Page 43 of Love's Free Will

Zay smirked. “So… you in love yet?”

I shot him a glare. “Fuck you.”

Zay let out a loud ass laugh. “Damn, not you bein’ the softest nigga in the room now.”

“Man, shut yo big ass up.”

Malachi chuckled. “Ain’t no way. You was so damn pressed when Logan brought her name up, talkin’ ‘bout how you wasn’t workin’ with some ‘bougie ass actress’.”

King smirked. “Now look at you.” I flipped him off.

Zay leaned forward, grinning hard. “I just wanna hear you say it, my boy.”

I shot him a glare. “Say what?”

Malachi smirked. “That you fucked around and fell for her.”

I shook my head, leaning back in my chair. “Man, y’all some bitches.”

King laughed. “We ain't the ones in love, though.”

“I ain’t in love.”

King arched a brow. “Oh yeah?”

Silence.

I exhaled, rubbing my hand over my face.

Then finally, I muttered, “A’ight. I fuck with her. Heavy.”

Zay howled. “Damn, that hurt to say, huh?”

Malachi grinned. “Real heavy, huh?”

I sighed. “Man, I don’t even care that the pictures got leaked.”

King tilted his head, studying me. “You serious?”

I nodded. “Deadass. I mean, shit—we together now. I ain’t tryna hide it.”

King’s expression shifted slightly, like he was seeing me in a whole new light. “You really fuckin’’ with her like that?” I nodded again, confirming the shit they had been clowning me about for weeks. Then, King smirked. “This about to be good for business.”

I frowned. “What?”

He shrugged. “Think about it bro, Averi got a crazy ass fanbase. Millions of followers. Her name stays trending. She taps into an audience you ain’t never been able to reach before.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Man, this ain’t about business.” That’s when the teasing stopped.

King smiled, then nodded. “That’s a good answer, bro.”

I blinked. “What you mean?”

He smirked. “That was the right answer. I was just sayin that shit to see how you was gon come about it. Don’t let no mutha fucka tell you this some PR shit. You didn’t fall for the bait. I’m proud of you.”

I frowned. “Proud?”

“Yeah.” His smirk faded, and his tone turned serious. “You don’t do relationships. Ever. You don’t let nobody get close to you like that. But now you got somebody solid, and you ain’t running from it.” I stayed quiet. because he wasn’t wrong. King leaned forward; his hand stretched waiting for me to dap him up. “Just don’t fuck this up. Ave a real one.”

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