Page 25 of When You Dance
“Yeah. I been waiting on you.”
I gave him a half smile as we headed outside. The women were all in the kitchen, rubbing Brittany’s pregnant belly. Pop stopped for a moment and frowned. “What’s going on?”
Mama turned to him, all smiles. “Brittany and Shy are having twins!”
“Congratulations, but lawd have mercy. Where is Shy?”
She giggled and said, “He’s on his way back. He went to the store to get dinner rolls.”
“Congratulations, Britt,” I said.
“Thanks, Mel!”
She looked so happy, and I was happy for her and Shy. They wanted a baby so bad, and everyone having babies around them didn’t make things any better. As we walked out, Pop said, “I knew with all those fertility pills she took, they would have multiples. I’m surprised they’re only having twins. Now what’s going on with you?”
“I’m sure you know about the woman I’m pursuing.”
“Yeah. Your mother told me.”
“Well, we hooked up last weekend. It was everything I imagined it would be. She didn’t want to say she would only be seeing me, but I already felt that she was committed to me simply because she doesn’t let people in on who she really is. She started dancing on Wednesday and Thursday nights because she lost her full-time job. I went to see her. This nigga next to me was talking mad shit, like her bouncing on his dick and shoving it down her throat. I was doing my best not to come unglued, but it was like he was tryna fuck with me for whatever reason. When he called her a bitch, that was it.”
“Y’all fought?”
“The bouncers broke us up, but not before I could hit him in the jaw and call his mama a bitch.”
He lowered his head and slid his hand down it. “I get it. I do. What did she say?”
“She went off on me, telling me she wasn’t mine to defend, basically. I didn’t tell her everything he said. Since she couldn’t hear it on stage, she didn’t need to hear it from me.”
“That’s wise, but maybe you should clue her in. Tell her that he said more that she didn’t need to hear. Let her know the extent he went.”
“He went further when he noticed she was watching me and putting on a show for me. I sent her flowers Friday, but I still haven’t heard from her. I feel sick about it because I miss her.”
“I usually have eloquent words and all the advice in the world. All I can say is that type of ignorance comes with the territory. Niggas gon’ say all kinds of bullshit while she’s expressing her art through dancing.”
I chuckled. “Pop, just say stripping. You ain’t gon’ offend me.”
He chuckled too. “In that environment, you can’t control the bullshit that’s gon’ come out of niggas’ mouths. If you can’t handle that, maybe you shouldn’t date a stripper.”
I slid my hands down my face. “I been fiending over her for months, and when she finally gives me my shot, I fuck it up.”
“If she’s intelligent, and I want to believe that she is, she’ll understand. She won’t hold it against you forever if she’s feeling just as strongly for you as you do for her.”
“I don’t know if it’s as strong as I feel for her, but she does feel something for me. I can feel it in the way she looks at me and the way her body reacts to me.”
“Keep letting her know that you ain’t giving up. Text her, send flowers, whatever. I have a feeling she’ll come around.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Me too. Now let’s go watch this game,” he said as Alexz and Axton pulled up.
He waited around for them to get out of the car, but I decided to head inside. Mama and Brittany were at the stove, so I made my way to the couch to watch TV. When I heard the back door open, I assumed it was Pop, Axton, and Alexz, so I didn’t pay much attention. However, when I heard Yolanda’s voice, I almost choked on my own spit. She never usually came around while I was here. When she glanced over at me, I knew she was about to come speak to me. I turned my attention to the TV, and within seconds, she sat next to me.
She kissed my cheek as she always did. “Hey, Mel. How you doing, baby?”
“I’m good. How you doing?”
“I’m okay. I wish I could see you again, but I know you said that season is done,” she said in a soft voice.
