Chapter 35 #2
The curls framed my face perfectly now, soft and full around my shoulders. My makeup was flawless without trying too hard, lips glossy, skin glowing under the vanity lights.
The denim set hugged every curve exactly right, and the nude straps wrapped around my calves made my legs look dangerous.
Yeah. I looked good. But beneath all that confidence, my nerves were eating me alive. My nerves were eating me alive. Tonight wasn’t really about the club.
Or the section.
Or the outfits.
Tonight was about closure. And deep down, I knew closure rarely comes without somebody getting hurt.
Missy, Serenity, and Angelle were already at Clovers waiting on me to pull up. Dallas traffic was heavy as hell tonight, but honestly? I wasn’t even mad about it.
Yeah… I missed this city.
Nights like this hit different out here.
The skyline glowed. Music spilled through open windows downtown.
Luxury cars everywhere. Women stepped out dressed like heartbreak and expensive decisions.
Dallas nightlife had a certain energy that made you feel alive, even when your emotions were in shambles.
Still, I wasn’t in any rush to get to Clovers.
Not really.
I wanted to see my girls, but more than anything, I was rushing to get this conversation over with so I could go home and finally exhale. Because despite how good I looked tonight, my nerves were completely shot.
And the worst part? I had no idea what I was walking into emotionally. By the time I finally made it to Clovers, the place was packed wall to wall.
But honestly? I wasn’t surprised. It was Friday night, and Clovers was one of the hottest spots in Dallas.
I pulled my Maybach up to valet, and immediately my eyes landed on a familiar black Rolls Royce parked a few spaces away from mine.
Kosh.
My stomach tightened instantly.
Yeah… he was definitely here. I checked myself in the mirror one more time before stepping out and handing my keys to the valet. The warm Dallas air wrapped around me immediately while music vibrated faintly through the crowd outside the club.
It was a scene tonight.
Women dressed down. Cameras are flashing. Bottles were carried through the entrance. Men standing around looking expensive and emotionally unavailable. Typical Friday.
I headed straight toward the VIP line because absolutely not. I wasn’t standing outside all night waiting to get into a club owned by a man who damn near knew my coffee order by heart.
Security recognized me instantly and let me through without hesitation.
I reached into my Goyard and automatically peeled off a hundred-dollar bill, but security shook his head.
“Nah, you are good.”
Whew.
That told me everything I needed to know.
Kosh definitely knew I was here already.
I stopped at the bar first and ordered myself a lemon drop before heading toward the section. The liquor burned smooth going down, helping settle my nerves just enough for me to breathe.
I leaned against the bar for a second, scanning the club slowly while music pulsed through the room. Lights flashing. People dancing. Waitresses weaving through sections carrying bottles with sparklers attached. The whole place moved like controlled chaos.
I bounced subtly to the beat while letting my eyes roam through the crowd searching for him.
I hadn’t seen Kosh yet, but somehow, I could feel his energy in the room anyway.
But somehow…
I could feel his energy in the room anyway.
I finally made my way over to the section to link with my girls.
Serenity, Angelle, and Missy were already lit, laughing and catching a vibe by the time I walked up. The second they spotted me, all three of them stood up at once and wrapped me in hugs.
Damn. I missed this—I missed them. Not the club. Not the bottles. Not even the section. Just… sisterhood. Familiarity. Women who knew the ugliest versions of me and still loved me anyway.
We exchanged hugs and squeals while I quickly scanned the surrounding sections out of instinct before finally sliding into the seat beside Serenity.
And immediately my stomach tightened.
Kosh’s section was directly next to ours.
Of course, it was. I spotted a few of his homeboys almost instantly. They acknowledged me with subtle nods, and I returned the gesture casually. But Kosh?
Still nowhere in sight.
Yet somehow, his energy was everywhere heavy, controlled, lingering over the entire section like he was watching without being seen yet.
“Rhyyyy, we missed you!” Serenity squealed dramatically.
“How you been?” Angelle added quickly. “Bitch, you look GOOD as fuck.”
We slapped hands, laughing softly.
“Thank y’all.” I smiled genuinely. “Y’all look good too.” I glanced around the section at all of them. “I missed y’all too.”
And I meant that.
“Life has been heavy,” I admitted honestly, “but I’m good. I can’t complain. I’m in a good place.”
“Mihm, we see.” Serenity grinned knowingly while pointing directly at the ice sitting on my finger.
Whew. I looked down at my ring instinctively.
I looked down at my ring instinctively.
“So…” Angelle leaned forward. “You’re really leaving us?”
The question made my chest tighten immediately.
“Yes,” I admitted softly. “I’m moving back home.”
Lord. Saying it out loud in Dallas felt different. Final almost.
Emotion instantly washed over me, and I buried my face in my hands briefly before Missy gently grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands away.
“Don’t do that, Rhy,” she said softly. “This is a judgment-free zone.”
Serenity and Angelle nodded immediately in agreement.
“Thank y’all,” I whispered.
And that’s when Serenity leaned forward with the kind of softness only real friends know how to give. “We support you one hundred percent no matter what you decide.”
Whew.
“If you are moving back home to be with your husband, then that’s your decision.” She shrugged lightly. “Can’t nobody judge what y’all been through because we only seeing it from the outside.”
“Exactly,” Missy added. “If this is what y’all want, then we are rooting for y’all.”
Angelle nodded before pouting dramatically.
“I just hope you don’t forget about us.”