19. Daylin #2
I paused, contemplating on if I should divulge the truth or not. My dad’s story made Rakim look bad, but the truth made my father look bad. I loved both men, but right was right.
“He didn’t want money. Daddy made that up.”
My words caused Serene’s eyes to mushroom.
“Wait. Then why did he abduct you?” She set her wineglass down.
“Because Dad refused to operate on a family member of his, believing it to be a futile effort. So, he took me as collateral in a sense. The operation was the ransom money,” I expounded, and Serene nodded slowly with her mouth ajar.
“Shit.” She glanced off. “No offense, but I’m glad he chose you and not me. Wonder what made him pick you? Must’ve been easier to get to.” She shrugged one shoulder before gulping more of her wine.
“He chose me because he liked me. It was a win-win for him.”
“Oh, so he crazy as fuck for real.” She laughed, and I joined in.
“Yeah, but I don’t know . . . I’m kind of flattered that a man would go so far for my attention. I mean, yeah, it was for his cousin, too, but I could tell by all that he did for me, he snatched my ass up with the intention of making me his.”
I recalled the moments where I would see Rakim become visibly bothered by my mention of Shaun or whenever I called him my man. Or how he purposely refused to allow us to converse. Now, it made so much sense. The thought caused me to chuckle.
“I guess. Good luck with that.” Serene refilled her glass, and I was about to question who drove my niece and nephew until I noticed I didn’t hear their voices.
“Thanks. Where are Jeremiah and Grace?” I frowned. “I heard them when I first came.”
“Their dad came and got them. They wanted to see a movie, and I wasn’t in the mood.” She expelled a heavy breath.
I knew from our last conversation not to mention her needing a break, so I simply nodded.
“Oh, alright.”
“Yep.” She sighed.
“Something wrong?”
“No . . . no, I’m good.” She sort of shook it off.
“Tell me. I wanna talk about something other than our father beefing with yet another boyfriend of mine.” I sipped from my own glass.
“I needed a break from home, and I knew if I went to the movies, I would be locked in all night. Now, I can call Avant and tell him I’m too tipsy to drive home.” She winked, making me titter. “They are driving me crazy though. All I do is work then come home to be a slave to everyone in the home.”
“You know when I have the time, I don’t mind watching or even keeping Jeremiah and Grace overnight.”
“Thank you, Sis. But what I truly need—” She polished off her drink—“is a girls’ night out.
I cannot remember the last time I did something that wasn’t family related either with our parents or my husband and kids.
I need to be Serene for a night and not mom and dad’s prize daughter or a mom and wife. ”
Though her prize daughter comment sort of bothered me, I couldn’t even be upset about it because it was true. Only now did I see how much pressure was on Serene to be perfect. I’d rebelled, and therefore, my parents expected and allowed mistakes, whereas Serene had to be flawless at all times.
“Well, I recently met some cool girls,” I said, referencing Shardaya and Kasia. “So maybe we can all like go to dinner or to a cute lounge or club one night.”
“Oh my gosh!” Serene embraced me tightly. Pulling back with a wide grin, she said, “That would be amazing and sounds like exactly what I need, Day.”
“I’ll set it up then.” I smiled.
I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t excited to go have fun with my sister. We’d done it once while we were in college, but Serene, for the most part, refrained from wild nights out in favor of studying. So I couldn’t wait to see her let loose.
* * *
GIRLS’ NIGHT . . .
Future’s “Fuck Up Some Commas” crept through the speakers with its calm intro, but despite that, everyone in the club turned feral at what they knew was to come. Once the beat dropped, Shardaya, Kasia, Serene, and I all sang along just like everybody else.
We’d had several drinks—cocktails and self-made from the juices and liquor delivered to our table. Rakim had set it out for us once I told him what tonight’s goal was, and I thought that was sweet and so typical of him.
The night had started with a private and very luxe dinner before the driver Rakim paid for drove us to the club in Hollywood where we had our own fly ass section with top-shelf liquor and juice.
“Listen, this song hits harder after tonight!” Serene shouted to me as best as she could since the music was so loud.
“Right!” I grinned.
“Tell Rakim thank you! For real! He didn’t have to do this since neither of us are broke!”
“I will tell him. But my man doesn’t like me going in my own pockets,” I spoke truthfully and not in an attempt to be braggadocios. It was just a fact.
As soon as Rakim knew I was leaving the house, whether for work or leisure, he broke me off. If I was going to the mall, he’d give me his card, but the last time, he’d given me one with my name on it, just attached to his account.
“I heard that!” Serene stated as she started to make herself a drink.
“I need some water! I’m too lit!” Kasia shouted while still shaking her ass, causing Shardaya and I to laugh.
“Same. I think I lost some of my tolerance. I haven’t drank like this since before Talid’s diagnosis. But I feel good and in a celebratory moooood,” Shardaya sang.
I studied her for a moment, simpering. She was so strong and a good person, too, I’d found out. I thought she’d dislike me once she learned that I was her husband’s trifling ass neurosurgeon’s daughter, but she was able to separate us, thankfully.
“I’m glad. I’m so happy he is doing better,” I said, and Kasia nodded to agree, while Serene danced in the distance near the balcony, holding her drink in the air.
“Thanks to your dad.” Shardaya smirked.
“I’d say thanks to Rakim, but I guess my dad did his part too.” I sighed, not wanting to think of him. Even the alcohol flowing through my bloodstream couldn’t help me escape the sour feeling in my stomach every time I thought of my father.
“I’m guessing she doesn’t get out much.” Kasia jutted her chin out toward my sister, making the three of us giggle drunkenly.
“She doesn’t. That’s literally why I wanted to come out. My sister is a pediatrician, mother of two, and a wife, so she deserves to let loose a bit. After this, we’re gonna go to Rakim’s place and have like a sleepover,” I spoke, excited about what was to come.
I felt responsible for making sure my big sister had a great night.
And since I basically lived at Rakim’s big ass mansion and he’d be working on whatever tonight, I thought having a grown-up sleepover with her would be fun.
I didn’t want her having to go home and face responsibility after such a free night.
“That sounds fun as hell.” Kasia poked her mouth out.
“Wanna come?” I offered. “You both can.”
“Rah won’t mind?” Shardaya queried.
“That’s my house,” I jested somewhat, and the ladies snickered, high-fiving me. Rakim called it that and told me to start acting like it, unless I wanted something else.
“Speaking of the devil.” Kasia looked toward the entrance of our section, and when she scoffed, I knew Josias was in the building.
Turning, I felt butterflies swarm my belly at the sight of Rakim. Being drunk made it even more intense.
He was so damn fine, with his arresting presence as he swaggered in, tall and built as ever. His onyx skin seemed to glimmer in the low lights of the high-end club as I rose to my feet to close the gap between us.
Before I even made it to him, he picked me up, pecking me as I locked my arms around his neck.
“Wasn’t trying to be one of them clingy niggas who infringe on girls’ night, but since I won’t see you until the morning, I wanted to come fuck with you.
” He nuzzled his face into my neck as I basked in the feel of his strong arms wrapped around me, and his cologne.
“Just need like ten minutes, then I’ll dip. ”
“You don’t have to.” I kissed his full lips deeply, loving his fade with waves. Everything about him was just . . . damn.
He smirked sexily, and though “Me Vs Me” by Moneybagg Yo was playing, it might as well have been a love song with how I was feeling.
“Nah. I got shit to handle and wanna let you have ya time. I’ll see you around two.”
“A.M., right?” I hiked a brow. He bobbed his head, chuckling a little bit.
“Leave me the fuck alone, Josias,” I heard Kasia say, and once Rakim let me to my feet, I saw him towering over her, all in her face.
I forgot Rakim was even here with anyone because as soon as I saw him, I had tunnel vision. I spoke softly to Mylo who’d sat down and helped himself to a drink while bobbing his head to the music.
“Jojo.” Rakim called to his brother, and when he looked, he subtly shook his head at him, I guessed to tell him to leave Kasia alone.
Josias remained still, turning back to look down into Kasia’s face. He contemplated for a bit, then walked away from her. She was pissed, and like the rest of us, Josias must’ve peeped that Kasia wasn’t playing with him.
I looked for my sister and spotted her taking everything in before walking up to Rakim and me.
“Thank you for the night, Mr. Rakim.” She beamed, and I could sense how drunk and relaxed she was which made me happy.
“Just Rakim is cool. And anything for this one right here.” He kissed the side of my face, and I felt the heat engulf me as I blushed.
I led him to the couch and then straddled his lap.
He grinned widely before we started to kiss.
The world around me faded into the back as Rakim and I tongue kissed for a nice good while, him expressing how perfect I was and how good I smelled in between.
He’d blown my head up something serious.
I felt like a queen around him, as cliché as that sounded, because he seemed to worship everything about me.
“I love you.” I spoke against his lips, the alcohol causing me to be free with my tongue, though I would’ve said this sober.