In Bloom

Chapter 3: Real Talk

Avery leaned back in his chair, a slow smirk on his face as he watched Dee try—and fail—to sink a shot at the pool table. The sound of the cue ball clattering off the rail filled the small private lounge they rented out from time to time, their spot when they needed to get away from the hustle, away from the demands of running businesses and making moves in the city. It was their sanctuary.

"Bruh," Avery said, laughing as Dee scratched the back of his head. "You playin’ or practicin’? 'Cause right now, it’s lookin' like neither."

Dee straightened up, flashing that wide grin that could light up any room. "First of all, you know damn well this table ain’t regulation size. That’s why I missed. Ain’t got nothin’ to do with me. But don’t worry—I’ll still smoke y’all in the next round."

"You keep tellin’ yourself that," Xavier said from the couch, chuckling as he sipped his drink. He was more laid back than the rest of them, always the quiet observer until he had something sharp to say. "Maybe next time just call it what it is—you ass at pool, bruh."

"See, this is why I can’t stand y’all," Dee said, shaking his head as he lined up another shot, his face set in exaggerated focus. "Always tryna knock a brother down when he on the come-up. This is black-on-black hate, that’s what this is."

The cue ball went flying off the table, bouncing onto the floor with a loud clatter.

"Yup. That’s what it is," Avery said, laughing even harder as Dee stared at the floor in disbelief. "You on the come-up alright."

Dee shot him a look, then turned to Xavier. "You a different typa nigga, you know that? All cool and collected over there like you ain’t the one who tripped on the curb comin’ in here earlier."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "That curb came outta nowhere, fam. You talkin’ reckless for somebody that just sent the cue ball into orbit."

Dee grinned and shrugged. "Hey, we all got our moments."

The three of them burst into laughter, the easy kind that comes from years of friendship. They had been boys since middle school, back when life was all about girls, basketball, and dreams of fast money. Now they were men—grown, successful, but still carrying the weight of their shared past. Tonight, though, was about letting loose. Just being themselves without the world looking in.

Avery stood up from his chair and walked over to the bar in the corner of the room, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. The ice clinked against the glass as he swirled it, his mind drifting for a second. He wasn’t one to get too caught up in nostalgia, but lately, it had been creeping up on him. The older he got, the more he realized how fast time moved.

"You ever think about how different things are now?" Avery asked, his voice quieter than usual as he turned back to face them.

Xavier nodded slowly. "Yeah, man. All the time."

Dee picked up the cue ball from the floor, placing it back on the table, and glanced over at Avery with a curious look. "What you mean?"

"I mean... we ain’t those kids anymore," Avery said, sitting back down. "We got businesses. Responsibilities. Hell, I’m runnin’ security companies and making deals that I never even thought were possible when we were younger. But sometimes, I look around and wonder if this is it. If there’s supposed to be more."

Xavier leaned forward, his drink still in hand, nodding in agreement. "I feel you on that. I think about that all the time, especially since my daughter was born. I used to think about the next move, the next check. But now? I’m thinkin’ about what kinda life I’m building for her. What kinda man I wanna be for her."