Page 16

nariah

. . .

Bending over in front of Shunta I popped my ass to the beat of the song, while everybody in the section hyped me up. Dropping down into a squat I twerked one cheek at a time before rolling my hips. The DJ was playing “Wanna Be” by Glo and Meg and that was my shit.

I was kid free for the weekend, and my nigga was on ice so when Shunta invited me to Opium, I hopped at the opportunity to leave the crib.

She had been booked for a hosting and wanted me to tag along.

It had been a whole three weeks since the fiasco in Miami and Julius was nowhere near getting on my good side.

To keep the peace in the house I played nice with him around Jude but when my baby wasn’t around, I wasn’t fucking with that nigga.

Julius thought I was dumb, had to, cause that bullshit ass story ‘bout being in the studio that he tried to feed me ain’t do shit but piss me the fuck off.

The only reason I hadn’t left was because I didn’t have any solid proof that he was fucking off.

If I ever got some—believe me, it was a wrap for his ass. He thought ‘cause he was playing the crib close that I would be cool but that was the furthest thing from the truth. I ain’t let that nigga touch me since Miami and I ain’t felt no type of way about it.

When the DJ scratched the song and dropped “All Dere” I got too turnt up.

Cameras and shit were flashing all through the section and for the first time in a long time I didn’t care.

I was having the time of my life just kicking it without having to worry ‘bout anything. I knew Julius was going to be pissed. I’ll deal with that tomorrow, but tonight… Oh, I’m gone turn up.

The sheer onyx catsuit from NoSceneGirls had my entire body on display. I had a black thong under it and made sure to cover my nipples with pasties. At the end of the day I was a mother, a sexy one but I still had a child.

I was standing on the couch dancing when Shunta tapped me on the thigh. “Somebody sent you a bottle.” She noted and pointed her finger at the sign the bottle girl was holding up.

My eyes glanced around the packed club after I read the sign. “Girl.” I drawled after not spotting the person I was looking for. “Ain’t no somebody sent me shit. That’s from Julius.” I specified with a quick roll of my eyes.

“How you know?” She queried.

Propping my hand up on my hip I stared at her.

“Do yo shit twin.” I read off. It took Shunta a few seconds to catch on but when she did her ass fell over laughing.

If Julius was nothing else, he was my biggest hype man.

It was rare that I popped my shit, I honestly felt like I didn’t have to do too much.

But Julius would always tell me to “pop my shit”.

“Juice said you thought you was ‘bout to enjoy a night out without him.”

“Shunta that is not funny.” I pouted and stepped down from the couch. “He supposed to be at home.”

“Bitch, do you see how you came out the house looking? Ain’t no way you thought Juice was gone let you be out here on your own.”

“That’s the thing. Julius didn’t see me.

” I purposely got dressed in my makeup room so that Julius wouldn’t see what I had on.

Hell, I didn’t even tell him I was going out tonight, I just left.

I stopped sharing my location with him back in Miami so the only other way he would’ve known where I was is if Lox told him.

And judging by the way he was sitting there avoiding my death glares I would say my assumptions were correct.

Trekking over to Lox I propped my hands on my hips. “Where ya boy at?” Instead of responding he tipped his head behind me.

I didn’t even have to look ‘cause the crowd gave him away. Rolling my eyes I huffed and fell back on the couch. “I can’t never have fun.” I pouted, forcing a deep chuckle out of Lox.

“Come on Nari, you know that man not ‘bout to let you out of his sight for too long.”

“That’s not the point. I’m mad at Julius.”

“Clearly he don’t care.” Shunta giggled.

I could feel Julius’s eyes on me as he neared the section. As soon as he stepped in like the gentleman he was he went around and spoke to everybody. Once he was done being chivalrous, he stood in front of me. Glancing down at my nails I tried to ignore him.

“You on yo shit tonight huh twin?” He teased while kneeling in front of me.

“Why are you here?”

“My girl here. Where else I’m supposed to be?”

“You know what I mean Julius.”

“Nawl, I don’t.” He lied. Grabbing me by the hand Julius pulled me up from the couch and wrapped his arms around me. “You out here looking good and shit. Twerking and shit with all ya ass out. Give me a hug nigga.”

“Nope.” I kept my hands at my side, refusing to hug his ass back. He smelled and looked too damn good, and I almost gave in, but I was still mad, so I didn’t. “If I look good just say that.”

“You know you look good, Nariah. I ain’t even gotta tell you that.” Julius glanced down at my feet then back up to me. “I like them shoes.” He winked.

Amongst the few bags Julius had bought me the other day was a pair of YSL Tribute platform heels. I thought they would look good with my outfit, so I put them on. “I bet you do.”

“You hosting or just partying?” He asked, getting all in my business.

“Partying. Shunta hosting.”

“Oh aight. So that means you can leave?”

“I’m not leaving my friend Julius.”

“You don’t even fuck with that girl like that.” He chided.

Jabbing him in the stomach I turned my face up. “Yes, I do.”

After I quit Stax, Shunta and I kept in touch.

Her dreams ended up coming true when she snagged a football player.

The two of them had two kids before calling it quits with their relationship.

Much like me Shunta had gained a big following on social media which resulted in her getting booking gigs and shit.

Outside of doing this she didn’t work. Her baby daddy paid all of her bills and stayed out of her way. They had an odd arrangement, but it worked for them. We weren’t the best of friends, but she and I hung out from time to time.

“If you say so, Nariah.” Julius glanced around the section before focusing back on me. “You ready to go?”

“Nope.”

“Aight then. Well, I’mma sit here until you are.” He winked and sat down next to Lox. Leaning over Julius held his hand out. “Preciate the heads up my nigga.”

“You know I got you.” Lox quipped and dapped Julius up.

I really wasn’t ready to leave since I was having fun kicking it with Shunta so since Julius had bombarded his way into the section he was gone sit there until I got tired. Sauntering over to Shunta I leaned against the railing. “Guess we partying with my baby daddy tonight.”

“I’on know why you thought he was going to leave.”

“Girl cause...” I sighed. Turning around I looked out at the crowd.

Opium was packed the fuck out. I had hosted here a few times, so I already knew what the vibes was going to be.

Unless I was hosting or rolling with Julius it was rare that I frequented clubs, so I was really looking forward to letting my hair down.

Tucking my hair behind my ear Shunta said, “I won’t be mad if you left.”

“I don’t wanna leave.”

“You also not ‘bout to enjoy yoself with Juice hovering. Nigga be cock-blocking without even saying shit.”

Looking over my shoulder at him I rolled my eyes. “You got your backend?”

“Bitch I got that when I walked through the door.” She laughed.

“I know that’s fucking right.” I drawled. Sighing dejectedly, I groaned. “I’mma leave.”

“I knew you would. It’s cool Nari.”

“We can do lunch one day this week. Go shopping or something.”

“I’mma hold yo ass to that shit too. You always make plans just to turn around and cancel them.”

“Guilty.” I held my hand up. “But I promise I won’t this time. Jude going to Maryland with my mama and grandma so I ain’t got nothing but time.”

“Hit me up.”

Wrapping my arm around her shoulder I hugged her. “I will.”

After saying my goodbyes, I ambled over to Julius and conceded. “We can go.”

“You sure?” He asked and eyed me.

“Yeah.”

“Bet.” Rising from the couch Julius looped his fingers through mine. “Let’s be out then.”

We left out of the section and made our way through the crowd with Lox leading the way. When we made it to the parking lot, I didn’t see Julius’s car, so I assumed he had someone drop him off. The two of us ended up in the back seat of my black truck while Lox occupied the front passenger seat.

___

“You cold?” Julius paused and asked mid conversation.

“Yeah.”

“Ass should’ve put on some clothes.” He fussed but passed his jacket over to me.

I wrapped it around myself and nestled into his side.

After we left Opium, he had hit up the guys and told them to meet us at Marietta Diner.

Thank God, they sat us in the back of the restaurant ‘cause these niggas was drunk and talking loud as hell.

I had tuned them out and was scrolling through Instagram.

I hadn’t seen either of them since Miami and just like I wasn’t fucking with Julius I wasn’t fucking with they ass either. The only one that really got any talk from me was Tito and that’s ‘cause he wasn’t with Julius when I was looking for him.

“Nariah, what’s up with your girl Shunta?” Lucas asked.

“Ask her.”

“Wait. Not you checking for Shunta. You know Tito cracked her some years back.” Julius blurted out.

“First of all, stop telling my friend business.”

“Ain’t nobody telling that girl business. I’m tryna keep this nigga from back dooring that nigga.”

“It was a one-time thing. As a matter of fact, she really wanted to get at yo ass, but you swerved her.” Tito asserted.

“You cool with somebody that tried to get at yo nigga, Nari? Not yo possessive ass.”

“Byron, that was before Julius, and I were a thing. And I’m the one that told her to try him.”

“You did what?” Julius damn near yelled.

The elevation in Julius’s tone made me giggle. “I told her to shoot her shot. Hell, you was trying to get at me and I wasn’t interested.”