Chapter 23 Farrah
“So, how is life with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?” Mariah asked as she climbed into my car.
I shrugged. “I barely see him, and I like it that way.”
That wasn’t exactly true, but Riah didn’t have to know that.
I didn’t see a lot of Mekhi, but I wasn’t pleased about it.
It had been a couple of days since I spent the night in his room and our next day visit to the museum, and he hadn’t brought any of it up.
I refused to do so, even though I was confused and wondered why he had touched me, opened up to me, then grew so nonchalant about it.
My cousin caught onto my mood and quickly changed the subject.
“What have you heard about this place we’re going?”
“Club Mirage? It’s new and supposed to be jumping. I’m hoping we can get in.”
I was tired of being confined to school and Mekhi’s house and had decided to go out tonight.
Steel was right behind me, and I hoped he didn’t mind a little partying.
Too bad if he did. I had to spread my wings a little.
Riah and I chatted for the fifteen minutes it took us to get to the club.
Looking at the line that had formed outside the door and the full parking lots all around, I was happy to valet.
Steel pulled up behind me and jumped out.
“You told Mekhi this is where you were coming?” he asked, looking doubtful.
I sucked my teeth. “Mekhi’s not my daddy, Steel.”
“Farrah—”
“You coming in or not?” I interrupted him.
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at me for a minute before he approached the valet stand. I smiled triumphantly. Mekhi Venzant had been exerting too much control over my life, and it was time I got some of it back.
Riah and I started to walk toward the back of the long line when I heard Steel mutter, “Hell, no.”
“What?” I asked, turning toward him.
“Follow me.”
Riah and I looked at each other before doing what he said.
Two minutes later, after he had a quick discussion with the men guarding the door, we were in.
Steel ushered us toward the upper level where he talked with someone else before guiding us to one of the few empty tables on this level. I looked up at him in surprise.
“Steel, how much is this? You can’t—”
“It’s covered,” he cut me off as a bottle girl approached to take our orders.
“What’s the most expensive thing you got?” Riah asked her.
“Mariah!”
She shrugged. “What? He said it’s covered!”
“Can we get a bottle of Rémy Martin XO?” I requested, before turning to Steel. “You want anything?”
“I don’t drink on the clock, shorty.”
Oh well, I thought. I offered. Ten minutes later, we were sipping the smooth cognac as the sounds of someone whining about his lost love trickled from the speakers. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath.
“I needed this,” I said.
“You should’ve said something sooner.”
Riah ran a hand over her already smooth bob as she spoke. She looked beautiful tonight in her off the shoulder, light blue mini-romper that hugged her slim curves. It was a different look for her—she was usually shy and conservative—but it worked.
“You look good, girl,” I complimented her.
She beamed at me. “So do you. yellow should be your signature color, I swear.”
I looked down at the one-shoulder, bright yellow jumpsuit I wore.
It fit me closely before flowing into wide legs.
I had accessorized with wooden jewelry and had experimented until I had a natural makeup look that I loved.
I felt good and it showed. Two drinks later, the music had picked up tempo and Riah and I were ready to dance.
I bounced as she rapped all the words to a couple of songs.
Steel stood close to our table, but that didn’t stop a few niggas from sending us appreciative looks.
Mariah and I smiled right back as the music changed and Megan Thee Stallion poured from the speakers.
I glanced again at Steel’s unsmiling face and decided to approach him. With my glass in my hand, I danced my way in front of him. He looked at me for a moment before his eyes went back to scanning the room.
“Are you always on duty?” I asked him, loud over the music.
“When I’m paid to be,” was his short reply.
“Do you have to be so serious all the time?”
“Farrah—”
“I’m just saying! We’re in a club. Have a little fun!”
He shook his head. “Nah. I got caught off guard once with you at the store. It’s not happening again.”
“We both know that was my fault—”
“I knew what the orders were. That’s all on me.”
I took a long sip from my glass, peering at him over the rim. I finally accepted that I wasn’t going to change his mind. Hell, I couldn’t even coax a smile out of him.
“Well, just so you know… I appreciate everything you’re doing,” I said.
I was leaning forward about to give him a kiss on the cheek, when I was jerked back suddenly.
“I’m not your daddy, huh?” Mekhi whispered against my ear.
I glared at Steel. Traitor, I mouthed at him. Of course, that nigga chose then to finally smile.
“Let me go,” I ordered.
Mekhi surprised me by releasing my waist, but then he stepped in front of me.
For a minute, I was speechless. He looked so fucking good, brown skin gleaming, dreads woven into a complicated style, white teeth perfect.
And his body… Mekhi was so fine. I bit down on my bottom lip and tried to move my eyes, but not before he smirked at me. Asshole.
“I’m not going home,” I announced.
He raised one eyebrow. “Did I say you were?”
“No, but you always tryna send me in the house. I want to have fun and—”
“Cool.”
I looked at him suspiciously. “What?”
“We not going home,” he said, pulling out a chair at the table.
Seth, who I hadn’t even realized was with him, grabbed the fourth chair. Mariah shot him a look, and he licked his lips. She rolled her eyes and walked over to me.
“I hope you letting his bossy ass know we having a good time,” she piped up.
She refilled my glass of Rémy as Mekhi watched us.
“Ay, why you in their business?” Seth asked her, speaking over the music.
“Why you in mine?” she snapped back.
They argued lightly as I nursed the glass of alcohol. I felt myself growing warm under Mekhi’s gaze as he looked me up and down.
“Come here,” he finally said.
I almost pretended not to hear him, but the look on his face warned me not to even try it. Slowly, I walked to where he was sitting. He surprised me by grabbing my hips and pulling me between his legs.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Sit down, Farrah.”
I moved, about to go to my seat, figuring he had something to tell me.
“Nah,” he said, tugging me into his lap.
“Mekhi, what—”
His hand wrapped around my glass and pulled it loose. I watched as he set it on the table.
“You need to have your head on straight. You being stalked, remember?”
My face heated up, but I didn’t acknowledge his comment verbally. “Why am I in your lap?”
His arm went around my waist, and he cupped my thigh possessively, pulling me until his mouth was close to my ear.
“Because you never know who’s watching.”
I frowned. “What?”
“That nigga thinks you mine, right?”
I tried to focus on what he was saying, but the way his fingers were trailing along the outside of my thigh was making that hard.
“Yeah,” I said breathlessly.
“So, let’s see what he’s around to see. I got guys looking around for anybody who keeps eyes on us.”
My eyes widened as they darted around the room. “You think he’s here?”
“I don’t know, but he could be.”
I nibbled on my lip before speaking again. “Maybe… maybe we should go.”
He laughed. “Nah, Ms. Bad Ass. I thought you didn’t wanna go home?”
“That was before I knew that psychopath might be here.”
Mekhi looked down at me, a scowl on his face. “What I tell you about being scared of that nigga? I’m not gon’ let anything happen to ya—”
“You better not call me annoying!”
“—worrisome ass.”
“Ugh!”
I tried to jump up, but he held on to me.
“Chill, girl.”
I pouted, but I didn’t struggle against his arm. If I were being honest—just with myself—I’d admit I didn’t want to leave his lap.
“Your girl will be back tomorrow,” Seth said, addressing me.
“I know! I thought you weren’t going to let her come back yet.”
“I was tryna make sure she was good, but I’on trust nobody to watch her like me and my team.”
I nodded. “I understand that.”
“Mekhi said you might need to stay with us until your parents got back. Just have Steel bring you when you ready.”
For some reason, his words bothered me. I knew Mekhi and I didn’t get along the best, but he didn’t have to be so eager to get rid of me. Why do you even care? I challenged myself. Fuck Mekhi. I didn’t have to stay where I wasn’t wanted.
“I’ll be there as soon as she gets back,” I told Seth.
“No, you won’t,” Mekhi said calmly.
My gaze snapped to his as Seth grinned.
“What? You said—”
“I changed my mind. Seth got his hands full, plus all your shit already at my place. No use in you moving again.”
His voice was casual but had that tone that let me know it would do no good to argue. Still—
“But Kera and I made plans—”
“Unplan them.”
I wanted to argue some more, especially when Riah stuck her tongue out at me before giggling, but the bottle girl chose that minute to reappear.
I listened as Seth and Mekhi ordered, confused about his sudden change of heart.
The minute she was gone, I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him forward until my lips were beside his ear.
“What are you doing? You don’t like me, remember?”
“We at the club, shorty. Bounce that ass in my lap and stop asking so many questions,” he muttered back.
What the—just the thought of bouncing on him ran me hot, especially when I envisioned doing just that, with no clothes on. It didn’t help that the DJ chose that moment to slow it down. Mekhi tapped me on my leg, and I stood up. He did the same before taking my hand.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He didn’t answer, just took my clutch out of my hand and tossed it to Mariah. Then, he led me to the dance floor before pulling me into his arms.