Page 39 of Love's Free Will

“So, Royal,” Brodie started. “Averi said you’re working on a new album?”

Royal nodded, sipping his drink. “Yeah, been puttin’ in work. Tryna take my sound to the next level.”

Creed flipped a steak, nodding. “That’s what’s up, man. You workin’ with Ave on it?”

Royal smirked, glancing at me. “Somethin’ like that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Something like that,” I mimicked under my breath, which only made him chuckle.

“Yeah, we collabin,” he clarified, still watching me like he knew exactly what he was doing.

“And how is that goin’ for you?” Nasseem asked, grinning like he already knew the answer.

I was about to speak, but Royal beat me to it.

“A headache,” he muttered. “She don’t listen. She always got somethin’ to say. Stubborn as hell.” My friends laughed, already knowing that’s exactly who I was, and I didn’t care.

I scoffed. “Like you’re not the most difficult person I’ve ever met?”

Brodie laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right. Ave do got a smart-ass mouth.”

Creed smirked. “That’s why we love her short, mean ass.”

Royal shook his head. “Y’all really be lettin’ her talk to people crazy, huh?”

Nasseem shrugged. “Shit, not gon’ lie we all be talkin’ crazy to people. Probably why we all friends and get along so well.”

Royal chuckled, and I realized something right then. He wasn’t just fitting in—he was vibing. The tension I expected to feel was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was out here laughing, joking, bullshitting with my people like he’d been here before. And I liked that way more than I wanted to admit.

While the men held it down at the grill and the kids went to play in the playroom, me, Serenity, Arielle, and Egypt sat at the patio table, drinks in hand, catching up.

“So…” Serenity started, giving me a look. I already knew where this was going. “I told you before you left LA,” she reminded me, sipping her drink. “You were gonna come back with a rapper on your arm.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “I hate you.”

Egypt cackled, setting her glass down. “Look at you, though! You went from ‘I don’t wanna work with him’ to ‘this my man.’”

I gasped, but Arielle smirked. “I mean, is she wrong?”

I groaned. “We’re not putting labels on anything, okay? We’re just seeing where things go.”

Serenity and Arielle exchanged looks and Egypt smirked. “Translation: You like him.”

I gave them all a flat stare. Because, yeah, I did like him, a lot.

I sighed, swirling my drink. “It’s just crazy how we started. I swore I wasn’t gonna work with him. He was a complete asshole to me for no reason. Now?” I gestured toward the grill where he stood, laughing with my people like he’d known them for years.

“Now, you all in,” Arielle teased.

“I wouldn’t say all in,” I muttered.

Serenity hummed. “Mmm-hmm.”

I sighed. “Despite his reputation, he’s actually… a good person.”

Egypt leaned forward. “And fine as fuck.” We burst into laughter, and I couldn’t even lie. Because yeah. That too.

After dinner, the men headed downstairs to Creed’s man cave—which was just a code for room with a giant TV, video games and way too much expensive liquor. That left us in the kitchen, cleaning up.

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