Page 82 of Love's Free Will

He leaned against the counter, eyeing the rolled cones. “What we smokin’?”

“Gushers to start. Might rotate to Lemon Haze later if we wanna turn up.” We sparked up the first one, passed it back and forth, music low in the background. Then I hit him with it. “So… you and Egypt.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What about us?”

“I peeped y’all at the game,” I said casually, blowing out a cloud. “You looked… comfortable.”

He chuckled. “That girl still hate me. She just ain’t creative with her insults no more.”

“Uh huh. Y’all talkin’ close as hell for two people who claim they can’t stand each other.”

He shrugged, skating right past the question. “You sent ole girl home at halftime?”

“Had to,” I said. “Wasn’t finna let her sit up there with her lil stiff laugh actin’ like she knew me. Plus, she kept makin’ lil’ slick ass comments and I ain’t like that shit.”

“That’s wild,” he laughed. “And all that just to make room in case Ave showed?”

I didn’t respond. But Zay did—walking in at thatexactmoment with a solo cup in his hand. “He been plottin’ all night. Whole thing was a setup. You think he passed out all them invites just to be nice? Hell nah. He tryna get his girl back.”

Nas shook his head. “She say she was comin’?”

“No,” I admitted. “But Egypt volunteered her like she ain't have no choice. So… maybe.”

And the truth was, even though I played it cool, I was lowkey losin’ hope. Every second that passed felt like another nail in the coffin. Then the door buzzed again. I perked up, walked over and checked the screen—Egypt.

She came in dressed down—biker shorts, oversizedMemphis vs Everybodytee, black Yeezy slides. Her hair was slicked back into a low bun, skin fresh, no makeup. Still fine as hell. She gave me a look as she walked in and noticed I was peeking behindher. “Relax, Romeo. She’s on her way. I sent her a pin with my location when I pulled up.” she smirked, walking past me to greet Zay and Nas.

“She better,” I muttered under my breath.

The night was off to a decent start. We had Spades goin’, pool matches in rotation, drinkin’, smokin’, playlists bouncing from Brent Faiyaz to old school Wayne. Egypt and Nas were locked in another fake argument about some bullshit, Zay was tellin’ some wild story about a night in Miami, and I was halfway through rolling another blunt when the doorbell rang.

I looked up from rolling my blunt and everybody stared at me, a smirk playing at the corners of Egypt’s lips, a knowing grin. “Fuck ya’ll lookin at me for?”

“This yo’ shit nigga, we ain’t answerin the door.” Nas replied.

I got up and went to the door opening it and there she was fresh faced, hair pulled into a ponytail, black leggings, white t-shirt, and some Panda Dunks. She looked cozy, comfortable… and beautiful as fuck as always. While I always loved seeing her done up like she was earlier—and that look was fire as fuck—I could never deny this version of her; 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.

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