Accidental Arrangements

by Alexandra Warren

  “So if I got you so good then why are you still trying to get at the Instagram honey?” I asked, not understanding how the two went together.

  But it all made sense once he answered, “I made that up. I just wanted to see your reaction. Make sure I wasn’t in this shit completely alone.”

  “Asshole!” I screeched as I knocked his hand away just as the light turned green.

  And as he pulled off, he put a hand to his ear and said, “Nu uh. It’s your turn. Now let me hear it, baby. Mr. Graham fucked your life up. I ruined you. Destroyed that…”

  I cut him off. “Alright, alright. You got me good. Real good. So damn good...” I practically moaned as the memories of it all began to flood my brain.

  He took a short peek my way, licking his lips as he said, “Damn, girl. I said, let me hear it, not make me wanna pull over and do it again.”

  “We’re almost home, Levi.”

  His eyebrow piqued when he asked, “Is that an offer?”

  And this time, it was me licking my lips as I answered, “Actually, it’s a request. A wish of sorts.”

  “Well your wish is my command, baby.”

  Levi

  “I told you it would work. Wes knows best.”

  I handed my boy a beer before plopping down on the couch next to him and offering a cheers. His idea of getting the flowers for Jules had definitely been the kickstarter to much, much more. In fact, his idea of flowers was what led to a permanent smile on my face for the past week from getting to know Jules inside and out.

  But regardless of the role he played, I knew there was still a bone to pick as I told him, “Well Wes almost ruined shit by letting his broad leave her panties in my bedroom for Jules to find.”

  I still couldn’t believe of all the things Jules could’ve found in my room, those were it. But I was also grateful that she didn’t jump to the obvious conclusion before giving me a chance to explain myself, though that didn’t seem to matter to Wes either way as he replied, “Panties? I don’t even remember her wearing any panties.”

  “That’s not the point, man.”

  I watched as he took a hearty swig of his beer before finally admitting, “You’re right. My bad. It won’t happen again.”

  “You damn right it won’t happen again cause I’m not letting you do that shit again.”

  “What? Why not?” he asked, legitimately surprised as he took another sip of his beer.

  And this time I joined him, swallowing hard before I told him, “That shit is foul, bro. Chloe deserves better.”

  While I usually just went with the flow when it came to whatever schemes Wes and I had come up with in the past, now that I knew Chloe was expecting, it made me feel double the guilt. But once again, Wes had no problem brushing it off as he replied, “Chloe is just fine. She knows who she’s dealing with. She’s always known, not to mention she was the one who insisted on following me out here in the first place.”

  “But that still doesn’t make it right.”

  Instead of considering my words, Wes made an attempt to put the spotlight on me as he said, “Man, you been pillow talkin’ too much. Got you all in your feelings and shit.”

  Sure he might’ve had a point. After talking through it with Jules, I definitely drew different conclusions than before, starting with… “This ain’t about my feelings. This is about Chloe’s. And the baby. What are you gonna do when your little girl gets here? Keep running around like you do now?”

  He shrugged. “That’s for me to figure out when she comes. But until that happens, I’m gonna keep having my fun. And besides, don’t act like you’re Mr. Perfect now just because Jules doesn’t know the real you yet.”

  “The real me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked as I took another sip of my beer.

  And Wes looked completely convinced of whatever theory he had come up with as he leaned in to reply, “Nigga, you’re just like me. You ain’t really tryna settle down with one broad. You’re just letting her think that until you find something new to hit.”

  “Oh, so that’s what this is? Passing the time until you find something new to hit?”

  Wes and I both flashed our eyes back towards the door to find Jules standing with her arms crossed waiting for a response. I wasn’t even sure how much she had heard, didn’t even know she was there. But I knew I had some cleaning up to do as I said, “Jules. What’s up, pretty girl? I didn’t even hear you come in.”

  She closed the door before stepping behind the couch and looking down on the both of us. “Well here I am. And here… he is,” she said with a roll of her eyes as she looked at Wes.

  “Hey Jules,” was all he could offer, trying his best to keep things cordial.

  But it was clear Jules wasn’t interested as she gave a stiff, “Wes.” before slipping off to her room.

  Once the bedroom door closed, Wes turned back my way to whisper, “Yo, why she always acting like that towards me?”

  I shrugged, taking another sip of my beer. “She doesn’t really have a reason to like you. Especially now.”

  “What you mean, especially now? I haven’t even been around her to do anything new.”

  While he may not have been around Jules physically, I had no problem reminding him, “Bruh, she literally found your side-piece’s panties.”

  “But she didn’t even know they were my side-piece’s when she found them. They could’ve been my main’s,” he said before adding, “Wait... you told her all that? Gotdamn, you can’t hold water!”

  I was just getting ready to reply when Jules’s bedroom door cracked back open, the scent of her perfume seeping out before she actually emerged.

  But when she did...

  “Damn, girl. Where you heading off to? I know you aren’t going to work looking like that,” I said as I watched her check herself out in the mirror.

  While the backless long-sleeved bodysuit and ripped denim jeans she wore probably seemed basic to her, it looked everything but, especially with the little sandal heels she paired it with. And it was clear I wasn’t the only one impressed, Wes barely able to keep his jaw up as he ogled her from the couch the same way I was.

  But no matter how hard we stared at her, Jules was completely unfazed as she smoothed the edges of her curled high ponytail and answered, “Nope. Going out with the girls.”

  “Oh, word? We’re coming too,” I told her as I stood up from the couch to join her.

  And once she noticed me, she turned my way wearing a silly little smirk as she said, “You weren’t invited.”

  “Why not? We can’t roll with the pretty girl gang?” I asked teasingly as I stepped to her, giving the tip of her ponytail a little tug.

  But she only knocked my hand away as she laughed and answered, “We aren’t some teenage clique. But ya’ll can do what ya’ll want. I mean, ya’ll are grown, right?”

  “So where are ya’ll going then?” I asked as she turned back to the mirror to check her hair once again.

  And as she teased her ponytail she replied, “I don’t know. Probably Downtown somewhere.”

  “Downtown? There’s only like two decent clubs down there. And one of ‘em isn’t even really for us.”

  “We’re just trying to get as far away from The Max as possible. But if that’s not your thing, feel free to accept your non-invitation.”

  “We’ll meet you down there in a little while.”

  She gave me a little pat to my chest as she said, “Sure thing, Levi.” before peeking around me to add another stiff, “Wes.”

  And this time, Wes matched her vibes as he gave her a solid, “Jules.” Before she left the crib.

  I was already busy locking the door behind her when Wes asked, “Yo, we’re really going out?”

  “Hell yeah. I can’t be having my girl out there with the wolves,” I told him as I headed to my room to find something to where.

  And Wes hopped up from the couch to join me, teasing from behind, “Your girl? Since when is she your girl?”

&nb
sp; I kept my eyes on my clothes, sifting through the hangers as I tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. “I meant like... my homegirl. She’s my friend. We’re friends now. And I can’t have her out here getting fucked over by some lame ass niggas. Gotta watch out for her, you know? Make sure she’s good…” I trailed, hoping Wes would fill in the rest for me.

  But instead of taking my word, he leaned against the door frame and said, “Mmhm. Your ass ain’t slick. I told you, once she started being nice to you, it was game over.”

  “You also just told me I wasn’t trying to settle down which is the truth. Ain’t nobody got time to be worried about Jules like that. I just wanna make sure she’s straight,” I reasoned as I yanked a pair of jeans and a Versace t-shirt down from the rack, finding it suitable for whatever the night would consist of.

  Still, Wes was far from convinced of my logic as he teased, “Make sure she’s straight aka make sure another nigga ain’t sniffing down her back.”

  I was already picking through my jewelry, trying my best to brush him off though I knew he had a point. While Jules and I weren’t anything official by any means, there was still enough there for me to feel some type of way about other guys checking for her even if there was nothing I could really do about it.

  But regardless of all of that, I knew the only way I could get Wes off of my back about it was if I changed his perspective. So as I pulled my t-shirt over my head, I said, “Man, I’m just trying to have a good time with my triflin’ ass homeboy. Can I do that? Or is that against the law?”

  “You know that’s never a problem. Now hurry up and get dressed so we can get up out of here.”

  &

  This was a bad idea.

  I should’ve known my jealousy would kick in the second I spotted Jules completely in her element as she danced around with some random dude.

  Well… he wasn’t exactly random. I knew who he was and clearly Jules did to considering how comfortable she looked as he stood behind her with an arm draped over her shoulder before he leaned in to whisper something in her ear that made her laugh.

  “Yo, you see your girl?” Wes asked, giving me chance to break my gaze so that I could pull myself together as a small crowd began to form around us.

  Over the heavy bass throughout the club and the fans beginning to flock, I yelled, “Yeah, they’re over there.”

  Wes followed the direction of my nod before he whistled, “Damn. Is that the pretty girl gang you were talking about? I got my eye on the one in the purple.”

  “You should’ve kept your eyes at home where they belong,” I told him as we slipped through the crowd, trying to be polite and shake a few hands on the way to our destination.

  And while I led the way, I heard Wes ask from behind, “Man, are you gone let me hoop or not? I would’ve stayed my ass at home if I knew I was going to be on punishment.”

  I shook my head with a laugh as I tossed over my shoulder, “Go ahead and make that filthy ass bed if you want to. But you damn sure ain’t layin’ up in mine.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, and neither is Jules apparently. You see ol’ boy sweatin’ the hell out of her?” he asked just as we bypassed the security before continuing up the short set of stairs into higher grounds which also gave me the perfect view of the VIP section Jules was hanging in. While the section was full of women, including a couple of the girls I recognized from The Max, Jules was an obvious standout, stealing not only my attention from afar but also the attention of the supposed man of the hour according to the marquee outside of the club.

  Is that why she was so pressed to come down here?

  To see this clown?

  I tried to keep my face neutral as I told Wes, “She’s grown. She can do what she wants.”

  But it was clear I hadn’t done the best job of masking my emotions as he insisted, “Man, don’t have me in here breaking up fights and shit. I know how you can get.”

  I brushed him off even though my eyes were still glued to Jules as she posed for a picture with the guy. “I’m not gonna fight anybody. I’m just here to have a good time. Hell, maybe I’ll even find something to take home.”

  To no surprise, my words acted as an instant boost for Wes as he smacked a hand against my shoulder. “Now we’re talking. Who you thinkin’? Baby girl in pink? She’s cute, huh?”

  I followed the direction of his eyes and…. “She’s alright.”

  “What about sweetheart in the red? Nah, she’s got ass for days. You wouldn’t know what to do with all that.”

  “Nigga, what? I can handle that,” I insisted just as the girl noticed us watching, even giving a little wave.

  She was sexy. There was no doubt about it. But for whatever reason, I didn’t feel inclined to go talk to her even when Wes challenged, “Go ahead then. Go say what’s up.”

  And since I knew he would never let me hear the last of it if I didn’t take him up on the quest, I told him, “Let’s go check up with Jules first and then I will.”

  “Aww come on, man. You gotta check in with mommy now? Make sure it’s alright to go play?” he teased, earning himself a little push to the chest as we headed in Jules’s direction.

  And even though I knew I was approaching her for more selfish reasons, I tried to make things sound as normal as possible when I told him, “I’m just gonna let her know we made it, man. Damn.”

  “Alright, bro. Let’s hurry up before I lose my prospect.”

  I slipped through the less crowded VIP area, stopping to say what’s up to a few familiar faces before we finally made it to our intended destination. And once we did, I felt my muscles flex as I watched ol’ boy give Jules a little kiss on the cheek that she didn’t seem too enthused about, but didn’t exactly fight off either.

  Still, regardless of what they had going on, I put a little bass in my voice when I stepped to them. “Yo, Jules. What’s good?”

  To my surprise, she actually looked happy to see me, her eyes lighting up when she said, “Levi. Hey. This is… Jermaine. Jermaine, this is...”

  “Levi Graham. The biggest bust in draft history. I know exactly who he is,” he said with a laugh, turning back to his boys for more laughs to validate his corny ass joke.

  And since he was in the mood for jokes, I had no problem firing back, “You sure talk a lot of shit for a nigga whose album just flopped.”

  I could tell I struck a nerve as his lip twitched before he turned back to his entourage once again, this time as if he was signaling trouble considering the way they all seemed to buff up in response. But when he turned back my way, his arrogant smirk was full blown as he said, “You know about my album though, right? What’s your favorite song? Cause you still listened to my shit. I still got your money, nigga.”

  Before I could say anything back, Jules turned over her shoulder to serve him an annoyed look. Then she turned back to me to ask, “Will ya’ll chill? I’m trying to have a good time. Not watch ya’ll two cockfight all night.”

  I could hear Wes laugh behind us as I took a quick glance around the mostly packed club, quickly deciding it was time for us to go; us meaning all of us. And since I wasn’t interested in going back and forth with Jermaine’s mainstream rapping ass, I kept my attention on Jules when I said, “This shit is dry as fuck. You and your girls tryna roll to another spot?”

  I was honestly surprised at how quickly she slipped from under Jermaine’s arm as she answered, “Hell yeah. I mean… we can. If ya’ll really want to.”

  “Cool. I’ll meet ya’ll outside,” I told her, hitting Jermaine with a checkmate grin before leaving his spot with Wes in tow while Jules gathered her crew. And even though we were already a few steps away, I couldn’t help but turn back to see his defeated expression once again, hardly surprised by the scowl on his face as he watched the girls follow our trail.

  Once we made it outside to the curb, Jules was quick to introduce, “Levi, this is Mia. And this is Hope.”

  Hope was the first to extend her hand, giving me a sy
rupy sweet smile as she said, “I remember you. I served your section at The Max a couple of times.”

  “Yeah, and you did a good job. I should’ve tipped you more,” I told her with a grin of my own, catching Jules roll her eyes out of my peripheral before I moved on to shake Mia’s hand.

  “Oh, and this is Wes. He has a baby on the way,” she added, making me choke with a laugh as Wes’s face went pale.

  “Damn, Jules. Why you puttin’ all of my business out there?” he whispered, though it was pointless considering we all still heard him loud and clear.

  And even if we hadn’t, Jules had no problem using her full voice to answer, “These are my friends. I’m not about to let them get caught up in your shit show.”

  There really wasn’t much Wes could say to defend himself. So instead, I broke the silence by asking, “Ya’ll tryna roll down to the Black Market? I think Shy is performing tonight.”

  But my suggestion only got another eye roll from Jules when she replied, “She’s kinda... extra. What about that one spot? The Drunken Unicorn or whatever?

  “I thought that bar was for white people,” Hope asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, shifting all of her weight to one leg.

  And I couldn’t help but laugh as I answered, “Nah, they got a mixed crowd. Play most of the shit we like. Let’s walk down and check it out.”

  “These heels are not for walking,” Jules muttered as she leaned against the outer brick wall and lifted one foot from the ground to adjust her straps.

  “Your feet hurt? Need me to hook ‘em up right quick?” I offered as I stepped up to her, completely ready to give her a little impromptu rub down if that’s what she needed.

  But it was clear Jules was back in full-on tough girl mode for our audience as she brushed me off to answer, “No. I’m… I’m fine.” Before putting her foot back on the ground and leading the way down the block.

  And while Jules acted uninterested, Hope had no problem chiming in, “Girl, you should’ve gotten your dogs rubbed while you had a chance. I know I would’ve.”