by Nikisha Mock
Chapter Twenty-One
Ayanna
Since the club incident, Cam had been super nice to me. He had been going out of his way to make me feel like I was his number one girl. I was not to be fooled by it but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying it. The gifts seemed to be coming non-stop from clothes to shoes to jewelry.
One morning after he left, I found a wad of money in my nightstand drawer. $2,000. I wasn’t mad at that at all. Also, I hadn’t seen his ratchet ass sister at the club either. I guess he finally put his foot down. Everything seemed to be going smoothly and I just decided to roll with it until something else happened.
Star was even saying I was glowing. I guess the way Cam had been putting it down on me every single night had a lot to do with it too. Either way everything seemed to be alright for a change.
Tonight the club wasn’t really packed. I actually considered leaving early but there was money to be made and I saw a few regulars in there which meant good tips for me because I kept their drinks strong. I hadn’t seen Indigo much lately. Star told me what happened between them so I could only guess that that was the reason. It was a shame because I happen to know that Star was really feeling her.
“This place is mad tired tonight,” Star said.
“Tell me about it. Oh well, at least the less people in here means the less drama,” I said and shrugged.
“Yeah, you’re right about that. Your girls not coming through tonight?”
“I doubt it. Eva got some extra drama going on at home and Ciara is booed up lately so I’m sure they both have other things to be doing tonight.”
My girls were in two opposite places right now. Eva was going through it with Tyler which was crazy because out of all of us, she seemed to have the best relationship. They lived together and she was sporting a fly rock on her hand, and Tyler seemed to adore her. I wasn’t sure what was up with him and this chick Eva said they ran into at the club but from the sounds of it there had to be something there. Whatever it was, I hoped they could fix it because call me crazy but I still believe in true love and I felt like that’s what Eva and Tyler had.
Just then, I got a text from Cam saying that he was coming through later. I sent him back a smiley face blowing a kiss. That man made my heart smile sometimes I swear. I was so busy looking down at my phone and smiling that I didn’t even notice who had approached the bar until he spoke.
“You still have the prettiest smile,” Mario said.
I was so shocked I dropped my damn phone! What in the hell was he doing here?
“Damn girl, you that surprised to see me?” he said exposing his now completely straight smile, the braces that were there when I first met him were now gone. Mario was still a cutie. He had gotten a little older, seemed more mature, but still cute.
I laughed a nervous laugh and said to him “Hey Mario. Long time, no see. What are you drinking?”
“Let me get a Grey Goose and pineapple.”
“One Grey Goose and pineapple coming up.”
We shared a decent conversation of just catching up; telling each other what had been happening over the past two years. It was good to be able to talk to Mario again. Out of the whole situation that happened with us before, he was the one that I felt I owed the biggest apology to.
“Look, Mario. I know I’ve said it before but I’m really sorry for the way things went down. I never intended to hurt you and I’m not sure what I was thinking. I was acting totally out of character,” explained.
“Yanna, come on now. That is over, I’m over it, and you should be too. We're good. Trust me,” he said and laughed. It was at that moment that I noticed a ring on his finger!
“Mario! I think you failed to mention one important detail when we were talking about what we’ve been up to lately. Is that a wedding ring?” I asked, picking up his hand to inspect the shining ring,
He seemed to blush a little and shook his head. “Yeah. I just got married six months ago. It’s the best decision I have ever made to be honest with you.”
I smiled back. “Congratulations! This calls for a celebratory shot!” I poured both of us a shot of tequila. “Cheers to you and your bride! May you have many years of love and laughter together,” I said as we let our shot glasses clink together and then downed the strong liquids.
“Whew! That stuff is strong!” I said as I slammed down my glass.
“Aww, come on. Don’t tell me you’re still a lightweight?” he joked.
“I’m at work. I wasn’t even supposed to take that shot but oh well,” I laughed.
“Still the life of the party I see. Nothing wrong with that at all.”
Mario was staring at me and I had seen that look before. I wondered what the deal was though because did we not just toast to his recent nuptials? Maybe I was tripping though.
“So, what would it take to get you drunk, off the clock of course, and take advantage of you?”
Okay scratch what I just said. I was definitely right on point.
“Boy, stop. Did we not just toast to your marriage? You’re joking right?” I said and laughed but Mario only gave me a sly smirk.
“Mario! What in the world? Why did you get married if you’re going to still be out messing around?” I exclaimed.
“It ain’t all like that girl. She knows that from time to time I like to have a little fun. Sometimes she even joins me,” he said as if it was no big deal.
“Joins you? So what, y’all are swingers or something?” I was completely thrown off now.
“Get out of here with that swingers shit. We just enjoy sex and we enjoy different types of sex. My wife knows that I love her and there is no other woman for me but her. But we happen to be free with our sexuality. There’s nothing wrong with that, Ayanna.”
“Hey, to each their own. Who am I to judge anyway? I just serve drinks. Speaking of, you need a refill Mr. Free?”
He laughed again. “Don’t mind if I do, ma’am.”
And that’s pretty much how the rest of the night went. He kept paying and I kept the strong drinks coming. It was good to see Mario, even if it was a little bit strange. I was at peace with the situation that happened between us even more now that he basically told me to forget about it. We all make mistakes. I’m just happy that mine is no longer hanging over my head.
I was cleaning up an area where a customer had just left and when I looked up, none other than Fallon was standing by the door, staring me down. I was not in the mood for her bullshit tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eva
My appointment with Dr. Jones came up faster than expected, but it was right on time. Ever since the incident at the club, I had been throwing a lot of shade at Tyler. He was apologetic and said the girl was just a club groupie that they let come chill with them from time to time in the VIP but I wasn’t buying it. She was a little too comfortable talking about how well they know each other. I am not the one to believe everything he tells me.
To add insult to injury, the nightmares about Damien had returned with a vengeance. I guess because this latest situation with Tyler reminds me of all the infidelity I put up with from Damien. Dr. Jones picked up on my tension right away and he asked me about it.
“What’s bothering you today, Eva? You don’t seem like your normal self,” he said.
I exhaled deeply. A flood of emotions hit me all at once and I just started crying real hard. He handed me a box of Kleenex and I just cried and cried. He watched me in silence. When I finally calmed down, I told him all about what happened.
“If that had been me and my girls and some guy approached me saying how I let him chill with me in VIP he would have been heated! I don’t do double standards and that mess doesn’t fly with me so if he thinks I believe any of that stuff he told me he’s a fool.”
I said all of that in one breath and then had to stop to keep from crying again. I pounded my fist against my leg out of frustration. Dr. Jones let me have my moment and then he spoke again in an even to
ne.
“Well Eva, your choice to believe him or not is entirely up to you. The only person that can make that decision is you. Your dreams have resurfaced which could indicate that you equate your feelings about what happened with Tyler to the same type of things that happened between you and Damien. If this is the case then it is definitely detrimental to your recovery. I want you to think about that for a moment. And for the record, he’s a fool for even considering messing things up with you.”
I was very upset but something about the way the doctor said Tyler was a fool for messing up touched something in me. For once, another man was noticing what a good person I am. I don’t need any validation but with Tyler acting like he’s been taking me for granted, it felt good to hear another man say what I once thought Tyler felt about me. I smiled a little.
“There’s that beautiful smile of yours. You should wear it more often. It becomes you,”
He smiled, flashing those pearly whites.
“Thank you doc, I mean Dr. Jones. I appreciate you saying such nice things even though
I know you get paid to say them. I’ll be thinking about what you said about the dreams and I’m sure I’ll have a lot to talk about next week. Until then, okay?” I said quietly.
“Sounds like a plan. Can’t wait,” he said as he stood to walk me out of the office.
As I got to the door, I almost tripped over his area rug and he caught me. His hands rested on my waist a little longer than I expected and I immediately felt tingly all over. I turned around slightly and our faces were extremely close. So close that we could have kissed and we just stared at each other for a minute.
I said a nervous ‘Thank you’, turned, and walked out of the office. I walked to my car thinking that I could get into a lot of trouble with the good doctor. With his fine ass. Whew!
Chapter Twenty-Three
Star
Ayanna’s friend, Mario, got up to leave and that’s when I saw that scandalous ho, Fallon, standing at the entrance to the club. I knew she was about to try to start some shit. As lame as she was, I couldn’t understand why she insisted on writing checks her ass couldn’t cash. Ayanna saw her too and tensed up. I tapped her on the arm as if to say ‘Chill ma, keep calm’. I didn’t have shit to do with it but I wasn’t about to sit back and let nothing go down with my homegirl either. I had begun to like Ayanna. She was a cool chick. She didn’t deserve the extra drama Cam was bringing her way but hell, that seemed to be going around so who was I to talk? Indy had been avoiding me all night and that was cool too.
Once I dismiss you, I dismiss you so ain’t no need trying to act like we cool when we ain’t. I don’t do that half and half shit. I caught Desyre throwing me a little shade too but once I gave her that look she walked off real quick. Please believe she didn’t want none either. I try to stay cool and not bother anybody, but bitches were constantly trying to test me. I silently hoped I wasn’t going to have to make an example out of nobody any time soon.
“This bitch,” Ayanna said under her breath and shook her head.
Before I could say anything else, the door opened and in walked that Lana chick and about three other homely looking girls. Damn, their whole crew was tired. But I could tell by the look of the crew they came to be about that business and that’s exactly how they were all looking over towards the bar.
I nodded at Reno the security guard and he greeted the ladies at the door. Fallon got real ignorant, waving her arms and shit. Reno pushed her stupid ass right back out of the club. Lana and her friends laughed which proved that they weren’t Fallon’s friends but it seemed like all of them were shiesty so I wasn’t surprised at all really. Then they approached the bar.
“Ayanna, can I talk to you for a minute?” Lana spoke up first.
“What is it that we could possibly have to talk about dear?” Ayanna said in a super sweet voice that had to irritate the fuck out of Lana.
“Well you obviously know my man pretty well so I would say we got a lot in common,” Lana said.
“Just because we have had sex with the same man does not mean we have anything in common, let’s be clear. Now what’s up?”
“Step around the bar for a minute. It’s rude to have this conversation out loud in front of all these people,” Lana said, obviously trying to catch Ayanna off guard.
“Oh yeah you tried it. You’re the one that brought a little entourage,” Ayanna laughed.
“Yo Lana, why are you wasting your time small talking with her? Say what you came to say!” one of Lana’s friends tried to get it popping.
“Aye! We got a problem here?” I interrupted.
“Bitch, do you want it to be a problem?” the biggest of the crew said to me with a little too much attitude.
I laughed it off. I had visions of jumping across the bar and slamming her face into the floor. I had to squeeze the towel I was holding to keep it together. I looked over at Reno again and he was already on his way over to the bar.
“Look, Ayanna, I just came to talk to you, alright? It’s obvious Cam has been lying to both of us so we need to get some things out in the open,” Lana finally got to the point.
“The only thing we need to discuss is the fact that your daughter’s father has been telling me for months that I am the only one for him. Do I believe him? Not really, but it isn’t my problem if he’s been lying to you too. I’m sorry if this hurts you but the fact is the person you need to be talking too about all this is Cam.”
“Cam told me he was just playing around with you and that he will always be with me. He said he ain’t ever leaving his family.”
That one must have hurt Yanna a little because she didn’t immediately come back with anything. I still couldn’t figure out why Lana felt the need to bring her little crew with her. Seems like these days all these girls roll in crews but for what? They’re playing hard but ain’t about that life. Lana and her clown posse weren’t fooling anybody though. I saw straight through them.
“Lana, as much as I would like to sit here and go back and forth with you, I have work to do. Cam told you all that and you have no idea what he’s been telling me. So what you need to do is go talk to him about all this. I can’t be bothered,” Ayanna said. With a whisk of her hand, she dismissed Lana’s stupid ass. I laughed real hard at that one. Lana looked pissed.
“Okay. You got that one off. Say no more, Ayanna. But I’ll be seeing you around,” Lana said as she backed up slowly and then turned and left the club.
Once they left, Ayanna took a deep breath and held on to the bar. She put her head down and shook it from side to side. I hated to see my friend looking like she was hurting.
“Look ma, Cam ain’t all that. You can do better, alright? But, if you wanna keep fucking with him then do what you wanna do. Can’t nobody judge you. Lana could be pulling the classic baby mama move. Some of them never know when to let things go. Either way, it ain’t for you to worry about right now,” I said, trying to cheer her up.
“Yeah, you’re right Star. Let me go to the bathroom and get myself together.”
While Ayanna was in the bathroom, I noticed Indy staring over at the bar at me. I flipped her the bird and she snapped her head around the other way so fast I thought she would get whiplash. Immature broad. I don’t know what I was ever thinking trying to wife that ho.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ciara
I had been really spending a lot of time with Darren and a lot less time with Jay. Jay wasn’t too happy about that either. He had been blowing my phone up and probably riding by my house too, I wasn’t sure. He didn’t show up unannounced anymore though because after that last episode I told him if he ever did that again I was calling the police and slicing whatever body part I could, not necessarily in that order either. I guess he knew I was serious because he hadn’t pulled a stunt like that since.
Being with Darren was nice, simple, and most of all uncomplicated. I think the fact that he was older than the guys I’ve dated before made him more appea
ling to me. He was definitely on his grown man status. So far, he didn’t seem to be trying to run any type of game on me. I was in the middle of my day out with Darren when my phone rang. This time I decided to answer it.
“Hello, Jay. How are you?” I said dryly.
“Damn, you ain’t gotta sound like you happy to hear from a brother or nothing,” Jay responded.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I told you I needed some time and space to process things but you don’t seem to know how to let me have that.”
“I can’t help it. I love you. I miss you. I thought we were headed in the right direction and then all of a sudden you pulled the plug on us before it could really get started good. What’s up with that, Ci? Maybe it’s that dude in the X5 that’s been keeping you so busy, huh?”
I was immediately turned off and a little pissed. This means he had been watching me because he would have no other way of knowing about Darren and the type of truck he drives. Jay had been acting just a little too weird and clingy for my taste lately. I wasn’t sure what was up with him but I let it be known that watching me was the quickest way to get his ass cussed out.
I went completely off. “Jay! So you're watching me now? What business is it of yours who I’m with or what kind of car they drive? Where is Asia? Why are you all of a sudden so concerned with me? You were the one who walked out of my life by saying you fell in love with another woman. So don’t come at me now wondering if it’s the guy in the X5, the 745, the CLS, the Bentley Coupe, don’t you worry about it! Back off of me, Jay. I’m not playing with your ass.” I was so sick of him always trying to weasel his way back into my life as of lately. He left for the reasons he thought were good enough so let him stay gone. My phone rang again and I answered it on the first ring without looking at the name on the display.