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Dice looked over at Ni, then back at me. It was time for me to play the part.

“I know you ain’t gon’ be rude and not introduce your lady.”

“My bad.” I laughed, pullin’ Ni close. “This my baby, Ni. Ni, this is Dice. We played ball together in college.”

Ni smiled and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Dice.”

“Same to you. I done heard and seen plenty about you. This nigga stay postin’ you.” Dice laughed, shovin’ my shoulder.

“Yes, he does.” Ni looked up at me, grinnin’. “He might be just a little obsessed with me.”

“Can’t be obsessed with something that’s mine,” I said, kissin’ her head.

“Damn, I’m kinda jealous. Let me stop fuckin’ around and find me a lady.” Dice laughed, lookin’ between Ni and me.

“You too busy workin’ yo’ ass off. I seen that Nike deal you got. That shit was major,” I said.

“Hell yeah! My agent worked her ass off for that one.”

“Who you wit’ now?” I asked.

“Mercer Sports. She got me right. I got all kinda deals lined up. Savannah don’t fuck around.”

Dice looked across the room. “Matter fact, there she is.”

I followed Dice’s eyes across the room, and for a minute, I knew my heart stopped beatin’. My whole body went stiff. Ni shifted her weight beside me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off who was comin’ toward us.

Ain’t no fuckin’ way…

I ain’t seen her in so long that the Juicy I remembered was still sixteen in my head. Short, lil’ thick ass, pretty face, always wearin’ bright pink, mouth slick as fuck. The woman walkin’ toward me wasn’t sixteen, though. Savannah was a grown ass woman. She still wore pink, but even that was different. Her dress was rose gold instead of the bright shit she used to love. She was thicker, her face matured, but that was definitely her. Her warm, golden-caramel complexion caught the dim lights, and I was stuck.

She looked happy as fuck walkin’ next to the nigga she was wit’. He held her close, guidin’ her through the crowd. I didn’t realize how tight I was holdin’ Ni until she rubbed my chest.

“You alright?” she asked, lookin’ from me to Juicy.

I cleared my throat and loosened my grip. “Yeah. I’m straight.”

I wasn’t. Juicy was ten feet away from me, grown, fine as fuck, and lookin’ happy wit’ another nigga.

“Savannah!” Dice said, gettin’ her attention.

She glanced at me, then at Ni as she walked over. Dice dapped her nigga, hugged Savannah, then turned to me.

“I was just telling my boy about you, Sav. This is Juvie Ross. We played together in college.”

“Hi, Juvie. How are you?” Savannah asked, holdin’ her hand out.

She was talkin’ to me like we were just acquaintances. Like I was just some other nigga. I buried my feelings, though. This shit wasn’t her fault.

“I’m good, you?” I asked, shakin’ her hand.

“Oh, y’all know each other?” Dice asked, lookin’ between us.

“Yeah,” Savannah answered. “We knew each other when we were kids.”

“Damn, small world, huh?” Dice said.

“It is. This is my boyfriend, Emery,” Savannah said.