Page 57 of When I Thug You Like That

Pryce looked over at him, mean mugging. “You got money on this shit?”

“I don’t gamble. And I don’t watch football.”

“Well, shut the fuck up then, nigga. I’m tryna win this parlay.”

I laughed, reaching for the buffalo chicken dip.

“Nurseee, he’s out again!” Tay yelled.

We all cracked up laughing, even Pryce.

“You stupid.” Enzo chuckled.

The game went to commercial, and he grabbed the remote to lower the volume.

“When you start watching football, Pryce?”

“Since I made three stacks last year betting on that Prize Picks shit. Easiest three stacks I ever made.”

“And now you locked in once a year like you on the field.”

“Yeah. Tellin’ niggas to shut the fuck up and shit,” Tay added. “Like I ain’t got feelings.”

Pryce picked up one of the throw pillows and launched it at him.

“Aye, nigga,” Enzo let out, “don’t be throwin’ my lady shit around.”

“Yeah, nigga. ‘Fore he beat yo’ ass ‘bout Thyri shit,” I joked, squaring up.

“Shut up.”

I put my hand up and ate my dip in silence. For a few seconds, nobody said much. Then, Aura cleared his throat.

“A real nigga birthday in two weeks. What’s the move?”

I froze mid-chew, eyes darting to Pryce, Enzo, and Tay. Not because I didn’t know when his birthday was, but because every other Sullivan in the room knew there had been a surprise birthday party in the making over the last two months. And this wasn’t a Key production. Amil wanted to surprise her brother for his thirty-fifth birthday. She made it clear in the group chat that we were to act as clueless as possible if he asked.

Amil: If Aura even mention his birthday and plans in the same sentence, Y’ALL DON’T KNOW SHIT! Especially you, Jay. YOU DON’T KNOW SHIT. YOU AIN’T HEARD SHIT. AND YOU AIN’T SEEN SHIT.

Her singling me out seemed a little unnecessary seeing as I knew how to keep a secret, so long as I knew that it was a secret beforehand.

“You tellin’ us like it’s some major event,” I finally said.

Aura looked over at me from the other side of the couch. “Shit, it is. It’s a boss nigga holiday, actually.

Tay coughed into his fist to cover a laugh.

Aura’s eyes moved to him next. “Fuck you laughing at?”

“Not a thang, boss nigga.”

I snickered.

“Aight, Larry and Curly,” Aura said, shaking his head. “So, what’s the move? Any plans?”

“For what? Your birthday?” Enzo questioned.

“Nah, nigga, Kwanzaa. Yeah, my birthday.”