Page 16

They laughed heartily.

“Wow. See what happens when you come out to support us?”

“Why didn’t you tell me Sangria was his club?”

“What makes you think I knew that?”

“Please. You were all booked for a show that has to go through Jacob, don’t even play me.”

Tina laughed again. “Okay, okay, you got me. But to be fair, I didn’t find out until it was time to have a face-to-face with the owner.”

“Again, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you’re always nervous when it comes to him.”

“And for a good reason! I need to be prepared and on my A-game.”

“And you were. This is what you fail to realize. You’realwayson your A-game, girl. Period, okay? I knew you would come looking fine as wine like you always do, and you didn’t disappoint!”

Carla smiled and proceeded to pick out clothes for her lunch date.

“You’re right. But I also didn’t expect to see Lennox there either. Girl, when he crept up behind me, I thought initially he was Jacob coming to retrieve me until I saw his face.”

“I saw him ease up behind you from my place on the stage, but I couldn’t warn you because we were in mid-performance. But please tell me you’re not entertaining this man.”

“We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“How can you be friends with him?”

“Because I’m bored sometimes, and I’ve gotten over what he’s done.”

“Have you?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to be bored anymore. You’ve got Jacob now.”

Carla laughed. “First, I don’t have Jacob. Was last night amazing? Why, hell yes. That was the closest I’ve gotten to having a real conversation with him and hanging out with him, but still, he was on the clock.”

“On top of that, who knows what Jacob wants? He’s been too hot and too cold for me to be like, yeah, Jacob and I are a thing, whether that thing is friendship or a relationship. He would have to come right out of his mouth and say so for me to believe it’s true. Until then, Lennox will remain a friend I talk to. Devin too.”

“Devin?”

“Yeah, the guy I met at the gas station a few weeks back. He was cute or whatever. We had a couple of jokes, and we’ve spoken a few times on the phone. He’s cool.”

Tina sighed. “All right, girl—you do you. What can I say? You only live once.”

“Yolo!”

They laughed.

“You-all’s performance was,” Carla snapped her fingers, “Fire!”

Tina laughed. “It was pretty good, wasn’t it?”

“Pretty good? Girl, you all were swinging those hips and crooning likeDreamgirls!”

Laughter engulfed them.