Page 119 of Deeper

Alongside the “Canvas” release, Zander dropped a Zaturdayvideo early. His cover of Jhené Aiko’s “Triggered,” along with “My Mine” also by her, had been a double upload to make up for missing two weeks.

Zander’s spin on “Triggered” left me swooning. I loved the sound of his voice. I could always get lost in it.

The Dymond Dinner was about the Dymond Dynasty, but it was Zander’s night. His rightful step back into the limelight.

My hair was set and ready to go. I’d gone to my local hair salon and gotten bundles installed and cut to my natural length to provide a fuller look. With Victoria doing my makeup, I would be red carpet ready.

My phone went off with a text from Victoria just as there was knocking on the room’s door. She had arrived and I didn’t feel so crowded in a room full of Zander’s team.

Rajaa went and let Tori in and I was quick to go and greet my best friend.

“Nice,” she said as she came into the room and took it all in. “Damn near a whole apartment in here.”

Victoria set her makeup kit on the table in the dining room before her gaze swept across the rest of the suite. Zander was in the kitchen at the island going through his phone. Nazanin was perched in the chair in the living room, skimming through a fashion magazine, Rajaa was at the island eating a bowl of cereal, and Paul was on the sofa. The news was on the large TV.

Victoria wrinkled her nose in distaste at the scene before her. “Dang, it’s so dry in here. Y’all going to a party, turn up!”

“I know.” Paul groaned as he lounged back on the sofa. “You tryna smoke up?” He made a smoking gesture with his hand.

Tori turned, intrigued. “Maybe. After I get done with Bia’s face at least. Depends on what you got. I heard you White boys be havin’ that skunk.”

Paul grinned. “Oh, I assure you, my shit’s legit.”

Victoria sized him up and smiled before turning back to me.

“No, no, you can wait,” Zander interrupted. “Everyone knows Remy Dymond has the best weed. If I can wait, so can you.”

Paul rolled his eyes and went back to the news.

Victoria shook her head. “Y’all need to loosen up.”

She was right. We all should’ve been having fun, gearing up to go out and enjoy life.

I gathered my phone and scrolled through my music before finding a rap song and playing it loudly.

“Hey!” Victoria squealed as she began moving her body in sync with the beat.

Having my best friend with me, I did loosen up as I began to shake my hips and act silly. Victoria had her phone out and began filming me, hyping me up. I dragged Zander from the kitchen and began dancing on him and rapping along to the rapper’s rhymes. Zander was shy, completely not used to this, but I loved that about us, how this whole thing was new for the both of us.

“Okay, I’m about to send that to you,” Victoria said as her fingers skipped across her phone’s screen. “Put it on your socials and let these people know you coming to wild out and have fun.”

Zander brought his arm across my chest as he leaned into my ear to whisper. “Chill, before I take you to the back and we end up late.”

I shooed him away and sat down at the table, going and allowing Victoria to do my makeup first.

“You should actually come out with us,” Zander said to Victoria. “I could squeeze you in.”

Victoria focused on doing my eyebrows. “Nah.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, it’s not my scene.Youjust be on your best behavior and make sure Bia has a good time, or else.”

“What does that mean?” Paul questioned.

She glanced his way. “He can’t sing without his larynx, can he?”

I cleared my throat, unable to believe she’d gone there.

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