Chapter Six
Channing
“I can’t believe I let you drag me out of the house,” I said to my best friend, Jeremy.
I looked around the overly packed club and shook my head. It was wall to wall in this bitch, and I was surprised the fire marshal hadn’t shut shit down.
Jeremy kissed his teeth. “Come on, bruh. Don’t act like that. I don’t get leave very often, and I wanna enjoy it while I’m home. You ain’t seen me in about a year, my nigga.”
Jeremy had been my best friend since we were twelve years old. He had always been my ride or die. My boy had enlisted in the Air Force right after high school and had been active for the last twelve years. Every time he came home, linking up was a must. Me complaining was just to fuck with him. Whatever he wanted to do to get a taste of civilian life, I was down with it.
“I knew you wanted to be in the streets which is why I got us a section,” I stated.
“My nigga!”
We headed over to the VIP section. Since I was a regular here and always got the same section, the bouncer let us in with no problem. We settled in and ordered a couple of bottles for the table. Our server was this bad ass, brown-skinned girl by the name of Patina.
Baby was thicker than cold grits. The club’s attire for the servers consisted of a crop top and cut off shorts. She’d paired fishnet stockings and a pair of Doc Martens with hers. Those shorts did everything for those thick ass thighs.
“Damn she fine,” Jeremy said, watching our server’s ass as she walked away.
I shook my head. “How long has it been since you got some ass, man?”
“Too fucking long. I’m walking outta here with something tonight.”
“You hell.”
“Tell me you ain’t on the same shit.”
I chuckled. “Not tonight. I can always pull up the roster and tell one of my ladies to come through.”
He playfully shoved me. “Not the roster.”
“It’s a small roster. Even though I stay strapped, I can’t be sticking my dick in every bad bitch.”
“I feel you on that. A few niggas in my brigade messed with this same female, and all of them got burned. I dodged that bullet ’cause shawty was heavy on my ass too. I might fuck on the first night, but I can’t get with a bitch that’s giving pussy to everybody on the team.”
I shook my head. “Okay, man.”
Patina returned with our drinks, and my man put on his best charm.
“I apologize for being rude earlier and not introducing myself. I’m Jeremy, and this is my friend, Channing.”
She looked between the two of us and smiled. “You weren’t rude at all. Most people don’t introduce themselves.”
“I mean, if you’re serving me, I can at least be cordial. How you doin’ tonight, beautiful?”
She blushed. “I can’t complain. The night is really just getting started, so we’ll see how it goes.”
“Well, I hope you have a good night. Maybe if you aren’t busy later, we can link up.”
She smirked as she tucked the empty tray under her arm. Pulling out a pen and her notepad, she scribbled something on it and handed it to him.
“Hit me up,” she said.
“Fa’sho.”
She winked at him before walking away.
“And just like that, ya boy is in them guts tonight. Damn, I can’t wait to see all that ass from the back.”
I chuckled. “I hope you don’t get none.”
“Woooow! It really be the people closest to you praying on your downfall.”
We shared a laugh as we poured up our drinks.
“How have you been, man?” he asked.
“Shit’s been straight. Just going through it with Grams right now. She’s in the early stages of dementia.”
“Damn, man. I’m sorry to hear that. I gotta make my way over to see her and your mom before I ship back out. You know I love those two women. Your house was practically my second home.”
“It was. Grams faithfully asked, Is that silly ass boy coming over today? when we were growing up.”
He chuckled. “That lady loved me and my silly ass.”
“She did. I’m sure she’d be happy to see you. I know my mom would. She asks about you.”
“Awww, my baby missed me?”
I slapped the back of his head. “Don’t start that shit.”
He grinned. “You know yo’ mama fine. Been fine. Always gon’ be fine.”
“Don’t make me kick your ass, Jeremy.”
He raised his hands in mock surrender but continued to laugh as he picked up his drink. As I took a sip from mine, I caught sight of two beautiful women coming into VIP. A smile spread across my face as I recognized one of them.
Dr. Baker.
She was bad in scrubs, but tonight, she looked so damn fuckable. Tonight, she wore this white, long-sleeved minidress that looked like a button up. The first couple of buttons were undone, giving a glimpse of her ample cleavage. Her nipple piercings shone through subtly. On her feet were a pair of strappy nude heels.
Toned legs and thick thighs glistened with a hint of some sort of shimmer. Her hair was pulled into a sleek top knot. Diamond studs twinkled in her ears along with a matching necklace and bracelet. Her face was free of makeup, but baby girl didn’t need it.
I stood as they got closer to us and gently grabbed her arm.
“Dr. Baker.”
She looked down at my hand and then back up at me, probably prepared to curse me out. When she recognized my face, hers softened.
“Hey,” she said, stepping out of the way of foot traffic.
“Who is this?” her friend asked.
“I don’t remember his name, but I do remember him almost knocking me on my ass the other week at work.”
I chuckled. “It’s Channing, and I apologized for that, beautiful.”
“You did.” She eyed me for a moment. “I never properly introduced myself. I’m Rhythm.”
She extended her hand, and I shook it.
“Rhythm? That’s your government name?”
“Yes.”
“You lying.”
“Why would I lie about my name?”
“I didn’t mean any disrespect. I’ve just never met anyone with your name. It’s dope.”
“Thank you. My father loves music, and my mother allowed him to name me, so there you have it. This is my friend, Monique.”
Her friend smiled and waved. “Hi.”
“It’s nice to meet you. This is my friend Jeremy.”
Jeremy smiled his million-dollar smile, and her friend blushed.
“It’s nice to meet you, ladies. Care to join us?”
“We actually have a section,” Rhythm said. Her eyes trailed my frame. “Maybe I’ll see you on the dance floor.”
Jeremy laughed. “This nigga doesn’t dance.”
Both women giggled.
“I’m sure you can catch the beat,” Rhythm said, pulling her dainty hand out of mine. “Have a good night.”
She grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her away. Once again, I watched the bounce of her ass as she walked.
“That’s a fine ass woman,” Jeremy said, shaking his head. “She ain’t trying to give you no play, my nigga.”
“I ain’t worried about that,” I said, taking my seat.
“Where did you meet her?”
I ran him the story of me having to change my mom’s tire the other week. I couldn’t lie and say that her beautiful ass hadn’t crossed my mind. I’d almost volunteered to take Grams to therapy this week, but her aide stepped in to give my mother a break.
I wasn’t sure what it was about these short interactions with her, but she left a lasting impression. I’d never had a problem getting a woman. I wasn’t pressed about her blowing me off a record two times now, but I couldn’t say I wasn’t intrigued with her beauty.
I looked over to where she was with her girl, already dancing at the railing that overlooked the dance floor. I really didn’t dance, but should I find myself on the dance floor with her, I wouldn’t be mad at that. We’d been in the club for a good two hours or so. Jeremy and I ran into a few people we used to kick it with back in the day, and they joined us in our section to welcome him home. My boy was having the time of his life, popping bottles and entertaining women. His drunk ass had been on and off the dance floor half the night.
I sat back watching and shaking my head. I knew he needed to let loose. While we hadn’t seen each other in about a year, we spoke pretty often. He’d told me about all the shit he’d seen while on active duty and how it had somewhat desensitized him to death.
I was proud of him for being in therapy, just in case his demons became a monkey on his back. Being back in his familiar stomping grounds was what he said he needed, so I was more than happy to oblige him by coming out tonight.
Every so often, I found myself looking over at Rhythm in her section. She seemed to be half here and half somewhere else from time to time. This time when I looked over at her, she was alone and scrolling through her phone. I looked over the railing and scanned the crowd for her friend, only to find her dancing with Jeremy.
I stood and excused myself from my people before walking down to where she sat. She looked up as I approached her and tucked her phone away.
“You mind if I have a seat?” I asked.
She waved her hand at the empty seat and crossed her legs.
“I see your girl and my boy hit it off,” I noted, easing down next to her.
“Nique loves to dance, and your boy has been lit all night.”
I chuckled. “That nigga is drunk. He can’t be still.”
“Let him enjoy himself.”
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
She shrugged. “It’s been decent. It has served its purpose for tonight.”
“And what’s that?”
“A distraction.”
“What do you need to be distracted from?”
She giggled. “Aren’t you nosy.”
“I mean, you put it out there. I’m just making conversation, love. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”
She sighed. “Life… it’s been kicking my ass, and I needed a break.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It’s not the end of the world… more like the end of an era. I’m okay though. At the end of the day, I know who and what I am. I can put on my big girl panties and carry on.”
I didn’t voice it, but it sounded like she was referring to a nigga. If that was the case, she was way too fine to be stressed over one nigga when there was probably a line of them dying to get at her beautiful ass.
To her, I replied, “My grams always said some things are meant to be a part of your history, but not your destiny.”
She giggled. “Are you getting philosophical on me in the club, sir?”
I chuckled. “Nah, that’s just some truth for your ass, love. Some things and people are meant for a season. Once they serve their purpose in your life, you gotta be okay with getting that shit up outta there.”
She nodded. “You’re right. It’s just hard to let go of something you’re so familiar with.”
“I feel you on that.”
She eyed me for a moment. “So… what brings you here? You can’t dance. I haven’t seen you entertain any women tonight. You haven’t even left your section.”
“Damn, you been watching me?” I jested.
She laughed. “I’ve been observing the place in general, thank you very much.”
“On the real, my boy is on military leave. He just wanted a taste of civilian life, so I let him drag me out of my house.”
“Aren’t you a good friend.”
“I’m an excellent friend. I always have room for another.”
“So you wanna be my friend, Channing?”
My dick twitched at the sound of my name on her lips. Fuck!
“Maybe I do.”
“And what kind of friend is that?”
“Whatever kind of friend you need, baby.”
She smirked as she stood to her feet and tucked her phone into her pocket. “Dance with me.”
“I—”
“Aht, aht. You wanna be a good friend, come dance with me. No sense in both of us sitting here all night.”
I decided to oblige her. Standing to my feet, I grabbed her and pulled her behind me. We made our way to the dance floor just as the DJ dropped the beat to “Touchin’” by Honey Bxby. She must have been feeling the song because the moment we found a spot on the floor, she turned her back and started dancing on me.
There wasn’t much space to move around, but I didn’t mind her ass grinding on me. She raised her hands and swirled her hips to the beat in a manner that had me hypnotized. Now, just because I didn’t dance didn’t mean I couldn’t. My hands found solace on her hips as I grinded back against her in perfect rhythm.
When she turned and snaked her arms around my waist, her eyes locked on mine.
The smoky, intimate atmosphere of the club seemed to fade away as I got lost in the music and her beautiful brown orbs. I pulled her close, encircling her waist with my arms as we continued to grind against each other. She draped her arms around my neck, fingers softly playing with the hair.
Even as close as we were, she somehow managed to press even closer to me. Our bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces as we moved to the sensuous rhythm, hips swaying in perfect sync. My dick was straining against my slacks, and I knew she had to have felt that shit.
She smirked as she gave me the most innocent look. I just knew lil baby was a good time. She may have looked innocent, but she probably gave a muthafucka a run for their money.
“Why you looking at me like that, ma?” I asked in her ear.
“Looking at you like what?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Ask for it… I might let you have it.”
Her eyes widened, and she blushed as she bit her lip.
“A closed mouth don’t get fed,” I reminded her.
Her breathing hitched in her throat. She swallowed hard as she backed away from me.
“I have to go to the bathroom.”
Without another word, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing there by myself. I started to go after her but thought better of it. Instead, I made my way back up to my section to join my boys. It was nearing one thirty in the morning, and the club would be shutting down at two.
Jeremy had found his drunken way back to the section and was ready to dip out. I didn’t protest. Instead, we said goodbye to our people, I paid our tab, and we headed out to my car.
“I’m gon’ sleep good tonight,” he declared.
“You should with all the fucking dancing your ass was doing.”
He laughed. “The ladies love your boy, man. I’m finna slide that big booty server my location and have her come through.” He slapped my arm. “Yo, I saw your non-dancing ass with that fine ass girl from earlier. Did you get her number?”
“Nah. I didn’t ask.”
“Why not? She bad, man.”
“As bad as she is, I don’t think she’s ready to put herself out there. She might talk big shit, but baby is timid.”
He kissed his teeth. “It’s plenty of fish in the sea, my nigga.”
As we rounded the corner of the parking lot, I saw Rhythm and her girl coming out the back door. Our eyes met, and we briefly stared at each other before she headed down another row of parked cars.
I didn’t get her this go ’round, but if I ran into her again, maybe the third time would be a charm.