Page 6 of Kisses Behind the Spotlight

“Oh, I forgot y’all don’t get along. Y’all are the same person. That’s why y’all can’t stand each other,” she snickered.

“No, we don’t get along because he kidnapped me and he’s rude as fuck,” I retorted.

“Oh, I forgot about the kidnapping,” Mama Marissa cringed. “You know he didn’t mean any harm. He was just doing his job.”

I stared at Mama Marissa blankly, realizing I was speaking with a woman who grew up as a mafia princess. Of course she was so no harm, no foul about Xain holding me hostage in a hotel to cover her uncle’s misdeeds.

“Fine, I’ll have the shots for the both of us,” she shrugged, tossing them back one by one. “I’m in Miami, and my daughter is safely with her grandparents. I’m about to have a tiiiiiiiiime.”

“Oh, when we get to the after-party I’m having all the shots. Y’all did say family was welcome to spend the night, and I’m family because I was on the text thread.”

“Of course you’re family, Khaleesi. We locked in,” Mama Marissa assured me.

I smiled brightly. She always lived up to the Mama part of her name, so I could see why the nickname just stuck for her.

“The Sprinter Vans are in place,” Xain notified Yaseer as Mama Marissa came to stand next to me against the wall.

Yaseer nodded, then Xain walked off, heading towards the fellas who were still taking pictures, with their wives and girlfriends now added in the mix. The ladies had various updos, and the nostalgic smell of Spritz hit me every time I was within a few feet of one of them. Seeing everyone enjoying themselves without the stresses of the world made me smile until Xain’s side profile came into view. Lord knows I couldn’t stand that nigga. The thumb-sized keloid on the side of his head, where hair hadn’t grown back since I split his shit open with a vase six years ago, was physical proof of that.

“Excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room before we leave,” Mama Marissa announced, waving over one of the banquet servers to pass her the empty shot glasses. Mama Marissa embraced me with a hug while Yaseer finished off his water and passed it to the server as well. “We’ll see you back at the house,” Mama Marissa waved before pulling Yaseer towards the hallway that led to the bathrooms.

Xain and Duke, his second in charge, informed the birthday boy and his siblings that it was time to wrap shit up. I joined the herd, heading towards coat check with my ticket to retrieve my jacket. When Mama Marissa and Jameera initially tossed out the idea of the surprise party, we decided to have it in Miami to escape the cold weather. Much to our dismay, the entire state of Florida was about to see temperatures in the thirties and forties during the last week of January. We turned lemons into lemonade though, and everybody went all out on their coats to fit the 80s party theme.

The young girl with braces working the coat check returned with my black Dolce & Gabbana double-breasted trench coat, and I pulled it over the Coogi sweater and jeans I wore. We were leaving out of the side door since Q was also piling onto one of the Sprinter Vans with us. Although I couldn’t stand Xain and the knot on the side of his head, I couldn’t deny that he took his security duties very seriously. Mama Marissa was right. I didn’t have to worry about our safety when he was around. I was the last in line to grab my coat, so it was no surprise that my biggest opp was trailing behind me as we headed for the hallway that led to the side door.

“Shit,” I uttered, stuffing my bare hands into my pockets when I stepped into the blistering cold. It was every bit of the thirties or forties that the meteorologist projected. My eyes started watering as the wind whipped against my face while I waited to get on the Sprinter Van.

Just as I dropped my purse in the first seat, I realized I left my cake and food inside. After working my ass off, I never ate, and my mouth was watering for the lamb chops and macaroni that Vincent’s chef prepared. There wasn’t another soul walking God’s green earth touching that lady in the kitchen. After the whole Q snitching to his uncle, then getting me kidnapped situation, it was the apology food prepared by Vincent’s chef and the all-expenses-paid trip to Belize that helped me forgive Q and reclaim my job.

“I’ll be right back. I need to go grab my food,” I begrudgingly notified Xain as I stepped off the Sprinter. I hated even talking to his ass, and I’m sure the feeling was mutual because we were always around each other but rarely exchanged words unless it was absolutely necessary. Like that moment, I didn’t want to get left behind. Everyone else was in their own worlds, boo’d up, off that good liquor, and feeling safe with Xain watching over them. I could easily get overlooked when Q’s entire family was together.

“Alright, the weather says it’s about to rain, so you better hurry up,” he grumbled, the low temperatures sending white plumes forward with each word.

I scurried across the hardwood floors in the quiet hallway before I burst through the doors where the party was still in full effect. The last thing I wanted was to get caught in the rain. I strutted over to the cake table, lifted the tablecloth, and retrieved the cake and to-go cartons hidden beneath it. With the cartons secured, I rushed back out of the main room and into the quiet hallway. The door that Xain was holding open moments prior was closed, and I picked up my speed, rushing towards the door.

The arctic wind was still whipping as I stepped outside and rushed toward the Sprinter as it drove away. I raised my hand to gather the attention of the eyes peering back at me, but when I realized it was Xain, I knew he would not be coming back to collect me. Breathing deeply, I was annoyed because a devious smile spread across his smug face.

“Ughhhhhh!” I groaned and turned back around to pull the door open just as rain started to trickle down on me. After pulling twice, I accepted the fact that the door was locked, lifted my Apple Watch, and told Siri to call Andy.

“You trying to give me some of your time tonight? Or you need me to handle something?” Andy’s voice came through my watch on the first ring.

The loud music in the background faded as he spoke, letting me know he’d left the main floor and ventured into the hallway. “Oh thank God you’re still here. I got locked out of the back door. Can you please let me in?”

“Oh yeah, I’m coming right now.”

The rain got harder, landing against my ears and exposed neck with a sharp sting that I didn’t even know was possible. It felt like I was being pelted with frozen needles for at least a minute before the rain stopped. I was soaked and shivering by the time the backdoor came open.

“How did you end up out there in the rain?” Andy pried, stepping aside.

“That ass hole Xain,” I murmured, brushing past him.

My clothes were heavier and clung to me, making them difficult to remove.

“Come to my office. I have a few extra server uniforms in there. It’s the same all-black slacks and button-up shirt that the servers wear, but anything is better than cold clothes in this weather. Wet clothes can make your body heat drop even more,” he explained, leading the way down the hallway.

I already knew as much, which is why I didn’t hesitate to strip down to my bra and panties once we entered his office. My feet sank into the soft rug that surrounded his executive desk, and I was thankful to have a slight reprieve from the cold tile floor. Being practically naked in Andy’s office was better than keeping on those wet clothes. Once my clothes were off, I grabbed the suit jacket hanging off the back of the door.

“Do you mind if I cover myself up with your suit jacket while you find the uniforms?” I questioned as he rummaged through the boxes in the corner of his office.