A loud knock pulled my attention away from my still naked soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend. When she bolted into my bedroom, I opened the front door. Blake and Dallas barged right into my house like they owned it and like they hadn’t just been texting me.
Dallas plopped down on the couch and bit into a carrot stick. “You know I have no problem showing up unannounced.”
“And I’m just with her.” Blake shrugged. “Where’s your girl?”
“We need to talk alone,” Dallas added.
“I’m right here.” Ebony emerged from the bedroom fully clothed. “What happened to calling before you come?”
Blake’s eyes widened and I knew she was about to blow. My sister had always been a fighter. She never cared where she was or what she was wearing. If someone tested her, she was always ready to throw some hands. “Okay, so next time I come toyourhouse, I’ll call. But since this,” she gestured to the room at large, “is my brother’s house, fuck you.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I commanded. “Calm down.”
Ebony folded her arms over her chest. “Yes, calm down. Dex and I were in the middle of—”
“Listen, Ebony,” Dallas cut in. “We really do need to talk to Dex. Can you come back later? Or never?”
“Look, I’m Dex’s girlfriend. It would do you well to remember that. I should be able to hear anything that pertains to him. We’re a team.”
“Nah, bitch,” Blake yelled. “I—”
“Blake,” I warned.
“No.” Blake pointed at Ebony. “You don’t have anything to add to this conversation that I want to hear. If I tell you that I need to talk tomybrother alone aboutmyfamily then you need to leave. Period.”
Ebony glared at Blake. “I’m so sick of you.”
Blake grinned. “Good. Be sick of my ass and get the fuck out.”
Turning to me, Ebony blew out a harsh breath. “Dex, I’ve talked to you about this before. You need to check your sister.”
Blake’s dramatic “Ohhh!” was quickly followed by her pulling off her earrings and kicking off her shoes. “Is that what we’re doing now? Dex, you better tell your girl…”
“How about I just tell Lennox to come get your ass?” I threatened.
“I. Call. Foul.” Blake threw her purse onto the floor and kicked one of my shoes. “I’m telling you… Y’all gon’ get enough bringing my man into this type of shit. Don’t threaten me with Lennox. I’ll fight him too.”
Dallas cracked up. “Yeah, right. I think you’re looking for a different F word there, Sissy.”
“Oh, shut up.” She stuck her tongue out. “I’ll do that too.” Since Blake had fallen in love, she’d changed. Lennox had a calming effect on my sister. “I’m good, though. Too old to be fighting anyway.” She tossed Ebony another hard glare. “You should be grateful because I would’ve dragged you all up and through this house—by your hair.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Ebony taunted.
Blake glanced at me, then at Dallas, then back at me. “See? I try to be calm, and bitches keep testing me.”
“All of y’all get the hell out of my house,” I ordered. “I have a flight to catch, and I don’t have time for this shit.”
“Dallas’s phone chimed, and she answered. “Duke, your brother just kicked me out of his house.”
“Probably because y’all are getting on his damn nerves,” Duke remarked dryly. “Leave his ass alone. Call me when you get back to the house. I need you to do something for me.”
“Bye, Duke.” Dallas struggled to stand.
Blake pulled her to her feet. “Damn, Sissy. You’re not even showing yet. Take your ass back to the gym or go run a mile.”
“Shut up,” Dallas grumbled, through clenched teeth. “I had a big breakfast.” She turned to me. “And come on, Dex. This will only take a minute.”
“You heard him.” Ebony flashed a satisfied grin. “Get out.”
