Chapter 57
The Calm Before Vows
clover
A month later.
It was my last night as a single man. We were posted up at my lounge, and Silk was running things his way tonight.
Dream was out with the girls, while me and the guys sat around playing cards.
The dancers were everywhere, but they weren't my cup of tea—plus, I wasn't tripping.
I was getting married to the love of my life tomorrow.
My mama was there too, and I knew she only showed up to make sure I didn't fuck up my final night. Truth is, I was a man with real discipline. My mama always told me how my dad cheated on her the night before their wedding. Rest in peace to him, but I wasn't about to be anything like that.
Silk was pouring drinks, and Rizz was sitting next to me having a quiet one. Trent wasn't getting high; he’d been clean for a solid month now, ever since we caught Rox down bad.
Dancers were grinding all over the floor.
I was throwing money, making damn sure not to touch anybody.
Then I looked over and caught Donnie letting Red dance on him.
She whispered something in his ear, and they got up and left together.
I was the only one who noticed, but hey, that was his life—I learned to read between the lines after Ronnie tried telling us Rio was hitting Junie.
I’d warned Donnie back then, but he thought I was tripping.
Everyone had their own mess to figure out.
Gold
I’m getting married tomorrow. I always knew I’d get married young; I just never knew I’d pull the perfect man.
Let me not lie, though—life probably won't ever be completely perfect, especially with the life I chose when I fell in love with Clover.
This game is expensive and comes with a grip of enemies.
I just wanted to be the beautiful part of it, and I am.
Me, Junie, Dream, Mercedes, and Socorro were posted up at Clo’s other strip club with a whole section of dancers. One stripper was sitting right on Corro’s lap while another twerked, and he was sliding cash straight into her G-string. My boy was having the time of his life.
I started dancing with Junie—modestly, though, out of respect for Socorro. Corro didn't roll with Clo because of some beef between him and Rudy, but we kept the peace.
“Junie, that Don can do shit with you,” Corro joked, laughing.
He bought us bottle after bottle, and we were soaking up the night. Dream was pregnant, though you could barely tell yet. She started shaking her ass on me, and Mercedes threw one back, making Dream laugh.
Sitting there, I couldn't help thinking about how much everything had changed.
I used to be the broke, homeless girl who just dropped out of college.
Now, I own multiple franchises and legitimate businesses.
Junie was the girl who was supposed to go off to college but found herself a baller instead.
Mercedes used to strip, but now she works in hospital administration and dates a real man who treats her right.
Dream went from the pole to managing multiple businesses, with a man who loves her and a bundle of joy on the way.
I raised my glass for a toast. “To how far we have come.”
We all clinked our glasses together and took our drinks down.