Page 186 of Save Room for Us

“You one to talk.” He scoffed at Unique.

“Nah, my shit is honest, bitch nigga.” Unique lit his blunt. “Yo’ wife don’t know shit ’bout Kabrina and vice versa.”

AJ was cheesing hard like he’d won an Oscar or some shit.

“Shit gon’ catch up to you, nigga,” Lequay spoke facts.

“I doubt it.” AJ leaned in like he had a secret. “See, I told my wife I gotta present single for my career, so she keeps her distance when I’m out of town. As for Kabrina, it’s easy for her to believe I’m single because my wife don’t hound me and lives across the country in Connecticut.” He was still grinning. “That’s how you do it, fellas, if you wanna have your cake and eat it too with women less understanding than Unique’s. Because?—”

“We don’t get down like that ’round here.” I cut him off, tired of hearing his ass talk.

“Maybe for you and a few others but, Uncut, man?—”

“Don’t speak on shit you don’t know ‘bout unless you ready to run a fade ’bout it, nigga.” Khari cut him off. “You ain’t ever heard shit ’bout me fucking around on my wife.”

“No. I just meant you were a player once, but I feel you. Don’t want a rumor being spread.” AJ nodded, and I could see he wasn’t feeling us the same way we weren’t feeling him. “Let me get a drink, fellas. Be right back.”

“Why the fuck he keep saying fellas?” Shakur quizzed, and for some reason, the shit was hilarious.

As our laughter died out, Bashar asked, “That’s who you keep company with, nigga?”

“He a work friend type of a nigga. He too corny for me to kick it with just because. I honestly only invited him because Iwas talking about ya last yacht party, Sif, and Kabrina said it sounded fun. I knew he wouldn’t let her ass come by herself.”

“She feeling you,” Shakur said.

“I doubt it. But even if she was, she a good girl, and I don’t deal with those types. She wouldn’t be down for what I got going on,” Unique said as I watched that AJ nigga.

Standing, I made my way over to him. I didn’t want his ass here witnessing what I was about to do any-fucking-way.

“Aye, you gotta go,” I told AJ, turning him to face me.

“Huh?” He laughed. “We’re in the middle of the ocean.”

“So.”

“And what if I don’t?”

“I can put you in it later, but you gon’ be a lot less alive.”

He looked off, back at me, over at the water, and then yelled, “Kab?—”

“Nah, she can stay.” I nodded over the ledge.

“You cannot be serious right now.”

“I look like I’m joking?” I frowned. “You got five seconds ’fore I decide to put yo’ ass down.”

Huffing and puffing, he stood there for a bit before finally climbing up onto the railing. The sight got everybody who was seated onto their feet, to watch what he was doing. He looked back when Kabrina called his name, before jumping into the water, causing gasps and small screeches.

“You made the muthafucka jump off?” Unique questioned, laughing. I knew his ass wouldn’t give a fuck, but I could see the shock in his face.

“I ain’t like him.” I turned away as people were on stuck, confused. “Now that I got everybody’s attention, baby, come here.” I waved for Anastazia to come over.

She looked around to see if anyone else knew what the fuck was going on, then started toward me. She looked good as fuckin the short, crochet material type dress. It was orange and yellow, a perfect ass color against her brown skin.

“What are you doing?” she asked with a smile, moving her curly hair from her face since the wind had blown the shit there.

For a minute, I didn’t say shit, just taking her in, realizing how different she looked. She’d always been beautiful, a sight to see, but now she looked happy as fuck, and I wasn’t gon’ lie; the shit had me internally popping my fucking collar.

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