Page 20 of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

“As a friend?” Joy let out a short barking laugh. “Yeah, right.”

“What? I’m serious.”

“You paying for the trip?”

“Nah, but—”

Joy tugged at the waistband of her running shorts, tucking her keys back into a pouch as they tried to slip out. “Then that’s not some friend shit.”

“Oh, come on.” Feyi wiped a trickle of sweat out of her eye. “As if you and I wouldn’t pay for each other.”

“Yeah, but we’re us. Nasir is a nigga who would fuck you in a heartbeat if you let him.”

Feyi put a hand to her chest, pretending to gasp. “What, you mean you wouldn’t fuck me in a heartbeat if I let you? I’m hurt, Joy.”

Her best friend rolled her eyes. “Been there, done that, got the neck cramp to prove it.”

“Oh, that’s bullshit, I totally ate you out.”

“Uh-huh. Pillow princess.”

Feyi shoved her, knocking her out of her stride. “That’s not what you were calling me by round three.”

Joy laughed and fell back into pace. “Whatever, that shit was years ago. What I’m saying is, quit acting like what y’all have is a real friendship. It’s different and you know it.”

She was right, but that was no reason for Feyi to agree with her. “Look, I don’t know what it is exactly,” she said, “but the important part is that his dad is rich as shit and paying for first-class flights.”

They jogged in place at a red light, and Joy let out a short whistle. “For real?”

“And I get my own room at their family house up in the mountains.”

“Ooh, shit. That low-key sounds amazing. And the work hookup doesn’t hurt.”

“Right? It’s like going to an all-inclusive resort and getting to move my career forward at the same time.”

“I’m not mad at it.”

The light changed and the girls picked up their pace as they crossed the street. “I’m just worried that he’s going to think it’s some big step if I say yes,” Feyi continued.

Joy blew out an exasperated breath. “You are so fucking paranoid, always acting like this nigga’s tryna marry you or some shit. Just take it as what it is.”

“Yeah, you’re right. He’s hooking up with someone else anyway, but I did kiss him last night.”

Joy stopped and caught her breath, her hands on her knees. “Wait, you did what? And he’s seeing someone else? Since when?”

Feyi jogged a circle around her. “Dunno, he said it’s an off-and-on thing.”

“Don’t act like you didn’t just tell me about a kiss, bitch. And besides, that boy can’t take his eyes off you, so if he’s fucking someone else, he’s probably just imagining that she’s you the whole time.” Joy knelt down to retie her laces and looked up at her. “How was the kiss?”

Feyi stopped and started to stretch her quads, trying to sound casual. “It was nice.”

“I swear to God, Feyi—”

“Nah, it was amazing.” She tried not to blush and felt herself failing. “We were downstairs by the mailboxes, and he had me all up against them … it was super hot, actually.”

“Okay, and then what? I swear I didn’t hear any fucking in the apartment last night.”

“That’s because there wasn’t any, you pervert. We just … made out.” Feyi shrugged. “It was cute.”