“Me first, what?” I knew he was referring to my problems, but I asked anyway.
“Tell me what’s up with you. Why you mess up what could have been a perfect performance?”
“First of all, my performance was perfect enough for an open mic in some small town in Mississippi, okay? But honestly, it’s too much to fit in one night.”
“You saying you want to spend the night with me? Slow down, baby girl. We just met.”
I slapped his arm in response to that. “No, I am saying I have so many issues with my parents that it will literally take me days to explain it all. “
“Give me the highlights.”
“Well, for starters, that song wasn’t written to be performed at an open mic. I wanted to sing it for them, but they couldn’t carve one day out of their busy schedule to spend my birthday with me.”
“Damn, it’s your birthday?”
“Exactly three weeks from today.”
“Well, let’s take another shot for your birthday.”
I didn’t argue with that. As soon as the bartender brought over what we asked for, we both threw them back like it wasnothing. I thought this was going to be the worst birthday of my life, but things were starting to look up.
Chapter
Four
Ramel
Regina was beautiful, but after listening to her talk for a minute, I could tell the problem she was creating in her life wasn’t as big as she thought it was. I was being pressured to marry somebody that I didn’t even care about, let alone love. Yet she was complaining about parents who weren’t around long enough to be in her business. Hell, if I could get rid of my overbearing ass parents for a while, I’d be happy about that.
Gina and I were having two completely opposite problems. I couldn’t say I knew what she felt. I had never experienced my parents staying off my back for even a little bit. So, I didn’t totally understand it, but I did know enough to know she was grown, and as an adult, one couldn’t expect their parents to be there for every special occasion.
I wanted to tell her that, but I couldn’t find the right words. Besides, I knew women didn’t like accountability. If I told her what I really felt, I knew she would end this conversation as soon as she was tired of hearing my voice. So, I tried to reserve my thoughts and let her keep talking.
“It’s almost like they don’t even care.” She giggled and tossed back yet another shot after the one we both took for her birthday.
The more she spoke, the more drawn in I was, despite not agreeing with the shit she was saying. It was hard not to get caught up in how big and juicy her lips were or how she showed every one of her teeth when she smiled. Her little giggle was sexy as fuck, and the only reason my dick wasn’t rock hard right now was that I was forcing myself to remain focused.
Her lips were so perfect, plush, and pouty. I wanted to kiss her ass, but I had so many things running through my mind. I wouldn’t be able to stay focused if I kissed her lips. If her lips touched mine, I knew for a fact she was going home with me, and if I took her home with me, she was going to be mine. I had too much going on to even move in that direction.
Besides, my home wasn’t safe right now. There was no telling who would be showing up on my doorstep after I disappeared from the party. I was pretty sure everybody was looking for me. I had no doubt that my mama would be the first to show up at my house whenever she wanted. If she had her way, I would be staying next door to her and my pops my whole life.
“You think you could be overreacting? I would pay good money to have my folks mind their business for a little while. I think you should take advantage of your freedom while you got the chance.” I took the shot I had been babysitting when I was done talking because I wanted her to think about what I’d just said.
Just as I thought, she stood from her seat without saying another word. I wasn’t tripping, though, because women that beautiful didn’t like when niggas disagreed with them. I wasn’t a man who agreed just to get along. If I had something on my mind, I was going to say it, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it. I was a man before anything, and if we had adisagreement, we could talk about it, but nine times out of ten, I wasn’t going to change my mind.
“And what makes you think you know a damn thing about me and my family?”
“That’s all you been talking about since you sat down. I think I know enough to form an opinion.”
“Well, it’s an opinion I didn’t ask for,” she snapped as she pushed back from the bar and walked off. I wanted to watch her fine ass walk away, but I grabbed her arm before she could get too far.
“Where you going?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Oh, me too. Hold up a second.”
She rolled her eyes and walked off toward the door, but I followed her out. She could be mad if she wanted to, but I wasn’t letting her fine ass get away from me. It was dark, and she was too damn drunk to be walking the streets alone. Wherever she was going, I was going too.
