Page 38 of Free to Fall

“You been awfully quiet,” I said, glancing her way.

She looked up and smiled. “Just making sure Royal’s good.”

“First tour stop jitters?” Serenity asked.

Averi shook her head confidently. “No, we’re fine now. I mean Royal was stressing about it at first but I convinced him we’ll be good. I’ll be with him this first full week and then I’ll fly out to a few dates with him. He’s got a whole schedule laid out. Between that, FaceTime, late-night calls, and me popping up, we’ll be good.”

“I love that,” Arielle chimed in. “Y’all seem locked in.”

“We are.” Averi smiled again; this time softer. “I know the type of man I married. I trust him. He knows what he got at home.” I grinned, watching the way she said it with her chest. No doubt. No hesitation. That’s how I wanted to feel. That knowing.

“I just love seeing us all in love,” Serenity added. “And glowing while we do it.”

“Speak for yourself,” Arielle muttered, making us all laugh. “Me and Brodie been beefin’ lately.”

Averi leaned over. “Y’all always beefin’ and still poppin’ out with matching outfits.”

“I’m just sayin’,” Arielle shrugged. “He want more kids, and I need peace.”

“Don’t we all,” I murmured, sipping on the infused lemon water they’d handed us when we walked in.

“What you need a damn break from hoe, you all booed up in that honeymoon phase.” Ari rolled her eyes. “Wait ‘til you’ve been with Nas for a few years, everything he does will irritate you.”

“Everything he does now irritates me.” I laughed. “But at the end of the day; my man, my man, my man.”

“Honeymoon phase for real.” Serenity shook her head.

“Bitch what you talkin’ about? You and Creed act like ya’ll those same people who just met. Ya’ll be so all over each other it’s ridiculous. Speaking of more kids, I’m surprised ya’ll ain’t popped no more out by now.” That was Ari again, for some reason raining on everybody’s parade because she had shit going on.

“First of all, I told ya’ll last year we got a lot going on and are not planning on having more kids any time soon. The dance studio is almost open—which you hoes better be at my opening in a month—and once that’s up and running, then I will be popping out more babies for my man; as many as he wants.”

“Good for you.” Ari sneered.

Serenity, Averi and I all looked at Ari.

“Okay bitch what’s your fuckin’ problem?” Averi asked her. “Because you being real bitchy to all of us like we shit in your Fruit Loops.”

“I’m just frustrated. I don’t understand why Brodie is trippin’ on me like this. Yes, we both wanted a big family, but I need to figure out my career too. He’s withholding his penis from me so I have a fuckin’ attitude.”

“Okay then tell him that. Ya’ll been together for too long to be having communication issues Arielle, seriously.” I told her. “And you need to take the dick if it’s bothering you so bad because you’re a bitch and I can’t deal with it.”

“Fuck you.” Ari laughed along with everyone else. “Taking it doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe I’ll get him drunk and get lucky.”

“Fingers crossed bitch, otherwise the alternative is for you to eat a damn Snickers.” Serenity flipped her cousin off.

“Brodie’s penis is like a snickers…”

“Ugh, we did not ask you that. Kill the fuckin’ visual.” Averi scrunched her nose and shook her head.

An hour later, we were refreshed and feeling a little bit prettier. Fresh full sets, pedicures, and the kind of energy thatonly comes from being pampered and surrounded by women who really got you. Our driver took us to one of the high-end malls in Buckhead, where we split off to browse. I walked into Balenciaga with Serenity and Averi while Arielle dipped into Saint Laurent across the way.

“You think this too much?” Serenity asked, holding up a rhinestone-covered mini bag.

“Serenity, you could carry a bottle cap on a chain and make it look high fashion,” I said.

She grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

We hit a few more stores, racked up some damage on our cards, and by the time we circled back to meet near the Tesla charging stations, a few fans had spotted us.

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