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little canoodling masked as a pool lesson was a classic JZ mack move ... but Brian smelled good (sporty rustic) and felt good (strong, athletic arms). She had better things to do than fuss with JZ.
    Still, she couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “You go ahead messingwith Cinny.” Mina stuck her leg out and took a swipe with her foot at JZ’s ankle, as far as she could without leaving the comfort of Brian’s arms. “You’re gonna be hurting when she goes running back to Raheem.”
    â€œMan, she can run, walk or sprint, that’s her business,” JZ bragged.
    Jacinta snorted. “Who? How about none of the above?” She arched her right eyebrow and shot Mina a look. “Me and Raheem are finished. O-V-E-R.”
    â€œUhh ... that doesn’t spell finished,” Lizzie pointed out from across the room. Michael gave Lizzie’s pants a light tug, dismissing her from the stand.
    She stepped down and went behind a large rice-paper screen to change back into her regular clothes. Michael busied himself tidying up the corner of pins, swatches and miscellaneous costuming tools, only partially tuned in to the conversation as the clique did what they did best, give one another a hard time in the name of friendship.
    Jacinta turned back to the pool table. Sizing up a ball, she bent over, fixed her body the way JZ had shown her, and tapped the ball just enough for it to rock.
    She took a silly curtsy as JZ clapped daintily, his kudos small like her accomplishment. Grinning, she picked up where she left off in the conversation. “Naw, me and Raheem are done like the ThanksgivingDay turkey.”
    â€œUm-huh,” Mina said, openly skeptical. “Like I said, JZ, don’t come crying to me when your flirt buddy all hugged up with her man.”
    JZ made a face like “as if,” then took one last shot. He sat down on the corner of the pool table, his long legs splayed in front of him, the game forgotten. “So we’re still on for the Extreme, right?” he asked Brian, rubbing his hands together at the thought of the road trip. “Your moms still cool letting us stay at y’all condo?”
    â€œYeah.” Brian tickled Mina’s side, then walked to the corner to get a pool stick. “Everybody knows they’re on their own with grub though, right? I’m not gonna be cooking for a bunch of hard heads. And respect my crib or else my people’s gonna be all over me about responsibility blah, blah, blah.”
    He nudged Jacinta out of the way gently and racked up the balls.
    She took a seat next to JZ on the pool table. Her feet, dangling two feet from the floor, kicked lightly.
    â€œMan, as long the honeys in full effect, I’ll eat project noodles everyday,” JZ said. “I’ll pack a few extra packets and bring my secret ingredient.”
    Lizzie made her way over and pulled up a stool next to where Mina stood. “Jay, you’re such a gourmet,” she snickered.
    Kelly brought over a bar stool for herself and one for Mina. The three of them stationed themselves just far enough from the pool table so they wouldn’t be knocked out with a pool stick.
    â€œYeah, grated parmesan cheese and ramen noodles is so five star,” Mina said, hopping onto the stool. She nearly fell off, kicking at JZ’s stick poking at her feet.
    â€œWhatever,” JZ said. “I don’t care what we eat as long as we rolling with some shorties.”
    Mina was constantly perplexed by her male friends’ endless freedom.For the millionth time she griped aloud about it. “Why do boys always get to do whatever they want?”
    â€œBrian, your mom isn’t worried about you being on your own for two days?” Kelly asked.
    â€œWell I’m potty trained and my address is sewn into all my shirts, in case I get lost,” Brian said, leaning into his shot.
    The clique’s laughter was a motley chorus of the