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“That’s fucked up, Sav. I ain’t think you was gon’ laugh at a nigga.”

“I’m sorry… It’s just… When did you go bald, Juvie? You had plenty of hair when we were kids.” She grabbed her stomach, laughin’ harder.

I chuckled and snatched the towel from her. “It’s hereditary. My pops is bald, his pops was bald, and I can almost bet his pops was bald too. Get off my set wit’ all that.”

She ran off, still cacklin’. If she wasn’t crackin’ jokes about my bald ass head, it was my granny.

“You mad, Mr. Clean?” she asked, slappin’ her knee.

I threw up my middle finger, and she threw one back, still crackin’ the fuck up. In the distance, I saw Ni walkin’ in. My whole mood changed. Juicy glanced at me, then turned around to see what threw me off.

“Hey, Niema,” Juicy said.

“Hi, Savannah. It’s so good to see you again. Is JuMarion behaving? You know he don’t listen.” Ni giggled, givin’ Juicy one of them church hugs.

“Oh, girl, he listens to me. I run a tight ship.”

“Is that right?” Ni glanced at me, then back at Juicy. “Well, I’m glad you got a leash on him.”

I ain’t like the way she said leash, but Juicy laughed like it was nothin’. Ni sat there, playin’ nice, but I saw what she was doin’. She was tallying up shit to run back to Yusef. I couldn’t make a scene in here; I couldn’t cuss her dumb ass out, and no matter what, I had a job to do.

“JuMarion, we have an early dinner with my dad. Do you know when this shoot will be over?” Ni asked.

“Oh, he should be done in another hour or so,” Juicy answered. “You should ask the photographer to see the raw footage. He did really good.”

“This is a great opportunity. He’s been telling me how much you have lined up for him. Got my man working hard, girl.” Ni giggled, and my stomach turned.

She was flashin’ that ring, tryna see if Juicy would react. Kept callin’ me her man. I just stood off to the side, quiet as hell. Juicy glanced at me, and I knew by the way she tilted her head that she could tell I was irritated.

“You okay, Juvie? You need a break or something? You look a little pale. And your tie is crooked.”

Before I could move to fix it, Juicy was on her feet, adjusting my tie and smoothin’ out my jacket.

Ni’s whole body went stiff while she watched. As soon as Juicy sat back down, Ni jumped right back into character. Fake as hell, pissin’ me off even more.

“Nah. I’m straight, Sav. Ni might need some water, though.”

“Would you like some water, juice, or soda?” Juicy asked her.

“Uhm, sure. Water is fine.”

Juicy walked off to get Ni some water. Once she was far enough away, I stood in front of Ni, leanin’ close to her ear so nobody could hear what I was ’bout to say.

“You came up here to get your feelings hurt, Niema?”

When I tried to pull back, she grabbed my tie, and I smirked at her. She was mad as shit. Her chest was risin’, nostrils flarin’. I ain’t give a fuck, though. She should have stayed her ass where she was.

“You two really fell right back into your old rhythm, huh? It looks so… natural. Fixing your tie, rubbing your chest… She doesn’t even realize what she’s doing. But you do.”

Heels clickin’ against the floor made me look up. Juicy was comin’ back with Ni’s water.

“Go ’head wit’ that shit. Kiss me or somethin’. You showin’ your hand again, Ni. That ain’t a good look.”

Ni smiled like she wasn’t two seconds from cussin’ me out, then leaned in and kissed my lips.

“Better?” she asked, lookin’ up at me like she loved a nigga.

“Yeah… Much better.”