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My phone had been buzzing nonstop.
I glanced down at it, already knowing who it was before I even saw the name.
(7 missed calls, 4 messages)
"Where you at?" "Answer your phone." "YN stop playing with me." "Bet. Say less."
I sighed, locking the screen and sliding it face-down on the table.
"Damn." my homegirl Lakeyah laughed from across the booth. "That your girl again?"
"I'm surprised she ain't got your location." Jayda added, sipping her drink. "What you do now?"
"Nothing." I muttered. "Just didn't tell her I was sliding out tonight."
Lakeyah raised an eyebrow. "You bold as hell. You know Ari don't play that."
Jayda leaned in with a smirk. "Better take your ass home."
I shook my head and laughed, even though part of me knew they weren't wrong.
"Aight, aight I'm going" I said, grabbing my phone and standing up.
I threw up the peace sign, but my stomach was already turning.
Because I knew Ari. And the way she was blowing up my phone?
She was already up. Already mad. And probably already planning how to ruin my sleep.
I barely got the key in the lock before the door creaked open. Quiet. I tried to be quiet. Shoes off at the door. Jacket over the chair. No lights.
Just slide into bed and let the night disappear.
But the second I eased under the covers, I felt her shift. Ari turned over, eyes on me in the dark like a damn spotlight.
"Where the fuck you been, YN?"
I closed my eyes and sighed. Here we go.
"Don't start."
I could already feel the heat rolling off her. She sat up, arms crossed, voice hard.
"NO...why you come slippin' in here like it's not damn near four in the morning."
I peeled off my hoodie and tossed it to the floor, trying to stay cool. My body was tired, my head was loud, and the last thing I had energy for was another late-night interrogation.
"I'm tired, Ari. I'm going to sleep. You can argue with yourself."
I laid down, back to her, pulling the blanket up like that would shut her out.
The bed jerked as she threw the covers off and stomped around to my side. I barely had time to sit up before I saw the flash of the screen.
