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“But you’re still always up under that nigga,” she laughed, just as my phone started ringing. “I bet that’s him right now.”

Of course it was.

And as soon as I saw his name on the screen, I remembered that I was supposed to have called him as soon as Pen and I landed, but in the excitement of seeing Tempest, I’d forgotten.

“Hey,” I answered. “We’re fine. Sorry I forgot to call.”

“Damn right,” he chuckled. “You know I was willing and ready to hop a flight myself if you hadn’t answered.”

I grinned, ignoring Tempest’s silent, distracting teasing. “Yes, I know. What are you doing instead of flying across the country to save me from unspoken danger now?”

“Just chilling,” he answered, at about the same time as a female voice sounded in the background.

“What are you doing, Zay?!” she asked, and I felt my face immediately grow hot.

Just chilling my ass.

“I’m on the phone, Tam.”

His answer was completely neutral, and answered the question on my mind of who the hell he was with.

Tamra.

His “friend”.

“Hiiiii Deeeee!” she squealed in the background, making me angry even though her tone was playful. I knew they were friends, sure, but…

“Will you stop?” he scolded her, and she said something back that I couldn’t make out. “Sorry,” he told me. “Tamra’s silly ass.”

“You two hanging out again?” I asked, hoping it didn’t sound as pitiful as it felt.

“Yeah, with Wilder and a few others. Grabbing lunch before we head to do this thing at the Cartwright center with Cree.”

“Okay. Well… have fun,” I told him, only feelingslightlybetter knowing he wasn’t with just Tamra. I’d never really thought to be jealous before, but with him acting weird lately anyway… it was hard not to wonder.

And that must’ve been pretty clear on my face, based on the way Tempest questioned me once we were off the phone.

“You know I’ve had to deal with the “friend” too,” she said, after I explained the situation. “Problem here is, I don’t know if you can beat Tamra’s ass. She’s a Rose.”

“I’m not interested in even trying,” I laughed. “I don’t even know if there’s anything there. They’re friends. They’vebeenfriends.”

“Which there’s nothing wrong with that… if that’s all it is.Isthat all it is?”

“Is what all what is?” Pen asked, finally stepping in from the balcony.

“Grown folks’ business,” Temp countered, words that Pen rolled her eyes over, but I appreciated—IlovedPen, but I really didn’t need her barely-older-than-teenaged optimism right now.

I needed to be real.

Instead of letting me dwell on the situation like I wanted to, Tempest took Pen and I toWax Poetic,the candle shop she’d opened when she moved to the Heights. There, I immersed myself in the sights and scents of her new products before she ushered us along to get lunch at the same soul food spot she’d taken me when I visited months ago, and then to Urban Grind to just soak up the warm energy before it was time for Pen’s appointment.

“Dacia!” Tristan greeted me with a hug when we arrived. “You’re still feeling your ink, right? No buyer’s remorse?”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “Hellno, of course not,” I said. “It’s flawless—why else do you think we brought the kid?”

The kidbeing Penelope, of course, who was suddenly nervous about it, now that it was time for the moment of truth. And really, it only took a bit to get her to relax and loosen up, with Tristan talking her through the ink colors and all that, helping her understand every step, the aftercare, and whatever else she might need to know.

And then… it was time to start.

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