6 | Simone #3
“She knows who I am. You remember me right baby girl?”
Kadeem’s eyes followed her like she was a limited-edition sneaker release.
“Boy please you’re not that memorable.” Emaree said, waving him off.
“Hi Samaj. Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard all good things. Don’t hurt my girl and we’ll have no issues.”
Samaj smiled. “You got my word.”
The ladies who’d been crowding Kadeem earlier started talking to him again, but he barely paid them any mind. His focus was locked on Emaree even though she was acting like she didn’t know he existed.
Kadeem was in the tattoo chair, hyping himself up like he was about to give birth instead of getting a small design on his forearm.
“Aye, I just want everybody to know…” he announced dramatically, “If I pass out, tell my mama I went out a soldier.”
Emon didn’t even look up.
“Bro, shut up. It’s literally a five-minute tattoo.”
I cracked up, shaking my head. Meanwhile, Kadeem was still watching E, then finally called out, “So you just gon’ walk in here and ignore me, sweetheart? That’s crazy.”
She raised one eyebrow. “You talking to me?”
“Who else am I supposed to be talking to? The wall?”
“You didn’t use my name, so I don’t know Kadeem,” she said, shrugging being nonchalant.
“It’s cool, boobie. I see how it is.” Kadeem said, “Bro leave my sister alone. She ain’t one of your lil groupies.” Emon said with all seriousness. The women hovering around him smirked, clearly offended.
I grabbed her arm so we could walk to the back of the shop and speak privately. “So, you and Kadeem huh. What’s that about?”
She whispered to me while pretending to scroll on her phone.
“You remember over the summer when I went to that pool party in Blairwood? I met Kadeem there and we kicked it or whatever. I’ve seen him on campus and at parties before that but every time I’ve seen him, he had some girl, two or three in his face but at the pool party he was only giving me attention.
We were vibing the whole time, dancing, laughing, flirting, and he might’ve given me a hickey. ”
“A hickey?!” I whisper-yelled.
She rolled her eyes. “Simone, please. I was outside that day, okay? Anyway— we were having a great time. And then someone decided to start a game of truth or dare and I’m thinking he’s going to pass on the game and chill with me, but who was I fooling.
This is Kadeem, he loves playing games, he loves attention and he loves women. ”
I could already see where this story was heading.
“I left the party after that, but I heard through people on campus and online how wild that truth-or-dare game got and it just made me kind of upset and a little jealous. I don’t even know why.”
I couldn’t help looking over at Kadeem, who was trying to look unbothered while Emon wiped down his arm. He kept glancing in our direction though just quick enough to tell me maybe he cared more than he led on.
“You never spoke to him again?” I asked.
She shrugged, chewing her lip. “Hell no. Didn’t see the point. I figured if he wanted me he wouldn’t have played that stupid game. There’s no telling whose throat his tongue was down.”
“I can see your point, but maybe he didn’t think playing the game would bother you.”
“I know,” she sighed. “And that’s why I’m mad at myself.
Because logically, it wasn’t that deep. And you know me, Simone.
I’m never pressed about a man. But for some reason…
with him? I don’t know. He didn’t ask me for my number or try to pursue anything with me.
I guess I was just a good time to him. And knowing that he and my brother are friends doesn’t help.
You know how Emon hates anyone I ever talk to. ”
“True.” I glanced at her. She wasn’t just annoyed. She was hurt and the way Kadeem was subtly watching her? Yeah… this was about to get interesting.
When we walked back over to the group Samaj wrapped an arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, “So, I hear your cousin and my boy got an unresolved situationship. This is gonna be fun to watch.”
I snorted. “Why you being messy,” I whispered.
He laughed. “Chill out. You know you were thinking the same thing.”
“I was.” We both burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny I want to laugh too.” Kadeem said, looking at us suspiciously.
“Inside joke. Mind your business.” Samaj replied.
“Mhmm. Inside joke, my behind.”
Something about having all of us in one space—the friendly banter and the easy conversations—felt like a little family forming.
As the night went on, the shop turned into a full-on party. Someone ordered pizza, the music got louder, people danced in the middle of the room, and the energy felt like one big family cookout.
Emon did another tattoo and then joined the rest of us.
We ended up in a circle all talking and joking around.
Every time Kadeem tried to flirt, Emaree dodged him like she was training for the Olympics.
Samaj, and I would look at each other without saying a word and burst into laughter.
It felt easy, natural like the five of us had been doing this forever