Page 40 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

“Not happening.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“How?”

“Because now that I know what you look like in one, I’m gonna be thinking about this shit every time you come around me dressed like somebody’s little brother.”

I smacked his arm. “Fuck you.”

Crow cracked up. “I’m playing, Rain.” His gaze dropped over me again before meeting mine. “Mostly.”

“Boy, bye.”

I went to walk past him, but he caught my hand.

“Nah, hold up.”

“What now?”

The joking expression on his face softened as he looked at me. “You really do look beautiful, Rain.”

That caught me off guard. For a second, all I could do was stare at him before pulling my hand away so he wouldn’t notice his words had actually gotten to me.

“You clean up pretty good yourself,” I admitted.

“Pretty good?” He placed a hand over his chest. “That’s all I get?”

I looked him over like I was seriously considering giving him another compliment, but my eyes stopped on his hair. His curls were extra defined, sitting perfectly on top of his head like he’d spent more time getting ready than I had.

Crow was African American on his mother’s side and Dominican on his father’s. I’d known that nigga damn near my whole life, so I knew exactly where those curls came from. Unfortunately, so did he, and he loved reminding everybody about his Dominican side whenever somebody mentioned his hair.

I sucked my teeth. “Your hair too damn curly, though.”

Crow’s smile disappeared. “What the fuck that mean?”

“You heard me.” I reached up and tugged one of his curls. “Looking all pretty and shit. You sure you ain’t supposed to be standing with the bridesmaids?”

“See, now you hating.”

I laughed. “I’m just saying. Them curls looking real feminine today.”

“Why you gotta hate on my Dominican genes?”

I gave him a look. “Boy, please. You wasn’t loving them Dominican genes that much when you got rid of Dominguez.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t start, Rain.”

That made me laugh because I remembered that shit like it was yesterday. Crow’s father had walked out on him and his mother when we were kids, and Crow never forgave him for it. Years later, when he was old enough to do something about it, he dropped Dominguez and became Domingo.

And the reason behind the name was the most Crow shit ever.

“Your petty ass still kills me with Domingo.”

“Ain’t shit funny.”

“Yes, it is.” I was already laughing. “Of all the last names you could’ve picked, you picked Domingo because that motherfucker left on a Sunday.”

Crow shrugged. “And?”