Page 27

AVERI

Our room was already full of laughter and half-empty martini glasses by the time I slid into the velvet corner seat beside Egypt.

The glow of the gold pendant lights above us softened everything—our skin, our moods, the messiness of life outside this room.

The smell of lemon pepper wings, truffle fries, and hookah smoke floated through the air like comfort.

Sevyn had already made sure our favorite private room was reserved. He always looked out.

“So how do you think the table read went earlier?” I asked Serenity and Egypt taking a sip from my martini glass.

“I think it went good, first couple of episodes are going to be bomb.” Egypt replied. “I hate them bitches cancelled our fuckin’ show.”

“Same,” Serenity replied. “My mama said she and the other producers fought hard for us but in the end, CW said fuck it.”

“But cheers to bigger and better opportunities for all of ya’ll.” Ari said holding up her glass. We all clinked to that.

Egypt passed her phone around with a smirk. “So… I might be signing to LA Records.”

Serenity's eyes lit up. “Wait, seriously?!”

“Nothing’s official yet,” she said, but her smile gave her away. “But we’re talking. It’s looking really good.”

I grinned. “You deserve it. That voice of yours? They’d be stupid not to sign you.”

She nudged me. “Only reason they even looked twice is because of that song you wrote.”

“You’re welcome,” I teased, sipping my drink. “But for real, I’m proud of you.”

They kept talking about Egypt’s deal and Serenity’s studio opening, Arielle jumping in to share updates from her firm—but my mind was drifting. Back to Atlanta, back to that night...Back to him.

Royal Teegan was the last man I ever expected to fall for. Yet here I was… missing the hell out of someone who tore me apart.

“You good, Ave?”

I blinked, looking up to see three sets of eyes staring at me. Serenity’s brow was raised.

“You’ve been quiet,” Egypt added.

I swallowed the knot in my throat. “I’m good. Just thinking.”

Arielle tilted her head, that damn lawyer intuition kicking in. “Thinking about him?”

I hesitated. Then nodded. “Yeah.”

Egypt exhaled softly. “You miss him.”

“Of course I do,” I whispered. “I know I shouldn’t, but... it’s hard not to.”

“If he came back tomorrow,” Arielle asked gently, “like... really came for you, would you give him another chance?”

I took a breath, my eyes stinging. “I don’t know. I want to say no. I should say no. But... part of me—” I paused. “Part of me just wants to be close to him again.”

“He hurt you bad,” Egypt reminded me, her voice firm but loving.

“I know,” I nodded. “That’s why he’s blocked. I’m trying to move on. Protect my peace. But…”

“You were in love with him, weren’t you?” Ari asked.

I looked down at the condensation on my glass. “Yeah. I was. Even if it was short-lived... it was real.”

The room was quiet for a moment. Then Serenity reached for my hand across the table. “I get it. Just... don’t forget what you deserve.”

I smiled at them, grateful. “I haven’t. I just wish he didn’t still live rent free in my head.”

Seconds later, Sevyn popped his head in the room like perfect timing. “Ladies. Dinner’s on me tonight. And I better see y’all at my place Saturday for game night.”

“Yes, sir!” Ari called, already reaching for the lemon pepper wings. “You’re the best, Sev.”

He winked and disappeared, and we wrapped up the night with laughs and leftovers.

Egypt’s voice filled the Aaliyah booth at LA Records, smooth and full of aching as she sang the chorus to “Notice Me.”

“You walk in the room, I forget how to breathe...

You ain’t gotta say it, I know what you need...

But you don’t see me, boy, you never do...

Wish I could be the one you’re runnin’ to…”

I closed my eyes, chills crawling up my arms. She was killing it. The song hit even harder now.

When she came out of the booth five minutes later, her cheeks were flushed. “That felt good.”

“You sound amazing,” I said, voice low, still caught in my feelings. “You brought it to life.”

“Girl, you wrote it,” she reminded me, tugging off her headphones. “I’m telling you Ave, your pen is unstoppable, no wonder LA Records wanted you on their team so bad. But of course, I been knowing this since college. I’m so glad we’re collabin on my album.”

“Same.” I smiled.

We decided to break and headed down the hallway to grab snacks from the café. We were halfway back, and I was flipping through my social media when I heard Zay’s voice behind me.

“Look who it is.” I froze. If Zay was here that could only mean Royal wasn’t too far behind. I turned around and there he was, standing in the hallway in a black hoodie and sweats like he hadn’t shattered me weeks ago. Zay stepped forward first, giving me a quick hug. “You look good, Ave.”

“Thanks Zay,” I said, barely hearing myself.

Royal stayed back, quiet, eyes on me like I was a ghost. He looked... better. Not completely healed. But better. The silence that radiated between us was almost unbearable until Egypt broke it.

“Hey Royal, long time no see.”

“What’s up Sis.” Royal smiled giving her a hug. “Heard you got signed, congrats.”

“Thank you.” Egypt replied. “How you been?”

“I’m good just been working.” He replied before glancing over at me. “What’s up Ave.”

I bit back a smart response, instead going with; “Hey.” Short and sweet. “Well, we should get back to the studio, so much work to do…” I tried to pull Egypt along, but Royal’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

My first instinct was to say no. But Egypt gave me a subtle nudge. I sighed. “Fine. But quick.”

We walked up to the rooftop lounge, the LA skyline stretching out before us in soft golden light. I stayed standing while he leaned against the railing. With my arms wrapped around my body, I waited for him to talk.

“How you been?”

“Good.” It was a damn lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

“You look good Ave.”

“Thanks.” I was being short with him, didn’t have time for the bullshit. He chuckled; my stubborn nature was kicking in on overdrive. I wasn’t cut for this small talk, wanted him to get to his point. So, I asked; “Why are you here?”

“I’m in town for a few months,” he said. “Got some things I’m working on.”

I nodded. “Good. You look like you’re doing better.”

He looked over at me. “I’m trying. Every day it’s a struggle, but I’m definitely trying.

” There was a brief silence before he continued.

“Look Ave, I just wanted to say I’m sorry, for everything.

The way I treated you... the shit I said.

.. pushing you away. I was hurting, and I took it out on you.

I knew you didn’t deserve it, but I did it anyway. ”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “I know you were grieving. I never blamed you for hurting. But you made me your target, Royal. You blamed me for something I would’ve given anything to change.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “I’ve been carrying that every day since.” I looked away, emotions threatening to explode. “I miss you,” he added. “I miss us. I want to spend time with you again. And I was hoping you’d consider?—”

My heart twisted as I shook my head. “I’m not ready,” I said honestly. “I need closure. Not confusion.”

He nodded, but the disappointment in his face was sharp. “I get it.”

“Look, it was good seeing you. And I mean that. I’m happy you’re finding your footing. But honestly Royal, I have to protect my peace.”

He straightened up, rubbing his nose and clearing his throat. “Yeah. Yeah, I respect that.”

I took a breath. “Take care of yourself, Royal.”

“You too, Ave.”

Then I turned and walked away, every step feeling heavier than the last. And even though I didn’t look back—I wanted to. God, I wanted to.

Walking back down to the studio, I didn’t know how I felt about that conversation. Royal said he’d be in LA for a few months on business, but those words had been playing on a loop in my head ever since I left the rooftop.

LA is massive. Endless neighborhoods, boulevards, and hideaways. You could avoid someone for years in this city if you wanted to. But not if you both work at the same damn label, not if you were both recording music down the hall from one another.

Back in the Aaliyah Booth, Egypt tilted her head at me, her mic tilted to the side and a water bottle perched between her knees. “So… what happened?”

I slid back into the producer’s chair and exhaled through my nose, keeping my eyes on the screen. “It went fine. As good as it could, I guess.”

She rolled her chair over to mine and rested her chin in her palm. “He apologize?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he say he missed you?”

I paused. “…Yeah.”

“And?”

“He asked if we could… you know, go back to what we were.”

Egypt’s eyes widened. “Wait. For real?”

“Deadass.”

“And you said?”

“I told him no, Egypt. Like I told you before, I have to protect my peace.”

“Wow.” She sounded impressed maybe thinking I would have folded, but then her voice softened.

“I mean… I get it. Protect your peace and all. But Ave… you’ve been walking around here like your heart fell out yo’ damn chest. I think that’s something to consider too babe, all that love don’t just stop. ”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. It was true. Royal Teegan had broken something in me. And I hated that he had that kind of power.

I convinced myself it’d be easy to limit my interactions with Royal. I’d avoid him at LA Records. Stay focused. Handle the business of promoting the album when that time came and keep things professional.

But all that planning went out the window the second I walked into Sevyn’s game night and saw Royal posted up in the kitchen like he owned the place. Confused, I made a beeline to Serenity and Ari who were sitting on the couch in the living room talking.

“Who the fuck invited him here?” They exchanged a glance.

“He walked in with Nas.” Serenity said. “So, I assume he did.”