Chapter 1
Yani Heart
A YEAR LATER
“Thank you, Dawn. I appreciate that thug,” I said, honoring her request for a hug afterward.
I took the empty seat that was pulled out for me and took a glance around the table. This time last year the only people that showed up for me were my girls. This go round they had a plus one to accompany them. I was happy for them.
“You look good friend. That powder blue looks damn good on you.” Winnie gave me a compliment that I’d heard a thousand times over before arriving from my family.
“Thank you, girl. All y’all look good as well, especially the men. Y’all clean up nicely,” I returned the compliments.
“First off, I just want to say thank y’all for coming and celebrating with us on my baby special day.
She is one hell of a woman and the least we could do is show our appreciation.
I know she’s been stressed lately with her latest project, so I just want to make sure she lets her hair down tonight. Happy birthday baby.”
I was kissed on my neck and then my lips. I was surrounded by people that were genuine and held some type of love in their hearts for me. I couldn’t stop my cheeks from hiking up and displaying the smile I got complimented on often.
“Thank you, baby. Now that Trust got his speech out the way, can we eat? I have been famished since I got off work.”
Trust had been my man for over a decade and the way our relationship was set up had me confused at times. I didn’t know what we were doing half the time, but I knew I loved him deeply. He was the person I made a family with, and I had no intentions on breaking that up. He was my comfortability.
Over the ten years of us being together, I endured more than any woman should, but I stood by him due to the son we shared and the bond we built over the years. I also had a heart full of great memories. I had so much love for Trust that it hurt me to even think about us ending.
Just as I got comfortable, the waitress showed up ready to take our orders.
After riddling off what we wanted, the night began to progress.
I couldn’t get over how much I matured with everyone seated except the plus ones.
They were just now learning me, but my girls and my man had been by my side since high school.
“So, I know how you like to eat and then go home and be with your man, but there’s a new strip club in town and I heard many things about it. I say we stop by and turn it out for the one time,” Calina voiced.
“Oh, you talking ’bout Sensation. I heard the strippers in there be throwing it and actually knows how to dance. I’m down to go,” Winnie chimed in.
I looked at Trust and he gave me that look saying it was up to me. I always had a good time when I was out with my girls, so I figured why the hell not.
“Shoot let’s do it then. We’ll have to stop by the ATM so I can grab a few bills for them to be exchanged but I can go for a lap dance or two,” I responded.
“I knew you would say yes. I had gone ahead and got us a booth there so we wouldn’t be sitting around at no darn table begging for a table dance like the rest of them broke folk.”
“Now Calina you didn’t have to say that. People out here doing the best they can,” I said trying not to laugh. Lina was the friend that called it how she saw it. It didn’t matter who you were, you could become the main character and quick.
“Girl please. It’s two types of people that visit the strip club. Those that don’t have it to give but give it anyway and those that got it and just want to have a good time. The latter gets booths, while the other’s get tables for ten-dollar dances. There’s a difference.”
“Lina shut up. You just got a new position at work and now all of a sudden, you’re a millionaire. Please calm down,” Dawn decided to jump in as well.
“Don’t y’all start. We’re going so no need to get catty. The food is here so let’s just eat and vibe out. It’s my day and I say no arguing, okay?”
I had to put my foot down and put a halt to the conversation at hand because Dawn and Lina would go back and forth for hours at a time. I wasn’t about to allow them to mess up my night. They were stating their opinions and they just needed to leave it at that.
For some reason, I couldn’t enjoy my food the way I wanted.
It was mostly due to Trust checking his phone every few minutes.
I was confused on who could be blowing him up like that.
His phone hadn’t rung all evening but now that we were out, it was going nonstop and no matter how much I tried to ignore it, I just couldn’t shake that some bullshit was about to occur.
I leaned over into his personal space so that what I asked wouldn’t be heard by the table. “Who is calling you like that?”
When he looked at me with those sad eyes, I knew exactly who was interrupting my dinner.
I couldn’t help but kiss my teeth. Dawn noticed and gave me a concerning look.
I threw my fork down to my plate and proceeded to head to the bathroom.
However, Trust wasn’t going to let me be.
He was on my heels ready to plead his case.
“Baby wait.”
Yanking my arm from his grasp, I turned around and questioned, “Why Trust? All you’re about to do is tell me some bullshit story on why you have to go.”
“It’s not bullshit baby. Xara —”
“Let me guess, she gave you some made up story about Truce, huh?” His silence spoke volumes. “Tuh. I should’ve known. Every time you let her know our plans, she finds a way to make it about the baby. You know what Trust, just go. I’m so tired of this.”
“Come on Yani. Don’t do that. You know it was her birthday today and she probably got a stomachache or something.”
“Yeah, well at least one of our birthday’s matters. Get out my face before I say or even do something I’ll regret. A fuckin’ stomachache? Nigga her mama is a nurse!”
Shaking my head, I left him where he stood and entered the women’s bathroom. Ever since I accepted his illegitimate child, things between us had been estranged. The most intimacy we had was when we were drunk. Other than that, we pretty much existed as if we had a routine to follow.
So many times, I tried to relight that fire between us, but I seemed to fail tremendously.
I loved Trust and at times I loved him more than I did myself.
He was the man that held my heart for over ten years, and I had no thoughts of snatching it back.
Nowadays, I felt like his interest lied elsewhere.
“No ma’am. You are in makeup and it’s your birthday. Whatever happened, is not about to ruin that.” I knew Dawn wasn’t going to let me be in here alone too much longer. She burst through the door and got one good look at me before running off at the mouth.
“I just wanted a night with him Dawn. He goes running to her as if me and Brendon means nothing to him. Don’t you know he skipped out on Brendon’s recital all because that bitch called and said Truce wanted him.
Dawn I am so sick and tired of coming second when I have held the number one spot in that man’s life for God knows how long. ”
I was furious but also hurt and the pain took precedence over the anger.
No one knew how much I sacrificed just to make sure our family stayed intact.
It was my fault for how he acted though.
I gave him no consequence for going out and cheating on me with Xara.
She had his daughter which I failed to give him since Brendon.
He was more interested in making Xara happy than the family he already had.
“Tonight, we drink, and have a good time. I know how much you want Trust to be here, but it’s clear that he doesn’t care. Please stop letting that man determine whether you’re going to have a good day or not.”
“You say that like I give him power over me.” I stood and began to clean my face up.
“That’s not even what I’m getting at. What I’m saying is, when he does something, whether it’s good or bad, you forget about everything and everyone. You’re my best friend and I’ve seen you go from being so happy to tolerant.”
“That’s a lie Dawn and you know it.”
“Is it? Yani you couldn’t even eat due to you worrying about his phone ringing. I saw you look in his lap every few minutes and it wasn’t the print in his pants that caught your attention. Friend you are not the same and if I was calling it correctly, you lost yourself in him.”
She wasn’t wrong but then again, she was.
My attention was on him damn near the entire dinner, but I couldn’t shake that eerie feeling.
All I wanted was to be showered with the special treatment I had gotten used to over the years.
However, I didn’t think I would have to fight with him just to get it.
Ignoring what she had just spoke on, I finished cleaning myself up and turned in her direction. “Before we go and spend my money, let me try and eat for real. I plan on getting fucked up to the point I don’t even know my name.”
I strolled pass Dawn without waiting for a response. I would deal with Trust whenever he returned home. For now, I was going to push him and his stupid ass baby mama to the back burner and let my hair down. They weren’t getting this day too.
We returned to the table and continued with dinner. No one questioned Trust’s whereabouts and I was grateful for that. Talking about it wasn’t going to do anything but infuriate me to a point where I wanted to take matters into my own hands and that meant beating Xara’s ass.
Surprisingly, I allowed myself to get a buzz from the wine we were sipping on and the fact that I wasn’t spending time with my man on my birthday was quickly fading. I was ready to turn up and have a good time with the people that showed interest in my happiness.
By the time we made it to the strip club, we were running up on ten o’clock.
I was grateful for Lina calling ahead and getting us right.
There was a line, and it was packed on the inside.
You could tell that Sensation had something going on because Black people didn’t throw money just because.
However, they were doing so from the moment we stepped through the door.
“Oh, this is exactly where we needed to be. Am I tripping or does it feel like with us being up here there’s going to be a different breed of strippers that’s going to entertain us?”
“Nah you ain’t tripping, Winnie. I thought the same thing,” I said as I looked down to the main floor where the vibe was completely different.
“Okay, who going to get the bills?” Dawn asked.
“That would be me. How y’all doing tonight? I’m your server, Jinx. What can I get for y’all?”
“Damn! You a lil’ baddie. We need for you to exchange some bills for us and bring some bottles if you don’t mind.” Dawn went and collected everyone’s money and we settled on a few bottles as well.
“Give me like five to ten minutes and I’ll get y’all right,” she said then sashayed away. Dawn didn’t lie when she called her a baddie. Jinx was fine as hell.
As I scanned the upper level, my eyes landed on a chocolate toned man that stood out from the rest. He was captivating, and I couldn’t help but wonder who he was.
He held a demeanor that was intriguing, and that scared me.
For so long my interest lied in Trust and him alone, but somehow, my eyes were betraying me and staying fixated on the man across from us.
His attire screamed that he was a man that was about business. The way those surrounding him tried to get his attention said that he was the man. When our eyes locked, I found me something else to do and quickly. I had no business eyeing him like that.
“What’s this for Calina?” I questioned, turning around, and picking up the tablet.
“That is how you choose your dancer. There are categories based on body type. All the women here are top notch. After you select, they’ll show up within the next five minutes.
Here are your bills and bottles. If you need anything else, just call for me on the tablet.
Enjoy your night.” Jinx had shown up right on time to answer my inquiry.
I was in shock by how the club was so classy but also had a sprinkle of ratchetness. I had never experienced something so organized before, especially at no damn strip club. I was more than impressed.
“Alright y’all. Let’s make tonight one to remember.”