It's All Good by Nikki Carter Page A

off the chain. That girl most probably will give him her number. And I’ll most probably be mad, but I won’t admit it to anyone but you, so keep your trap shut!
    â€œDang, will y’all just go together for heaven’s sake?” Kevin asks. “I’m sick of the suspense.”
    â€œWhat kind of suspense?” Candy asks.
    â€œAll while we’re planning Gia’s party, he’s asking me if I think Gia likes him for real. I’m like, dude! She likes you, man. Why wouldn’t she like you?”
    I lean forward in my chair and drop my fry. “He asked you that for real?”
    â€œYeah, and I know I’m breaking all kind of man law and friendship codes telling you this, but I’m sick of you two.”
    Hope grins. “So, Gia, what are you gonna do about it?”
    â€œI’m not doing anything! My mom told me that the boy is supposed to make the first move.”
    â€œTechnically, he made the first move when he bought you that bracelet,” Candy says.
    â€œNah, because he said that he and his mother picked it out. Even if she did help him, it would only be a first move if he claimed he chose it all by himself.”
    Hope shakes her head with frustration. “There she goes, making up random rules.”
    â€œI know, right!” Candy exclaims. “That was totally random. And this is about to be, too: Kevin, will you be my escort for the cotillion?”
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œYeah, seriously. You’re kinda cute, and this is a church thing and all, so yeah.”
    Kevin’s smile touches both of his ears. Oh, brother. “Thank you, Candy! Of course, I’ll be your escort. What color are we wearing?”
    Candy laughs. “Dang, Kevin, it’s not the prom. All of the ladies are wearing white dresses, and Mama Gwen says you’ll need a tux.”
    â€œYou already told my mom you were asking Kevin?” I ask.
    â€œYep. She was cool with it. Who are you asking, Hope?”
    â€œBrother Bryan.”
    â€œBrother Bryan, the choir director?” I ask, a little bit salty I didn’t think of him first. He’s super duper fine.
    â€œYes,” Hope replies. “My mom says it doesn’t have to be a boy, but it could be a man that we admire, like an uncle or cousin. I really admire Brother Bryan and he mentors us.”
    Candy and I give Hope the serious blank stare. “All right!” she says. “He’s ridiculously cute, too!”
    â€œThe real reason comes out!” I say.
    Ricky drops his tray on the table and plops into his seat. “The real reason for what?”
    â€œFor why Hope asked Brother Bryan to be her escort to the PGP cotillion.”
    Ricky scrunches up his nose. “I don’t think Brother Bryan is gonna go on a date with a little girl, much less the pastor’s daughter.”
    â€œFirst of all, I’m not a little girl! Second, it’s not a date! He’s just escorting me. Anyway, who are you asking, Gia?”
    I shrug, even though everybody at the table knows that I want Ricky to be my escort. I hate being set up like this. I’ll ask him when I get ready, if I get ready.
    â€œGia, you want me to take you?” Ricky asks.
    Or, I’ll wait until he asks me!
    â€œThat would be cool, I guess.”
    Hope rolls her eyes, and gets up from the table to send a text message. An uncomfortable silence settles on the table, as if Candy and Kevin are expecting something more. But Ricky and I just play it cool and keep munching on our fries.
    That’s how we do.
    â€œSeriously?” Candy asks. “Y’all get on my nerves.”
    Candy gets up from the table and marches toward Hope.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with her?” Ricky asks.
    I give the clueless shrug. “I have no clue.”
    My phone buzzes in my purse. “Someone’s texting me.”
    The message on my screen says, Heard you’re looking for who really posted