“Good,” I said, standin’ there with my arms folded. “’Cause ain’t no woman ever gon’ be able to say Renza Mensah cheated on or with her.”
Sha’Nelle smirked while fixin’ the front of her hair. “If you say so, baby.”
I stood up straighter so fast my head started hurtin’ again. “Say girl… don’t call me baby. I… I ain’t yo’ damn baby.”
Sha’Nelle laughed loud and shook her head. “Okay… Renza.”
I muttered before I could catch myself. “This why I stay away from yo’ fine ass.”
She turned around. “What you just say?”
I looked at her quickly. “I said a nigga need to take his ass home fast.”
Sha’Nelle’s mouth curved like she knew damn well that wasn’t what I said. “Oh… okay.”
I ignored that look and started pattin’ my pockets ’cause I needed to get the fuck out this room before I said somethin’ else stupid. The only problem was my phone wasn’t on me. I checked both pockets, then the nightstand, then the floor by the bed, and the longer I looked, the more irritated I got.
“Man, where the fuck my phone at?”
Sha’Nelle watched me for a second. “You want me to call it?”
I stopped movin’ for half a second and looked at her.
That question felt simple, but it wasn’t. For her to call my phone, she would need my number, and I wasn’t dumb enough to act like that wouldn’t turn into somethin’ later. One lil’ number could turn into one lil’ message, and one lil’ messagewould turn into a reason to talk when we ain’t need no reason to talk.
“Nah,” I said, lookin’ away. “I’m a’ight. I’ll use the room phone.”
She gave me a look like she knew exactly why I said no, but she ain’t call me out on it.
I picked up the hotel phone and dialed my number from memory. It rang a couple times before a woman answered, and her voice sounded so nervous that I frowned before she even finished sayin’ hello.
“Say, who the fuck is this?” I asked.
The woman started stumblin’ over her words. “Sir, I’m so sorry. This is the front desk clerk. I have the owner’s phone. You left it downstairs earlier.”
I rubbed my hand over my forehead. “A’ight, bet. I’m comin’ down to grab it.”
I hung up and looked over at Sha’Nelle. She had her heels in her hand and was slidin’ her feet into them like she was just as ready to leave as I was.
“I guess you need a ride back to the crib,” I said, grabbin’ my chain from the dresser.
She looked over at me. “Nah, I was gon’ walk back in this dress and these heels.”
I gave her a look. “Watch yo’ tone.”
“Nigga, you watch yours.”
I shook my head while openin’ the door. “You always got somethin’ smart to say.”
“And you always be listenin’,” she said, walkin’ past me into the hallway.
I ain’t say nothin’ to that ’cause she wasn’t wrong, and that was annoyin’ as hell.
We made it to the elevator, and once we stepped inside, I faced the doors. I could feel her standin’ beside me, and I knewshe knew I was tryin’ not to look at her. That made the corner of her mouth lift, and I caught it in the reflection of the elevator doors.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothin’.”
