled. “It must have been big.”

Serenity chuckled. “So, what’s the problem? If you liked it, keep doing it. Hell, you only live once.”

Egypt nodded. “Or use him for the dick while you’re still in Atlanta, then go about your business when you leave.”

I hesitated, heart pounding. “I think I like him,” I admitted.

The line went silent then Serenity sighed. “Well… damn.”

Egypt grinned knowingly. “Oh, bitch you’re screwed. That nigga don put it on yo ass real good and he got you out here crazy expressing feelings and shit.”

Before Serenity could respond, I heard a loud crash in the background followed by a tiny voice yelling, “It was Giovanni’s fault!”

Serenity cursed under her breath. “Let me go. The kids just broke something.” She hung up without another word, leaving me alone with Egypt.

Egypt crossed her arms. “So, you really got feelings for this man?”

I swallowed. “Yeah. I like him friend… Real bad and I hate it.”

She studied me for a second before shrugging matter of factly. “Then tell him.”

I scoffed. “And what, get my feelings hurt?”

Egypt scoffed. “Or find out he feels the same way. Averi you’re a fuckin’ catch and I ain’t saying that shit because you’re my bestie. Every other nigga you ever been with saw that shit too late, let’s just hope Royal ain’t like they dumbasses.”

I bit my lip, not ready to accept that as a possibility.

Later that night, after Egypt finished filming, we went and had a late dinner at some Thai restaurant she swore by before we got back to her Airbnb.

I was in the guest bedroom, getting ready to shower, when my phone lit up.

Royal.

I hesitated before answering. Then I pressed the green accept button. The screen loaded, revealing him sitting in a car, surrounded by smoke, music low in the background, the faint sound of Zay and King laughing in front of him.

But my focus was on him. His eyes were low, lazy, heavy with something I couldn’t name. He scanned me slowly, and a chill ran up my spine. I was wearing nothing but a towel, and his gaze lingered way too long on my bare shoulders.

“Hey Royal.”

“What’s up mama?”

I ignored the way that rolled off his tongue as if it was natural, as if he’d been calling me that this entire time.

“I see you not in the studio.”

“I see you in a strange bed.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. “What are you doing?” I asked, keeping my voice even.

He smirked. “Thinking about you.”

I exhaled slowly, ignoring the way my skin heated. “Oh really?”

He nodded. “Been wondering why you runnin’ from me.”

I scoffed. “I’m not running, Royal.”

He tilted his head. “Then why you leave the city?”

“I needed to see my friend,” I replied. Before he could respond to that, the music lowered and I heard Zay.

“That’s Ave? What up Ave?”

“Hey Zay.”

“Avie Girl, what’s up baby?” that was King. I noticed the way Royal’s eyes flicked in his brother’s direction hearing him call me baby and I forced back my chuckle.

“Hey King. Why y’all out in the streets? Royal has an album to finish.”

“We needed a break.” Zay laughed and I watched as Royal accepted the blunt one of them had passed to him.

Royal licked his lips before pulling on the blunt then exhaling the smoke. “So when you comin’ back?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

He hummed, his voice low, slow, eyes dragging over me. “Good. I’mma pick you up from the airport.”

My breath caught. “Royal—” we both knew that wasn’t a good idea. If people spotted him picking me up from Atlanta Hartsfield, the rumor mill would start all over again.

“I need you.” He whispered just loud enough for me to hear him over the music. I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. He was doing something to me, and he knew it.

I shook my head. “Why are you doing this?”

His smirk deepened. “You know why.” I hated him. But I wanted him. “Send me your flight details,” he murmured. “I’ll see you tomorrow mama.”

Then, before I could respond, he hung up. I stared at my phone, heart racing, butterflies in my stomach before I fell back onto the bed, exhaling.

This was bad.

He was trouble. And if I was being honest with myself, I wanted every damn bit of it.