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Maybe I liked it.
A little.
“Hey, welcome to Shakers. What can I get started for you two this evening?” The brunette bartender with the bright smile walked right up to Bakari and me.
Damn, was it evening time? How long had I sat in that diner outside of Bellmore with Bakari and talked and laughed and watched him tear into a chicken sandwich, onion rings, and a milkshake? He liked to act like Hakim was the bottomless pit when it came to food but clearly, it ran in the family.
Time did not exist when I was with him.
“Hi.” I flashed a friendly smile. “I’ll start with a lemon drop.”
“Sure thing.” She nodded her head then leaned on her elbow and made sure her breasts were in full view when she spoke to Bakari, who barely blinked at the display. “What can I get for you, Dr. Breeze?”
Damn. He seriously could not go anywhere in Bellmore without that shit happening. I didn’t know if it was impressive or annoying.
“I’ll take a whiskey neat.” He flashed his trademark smile at her and she grinned even wider before heading to pour our drinks.
I leaned over and spoke close to Bakari’s ear. “You never get tired of the reaction you get from people, do you?”
“Why would I?” He winked at me and I groaned. “Stop fronting like you don’t love the arrogance, Sanai.” He looked around briefly before pulling my seat close to his like it was nothing. He brushed my hair behind my shoulder and let his full, smooth lips caress the shell of my ear. “Your pussy is probably so wet right now.” He rested his hand on the small of my back then gave my hair a discreet tug that sent pulses of white-hot electricity dancing along my neck and scalp.
I was going to need something stronger than a fucking lemon drop.
I cleared my throat and made my spine straight so it wasn’t visible from the outside how chaotic Bakari made me feel inside.
The bartender placed our drinks in front of us and Bakari thanked her by sliding a $50 bill her way. “That’s for you, sweetheart,” he told her with a wink.
“Thank you, Dr. Breeze.” Her voice was a giggly purr that made me want to fucking gag. I held it together, though. I took a sip of the lemon drop and feigned a satisfied groan. Honestly, it was a mediocre job on a mediocre drink. I needed to pull her in, though.
“This is so much better than the last time I was here,” I told her, pulling her attention back to me. “You guys had this other bartender…” I snapped my fingers and began rambling off random names. “Tamia, LaMya…something like that. She wasn’t nearly as good as you. You know how to put the right amount of liquor in here to make me feel it.”
When I saw the light of recognition sweep across her face, I knew I had her. “Oh! I know exactly who you’re talking about, Takia White.” She propped her fist on her hip and leaned over the bar.
“Okay, yeah. That’s sounds familiar,” I laughed. “What happened to her? Did she leave Bellmore? I know when you get a good job like bartending, you don’t usually up and leave.” Everything out of my mouth was pure bullshit but little Miss Bartender seemed to eat it up.
“Yeah, I don’t know where she went because this bar is the best one in Bellmore and the tips are always nice.” She looked at Bakari and nibbled the side of her bottom lip a little. A crackle of anger bit through me but I smothered it just as fast as it appeared.
“If y'all are talking about the girl who was the bartender in here last year then she made strong drinks. I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Nai.” Hearing Bakari use my nickname did something to me. Everything between my thighs tingled.
“The drinks were whack.” I flicked my fingers at him, waving him off. I honestly wanted him to shut the hell up. Our bartender already recognized him; I didn’t need her running her mouth after we left. Any word that got back to Takia would spook her and make her hide.
“You know what? She still does bartending. I saw her post something on Facebook about mobile bartending. Y'all should have her make you some drinks and settle the argument,” The bartender smiled before she moved on to another customer. Bakari and I locked eyes and his fingers immediately began typing after he pulled up Facebook on his phone.
I wasn’t sure if the name she was using would yield any results on social media but when Bakari showed me his screen briefly and the results were indeed the nurse from Bellmore General, I knew we were going to get some fucking information.
We decided to stay for a while longer and chat up the bartender about a host of other things so that hopefully the conversation about Takia would fade into the background of her mind. Also, so we didn’t look insanely suspicious.
About thirty minutes in, I’d switched from girly lemon drops to whiskey neats like Bakari. An hour in and I was ignoring my phone calls and texts to talk and laugh with Bakari. Once I saw the flicker of light come back to his eyes, it was like a drug I couldn’t leave alone. His happiness had been so fleeting since Rob died and in that moment in the bar, I realized I would give almost anything to have the normal Bakari back. The arrogant, cocky, brilliant Bakari Godwin I was so used to.
The one that I was falling for.
At the end of our night, I tried to pay for the tab but Bakari wasn’t having that shit. He dropped three crisp one hundred dollar bills on the glossy bar top and told the bartender to keep the change, then he hooked his arm around my waist and led me out after stopping to say hello to several people who noticed him.
When we got to my car, I shoved him and pursed my lips. “Why didn’t you let me pay?” I asked in a huff. I had no reason to be upset but my head told me to pick a fight. Maybe it was the toxicity in me that I couldn’t shake.
Bakari passed a large hand over his waves then tilted his head toward the sky as if he were saying a silent prayer.
“Because my dates don’t pay for drinks, Sanai.” His lids were heavy from the liquor but he was still very aware and not too drunk to function.
