Cal:Sorry. I refuse to get my hands dirty.
I rolled my eyes. Bold-faced lie, and he knew it.
Ri:They’d look good on a meat hook.
I squinted at that one, rereading it before huffing out a quiet laugh. Riot never failed to bring it to a weird place, but I loved it. She was unpredictable.
While the typing bubbles from Aniyah danced on my screen, I braced for whatever madness she was about to drop.
Niyah:I mean, red shorts? I would take that for a RIDE!!!!!
Niyah:Do you want to see a picture of my DIRTY WORK?
Not even a second passed before Cal launched into his usual big-brother meltdown.
Cal:If you send a pic of a dick, I will fucking murder it!
Cal:Then lock you up.
Cal:Then tell the fathers.
Cal:And the grandfathers.
Cal:
Niyah:Fucking snitch!
I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing out loud. This was going to go on for a while.
My phone buzzed again. And again. And again.
Cal:Not snitching if it’s to family.
Cal:That’s called informing.
Niyah:Aaaaand it’s called my foot up your ASS.
Cal:Aww, that’s not nice, baby sis.
Cal:
Oooooh…. He didnotjust hit her with the baby emoji. I was bracing myself for the incoming storm of all-caps rage texts when the voice of reason finally stepped in.
E:Enough.
E:Aniyah. You provoked him.
E:Calix. Quit it.
E:Nova. Don’t let him slip away. But don’t go over what we discussed. Worst case, apply pressure.
I leaned back, smirking at the screen. Ezra. Even though she was second-born, it had always been obvious she’d take the Desmond seat. Cool, calculated, and impossible to rattle. Nothing like our mom or Tata Ternin, both of whom could burn down a room if they were pissed. Ezra was the opposite. Strategic. Patient. The kind of leader who’d waityearsfor the perfect opening then strike without mercy.
Me:Got it, Captain.
Just as I hit send, a gust of air brushed past me. The distinct sweet scent of cherries, mixed with the sharp, smoky flavor of tobacco. I knew that smell. I knew that smell so well that I thought I’d smelled it a million times in the past year.
Don’t look, Nova. Don’t you dare fucking look. Just keep your gaze straight. Don’t let him get to you.
