3. Brittish Abernathy
“Happy birthday, Zaina!” We all screamed when she stepped onto the party bus looking good as ever.
The gold, shimmer dress clinging to her curves complemented her warm brown skin. Her hair was bone straight, stopping right above her ass. She smiled so big as she looked at everyone. She took the time to come around and hug each one of us.
“Thank y’all so much!” Zaina gushed and took a seat in the middle of us. “I’m so excited to have this night out.”
Before the bus doors could close, AJ came running onto it and straight into my arms. I squeezed him tightly. He stood up straight and looked me up and down.
“You look pretty, Ma,” he complimented, then went over to Zaina and gave her love. “Y’all be good. Don’t get into any trouble.”
Zaina and I shared a look as her friends started laughing.
“I could’ve sworn we were the parents, Zaina.” I snickered.
“Me too, girl.”
“Y’all are, but y’all know how I am when it comes to y’all. I love y’all.”
“We love you too,” Zaina and I replied in unison. We watched until he made it back onto the porch with Asher.
Different conversations started around me as the bus pulled off.
I slightly felt out of place being with Zaina and her friends, but I wasn’t about to flake on her.
She’d shown up for me and AJ numerous times, so it was only right I did the same for her.
If anyone deserved to be celebrated, it was her.
One of her friends, Maya, came and sat next to me, offering me a shot. I happily accepted it, and we toasted. Seconds later, Zaina joined us. She looped her arm in mine and smiled.
“I’m so happy you agreed to come, Brittish. I know this may seem weird to some people, but you’re a big part of my life too.” Zaina’s eyes were low, and she kept swaying from side to side. When she kissed my cheek, I playfully wiped it off.
“Girl, I know your lips have been on Asher.”
“As if yours weren’t on him before mine.”
My eyes ballooned before we fell out laughing. One thing Zaina loved to do was remind me I had Asher first anytime I complained about him. It was a running joke between us.
“Whatever.” I waved Zaina off and softened. “But seriously, thank you for inviting me. If I’m celebrating anyone, it’s you. You’re my son’s second mother. I would be crazy not to be here for you.”
“You know AJ is my whole heart. He had me wrapped around his finger from day one. We really have a good, sweet kid, Britt.”
“We do, and you’re drunk as hell, aren’t you?”
Zaina brushed her bangs from her face and nodded. “On my way to being white boy wasted. Asher made me take a few shots with him before the bus came, and you know I’m a lightweight.”
“I am, too, which is why I’m pacing myself.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m going to make sure you catch up with me. I need all of us to be stumbling out the club when the night is over so we can go get some good food to soak it all up.”
“What’s up with you and Pilar wanting to get me drunk?” I said more to myself than Zaina, but she heard me.
“We just want you to let loose and have a good time. You’ve been working so much, Brittish. All you do on top of being a mom, I know it can be draining. AJ is with us for the summer, so I think you need to pop out more. Meet someone new and go on a few dates. Fuck a few people. Do you.”
I side-eyed Zaina. “Now, what would you know about poppin’ out?”
“Oh, don’t let married Zaina fool you,” Maya chimed in. “She was a wild one before she met Asher.”
“Not my sweet Zaina.” My mouth dramatically hung open as I lowered my eyes at Zaina. “Tell me more.”
She playfully flitted those hypnotizing amber eyes and snickered. “I haven’t always been innocent, girl. I had a time before I became a wife.”
“Okayyy!” Maya agreed, and they slapped hands. “I was the same way, but all it takes is that one to calm you down and have you in the house.”
“No, seriously. With Asher and AJ is where I always yearn to be, but when I get a moment to myself, better believe I’m going to enjoy it.” Zaina’s attention was back on me. “So, enjoy it, girl. You’re safe with us, and I know Pilar has you too.”
Maybe, just maybe, they had a point. Being a boss and mother was what consumed me. I hadn’t had sex in over a month, and that was only because I had someone I could hit up whenever I needed an itch scratched.
Seeing how Asher was with Zaina made me happy for them but sad all at once.
There was a time I desired for him to be like that with me.
I wanted him to settle down and be a happy family with me and AJ, but it wasn’t in the cards for us.
Secretly, I missed being in a relationship and having someone to call my own.
I’d dated two people since Asher and I broke up, but when I realized things wouldn’t go anywhere, I stepped back.
I only kept one around because the sex was so damn good, and he’d break me off whenever I asked.
Still, I wanted something solid and everlasting.
Ten minutes and three shots later, we arrived at the club. Immediately, I spotted Pilar standing to the side, talking to the bouncer. I recognized him from school, so I knew we wouldn’t have to stand in line.
“Oh, yes! Y’all better come through looking good as ever.” Pilar greeted us with a smile. “Happy birthday, Zaina.”
“Thanks, Pilar. You know you look good, girl. If I wasn’t a married woman, I’d be on you.”
“Don’t hype me up like that.” Pilar did a little spin and winked at Zaina before her eyes landed on me. She reached out and gripped my breasts. “Damn, Britt. Your boobs always look good, but it’s something about them tonight.”
“Oh, your ass is already feeling nice.” I slapped Pilar’s hands and took one in mine. “I am, too, so come on. Let’s get in here and get another drink to get the party started.”
As expected, we were let in ahead of everyone. The music was extremely loud, pumping through the speakers so hard that it felt like my body was rattling. Lance’s new track had everyone on the dance floor, but we headed to the section Zaina had reserved.
Bottle girls surrounded us with signs for Zaina.
We cheered her on as they poured alcohol in her mouth before coming around and doing the same to us.
The vibes were immaculate, and I was happy I decided to come out.
We were all dancing and passing shots around.
There were a few people who tried coming into the section, but Zaina turned them all away until she saw someone who lit up her entire face.
“Nyle! Is that you?” Zaina shrieked over the music.
All our heads whipped around to see who she was talking about, and everything around me instantly slowed down.
Never, and I mean never, had I laid eyes on a man so damn fine and divine. He waltzed into the section like he owned it, and I couldn’t pry my eyes from him.
Skin the color of espresso.
Hair long and curly like Jesus.
Dark, downturned brown eyes surrounded by curly eyelashes.
The neatest goatee connecting to an even more beautiful full beard.
Whoever the hell Nyle was, I wanted to know more about him.
My gawking session was interrupted by Pilar nudging me with her elbow.
When I turned to look at her, she tilted her head to the side and gave me a knowing stare.
I had to pick up my drink and gulp it down to calm myself.
The way my body felt like a furnace from his presence was a shame.
There was no reason that man should’ve had me contemplating going to the private restroom and DJing myself to visions of his face.
I knew that was the liquor talking, but I was sober enough to agree with it.
“Girl, that man is fine as hell,” Pilar whispered to me. “Imagine having that hair and chain hanging in your face while he whispers sweet nothings in your ear.”
Pilar needed to hush. I was already turned on, and she was making my pussy wetter from talking about him in such a manner.
Needing a moment to get myself together, I told her I was about to go to the restroom.
Of course, she wanted to come with me, and I didn’t protest. Between my thoughts and the liquor, it was best I go relieve myself and calm the hell down.
“Brittish, wait! Where are you going?” Zaina called out when I took my first, room-spinning step.
I turned around to answer, but she grabbed Nyle’s muscular, tattooed arm and brought him over to me.
Why did she do that?
He smelled too good. If I could take a bite out of him to satisfy my sudden craving for him, I would have. Instead, I looked at Zaina and smiled.
“I’m going to the restroom,” I informed her.
Nyle’s eyes were on me. From my peripheral, I could see them slowly taking me in from head to toe.
His tongue wet his nude lips, and I had to stay focused on Zaina to keep my thoughts from running wilder than they already were.
If he asked to take me to the bathroom and bend me over without even introducing himself, I would’ve agreed.
That was how fine that man was to me.
“Oh, let me introduce you to an old friend,” Zaina said, snapping me from my naughty thoughts. “This is Nyle. We went to high school together. Nyle, this is Brittish. She’s the mother of my husband’s son.”
“Our son.” I corrected her. Finding the courage to face Nyle, I turned toward him with my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Nyle.”
The corner of his bottom lip tucked behind what I could see to be straight, pearly white teeth as he gently took my hand. I assumed he was going to shake it, but no . . .
Nyle lifted the back of my hand and questioned, “Do you mind?”
“No, I don’t.”
I loved a man who was straightforward, but one who was respectful was just as sexy. When Nyle’s lips connected with my skin, I silently cursed myself for not wearing a bra because my erect nipples were poking against the fabric of my dress, and Nyle noticed. He openly looked down and smirked.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, gorgeous.”
Was there anything about him that didn’t make my thong wet?
His voice was deep and silky, one that I knew sounded lovely in the bedroom. I imagined he could make me cum from simply talking to me.
Yeah, I needed to get away from him before I got in trouble.
Removing my hand from his, I gave him a small smile before rushing toward the restroom.
Behind the closed door, I palmed the sides of the sink and expelled a breath.
My heart galloped in my chest, raising my body temperature with each beat.
I couldn’t believe how my body was reacting to Nyle.
While I wanted to blame it fully on the alcohol, I couldn’t.
If I was completely sober, that man would still have me on edge.
“Girl!” Pilar all but yelled as she slipped into the restroom and rested her back against the door.
“Do you see how you had that man gawking over you? I mean, he didn’t even look anywhere else.
His eyes were locked on you from the moment he stepped into the section.
Britt, if you don’t take your ass home with him tonight and let him do all the things I know he’s thinking about doing to you. ”
“You’re so dramatic, Pilar. He was just being friendly.”
“Nope. Don’t do that. Ain’t no man about to just put his lips on a woman on some ‘friendly’ mess.
Well, some will. Anyhoo, I stayed back for a little just to see how he interacted with everyone else, and he didn’t treat anyone else like he treated you.
He shook hands with them while looking toward the restroom.
How much do you want to bet he’ll approach you when we step out of here? ”
“I need you to stop.”
“Why?”
I turned to look at my best friend. “Because, Pilar. Nyle has me feeling some sinful things, and I do mean sinful. When those soft lips grazed my skin . . .” I paused and closed my eyes, thinking of how good they would feel against mine. “I need to stay away from him.”
Pilar switched over to me. “No. What you need to do is be a big girl and face him. Your nipples are about to poke through your damn dress they’re so hard, Britt.
You can’t hide it with those knockers. It’s obvious he’s not the only one feeling a way, so go explore.
See what he’s about, even if it’s only for tonight. ”
Never had I covered my breasts so fast. I rubbed my nipples until they flattened, but it was useless because the first thought of Nyle made them rise again.
“I mean, we are here to have a good time.”
“Exactly! It’s Zaina’s birthday and both of your last night of freedom because AJ is about to have y’all running all over the world with baseball this summer. Let’s go out here, celebrate her, and possibly work on getting you some good dick.”
“Girl. I get good dick.”
“And I can bet everything that Nyle’s is even better. Now, hold that chin higher than them breasts. Let’s go see what the night brings us.”