“Cutting it close, ain’t you? I’m busy for the better part of the day, Q. How am I supposed to get ready?”
“You’ll figure it out, Johnni. You know the rules,” he said dryly while he examined himself in the mirror as I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, and I’m booking the club for next weekend to celebrate everything.” I was quiet as I looked at the phone that had the view of my free, hardened nipples since I’d panicked. I caught Courtland’s smirk and knew he was enjoying this.
“Okay, can I get some privacy please, damn?” I moved my gaze up and down, drawing attention to the fact that I was naked in the tub. Quincey kissed his teeth then pressed his lips together.
“Josie, you act like I haven’t seen everything, but okay. Ooh, I’m thinking red to keep it patriotic. You think you can do a quick updo or will that mess up your sew-in?” His voice went up a few octaves and I prepared myself to play trophy wife tomorrow night.
I hated when he was in full glam mode. He was worse than me sometimes.
“Q! Get out, please. I came to relax.”
“Fine, I’m going. I’m heading out to meet with Aric anyway to get things rolling. Don’t wait up.” It was late so I knew that was a lie but right now I didn’t give a fuck.
He glanced in the mirror, checking his breath, then picking an invisible piece of lint off his shirt.
Aric was his campaign manager above his assistant Tia.
He walked out, closing the door. I picked up the phone to Courtland just shaking his head with an amused expression on his handsome face. He’d added a glass of something brown to the picture.
“Shit, I guess y’all open-open. Headed out and don’t wait up is code for I’m going to get my dick wet. Tell me again why you’re still there?”
I chuckled, realizing my error with not muting the call.
“I’ll tell you once you tell me what this date is that you’re taking me on tomorrow afternoon?” I said, flipping it back to the original topic while I prepared myself to have yet another conversation about Quincey and our very open marriage.
I sat dazedin the nail shop, mind still on Courtland and our date planned for today. Yeah we had done Morningside the other day, but so far that had been our only public outing. He wouldn’t give me too much but promised it would be only us. My nerves were rattled at the thought of actually going on a date.
It had been so long since I’d been on an official one outside of business dinners with Quincey.
Uht uht, no Quincey talk when I’m already thinking about Courtland.
Yes, I put a rule in place to stop bringing my marriage into my relationship with Courtland. I was happy when we were together and wanted to keep it that way.
“Mrs. Wilson?” Hazel the tech said as she turned off the jets to the tub, guiding me to put my foot up on the towel.
I didn’t hear her question but still blinked a few times as if I needed to process it.That’s because you’re too focused on your boyfriend.
Yup, I somehow had a boyfriend.
“Johnni!” I popped my head up, looking around to see all eyes were on me, including Hollis who’d just yelled at me.
“Hazel has been calling you for the last ten minutes. Damn, I know you’re not stressing over this pageant.”
I looked down at Hazel who now slightly dropped her head.
“Hazel, I apologize, basic white french tip, please. Girl, of course I’m stressed out. It’s the first one of the season. I don’t know, this year feels different. Like maybe it’s now or never for me.”
“Ain’t no now or never. You act like we’re eighty or something. Heffa, and even then, if you want to get up on that stage and strut around, do that shit. By then, no pole though, just twirl around with that walker or some shit.” I laughed as I shook my head.
“I swear you’re special as hell. But thank you for coming and keeping me company today.”
It was officially the day before the pageant and I was taking care of the last few things on my list.
“Heffa, why are you thanking me like this ain’t our normal routine? I’m just sad that Mickey couldn’t make it.” Hollis waved me off using her free hand.
It did feel uneven without Mickey, who was home with Minnie. BK said something about the chemical smell messing with her breast milk and shut down the nail shop for a while.And even with no proper evidence to support his theory, of course Mickey didn’t put up a fight.
