Flipping the Script by Paula Chase Page B

town”—JZ’s eyebrows arched—“are you and Mina even coming to the party?” Chunks of cold smoke punctuated his devilish chuckle.
    â€œWe’ll be there ... not long though,” Brian said, a smile in his voice. He exchanged a pound with JZ. “But you know Mina, son. We’ll definitely be there.”
    â€œFor real, she not missing an upper bash,” Michael said, raising his voice to be heard in the back. “Not even for you, B.”
    â€œAin’t that messed up?” Brian looked over his shoulder, his scowl playing to the guy’s light Mina-bashing. “It’s our last night together until spring probably ... but if it’s a party, you know her face gotta be up in the place.”
    The guy’s voices, animated and loud, floated through the limbs of the naked trees, falling short of reaching the houses well off the road. The banter fueled their pace and the neighborhood’s entrance was within view in minutes.
    JZ glanced back at Rob. “Stop through if you want. You can bring somebody too, if you flow like that.”
    â€œThanks,” Rob said. He smushed his scarf under his chin. “Is it a couples-only thing?”
    â€œMight as well be,” Michael said. He was secretly pleased that JZ had extended the offer.
    â€œIt ain’t no couple thing,” JZ said, righteously indignant. “Bringing a date to a party is like bringing your own water to a pool.” He laughed at his own joke as he talked on. “Why bother?”
    Rob’s elbow tapped Michael’s as he thought aloud. “I could bring Maribel.”
    Michael nodded approval. “Yeah, she’d be down. And she knows me and Lizzie, so she would probably flow.”
    â€œWhatever,” JZ said, interrupting. “Like I said, bring somebody if you want. Just don’t bring a whole bunch of dudes.”
    Michael scowled. “Why would he?”
    JZ flashed Michael a look of annoyed confusion. “You know how people roll in mob deep, and I don’t want to end up with a bunch of hardheads at the party. I rather there be more shorties there.” He feigned brushing off his shoulder. “Because the kid ain’t in no couple.”
    Todd cackled. “Does Tonya know that?”
    â€œI didn’t invite Tonya,” JZ said. A trail of cold smoke exited his nose as he snorted. “Erica trying get on. So I invited her.” He rubbed his hands together with glee. “The kid knows how to play it. A sophomore all up in an upper class party. Shoot, you know how grateful she gon’ be?”
    He made an obscene gesture, setting off snickering.
    â€œDude, for real, I’m gonna need you to stop bragging about all your conquests,” Todd said. “It’s like living across from a playground but being grounded or something. I can watch you play but I can never come out.”
    The guys’ laughter exploded in the night, just as they reached the guard’s booth. The guard looked up, momentarily jolted by the noise, saluted them, and went back to looking at a tiny screen in front of him. The group tightened their circle, walking swifter and talking louder once out of Folger’s Way and on the main road leading to their respective neighborhoods.
    â€œJust save all that tension for the game tomorrow,” JZ said. “Poly trying to act like they can ball this year. We need some of that new aggressive Todd, throwing bows.”
    Todd rolled his eyes. “No problem there.”
    â€œSo, Jay, you letting Cinny bring Raheem?” Michael said, meaning it partly as a joke and getting the expected offense from JZ.
    â€œLetting?” JZ sniffed. “Cinny can do what she wants.” He cleared his throat, shrugging as he casually added, “But he supposed to be heading back to DC early. So I think she’s riding solo. I don’t know.”
    â€œAnd you just happen to know this?” Todd said. He