Sparks Will Fly

Chapter 1

I’ve been all in my phone. I got options…

My body swayed to the melodic rhythm of Summer Walker’s hit single “Body” in tandem with bursts of heat escaping off the many bodies stuffed inside Mobay’s. Drey was behind me with her hands fastened to my waist as I sang the lyrics like they were written for me. My hips followed a rhythm of their own that had every eye in the vicinity watching the show.

I gave no regard to the outside world. All I wanted was a night of fun to free myself from the weight of my work. I loved pouring into the children in my community, but it could be tiresome. Tonight was about adult fun, which was why I accepted the strawberry margarita that was slipped into my hand. I could trust Drey, so I didn’t think twice about draining the plastic cup of every sweet, yet bitter drop mixed inside.

“Alright now, cousin. You keep dancing on me like this, and I’ma forget we’re not from Alabama.”

I giggled uncontrollably as I stopped dancing.

“You’re sick,” I joked seconds before a hiccup slipped out.

I slapped a hand over my mouth when another came then another.

“Guess I’m growing!” I yelled over the music.

“Or you’re drunk as hell. Let’s go sit at the bar. My feet hurt so bad I can’t even feel them anymore.”

I followed closely while still enjoying the music flowing from the speakers. Mobay’s was packed per usual for Thursday night. They were known for their drink specials. Who didn’t love five-dollar Don Julio shots on a good ole thirsty Thursday? Squares! That’s who. They knew exactly what they were doing to keep the place packed, alcohol flowing, and ass being thrown from left to right because the DJ was doing her thing.

“Finally.” Drey huffed as she slid on a bar stool, allowing her to relieve the pressure from walking in her stilettos.

“Told you not to wear those shoes,” I reminded her with a smirk. I was sitting comfortably in a pair of platform heels that kept my feet supported. I could dance all night in these.

She waved me off. “Beauty is pain. I’ll live.”

“But will your feet if you keep cutting off their circulation and shit?”

She gave me a side eye before shifting her focus to waving down the bartender. Her lips parted to make a request when he beat her to it by sliding two lemon drops across the bar.

“Oh là là. Who’s our sponsor?” She pried for information.

Drey was always on the prowl, always looking for a man to put her through the mattress just to wake up the next day and move forward with her life like nothing ever happened. She swore she wasn’t afraid of commitment, but who was I to judge when I had my own fears and reservations in the love department?

The bartender nodded to two guys sitting at the opposite end of the bar. One was handsome with long and neat locs, but that other one had the face and body only a mother could love. The smirk on Drey’s face said she saw what I did, and I knew she had me fucked up.

I knew what was coming long before she turned in her seat to suggest we go over to thank them. I shook my head adamantly.

“Absolutely not.” I shook my head. I was not taking one for the team tonight. “It’s just a drink; we don’t have to thank them.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right, but wouldn’t it be fun to see where things could lead?”

“Fun for who ’cause I know how you are. You’re going to go for the fine one and leave the thick, ugly one for me. How the fuck he got more hips than me?” I was getting pissed off just thinking about it. I glanced in their direction one more time and shook my head again. “No. No! Hell no.”

Drey blew a raspberry followed by a very childish display of her tongue.

“You are no fun anymore.”

“I’m plenty of fun, and you know it. Just not when the man looks like that.” There was nothing she could say to convince me to entertain that man. “I’m about ready to go home anyway. There’s still a lot of planning for Wanderlust, and I don’t want to get too behind.”

She waved me off. “All you wanna do is work. Those little fun suckers at that community center better be glad you give a damn about them, because the way my mind is set up, it was fuck them kids a long time ago.”

I nearly choked on the remnants of my drink trying to hold in my laughter.

“Exactly why children are my calling and not yours.”

She beamed. “Yeah, ’cause they wouldn’t stand a chance if they had to depend on me.”

I got ready to say more when Muni Long’s “Made for Me” began blasting. That was our song, and we sang it to each other like it was the first time. Drey and I were sandbox besties because we were cousins. She was my twin in every way except for the fact I loved children, and she would rather be run over by a car than associate with them. Her career as a divorce attorney kept her far enough away along with the birth control she popped like clockwork every day.

I guess when the song came to an end, the men from the other end of the bar decided distance was no longer working for them. I tensed when I felt hands on my waist, but surprisingly, when I glanced over my shoulder it was the more handsome of the two bunch. When Drey looked at me, I stuck out my tongue. She gave me the finger before plastering on a vibrant smile for the friend who approached her.

“You lookin’ good tonight, ma,” a deep voice spoke in my ear, but the vibrations from his voice went straight to my clit.

I moaned to myself. I could work with this. “I look good every night.”

“Beautiful and confident. I like it.” He winked and revealed a dazzling smile. I took the time to admire his smooth, caramel complexion. He was taller than me only by a few inches, but I didn’t need a giant. It hurt your back hugging them tall niggas. Give me the one with average height because they were also known to have beyond average sized dicks. With the way I was feeling, I was going to need someone capable of hitting my spot to end my night.

“I’m Antoine, but I go by Tony.”

Chris Brown’s sultry voice began to serenade the crowd as I pressed deeper into Tony. I allowed the mixture of alcohol and music to carry me to a faraway place. Dancing was one of my favorite things to do, so Tony was stuck to my body like glue. Every dip of my ass, he was there. With every sway of my hips, I felt him grow a little more rigid against me. From what I could tell, he was packing. Spinning around quickly, I eased a hand around his neck and pulled him closer to me.

“Are you coming home with me?” I stared deeply into his eyes to let him know just how serious I was in my request.

“Word? It’s like that?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Yeah, if you don’t talk yourself out of it.”

I grabbed my purse from the top of the bar where Drey was engaging in a conversation with ole boy.

“I’m about to head out,” I informed her.

“Alone?”

I laughed. “Now you know good and well I’m about to fuck him.”

“Lucky little slut.” She snickered. “I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow then.”

“And will. Text me when you wake up ’cause I know you got something lined up too. Ain’t fooling me, boo.”

She gave me a knowing look then extended her hand. We did our secret handshake, knowing nothing else needed to be said. Drey and I were one and the same. She was fucking tonight too. Pulling my keys from my purse, I turned to Tony.

“I’ll be in the black Infiniti. Either you’re behind me when I pull into my driveway, or you’re not. Choice is yours.”

I began my venture toward the door without another word or glance in his direction. I was fine as fuck, offering him good pussy he ain’t have to work for up on a platter. He was definitely following me out of here. I damn near came out of my shoes when someone snatched my arm from behind. A frown appeared on my face when the smell of Tom Ford Noir assaulted my nostrils. I only knew one man to wear that fragrance, and I hated his guts.

“Where the fuck you think you going?” Terrance questioned me like he was still my nigga.

“None of your concern,” I replied with disinterest and snatched myself free.

He stood there with a fresh fade and mouth full of gold. He looked fucking good and knew it, but I was completely off him. I’d be better off if I never saw him again.

“Everything okay?” Tony pressed for information as he walked up on us.

I smiled sweetly at him. “Absolutely. Let’s go.”

“You think you leaving with this nigga?” Terrance asked with a straight face.

The throbbing of his temple told me he was pissed off, but I could care less about his feelings—kinda in the same way he never cared about mine when we were together. We’d been broken up for a year, and he still harassed me every time I saw him in public.

“I am, and he’s coming back to my house.”

“You got me fucked up like I won’t pull up over there.”

I damn near spit in his face from laughing so hard.

“Boy, shut up. We both know you won’t even pull up in the neighborhood let alone in front of my house. My brother and his friends will have your shit riddled with bullet holes before you can even put it in park. Play around if you want. Your mama and them will be having a fish fry this time tomorrow night.”

Turning my attention to Tony, I nodded toward the door. He glanced at Terrance, but I didn’t wait around for anything else. Ter was stupid enough to cheat but not to pull up in C Square without an invitation. His temper tantrum wasn’t stopping a damn thing over here. He knew the pussy was good when he was doing him. Ain’t shit changed but how I dealt with him now and who I was fucking on.

Tony parted ways with me out front. My stride didn’t slow once as I made it to my car. I slid in the driver’s seat, started it up, and pressed the gas. Within a minute, I was in traffic with a big ass black Tahoe trailing behind me. It seemed like a fitting ride for Tony based on how he presented himself.

The ride home was rather quick because there weren’t many cars on the road. Perhaps, it was because they were all parked along my street when I pulled into the driveway. I directed Tony to pull in behind me because I knew what to expect when we walked in. There was nothing to worry about.

I stood off to the side waiting for him to get out.

When he walked up, he said, “Damn somebody having a party.”

I shrugged.

“Somebody is always having a party.” I stepped closer to him, thinking of a question I should’ve asked before we even left Mobay’s. “Do you eat pussy as good as you look?”

He blessed me with his smile. “Let me show you.”

I took his hand with a smile of my own and led the way to the front door. I didn’t need to use my key because the door was unlocked. We walked dead into a cloud of smoke that choked him up. I was used to it and didn’t mind it.

There were people playing spades at the plastic table in the corner while others lounged in the living room drinking or smacking bitches on the ass as they tossed money at them. Others lounged in the kitchen taking shots. But I could tell the majority of the crowd was in the backyard. I was glad I didn’t see my brother and only prayed he didn’t see me either. Mercy stayed in my damn business.

With Tony’s hand still in mine, I walked over to our bar and stole a bottle of Don Julio Reposado. Tony was so busy taking in the environment that he didn’t notice me pulling him at first. Eventually, he caught the hint and followed me down the hall to my bedroom.

I closed and locked the door behind us. Kicking off my shoes, I began to get comfortable. Tony sat on my bed watching me.

“What?”

“You’re different than I’m used to.”

“Why? ’Cause I ain’t no scary ass bitch. I’m a ho,” I jokingly recited Sexyy Red lyrics.

I pushed him backward on the bed, straddling him in the next breath. I popped the top on the bottle of liquor before taking a shot to the head. I held it over his mouth to pour him up next. He happily accepted.

“I’m just not afraid of having a good time.”

“I can see that. I like that shit.”

He took the bottle from my hand before he flipped me over on my back in one swift movement. I sat up, opening my mouth for him to pour me a shot this time. Only a drop fell on my tongue when somebody started banging on my door. I rolled my eyes, ignoring it but they wouldn’t stop.

“Open the damn door, Lovie. I know you’re in here.”

I huffed, folding my arms over my chest.

“Oh, my God! Mercy leave me alone. I’m busy.”

“Hell nah. If I’m not fucking tonight, then neither are you.”

“Who is that?” Tony asked with wide eyes.

I felt like I could see his heart beating out of his chest when the knocks started back raining on the door. I rolled my eyes as I stood and pushed past him.

“My annoying ass brother,” I spit as I opened the door. “What? Damn!”

He poked his head inside with a wide grin.

“Wassup,” he spoke to my company like he wasn’t interrupting us.

I blocked his path. “There will be none of that. What do you want?”

“Oh, right. OG is outside for you.”

I scoffed. “And you couldn’t just tell him I wasn’t here.”

He shrugged. “I could’ve but this seemed like more fun.”

I allowed my head to fall backward. I knew my fucking night was over with now. Walking over to Tony, I took the bottle of liquor, knowing I was going to need more of this to deal with my father. I took another shot to the head before turning my attention to him.

“Sorry. Got to cut this short. I’ll walk you out.”

I slid my feet into my house shoes while he retrieved his things. Mercy walked over to my bed, watching with pure satisfaction. He just didn’t know I was getting him back for this. Once Tony was ready, I followed him, but Mercy’s voice stopped us.

“Um, I think you’re forgetting this.”

He held up a silver wedding band in his hand. It must’ve fallen on the bed from Tony’s pocket. I marched over to him with a frown.

“Mind your fucking business,” I mumbled.

“I was trying to, but this fucking wedding ring was blinding me.” He chortled like he’d delivered the world’s funniest joke. “Not to mention, you are my business.”

“And that’s the problem with the men in this family. Don’t know how to leave me the hell alone and let me live my life the way I want to,” I fussed, although he’d clearly helped me dodge a bullet. I was a lot of things, but a homewrecker was never one of them.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have a nice chat with daddy dearest,” he teased as I turned to finish walking Tony out.

I sighed knowing I could never have a nice chat with my father. Nice wasn’t even in his DNA when it came to me. I took another shot of liquor knowing a lecture was to come.