Chapter 4 #2
I looked at the outfit again. “Okay… I see the vision.”
She turned toward Nuri. “What about you?”
Nuri didn’t hesitate. “I need a fitted dress mid-thigh. No fucking exceptions.”
“I got you.”
Nuri laughed. “And I need my ass and titties sitting all the way up.”
Carmani nearly dropped the dress she was holding. “Oh shit… Cash is finna lose his damn mind.”
We all burst out laughing.
“Aye…” Carmani pointed between us. “Bleau Gene’s ain’t ready yet.”
“We already know.”
The next hour flew by. We tried on outfit after outfit as Carmani mixed and matched shoes, bags, and jewelry until everything looked perfect. Before we checked out, she slipped into the back and returned with two Sprites and a bag of pretzels.
“Great customer service.”
She shrugged. “I take my job seriously.”
After paying for everything, we hugged Carmani and made plans to meet up again before heading to the party. Traffic leaving Phipps was just as bad.
Bentleys.
Maybach.
G-Wagons.
A Bugatti rolled past us as we sat at the light. It was definitely some niggas outside tonight with money. By the time I dropped Nuri off, we had already stopped at Hungry AF to grab food for later. Cash was blowing up her phone before she even made it inside.
I laughed. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
“You better.”
Ifinally made it home about an hour later.
Tonight called for self-care. The first thing I did was run myself a bath with fresh lavender, a few teaspoons of an oatmeal soak, Dove body wash, and Eucalyptus bubble bath.
I lit a few candles alongside the tub. I pressed play on my iPhone, with Erykah Badu playing in the background.
This is exactly what I needed. Thank God I only had one client tomorrow, and she wasn’t coming until later in the day.
I started getting dressed shortly after my bath. Carmani wasn’t lying. Pairing my white two-piece set with floral accessories made the whole outfit pop.
I slipped into my floral Jessica Simpson platform sandals, grabbed the matching clutch, and smiled. Cute yet comfortable, this is exactly what I was going for.
Tonight I kept my makeup light. I used Juvia’s Place’s on-the-beat bronze shadow. I’m rocking a soft look, paired with The Lip Bar gloss. Nothing too dramatic. I finished everything off with my gold choker, diamond studs, and bracelet.
One last look in the mirror. Baby, I ate down my feathered fishtail ponytail? Yeah, she did what she was supposed to do. When I walked into the living room, Carmani and Nuri were already waiting. Both of them bitches looked good as hell.
“Fumi…” Carmani smiled. “The night is still young, and so are we.”
Carmani lined up three shots of Don Julio on the kitchen island. Nuri started yelling before anyone could grab one. “Shots! Shots! Shots!”
We tossed them back and chased them with lemonade. Tonight wasn’t about the drama. Tonight was about living, and we planned to enjoy every second.
We finally made it to Bleau Gene’s. It took forever to turn onto the block. The parking lot was damn near full, and traffic was backed up in every direction. Thank God Carmani was driving because I would’ve turned around and gone home.
Carmani eased her Lexus through the madness until we finally found a valet. We agreed to split the cost, and she pulled into the VIP parking area. Before getting out, we sat in the truck for a few minutes while Nuri and Carmani checked their makeup for the hundredth time.
Carmani reached into the center console and handed us another shot. I looked at her like she had lost her damn mind.
“Bitch, I need a mixed drink. I’m not taking another fucking shot. I’ll be drunk before I even make it inside, fooling with y’all.”
“Fumi, just take the damn shot.” She laughed and handed me a Sprite. “Here, pour it in there.”
I flipped her off. “Girl, fuck you. I’m trying to look cute, not drunk.”
“I’ll let Hood handle that.”
“Excuse me?”
Carmani burst out laughing. “I’m just playing.”
“I thought so.”
Carmani smiled. “Tonight, let’s just have fun. It’s been a minute since all three of us have really been outside together.”
“True.”
Bleau Gene’s all-white party had to be the hottest event in the city. Damn near every car in the parking lot was foreign. It wasn’t just Georgia plates, either. I spotted Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
I wasn’t surprised. Bleau and Gene’s marketing team was different. Their events stayed all over social media, and somehow every weekend felt bigger than the last.
We climbed out of the Lexus, and Carmani tossed her keys to the valet. The catcalls started immediately. Nuri and Carmani soaked up every moment of attention while I laughed to myself. After paying our cover, we stepped inside.
Bleau and Gene had turned this motherfucking place completely out. The club’s décor was white with gold accents. The VIP sections were packed. The DJ was going crazy. This wasn’t a party; it was an experience.
I slowly looked around the club, taking it all in. I recognized a few familiar faces from Edgewood. Before we headed to the bar, a waitress came over and took our order.
Nuri ordered two bottles of Ace of Spades.
Who’s drinking that?
Not me.
While we waited for the bottles of Ace of Spades, we stopped at the photo booth and took a few pictures before heading toward VIP. Carmani had already secured us a section. Her new man had been spoiling the hell out of her ever since they started talking.
I loved that for my girl. The waitress let us know she’d bring the bottles over, so we started walking toward our section.
The vibe was everything.
The music.
The lights.
The people.
And damn, it was fine-ass niggas everywhere. Yeah… I’m choosing tonight. Damn, I should’ve brought my big Chanel frames.
“Come on,” Nuri yelled. “I see Cash and Guap.”
Carmani and I followed her over to the section. Cash had the whole damn hood with him. The section was packed. I didn’t even know where to look first. It was so many niggas staring, smiling, trying to make eye contact.
Respectfully, none of these niggas were my speed. Hopefully, Nuri made this quickly. This wasn’t really my scene anymore. Carmani nudged me with her elbow. I looked where she was looking.
And there he was.
Hood.
Our eyes locked. He sat back like he owned the section, with another bitch perched comfortably on his lap. It damn sure wasn’t Adrienne. A small laugh escaped me.
Typical… A nigga like Hood always had another bitch waiting in the cut. Guap and Cash stood to greet Carmani and me with quick hugs and head nods. I acknowledged them before looking away.
I could still feel Hood watching me. I refused to give this nigga another glance. The bitch on his lap sized me up from head to toe. That was my cue. Bitch, check your nigga. Not me, hoe.
I should’ve known Nuri was going to pull some shit like this. Cash wasn’t letting her out of his sight anytime soon. Carmani and I exchanged a look, then turned around.
I wasn’t about to spend my night watching everybody else boo’d up. That wasn’t why I came out tonight.
“Fumi, Carmani, where y’all going?” Nuri called after us.
We glanced over our shoulders and smiled. “To our damn section, enjoy yourself. We’re about to mingle.”
As I walked away, Hood and I locked eyes one more time. Why the fuck does he keep looking at me?
Whatever. I wasn’t acknowledging this nigga. Nuri already knew exactly why I left. I’m sorry… I’m not built like that. The entire walk back to our section, I could feel Hood’s eyes burning into my back.
Fuck Hood.
Once we got there, I noticed Carmani’s man walking over.
I laughed. “So…Everybody boo’d up?”
She smiled. “Umm… my man brought a few friends.” She nudged me. “Pick one.”
“Girl… Not tonight. I’m choosing.”
She smirked. “I saw how Hood was looking at you.”
“I ain’t thinking about Hood.”
I scanned the room. “I’m about to walk around this club and see what’s really out here. I look too damn good to be sitting. I could’ve stayed home for that.”
“I feel you,” Carmani laughed.
I headed back toward the bar. That seemed like the perfect place to post up. I’d been standing at the bar for over twenty minutes, waiting for a drink. At this point, I probably should’ve stayed in VIP with Carmani. I would’ve had a drink in my hand by now.
I swear these niggas are so damn disrespectful. Like, who the fuck is this walking up on me? Back the fuck up. This nigga doesn’t even know me.
To make matters worse… He smelled good as hell. Dior Sauvage. I caught another whiff as he stepped in even closer. Yeah, this nigga is rude as fuck. He didn’t even bother saying,
Excuse me.”
I wasn’t in the mood to entertain anybody tonight anyway.
Friend Do by Belly Gang Kushington was blasting through the speakers. I bounced my ass to the beat while waiting for the bartender to acknowledge me. A second later, I felt the nigga behind me lean in. His hand settled lightly against the small of my back.
“Excuse me, pretty face. My bad.” His voice carried over the music. “Can I get three shots of Don Julio, two Heinekens… and a Lemon Drop for her?”
He nodded in my direction. “Put it on my tab.”
His voice sounded familiar. Really familiar. He was iced out, and every time he shifted, I felt his chains brush against my back. I tried to place the voice, but between the music and the crowd, I couldn’t tell who it was.
Then he leaned down until his lips were almost against my ear.
“You can keep bouncing that ass like your friend do.”
I froze. That voice…I knew exactly who the fuck it was. It’s Givenchy. Damn. Now I’m scared to turn around. I’ve been ducking him for the past few days. Before I could move, he wrapped his arms around my waist like he had every right to. See…He was doing too much.
He leaned down until his lips brushed my ear.
“Aye, Fumi… bounce that ass like your friend do.”
Damn. He caught me slipping. I laughed and did exactly what he told me, bouncing my ass to the beat. Givenchy buried his face in the nape of my neck and inhaled my scent.