Page 55 of Loyalty, Lust, Love

It was Christmas Eve, and the friends were meeting at Lynx’s house to eat, exchange gifts, catch up, and enjoy each other’s company. Joaquin was the first to arrive.

“Damn, nigga. You been in the gym.” Joaquin stepped inside and lightly punched Lynx on the shoulder.

“A lil bit. I’m trying to get big like you. How you been?” Lynx responded as they exchanged a one-armed hug.

“I’ve been good. School and work are kicking my ass, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”

“Same here, man. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to change my major.”

“Real talk? I’ve never known you to struggle in school.”

“You try majoring in architecture and minoring in construction management. This shit ain’t no joke.”

“I believe you, but you got it,” Joaquin encouraged.

Before Lynx closed the door, he saw Adam and Meaghan approaching the house from different directions.

“Wassup, y’all? It’s been a minute,” Adam greeted.

“Almost two years,” Lynx said.

“And it seems longer,” Meaghan added.

The friends continued to exchange greetings and hugs. When Meaghan removed her coat, the guys couldn’t help but notice how good she looked.

“Damn, girl. You fine as fuck,” Joaquin exclaimed.

“Whatever, boy.”

“Nah, Meaghan. You really do look good,” Adam cosigned.

“Don’t play with me like that. I’ve always looked good.”

“True, but this grown-woman look puts your teenage look to shame. I bet you got niggas all in your DMs,” Joaquin said.

“I guess that’s a compliment,” she said, giving him the side-eye.

“Oh, it most definitely is.”

Joaquin always thought Meaghan was pretty, but teenage Meaghan and young adult Meaghan were on different levels.

“Thank you. Where’s Octavia and Fateema? I’m starving.”

“Hopefully, on their way. We can head to the kitchen while we wait,” Lynx said.

They ran into Keno coming down the stairs on their way to the kitchen. He stopped and spoke to them briefly before leaving for the night.

“Does Mr. Keno have a girlfriend?” Meaghan asked.

Lynx frowned. “Last I checked, he had a few, and you better not be asking because you’re interested.”

“Umm, your daddy is fine, but eww! He said he’d be back in the morning, so I was just asking.”

“Still nosy, I see.”

“No, just curious.”

As they continued to the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Lynx went back to answer the door while his friends continued into the kitchen. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Fateema. Before she could greet him, he pulled her into a hug and buried his face in her neck.