Chapter 17
I
s Sloan coming?” Shy asked as she sat in the makeup chair, getting her face done.
“I haven’t heard from her since earlier. She had a patient, but I did send her the details, and she said she would be there,” Ellie said.
“Thank you so much for bringing the girls by to watch the baby while we go,” Courtney added.
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Court,” Ellie said,
“We want to,” Brooklyn stated.
“He’s so cute,” Tessa added.
“Lola! Can you grab my shoes out my closet? And grab my keys because you’re driving. Oh, and make sure you get whatever lipstick she’s using and keep some in your purse in case I need a touch-up through the night,” Shy said.
“Got it,” Lola answered. Even she was dressed to perfection. She couldn’t attend as Shy’s assistant without following the dress code.
All four women were beautiful.
“I haven’t been this dressed up, besides my wedding, of course, since prom,” Ellie said as she looked in the floor-length mirror.
She had done some damage to Loyal’s credit card.
The Alaia dress she wore was black and form-fitting with puffy feathered sleeves and a puffy feathered skirt that showed off her toned thighs and legs.
Thank God for Pilates. It fit her body like a glove.
She wore her hair middle-parted and bone-straight in a short, full, bob. Four-inch Alaia heels graced her feet.
“Lola, put some body butter on her legs, please,” Shy instructed. Lola went to move, but Ellie held up a hand.
“I’ve got it, Lola, thank you,” she said, taking the butter from Lola’s hands.
Courtney’s dress was gold and strapless, with beading that covered the entire floor-length gown. The lace portions of the dress gave it a sex appeal that Courtney hadn’t felt since before having the baby.
“You look beautiful, Court,” Ellie said. “Especially with the updo. It’s giving all the things.”
Courtney smiled.
“Not gonna lie. Your rich ass came through with the glam team,” Courtney said to Shy.
“Yeah, they did their jobs,” Ellie said, admiring her brown and smoldering look.
“All of you guys look good,” Brooklyn smiled. “Especially you, Auntie Shy, in that red.”
Shy showed the most skin with a red bralette and long, satin, skintight skirt that had a split that went up to her hip. The tall red gloves she wore finished out her look. Good thing skin was in because Shy was showing it.
“Okay, my driver is here. Are you sure you don’t want to just ride with me?” Ellie asked Shy.
“No, Lola can drive my car. We’ll follow behind you. You like to call it an early night. We might want to keep the party going afterward,” Shy said.
“Oh yeah, well, definitely drive your shit then because I’m going home after this. Girls, come give y’all mama a kiss. I’ll be back in the morning to pick y’all up!” Ellie shouted.
Brooklyn and Tessa came and kissed her goodbye.
“I love y’all. Brook, if you need anything, call my phone. Are you sure you can handle the baby?” Ellie asked.
“I’m positive, Mom. He sleeps most of the time. All I’m doing is changing diapers and feeding him on a schedule. I got it,” Brooklyn reassured.
Ellie looked skeptically. “Maybe I should just…”
“You should get your ass out the door before we’re late. She’s got it, girl, now go’n,” Shy fussed.
Ellie and Courtney hopped in one car and Shy hopped in the backseat of her S-Class as Lola took the driver’s seat.
“Girl, who the fuck Shy think she is?” Ellie snickered.
“Chile, you know she always gave rich bitch, main character, energy. Let her live.”
The girls shared a laugh because their friend had always been that bitch, even in middle school when she used to wear her two-inch heels from Payless. She had graduated to Red Bottoms and Birkin bags, and you couldn’t tell her shit.
“The best part is raiding her closet because she had the perfect purse to go with this dress,” Ellie said. “What is the plan for James? Does you accepting this invitation mean you’re going to go back?”
Courtney sighed.
“It means I’m willing to go out tonight.
I just feel like we need to work on it day by day.
Today might be yes, tomorrow might be no.
It depends on him and his progress and his actions.
It also depends on me and mine. That first therapy session made me realize I’m not really ready to be a partner for anyone. I’ve got some healing to do.”
“I’m so damn proud of you, Court. Like, for real,” Ellie said. “You’re so strong.”
“I don’t feel like it, but thanks, Ellie,” Courtney responded.
Ellie’s stomach twisted nervously as they arrived at the venue.
“Wow,” she muttered as the valet opened her door and she stepped out.
Shy and Lola pulled in right behind them, and they all walked up the red-carpeted staircase.
It reminded her of the Met Gala. Loyal had rented out the Flint Institute of Arts for the evening, and it was beautifully decorated.
The event’s photographers and the local newspapers were out, taking pictures of everyone as they arrived.
Ellie posed alone and then with Courtney and Shy before they all made their way inside.
“Where is Sloan?” Ellie asked herself as she stepped into the room. She pulled out her phone.
Ellie
Hey, we just arrived. Are you on your way?
She slid the phone into her small clutch and then found her way to her seat.
“It’s beautiful in here,” Shy said, amazed at the transformation of the arts institute.
The live band played R&B classics as waiters in black pants and white shirts and black ties, served champagne from crystal trays.
The speakeasy theme was dark and moody, and a casino royale was the running activity.
There was gaming tables set up around the room.
At each seat was a gift bag for each attendee with fake chips inside. She picked up the note.
“The player with the most chips at the end of the night gets to donate the pot to the charity of their choice. Remember, you have to bet big to win big. Good luck!” she said, reading it aloud. She laughed because it was a cute concept, and it instantly excited her.
“Your boy knows how to throw a party,” Shy complimented, digging through her gift bag and pulling out the expensive items inside.
“Essential Body Love, Boujee Hippie supplements, Boss Locs hair products, Hairapy by Enjoli, Marty’s Kitchen spices, Dipped by Toni cupcakes, Euphoric Collections candle, Sweat Freak t-shirt, B-Edits affirmation cards, and a motherfucking Ashley Marie autographed book?
All these are top-tier Black-owned businesses.
Plus, Foundation Health Care is the platinum sponsor!
The partnerships are intentional and lit,” Shy exclaimed.
It was an elevated experience without question.
Ellie nodded her head smoothly to the music as she looked around the room for Loyal.
When she spotted Cassidy instead, she smiled.
Her brother was dapper in a cranberry JW Anderson suit.
“That boy is clean,” Ellie teased as she watched the women in the room clamor over one another for his time.
His only accessory was the gold presidential Rolex on his wrist. It was perfect for the occasion, and he wore it like the designer had made it specifically for his frame.
“Yeah, he is,” Lola admired.
Ellie snapped her neck back in shock as Lola lifted from the table. “Excuse me,” Lola said. Courtney snickered as Lola crossed the room, looking like a million bucks, interrupting all the women who were surrounding Cass.
“Umm, not your assistant trying to shoot her shot at my brother,” Ellie noticed.
“I mean, she is cute, though.” She watched as Cassidy accepted the glass of champagne that Lola had picked up along the way.
Ellie jerked her head back even further and put a hand on her breast. “Oop, and not he like her.”
“Lola better pump her brakes before Sloan walk through the door,” Shy mumbled.
“Wait, what?” Ellie shot back, turning in her seat to face her friends.
Courtney pinched Shy underneath the table.
“Ouch, bitch, quit pinching me!” Shy exclaimed.
“What are you talking about? Why would Sloan care about what Cass and Lola got going on?” Ellie asked.
Shy sipped her champagne, and Courtney opted for silence, but the shady essence between them told Ellie they were keeping secrets.
“Unt uh, bitches. What the fuck?” Ellie said, moving a seat closer to narrow the space between them. She leaned into her friends. “What is going on?”
Shy rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why you and Sloan like to play stupid when it comes to this,” Shy sighed. “You gonna sit there and tell me you don’t know that Sloan is in love with your brother?”
Ellie jerked her head back. “Eww, no. He’s like her brother, too. She don’t want Cassidy’s ass.”
Shy rolled her eyes. “Okay, girl.”
Ellie held up her hands innocently. “Come on, Court. Back me up here. They are literally like brother and sister.”
Courtney gave a sour smile and leaned her head to the side as she said, “Ehh. I mean, their chemistry is kind of undeniable,” Courtney added. “Think about it. Whenever they’re in a room together, you feel that they’re in the room together. And they always end up next to one another.”
Ellie shook her head in denial.
“Yeah, nah. Y’all reading too much into this. Sloan knows how I feel about my brother and my friends. She literally wouldn’t go there, and they’re practically related,” Ellie said. “Sloan is a second daughter to my parents. She always has been.”
“Okay,” Shy said, shrugging. “If you say so.”