41. Everly
The sliver of light that bisected the small room as my crazy ass cousin/best friend peeked out the door was just enough to reveal how her usually calm face looked a little worried.
"Epiphany Miller! How long we gotta stay in here, girl?" I hissed.
"Chill, Ev! Just til my fiancé gets here. It won't be long," Pip tried to soothe me.
I side-eyed her before mushing the side of her head.
"Pip! You don't have a fiancé! You just made up that story for Tammy nem, remember? Or have you totally lost it?"
She huffed out a sigh before glaring over her shoulder at me. At least, I assumed she was glaring—I really couldn't see in this dark ass room.
"Since when am I that crazy, Everly Love?"
"Since forever. But since when do you give a fuck what Tamyra and her crew think?" I challenged.
She sighed again, this time softer. "I... don't. Not really. But they've been picking for two damn decades. And all of 'em married?—"
"Most miserably," I reminded her of the rumors.
She pressed on, ignoring me.
"—and Em got Prime and as soon as we blink, Targen gon' snatch my sister away. Then you?—"
I cut that shit off right then.
"Me, what? Me, nothing!"
"You, lying!" she countered before laughing. "Wasn't that Real's fine ass out there redirecting Heath?—"
"He did what?" I squawked.
I had missed that! Pip kissed her teeth.
"Ev, you don't want no damn Heath.”
I hated her for being right. Trying to forget Montréal Hamilton was the reason I’d broken my no-date edict, and it hadn’t even been worth it.
“Yeah, so he redirected Heath, and he pulled you all up against him just when Tammy was about to start,” Pip continued. “That left me. I didn't feel like popping her up in her wide ass mouth tonight."
So, when Tammy had asked Pip where her date was, Pip had coolly informed her that her "fiancé" was busy...
Minutes earlier...
I fought to keep my mouth from falling open like the Three Treacherous Trolls'—Tamyra (aka Tammy), Tracy, and Telina. I don't know who was more shocked at hearing that Epiphany had a fiancé—me, her supposedly closest confidant, or them, our childhood worst enemies. It didn't take Tammy's messy ass long to recover and start a round of harsh laughter at Pip's expense. I tried to squirm away from where Real held me against him, ready to go off if my cousin even gave me half a sign. I hadn't come here for this, but Pip was my baby. Real wouldn't let go and I scowled at him over my shoulder.
"Chill, cuz if her nigga come over here, he gon' have a problem," he rasped against my ear, catching me off-guard.
"You engaged without a ring, Pippi?" Tammy snarked, calling Pip the nickname that had been meant to make fun of the two wild braids she'd loved when we were younger.
"It's being sized. All of this is really new to us but we're taking our time, getting it... right ," Pip returned with her own snark, not even being subtle about hinting at the divorce rumors swirling about Tammy and her husband Byron.
Tammy made an ugly little sound as I smirked at her and her followers. The sad thing was, the Trolls were pretty women who had been above average students. They just chose to be a pack of evil bullies.
"What is it that this sudden fiancé of yours busy doing?" Tammy started again.
"How is that yo' business, witcho messy ass?" I demanded.
"Swear this country ass version of you makes my dick hard," Real mumbled.
"Any version of me makes yo' dick hard," I whispered back, sucking my teeth.
"I'm just saying. It's mighty convenient and desperate how y'all... pleasantly plump asses popping up with these niggas all of a sudden. Hell, you probably payin' this fine ass specimen," Tammy piped up, scowling at me.
"Nah, from what I heard about her last ex, he probably paying her," Tracy spat. "Hoe," she mumbled.
Real's arms tightened just as Pip grabbed my hand to keep me from reaching out and touching the bitch.
"C'mon, Tracy. You know my cousin ain't a hoe. Yo' husband ain't over here sniffing around her and offering to trick off a paycheck," Pip said breezily, then ignored Tracy's sputtering and embarrassed tears.
"As far as my fiancé, he might make an unexpected appearance."
"I'm sure no one expects it less than we do," Tammy got in one last dig before she and the other hellhounds sauntered off.
Pip waited until they were out of sight before yanking me from a less resistant Real and hauling me into a small side room.
And here I was, still with my cousin who might be losing her mind.
"Epiphany?"
I said her name softly as she typed furiously into her phone, the same way she'd been doing since we'd walked out.
"Hmm?"
Bihh had the nerve to sound distracted.
"Umm... honey? Who's your fiancé?"
She waved at me dismissively.
"Girl! I didn't tell you Jag was in town?"
"Millionaire, antisocial, your best-guy-friend Jagger Amir Meriweather?" I asked.
You know, just to clarify. In case she had a spare Jag lying around. She stopped typing to give me a “Duh” look.
"Everly, who else? And I think he made billionaire last month. Some algorithm that?—"
I held up a hand. "Uh-uh. Don't tell me none of that techie shit Jagger does and confuse me even more. When the hell y'all get engaged?"
"Tonight, when I texted and told him what was up."
I rolled my eyes. "Aww, hell, girl."
"He's coming, though."
Of course, he was coming. Epiphany was like one of those great Greek tragedies: she could see things about everyone except herself. I wasn't surprised Jag was coming. I wasn't surprised he was even in town. Wherever Epiphany was, Jag would be there in some way. His father's family was from Emancipation, but his parents' divorce meant he hadn't come here until his mom got sick when he was in seventh grade, and he had to stay with his grandparents. Quiet and distant, he'd been fascinated with Pip from the time he met her. From junior high until now, she'd happily, cluelessly called him “best friend” when it was clear to all of us that friendship wasn't all Jag wanted from her. She'd followed him to school and then into making a life in Houston. His brilliant mind meant his pockets were deep—for Pip, they were bottomless. So was his heart. Only she could get his barely verbal ass to an event like this.
And speaking of things I wasn't surprised by, when he showed up seven minutes later with a little velvet box, the contents of which obviously had a big price tag, I wasn't shocked in the least.
"Ooh, Jag! Did you borrow this from Mama Estelle?" Pip asked, and I wanted to knock some sense into her.
The deep blue of the pear-cut tanzanite and the soft gray of the platinum band were her favorite colors. It was obviously made for her, and I stared at him wide-eyed as she oohed and ahhed over it. He shook his head once at me, dark eyes glittering. I bit my lip and kept silent. He ignored Pip's question as he took the box back to hold it for her.
"Put it on, Epiphany," he ordered in his trademark quiet tones.
She extracted the ring from the box and slid it on her left ring finger.
I wasn't surprised that it fit perfectly. But the look of satisfaction on Jag's face let me know my cousin might just be in for a surprise herself.
They made their exit from the room, and I was happy to follow them. I stopped in the hallway as I almost ran straight into Danny. I couldn't stop the smile that creased my face as I linked my arms through his. I pressed my front into his side, probably annoying him like I had for years.
"You came!" I crowed.
"Somebody had to lead ya boy's drivers," he said dryly, gesturing behind him.
I was surprised to see Juvie and Markel and they looked at me suspiciously, especially after Danny pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead.
"Ay! Sorry to intrude, Real's girl, but where my OG?" Juvie snapped.
My neck whipped around so fast, I was surprised I didn't break it.
"My name is not 'Real's girl' and you know that! And your OG is a grown ass man. Call him or some shit," I snapped back.
He grilled me but couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes. I'll be damned if this bad ass 12-year-old backed me down!
"My bad, Love ," he taunted.
The distinctive sound of Real clearing his throat had me whirling to meet his eyes.
"Watch ya mouth, Julien," he said calmly, his gaze pinned to where I rested against Danny's side.
"So, that's the delinquent's real name?" I teased, wanting attention on anything except Real's quiet study of Danny and me.
Juvie chuckled. "Don't seem like I'm the one in trouble, shorty."
I wanted to argue with him, point out there was no way my very grown, very single ass could be "in trouble," but Real’s eyes and the way he shifted his body had me deciding to keep quiet a little longer.
"Hey, Danny! Hey, Sister! I knew you two would find each other. Ev, I know you've probably had enough of this place. Y'all wanna come with Prime and me to Darnita’s? The food here is fine, but I'm craving hers," Emory spoke loudly as she and Prime approached and joined our little pile up.
Real moved again, then smirked at me.
"Nah, she ain't going. Sounds like a double date and she doesn't date. Ain't that right, Love?" he asked.
His voice was calm, but the challenge was clear. Danny stiffened. Sighing inside, I released Danny's arm and stepped between them. Danny wasn't quite as thick and muscular as Real, but he wasn't a small man and I'd seen him beat guys twice his size. I didn't want trouble.
"Montréal, you can go back to the Stone House with Markel and Julien —" Juvie growled as I smiled inwardly. "Danny and I need to catch up, then?—"
Real laughed softly. "You gotta meet me halfway or some shit, Love. I'm trying real hard not to fuck up your little reunion and send ya friend Cowboy Woody back to cry on Buzz Lightyear's shoulder, but I feel like you just fucking with me at this point."
My mouth dropped open as Danny made a little warning sound. I scrambled for words, but Real spoke again.
"I'm going back to the Stone House, but you going, too. Say your goodbyes, Love,” he instructed.
Danny placed a supportive hand on my lower back, his deep voice finally rumbling out his anger.
"I know you think you done run up on some country bumpkins and I been laughing that shit off. But you pushing it. My baby love ain't gotta go nowhere she don't wanna go. She needs?—"
Real's head snapped back, and his eyes narrowed.
"I’ma tell you this one time: don’t be calling her that shit. And I'm the one who gives her what she needs. You think she doesn't want to go with me?"
He turned toward me. I knew it was part of the pissing contest with Danny, but having that razor-sharp focus on me was a little unnerving. He stepped closer and used his index finger to tilt my chin.
"Tell them, Love. Where you going?"
"I—"
I'm going to Darnita's , is what I was trying to say. I really believed I meant that. But the heat of Real's brown eyes staring down at me as multiple emotions danced in them was compelling. His thumb trailed across my lips, and I inhaled sharply.
"We really do have things to talk about," he murmured.
That much was true. We definitely had things to talk about, to clear up, so I could send him on his way back to Texas. So, I wasn't going with him because of what I saw in his eyes or how his touch made me feel, I reassured myself. I was going because there was a conversation to be had. That was it. That was all. I reached behind me and squeezed Danny's hand, then looked at my sister. She was already smirking.
"Y'all—” I began.
Emory waved a hand. "Whatever, bitch," she said, but her eyes weren't as hard as they'd been earlier. "Gon' witcho lil' man."
I hugged her, and, on a whim, I placed my lips against her ear.
"Ain't nothin' 'bout him little," I whispered.
Emory screamed with laughter. I smirked at her, then hit Real with what I hoped was a no nonsense look. We were settling all this tonight, I vowed silently before I strode down the hall.
“Stop,” Real ordered as I neared the door.
I swung around to glare at him. “What?”
He surprised me by grabbing my hands.
“The few times I saw you out, you had on dresses. You look damn good in pants, though," he said, squeezing my hands as his eyes roved over me.
I was supposed to be determined and focused, but I couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped me at his compliment. I had to admit, a bitch was bad in this jumpsuit.
"Oh, yeah?" I prodded.
"Yeah."
His voice was low. My gaze flew up, my eyes tangling with his. The desire in his eyes warmed me, loosened my tongue. I tugged one of my hands free and rested it on my hip.
"Well, what do I look best in?" I teased.
His eyes never left me as he pulled me closer. I went willingly, let him rest his forehead against mine.
"What do you look best in?" he repeated.
"Mm-hmm."
My affirmation was breathless. He lowered his mouth until it rested against my lips.
"My arms," he whispered.
Aww, hell . And just like that, I was lost.