Chapter 19
Brynne
I hate clubs, and I hate loud music. The lounge is crowded and extra loud tonight, and my mood hasn’t improved since we left the restaurant and walked here. We find a booth in a secluded area after another group leaves. I’ve already had too much to drink and don’t plan on having any more. Raven slides in next to me, and Amira slides in after her.
They’re playing soft rock, which is not my type of music. I eye my wrist, and once again, I’m not wearing a watch, but I know I won’t be here for more than thirty minutes.
A server comes, and I order water while my friends get more mixed drinks. It doesn’t matter. We’re not driving, and they are spending the night at my condo. Amira’s phone buzzes on the table and Mom flashes on her screen. She hits ignore.
“I’m about sick of your damn sister,” Raven yells over the loud music. “Someone needs to beat her ass and knock some sense into her.”
Amira waves her hand. “No Ashley talk tonight, please,” she says, and I nod. I’ve only met her sister a few times, and those times were enough. It’s clear she’s the daughter who gets all the attention, and Amira gets the scraps. Her father tries, but her mother has her head so far up Ashley’s ass, I wonder how she breathes.
The server returns with our drinks, and I down half my water in seconds. The music changes to something I like, and I remove my coat, ready to relax for the next few minutes. Only a few seconds later, the guys and Makayla stroll in.
“Let’s ignore them,” I say loud enough for them to hear.
Instead of taking the hint and going to another part of the lounge, they take the table next to us and move it closer to our booth.
I stick my nose in the air and look away, but Makayla slides next to Amira. I drop my scowl. She doesn’t deserve it, and I refuse to be an asshole to her. Unlike her brother, she seems pleasant enough.
“No, Killah talk,” I say, and she smiles. “Tell us about the wedding.” She pulls out her phone and shows us pictures of events leading to the wedding. Amira snatches the phone from her and looks through everything, but I think she’s only looking for pictures of Malcolm.
“You looked so beautiful. So happy,” Amira says. “Is this your mom?”
Amira and Makayla put their heads together and talk amongst themselves. Relieved not to look at a stranger’s wedding pictures, I flag the server and order a drink.
The guys chat with Raven, but I ignore them and Colin. At least I do until everyone gets up to dance, leaving me and Colin at the table. I look around for someone else to talk to, determined to ignore him, but a thick brunette comes to our table. She’s pretty with blue hair and gems in her dimples. She asks him to dance, and he gets up, takes her hand, and walks away. I’m both relieved and irritated at him for ignoring me. I’m the one who should be ignoring him, not the other way around. Thoughtless jerk.
“Brynneka Barber,” I hear a voice say. I blink a few times and smile into the face of an old friend from high school and the neighborhood.
“Sherman!” I stand and we hug. He sits down next to me and we talk after he orders a drink.