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She pursed her lips and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Juvie home? I heard Mommy talking on the phone to Aunt Marley.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “With their messy asses. Yeah, he’s home… and he might be signing on as my client.”

Tempress’s eyes bugged out of her head. “Bitch, what? Does your man know?”

“Girl, Emery don’t ask me about my work. Besides, ain’t shit for him to know. This is business. I’m getting paid to do a job.”

“Whatever you say. Don’t get caught up, Sav.”

“Me? Caught up? Bitch, you know me better than that. I’m tryna get some money, not fuck my clients. I don’t even play like that.”

Tempress stopped as soon as we got to the door and stared at me. “You know I’m down for women cheating first… a lil’ dick on the side, just in case a nigga acts up. But Juvie wasn’t just another nigga. Be careful.”

“You’re worried about nothing. He would be my client, and I would be his agent. I have a good ass, fine ass, faithful ass man. I ain’t worried about Juvie, and he ain’t worried about me. Now, let’s go in here and eat until we can’t move.”

“Okay, cousin. Don’t come crying when something ‘just happened,’ ’cause Ima tell you to cheat smart. I will not be your voice of reason.”

We cracked up as I pushed open the front door. “There’s something seriously wrong with you. Come in here before they start looking for us.”

Thanksgiving was always like this. Messy, loud as hell, but full of love. As we walked closer to the dining room, everybody was louder than they were before. Forks clanked, Aunt Mookie asked for another glass of wine, and Daddy told Uncle Dusty he was gonna kick his ass again in Spades.

When I walked into the room, Emery locked eyes with me. The way he smiled made my stomach flip and my cheeks warm. I sat beside him, and he pulled me close, then kissed my forehead.

“Why you blushin’, baby?”

“You know why,” I replied, grabbing his hand. “You keep smiling at me.”

“Ima do more than make you blush when I get you alone,” he whispered against my ear.

“Stop.” I laughed, hitting his leg. “Keep those thoughts in your head.”

“What’s so funny, Savannah?” Aunt Mookie shouted from across the table. “What did chocolate drop just whisper in your ear?”

Everybody turned their heads to look at Emery and me. I wanted to melt into the floor. Emery cleared his throat, eyes darting around the room like we got caught doing something we weren’t supposed to be doing.

“Mind your damn business, Mookie! Leave those kids alone,” Grandma said. “Worry about your husband, sitting there nodding off from drinking all that beer.”

“I ain’t mean nothing by it, Mama,” Aunt Mookie replied, sucking her teeth.

“Emery, you think you gon’ make the All-Star team this year?” Uncle Dusty asked.

I listened as they went back and forth while I dug into my plate. As much as Aunt Mookie got on my nerves, she could cook her ass off. I knew her greens anytime I tasted them, and today was no different.

My phone buzzed on the table, and I picked it up, already irritated. It was a holiday, and I told everybody to leave me the fuck alone, or they would be cussed out. And it was an unknown number that texted me.

Unknown: Zaire looked everything over. He should be sendin’ you the signed contract. Guess you got yourself a new client.

“Zaire?” I muttered, thinking of who this could be.

Then, it clicked. This was Juvie. I chuckled, then replied.

Me: I didn’t know who this was at first. Smart decision. Welcome to Mercer Sports Management.

Juvie: Don’t get cocky, Juicy.

I locked my phone and set it on the table. That was the only type of message I would tolerate. I focused on my family and enjoyed the moment. New client secured, and new money. Now, hopefully, my family would let me eat in peace.

The pictures Yusef sent had me on edge. It had me paranoid as fuck. I was callin’ my Granny three times a day, made her share her location wit’ me and everything. My pops said they was still watchin’ him. I tried keepin’ myself busy. Trainin’ more, workin’ out, goin’ to the gun range just in case I had to pull my shit. I knew what they could do, but if it came down to it, I wasn’t gon’ just lay down and let them take somebody else from me.