Page 39 of And Everything In Between

“I’m saying,” Paige doubled down, “It’s fast and you know I don’t play the radio with men.”

“Fast is relative,” Blake said, dropping another grape in her mouth. “It’s not fast if it feels right.”

“And how would she know? She hasn’t even picked up the phone,” Taylor added. “I’ve never known you to be a scary hoe.”

“Bitch, please. Ain’t no hoe in me. That’s what got me in this conundrum now,” Paige kissed her teeth with a sly grin, because she had indeed been a hoe. Her thumb still hovered over the unsent message. “What if he was being nice? What if it was a one-time thing?”

“Ififwas a fifth, we’d all be drunk,” Taylor said, rolling her eyes. “Learn from us, friend. We ran when we should’ve been leaning in.”

“Speak for yourself,” Blake cut in. “I made Emon work for it, but I never ran. There was no way I was letting somebody else have my man.” She locked eyes with Paige. “If there’s a slim chance you’d be ready to go toe-to-toe with a woman the way you handled Clarisha back in the day, then call the man.”

Paige was full of shit, and she knew it. Giovanni had made it very clear, she’d signed her name to an invisible agreement. It simply hadn’t gone into effect yet.

“If he’s anything like the men over there, you can run, girl, but you can’t hide. He will continue to pursue you. It’s a game now, and you’re the prey. Enjoy or grow a pair and let the man love you. It’s easier that way.”

“Because what are we even talking about?” Kennedi threw her hands up, bangles jingling at her wrists. “If you don’t call that man and let him know you thinking about him, I will. And I’ll say it was from all of us.”

They all laughed, but Paige sat with it for a second; her head was starting to ache, mostly because everyone was acting like this was supposed to be simple. You didn’t just hand yourheart over. And he hadn’t reached out either. She didn’t give a damn about the ball being in her court. She expected him to check in on her.

“Y’all know why I’m hesitating. Why y’all playing?”

“Perry told me himself that he liked Gio. And only a real man would do what he did for you,” Blake said. “And who you keep getting ready to text?”

“It’s work.”

“Girl, it’s Sunday. You gotta stop using that line,” Taylor added with a giggle.

“Still,” Paige said, chin lifted, “Y’all know me. I’m good. I’m focused. I’m booked. I’m-”

“-full of shit,” Blake interrupted. Causing the group to fall out in laughter.

“And you said he still got that kitty purring two weeks later. I would’ve been folded,” Kennedi added.

Paige rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. “I ain’t say all that.”

But the truth was worse. She still felt him, everywhere. She smelled him. The way he said her name lingered. Things had shifted, stupid shit, like her playlist. She’d been on cloud nine since that night. But she couldn’t give in so soon, and with no guarantees. Absolutely not.

Emon approached the blanket, his grin wide as he caught the tail end of their conversation. He had one-year-old EJ on his back.

“Y’all still harassing my dawg about my cousin?” he asked, setting EJ down with a sippy cup.

Paige shot him a warning look. “Don’t join them, please.”

“Too late,” Emon replied, his smile knowing and slightly too smug. “G, told me everything.”

“Everything?” Paige repeated, heat creeping up her neck.

“Enough,” Emon clarified, winking. “Look, he’s out of town until Wednesday. The TV deal is moving, especially after the footage from the car show. You see it?”

“No, I haven’t. I witnessed it.”

“Look at it,” Emon nodded like he knew something she didn’t.

“See?” Kennedi pounced immediately. “That’s even more reason to call him. You got time to get your shit together without him showing up at your door looking all fine and throwing off your concentration.”

“Plus,” Blake added, leaning back on her elbows, “absence makes the heart grow fonder. Or the coochie get lonelier. Either way, it works in your favor.”

“Blake!” Paige laughed despite herself, tossing a cracker at her cousin.

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