Page 9

"For what?"

"The party nigga, duh," he smirked. "We celebrating tonight. Ari coming and she bringing her cousin Serenity."

“Word?”

"You down or what?" Brodie asked.

I thought about it. I had shit on my mind. Pressure on my back. But maybe, for just one night, I could forget all that.

"Aight, bet," I finally said. I had no idea that tonight would change everything.

3

SERENITY

"You look good as hell, Tootie."

I smirked at Arielle’s reflection in the mirror as she stood behind me, tilting her head to the side. The two of us had been in front of this mirror for at least twenty minutes, hyping each other up and adjusting our outfits before heading to the party.

"I know," I grinned, popping my hip out. "But say it again."

Arielle rolled her light brown eyes, but she was smiling.

"Girl, you heard me the first time."

I turned slightly, running my hands down my waist, smoothing out the fabric of my dress. The rich brown fabric clung to my curves, bringing out my skin tone, and the way it hugged my hips? Yeah, I was feeling myself.

My hair, thick, black, and streaked with natural brown highlights was pulled into a deep side part, long loose curls cascading down my back. I had spent too much time perfecting my edges for them not to be laid just right, and the gold hoop earrings I wore complimented my skin perfectly.

My rich brown eyes were lined with a subtle wing, and my lips were glossed to perfection.

"Okay, but why are we fine as hell, though?" I teased, laughing as I turned to Arielle.

She smirked, flipping her long, pin-straight black hair over her shoulder.

"Because it’s in our blood, duh," she said, grinning.

Arielle looked good too.

She was shorter than me—about 5’4—but she had a presence that made her seem taller. Her light brown almond-shaped eyes had a natural slant, a feature she got from Aunt Aimee who was half Filipino and black, and she had sharp cheekbones and smooth golden skin that always seemed to glow.

She wore a black fitted dress that accentuated her curves, simple but elegant, paired with strappy heels that made her just a little taller.

"We really about to step out and shut shit down," I murmured, admiring us both.

"As we should," she agreed, tossing me a shot of tequila before taking one herself. The mini bar was stacked with the small bottles. Sevyn was gone on his own little New York adventure leaving us to raid it. "Now let’s go before Brodie starts calling every five minutes."

The moment we walked into the party, I could feel the shift in energy.

The music was loud, the bass vibrating through the floor, and the air was thick with the scent of liquor, weed, and expensive cologne. The place was packed, people dancing, laughing, drinking, lost in their own worlds.

"Y’all took forever," Brodie smirked, making his way over to us.

Arielle barely had time to react before Brodie pulled her in by the waist, his lips pressing against hers in a slow, easy kiss like he’d been waiting for it all night.

I smirked, looking away to give them their moment, and was about to take in the scene when Brodie pulled back and turned his attention to me.

"Tootie you look good girl. You came to shut shit down, huh?"