Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN
Quinn had tracked Kya on the move, turning away only when the crowd swallowed her up. She smiled blankly at Nick. What was he saying?
‘If you’re serious, Germany is where it’s at!’ he shouted over the music.
Ah … He wasn’t saying much, only doling out the usual unsolicited advice.
‘Miami works for me,’ she said.
‘But for how long?’
‘For now.’
‘I get it. You’re hot, but you know what they say?’
Quinn stifled a yawn. ‘Some like it hot?’
‘Am I boring you?’
Oh, yes. She was bored at a visceral level, right down to the marrow. What was she doing making small talk with this guy when the one person she was interested in was somewhere off on her own? She scanned the room for Kya and spotted her at the bar, having a lovely chat with Ivy.
Quinn stared openly for a while until Nick cleared his throat. He was right about one thing: you had to strike while the iron was hot.
‘Could you excuse me, Nick?’
‘Where are you going?’
Quinn left him to figure it out on his own. She slipped under the velvet ropes, climbed down a flight of stairs, and cut a path through the dance floor. All the while, her heart kept time with the bass. When she made it to the bar, Kya was alone.
Quinn touched her shoulder.
Kya swivelled on the barstool to face her. ‘What are you doing here among the commoners?’
Her humour was dry as stale bread. Quinn loved it. ‘I escaped,’ she said.
‘They’ll come looking for you.’
‘You’ll have to hide me. What are you drinking?’
Kya handed over her glass. Quinn took a small sip and winced. ‘You don’t play around.’ She rested the glass on the cocktail napkin. ‘Want to get out of here?’
Kya studied her through long lashes. ‘What’s wrong? Not having fun?’
Quinn moved closer. Her lips to Kya’s ear, she whispered, ‘I know a better place.’
‘Better than a pop-up lounge in an old cigar shop?’ Kya quipped. ‘Get outta here.’
‘It’s quiet, low-key, and there shouldn’t be a crowd. How does that sound?’
‘Nice … But isn’t this your scene?’
‘It is,’ Quinn said. ‘Just not tonight. Close the tab. We’re leaving.’
The queue outside Smoke rounded the corner, but straight across the avenue was a quiet and welcoming pool hall. Just before the traffic lights turned from red to green, Quinn grabbed Kya’s hand and, laughing, took off running across the street. Kya’s screams only made her laugh harder. When they made it to the pavement, she screeched, ‘Do you have a death wish?’
Quinn teased her. ‘Cry baby!’
‘A little notice before you try to kill us is all I ask,’ Kya said.
Quinn pushed open the door to the pool hall. ‘Come. I’ll buy you a drink.’
At the bar, Quinn skipped to the jukebox while Kya ordered another tequila and lime for herself and something fruity for her. While Beyoncé belted out the first bars of a recent dance hit, they took their drinks over to a free pool table.
‘Do you play?’ Quinn asked.
‘I do,’ Kya answered. ‘How’s your game?’
‘Not great,’ Quinn admitted. ‘I have an idea, though. Care to raise the stakes?’
Kya’s lips twisted to control a smile. ‘That’s a bold move for someone with virtually no skills.’
Quinn circled the table, gathering the scattered balls into the triangle. ‘Wait till you hear what I have in mind.’
‘If it’s a drinking game, don’t bother. I can drink you under this table.’
‘No worries, I’m a lightweight,’ Quinn conceded. ‘How about a round of truth or dare?’
Kya smiled outright. ‘How did I not see that coming?’
‘I want to get to know you,’ Quinn said. ‘This is a fun way to go about it.’
‘If you say so.’ Kya selected two cues off the wall-mounted rack and handed her one. ‘Your play.’
‘Where did you grow up?’ Quinn asked.
‘Tampa,’ Kya said. ‘My whole family is there.’
‘Except for Adrian, right?’
‘He was the first to fly the nest.’
‘And you were next?’
‘As fast and as far as I could.’
‘Where did you go?’
‘Boston.’
‘Why did you want to leave so badly? Small-town syndrome?’
‘Family drama.’
‘Oh?’
‘FYI: this is not how you play truth or dare – or pool.’
Quinn sat at the edge of the table. ‘It’s more fun this way. What was the drama?’
‘My family has high expectations.’
‘I’m pretty sure you met them.’
‘Not all.’
‘But you’re so accomplished!’
Kya looked away. ‘Your turn.’
‘Shoot! What do you want to know?’
‘You’re far away from home.’
Quinn curled her fingers around the cue. ‘You noticed.’
‘How did you end up here?’
‘I told you. I manifested it.’
‘You’re adorable, but that’s nonsense.’
‘You seriously think it’s bollocks?’
‘Does bollocks mean junk science?’
Quinn mulled it over. ‘Depends on the context.’
‘Well, yes. That’s what I think.’
Quinn tugged gently at one of Kya’s braids. ‘I’m going to make you a vision board. You need clarity.’
‘Before you start cutting up magazines, shouldn’t I make my own board? It’s my vision.’
She clapped. ‘Very good!’
Kya rolled her eyes. ‘Just answer my question, will you?’
‘Fine!’ Quinn relented. ‘I landed a summer residency at Nikki Beach.’
‘The club where you met the Spice Girls?’
‘The same,’ Quinn said, impressed. ‘You’ve got a good memory.’
‘I’m a good listener. It’s a gift.’
Kya took away Quinn’s cue and returned the pair to the rack, abandoning all pretence of playing pool tonight. It was just as well.
‘Would you say you’re living your dream life?’ she asked.
Quinn considered her question. ‘I never thought I’d make it this far. So, yes.’
‘Most people keep moving the goal posts. The dream is always out of reach.’
‘Most people don’t have vision boards.’
‘Screw it,’ Kya said. ‘I’m making one.’
Rihanna was playing on the jukebox. Quinn was genuinely having the time of her life, but it was time to switch it up. ‘It’s past midnight. Are we still celebrating my billboard or has the deadline passed?’
‘There’s no deadline,’ Kya said. ‘Anything you want, just say.’
‘I want to dance,’ Quinn said. ‘I rarely get a chance to. When I’m at a club, I’m working, and even when I’m not, it’s hard to relax. I’m focused on what the DJ is doing, listening for transitions, picking up tricks.’
‘Where are we headed? Back to Smoke?’
‘Why not?’
‘Let’s go.’
Quinn loved Kya’s spontaneity. With her, plans turned at the drop of a dime with no drama, no fuss. She insisted on dictating when and where they crossed the street; that was all.
Back at Smoke, a new DJ had taken over. A former runway model from Senegal, he weaved Afrobeats into his set. The floor was packed. Quinn took Kya by the waist, and together they forged a path to the very centre. It was hot and thrilling, but nothing was hotter or more thrilling than Kya spinning, hands up, braids flying. This wasn’t the sad person from earlier today, and that was reason enough to celebrate.
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Life Hacks & Advice
She/Her
Audio Transcript:
Ready for some tech tea?
Tonight’s topic is Girl Fraud! I know this is far from my usual content, but I must share.
Over on another platform, I joined a group run by Kya Reid, aka Girl Decoded. A software engineer at Ex-Cell, Kya gives stellar career advice for women trying to break into the industry. Don’t ask me why I joined. I need tech support to unlock my iPhone. Ha! But here, in San Fran, we’re so entrenched in tech culture, every other guy I’ve dated runs a startup out of his grandma’s attic. It’s ridiculous, at this point.
Anyway, I’m at an event Sunday night and I meet a guy who claims to work at Ex-Cell. He’s hot and I want to impress him, so I drop Kya’s name. Of course, he’s heard of her. Know what else he’s heard? Girlfriend was let go last week! Fired!
So much for impressing him!
As soon as I get home I get to sleuthing. First, I pull up the company’s website. She was profiled on the Meet Our Team page. That’s gone. There’s no mention of her anywhere. Next, I log into the private group and Ms. Kya hasn’t skipped a post. She’s talking about staying connected with the office while on vacay. Like … what is she on about? And is this a permanent vacay? Be honest!
What the hell is going on? I’m so confused! Is this Girl Decoded a fraud?
Has anything like this happened to you? Sound off in the comments below.
#StoryTime #KyaGirlCode #Fraud