Page 12 of Until the Ink Dries

Benjamin and Duke looked around until they saw her waving him over. Duke shook his head as he motioned for Benjamin to follow.

“Why would you do that?” I asked in a loud whisper.

“So you can see how fine he is up close.” She shook her head and smirked as they got closer. “Baby, tell me that’s not a walking train right there.”

“Oh, my God, Shirah. You get rid of your man and all of a sudden, you’re all liberated and shit?”

“I spent the best years of my ho phase locked down. Let me have a fantasy.”

It was my turn to shake my head. As Benjamin and Duke got closer, I had to give it to Shirah. He was much finer up close. I remembered him being taller than me, but he was at least six feet now with a toned, athletic build. It was the combination of the thick beard, tattoos, and those beautiful eyes that really caught my attention. He was dressed in all black from head to toe, with gold chains and a gold watch shining on his wrist.

“Was it necessary for you to yell all the way across the bar, Shirah?” he asked as they came to a stop in front of our table.

“Yes it was because you always seem to have tunnel vision.”

“I do.” His gaze passed over to me and he squinted. “I know you?”

“Willow. Willow Dawson. I only had the same homeroom class with you since elementary school.”

He chuckled and that smile was so panty wetting.

“My bad. You look… different.”

“Different good or different bad?”

“You could never look bad. You just… don’t look like you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your hair straightened.”

My hand instantly went to my blow out and a sense of self-consciousness filled me. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t be caught dead with my hair straightened. I had a head full of beautiful coils and I used to rock my curls proudly. Every week, I found a different style because I loved the versatility of my natural hair.

When I started dating Ellis, it was the first time I felt somewhat insecure about my hair. His mother made comments about it after we went to one of the many galas we always had to attend. She pointed out that everyone else in the room looked so well put together while I looked like I’d just rolled out of bed.

It was the first of many comments she made about my appearance that I let slide when I should have let her have it. For years now, I’d been getting blow outs and wearing wigs or braids to avoid insults from that woman. To have him make a comment struck a nerve.

“Well, we haven’t laid eyes on each other in years, so there’s a lot you wouldn’t have seen,” I said, picking up my glass.

“I wasn’t trying to offend you?—”

“You didn’t. You were making an observation, and I was stating a fact. We can move on.”

His brows furrowed. “Yeah… I’ma head on out. Duke, I’ll get with you later.”

“A’ight man. Be easy.”

They slapped hands before Benjamin walked away. Duke turned back to me, shaking his head.

“You didn’t have to do my boy like that, Willow.”

“I didn’t do him like anything.”

“You were a little rude, sis,” Shirah said. “He didn’t mean any harm.”

“How was I— forget it.” I took a long sip of my drink before standing. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

I didn’t say another word as I left the table. Just like that, my mood had shifted. She wasn’t even around, and Marcia Thompson still found a way to fuck up a good time.

Ipeered over my shoulder once more in Willow’s direction before turning back toward the exit. Before I could make it out of the bar, Duke tapped my shoulder. He was holding a bag of skittles, chewing every now and again. Anytime I saw him, he always had something sweet. His detail plan had to have been superb.

“Aye, man, don’t let Willow’s moody ass make you leave,” he said.

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