Page 133 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“You gone find me there?”

“I promise.”

“I’m holding you to that, Choc, ’cause a nigga gone be waiting.”

A fleet of luxury cars lined the driveway of our family home. In addition to my siblings, there were a host of guests that included associates of the birthday girl and some family from Rhea’s tree. Mother Sheryl, the matriarch of the Franklins. Father Westly. Heather. Lindsey. Jermain. Jacob. Kendra. Kassie. And a handful of fully vetted associates who cared to celebrate Roaman’s special day.

Eden clung to my right side as we took the steps. We had only made it up two of them when the loud, thunderous bass in the distance summoned us both. Out of her newest addition to the collection, Roulette bolted before the engine had come to a complete stop. With a shake of the head, I observed as she checked her reflection in the side mirror and swept a thick piece of hair behind her ear.

She strutted past all the cars and met me on the second step, hardly giving me room to release the frustrated air that had begun building the second I heard her loud ass speakers. Realizing what she’d chosen to add to her fleet increased the pressure.

“Hello, Roulette.”

“Well, hello, Chemistry.”

“Giselle.” She nodded toward Eden.

“Eden,” I corrected her.

“Same difference,” she replied, sucking her teeth.

“Hi,” Eden greeted her. “And yes, it’s Eden.”

Tilting her head with a nod, she exposed the gum she’d been rolling around her tongue. “Okay. I knew I hired you for a reason. I love the little campfire you always have going. Please note I’m an entire field of fire. Wild. Untamable. Easily agitated. Hard to maintain. Even harder to smolder.”

I chuckled, finding her speech comical. “Good thing she’s fucking a fireman, baby.”

Eden’s neck whipped in my direction at the realization it was Roulette I was calling baby and not her.

“She’s a lot of mouth, Choc.”

“And action. Don’t forget that part, Chem.”

“Oh, I won’t,” I assured her. “But that’s nothing she has to worry about.”

“Umm. Hmmm. You two are cute together. You–”

She held her index fingers close to one another. “Fit so well. And you’re dressed alike. This is so sweet.”

“Please, Roulette.”

Eden was all teeth, smiling from ear to ear as her cheeks blushed a dark purple.

“Black is my favorite color. Well, and red,” she blabbered, rolling her eyes.

She tapped the key fob, securing her whip.

“You locking that motherfucker like somebody wants it. Better not let Pops see that disgrace in his front yard. He might get that shit towed.”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s an i8!”

“It’s a BMW. And the B stands for bullshit.”

“Like the B in Ben–”

“Mercedez Benz.”

“Whatever.”

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