Chapter 14
The Gang’s All Here.
The tour was finally over, and even though it’d been an amazing experience, I was so glad to be back at home.
I hadn’t even bothered to change my clothes before kicking my shoes off and flopping onto my bed.
I was tired, jet-lagged, and hungry after eight hours on a plane and in a car.
My bones hurt from weeks of dancing, and the jacuzzi-style tub in my bathroom was calling my name, but I needed a good thirty minutes to recuperate first.
“Raineyyy,” I heard Ginger call as her voice floated down the hall.
I rolled my eyes, but could feel the smile spread across my face.
I managed to turn just in time to see her coming through the door with a small bowl of her world-famous jambalaya.
She immediately kicked off her shoes and joined me on the bed.
She kissed me softly on the cheek before handing me the bowl.
I thank her and dig in as she makes herself comfortable. “How was the tour, baby mama?”
I chuckle, shaking my head at the nickname she and our other friend, Robbie, had given me around the time Emelia was born.
They always joked that I was the second mom because I’d been helping them raise her even before she was pushed into this world.
I mean, technically, I was her godmother, and I took those duties seriously; something both Ginger and Robbie appreciated.
Most people on the outside looking in thought one of two things.
One, that Ginger was a single mom, or two, that she and Robbie were a happily married couple.
However, the truth was much different. These two were merely best friends who decided to have a child together if they weren’t married by the time they were 25.
Robbie, a gay man, and Ginger, a lesbian woman, were both hopeless romantics who were less than lucky when it came to relationships, so they figured this was the perfect decision.
So, after a few rounds of IVF, they were successful in conceiving Emelia, and she was loved dearly by both of them.
They had joint custody of her and even made an effort to spend time together at least once a month.
Since Robbie lived in Texas, there was a lot of travel between them, but neither seemed to mind.
All they cared about was making sure their daughter had equal time with both of her parents.
It was actually really sweet. Beautiful proof that the “traditional” way to have a family wasn’t the only way.
“It was fun for the most part,” I told her. “I enjoyed it, and being able to be around Dawn, but…”
“But what?” She asked, sitting up. I place down the empty bowl with a sigh. “Don’t tell me...did something happen between you and that Trelah girl?”
“You mean Trelyn?” I laughed, and she waved me off.
“You know as well as I do that that bitch doesn’t deserve the effort it takes to learn to pronounce her name correctly. I’ll call her Trash Can if I want to. Fuck her.”
“You’re a mess, girl,” I chuckle.
“So they say,” she smirks. “So, what happened? You gon spill or not?”
I nod before recounting the story of everything that went on last week.
I told her about how Trelyn falsely reported me for popping pills, which resulted in my stuff being searched and me being reprimanded without proof.
I told her about the almost fight we had and how Dawn had to get me out of there.
I also told her about how she’d fired her with no hesitation and stood up to her aunt for me.
It was a lot, and just thinking about it again left me feeling more exhausted.
“Damn, that bitch irks my nerves, and I’ve never even met her!” Ginger huff, referring to Trelyn. “Oooh, I wish I were there! I would’ve knocked some sense into that witch. You want me to find out where she stays so we can go slash her tires?”
“No, it’s okay,” I assured her with a laugh. “I’m over it. Well…I want to forget about it. I’m not giving it any more attention than I need to. She’s not about to ruin my day. I’m home in my bed with my favorite person in the world.”
“Mmhm, don’t let Dawn hear you say that,” she teased, and I was back to rolling my eyes again as I playfully pushed her shoulder. “Speaking of Dawn, where is she? I know she dropped you off, but she didn’t want to stay for a bit?”
“She had to go home to help her parents with some stuff,” I replied. “But she said that she’d be over later. Oh, speaking of which, she wanted me to ask if you’d like to join her friends and me for a drink tonight? I know you haven’t met them yet, but I think you’re gonna love them.”
“Shit, you know I’m down,” she nodded. “Are her friends single? Actually, more importantly, are they queer women?”
“Well, I don’t think Esmé is single, but that doesn’t stop her from flirting,” I shake my head. “But last I checked, Sammie is single and very much a lesbian.”
“Oooh, describe her to me,” she asks, excitedly.
“I can do you one better,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket. I go over to IG and pull up her page before handing the phone to her. One look and she’s gasping. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Wait wait wait. Do you not know who this is? IT’S FREAKIN’ PRODUCER SAMMIE FRENCH?
!” she exclaims. I nod, still confused at her excitement.
“Raine, sweetheart, this is one of the most sought-after producers in the country. She has worked on tracks for all of the big-name artists! Even booking a meeting with her is more than what most people can afford. I mean, not me, but you know, the average everyday person.”
“Nice?”
“God, you have got to get more up to date with pop culture, Rainey,” she huffs. “I love you, bestie, I do, but you’re so out of the loop that I worry about you sometimes.”
“Whatever, loser,” I laugh, hitting her with a pillow. “Let me get some sleep before we have to get ready for tonight. I need all of my energy before I have to be around so many people again.”
“Yeah, let me go rest of too,” she nodded as she climbed out of the bed. “I need to be well rested if I wanna put all this charm on Sammie. You know I love me a fluffy stud. I’m tryna sit on her face tonight.”
“Girl, get out!” I yell, laughing as I throw another pillow.
She squealed, dodging just in time before sticking her tongue out at me. I picked up another pillow, and she scurried out of the room, closing the door behind her. I fell back on the bed right as my phone vibrated. I picked it up and smiled when I saw a message from Dawn. I open it.
Dawn
I miss you. Can’t wait to see you tonight. You gon wear something cute for me?
I miss you too And ofc I am
Dawn
You gon mess around and have me exploring your body in the back seat of my SUV
lol don’t tempt me with a good time
We continued to flirt via text for the next ten minutes until she FaceTimed me, and then I was face-to-face with the woman who managed to steal my breath away every chance she got.
A quick check-in session turned into a few hours as we giggled like schoolgirls.
By the time we got off the phone, I needed to start getting dressed for tonight.
So much for that nap, huh?
9:43 PM
When Ginger and I pulled up to the club we were meeting the others at, we could hear the music bumping from the parking lot.
We managed to snag a spot that someone had just pulled out of, and after giving the bouncer my name, we entered the club.
I craned my neck to see if I could spot Dawn when I felt hands on my hips.
I turned around, ready to smack the fuck out of the person, but stopped when my eyes landed on Dawn.
She looked so good in the dark blue, buttoned-down short-sleeved shirt and black jeans.
The top two buttons were unfastened, highlighting the silver chain she wore around her neck.
She smiled, and I could feel my knees go weak just by being in her presence.
As my eyes traveled up her face, I noticed that her hair was different, and my hand immediately reached up to touch it.
“Your hair,” I gasped. She lowered her head so I could get a closer look.
Long gone were the luscious curls that flowed down her back.
In their place was a head full of short, soft, tight curls that brought attention to her pretty eyes and gorgeous cheekbones.
The style suited her so well. “You cut it.”
“You like it?” she asks, standing back to her full height with a smile.
I nodded, still stuck on how good she looked.
“I wanted to try something new. I’ve always wanted to go short, but have been nervous about it.
Then I figured that I might as well go through with it since I only ever wore my hair up in a bun anyway. ”
“It looks really good on you,” I assure her with a smile.
The whole time, my mind was conjuring images of me running my hands through those curls as she feasted on me for hours. I shivered at the thought. When my eyes connected with hers again, she had a knowing look on her face, and she smirked. She was so damn fine.
“Thank you, Siren,” she replies before leaning in to kiss me.
“Okay, enough of the lovey dovey,” Ginger said, butting through the trance that we’d fallen into. She cocks her head, crossing her arms over her chest and staring up at Dawn. “At least let me get a little tipsy first before I have to endure y’all eyefucking each other all night.”
“Nice to see you too, Ginger,” she chuckles before pulling her in for a hug. When they break apart, she takes my hand. “Come on. I got a section just for us.”
We follow her through the crowded room, maneuvering past people who were either dancing, standing around, or getting drunk off their assses.
Dawn held my hand tighter, and I held Ginger’s to make sure she didn’t get lost in the crowd.
We walked up a flight of stairs and reached a room that had a balcony overlooking the dance floor.
Dawn nodded at the man out front, and he nodded back before opening the door and letting us in.