Page 45 of Love's Free Will

Averi tilted her head slightly, watching me. “And what if she doesn’t fuck with me?”

I leaned forward, my face inches from hers. “She will.” Her breath hitched slightly, and I grinned, watching her composure slip just a little. I leaned back, throwing my arms behind my head. “So, what’s up? You comin’?”

She gave me a small smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Yeah. I’m coming.”

I smirked. “Good.”

A few nights later,Averi was sitting at my mama’s dinner table with my family. It was a surreal moment for me, inviting a girlhome. Nobody ever got to meet Queenie and they damn sure wasn’t meeting Princess. But here Averi’s fine ass was sitting next to me and Princess wasted no time in sizing her up.

Queenie had cooked her ass off—fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, yams, and cornbread. The real Sunday dinner type shit.

King was at the head of the table, Zay on the side, and Averi was right next to me. She fit right in, laughing with my family, vibing effortlessly. But Princess? She was watching. She didn’t say much at first. Just observed. Finally, when dinner was almost over, she spoke.

“So.” She set her fork down, folding her arms. “How serious are y’all?”

Averi blinked. “Excuse me?”

Princess tilted her head. “You and my brother. This just a lil’ industry thing, or is it real?”

I opened my mouth, but Averi beat me to it. “It’s real,” she said without hesitation.

Princess arched a brow. “You sure about that?”

Averi didn’t flinch. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

Princess studied her for a moment, then hummed. “Uh Huh. How we know you ain’t using my brother or something.”

“Princess, really?” Queenie asked shaking her head.

“For what exactly?” Averi asked confused clearly amused. “There ain’t shit he got that I don’t already have or can’t get on my own. I been a bad bitch before and I’ll stay a bad bitch after.”

“Mannn, fuck outta here.” I scoffed.

A second passed. Then, Princess smirked. “A’ight. I like her.” Averi seemed to let out a breath I don’t think she even realized she was holding.

King chuckled. “Damn, that’s all it took? You gave Keisha a hard time for months.”

“That’s because Keisha was a hoe who was using you for clout and money. You see how that turned out for you? You see Keisha’s triflin’ ass around here now King? Take a look around… news flash, you’re not gonna.”

The entire table bust out into laughter. I fuckin’ loved my baby sister. She didn’t sugarcoat shit, and she never failed to put me and King in our places when she needed to. She was absolutely Queenie’s daughter.

“She got you there bro.” Zay clowned King who stared at him blankly.

“Shut yo hungry, hungry, hippo lookin’ ass up.”

Princess shrugged. “Anyway, Averi seems solid. And she put up with Royal’s annoying ass, so… she gotta be.”

“Now how the fuck I get in it?”

“She’s right Royal, you are pretty annoying.” Averi agreed laughing and I playfully pushed her.

The table laughed, and Averi finally looked relaxed. I glanced at her, taking in how at ease she looked, how effortlessly she fit in with my family.

Yeah. This shit was real.

13

AVERI

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