by Tiece
Candy looked over at the other dress and smiled. “I know what I’m wearing then.”
“What, please tell,” Mona begged.
“You’ll see at the party tonight. See you in a lil bit.”
“Heifa!” Mona called out, but Candy had already hung up the phone.
Dee was walking passed Candy’s room and stopped. “What are you grinning about?”
“Just laughing at the way I hung up on Mona.”
Dee entered the room and looked at both dresses lying on Candy’s bed. “Both of those dresses are flawless and will look beautiful on you.”
“Which do you like?”
“The gold party dress is a little reserved but sexy. The Aqua party dress shows confidence. It’s bold and makes a commanding statement. That should be the one. The aqua sequined strapless dress was spunky. The top bedazzled with colors of different gem stones and sucked in everything waist up. The bottom was partly a mini but fluffed out with flare. She had the Aqua Red Bottoms Alti leather pumps to match her party dress. She was more than ready to play her role of being a newly single woman who was definitely testing the waters.
“I know you’re glad that you got the job working behind the bar at Raven’s, but why didn’t you want the night off? Didn’t you say that Brendon asked if you wanted to work or not? You could’ve come with Maurice.”
“Girl, I wanted to work. Maurice and I haven’t been all that close lately.”
“Really, I couldn’t tell.” Candy said.
“The only way you would know was if you slept in the bed with us. I mean hell he doesn’t even touch me like he used to.”
“I didn’t know that it was like that.”
“Well now you know,” she disappointedly stated. “Maurice is a cool guy and he’s not like the other men I’ve been with. He’s more attentive, notices the smallest things that I get done like my eyebrows, a new outfit, and he compliments me all the time. If people saw us in public they would think that we were this happy couple, but behind closed doors he’s more reserved, quiet,” she paused. “It’s like he’s not connecting with me like he used too. We used to have mad sex, but now he hardly touches my ass.”
“Do you think that it’s someone else?”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is because just last week I found a condom floating in his toilet. I guess it was supposed to have been flushed already.”
Candy’s mouth opened in disgust. “Are you serious??? Like what did you do? Did you front his ass?”
“No I didn’t do either of those. The only thing I did was flush his condom for him. Now that I know he’s up to no good then I’m determined to catch him. It’ll be easy because his dumb ass is fucking this bitch at his crib. As if I don’t know where he lives,” she snapped. “I practically live there myself.”
“Don’t go getting yourself into trouble. You already know what the deal is so just let it go.”
“I will, when it’s time for me too,” she said. “He’s gonna learn not to play with me.”
“So this explains why he’s attending the party alone.”
“We’re showing up together, but I’ll be working the bar all night and he’ll be sitting his stupid ass in front of me cock blocking any new dick that comes my way.”
Candy shook her head. “I didn’t even know it was like that, Cuz.”
“Well it is.” She admitted, only wanting to change the subject. “How do you feel not going with Monty to such a nice event?”
“I feel okay… I mean… I don’t feel bad at all. He called and asked if he could reserve me a table and I told him that I was straight. I think that moving on is best for me at this point.” She thought about him seeing MiKayla again and catching him and Kina in a very disturbing manner at Raven’s. “Nah, I think I need to just let it go. He does what he wants to do and so will I.” She said.
“I feel you on that shit Cuz. It’s a good thing that Payton is taking you so you won’t be alone.”
“Yeah we kinda just invited each other.” She grinned.
“I hate we keep missing each other, but from the things that you say about him I know he’ll be the sharpest joker there.” Dee said.
“I’ll introduce y’all tonight. You’ll see.” She said and you’re gonna like him.”
“I’m sure I will,” Dee said with a smile.
“Are you sure you’re okay though?” Candy asked sensing sadness in her cousin’s demeanor.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Have you seen that red strapless Chiffon Dress that was picked out for me to wear? I mean the dress is to die for.”
“I saw it earlier lying on your bed. You’re gonna rock that shit like no other.” Candy said.
“I know and speaking of this dress, I need to go put it on. I have to be at Raven’s a little earlier than y’all.” She said.
“Go girl and get beautified. I’m about to do the same as soon as I shower.” Dee headed into her bedroom and Candy grabbed her pink lace bra and panty set by Victoria Secret. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower as hot as she could stand it. She slipped out of her clothes and as soon as she stuck her foot inside the shower her phone rang. “Who could this be?” She reached over for on the bathroom sink for her cell phone and looked at the caller ID with a smile.
“Hey you,” she answered.
“Hey you,” Brendon responded.
“I know you’re getting ready for tonight, but I just wanted you to know that when you get up to Raven’s, just give the lady at the door your name and she’ll give you and your friend a table number.”
“I wonder what table is reserved for me.” She inquired.
“I don’t want to disappoint you, but I didn’t get a chance to reserve one of the VIP tables because I didn’t know that people were going to be reserving them like that.”
“So where are Payton and myself sitting then?” She questioned feeling a little disappointed.
“I guess you won’t find out until you get there.” He said.
“It better not be one of those $40.00 floor tables,” she teased.
“You better hush, because you and your lil guy friend could end up sitting at the bar.”
“Yeah right,” she commented.
“I’ve never reserved anything for a female that I like PLUS her guy friend.”
“Hush, you know he likes men.” She laughed.
“He better if he’s gonna be with you.” Brendon joked. “Go take a shower. I hear your water running plus you’re echoing like crazy.”
Candy smiled. “Will do, I hope that you’ll have time to stop by and check me out tonight.”
“Do you actually think that I’ll miss seeing you tonight? I can’t wait to see what you’re wearing. I already know you’re gonna be the baddest chick in the club.”
“I can’t wait for you to see either. Gone now, I have things to do.” She blushed.
“I know. We’ll talk later.” He said and they ended their call.
**********
Kina looked over at Brendon and shook her head. He was staring in the body mirror admiring his good looks. He had on the smoke gray Kenneth Cole Reaction Cardigan, ribbed with Epaulettes with a plaid red, white, and smoke gray button down underneath it and a gray, red, and white designed tie. He had on a gray pair of Kenneth Cole Reaction dress pants a pair of dark colored Like A Gentle-Men Oxford shoes.
“You think you look good don’t you nigga?” She teased.
“Look at me, you know it.” He grinned. “That’s why you couldn’t keep your lips off of me on New Year’s.” He teased.
“Go to hell with that shit.” Kina grinned. “How are you gonna be with your lil boo thang tonight?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“I’m not worried. I know you reserved her and her lil flamboyant friend one of the $225.00 tables.”
“You’re supposed to know that. You were the reservationist nut.” He grinned. He looked at Kina and she looked beautiful wearing a drop waist black ball gown with print bo
dice by Alyce. Her hair was pulled up in a bun. She looked very attractive.
She smiled at him. “What are you looking at? You act like I’m cute or something.” She teased.
“I didn’t say all that.” He grinned. “So what’s up with your date?”
“I’m flying dolo,” she teased.
“Dolo, huh?” He grinned. “I just want you to be careful. I see you walking around here on cloud nine. That’s probably how you came up with so many good ideas for this evening. Some of those ideas sounded like they were coming from a person in love.”
“Whatever, you helped come up with some of those ideas, so don’t forget that.” She said.
He brushed her off. “I’m just saying, just because you haven’t told me what’s going on in your life don’t mean that I don’t know. I just don’t want you to get too far in over your head.” He said thinking about pulling up to the club a couple of weeks prior and catching Kina and Monty in a very compromising position. It was a very crazy moment because Candy was with him. Of course she couldn’t say anything because she too was creeping, so Kina nor Monty even knew that they’d been seen fucking on the bar. Candy was hurt and quietly left with Brendon unnoticed.
Kina knew that Brendon was coming from a very sincere place, but she wanted to live her life for Kina; not Brendon. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” She said smelling the dozen pink roses that were delivered to her room. She wouldn’t let Brendon read the card, but he already knew that Monty ordered them.
“I got this big head. I’m just having fun. Don’t make too much out of it.”
“Okay if you say so.” He said. “By the way, where do you have Monty sitting?”
“He’s in VIP next to Rico and Mona, but at the table behind Candy and her friend.”
“You couldn’t do the seating any different?”
“No, because all the $225.00 tables are in the same vicinity and they were selling so fast until I had no choice but to seat them next to one another. I don’t believe that Candy will mind and nor should Monty. He claims she hardly talk to him now anyway.”
“I wonder why?” Brendon sarcastically asked, but he knew the reason.
“So is he dolo, too?” Brendon asked.
“I don’t know. He didn’t say that he was bringing anyone.” She said, but inside she was truly hoping that at some point he’d ask her to sit at his table with him.
“Okay let’s go,” Brendon said. “Craig and Spook said that they’ll meet us there.”
“I won’t believe it until I see it.” Kina said. “Craig could hardly get around Galveston by himself. How is he gonna make it to Raven’s and Spook ain’t no help because I bet he slept the whole ride here; if they’re even here.” Brendon laughed as they stepped on the elevator pressing the first floor.
“They’re coming because they were on the road when I talked to them earlier.”
“So they said until they don’t show then they’ll make up something else.” They walked out of the elevator and exited the hotel.
“My boys are coming and I’m gonna tell them how little faith you had in them.”
“You know I’m just playing. I hope they’ll be there because Spook is one of the inside security guards and Craig, well he’s in place to keep you out of trouble.” They reached Brendon’s truck. “I’ll drive myself. I might have plans afterwards.”
“Yes, please do.” Brendon said because he was hoping to have plans afterwards too.
Kina walked over to her car. “Think I can finally meet this dream girl of yours tonight?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Do you wanna meet her because of the history she and Monty shared or do want to meet her because you know that I really like her?”
“Both,” Kina confessed getting inside her car and quickly closing the door. Brendon shook his head and climbed up in his truck. He knew that Candy would never want to meet Kina after catching her and Monty fucking together. So he was going to dodge that one all night if he could.
**********
Monty looked over at MiKayla and smiled. She had a glow about her and he loved seeing it. He knew that he was one of the main reasons she smiled.
“Your hair-cut looks great.”
“Thanks,” she said enjoying the new herself.” She said.
“So when are you leaving to go to your cousin’s party? I’m sure that Mr. Monty Banks must’ve reserved himself one the most expensive tables there.” She teased.
“And how would know that?” He asked.
“Because I know you,” she said.
“How do you even know I’m going? I don’t have a date?”
“Whatever,” She said. “First off, you’re here dressed mighty fine in your navy blue Sean John Sweater or shall I say Cardigan with the plaid navy and white buttoned down underneath it.” She stood up and straightening his tie. “This navy and white striped Sean John tie really sets it off.”
“Don’t forget about the raw black Sean John stitched Marcus Jeans.”
“Oh no, how could I forget that,” She joked as she rubbed down his pants leg. Monty grinned.
“You got jokes, huh?” He asked.
“Nah, I just like messing with you. You know you rock your own style and I admire that.”
“Don’t you wanna go to this party with me?”
“Go to the party with you, in public and shit?”
“Yeah, with me, in public and shit,” He grinned.
MiKayla was speechless. Monty never was able to invite her out in public like that and it seemed unreal when he did. “What about people seeing us together?”
“What about them? I don’t have anything to prove to anyone.” He said thinking about how cold Candy had been treating lately. What he didn’t know was that she’d seen him with Kina, but she couldn’t front him about it. Her attitude had started rubbing off on him and he had gotten to the point where he didn’t give a fuck anymore either.
“Let’s say that maybe, just maybe I would like to go to this party with you.” She said.
“You just got your hair done. No excuse,” Monty chimed in.
“I know, but I don’t even have anything to wear.”
“What if magically a dress appeared for you to wear?”
“You got jokes, huh?” She asked following the sound of her doorbell with her eyes as it rang. “That ain’t for you is it? The last time I got an unexpected visitor and you were here it was your baby mama.”
“Quit playing,” he laughed. “That ain’t for me.”
MiKayla walked to the door and peeked out the peep hole. “It’s just Deb.” She opened the door. Debbie had a Macy’s bag in her hand.
“I heard somebody was thinking of going to this new joint called Raven’s tonight.”
“Are you serious?” MiKayla was overwhelmed. “Are you serious? Monty did you…”
“Yes he did,” Debbie spoke up. She still didn’t like Monty, but he sure had a way of keeping a smile on her sister’s face and that meant more to her than anything in the world.
MiKayla walked over and kissed Monty. She had him blushing for a change.
“Come on now, let’s go get you beautified.” Debbie said. MiKayla literally skipped down the hallway. She felt like a teenager in high school going out on her first date. Monty was just happy to see her happy.
About forty-five minutes had passed and Debbie walked down the hallway. She sat down on the sofa by Monty.
“This means a lot to my sister. It means a lot to me.” She said.
“I’m only doing it for your sister. Her happiness is really what counts right now.” Monty stated.
“I know and I thank you for that.”
“Don’t thank me; I’m doing this because I want too.”
MiKayla yelled out from her bedroom door. “Are y’all ready?”
“Yes, come on out.” Monty said. MiKayla eased from down the hallway. Monty stood to his feet in awe. She looked amazing standing there in a long strapless ruffled navy blue ball gown by
Joli Prom. The top part fit firmly around her waist flowing in layers down to her feet. The diamond designs embroidered on the upper part of the dress was beautiful, really bringing the gown out.
“Well what do you think? Look at us Deb, we match.” She teased.
“Yes, y’all do. Monty did a good job picking out this dress.”
“And you look beautiful in it.” He finally spoke up.