Page 6 of Terrez and Shalene
“Oh, you really trying to turn up tonight.”
“Girl, you know this isn’t shit compared to what we used to do. If your ass didn’t have a big move to be up for in the morning, I’d have you out here drunk off your ass. You can’t tell me you’re not in need of a girls’ night out.”
“It’s overdue. Once I get settled in and get Amayah on a consistent schedule with Brevin, I’ll be ready to make that happen,” I stated as I took the joint from her.
“I’ll be here and ready. You know it’s whatever when it comes to you, girl.”
“I’m scared as fuck, Pat. Like, you have no clue all the thoughts going through my head right now. I haven’t been single in so long that it feels weird to even say the shit out loud. I’ve been wearing my ring so long that my finger still has the indent,” I expressed before taking a puff.
“What exactly is going through your head? Like what is it that’s bothering you the most?”
“Bitch, you gon’ laugh when I tell you.”
“I may joke about a lot of things, but I’ll never laugh at your pain, friend,” she responded sincerely.
“I keep thinking I’m gon’ be alone for the rest of my life. I thought I’d found my person. So, for shit to have turned outlike this, it makes me feel like maybe true love isn’t a thing,” I admitted.
Sitting back in her seat, Pat let out a sigh before she spoke. I braced myself because I knew her well enough to know she was about to say something I didn’t want to hear. Even if that was the case, I appreciated her for keeping things real with me.
“I understand why you feel like that. I truly do. But Shalene, none of what Brevin is doing is catching me by surprise. He’s always been an asshole. His behavior was just subtle before your mom passed away. I know this is a new journey for you, but I feel like he did you a favor. He let you be free to meet your future husband, the real one. You could meet your new man tonight for all we know.”
“I doubt that. I’m not looking for anything serious, let alone at the bar,” I said as I passed her the joint.
After we finished smoking, Pat sprayed her car and pulled out of her driveway. When she turned the radio on, “Phone Sex” by Trina was playing. The effect of the weed had already set in. I was singing along word for word and ready to get to the bar. It felt good to have my mind at ease. I’d be pushing my troubles to the side and enjoying a night of being kid free. When we pulled up to the bar, the parking lot was packed and there was a short line of people waiting to get inside. Thankfully I didn’t have heels on and it was warm out. Before we got out of the car, I checked to make sure I looked okay one last time. I was more self-conscious since I had no intention of going out tonight.
Surprisingly, it took no time to get through the line and into the bar. “Planez” by Jeremih and J. Cole was coming from the speakers so hard that I felt the bass in my chest. Four different pool tables were occupied with several standing around them, both playing and not. There was a large crowd surrounding the bar, but the three bartenders seemed to be keeping up. When Pat tapped me on my shoulder, I followed her pointer finger tothe empty booth toward the back of the bar. Like there was fire under our asses, we walked quickly before anyone else could take it.
“I’ll go order our drinks. I just wanted to make sure we got the table first. You want a Long Island or a Sex on the Beach?”
“Sex on the Beach. I’ll buy our next round.”
After waving me off like she didn’t want to hear it, Pat turned and walked toward the bar. Letting out a sigh, I relaxed in the seat and took a good look around. My eyes seemed to be roaming all over until my gaze landed on a familiar face. I couldn’t remember where I saw him, but I knew for sure I knew him from somewhere. My brain was working overtime to figure out where I’d seen this fine ass man. I could never fix my lips to say Brevin was bad looking because he wasn’t. But this mystery man was in a league of his own. I could tell from his large frame and bulky build that he’d mop the floor with Brevin’s ass.
“Okay, friend. I see you staring a hole through that man’s side profile. You’re looking so damn hard I’m surprised he can’t feel it,” Pat joked as she set our drinks on the table.
“Damn. I didn’t realize I was looking that hard. I was only staring because I know him from somewhere, but I can’t remember where.”
“Your brain must’ve been occupied when you saw him. That man is so damn fine that I’d definitely remember where I saw him.”
A bell went off in my head as soon as she said that.
“Oh shit! Girl, he lives in my building… I think.”
“What you mean you think?”
“The day I got the keys to my place, my dad went over to look at it with me and I saw him,” I stated with a tilt of my head in the mystery man’s direction.
“Damn you’re lucky. His tall, chocolate ass looks mean as hell, but that only adds to his sexiness.”
I nodded because I was thinking the same thing. The first night I saw him, I’d been crying my eyes out for obvious reasons. I was so consumed with my own shit at the time that I didn’t care enough to feel the shame I felt now. That man had seen me at my lowest point and that wasn’t the image I wanted a stranger to have. Especially a stranger as sexy as him. Pat and I danced in our seats as we drank and caught the vibe. This feeling was one I didn’t know I needed. I always felt like being out and around people would make me feel more depressed, but it was the opposite. I was already floating on cloud nine from the weed, but this drink was surely taking me over.
“Oh shit, this is our shit,” I shouted as the music played.
The DJ was now playing “No Hands” by Waka Flocka and the song brought back so many good memories of Pat and me in our younger days. I hadn’t danced this hard in so long that I needed a break mid-song.
“I’m going to get some water!” I shouted in Pat’s ear over the music.
The man she was throwing her ass back on was so fine that I couldn’t blame her for barely acknowledging me. Making my way through the crowd, I was glad to see the bar wasn’t too busy now. Right now, I needed cold water like I needed air to breathe. After telling the bartender my order, I sat at the empty stool and waited. In no time, the water and Red Bull I requested were placed in front of me. When I reached for the tab, my head whipped to my left when it was grabbed. My heart fell to my stomach when I realized who’d taken it.
