Chapter 7 #2
He immediately dapped DP members and hugged the sorority sisters of mine he knew. He slowly made his way through the crowd to the bar where he put an order in before starting his slow trek toward the section.
I saw the moment Dyani realized he was in the area.
We both watched as he moved around the section.
He looked good in the black pants and shoes and white shirt he wore, repping the signature DP colors and a simple chain to balance the expensive watch on his wrist. The gun tucked into the back of his pants was evident and I knew without having to even see him up close that he probably changed out his partial top grill for his full rack.
“Jayme,” Dyani said. “Have you and Arris ever… you know?”
I laughed instantly.
“We have a son.”
“No. I know. I meant… earlier, when you said Arris would be down to watch or participate even. Is that something you know from experience?”
“Maybe. Why? Do you want to try it out?” I wagged my eyebrows up and down.
Dyani laughed. “Maybe.”
“Back before we had Blake, we had a few threesomes here and there.”
“And how was it?”
“Good.” I shrugged.
“So you weren’t jealous or anything?”
“No. When Arris and I were together, he was good at making me feel secure. I never doubted that he loved me or thought I was going to get kicked to the curb for someone else or anything like that. It was always fun and consensual. I also initiated almost all of them,” I added.
“Arris is a very go with the flow kind of guy. He was happy with just the two of us but what man you know is turning down having two beautiful women in his bed?”
“Good point.”
“Look,” I leaned into Dyani, “I know I’m a huge flirt but I want to make it very clear that I genuinely think you’re smart and beautiful. I wouldn’t backdoor Arris though.”
“What about Arris?” His voice had us both turning to face him. He had a beer and a Red Bull in one hand. He offered me the Red Bull and I took it with a smile.
“Well hey there, baby daddy.”
“Hey. Happy Birthday.” He gave me a tight hug, dug in his pocket, and produced a jewelry box. “This is for you.”
“Arris.” I glared at him.
“I’m not about to argue with you.” He turned to Dyani without waiting for me to respond and hugged her. “What’s up, love?”
“Hi.” She smiled up at him.
“So, what’d I do?”
“Nothing. We were talking about threesomes,” I said simply.
“Elaborate.”
“That’s the gist of it.”
I waved him off and focused on opening the box he’d given me.
It turned out to be a plain silver chain with a dainty diamond that matched the earrings he’d already gotten me.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Of course. You deserve it.”
“I do, huh?” I teased.
He chuckled and turned to greet a few DP members who’d just noticed him.
“Do you want me to put that on for you?” Dyani gestured to the box.
“Sure.”
I let her put it on me then grabbed her hand in one of mine and grabbed Arris’s with the other. I pulled him away from the guys who laughed and made jokes at his expense about me still running him.
I let their hands go when we made it to the seating area.
“We’re drinking!” I announced.
“I figured.” Arris gestured to the Red Bull he’d gotten, knowing it was my chaser of choice.
“Not just me and Dyani. You too.”
“Nah.”
“It’s my birthday so you have to.”
“When did that become a thing, Jayme?”
“Just now.” I grabbed a bottle, took a sip, and chased it with Red Bull. “Who’s next?”
“Me,” Dyani volunteered.
“See, a team player.” I gave Arris my Red Bull and grabbed Dyani lightly by her throat. I tilted her head back and poured at least a double shot down it. She lifted her head and swallowed. I wiped her chin with my thumb for good measure. “You ready?” I turned to Arris.
“You’re not tilting my head back and pouring that shit down my throat,” he said.
I wiggled the bottle side to side.
He sighed but took it from me, leaned back, and took his own drink. I tapped the bottom to make a little more slip out.
He shot me a look.
“What?”
“If either of y’all are getting drunk, I’m staying sober.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t push the issue. I already knew how Arris was. His protectiveness was one of the things that attracted me initially.
“That’s fine. You can play babysitter.” I snatched my Red Bull back and he sighed but collapsed on the couch.
Dyani snickered and shook her hand.
“Let me get one more shot,” she said.
“Let’s do it.”
She tilted her head back and I fed her another shot.
Then we went back to dancing like we had before Arris got there. We talked, rapped, sang, and joked as one song slid into another. I was sure neither of us would be walking down the stairs at the end of the night after the way I was feeling.
I was hyperaware of Dyani’s beautiful body pressed against mine and equally aware of how good Arris looked, sitting in the center of the couch, leaning back and looking larger than life.
One of his hands rested behind the couch and the other held the same beer he’d gotten twenty minutes into his entrance.
We all turned and looked toward the entrance of the section when my sisters walked up the stairs, a smattering of people behind them, bottle girls carrying more liquor, sparklers, and signs telling me happy birthday.
Janari held a nice-sized birthday cake. Janine walked right next to her with a long lighter in hand.
I squealed, clapped, and bounced up and down on the balls of my feet. My arm automatically wrapped around Dyani, pulling her into me while I danced a little from the attention surrounding me.
“We have a timer!” Janine said loudly. “So, let’s count down!”
She tapped her phone as they made their way to me. The people in the section started circling us and Arris stood where he was.
“Alright!” Janine yelled. “Ten! Nine!
I held a hand out toward Arris and waved him over. He didn’t hesitate. He held his beer up and moved through the crowd to come up on my other side.
“Eight! Seven! Six!”
Dyani ran a hand up and down my side. Arris threw an arm around my shoulders.
“Five! Four!”
Janine started lighting the candles on the cake.
“Three! Two!”
I took a step closer and did a quick little twerk that had a few people laughing while counting.
“One!”
Everyone sang, “Happy Birthday”, and I leaned forward and closed my eyes.
I immediately wished for more nights like this—loud, carefree, with the people who cared about me, Arris and Dyani included.
I shook my head immediately, as if that would erase my first wish.
I wished again, this time for Dyani and Arris. Just them.
Then I blew the candles out. I jumped up and down while everyone cheered.
I felt the second Arris’s large hand met the back of my head but I didn’t get a chance to respond. He pushed my head forward lightly, into the cake. I laughed as I lifted it back and elbowed him.
“Happy birthday, Jaybird!” he said.
I didn’t respond. I turned to my right, grabbed Dyani by the back of her head, and yanked her in.
My lips met hers and cake smashed between us on our faces.
It deepened for only a second, and when we broke apart, I licked some of the icing from her face.
Then I turned, yanked Arris in by his shirt, and kissed him.
His shock was evident in a way Dyani’s hadn’t been but he didn’t pull away. He hesitated for a second but his hands went to my waist and he yanked me in. My tongue slipped along his and I damn near groaned against his mouth.
My attraction to Arris had never been in question. Even when I started taking women seriously, I’d always known I was attracted to him. even if I wasn’t attracted to any other men.
When we pulled away, he blinked down at me and I grinned briefly before turning back to Dyani.
“Well, fuck,” she laughed, “Happy birthday, Jayme.”
“Thank you.” I danced in place then leaned in.
She didn’t need to be subtly seduced. She met me halfway and kissed me. I pulled Arris up beside us, my drunk brain not fully comprehended that we had a very real audience around us.
I kissed him and her again.
“This is the best birthday ever!” I said loudly.
Arris and several members of DP chortled. I grabbed Dyani’s hand, squeezed, and beamed at her without a care in the world.
Yup. Best birthday in the world.