Chapter III
R o e m y
We spent the next few hours munching on snacks, gossiping, and then taking a nap. Shamari claimed the small sectional couch in the sitting area as her bed. By six-thirty, we’d both showered, and were rummaging through our suitcases trying to figure out what to wear.
“What’s the vibe for this thing?” she asked, holding up a black dress. “Like, are we talking cocktail or club?”
“The invite said welcome mixer and I’m sure it’s in the ballroom. I’m thinking somewhere in between.”
“Sexy but classy.”
“Exactly.” I pulled out the white dress I’d packed that I knew was enough to make a bold statement.
“Oooh, that’s the one,” Shamari said. “You’re gonna look good as hell in that. Pair it with those gold YSL heels.”
She chose a blush pink dress that hugged her slim-thick curves and white heels that made her calves pop. Next, we did our makeup at the vanity, beating our faces to perfection. I didn’t really care for too much makeup, but a little here and there when I stepped out was alright.
“You look good,” I beamed, admiring her long goddess locs while I fixed the tendrils of curly hair framing my face.
“You too, bitch,” she smirked. “You’re about to have all eyes on you tonight, especially Case.”
I made sure my bun was perfect and stepped in front of the full-length mirror. “Please. I did not get dolled up for that man.”
“Maybe not, but we’ll see what happens. Now come on. Let’s snap a pic and go see what this mixer’s about.”
We left the suite and headed back down to the lobby. The elevator was packed with other people heading to the same event. Everyone looked good, dressed up, and ready to network. When the doors opened, we followed the crowd toward the ballroom.
The closer we got, the louder it became. Music was thumping from inside with a heavy bass that I could feel in my chest. The doors were open, and I could see lights flashing, people moving, drinks being passed around.
“Oh, this is definitely a vibe,” Shamari said. We walked in and I had to stop for a second to take it all in.
“This is definitely not what I expected,” I said.
“This is way better than what I expected,” Shamari said. “Come on. Let’s get a drink.”
We made our way to the bar. I ordered a glass of red wine with a splash of vodka and Shamari got a peach margarita. We stood off to the side for a minute, just watching the scene. Everybody who was anybody in the literary industry was in attendance.
“You see anybody you know?” she asked.
“A few people. I’ll probably make my rounds in a bit.”
“Good ‘cause I’m about to go mingle.” She took a sip of her drink and nodded toward a group of fine men standing near the dance floor. “Wish me luck.”
“Hot mess.” I laughed as she walked off, and I was left standing there alone.
I didn’t mind, though. I liked people watching.
I liked seeing how everyone interacted, who gravitated toward whom, and what the energy was like.
And then I saw Case was standing near the DJ booth, talking to a group of people.
He looked even better than he had in the lobby.
He was laughing at something someone said, his head thrown back, completely at ease.
His confidence and thuggish vibe were magnetic.
I took a sip of my drink and told myself to stop staring, but I couldn’t.
I watched the way Case moved, the way he talked with his hands, and the way people leaned in when he spoke like they didn’t want to miss a single word.
And then he looked around the ballroom, and our eyes met, making everything else fade away.
The music, the people, and the noise. It was just him and me, staring at each other like we were the only two people in the world.
He smiled knowingly like he’d been waiting for me to notice him.
I looked away, my heart pounding. I took another sip of my wine and tried to focus on something else, but I could still feel his eyes on me.
“Roe Blackwell, right?”
I turned around to see a woman I didn’t recognize standing next to me, smiling. She was a little older than me, maybe in her forties, with short natural hair and glasses. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Yesss,” she grinned, leaning in for a quick hug. “I’m Sapphire, one of the organizers for the conference. I just wanted to introduce myself and say how excited we are to have you as our keynote speaker this year.”
“Thank you. I’m excited to be here.”
“Your books are incredible. I’ve read all of them. You have such a gift for writing intimacy. It feels so real.”
“I appreciate it. That means a lot.”
We talked for a few more minutes about the conference schedule and what to expect over the weekend. She was nice, professional, and clearly passionate about the event. But the whole time we were talking, I could feel Case’s presence like he was still watching me.
When Sapphire walked away, I turned back toward where he’d been standing.
He wasn’t there anymore, and I found myself scanning the room, looking for him.
Then, I felt a presence behind me close enough that I could smell his cologne.
“Roe Blackwell, huh?” His voice was deep, smooth, with a rasp that made my stomach flip.
I turned around to see Case right in front of me and he was much taller and broader than I’d expected. The black designer frames he wore really fit him and set off his deep brown eyes. “Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “And you’re Case Wilson.”
“That’s me.” He smiled, and I swear to God, it was the kind of smile that could make a woman forget her own damn name. “I been wantin’ to meet you for a minute now.”
“Yeah?”
“Hell yeah. You really nice wit’ that pen.”
“Thank you. I’ve read a few of your books too.” Yeah, if a few were all of them, and sometimes a reread too.
“Oh, for real?” He leaned against the bar, his eyes locked on mine. “What you think?”
“I think… you know exactly what you’re doing.”
Case chuckled. “That’s facts. I do.” He spoke casually, but the cockiness was evident, like he knew exactly who he was and didn’t apologize for it. “So… keynote speaker, huh?” he said.
“I am.”
“That’s dope. They don’t just give that to anybody.”
“I know. I’m honored.”
“You should be. You earned that shit.” He took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine. “You nervous?”
I sipped my wine-and-vodka concoction and shrugged. “A little.”
“Don’t be. You gon’ kill it. I can tell.”
“How can you tell?”
“‘Cause you got that energy. That confidence. You know you one of them ones, but you ain’t conceited about it. That’s rare.” I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just smiled. “You here by yourself?” he asked, glancing around.
“No, I’m here with my cousin. She’s around here somewhere.”
“That’s what’s up. It’s good to have people wit’ you.” He paused, his eyes scanning my face like he was trying to figure me out. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring your man.”
That caught me off guard. “And how do you know…?”
“Your social media is public, Roemy.”
“True. Well, he’s not really my man. We’re just… figuring shit out, I guess. It’s nothing serious.”
“I hear you.”
“Yeah. I’m just focusing on this weekend.”
“And that’s all?”
“Why are you asking?"
“‘Cause I’m tryna see where your head’s at.”
My stomach flipped, but I kept it as cool as possible. “As I’ve mentioned, my head’s at this conference and showing up for my supporters.”
Case smiled again. “Aight. I respect that.”
There was a moment of silence and the energy between us could be felt from a mile away. “So… what made you start writing?” I asked, taking another sip.
“Prison.”
I blinked. “Yeah, I read somewhere that you were locked up a while back.”
“Five years. Had a lot of time to think and a lot of time to read. Started writin’ to pass the time and it turned into somethin’ bigger.
” He shrugged, knocking back the rest of his drink.
“When I got out, I kept goin’. Studyin’ the greats in the game, honin’ in on my passion for this shit. And then, it just elevated from there.”
“That’s incredible.”
“It is what it is. I don’t regret none of it. That time made me who I am.”
“I can respect that.”
“What about you? What made you start?”
“I’ve always loved writing. I started in college, just for fun. Then I realized I could actually make a career out of it, so I did.”
“And now you out here killin’ the game.”
“I’m doing alright.”
“Nah, you doin’ more than alright. Don’t downplay it.” He leaned in a little closer and I could feel the heat coming off him. “You one of the best in the game, Roe. Own that shit.”
I looked up at him, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. He was close enough that I could see the details of his tattoos, the way his chain caught the light, and the way his eyes held mine like he could see straight through me. “Thank you… for invading my space,” I swallowed hard.
“I know what I want. Ain’t no point in playin’ games.”
“And what do you want, Case?”
He smiled slowly, causing goosebumps on my skin. “Right now? I wanna get to know you better.”
My heart was racing. I could feel the heat rising in my chest and spreading through my whole body. This man was dangerous in a way that made me want to throw caution out the window and see where this weekend could go. “And right now… I think you’re trouble.”
“Seems to me you like trouble or you woulda walked away a long time ago.” I couldn’t argue with that.
“Yo, Case!” someone called from across the room.
He glanced over his shoulder and then looked back at me, licking his lips. “I gotta go handle somethin’ real quick, but don’t go nowhere. I’m comin’ back.”
“I’ll think about staying around,” I replied, finishing off my glass of wine and vodka.
Case reached out and gently touched my arm, just for a second, but it was enough to send a jolt through me.
“I’ll see you in a minute, Roemy.” He walked away and I stood there trying to process what just happened.
My skin was still tingling where he’d touched me, my heart was still pounding, and my mind was racing. I needed another drink.
Shamari appeared out of nowhere, grinning like she’d just won the lottery. “Girl, I saw that whole thing. What did he say?”
“He said he wants to get to know me better.”
“And what did you say?”
“I reminded him that I’m here strictly for the conference and he didn’t seem bothered by it. He just walked away to go handle something.”
“But he’s coming back?”
“He said he is.”
“Ohhh, this is happening. I told you. I called it.” She grabbed my arm.
“We’re just talking. Relax.”
“That wasn’t just talking. That was foreplay.” I laughed, but she wasn’t wrong. The way Case looked at me, the way he’d leaned in, and the way his voice had dropped when he said he wanted to get to know me were all intentional.
I requested another glass of wine with a splash of vodka and took another sip as I looked around the ballroom. The music was still thumping, people were still dancing, and somewhere in this crowd, Case Wilson was coming back for me. Low-key, I couldn’t wait.