by Tiece
Candy grinned. “This shit is crazy just sitting here listening to you talk about them like that. I can’t believe that we’ve never crossed paths.”
“Karen mentioned once that Monty had gotten a chick pregnant, but I damn sho’ didn’t know that it was you.” He smiled. “I can tell you this though; he must’ve cared about you a lot because he cut her ass loose.” This should have made Candy feel better, but it didn’t.
“I called those two the hit it and quit boys. They were making a lil buzz for themselves at one point with the women around here.”
“The hit it and quit it boys?” Candy asked as she eagerly listened.
“Shit, they’ve been known to turn a bitch out. From what Karen secretly told me she was paying them. Can you believe that?”
“Well damn,” Candy responded as if it was so unbelievable to her.
“Hell, that shit shocked me because Karen is all about her paper. She don’t hand out shit so I know them nigga’s were puttin’ it down. She even confirmed it a few times.” He grinned turning up his drink. His loose lips was a result of having a few too many drinks before showing up at the party then continuing to drink like each one was his first.
Candy smiled, but was deep in thought. Payton kept saying them which threw her a little, but she never knew of Rico making money off of pawns. All she knew was that he sold drugs at one point.
Maybe he’s had too many drinks. She thought.
“So do you know who the chick that’s with your baby daddy?” Payton asked.
“Some chick he cheated on me with. She was the reason why we broke up.”
“What!”
“Yes! And he has the nerve to still be fucking with her. I need another drink.” She said. “I need something stronger. Would you walk to the bar and get me three shots of Tequila poured in one glass?”
“Damn gurl! You tryna get fucked up!”
“Damn right,” she said.
Payton looked over by the bar and smiled at the men sitting there. “Oh yeah, I’ll do that for you.”
“My cousin Dee is working so introduce yourself,” she informed him.
“I will,” he said heading in the direction of the bar. It seemed that most of the women had dates because the bar seating were mostly filled with men. This was definitely right up his alley.
**********
Mona walked up to Candy. “Finally, I’ve found you.” She said sitting in Payton’s empty chair. “This reminds me of our Touch of Class days.” Candy smiled at her. She could never stay mad at Mona for nothing.
“It does remind me of our Touch of Class days.” She responded.
“My cousin did his thang! I so love his new spot.”
“Me too,” Candy agreed.
“It feels good to get out Sis.”
“Yeah, it does feel good. I haven’t been out in a while myself so I know the feeling.” Candy commented. Mona knew Candy better than anybody and she knew that it had to be awkward seeing Monty and MiKayla together.
“How do you really feel?” Mona asked.
“Do you really wanna know?”
“Yes.” Mona stated.
“I feel pissed that your brother would show up with MiKayla knowing how I feel about her, about them.”
“And,” Mona said.
“And that you, my best friend in the whole world, rode in a limo with them and didn’t have the courtesy to give me a heads up about it.”
“First off, I didn’t even know what the hell was going on until the last minute when Monty called and begged me to be cordial to the chick. By that time we were heading out to leave. What was I supposed to do? Walk,” She teased.
“Or you could have called me. I would have come to get you.” Candy joked with a grin.
“Don’t be mad at me Sis. You know I love you and I’m only nice to MiKayla because honestly I have no reason to be upset with her. Not like you do.”
“I understand. I’m not mad about it. It just caught me off guard.” Candy said. “We ain’t gon’ dwell on that, let’s walk around and check out the place. We can meet Payton over by the bar once we’ve left the ladies room.”
“Yeah, Rico was heading over that way too.” Mona said. Candy had hopes of running into Brendon because he was the only person, at that point of the night, that would without a doubt make her feel better.
Mona and Candy headed to the restroom to freshen up. Mona walked into one of the stalls to pee while Candy prepped in the mirror. Karen and Meela walked in and smiled at her. Meela headed for an empty stall as Karen stood in the mirror beside Candy fumbling through her small Michael Kors purse then pulling out her red lipstick.
“So you and Payton have become really tight, huh?”
“Yeah, Payton is good people.” Candy responded. She didn’t care for conversing with Karen too long and was hoping that Mona would hurry up.
“Yeah we’ve been best friends for years.” She said.
“He mentioned it before.” Candy said as Mona exited the stall. Karen glimpsed at her in the mirror.
“Hey girl!” Karen spoke as if she and Mona were best friends.
“Well hey,” Mona spoke back, but the look on her face was like really?
“I’m so loving your dress,” Karen complimented her.
“Thanks, your dress is very pretty too.” Mona said while washing her hands.
“How is your brother? I haven’t seen him in a while.” Karen asked. Candy cringed inside as she cleared her throat.
“My brother is good,” Mona stated while drying her hands. “Candy do you have your lotion?” She asked. Karen looked back at Candy.
“Y’all know each other too?” Karen asked.
“Yes, this is my best friend, Candy.” Mona said.
“Yeah, we’ve met through my best friend Payton.” She said.
“Small world,” Mona commented.
“Yes, it is,” Candy uttered and handed Mona her lotion. “You ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go party.” Mona said. “I’ll see you around Karen.” She and Candy walked out of the restroom. Mona looked at Candy shaking her head. “She is truly a trip. We don’t even talk like that. She just used to hold small conversations when she’d call the house for Monty, but nothing like that.”
“I bet her wheels are turning now,” Candy commented.
“Yeah, burning rubber I’m sure.” Mona grinned.
Karen stared at herself while standing in front of the mirror in deep thought.
“You ready?” Meela asked as she dried her hands.
Karen snapped out of it. “Oh yeah, I didn’t even notice that you’d come out of the stall.” Let’s go see what other interesting things are going on at this party.”
“Let’s,” Meela said as they exited the restroom.
**********
Candy and Mona walked over to the bar. Dee was busy making very tasteful drinks and making mad tips.
“Hey Cuz,” Candy yelled out over the music, waving her over.
Dee hurried over. “Hey y’all,” she spoke continuing to fix drinks like she was a pro. “Mona, You’re looking good girl!” She said.
“Thanks Dee and so do you.” Mona said.
“Cuz, I met your silly ass friend Payton. He is a trip.” She laughed.
“Yes he is,” Candy responded as she and Mona laughed. “Where is he with my drink?” Candy asked.
Dee pointed down to the other end of the bar. “He’s down there running his mouth. Somebody in here has his attention.”
“He needs to bring me my damn drink.” Candy jokingly stated.
“Don’t mess with him. He’s having a good time. I’ll fix you another one. Mona what do you want to drink?” Dee asked.
“Fix me some of that damn Sapphire Gin and vodka.” Mona said. “Double the shots.”
“Oh don’t worry honey. I got you.” Dee grinned. Candy noticed Maurice sitting at the bar next to her with a sorry ass look on his face.
“Well hey Maurice.” Candy spoke.
“Oh I’m good,” he said looking over at Dee. She glimpsed up at him smiling a bit, but something clearly wasn’t right about him and she had a feeling she knew what it was.
“Here you go Cuz,” Dee said passing Candy her drink. “And here is yours.” She passed Mona her drink. Candy immediately turned up her drink.
“Damn, that shit ain’t joke!” Candy said frowning like she’d bit into a lemon.
“Are you okay? Do you want another drink?” Dee asked Maurice.
“Nah, I keep telling you that I’m good.” He said looking around at the crowd as if someone in particular may have had his attention. Dee shook her head and continued fixing drinks. Whatever Maurice had going on would surely come to light.
Mona and Candy stood in front of the bar chatting it up about the party and the people. Mona turned up her drink and squinted looking into the crowd of people.
“Gurl, is that Monica over there talking to Rico?”
“Where?” Candy asked looking out into the thick crowd.
“Over by the dance floor,” she said looking in their direction. “Look over by the DJ booth.”
Candy peered through the crowd. “I do believe that it is.”
“OH HELL NO! That bitch ain’t even tell us that she was back. She has some fuckin’ nerves showing up here without even telling Rico that his son was home. He’d been waiting to hear from her all day, but she hadn’t called and said shit, but she’s here.” Mona’s happy-go-lucky attitude was replaced with anger. “I’m sorry Sis. I’ll be right back. I need to go over here and see what the fuck they’re talking about.”
“Go ‘head Sis. Please, keep your composure. Don’t go over there acting like a fool.”
“Oh I’m not, but the bitch gon’ make me slap the fuck outta her yet. This bitch is trying me.” She said walking off.
Candy decided to sit at the bar since Payton was caught up shootin’ the shit with any decent looking man who paid his ass some attention.
“Hey beautiful,” a familiar voice said as Dee slid a second drink over to her. She looked over her shoulder at Monty starring at her. His stern gaze caused her to turn away.
“You didn’t have to come over and speak ya know.” She said with a small roll of her eyes.
“I know,” he commented.
“Well, I’m good if that’s why you’re over here?” She said sipping from her drink as if he wasn’t there.
“I should have told you that I was bringing MiKayla here tonight.” He said.
“You think?” She coldly asked.
“Look, you have a right to be mad at me, but it’s not what you think.”
“Who said I was thinking anything?” She asked.
“I know you babe. Don’t do that.” He said.
Candy glimpsed back over her shoulder at him. Their eye contact wasn’t the same. She was damaged by his betrayal and the sad thing is that he didn’t even realize how bad it was.
She shook her head at how handsome he looked. It didn’t make any sense for a nigga to look so good but be so fuckin’ bad. She couldn’t take anything away from him or his swag. The nigga had it going on and that was no lie.
“Could I come over tomorrow so we can talk?” He asked.
“Nah, I think we should just keep things as is. You do you and I’ma do me.” She said tapping on the side of her glass.
“You sure you want it this way?” He asked.
“You ain’t ever ask me anything else. Why do you care now?”
“Because I keep telling you that it’s not like that.” He said feeling a tap on his shoulder and looking back to see MiKayla standing behind him.
“Hey! You good?” He quickly asked while clearing his throat.
“Yeah I’m good. What about you?” She asked looking at the back of Candy’s head. She didn’t even have to look in her face to know that it was her sitting there.
“And you were saying that it’s not like what?” Candy asked as she looked over her shoulder at Monty. Her intimidating stare was definitely intended for him, but saying it loud enough for MiKayla to hear her was all worth the awkward moment.
“Am I interrupting something?” MiKayla politely asked.
Candy turned all the way around to face her nemesis.
“Not at all Miss MiKayla,” Candy answered. “I do believe that this conversation and anything else pertaining to it is over.” She smiled then looked at Monty. “Am I right?”
Monty cleared his throat. “Yeah, what she said.” MiKayla mustered up a smile, but she was not the least bit happy about Monty drooling over his supposedly ex; especially when he was supposed to be showing her all of his attention. “Aye Dee, fix ya boy one of your straight up top shelf specials.”
Lord knows I need it, he thought.
“I got you Monty,” Dee called out. She was in full work mode while talking and listening to the people sitting or standing around the bar. This gig was certainly something she was good at.
MiKayla stood right there on guard until Monty got his drink and walked away with her. Candy felt disgusted by him. She needed another drink and fast.
“Aye Cuz, please fix me another one.” She said.
“Don’t you think you’ve had too many of those already?” Brendon whispered in her ear. His Gucci Sports cologne was serious as his presence lit up the air.
Candy turned and smiled at him. “If it ain’t the man of the hour,” she said.
Brendon grinned. “Damn, you’re looking good.”
Candy looked him up and down. “And you’re looking good as hell yourself. Don’t get the big head though.” She grinned.
“Too late for that,” he teased making Candy laugh a little as she sipped from her drink. She had definitely started feeling the Cuervo shots so she’d slowed down to drinking it mixed with Straw-Cranberry juice and Peach Schnapps.
Brendon sat down on an empty bar stool beside her. His smile seemed to melt her heart. He was hella cute as he looked at her causing her to share his smile.
“You did your thing tonight. This place looks amazing.” Candy said.
“Thanks, did you like your table?” He asked. “I swapped your table so that you wouldn’t be so close to your ex. I didn’t want any tension in the air tonight.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it and I love my table. Thanks to you I get to take home a dozen roses and some chocolate.” She smiled.
“You can take me home too if you wanna.” He teased.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” She said as they laughed. “I might just take you up on that offer tonight.”
“Oh yeah,” he said. Hearing her say that put a big smile on Brendon’s face. He was ready to add a little more action to their kissing scenes.
Kina quickly walked up behind Brendon and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey big head, look who showed up for your opening night. This is certainly an unexpected surprise.”
Brendon peeped around Kina’s back taking a quick double take. “What the hell?” He asked without realizing that his thoughts were said out loud.
“So is that how you greet someone who has traveled a thousand miles to see you?” Kina asked as Candy became in-tune with what was going on. The friend that Kina was referring too was definitely more than just a friend at some point in Brendon’s life. She was one jazzy bitch and the thousand mile ride spoke volumes.
“Well hello Brendon,” the unidentified lady said.
Brendon was still in awe as he stood face to face with one of realist women he’d ever run across. Someone who had stayed loyal and probably still loved him even though she had made it clear that she’d moved on. He immediately thought about Candy who was sitting next to him. Boy did Kina have some of the worst timing.
Brendon cleared his throat. “Uh, what’s up, Trina?”
Chapter 22
“Say what now?” Candy asked as she directed her attentio
n back to Brendon. The night was not going as she had hoped it would and it seemed to be getting worse by the minute. “This can’t be so,” she whispered as she looked Trina over.
Brendon grinned trying to play it off as he shook his head at Kina. She could tell that she had fucked up by the way he looked at her. Quickly adapting, he decided it was best to introduce everybody.