15.

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The next morning, I was sprawled out in my bed, silk bonnet barely hanging on, scrolling through my phone when Rina's name popped up. I answered immediately, putting her on FaceTime.

"Bitch."

She squinted at me through the screen, rubbing sleep out her eyes. "Damn, what happened now?"

I let out a loud dramatic sigh, flipping onto my stomach. "It's Ren."

Rina smirked, fully waking up now. "Oh, now you wanna talk about your little sneaky link?"

I sucked my teeth. "First of all, she is not my sneaky link—"

"She's your guard dog." Rina snorted, cutting me off.

I rolled my eyes. "Anyway. Tell me why I asked her to come inside last night, and she hit me with some 'I'm fine, Ms. Hill' bullshit and just stood outside my door like a damn Buckingham Palace guard."

Rina started cackling. "Not 'Ms. Hill!' Oh, yeah, you in the doghouse, bitch."

I groaned, flipping onto my back. "I don't even know why! Like, I get it, she got all in her feelings about the date, but it's not like she ever said we was a thing! And now she mad, being all cold and professional. Like, girl, stop playing, we both know you don't take your job that serious."

Rina smirked, giving me a knowing look. "That girl likes you, Yanna."

I rolled my eyes, but she wasn't wrong.

"Okay. And? She ain't say that."

"She don't gotta say it! She's around you every damn second, being all protective 'n' shit, fighting demons every time you wear something slutty. But now you done bruised her little ego, and she tryna act unbothered."

I huffed, not wanting to admit Rina had a point.

"Whatever. I was gonna fix it, but now? I'm just gon' let her be mad."

Rina laughed. "You petty as hell."

"Sure am." I smirked, then sat up, stretching. "Anyway, lemme tell you about this trash ass date."

Rina perked up. "Ooh, I was waiting for this."

I launched into the full recap, every single awkward detail.

"Girl, when I tell you, we had NOTHING in common? Like, I was really sitting there trying to make convo, and this girl was just... dry. No substance, no depth, just vibes."

"Not just vibes!" Rina gasped, laughing.

"Bitch, just vibes! And then on top of that— she was flirting with the waitress! Like, heavy!** Complimenting every girl that walked past, like I wasn't sitting right there. Like, hello? I'm supposed to be the main character here?"**

Rina was fully wheezing now. "Oh, you should've known! Kamryn is a hoe-bag, babe."

"You could've warned me!" I accused.

"I thought you knew!"

I shook my head, letting out a sigh. "Anyway, I got the ick immediately. Didn't even finish the meal, just told Ren to take me home."

Rina raised an eyebrow. "Ohh, so she took you home?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Yes...?"

"But you ain't say nothing to her?"

"I tried! I told her sorry for what I said earlier, but she hit me with the driest 'cool' and drove the whole way in silence."

Rina gave me a pointed look. "And that didn't tell you she was really hurt?"

I stayed quiet, scrolling through my phone like I didn't hear her.

"Oh, now you don't hear me?" Rina teased.

I sighed, throwing my head back dramatically. "Okay, okay, maybe I feel a little bad."

Rina smirked. "So what you gonna do about it?"

I thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I'ma let her sweat a little."

Rina shook her head. "You're so damn toxic."

I grinned. "I know."

I flipped the camera to show Rina my outfit—just a bra and some tiny ass shorts—and she instantly gave me a knowing look.

"Oh, here go Yanna with the games," she teased, smirking through the screen.

I grinned. "Stay quiet. I got a plan."

Rina leaned in, intrigued. "Aight, let's see this mess."

I muted the call, took a deep breath, and put on my best distressed voice. Then, I cracked open my bedroom door and whined, "Ren! Oh my God, there's a spider in my room!"

I saw her flinch—barely, but I caught it. It was quick, like she almost let her face slip, but she snapped back to that stone-cold security mode real fast. Still, I knew what I saw.

She cared.

She barely hesitated before stepping inside, her whole presence commanding the space as she scanned my room. "Where?"

I bit my lip, pretending to be all shaken up, but really, I was just trying not to laugh.

I trailed behind her, watching her move, arms crossed over my chest. "Uh... I think it crawled under the dresser or something."

Ren sighed, clearly annoyed but still looking. She crouched down, checked around, even moved a few things before standing up straight, giving me that deep, unreadable stare. "I don't see no spider, Yanna."

I widened my eyes like I just saw something. "Oh! Never mind... it's dead."

Ren clenched her jaw. I was pushing it, I know. But watching her actually care, actually react, even for a second? I was living for it.

She gave me a long, hard look, like she was trying to decide if she was gonna call me on my bullshit or just let it go. Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and walked out, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she left, I turned to Rina, who was dying laughing.

"Bitch! You ain't shit!" she wheezed.

I flopped onto my bed, giggling. "I know, I know."

"She had a whole lil' moment before fixing her face—girl, you really got her wrapped."

I grinned, twirling a strand of hair. "And she wanna act like she don't care? Pfft, please."

Rina shook her head, still laughing. "You gon' drive that girl crazy."

"Good," I said with a smirk.

Rina was still wheezing, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she calmed down. "Nah, you really ain't shit for that one, bitch. That was top-tier evil."

I smirked, "And yet, she still came running. Every. Time."

Rina shook her head, her smile settling into something more knowing. "Mm-hmm, you better stop playing before she really snaps on your ass. She don't look like she do well with games."

I rolled my eyes, laying back on my bed and stretching. "Whatever, she'll be aight."

Rina gave me a side-eye through the screen. "Yeah, okay. Anyway, let's talk about something else before you start plotting again. Like, um... me and your damn brother?"

I sat up instantly, grinning. "Oh, we finally addressing that, huh?"

She smacked her lips. "Bitch, don't do too much."

I laughed, "No, let's actually talk about it, 'cause you was in that pool looking real comfortable on Mally's lap."

Rina groaned. "First of all, I was not on his lap."

I lifted a brow. "Girl, yes, the fuck, you was. All hugged up, looking like some damn lovebirds."

She gave me a pointed look. "And what about you and Ren?"

I waved her off. "Don't deflect. We talking about you right now."

She huffed, shifting on her bed before mumbling, "I mean... he cute."

I gashed my teeth together dramatically. "You mean fine as hell."

She sucked her teeth. "Girl, shut up! But yeah, okay, he fine, whatever."

I smirked. "And?"

She threw her head back, groaning. "And nothing! He flirts, I flirt back. It's harmless fun."

I squinted at her. "Mally don't do harmless fun. If he flirting with you, it's 'cause he actually interested."

Rina hesitated for half a second—just enough for me to catch it.

"Bitch. You like him."

"I don't!" she shot back, way too quick.

I burst out laughing. "Oh, my God, you do! You actually like my brother!"

She threw a pillow at the screen. "Yanna, shut the fuck up!"

I was dying, clutching my stomach as she kept cussing me out, but I wasn't letting up. "So when the wedding? Y'all want a spring or winter vibe? I need to start looking at bridesmaid dresses."

She groaned, covering her face. "I hate you."

I wiped away fake tears. "I'm just so happy for you, Rina. You really found love."

She rolled her eyes hard. "Bitch, I will hang up on you."

I giggled, finally letting up. "Okay, okay, I'll chill... for now."

She side-eyed me. "Yeah, right."

I just grinned, because she was right—I was absolutely bringing this up again.

Rina smirked through the phone, twirling a strand of her hair. "Told you she couldn't resist."

I grinned, running a hand through my hair before unlocking the door. "You know I got that pull." I swung the door open, fully expecting Ren to be standing there, trying to act unbothered but failing, maybe with her arms crossed, jaw tight, and pretending she wasn't madly obsessed with me.

But instead, I was met with my dad.

My grin dropped immediately. "Oh."

Rina busted out laughing through the phone, and I quickly pressed it to my chest, muffling the sound before clearing my throat. "Hey, Daddy."

He was standing there with his usual unreadable expression, dressed in his expensive tailored suit like he had a meeting to get to. His sharp gaze scanned me, taking in my shorts and sports bra, but he didn't comment. Instead, his tone was firm when he said, "You need to stay home today."

I frowned, "Huh? Why?"

He didn't answer that. "Ren won't be here today either."

That caught me off guard. My arms crossed over my chest. "Where's she going?"

His lips pressed into a thin line. "That's not your concern, Yanna."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. "But it's my concern when she's here? When she's following me around?"

His gaze hardened. "Don't push it."

I sucked my teeth and looked away. "Whatever."

He exhaled, clearly not in the mood for my attitude today. "Just do as I said." And with that, he turned and walked off, leaving me standing there, annoyed as hell.

I shut the door, locking it harder than necessary, before flopping onto my bed. Rina was still on the screen, looking all too entertained.

"Damn, he shut that down quick," she teased.

I rolled my eyes, shifting onto my stomach and propping my chin in my palm. "Girl, whatever. He act like I'm a child. And why the hell is Ren off today?"

Rina wiggled her eyebrows. "Maybe she needed a break from you flirting with other bitches."

I sucked my teeth. "She don't care." But even as I said it, I didn't fully believe it.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

I sighed, rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. After Rina hung up, I was bored out of my mind. My dad shutting down my plans for the day meant I was stuck in this big-ass house with nothing to do, and I was not the type to sit still.

I even tried to text Wyatt, just to entertain myself, maybe flirt a little just to see if I still had it, but he was acting way too desperate. Talking about how he missed me, how he'd do anything for me, how he could come over right now. Ugh. It was giving too much, and I was too uninterested.

So, I went to Mally's room instead.

I barely knocked before walking in because he never cared about privacy anyway. But when I stepped in, I saw him propped up on his bed, phone balanced on his nightstand, laughing at something on FaceTime.

I was about to be nosy as hell when I caught a glimpse of the screen—and stopped in my tracks.

It was Ren.

She looked good.

Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, a few loose locs framing her face, and she was wearing nothing but a sports bra and sweatpants. Her toned stomach was on display, the deep ridges of her abs flexing as she moved, and her sleeve tattoo stretched over her arm, bold and detailed.

But what really got me was her voice.

Her headset was on, and she was yelling, fully in her accent, thick and natural, something she usually tried to control around me. It was the real her.

"I swear ta God, if ya ass don't hold mid, I'm finna lose my fuckin' mind, bro!" She barked, voice sharp, Nola pouring through every syllable. "Ya mother shoulda swallowed you, I SWEAR."

Mally was dying laughing, barely able to hold the phone straight. "Yo, you mad as hell right now."

"'Cause these lil' boys don't listen!" She groaned, gripping her head like she was actually about to lose it.

I smiled without meaning to.

I needed this moment for later.

So, being the messy person I was, I quickly pulled out my phone, snuck a picture of Mally's screen, and sent it straight to Rina.

Yanna: look at ha 👀

I could already hear Rina's laugh in my head.

Feeling satisfied, I got comfy in Mally's bed, grabbing a pillow and curling up on my side. He barely looked up, already used to me treating his room like my own.

"You good?" he asked.

"I'm chilling," I said, scrolling through TikTok, but my attention kept flickering back to his phone, back to Ren, back to the way her voice sounded when she wasn't trying to hide it.

I bit my lip, watching the screen from the corner of my eye.

Maybe today wasn't gonna be so boring after all.

As I lounged on Mally's bed, scrolling through TikToks, I kept stealing glances at his phone, watching Ren on FaceTime. Her voice was thick with that Louisiana drawl, slow and syrupy but sharp when she got riled up in the game she was playing.

"Man, ain't no way ya ass just sniped me like dat! Lil' cheatin' ass nigga," she snapped, her accent heavy, her frustration clear.

I bit my lip, eyes flickering to the screen. Ren looked good—her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, edges laid, that sleeve of tattoos bold against her toned arm. She was in just a sports bra and sweatpants, her stomach flexing slightly every time she moved. She had her headset on, talking her shit, her deep brown eyes focused on the game.

I barely noticed I was staring until Mally spoke. "Yanna, why the hell you all up in here like you ain't got your own damn room?"

I waved him off, not even bothering to look at him. "Shut up, you busy."

Mally scoffed but didn't kick me out, going back to his game. I glanced at my phone, smirking at Rina's text.

Rina: Girl, u down bad lmfaooo.

Me: Shut up.

Mally's voice cut in. "Ren, tell Yanna to get her thirsty ass out my room."

Ren chuckled, but she still wasn't really talking to me. "Makin' sure ya ain't causin' trouble," was all she said, voice low and distracted.

I smirked, twirling the hem of my shorts. "You must be worried 'bout me or sum."

Ren sucked her teeth, still focused on her screen. "Tch, girl please."

That was it. Nothing more. No playful back-and-forth like before.

I frowned slightly, but I played it off, rolling my eyes. Mally noticed though, shaking his head with a smirk. "Man, I swear y'all somethin' else."

I didn't even care. I had Ren's attention—even if she was holding back—and that was enough to keep me entertained for the rest of the day.

I smirked to myself, still watching Ren on Mally's phone screen, the way she leaned back in her chair, muscles flexing as she stretched. Her accent coated every word she spoke, slow and deep but sharp when she got annoyed.

"Aye, man, quit playin' witcha scary ass—come see me 'bout sum, fa real."

I bit my lip. Damn.

Grinning, I grabbed my phone and texted Rina.

Me: Bae sound so sexy rn 😩

Rina: girl don't start... you too down bad for somebody who was just on a date yesterday LMAOO

I rolled my eyes, about to respond, but my phone started buzzing nonstop.

Wyatt.

I sighed, staring at the name lighting up my screen. I knew exactly why he was blowing me up—I had randomly stopped replying earlier when his desperation started to get on my nerves. He was too available, too eager, and honestly? I wasn't feeling it anymore.

Wyatt: You good?

Wyatt: Why you stop texting me?

Wyatt: Oh so you ignoring me now?

Wyatt: Bet.

I sucked my teeth. Boy, please.

Mally noticed my face and snorted. "That Wyatt?"

I didn't answer, just locked my phone and tossed it to the side. Wyatt could sulk for all I cared—I had better things to pay attention to.

Like Ren.

Still on FaceTime, still focused on her game, completely unaware of the effect she was having on me.

I tried to act like I wasn't paying attention, still scrolling through TikTok on Mally's bed, but the second Ren's voice dropped a little lower, I was all ears.

"Yeah, I'm just waitin' on Mr. Hill to clear my vacation time," she told Mally, leaning forward, her toned arms resting on the desk. "Tryna head back home to nola for a lil' bit, see my people, get my mind right."

My scrolling slowed, and I blinked, suddenly disappointed as hell. She was leaving? For how long? When?

Mally nodded at the screen. "Yeah, I feel you. You need a break from allat."

"Fasho," Ren exhaled, running a hand down her face. "Ain't been home in a minute. Miss my fam, miss my nanny's cookin'... plus, I gotta handle some business out there too."

My lips parted slightly, watching her expression shift. She looked tired. And even though we hadn't been talking much, a little pang of worry hit my chest.

But then, she laughed. This deep, warm, lazy-ass laugh, the kind that made me wanna do something stupid.

I bit my lip. Lord, give me her kids.

The way she was just sitting there, broad ass shoulders, deep ass voice, that accent? Nah. That was a dangerous woman.

I turned my phone back to Rina and texted real quick.

Me: She talkin bout goin back to New Orleans for a bit 😩

Rina: Damn, you lost yo wife already?

Me: Shut up omfg

I rolled onto my stomach, kicking my feet a little, still peeking at Ren on Mally's screen. She had leaned back again, legs spread, head tilted while she listened to Mally talk.

I just knew she smelled good. She looked like she smelled good.

Damn. Maybe I was in too deep. But could you blame me?

I sucked my teeth and pushed myself up off Mally's bed, my body feeling too hot from just sitting there listening to her talk. It wasn't even like she was saying nothing crazy, but that damn accent, the way her voice dipped low and dragged over her words like honey... I had to get outta there before I embarrassed myself.

Mally barely looked up as I grabbed my phone. "Damn, where you goin'?"

"Mind ya business," I muttered, already making my way out the door.

He chuckled, but I wasn't about to let him see the way I was fighting demons.

I power-walked back to my room, shutting the door behind me a little harder than I meant to. I flopped onto my bed, groaning into my pillow. My skin still felt hot, my mind racing with all the dumb shit I wanted to do—like going back to Mally's room, snatching his phone, and just sitting on it so I wouldn't have to see Ren's fine ass all propped up in the camera, looking like she was sent to ruin me.

Ugh.

I rolled onto my back, exhaling hard and staring at the ceiling. I needed to chill before I did something stupid for real.

Grabbing my phone, I opened my texts again.

Me: I hate this girl

Rina: lmfao what she do now

Me: Nothing. That's the problem.

I tossed my phone onto the bed and closed my eyes, trying to shake off the frustration sitting in my chest. It was so annoying that she wasn't even talking to me like that anymore, and yet she still had me in a chokehold.

I wasn't about to sit around acting thirsty, though. She wanna act distant? Cool. I can play that game too.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder if she even cared I was mad.