Chapter 6 #3
“And what about, Muffin?” Symie quizzed. “You just gonna creep your little ass in my restaurant with his daughter after being dead all these years? I know damn well you have a better plan than this.”
“No, Ma. I’m not gonna introduce him to our daughter yet.
He’s gonna need time to digest all of this first,” Sienna yelled in a hushed tone, on the verge of losing her shit.
“If anyone understands the pressure I’m under, it should be you.
My heart, motives, and who’s best interest I have at heart isn’t in question here.
Our lives though…All of our lives are riding on the decisions I make moving forward.
One mistake and Macie’s crazy ass will kill us without a second thought. ”
Symie hated the way Macie controlled them by throwing her weight around, and pulling the death card every time she wanted to use them. The fear they lived in was insane. Symie grabbed her phone off the table, scrolled to Monroe’s contact, and hit send.
“Ms. Davis?” Monroe answered his phone like it was a question. “Everything a’ight?”
Symie placed her phone on speaker before answering. “How you doing, Monroe? I know it’s been a while since we last spoke. I wanted to know if it was possible for you to come to my restaurant tonight. I wanna talk to you face-to-face.”
“What time you need me to be there?” He replied without hesitation.
“10:30. Everyone will be gone by then.”
“I’ll be there,” Monroe confirmed before walking into his home.
“Thank you so much. I’ll see you then,” Symie said before concluding the call.
The rasp in his baritone.
Sienna’s heart bloomed at the sound of his voice.
It had the same effect on her as it did years ago, but seasoned with a maturity she identified with instantly.
Hearing his voice again caused a volcano of emotions to erupt on the inside of her, and triggered a longing so deep it damn near took her breath away.
Stuck. Sienna was stuck in a sea of dumbfoundedness, trying to figure out how in the hell she survived without him.
Without his voice in her ear. Without the feeling he gave her without physically laying one finger on her.
“Look at all this ice, bae, my wrist doin’ dance moves…”
Jazira and Promise had been joined at the hip since she’d made it to New York Friday afternoon.
She wasn’t due to leave until Sunday evening, so after getting all their shopping out of the way, they had been partying like spring chickens fresh out of high school at damn near thirty years young.
Surely, they’d pay for it in the morning, and that’s exactly when they’d worry about it.
It was nine o’clock at night, and they were vibing at a chill, luxury, and lowkey spot called Noir’s District.
It was one of those spots you had to know about to find, and it was tucked away just enough to keep the crowd selective, but known enough to stay packed.
The low-lit luxury atmosphere was top-tier.
Blue lights washed over the space in slow pulses, catching on jewelry, glasses, and the occasional bottle as waitresses weaved through the crowd with skill.
Monroe had security in proximity to ensure her and her friends’ safety while they enjoyed themselves.
Promise’s safety was his priority, and he’d vowed to never drop the ball when it came to her.
BossMan Dlow’s How I’m Livin’ thumped loudly through the club after they took their third Tequila shot.
Looking out from their VIP section, they noticed how lit the club was.
It had been a long time since Promise and Jazira got a chance to hang out, and they missed each other's energy.
They were soul sisters, blood couldn't make them any closer than what they were.
They blended in, but stood out amongst the blended crowd that packed the club out.
The flashing strobe lights added a mysterious undertone to the night.
Promise and Jazira were on their feet dancing like they owned the place, and everyone watching them should have paid to watch them while they were in their element.
"Rich nigga shit, bae. My money long like Shaq shoe," Jazira’s voice carried over the music as she sang along with the lyrics, swerving her body to the beat of the song.
"Everything exquisite, limited edition. We drive black trucks like Ford expeditions," Promise chimed in right behind her, rapping the next verse as she vibed with the beat.
The flow of the club had elevated to the next level, the beat bounced off the walls just right, every seat was empty, and any woman who came with their man was bouncing her ass all over him.
Drinks flowed faster. Conversations got louder, then disappeared completely once the music took over.
When the song ended, Nardo Wick's Baby Wyd came on.
"Okay, friend! Hit that shit!" Jazira hyped as she went live on TikTok with the camera focused on Promise.
Promise was feeling good. The way she traced her curves while popping her ass and whining it in a circle was sexy as fuck.
She eased down, keeping the beat, then came back up.
When she did, her ass fell right on Monroe's dick. Her body stiffened.
"This what'cho lil' ass out here on when a nigga ain't around?" Monroe’s voice brushed against her ear, low and rough while his hands roamed her hips. The familiarity of his touch, and the rasp in his voice turned her on and melted her unease.
She smiled, then turned to face him, their lips were like magnets. "When did you get here?" Promise spoke into his mouth.
"'Bout thirty minutes ago," Monroe replied, pulling her in closer, his grip on her ass was enough to remind her who she belonged to. "It's been a long ass day, but a nigga needed to lay eyes on you before making my next move," Monroe told her, pressing his lips to hers again, but this time slower.
"Sounds like the Don missed his Doll, huh?" Promise teased with an infectious, but knowing grin.
"Already, baby. You got a nigga out here feenin' for you. How that shit work?" Monroe said with a smirk that pulled a genuine laugh out of Promise.
Tink's Bedrock poured through the club’s speakers, effortlessly shifting the mood, and it was like an unspoken invitation. Promise wrapped her arms around Monroe's neck, and moved her body like fluid in his hands as they danced together.
"That's right, Boo! Get that shit, best friend," Jazira said.
"That's my best friend and her man y'all.
That's what real love look like. Lord, I'm ready whenever you ready to send my Boaz!
" She exclaimed, as her followers flooded her comment section.
They were sending gifts, hearts, and laughing emojis.
Then suddenly Rae, Promise's sister, joined the live with Jazira. "Y'all lil' hoe's is dirty. Why the hell I ain't get no invite? Y'all stay leaving me out," she fake pouted.
Jazira cracked up laughing. "You know we love you, sis! But don't nobody say nothin' when you and Shia went to Cancun a few weeks ago. Mhm," she said with a smile.
"Bitch, that was different," Rae stated, then stuck her middle finger up. "Y'all better invite me next time."
"I got you, sis. Love you," Jazira said, turning the camera back to Promise and Monroe.
Meanwhile, Sienna sat inside her car, carelessly scrolling through TikTok, and spontaneously tapped on Jazira's live.
There were over ten thousand viewers, so she wanted to see what was going on.
She could use a good laugh to settle her nerves.
But, the laugh she was hoping for was postponed when she realized that she was witnessing the love of her life, and his new woman sharing an intimate moment for the world to see.
His hands on her.
His lips on her.
His embrace covered her protectively. It all felt like a viscous gut punch.
An undercut that not only knocked the wind out of her, but it left her speechless, and sent her straight into an anxiety attack.
Weeping and feeling powerless was a combination that had been in rotation for too long in Sienna’s life.
Her vision blurred slightly as her body struggled to regulate what her mind couldn’t process fast enough.
She'd started having anxiety attacks after Macie shot her.
They had slowed down once she was able to find the right medication, but she'd been on the edge, and seeing Monroe and Promise together tipped her over.
Her chest tightened.
Her hands and feet tingled.
And she was dizzy with jealousy.
Macie had told her about Promise, so she knew she was in the picture.
But this... Seeing her and Monroe together had her sick.
It was in that very moment that she understood why Macie felt threatened.
This woman wasn’t just a fling, Monroe had fallen hard in love with her.
Sienna had noticed it immediately, and that reality was a pill she refused to digest as she fought to catch her breath.
Sienna stood in the bathroom of her mother’s restaurant, dressed in a white off-the-shoulder cropped top that complemented her almond-colored skin tone, light-washed jeans that embraced her slim-thick thighs, and black designer heels.
She quickly fixed the light make up she wore, grateful for the eye drops she kept in her makeup bag to eliminate the residue of her tears.
She blinked slowly, inhaling deeply as she forced her breathing to settle because Sienna knew the moment she heard the back door of her mother's restaurant open and close, her life would never be the same.
"Ms. Davis," Monroe called, his eyes scanning every detail as he walked deeper into the restaurant.
Sienna took a deep breath, releasing all the nervous energy from her body. She said a silent prayer before taking confident steps into her future.
"Ms. Davis, that's you?" Monroe asked, standing in the middle of the restaurant. He heard the click of Sienna's heels kissing the ground before he saw her.
"Monroe," Sienna called softly as she neared him.