Page 226 of Invisible Bars
Dessign flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Been ready since you gave your heartfelt, yet threatening speech.”
We all laughed together.
After telling Chi she was leaving and me and Imanio shared a kiss, Dessign and I made our way toward the exit—moving fast enough to be intentional but not rushed enough to look like we were fleeing.
Dessign glided beside me, wheeling smooth and steady. Whereas, I walked out with what was left of my pride tucked in the folds of my ruined dress.
And that’s when we passed her.
Aaliyah.
She was posted with her little entourage of mini-clones, fake laughing and sipping whatever new glass of wine she’d connedfrom the bar. She spotted us and tilted her head with that same smug smirk.
As we walked past, a tic punched through my chest at the perfect time—loud enough for her and her whole row of label-dependent sidekicks to hear it.
“I hope that karma you ordered comes with a side of diarrhea!”
Dessign smiled in approval. “That’s my girl.”
As we drove away from the gala in Dessign’s high-tech car—custom everything, touchscreen dash, wheelchair-adapted pedals—I was still blotting at my dress like I had hope, grumbling under my breath. I couldn’t sit still. Every time I looked down at that deep red blotch, I had an outburst.
Dessign glanced over at me with one hand steady on the steering wheel, as the car cruised down the winding road.
“You good?” she asked.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Yeah… just a lil' irritated. W-what she did was intentional. I just know it.”
“Oh, Iknow,” Dessign commented with her eyes focused on the road.
Dessign said that a little too confident.
“How so?” I asked, eyeing her skeptically.
Without answering, she abruptly pulled over on the side of the road with precision, hit the hazard lights, and shifted in her seat the best she could to face me.
“Sis,” Dessign said, locking eyes with me. “Let me tell you something about Aaliyah. She’s one of those women who ain’t never healed from being replaced.”
I raised a brow.
She continued. “Imaniousedto mess with her… about two years ago. But she still acts like she’s got another chance every time she breathes the same air as him. Tonight? That shit she did wasn’t clumsy; that was achess move. Trust me. She didthat because you,” she pointed at me, “alreadywon.Naji, when insecure women can’t compete with your presence, they’ll try to stain your image…literally.”
Dessign leaned in a little and added, “But never stress over the next woman when you’re the one wearing thecrown.Queens don’t flinch for court jesters.”
I let out a slow breath and nodded, my tics softening to little flutters under my skin.
“She’s lucky I don’t c-c-carry a Super Soaker full of lemon juice and holy water,” I grumbled, chuckling.
Dessignhowled, slapping the dashboard. “Girl! Iloveyou!”
“I love you too,” I replied and meant it.
She put the car in drive and we drove off into the warm night air.
The lights of the street flickered past us as I hesitated, searching for the right words.
“So… your brother and I finally, um…” I started, my voice trailing off as a wave of heat flushed my cheeks.
A quick jerk in my shoulder warned me that the inevitable was coming.
