by A'zayler
“Who you talking to?” the largest woman at the table asked as if she didn’t know.
“Y’all busted asses. Fuck is y’all look at my friend for?”
“These our eyes and if he didn’t want people looking at him he would dress like the nigga that he is.”
The people sitting around them were starting to look. Rain grabbed Summer’s arm and tried to calm her down, but it wasn’t happening. When she heard Alex suck his teeth she knew she only had a few minutes before the situation got out of hand. Alex and Summer were partners in crime. They would act an ass at the drop of a dime.
“I can dress however the fuck I want to dress just like I can whoop ass however and whenever the fuck I want to.” Alex hopped out of his seat and Rain jumped down right behind him.
“Not in here boo. Just chill. Let’s go somewhere else,” Rain pleaded.
“Hell nah. We gon’ stay right here. We ain’t about to let these busted ass hos ruin our dinner.”
The girls were still saying slick stuff but somehow Rain managed to get Alex and Summer to calm down long enough for the waitress to move them to a different table. Rain breathed a sigh of relief once they were at their new table. That was until she smelled the same cologne that made her want to strip naked and hop on that sexy ass stranger Love in the club last night. She turned her head slowly and just knew her eyes had to be playing tricks on her.
*****
Love sat at his booth in the corner of the restaurant with Jacorey and their dates for the night. Sabrina and Karina were twins that he and Jacorey had met at the mall last weekend. They were two little chicks form up north that kept pretty good company. He was with Karina while Jacorey had Sabrina. Although double dating wasn’t his thing normally, he agreed when Jacorey asked simply because the girls were sisters and probably used to doing things together. The entire day had been going pretty well but he was ready to go home now. From the hints that Karina was throwing she too was ready to head to the house, but for a reason totally different from his. He was tired. He’d had a long night after leaving Magic City the night before and was ready to see his bed. He had a terrible hangover that felt the need to linger. His stomach was still upset from all of the liquor he’d consumed and the aching on the side of his head wasn’t making it any better. All he wanted to do was eat, drink a beer, and leave.
“What’s wrong handsome?” Karina turned his head so that he was looking at her.
“Still a li’l fucked up from last night but I’m straight.”
Karina scooted closer and ran her hand up his thigh. “You should let me make you feel better.”
This was exactly why he was ready to go home. She’d been pushing up on him all day and night. Love was definitely not feeling her. It wasn’t that she wasn’t attractive or anything like that because she was, but he didn’t like overly sexual women. Not in public at least. He was a private person and kept his business to himself. If she was this forward with him then nine times out of ten she was the same way with everybody else. He’d pass on a second dose of easy pussy.
“Chill girl.” He pushed her hand away and took a few sips from his beer.
Karina sucked her teeth and scooted back.
“You straight bruh?” Jacorey asked
Love nodded his head as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He was busy checking a text from yet another female he didn’t feel like being bothered with when he heard yelling. He looked up to see two groups of females arguing. Basic bitches. He shook his head and went back to texting. He hated women that showed their ass in public. He liked his women with a little more class than that. If he was kicking it with you, you had to know how to conduct yourself properly.
“Aye Love, ain’t that li’l mama from Magic City?” Jacorey asked
Love’s head shot up with the speed of lightening as his eyes followed the direction of where Jacorey was pointing. Ahh hell nah. Love noticed her immediately. She was with one of the groups of women that were just causing a scene. He watched her and her people being escorted to the table diagonal from the one he was sitting in.
“Yeah that’s her,” Love answered nonchalantly. He wasn’t really feeling her anymore after seeing she was associated with drama.
“You don’t wanna go holla at her?”
Karina and Sabrina both looked at him like they dared him to say yes. Love smirked and looked back at his phone. These chicks had some nerve.
“Nah, I’m good.” Love stuck his phone in his pocket and leaned back.
“So you can give me a hard time but you fucking strippers?” Karina’s words were filled with disgust.
Drama. He was past ready to go now. He looked at her like she was the stupidest woman alive. She was so busy hating, she hadn’t even taken the time out to learn what she was talking about. Versus acknowledging what she said, Love took a bite out of his chicken. It was taking everything in him not to look over at her. He wanted to see her face again, maybe even talk to her but his pride wouldn’t let him. The most he would do is look from afar. He popped a potato wedge in his mouth and sat back with his arms thrown across the booth. He turned his head and at that moment time stood still. She was looking at him. She looked a little unsure as she stared at him from across the room. She looked away for a second only to bring her gaze right back. Her face was straight, no smiling, just curiosity. Love thought her little staring game was cute but he was a grown man, he didn’t play little kid games. He nodded his head at her and went back to drinking his beer. He could still feel her eyes on him but pretended not to.
“You done blowing me off for the stripper?” Karina asked.
Love frowned and looked at her. He didn’t know how niggas up north let their women talk to them, but down here in the South they didn’t tolerate that slick mouth shit.
“Aye check your fucking mouth shawty.”
“I’m saying though. You sitting over there staring at that ho and you won’t even give me the time of day.”
“Look at how you acting. This why I’m not fuckin’ with you.” Love pulled some money from his pocket and threw it on the table. He dapped Jacorey up across the table and slid out of the booth. “I’ll check you later bruh. I’m out.”
“Bet my nigga,” Jacorey said as Love walked away from the table.
Love hadn’t intended on walking out on the girl but he’d had enough of her mouth. Maybe if he’d had plans of sleeping with her he would have endured but he didn’t even want that shit. He’d bust her down earlier in the week and it wasn’t much to brag about so he didn’t see a point in giving it a second chance. Love received looks from women as he passed their tables. Some were a little more obvious than others while others tried to look discreetly.
“Love in the Club,” Love heard somebody say.
When he turned around he saw one of the girls that was with her last night waving him over to their table. He stood still for a minute trying to decide whether he wanted to go over there or not. There was no real reason to ignore them so he walked over to their table smoothly. It was only then that he noticed that the girl that called him over, was actually a boy. How in the hell had he missed that shit?
“You sober now, so you don’t know us no more?” the boy asked
Love shook his head. “Nah, it ain’t that. I’m just chilling.”
“You don’t love me no more?” Rain asked innocently. Her soft voice got to him for some reason. Maybe it was how sweet she sounded when she asked that had him smiling like a kid. He stuck his hands in his pockets and nodded his head slowly.
“Yeah baby. I still love you.” Love couldn’t believe he’d just said that. He even sounded corny to himself, but if that was all he had to say to see the smile she had on her face right then, he’d do it.
“Awww ain’t this some sweet shit Summer?” the boy asked.
“The sweetest shit I’ve seen in a long time,” the other girl agreed.
Love smiled at the two of them before turning his attention back to her. He wasn’t really f
eeling the boy’s company anyway but he seemed cool so he would rock with it for now. She was still looking at him. Now it was different from the playful smile she had a minute ago. Her face was now serious again like it was when she was staring at him. She wasn’t saying anything and he wasn’t about to just stand there so it was time to call it a night.
“I’ll see y’all around,” Love said before walking away.
As bad as he wanted to stay there and talk he knew he couldn’t. Karina was probably fuming on the inside and he didn’t need, nor did he want, to be a part of any unnecessary drama. He was out of the restaurant and almost to his car when he heard his name being called. He turned around and she was coming across the street. Her long hair blew back as she walked, making her look like she was in a commercial. He stopped short and met her halfway. Once she was close enough she looked at him without saying anything. They stood quiet, neither of them saying anything. She had come out there calling his name and now she was acting like she couldn’t talk. Love decided to help her out.
“What you doing out here?”
“You umm…told me not to leave without giving you my number last night. I umm…forgot, so I was coming to give it to you now,” she stammered over her words.
“Cool. Well give it to me then baby doll.”
He watched her fumble with his phone once he handed it to her. She unlocked it with the swipe of her finger and went straight to the keypad to enter her number He watched the way her breasts rose and fell as she breathed. Her small manicured fingers slid over the screen of his phone with expertise. Once she was done she gave it back to him. He read the name on the screen and his brows furrowed.
“Rain? I thought your name was Goddess.”
“It is. My name is Goddess-Rain, but everybody calls me Rain for short. You can call me whichever one you want.” She smiled at him.
“How about I call you my baby?”
Her face lit up from her smile. Damn. This girl was pretty as hell. He was going to have to stay away from her. She had him feeling like he was on a first date or something when they talked.
“How about it?”
“You’d like that?” Love pulled her arm so she was standing closer to him. She nodded.
“Good. What you about to get into tonight?”
“Nothing. I’m going home when I leave here.”
Love nodded his head slowly and let his eyes travel down her body. He didn’t know where this came from, but he had to ask. “Come take a ride with me.”
“Where we going?”
“To see the city.”
“Atlanta?”
“Nah baby, I live here.”
“Alright, let me go tell my sister and my friend.” She was about to turn around and walk away but he stopped her by grabbing her arm.
“Just call them.”
He could tell by the way she looked from him to the restaurant that she wasn’t too sure about it. He handed her his phone.
“Here, use my phone. They can save my number.” Love tried to remain cool but he really wanted to chill with her alone and get to know her a little more. He was torn between their first encounter and the little scene from a few minutes ago so he needed to time to see for himself.
Rain grabbed his phone from his hand and dialed Summer’s number. She talked for a few minutes before hanging up. With his phone still in her hand, she turned around and crossed the street. He was about to ask her where she was going until her saw her little crew coming out of the door. They huddled together at the door talking, occasionally stealing glances at him. He stood patiently across the street waiting for her to return. When she came back towards him, her little friend was with her.
“Listen here Love in the Club, don’t do nothing to her that you wouldn’t do to me. Got it?”
Love frowned at him. “Man chill out with that shit.”
“Just make sure my baby is straight,” he said before kissing Rain and walking away.
“Excuse him. He’s just a little overprotective.”
“Cool. Let’s slide baby doll.” Love grabbed her hand and led her to the passenger side of his red F-150 Platinum pickup truck. Thanks to the Goo-Goo car wash his paint and rims were both shining. He loved his whip. It wasn’t too flashy but it was eye catching and it fit him. He pulled the door open and lifted her up by her waist. The truck sat up pretty high because of his rims. It was cool for him because he was a tall ass nigga but his li’l baby doll was a little on the short side. Her small body floated with ease as he sat her in the seat before closing her door and going to his side. He cranked up and looked over at her. Rain was sitting stiff as a board as she looked out of the front window. Her hands were tucked between her thighs. Shit. Love wished he was her hands. He looked her up and down before reaching over and grabbing her hand. She shifted some when his hand grazed the inside of her thigh. She watched him as he pulled out of the parking space. On the way out he saw her people standing near a little dark blue Lexus. The girl she’d called her sister was on the driver side so he assumed it was hers. They waved at Rain as he drove past.
“You good?” He squeezed her hand.
“Yeah I’m fine. Why you ask that?”
“Look at the way you sitting. You look scared or some shit. I ain’t gon’ do nothing to you baby doll. You can relax.”
“How do I know that? I don’t even know you.”
Love smirked at her and nodded his head. She had a feisty side to her. He could appreciate that. The shy act wasn’t going to cut it too much longer. Especially since he’d already seen how live she could get when they were at the club last night.
“You think I would hurt you?”
Rain shrugged her shoulders and gave him a big smile. “Honestly…yeah, I do. You look like the playa’ type. Hell, you just left some girl in Buffalo Wild Wings. So you probably would with your sexy ass.”
In all of his years of life Love had never let a female make him blush. For some reason he could feel the unfamiliar sensation of his cheeks getting warm. He looked out of the window and ran his hand over his face. He didn’t look right back at her because he didn’t want her to see him until he had himself all the way back together. Lucci’s voice filled the truck as he turned the music up.
“See you showing out now. Got my baby daddy rapping to me and stuff.” Rain rapped along to “Perfect” as he drove. Her lips moved, subtly drawing him in with every word she spoke. All he could imagine was the reddish colored lipstick she had on, smeared on his dick or his all white pillow cases. He had to look down into his lap to calm himself as he felt his member rising. When he looked back at her she was looking at him.
“What your ass know about Lucci?”
“You really was gone off that Remy last night, huh? We we’re rapping all of his shit together. You don’t remember?”
Love thought about it for a minute and snapped his fingers. “Hell yeah, I remember that shit. Yo we were all the way live last night. Especially your li’l ass. You was taking that Remy to the head like a champ.”
Rain tooted her face up and shook her head. “That was your fault. I don’t normally drink like that.”
“It was my birthday. I had to turn up.”
“It was mine too.” Rain propped her foot up on his dashboard.
Love looked at the small Converse sitting comfortably against his windshield. He thought about telling her to take it down but changed his mind. It wasn’t bothering nothing. On any other basis he would have handled that quick because he didn’t play about his stuff but she was chilling and finally looking comfortable so he wouldn’t make her clam back up about something that small. There was something else he needed to address anyway.
“It was? Why you ain’t say nothing? You could have partied with me for real…you know, to bring in our birthday right.”
“I think we partied enough,” Rain laughed. “But yeah it was. I turned twenty four.”
“Cool, cool. I turned twenty six.”
Rain said something about
him being older than her before moving on to another subject. Before long he was pulling into a housing complex with all brown houses that looked wooden called the Promenades. He had been living here for the past two years and had no plans of moving anytime soon. He made a quick left and another right before he was parking his truck in his driveway. After he cut his truck off he looked over at Rain and she was unbuckling her seatbelt. He hopped out and met her on her side to open the door and help her down. He grabbed her hand and led her up the driveway. Instead of going in the front door he led her around the side through his garage. She followed him willingly and quietly. Once they were inside his living room she kicked off her shoes and made herself comfortable on the plush white sofa. He watched her as she tucked her legs beneath her before jogging up his stairs. He went into his room stripped out of his shoes and shirt before grabbing a piece of gum and going back downstairs. She was in the same spot looking through her phone.
“You want something to drink or something?”
She looked up and paused. He’d caught her off guard. Hell yeah, she was checking for a nigga.
“Umm…no I’m fine.”
Love grabbed his remote from the table and sat down next to her. He made sure to sit close enough so that they were touching. She scooted over a little so he would have more room. Her legs were still tucked under her body when she leaned over the arm of the chair and propped her head up in her hand. Her hair slid around her shoulders and laid against her breasts.
“This your hair or a sew-in?”
Rain burst out laughing. “What you know about a sew-in?”
“I just know all y’all girls be wearing that shit.”
“Well not me. This is my hair. I don’t wear weave unless it’s braids.”
“Your hair is long as shit. I like it.”
Rain said thank you before asking where the bathroom was. He told her and waited for her to come back. He flipped through the channels. When he couldn’t find anything he flipped on Netflix and went to the first episode of Power. He pulled out his phone as he waited for her to come back. She was probably in there trying to make sure everything was tight before coming back to chill with him. He had a text from Karina telling him he wasn’t shit, which was true in her case, but oh well. He wasn’t trying to fuck with her like that anyway. He sat his phone on the seat beside him just as Rain came padding back down the stairs. She walked slowly back to the seat she was just sitting in but he pulled her until she fell into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and stuck his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled her scent and could feel himself rising beneath her. She held her head forward giving him access to the back of her neck. He took this as permission to continue his advances. He licked her shoulder before biting it. She shivered beneath his touch as his hand ran down her spine.