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“Girl, don’t play with my mommy,” she responded, snapping her fingers. I scooped up a spoonful and sniffed it warily.
“Now, bitch, please!” Taleah popped, and we both cracked up.
Turned out, Mama’s potato saladwasdelicious, and I savored the creamy goodness as Taleah filled me in on her and Liam’s latest adventures. I appreciated my friend; talking to her allowed my mind to drift back to Real only about a hundred times instead of constantly. I was more anxious about his response than I wanted to admit. I thought I could tough it out—hell, I owed him after the way he’d tried. But it felt like I was trying to break into a fortress, and each rejection chipped away at my resolve. Karma was a cold-hearted bitch.
“Hey, you good?” Taleah asked, noticing my sudden silence.
“Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile. “About life, I guess.”
“About Mr. Hamilton?” she prodded.
I shrugged. Maybe.
“‘He’s a good man, Savannah. Agoodman,’” she teased.
“I know,” I murmured.
She squeezed my shoulder gently.
“He gon’ come around. You hurt his feelings and his pride. You know how they can be.”
I nodded. I did know how men could be; that wasn’t the surprise. No, what shocked me was that this time, I cared.
Before Taleah could pry further, Kelsey popped up, bringing a burst of energy. She was her usual bubbly self, full of ideas for games and ten playlists for the DJ. As the evening wore on, I found myself laughing and mingling, trying to shake off my thoughts of Real.At some point, I caught Marlon’s eye from across the yard. He was standing near the big grill where his brother was busy working, shooting me a playful grin. I lifted my water bottle in salute. He crooked a finger, telling me to come here.
“Hell, why not?” I muttered and walked over to him.
“Damn, mamas. You wearing the hell out of that dress. How you doing, beautiful?” he greeted.
“I’m well,” I said, accepting the one arm hug he wrapped me in.
He smelled wonderful. I was a scent person, loved colognes, but as I stood next to this gorgeous, scrumptious smelling man, I felt… nothing. I mean, I liked him, I thought he was attractive, but he wasn’t for me. Oh, no. I had to be stuck on a smart-mouthed, gangsta realtor or whatever he was.
“I was just telling Chill that I think he outdid himself with these burgers. Taste.”
He lifted the burger from his plate and held it close to my lips. It did look and smell decadent, but Marlon was clearly enjoying the opportunity to flirt. I mean, why the hell not? I stared up at him, a smile dancing around my lips. I leaned forward and took a small bite. The flavors exploded across my tongue, and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me. Marlon looked at Chill smugly.
“Told you we calling this one The Orgasm,” he said.
“Nigga…” Chill shook his head as I laughed.
I took another bite that might have been even better than the first. Closing my eyes, I chewed in ecstasy. The Orgasm, indeed.
“Let me fix you one, shorty,” Marlon offered.
I nodded, as I started to swallow.
“That’s the best thing for you to do before you be sucking your food through a straw the rest of your life,” a low voice rolled over me.
The food I was swallowing stuck in my throat, sending me into a fit of coughs. I twisted the top off my water bottle and hurriedly took a long swallow as I attempted to get my coughing under control.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked while trying to get my breathing under control.
“Deathlyserious, shorty,” Real said, staring coolly at me.
Marlon chuckled as he patted my back. “Threatening me at my brother’s crib is bold, even for one of the Hamiltons.”
“Told you he was invited,” Chill told his brother, his tone supremely unconcerned.