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ROYAL

A fter the game, I sent a text to Andy letting him know we were making our way to the pickup spot under the tunnel where most high priority people exited the game. Zay and I had barely made it to the Escalade before he was already talkin’ shit.

“Bro… really ?” he asked as we walked through the exit tunnel. “You sent that girl home mid-game?”

“Yup,” I said, deadpan.

“She looked mad as hell.”

“Not my problem.”

He side-eyed me. “You invited her, Royal.”

“And I uninvited her,” I replied as camera flashed in our direction. Zay and I hustled to the car where Andy had the door open, waiting for us.

“You ever gon’ stop bein’ chaotic?” Zay asked as we hopped into the car and then Andy shut the door behind us.

I let my head fall back against the headrest, eyes closed, sighing long and deep as Andy got in and pulled off. “She wasn’t it.”

“That ain’t what you said when you invited her,” he said, shaking his head. “You know that was a bad move, bringing her to this game.”

“I know,” I muttered.

He glanced over at me, giving me that older brother look even though he was a few months younger.

“You know how wild you look, right? First you confessin’ your love for Averi in the backyard like it’s a Boyz II Men video, now you poppin’ out with some IG model like you tryna audition for Love natural and almost angelic.

I stared for a second too long before catching myself. “Glad you came.”

She gave me a sharp look. “Egypt wouldn’t stop bothering me until I promised to come.”

“Still counts,” I smirked.

She rolled her eyes and walked in.

It had to be the combination of Runtz, Casamigos, and her being back in my space, but I was stuck on her all night. Watching her laugh. Watching her smile. Watching her play Spades and talkin shit like she was tryna fight somebody. She was home to me. Even when she ain’t want to be.

When the patio door let a little chill in, she looked around. “Ugh, it’s cold out there,” she said, arms crossed tight over her chest. “You got a hoodie or somethin’?”

I stood, sliding my phone in my pocket. “Yeah, come on, I got you.”

I resisted the urge to hold her hand and instead walked ahead of her through the house. She followed me up the stairs past the guest bedrooms and into the master. I walked to the closet and grabbed the soft black hoodie she always loved. When I turned around, she was looking around the bedroom.

“This your room?” she asked, eyes low from us smoking, voice calm, but curious.

“Yeah. You like it?”

“It’s coo.” She shrugged.

I stepped forward, hoodie in hand. “I can give you a tour of the house if you want.”

She shook her head. “Nah, I’m good.” She reached her hand out to take the hoodie and when she saw which one it was, she chuckled. “I can’t believe you brought this.”

“Shit, I love this hoodie.” I told her. “But lowkey, I didn’t know Cory packed it until I saw it a few days ago.”

“Well, thanks.” She turned to leave, but I caught her wrist. I wasn’t ready to let her go, wanted more than just these few short moments of alone time with her. Besides, I was tired of being in her presence and not feeling her touch, the softness of her skin and those pretty ass pouty lips.

Averi froze. I didn’t say a word; I didn’t have to.

When she looked back at me, I just knew, and she did too.

Maybe she felt everything that I had been feeling.

The night had been going so well, and things just felt like old times back in Atlanta when we’d be chilling, drinking, and smoking while in the studio working.

Back when we were happy, when Zay, Malachi and King had us laughin or when we had them laughin with our constant bickering.