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Attracting my triggers

And all I can think

Is how sick and tired I am of these niggas

Harping on when you used to love me

Asking myself how I keep falling for the same mistake

Showing a different face

To facets of the truth

I may have never uncovered

I’m so tired of seeing my broken pieces

In the men summoned for healing.”

I think when she was done, I was cheering the loudest in the room. I couldn’t wait until the event was over to tell her how well she’d done. Not only because of how she transformed during her performance, but because of the raw vulnerability she allowed others to see, if only for a minute or so. Having to be patient was agonizing, and seemed to take forever, but after another thirty or so minutes, it was over, and she returned to the café area.

“Hi!” she squealed, finding me amid the chaos. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

Pulling her into my arms, I hugged her tightly, lifting her from the ground. “I can’t believe how fuckin’ amazing you are! That was dope, Nyx.”

“Thank you, thank you,” she brushed her hair out of her face as I returned her to the ground. “Have yo⁠—”

“Oh, my God!” Raelynn, who I hadn’t even noticed was in attendance, damn near knocked me out of the way as she barreled over.

“Damn, Rae,” I chuckled.

“Sorry,” she grinned, tossing her arms around Nyx. “Friend, if I hadn’t known this was your first time doing this in forever, I wouldn’t believe it. You did amazing!”

“Thanks, Rae,” Nyx blushed. “Where is⁠—”

“I’m here,” the man she’d smiled at earlier announced coolly as he joined us. “And thank me because I’m the reason your Mama and Daddy didn't embarrass you tonight. I convinced them to let you have this one. I can’t make any promises about the next.”

“Thank you, Linc,” she hugged him tightly, turning her head to me. “I don’t have to introduce Rae, obviously, but Jamie, this is my brother, Lincoln. Linc, this is Jamie.”

With one arm around Nyx’s shoulder, he nodded and extended his free hand to me. “What’s up?”

“What’s going on?” I replied, shaking it.

“Damn,” he grinned down at Nyx. “Now you really owe me for helping you keep your man a secret. And I expect monthly payments for my silence.”

“Linc,” she punched him in the chest as he laughed. “Shut up. We’re just friends, and I ain’t paying you shit.”

“Well, friend⁠—”

“Nyx, I have something for you in the car,” I interrupted Rae. “I’ll grab it while you kick it with your family.”

“They were actually just leaving, right,” she raised an eyebrow at Raelynn and her brother.

“Fine, fine,” Lincoln held up his hands. “I know how to take a hint. I’ll text you tomorrow, Nyx. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“Well, I don’t know how to take a hint,” Rae smiled. “But since I have things to do, I’ll let you two be great.”