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Kinda all three, but it wasn’t loud, it was just… pitiful.

“It’s all too much going on right now, okay?” she said, voice cracking, eyes glossy…damn.

“Okay,” I nodded, reaching out to pull her into a – friendly – side hug. “I get it, okay? What can I do? You want to fuck again?”

“No,” she hissed, scooting away from me. “Did you not hear what I just said?”

I shrugged. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with that cube-head ass ex. Besides – we’ve already done it once now anyway, so it’s not like an additional body if you’re trying to avoid a hoe phase or anything like that,” I rationalized.

“It would be because of him, if that’s the logic, because thefirsttime was because of him.”

“So you’re saying what… I’m like… disqualified from your pussy now or something?”

“Kinda.”

I sucked my teeth. “Man – that’s some bullshit!”

“Seriously, Calvin?”

“It’snotfair!”

I crossed my arms, turning away from her, just to peek back over my shoulder a moment later to catch the horrified look on her face.

And I couldn’t hold my laughter.

“My goodness,” she huffed, clearly relieved. “You are a fucking fool, you know that?”

“Been told a time or two,” I nodded. “But to be real clear – Idon’tthink that shit is fair… just saying… but… if that’s how you feel, nothing I can do but respect it. You ain’t gotta dodge me though.”

She blew out a sigh. “Fair enough.”

I extended my arms in her direction for another hug – thinking she would blow it off, but she didn’t.

She stepped right in, smelling like shea butter and oranges, andstillI behaved myself, not pulling her closer, tighter, like I wanted to.

“Awww,” I heard – and Amelia did too, cause she pulled back, looking around with a frown.

“Oh, shit.” Came next, and thenIstarted looking around.

Locked eyes with Key spying on us from the next aisle.

“Really nigga?” I asked.

“Don’t mind me, I just love Black love,” he grinned.

“Black l—you see? This is exactly… let me get my ass out of here,” she grumbled, walking off.

I looked back at Key, who tossed his hands up.

“My bad!”

11/

amelia

Today is gonna bea gorgeous day.

That was the random, delulu-as-the-solulu affirmation that popped up on my cell phone when the alarm went off to get me up.