Chapter 3 #2
“That’s because you don’t really know me. Now, let’s go get some real food.”
The small line outside of the Mexican restaurant moved fast. We had to show identification to enter, which annoyed Loso, but I squeezed his shoulder, instantly chilling his heated demeanor.
From the outside, the business appeared to be a restaurant, but once inside, I noticed there was a dancefloor in the center of the room.
Holiday jams blasted through the spot, and a mixture of folk art and Christmas decorations covered the walls.
When a hostess ushered us through the crowd, Loso grabbed my hand and tucked me at his side as we walked to our table.
“I’m going to run to the restroom,” Loso announced after confirming I was comfortable.
“Okay. I’ll order us real tequila. Not that fake shit the S.O. Es splurge on in the club.”
His eyebrows jogged up his forehead. “Fake? You took one trip to Mexico, and now you’re an expert?”
I lifted a shoulder and cut my eyes to the ceiling. “Maybe?”
“All right then, Essen. Teach me something.”
Since I didn’t know what Loso liked, I ordered everything from tacos to shrimp cocktails. In the back of my mind, I thought about how he trusted me to order for him instead of feeling the need to assert his dominance. I appreciated a man who was confident in allowing me to lead.
By the time Loso returned, our bottle had arrived, and I had it cracked opened. We toasted to a good partnership, and I added in a Christmas wish that Loso would find his love for the holidays. He claimed my wish was immature, but the smile on his face made me believe he was optimistic.
During our first hour at the spot, we drank, ate, and talked about the eclectic crowd. When the second hour hit, I was one drink from drunk and staring at my text thread with Caleb.
“You stay in that phone,” Loso slurred from the other side of the table. “What’s the deal with you and the dude you’re messing with?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He sucked his teeth. “Get out of here with that shit. Your brothers may think that pussy is on a pedestal, but I know a little better.”
Tickled by his vulgar comeback, I giggled as I raised my glass to my lips.
“Anything you say stays between us,” he suggested. “Go ahead. Tell Santa what you want but ain’t getting.”
“Ugh. Shut up.” Heat touched my cheeks. “I’m not telling you all my business, but I will say . . . I’m seeing someone. If you want to call it that.”
“Why are you unsure?”
“I’m sure,” I debated. “I’m also certain a man is supposed to chase me. He isn’t running fast enough.” I shrugged. “Anyway, we’ve been sitting here for two hours. When are you going to ask me to dance? This is one of my favorite Christmas songs.”
“‘Let it Snow?’”
“Yep, especially the Boyz II Men version.”
Loso’s heavy-lidded gaze widened when I smiled.
He didn’t say anything, just rose from his seat and offered me his hand.
I danced out of my chair and followed the giant to a spot close by our table.
Now that I was on my feet, I couldn’t deny I was beyond tipsy.
My two-step was weak, yet my senses were heightened.
My nipples rubbed against Loso’s chest as he anchored us from side to side, damn near rocking me to sleep.
Something about being close to a man who smelled good and held me tight made me loose.
When his hand settled above the curve in my spine, I didn’t dare check him.
“Look at me, Essen.”
My eyes found his before I could dismiss his demand.
“You grew up around niggas who move when you say so, and you fell for the nigga who won’t. You’re too smart and pretty for that. The men around you guard you with their life because you’re precious, not just because you’re Shiloh and Church’s little sister.”
“Ain’t nothing little about me,” I sassed, dropping one arm from around his neck and cuffing my ass. “I may not be your type, but I promise, I’m a lot of nigga’s dream girl.”
He unchained a breathy laugh. “That liquor got you feeling yourself. I’ve never said you weren’t my type. I just think you’re precious. You need to be handled with care.”
My lazy two-step slowed a few paces. “You don’t think you can handle me?”
“I can handle anything, pretty girl.”
Liquor and lust launched me up onto my tippy toes despite wearing heels.
The boundary that kept me from seeing Loso as anything more than my brother’s best friend collapsed beneath my shoes.
Loso’s lips were as soft as they looked, coated with the reminiscent taste of the cinnamon mint he had sucked on.
I had never been blind to his eye-catching traits, but now, they were all I saw.
His large hands slapped my ass, birthing a trembling moan from the depths of my throat.
I teased his tongue with mine, yet Loso tugged me closer, making me feed it to him.
Seconds later, reality set in, prompting me to snatch out of Loso’s arms. Our bewildered eyes collided like two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
All the saliva on my tongue evaporated as my fingertips touched my lips.
“Oh shit. Loso, I’m—”
“You’re good,” he said quickly.
“We’ve never kissed.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” He pointed above his head. “Blame it on the mistletoe. Aye, let me take you home.”
I shook my head. “I’m . . . good. I think it’s best if I get an Uber.”
“Then I’ll wait with you. That’s not a request.”
A burst of air shot from my mouth. “Okay. I’m going to run to the ladies’ room first.”
Nothing else was said as we parted ways.
I grabbed my things and rushed to the bathroom, hoping it wasn’t packed.
As soon as my swollen lips caught my eyes, I shut my lids.
I don’t know what drove me to kiss Loso, and I didn’t know if I regretted it.
I wondered if he kissed me back because he was drunk, too stunned to push me away, or if he wanted it.
No matter how much liquor drove me to kiss him, there wasn’t enough in the world to make me ask why he returned the gesture.
“Blaze, please pass me the pink tape.” I pointed in her direction. “That’s the least you can do since you’re just sitting here.”
“Don’t do me like that. You know I’m not the artsy type,” she replied while handing me one of the four tape dispensers around Stevie’s living room.
I came over three hours ago in my candy cane pajamas, and we had been sipping spiked eggnog and wrapping gifts ever since.
When the ladies joined my family, not only did I inherit two sisters, but they also helped create traditions I looked forward to.
For the last three years, we hung at the house while the members of S.O.E took their kids to take pictures with Santa and pick out gifts for the women they loved.
“I’m so happy we’re almost done. The kids will be back soon.” Stevie groaned. “I can’t believe Christmas is around the corner, and we’re still wrapping gifts.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s because your babies and my brothers are spoiled. As quickly as time flies, have you guys thought about what we’re doing for the New Year?”
Blaze shook her head from side to side. “We usually go to the clubhouse. The set up you coordinated last year was beautiful.”
“Thank you, but I’m not doing that again. Even when I said I wouldn’t work during the party, I ended up on my feet the entire time. Thank God, the Sons of Eshu paid me well.”
Stevie tossed her butt length braids over her shoulder. “The kids are getting older. Maybe we should let the little ladies decide.”
My plump lips spread into a thin line. “Yeah, then we’ll be taking another vacation a week after you guys get back.”
“That’s okay. We’re not paying for it.” She giggled. “Let me talk to Shiloh and see what he has in mind. Between our five, and everybody else’s kids, we may need to leave them with the men and go out on our own.”
Blaze dropped a deep belly laugh into the top of her flute.
“You know the fellas aren’t going for that shit.
Messing around with them, they’ll pack up the kids and meet us before we land.
” Her hazel orbs raced to her bestie. “I know you remember when they popped up on us at the club a few years ago.”
Stevie held out her hand, admiring the princess cut diamond on her ring finger. “I knew then that man would never let me go. Sometimes, I think he bought me this rock to weigh me down if I tried to leave.”
“Nah, he bought it so other niggas know you aren’t going anywhere. I love that for you.” I clapped, growing excited at the thought of my next gig. “Whew! I can’t wait until I get the chance to coordinate a wedding with no budget!”
Stevie waved her fingers in the air. “Speaking of weddings, how are things going with Loso?”
“Loso?” My head hit a swivel. “Who said anything about him?”
Blaze pinned me with a piercing gaze. “Why are you yelling? What did Loso do to you?”
“Do to me? Nothing. Never. I wouldn’t let Loso do anything to me.”
Stevie’s lips pinched together. “Okay. I don’t know what you heard me say, but I don’t think Loso’s that bad.”
“Best friend, you don’t think anyone is that bad.” Blaze rolled her eyes. “Though Loso may be solid in most areas, big daddy keeps more than one bitch around.”
“Exactly!” I exclaimed.
Stevie shrugged. “I guess. How’s the party planning going? That’s what I was referring to before you had a fit a minute ago.”
“It’s going. The original coordinator took care of a lot. I’m just adding the finishing touches and making sure everything is finalized.”
The infectious giggles from my nieces and nephews entered the house before they did.
I had been an auntie for a long time since Shiloh had his first kid as a teen.
Still, I never took the role for granted.
I spent as much time as I could with each of them, and nearly all of the gifts under my tree had their names on them.
“Sounds like the fellas and the kids are back,” Stevie announced, standing to her feet.
As she walked to the front door, I jogged to the bathroom upstairs.
I hadn’t seen Loso since we spent time together, and a part of me felt like I needed to prepare to see him.
Once I was behind the bathroom door, a whistled exhale caved in my chest. Loso called a few times since that night, but I didn’t pick up the phone.
Instead, I sent him a text he didn’t respond to.
My heated skin led me to the sink. Cool water from the faucet chilled my face, but the deeper parts of me were set ablaze.
For a week, I tried to block out what I did, hoping I could forget my bold move.
Then, I would have a flashback of Loso sucking on my tongue, and I knew there was nowhere I could hide.
Knock. Knock.
My eyes raced back and forth across the wall-to-wall mirror. “I’m in here.”
“Open the door, Essen.”
“Fuck.” I mouthed the word. “Hm. No. I’m using the bathroom.”
“If you don’t open up, I’m going to take the doorknob off.”
I rushed to the other side of the room then pressed my palms against the door. “Why would you do that?”
“Because that’s the only way you’ll talk to me. I’m only going to say it one more time.”
The rebel in me dared to test the wild man, but being around Loso for years, I knew I would be setting myself up for failure.
With shaky hands, I twisted the lock then stepped back.
The instant my back touched the sink, Loso was in the bathroom.
A semblance of a smile twerked his lips when the door shut behind him.
“Where have you been, Essen?”
“Around.”
A one-note laugh plunged to his feet. “I called you.”
“I know.”
“You not handling the party anymore?”
“Of course. I’ve sent you emails.”
“And I called you,” he repeated. “You ashamed to talk to me now?”
“Why would I be?”
He grinned. “You want me to say what you did?”
“Say it. I’m grown.”
Fire erupted behind his menacing stare as he hunted me without moving a muscle.
He rested his back against the door, giving me the chance to admire his fit.
His smoked gray cardigan matched his beanie and corduroys, and the Jordans on his feet were classics.
Even though his teeth were covered in gold, diamonds flooded the chest length chains around his neck.
“You’re not supposed to be in here.” My low tone competed with the Mariah Carey single playing downstairs.
“Who said I can’t be in here, Essen?”
“Ugh. Don’t be childish.”
In a blink of an eye, Loso was on my side of the bathroom. I didn’t have the chance to challenge him since he planted himself behind me. The fear of the unknown kept my eyes shut, yet the sensation of his hand running up my ribs pried them open.
“Look at you. You can barely look at me. I don’t think I’m the childish one.”
I caught his eyes in the mirror. “What do you want me to say?”
“That you’re still planning the party.”
“I already said that. I would never leave you and your family hanging. I’m the one who crossed the line.”
“Says who? I’m not offended.”
“Seriously? You’re my brother’s best friend, Loso. Shiloh would have a fit if he found out, and you know it.” My head sloped to the side. “Can I go now? You’re going to get us in trouble.”
His full lips twisted into a bitter pucker. “Essen, you may be scared of your brother—”
“Respect. I respect him. My brother would never do anything to hurt me. I can’t say the same about . . . anyone else.”
I stepped around Loso then pulled the door open. Like a thief on a heist, I gradually stuck my head out the door and checked the hallway.
“What are you doing?” Blaze asked, nearly taking my breath away.
My back became a ramrod. “Nothing. What are you doing?”
“Checking on you. You’ve been—” Her words were cut, and her mouth hung open when she spotted Loso standing close behind me. “A little sneaky slut. What the hell are y’all—”
I pressed my finger against her lips. “Be. Quiet.”
“Essen. Do. Not. Touch. My. Damn. Lips!” She shoved me away.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to overreact. We were just talking.”
She scoffed. “In the bathroom?”
I peered over my shoulder, hoping Loso would take the reins.
“Don’t look at me. Your grown ass got it.” He chuckled. “The next time I call you, answer the phone. I paid you a deposit. Don’t do bad business.”
Loso walked off with a smirk on his face while I tried to convince Blaze she didn’t catch us doing anything. She nodded and hummed along to Christmas music from downstairs while I spoke, making me think that just like Loso, she didn’t believe a word I said.