7. Noree Marcell #2
She had beautiful brown skin, long red hair laid in a bust-down middle part, and makeup so natural you could barely tell she had any on.
From one fellow big girl to another, I could definitely tell she had lost a lot of weight because of the loose skin on her arms and legs. Nonetheless, she was still very pretty.
She turned toward the mirror. “You think so?”
“Yes. Keep that one.”
She smiled at herself before looking at me through the reflection “You know what? I really like you,” she said.
I laughed. “Well, thank you. That was random.”
“No, I’m serious.” She turned around. “I got the gastric sleeve almost two years ago.”
My hands paused in my hair. “Really?”
She nodded. “I was over three hundred pounds. I’m still trying to get used to this body, honestly. Sometimes I look in the mirror and still see the old me.”
She looked down at the dress before continuing.
“When I saw you today, I kept thinking about how comfortable you looked. Like you weren’t trying to hide yourself.”
I gave her a small smile. “I definitely have my days.”
“Well, it doesn’t show.” She pointed at me. “And don’t let nobody make you feel like you need to shrink yourself either.”
I already knew who she was talking about. “Ginger?”
Veronica rolled her eyes. “Yeah…I don’t think everybody else noticed, but I did. That girl was being rude as hell.”
“I tried to ignore it.”
“She was jealous,” Veronica admitted.
If I was being honest, it felt nice knowing I wasn’t being delusional about the way ol’ girl had been coming for me.
“Of what?”
Veronica stared at me like I had asked something stupid. “Girl, you.”
I laughed and looked away. “Please.”
“No, seriously. Noree, you look good. And Ozy kept looking at you.”
My stomach flipped again.
“He was probably just being nice.”
“No, he was drooling, girl!”
I laughed as Veronica grabbed the purple dress from the bed and headed toward the door.
“Well, I’m not going to stay in your hair. Let me go finish getting ready before I end up being the last one downstairs.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you in the lobby.”
“See you.”
After she left, I stood in front of the mirror for a second.
I had spent years learning how to dress for my body type. Tonight, I wanted to feel pretty.
I pulled on the peach-and-nude dress Nourah made for me. It was long, fitted, and ruched across the stomach, hugging every curve without making me feel exposed. The halter tied behind my neck with a pink ribbon that matched the lipstick I applied next.
I turned from side to side in the mirror before sucking my stomach in out of habit. Then I laughed and let it back out.
I pinned my hair into a curly updo, leaving a few kinky curls hanging around my face. Then I added gold hoops, layered bracelets, and gold heels.
When I looked in the mirror again, I smiled.
I looked good.
Really good!
My phone buzzed on the vanity.
NOU NOU: You alive?
A second message came through.
NOU NOU: Or do I need to come break everybody’s fingers? Just say the word, and I’m on the way.
I laughed and typed back.
ME: Girl lol everything is good. We’re about to go eat dinner.
NOU NOU: Ooooh, okay. Send me a picture of your outfit immediately.
I took two mirror selfies and sent them.
Her response came almost instantly.
NOU NOU: BITCH. You look so good in my creations… You always do. Have fun!
ME: Aww, thanks, sis. I will!
I grabbed my pink clutch, and by the time I reached the lobby, the other five winners were already waiting. Veronica caught my eye and gave me a wide smile before mouthing, You look good.
Security escorted us through the hotel to a private entrance, there was a restaurant in the hotel, we’d be dinning at for the night, I was excited and nervous.
I had never heard of Maison d'Azur before coming here, but judging by everything around me, this wasn't somewhere normal people accidentally stumbled into. This was definitely one of those places where CEOs, athletes, and celebrities came when they wanted privacy.
Ozy's team had rented out the entire restaurant.
Soft R I jumped on the sly every time one swam past my cup.
Ironically, I ended up all the way at the opposite end of the table from Ozy.
Not that I minded.
Okay…maybe I minded a little.
I slowly sipped my tequila on the rocks, enjoying the slight burn as it slid down my throat.
I was a little exhausted from the day and really wanted to go back to my room, but I was gonna fake it for a few more minutes, plus I still hadn't gotten the stuffed salmon, garlic mash and asparagus I'd ordered yet, so I was hungry but vibing for real.
Thankfully I was next to Veronica.
"Did you speak to him?" she whispered.
"Who?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"You know who," she smiled.
I looked up just in time to see Ozy laughing at something Ginger said.
"Girl, as you can see, he's down there enjoying his night with his girl." I made sure to put emphasis on the word girl because that's the part she clearly kept forgetting.
"So don't say I said it but…" she leaned even closer.
"My cousin's baby daddy's sister's auntie is related to Ginger's lil cousin and apparently one night she got so drunk she was crying and running her mouth about how it's all fake, but she wishes it was real.
" Veronica kissed her teeth. "They ain't together for real. "
"Really?" I asked, more so to myself.
"Girl, yes. Just sitting up there pretending for their fans. They're in a contract and as long as neither of them embarrass each other in public, whatever the hell that means, then they can do as they please behind closed doors."
"Here you go, Miss." I looked up just in time to see the waiter sitting my food down.
I could barely wait; my stomach was talking a hundred miles a minute, but then the next thing I knew all I heard was a loud boom!
Someone threw their glass and it landed on the table, making me jump and scoot my chair back.
All of our heads snapped to the left to see that Char's ass was arguing with one of the security.
"And why can't I sit in Ozy's lap?" she demanded like a child, and I was taken aback because, bitch, what?
"This is my time to get up close and personal with him and you're telling me I can't even sit on my man?
" Her words were slurring, and Ozy sat still, amused even, sipping from his cup like it was nothing, like he was used to this.
"Girl, sit down! You're so embarrassing, this is not the place or the time for this!" Ashley, said, but Char's old drunk ass started getting active fast!
"Okay and? I don't even know you h-hoe so you need to mind your own b-business!” Char shouted back, then grabbed a handful of food off her plate and started throwing it, like a fucking child.
Food was going everywhere and I was ducking it the best I could but ended up with rice, mash, and some kind of sauce from her steak on me; I was livid.
Security snatched both of them up the second they started swinging on each other and I shook my head. My dress was ruined and I didn't wanna just sit there looking like the aftermath of a food fight, so I stood and excused myself.
"You okay?" Veronica asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, but I have to change now." I pointed to the mess all over me as staff rushed over to clean the mess. "That shit was crazy."
She laughed. "WWE live was not what I was expecting tonight. Her old ass been annoying me all day. She needs a therapist, not a weekend with Ozy."
I snickered. "Girl, I agree, but let me go freshen up." I grabbed a napkin and covered my plate. "Can you watch my food for me?"
"I got you, girl."
I walked off fast, eager to get back to it and tear it up. I'm talking about lick the plate clean—that's how hungry I was.
When I got on the elevator, it seemed to be taking its sweet, precious time, but Veronica’s words were stuck in my head. I’d be lying if I said they weren’t.
So, his relationship wasn't real?
I wasn't sure how true that was, but it would explain a lot of things because the way he looked at her didn't exactly show love. If anything, they looked more like friends at times.