Page 55 of Continuum

“Eli, babe!” Kim exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.

He picked her up. “Hello, gorgeous!”

“Hi Kwame,” Kami flirted, batting her eyelashes. “Are you coming with us tonight? We’d love to turn this threesome into a foursome.”

“Nah, we have plans. Aisha and I will continue with our twosome,” he replied to her.

Kami looked me up and down. “Hmph.” Turning to Eli, she hugged him and whispered something in his ear.

“See you later,” Eli called to us as Kwame led us away.

“So did I just get a glimpse of what it’s like every time you two leave for business?” I asked as we exited the hotel.

“You got a glimpse of what it’s like every time Eli leaves for business.” Kwame flagged down a taxi. “I’m usually chillin or checking out something happening in the city.”

“And if we hadn’t run into each other last night, what would you be doing?”

“Actually, the place we’re going to now is where I was planning to go tonight anyway.” He opened the door to the taxi. “It’ll just be better now that I’m going with you.”

I turned and planted a kiss against his lips. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” he said as I got into the backseat. He waited until I scooted over and then he got in. “555 Grove Street, please.”

“Oh! I just dropped someone else there!” the taxi driver said before pulling away from the curb. “From what I could see, they looked like they were having a good time.”

“That’s good.” He reached over and squeezed my thigh. “It sounded good on the internet, but now that I’m bringing someone special along, I’m really hoping it’ll be a good time.”

Where are we headed?I wondered silently.And did he just call me someone special?

I bit my lip.

It didn’t take us long to pull up to the small brick building in the artsy area of town. The building was ordinary and unremarkable. I couldn’t tell what was going on from the outside. But from the smiles on everyone’s faces and the way they were dressed, I knew I was in for a good time.

After thanking the driver and tipping him, Kwame took my hand and escorted me inside. The bounce music caused my shoulders to bounce as we waited in the short line. When it was our turn, he showed the beautiful woman in an elegantly over-the-top purple and gold outfit the tickets he’d purchased on his phone.

“Welcome to Tremé,” she said in a thick New Orleans accent.

My eyes widened with excitement as all the dots connected. The music, the accent, the name of the event all pointed to one thing.

“Is this a Love on Top pop-up event?” I asked.

“It is,” she confirmed. “And with all Love Matthews events, you are bound to pass a good time!”

A group of women behind us cheered and the woman who checked us in opened her arms wide. “Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

I squealed as we walked through the double doors and into the event space. The lighting where the tables and the dance floor were located were dim and sexy. The lighting at the bar was bright and colorful. The decorative motif was so vibrant and alive. It was easy to spot the Love on Top staff because they were all wearing some version of the purple and gold outfit the first woman we encountered wore. The music thumped through the room and set a tone that was pure energy. I didn’t know if I wanted to get a drink first or if I wanted to get on the dance floor.

But since I hit thirty, I knew what my first move would be.

“I think I see one,” I yelled over the music as I held Kwame’s hand tighter.

We found an unoccupied table and sat down. I wanted to drink and dance, but my priority was always to find a place to sit.

“How did you find out about this place? I heard something about a Love on Top pop-up coming soon, but I didn’t hear anything else about it. And I had no idea it was going to be this.”

“I saw someone from college post about it a few weeks ago. I got a ticket because the band and the food sounded good. Based off the band and the food, I figured it was a New Orleans theme. But I didn’t think it was going to be all this.” He gestured around to the elegant candlelit tables, the smokey dance floor, the air of sexiness that surrounded us.

“Well, I’m so happy to be here.”

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