Chapter 7 #2
Nhuri nodded. “Yes. My sister was mad at me for not accepting the assignment out of state, which was never happening. I couldn’t just leave her and my niece. Too much is going on, plus I still have my bartending job.”
“The one you should’ve been quit,” Jazmyn fussed, playfully rolling her eyes.
“You must’ve had a bad experience at Lush or something,” Marie chuckled, pushing her plate aside. “You’re so against her working there.”
“Right,” Nhuri chimed.
Jazmyn took a sip of her water and cleared her throat. “It’s nothing against them at all. I just know Nhuri is settling.”
Marie glanced to her right, where Nhuri sat. She shrugged.
“If that’s what she wants to call it,” Nhuri said.
“You know, sometimes we settle out of fear or the unknown,” Kendra added, and they nodded.
“Yep. And that’s exactly what she was doing. Which, I guess, was fine at the beginning, but not anymore.”
Nhuri knew her best friend wasn’t trying to throw shots at her, but the champagne and tequila shot they’d taken had her thinking otherwise. Her brain was a bit foggy, so she needed her to clarify what she meant.
“There’s a problem with being a bartender?” Nhuri asked, her tone defensive.
Jazmyn sucked her teeth. “No. You know that’s not what I mean or what I said.
All I’m saying is that you have more potential than being a bartender.
Is that a lot of people’s job title? Yes.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Get your money by any means.
But as for you, my girl . . . You’re doing exactly what Kendra said. ”
Nhuri leaned against the cool cushion. Thankfully, they were seated at a round booth near the window, so no one could hear how Jazmyn just read her.
It was out of love; it always had been and would be.
And Nhuri couldn’t say she was bluffing because it was the truth.
Though she loved bartending and the few outside jobs she worked, clocking in at Lush every weekend wasn’t what Nhuri wanted to do.
It helped pay the bills, but at what cost?
“And that’s okay,” Kendra added. “You act like she has to have everything figured out right now.”
“No, I’m acting like a friend who knows that she’s worth so much more than wasting time mixing fucking drinks as if she needs that job.
If you had absolutely no other option to fall back on, cool.
That’s not the case, though. And if you don’t start acting like the boss bitch that you are, I’m not giving you the gift I brought,” Jazmyn said, pursing her lips.
Nhuri couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow. I never knew you to be an Indian giver.”
“Technically, she hasn’t given it to you yet, so that name doesn’t fit,” Marie concluded.
Nodding, Nhuri polished off her mimosa. To someone who didn’t have real friends, it would’ve sounded as if Jazmyn was being a hater or on Nhuri’s case for no reason.
She loved her friend beyond measure and wanted the best for her.
Jazmyn witnessed people becoming stagnant in situations, including jobs that stressed them out.
In her eyes, holding on to things that no longer serve a purpose in your life showed how less you thought of yourself, as if you didn’t deserve more.
That’s all Jazmyn wanted Nhuri to grasp.
“I’m not,” Jazmyn said, handing her an orange gift bag with sparkly white tissue paper tucked inside it. “Here you go.”
Squinting, Nhuri glanced around the table. “What’re the gifts for?”
“Just a little something to let you know that we love you and have your back, no matter what,” Kendra said.
“Awww. Y’all are trying to make me cry,” Nhuri cooed, poking out her lip.
“Please don’t, friend,” Marie laughed. “Your makeup looks way too good to ruin.”
Knowing she was right, Nhuri pulled herself together and opened her first gift.
It was a $150 gift card to QuikTrip for gas and a bottle of Tiffany perfume.
Nhuri collected perfume like Infinity stones.
She never needed much convincing to buy a new perfume, body oil, or mist. Some purchases were blind buys that she regretted, but they’d become gifts.
“I’ve been meaning to snag this perfume,” Nhuri said. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Jazmyn said. “Your income may look a little funny for a while, but your collection doesn’t have to. And you’ll have some gas for those interviews you go on.”
The table laughed, but Nhuri was truly touched. The simple things meant the most to her.
“As high as gas has been these last few weeks, I’ll definitely be using it.”
Nhuri grabbed Marie’s bag and wondered what was inside. It seemed a bit heavy. The first item she pulled out was a plant. Glancing at Marie, Nhuri bunched her brows.
“Now, you know me and plants don’t get along,” she said seriously.
Marie laughed. “I know, but this one is pretty easy to take care of. It just needs a good balance of water and light. Mainly indirect sunlight.”
Nhuri nodded, reading the tag. “A money tree,” she read aloud.
“Mmhm. It attracts good luck and prosperity,” Marie explained.
“I love that, Marie. Thank you so much. Let’s see what else is in here.”
Nhuri pulled out a gift card to the spa and a manifestation journal for her to write in. The thoughtfulness behind each gift made her so emotional that her eyes began to water.
“I just thought we were coming to brunch to get me out of the house. I wasn’t expecting anything,” Nhuri said, sniffling.
Their waitress stopped by just in time for refills. They had another hour to enjoy bottomless mimosas and were taking full advantage. Nhuri ordered two at a time, grateful she’d ridden with Jazmyn.
“Well, you have one more, so don’t cry yet,” Kendra teased, handing over her bag.
Kendra’s gifts were just as nice as her friends’.
She bought Nhuri a gift card to Sam’s Club, a weighted lavender-scented eye mask since she was having trouble sleeping, a new pair of comfy house shoes, a pack of edibles, and a small white poster board.
Nhuri knew what everything was for except the last item.
“A poster board?” she questioned.
Kendra nodded. “Yes. I’m hosting a vision board party. I had to buy a small one to fit inside the bag, but that’s my other gift.”
Nhuri was excited. She’d never done a vision board, let alone had a party for one.
Leave it up to her girls to put her onto something new.
It was perfect timing too. Nhuri had goals in life, and just talking about them would no longer work.
She needed to put some action behind her words and was grateful for friends who made her want to keep going even when times got rough.
“We’re not trying to overwhelm you or anything,” Marie said. “Just know that we love you and are here to help in any way we can.”
“Even if that means snuggling up on the couch, taking a nap, and binging our favorite TV shows,” Jazmyn added.
Nhuri patted the dampness underneath her eye and nodded. “I love y’all so much.”
Not only had they comforted her by being a listening ear all week, but they also validated her feelings and were a source of support Nhuri needed at the time.
“We love you too, girl,” Kendra said, smiling.
“The time I planned on taking off doesn’t sound too bad now,” Nhuri chuckled.
Marie couldn’t agree more. “Not at all. Let’s not think about another job right now.”
“Okay, okay. But one more thing,” Nhuri said.
The friends eyed one another and smirked.
“We’re listening,” Jazmyn said.
“Maybe this was the sign I needed to stop playing around with my gifts. I missed out on an opportunity that may have elevated my career, but that just means it wasn’t meant to be mine.”
“Amen!” Marie said, clapping.
“So, I just want to thank y’all for putting up with my mood swings this week and even before then. I don’t know what’s next for me on this journey, but I’m done crying . . . well, maybe not completely done crying about it.”
They all laughed because one thing Nhuri did when frustrated was cry. A good, soul-cleansing cry never hurt anyone.
“But I’m prepared to take on whatever is next like the boss bitch I clearly forgot that I am. It won’t be easy, but what’s the fun in that?” she concluded with a smile.
“I heard that!” Jazmyn said.
Kendra picked up her flute. “We love seeing you step into your purpose!”
“Yes! Cheers to Nhuri and her new journey. I just know it’s going to be amazing,” Marie declared.
They clinked glasses, this time with even bigger smiles.
Positive energy floated through their booth, and Nhuri felt it all.
She wasn’t sure where this next chapter would take her, but right now, sharing drinks and good food with her girls hyping her up was all that mattered.
Laughter and talks about their upcoming plans for the week filled the space as they swayed to the music and enjoyed the atmosphere.
Nhuri leaned back against the plush booth, feeling the warmth of the liquor settling in her veins. She knew the nap she’d take once she got home would be everything. It was the perfect Sunday vibe, and she reminded herself to get out more often. Thankfully, she didn’t have to work at Lush tonight.
She was in the middle of responding to a text from Natalia when their waitress appeared at the table, balancing a sleek black tray lined with four shot glasses filled with tequila.
“Okay, ladies,” the waitress said with a grin as she set the tray down, “These are for you.”
Nhuri exchanged a look with her girls before addressing the waitress. “Oh, we didn’t order these.”
“I know. Compliments from a gentleman who wanted to celebrate with all of you,” she explained.
Her eyes flickered across the restaurant, and Nhuri instinctively followed her gaze.
Patio, the name of the restaurant where they were dining, is a relatively new soul food and R&B lounge that received numerous positive reviews since its opening.
Naturally, it attracted a crowd. A table full of beautiful women receiving shots was not uncommon.
However, the sender increased Nhuri’s heart rate.