Ashton watched and buzzed. “You right, Carson got his dib in.”
Carson took a plastic spoon and flicked it at him. “Shut your little troll ass up. You play too fuckin’ much.”
“Don’t ruin my good mood,” Emani huffed.
“Thanks, Carson,” Emani buzzed, settling back into her seat and holding the cards to her chest. “By now, you should know how to play without cheating, Jahlil.”
“Damn, you not going to help me out for old times sake?” he teased.
“Absolutely not,” Carson buzzed. “You get beat by a five year old weekly. You know how to lose.”
Jahlil muttered in a tone that only Emani could hear because they’re senses still knew one another. “You know at some point, we’re going to have to have a real ass conversation.”
Emani barely nodded. “I’m aware. Not here and not now.”
“What y’all over here whispering about?” Kyrie asked as Donnée sat next to him.
“Bullshit,” Carson spoke up for the two, stuffing his mouth. “Pick that card.”
Donnée flipped the first card on the deck over. A blank card. “Ah hell. Right out the gate.
“Ah hell is right,” Ashton said looking at the card “The last time we played this game, we found out they were fuckin’.”
“Nah, you found out they were fuckin’,” Kyrie spoke. “We don’t tell your ass shit until everyone else knows because you can’t keep shit close to your chest.”
“Still amazes me how no one has whooped your ass for real yet,” Carson added.
Emani covered her mouth and giggled. “Like Tripp Wilson when he lost all his money. You know what, I need a new financial advisor.”
The silent laugh ran through the group and Ashton just sat there, legs swinging, eyes squinted. Tripp Wilson was a hockey client Ashton had a few years ago who was betting on himself to win games. When he was found out, he lost everything, leaving Ashton in the wake to answer the questions of why he didn’t advise his client not to bet, let alone on himself.
“That wasn’t my fault,” Ashton defended. “He don’t listen, not to mention he has like six baby mommas. It was that third one who told the gaming authorities he was betting on himself.”
“You know what, I got a better game.” Donnée laughed, pouring herself another shot. “A shot every time this little nigga lies.”
“I’m not lying though, he does have six baby mommas,” Ashton said, watching everyone take a shot. “I didn’t lie!”
Another round was poured and taken.
“So tell me this,” Jahlil posed. “Simona Reese, how you get her to sign with you? We did it because we’re your friends and we have to support your dreams.”
“You know how I did that. Read the card, Donnée,” Ashton said with a smirk on his face.
“What is your deepest secret you’ve been holding from the group?” Donnée read.
Emani and Carson shifted in their seats.
Ashton snickered. “Don’t lie either, I saw you wobble your ass out the pool house. Y’all fucking around again?”
Kyrie spoke up nonchalantly. “Again? Nah, we married, we been doing that shit since we left OSU.”
Jahlil and Ashton almost spit out their drinks. “Married?”
Donnée gave them a weak smile and a shrug. “Yeah. Emani and Carson found us out, but-”
“Damn, congratulations. Nigga, y’all could have said something,” Jahlil stated, honestly happy and surprised.
“I wanted to but you two were not going to be able to be in the same room. So we just did some simple shit. No biggie. We still love y’all.”
