Chapter 4
One week later…
“Bitch, if you flake on me again, I swear to God I’m pulling up and draggin’ you out the house my damn self,” Shyann threatened, her face filling the screen as Tasha propped the phone up against the bathroom mirror.
Tasha rolled her eyes, curling her lashes. “Girl, please. I’m halfway dressed now. You lucky I even feel like going out tonight. But with all these clothes I got just hanging up, it’s a must that I go somewhere. You hear meh?”
“Umm hmm. Well, tell your man, I said thank you for letting you off the leash for the night, finally.”
Tasha paused, lip gloss wand in hand. “Ain’t nobody got a leash on me, hoe. I’m goin’ out ‘cause I wanna. Not ‘cause he said I could. Let’s get that straight right the fuck now.”
“Mmm. Where he at anyway?”
Tasha sucked her teeth and looked down at her phone. “Girl, I don’t know, in the streets somewhere, shit. But hurry up and come scoop me, before I change my damn mind. I’ll be ready by the time you pull up.”
She ended the call and walked back into the bedroom, slipping into the tight wine-colored dress she’d purchased from the mall. She usually doesn’t go out much, but it had been a minute since she had a good drink.
“Okay, Tasha, bitch,” she whispered to herself, grabbing her purse and sliding on her hoop earrings. “We outside tonight!”
A car horn beeped from the driveway. Shyann had finally arrived.
Tasha threw on her heels, did one last spin in the mirror, and walked out without looking back.
Just as she was heading out the door, she spotted Shyann hanging out the window, yapping her gums with Juelz.
He had just pulled into the driveway and was on his way into the house when she yelled something out the window to him.
“What the hell y’all two ‘talmbout?” Tasha questioned as she slid into the passenger seat of Shyann's car.
“Girl, shit. I was just tellin’ him I love that old school car.”
Tasha side-eyed Shyann and glanced at Juelz, who was clearly bothered. “Umm, okay,” Tasha yelled out the window. “Jue, I’ll be back in a li’l bit. I’m just goin’ for a round of drinks and catchin’ up.”
“A’ight.” His hand was on the doorknob, with a disgusted look still on his face. But before he could step inside, her voice came loud through the cracked car window again.
“Bae, put the clothes in the dryer for me!”
Shyann was already backing out of the driveway when Tasha hollered one more time. “And don’t forget the dryer sheets, Jue.”
The bass from the speakers at Vibe was thick enough to vibrate in Tasha’s chest. The air smelled like expensive gin, flavored hookahs, and ambition.
“Check you out,” Shyann yelled over the music, sliding two lemon drop martinis onto the high-top table. “The way these niggas followed you from the door to this table. Girl, if Juelz knew, he’d be in here knockin’ niggas out.”
Tasha laughed, taking a long sip of her drink.
The sugar-crusted rim hit her tongue; she was enjoying the moment.
The bar scene. But she could do without all the fellas drooling over her.
Every so often, one of them would come up to her, trying to spit game.
But she wasn’t having it. Juelz was enough already.
“Juelz know I’m not entertainin’ none of these bastards in here,” Tasha frowned, smoothing her dress over her hips. “Ain’t none of them even worth fuckin’ up what we have goin’ on. I tell you that much.”
“Umm hmm. I saw how he was lookin’ at you in that driveway.
Like he wanted to put you on a plate and swallow you all up.
Slurppp.” Shyann leaned in, her eyes a little too bright.
“I’m telling you, T, y’all are the definition of goals.
I’m just tryna find a man who looks at me like I’m his last meal. ”
Tasha's phone buzzed.
Juelz:
Be safe.
Another one came in instantly.
Juelz:
Don’t let Shyann get you fucked up.
Then the third made her bite her lip and hold in a giggle.
Juelz:
Don’t think I didn’t see you in that tight ass dress. Zaddy gon’ see bout that when you get back.
She exited the message and put her phone back in her purse. The two ordered another round and decided to call it a night. They headed to the car, the night air hitting just right. The bar was so smoky and hazy that Tasha couldn’t wait to leave.
Shyann pulled into the driveway, the tires crunching on the gravel. “Bitch, I need to come in so I can pee, oh my Gawd I got to go.” Tasha was grabbing her purse and holding her heels in the other hand. She was over those heels and the night.
“Yeah, girl, come on in. I don’t mind. Just don’t talk about my house, I ain’t cleaned up yet, so shit everywhere.”
Shyann hopped out of the car before Tasha even had her door open. Tasha laughed, dragging her feet toward the porch. “Damn, can you wait two seconds?”
“I been waitin’ since we left the bar, hoe!”
They stumbled up the porch steps, still laughing, Tasha digging in her purse for her keys. But as she slid the key into the lock, a deep baseline rumbled through the door, and a nasty-ass beat dropped, followed by a voice they both recognized instantly. “What the…”
Tasha removed her key from the door and pushed the door open further. She was wondering why Juelz had that music so loud. Knowing damn well they stayed in the white folks' neighborhood.
“Cap’n’Dick comin’, Cap’n Dick comin’, Cap’n Dick comin’, Cap’n Dick comin’, let’s go…
Come on now. Beat that fine move, fuck niggas rock too,
my niggas no good, ain’t nothin’ but her so good…
Juelz was in the middle of the floor, in his zone, singing along and executing a dance that looked like he was dry humping the air. His ass was moving with conviction that defied both rhythm and gravity,
Tasha dropped everything. Her purse. Her heels. Her jaw. Meanwhile, Shyann's eyes lit up at the sight.
“Girl…what the fuck he bout to do to you?” Shyann asked, holding her chest.
Juelz spun around quick at the sound of their voices, he was standing there in his boxers, face twisted in straight-up panic. He grabbed the nearest throw pillow and smacked it over his crotch.
“Man, what the fuck, Tasha?” he barked, trying to hold what was left of his pride and the pillow.
Tasha was still in shock at the scene, laughing out loud.
“Whew, Jesus, take the wheel!” she howled, tears streaming down her face.
She managed to gasp out directions to Shyann.
“Shy, the bathroom down the hall to the left.” Shyann was half covering her eyes, still trying to catch a glimpse of Juelz as she passed by, but Juelz was pissed.
“Juelz?” Tasha yelled, finally straightening up and wiping her eyes. “Turn that damn music down. I dunno if I’m at home or Freaknik 95. I swear you crazy as hell.”
“Shit, I didn’t expect you to bring her ass in the house withchu.” He scratched the back of his neck, pillow still clutched, looking like somebody’s bad-ass brother who got caught red-handed. “I was tryna set the mood for you, dummy,” he added, throwing the other pillow at her head.
Tasha dodged it, laughing as she bent down to pick up her shoes and purse. “Set the mood? Nigga, you playin’ Luke. The fuck you tryna do? Summoned demons.”
The music was still playing in the background, and Juelz started backing toward the hallway like he was retreating from war. “You shoulda told me she was comin’ in the house,” his forehead creased. “Got my dick all out and shit.”
“I did text you!” she shouted, following behind him, still giggling. “But your freaky ass probably had your phone under your balls while you were in here air fuckin’ listening to Uncle Luke. Who the hell set the mood with Luke anyway?”
In the bathroom, Shyann flushed and cracked the door open. “Umm… I don’t know what you got planned tonight, sis, but I need you to drink plenty of water tomorrow. Electrolytes. Pedialyte. All that shit. ‘Cause he look like he ‘bout to tear that azz up.”
“Girl, shut up and get out my bathroom!” Tasha yelled, feeling embarrassed now.
Juelz peeked around the corner, eyes narrowed at Shyann. “Man, why the fuck you even still here? Get the fuck out.”
“I’m leavin’! Can I finish washing my hands, please, damn?
” Shyann smirked, strolling out with her purse on her shoulder.
“Call me later, T.” She paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder, her eyes landed on Juelz.
She slowly pushed her tongue in and out of her cheek before giving him a knowing smirk and then disappearing out the door. It slammed behind her.
Tasha almost caught her as she turned back to Juelz, arms crossed. “Now. What was you about to do to me?”
Juelz dropped his boxers and threw them at Tasha's forehead. “You bout to find out.” He took off running behind her, “Come’mere girl. I’m gonna get you, don’t run from this dick, boo...”