Page 58 of Juice

Dip: Bet. Hit me up and let me know.

“Nariah.” Julius deep, raspy voice boomed from behind me.

Rolling my eyes I turned and asked. “What’s up?”

“You bowling?”

“I guess.” Sliding off the bench I tugged my shorts out of my ass and walked toward the bowling alley.

Over my shoulder I heard his chapped ass talking shit. “Lil ass shorts.”

My shorts were in fact little, and I looked damn good in them. Ignoring Julius’s ass I searched for my baby. When I found him, I groaned. Jude was standing between Bryon and Lucas barking out orders.

“Mommy.” He called out when he noticed me. “You can be on the team with me and my daddy.”

“Anything for you baby.” Dropping my phone down on the table in front of my mama I grabbed bowling shoes for me and Jude.

Easing up beside me Ms. Norma leaned against the counter. “I like y’all like this.”

“It’s a façade.” I chided. “I really hate your son but I gotta play nice.”

“You don’t hate him, Nariah.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You don’t.” She shook her head. “You may dislike his ways, but you don’t hate him. Hate is such a strong word ya know.”

“I do. But anytime he gets in his feelings he yells out how much he hates me so I’m reciprocating the energy.”

“Don’t be like Julius. Be better than him.” She advised.

“That’s hard to do.”

“You ain’t gotta tell me.” She jested. “That boy is stubborn.”

“As hell.”

“But he does love you, Nariah. Always has.”

“And you know what Ms. Norma.” I sighed. “I’ve never doubted that. I know Julius loves me and I’m sure he knows my heart swings his way.”

“Now what kind of shit is that?” She laughed. “Your heart swings his way? Just admit that you love him just as much as he does you.”

“I do.” I admitted. “Julius is…” I paused to gather my thoughts. “At one time Julius was my best friend. I thought he’d gotten it all out of his system after the first incident but clearly,I was mistaken. I can love him all day Ms. Norma but until I’ve figured out how to navigate life without being in my feelings I’ll forever be on his head.” I shrugged.

I wasn’t a spiteful person at all but parts of me wanted that nigga to hurt. Shit he ain’t think twice before hurting me so I wanted him to see what that shit felt like. When he pressed me about fucking Flocco I could’ve lied and said I didn’t. But why lie? I fucked him twice and if the dick was more than average I probably would’ve gone back for thirds.

Flocco was really just a way for me to get my lick back. He was the last person Julius had to worry about. Dip on the other hand was slowly but surely winning me over. I could see us being in a relationship. He was educated, had a few side hustles, and had just the right amount of hood in him to keep me on my toes. More importantly Dip was really set on getting to know me, sex was an afterthought with him. Which made me like him even more.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right.” She tapped her knuckles on the counter and left me with that statement.

Shrugging it off I went back to the table. “Come on Jude so we can put your shoes on.” Once both of us were suited up I pulled his braids back into a ponytail and helped him out of his jacket. My baby flexed his muscles and kissed his arms before betting Tito that we would whoop them by a thousand points. Julius butted in when Jude said he ain’t have no money but would give up his gold AP.

“Yo ass not ‘bout to give up that watch.” He chuckled. “Ass be mad when yo mama take if off before you shower.”

“Aww man daddy.” Jude groaned. “That’s all I got.”

“Where yo wallet at?” Julius asked him.

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