Page 88 of Love's Free Will

“Long time no see.” I called out, as soon as I approached them. As if they automatically registered my voice, they both turned around and squealed, loudly.

“Royal!” Princess said jumping into my arms hugging me. I placed a quick kiss on her cheek before setting her down and turning to Queenie.

“Hi my Sonshine.” She said as I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her neck for a second longer than usual. I missed my mama… bad. “You look good Royal; I see LA has done you some good.”

“Trying Ma.” I replied. “Definitely trying.”

“It’s good to lay eyes on you.” She replied pinching my cheek.

I gave her a quick kiss to her forehead, my arm still wrapped around her before whispering. “Same.”

We got them loaded into the Escalade, Andy already waiting with the AC blasting. As we pulled off, Queenie leaned into me from the backseat.

“So… where we headed?”

I cleared my throat. “First stop is the house to get ya’ll settled in and to freshen up, then we gon swing by Averi’s set. She wanted y’all to come see it, and then she said she’d take y’all out after. Shopping, nails, whatever. I got some last minute stuff to handle before the event tomorrow but she’ll bring y’all back to the crib later.”

Princess leaned forward between the seats. “Wait, Averi? Like… Averi?”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “You know another one? Big head ass girl.” She gave me the finger before slapping my hand away as I tried to ruffle her hair.

“So y’all back together?” Queenie asked, a little too casually.

“We cool.”

“What does that mean Royal?” Princess asked. “We talking just friends? Building a relationship, what y’all doin’?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Mmhmm.” Queenie leaned back before staring out the window. “Everything with y’all is complicated.” I didn’t say shit after that.

After I dropped them off with Averi—who greeted my mom with a tight hug and Princess with a play slap on the arm likethey were already family—I headed straight to the lounge the label rented out for the listening party.

Doheny Room, tucked off a side street in West Hollywood, had a sexy, intimate vibe. Black velvet walls. Crystal chandeliers. A stage set up with a massive LED screen behind it, the words “Concrete Roses” glowing in deep crimson.

Zay was already there, clipboard in hand, overseeing the staff like he owned the place. But it was his job as my head of security to make sure all the staff were vetted and not trying to leak shit.

“Everything good?” I asked.

“Yeah, just makin’ sure these folks don’t fuck up,” he replied. “You good?”

“Getting there.”

“Queenie and Princess made it in safe?

“Yeah. Just dropped them off with Ave on set. She gon kick it with them while I take care of business.”

We walked through the setup—tables lined with candles and cocktail menus featuring drinks named after my tracks. “Red Light Confessions,” “Westlake Ave,” and “Shotgun Kisses.” That last one had tequila, lime, and a splash of Hennessy. Go figure.

I was distracted, though. My mind was back on last night in Averi’s bed. The way she curled into me after we finished. The way she went quiet when I asked if she was ever gonna stop running from us. She didn’t answer me. Just kissed my chest and rolled over.

“You look like you somewhere else,” Zay said, interrupting my thoughts.

I shrugged. “Just thinkin’.”

Zay leaned against the bar. “Look, Imma say this once and I ain’t repeating it. You either need to let her go… or fight for her. This in-between shit? Gonna kill you.”

“I know,” I muttered.

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