Page 97 of The Need to Know

I laughed. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind seein’ you on the screen.”

Bria smirked and gave me a little shove as if I were feeding her a dream. “Anyway, what you doing later? Like I said, you been scarce.”

I liked Bria, she was fun and understanding. But a gnawing in my gut couldn’t bite. I wasn’t interested.

Scratching at my neck, I took a step back. “Outside of the club, I’ve been coolin’ it.”

Bria reached out and swung my hand. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, and I’ve been sorta talking to someone, too. So I’m not really out there like that right now.”

A look of surprise sent Bria into a blinking fit.

She wasn’t the only one, because I had no idea why I had just said that and why I actually meant it. In the past, I could hit up Bria or she could text me, and all roads would be clear. It wouldn’t mean anything, just like it wouldn’t if I decided to invite her over after my shift.

Still, something in me said no.

“Wooow,” Bria stretched the word out.

Trust me, I know. “I’m trying to be good. I got business ventures I’m trying to achieve, so I don’t need the distraction of any messy webs.”

“You know I don’t do messy,” Bria said. “But if you talkin’ to one person, she must be special.”

I pawed at my chest as my mouth fell open. “What that mean?”

Bria patted my cheek as she began to walk away. “You know how you are, E. Text me whenever you are free, though. We can grab lunch or something.”

“Got you,” I let her know.

Bria disappeared into the crowd of bodies on the dance floor and I turned to go check on the Diamond Suite. In the distance, I caught Cesar heading the same way. He slowed down and we got together and went out and boarded the elevator.

“Leslie here?” I wanted to know.

Cesar shook his head as he watched the symbols above the doors change from a club to a diamond as we reached the second floor. “Nah, this is a once-in-a-while thing for her.”

“Feel it,” I said as we stepped off.

The Diamond Suite was under control, as different parties in huddled circles around tables were laughing and drinking. Phones were out here and there taking selfies and group shots. The energy was good and that was the way I liked it. Going out was supposed to engender positive vibes and good nature. BLVCKJVCK was purely here for escapism.

Cesar and I went over to the balcony railing and peered down below at the scene before us.

Future and Drake were playing all throughout the club, setting the tone effortlessly. Life was good.

“You and Bria about to get into it after this?” Cesar asked.

This was Cesar, one of the few people in my life I could be completely honest with. “Nah, didn’t really feel it.”

“Aren’t you allowed to do you?” he pressed on.

“I am.”

“So…?”

“So, I don’t want her. I just left Nas.” In my younger days, it was nothing to swim a couple of laps in one day, but something about it now, even contemplating another woman after the day I’d had, felt off.

Cesar studied me. “Did you get into some skin?”

Before, it was never a problem to go into detail about a hookup, but I didn’t feel the need to about Nas. Nor did I want to. “Not exactly.”