Page 13

ONE WEEK LATER…

I set out all the things I would need in order to do this new real client’s makeup for her birthday, then checked my iPhone while I waited for her to come back from the bathroom. I could only shake my head when I saw I had a new follower by the name of Daisy, and it was easy to guess that she was Unique’s other girlfriend.

I had a mind to block her ass, but I decided against it, figuring if I did, she would believe I had something to hide, and that was so far from the truth.

I was going to leave my shit open so her and her delusional ass counterpart/sister girlfriend could see that the only person checking for Unique Compton was them and groupies.

I found him handsome and a good time but I would never go as far as to say I was checking for him. I wasn’t even checking for single niggas right now, let alone taken ones.

Sure, I’d thought about him too much maybe and dreamed that we fucked once, but that wasn’t necessarily checking for him… right?

“Sorry about that,” my client, Rina, returned smiling.

“No problem, girl.” I welcomed her into the chair she’d provided me.

Her house was big and beautiful, and she had a whole makeup room. I was so excited when I got here, seeing not only was this an actual client and not some scheme, but I would be able to work in this luxurious ass vanity room.

“Thank you so much for booking me last minute. The girl I had booked months ago claims she is too sick to come.” Rina shook her head as I began to prep her face.

“Yeah, I get we’re all human, but I try to remain professional and not flake on anyone. I can’t remember the last time I had to cancel,” I stated honestly.

“Well, I will surely be using you again. I mean, it depends on how my face looks, but from what I saw on your page, I trust you.” She smiled, eyes closed as she relaxed. “You’ve done a lot of famous women too.”

“Yep, I did.” I nodded though her eyes were shut.

“They don’t wanna work with you anymore?”

“What made you ask that?” I quizzed, knowing damn well that was exactly the case.

“Just don’t see why you’d go from making that kind of money to the money you make now. I noticed the huge drop on your price lists.”

“Yeah.” I sighed, continuing to work. “But I can’t be too mad. They don’t know the truth about my situation, and it involves someone pretty prominent in the industry. If I had to choose between my career and livelihood over some random person, it’d be an easy choice too.”

Rina was quiet for a bit before she said, “Well, I believe you. Men can be trash, and they’re trash because we don’t hold them accountable.”

“My thoughts exactly.” I smirked.

Rina and I chatted about all kinds of things for the next hour, and I found her life fascinating. I guess because it was so different from mine. I was a single woman, and she was a married mother of four who stayed at home mainly but on occasions ran a luxury YouTube channel.

When she told me the money she used to buy designer was what her husband deemed ‘her play money,’ I knew that was the type of life I desired to have one day. Even AJ wasn’t that rich.

Her hairstylist had come halfway through to start on her hair, and we worked seamlessly together.

Sometimes I would run into hairstylists who had attitudes or didn’t know how to work with other people, so I was thankful I didn’t have to show my ass a little in front of what I hoped would be a repeat client.

Once I was finished, I started to pack up my things, happy that Rina loved her makeup and said I would for sure be her go-to from now on. I needed this type of client more than she even knew.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Tate. I have a delivery for Miss Kabrina.” The housekeeper stood in the doorway of the vanity room, making me turn around due to what she’d just said.

“For me? Here?” I frowned, and no one, not Rina nor her hairstylist, stylist, or assistant, said anything.

After a moment of hesitation, I met the housekeeper at the mouth of the vanity room to take the big ass vase of yellow roses, the small Van Cleef bag, and then a bag from Diana’s Mexican food.

“Ooh, I see a card.” Rina simpered, and I was surprised she wasn’t upset about me having a damn delivery at her home.

“I am so sorry about this. I swear I do not know who this is from.” I set everything on the nearby table, locating the card Rina had mentioned.

“Well, let us know because someone likes you or loves you,” the stylist stated. He was an older gay man who was very flamboyant.

Ignoring him, I stared down at the card to see this was all from Unique.

Good luck, love, even though you don’t need it. - Unique.

I read it again, angry but also flattered, if that was even possible. I was pissed off that he wasn’t listening to me and leaving me alone. I was even angrier that he was trying to make me be something I was extremely against and had voiced to him. But at the same time, this was the sweetest thing anyone in my life had ever done for me. It was second to him being my caretaker while I went through an abortion, but still.

AJ never cared about my career, which didn’t bother me while I was with him, but in hindsight, it very much so did. When I discussed any endeavors I had, he would congratulate me and then change the subject. He hadn’t done it purposely; he just didn’t give a fuck.

My aunts also didn’t really care because, just like my mother, they were extremely self-serving now that I was an adult, and nothing mattered outside of themselves. I still loved them, however, because they were the only family I had.

By saying that, Unique doing this for me brought about a reaction no one probably expected. I quickly dabbed my eyes so the tears wouldn’t fully form and then slipped the white card into the back pocket of my jeans.

“Well? I hate being in suspense.” Rina reminded me that I was in a room with other people.

“Just a friend is all,” I lied… or no, it was the truth. Unique was just a friend.

“Right.” Rina shot her stylist a look as if she knew something I didn’t.

“Well, if there isn’t anything else, I should go.” I grabbed my things.

“Nope, you’re good. Unless you want to attend my party?”

“I would love to, but I have a long and early day come tomorrow,” I fibbed. I wasn’t in the mood to party. Unique’s gesture had brightened and dampened my mood all in one go.

“Okay, well, Frank will walk you out and pay you.” Rina nodded to a big man almost completely filling the door. “My husband.” She smiled.

“Oh. Okay.” I nodded and walked toward him. He looked scary until his face broke into a soft smile.

He escorted me out into the driveway, assisted me with getting all my shit into the car, and then handed me an envelope that looked way too thick to be the five hundred dollars I told Rina I charged.

“She wanted to pay you what you usually charge plus a tip,” he said when I frowned upon peering into the white envelope.

“Oh my gosh. Tell her thank you so much, and if she ever needs her makeup done, I don’t care how last minute, I will take care of her,” I said.

“Will do. Have a good evening.” Frank turned around to walk back into the house.

Once I was able to snap out of the shock she’d had me in, I smiled widely, then slid into my car. I was going to treat myself to a steak dinner tomorrow. I would’ve today, but I wanted to eat this Diana’s that had my stomach growling just from the smell.

Too hungry to pull off, I opened the container to see the hard-shell chicken tacos with extra cheese, my favorite. How Unique knew this, I wasn’t really sure because I was certain I’d never told his ass.

After scarfing down two of the three and drinking some of my soda, I pulled off, choosing to finish the rest when I got home. Once out on the road, I dialed him.

“KK.” His voice poured through the phone like hot caramel. Lord. And that nickname? Why did I like it when it was simply my initials?

“I got the food, the gift—which I haven’t opened—and the roses.” I smiled but wiped my face as I drove to erase it.

“Good. Was the food hot? It’d better been hot.”

“It was, Unique. Thank you. How did you know where to send that stuff?” I frowned, hopping onto the freeway. The sun was setting, and the sky looked like a mix of purple and sherbet.

“She tagged you on social media in a post about all the people who were coming through for her today or some shit like that. I slid in her DMs, told her what I was trying to do, and she gave her address.”

“She just gave a random nigga her address?” I chuckled, thinking how crazy people were as if this were the 1950s and a small town where crime was unlikely.

“Uh,” he laughed, “she did. But that random nigga is on TV in millions of households every year. If I was on some other shit, it’s unlikely I’d get away with it.”

“Oh, right. You are famous.” I giggled, feeling foolish.

“Yeah, and once I told her I could promise her tickets to the next wrap party, she was with it. With her nosy ass.”

Laughing, I asked, “How is she nosy when you’re asking for her home address?”

“’Cause she ain’t need to know who you was to me or none of that shit. Once I agreed to the trade, she should’ve just given me that shit.”

“What did you tell her?” I inquired, knowing I shouldn’t have.

“I told her you were my friend but one I found to be very fucking beautiful and very fucking hardworking, so I wanted to do something to celebrate you.”

My heart continued to thump out of my chest from the time I asked that question until right in this moment.

“Thanks,” was all I could think to say. “Unique, I thought we discussed this stuff. This is not what acquaintances do. And nothing you do for me or send me will change my mind about you and your lifestyle.”

“I heard you when you said it, and I ain’t trying to force you into shit, love. But I like you, and I can’t deal with you cutting a nigga off completely. The less I talk to you, the more I think about you. So I’m thinking we talk more, and I will think about you less, and it’s more likely I will leave the fuck you alone in the long run. Deal?”

“No deal.” I chuckled, even though I didn’t want to.

I hated that I thought about him often too. I thought it was because I was living in the building he owned, but that wasn’t true. Even when I was out, my mind would drift to Unique occasionally. I would try and tell myself it was because of all the drama with Aurora and Daisy, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t true either. I hated this shit.

“I don’t know, man. If I keep on, I’m gon’ catch feelings and shit.”

“Well unless you catch strong enough feelings to drop the poly talk, end it with the Bobbsey twins, and only be looking for me, then I really don’t give a fuck, Unique.”

“Ooh.” He grunted as if I’d hurt him. “I can’t get one date? Just to show you?”

“Show me what? I don’t need a date to know that I am not interested. And the more you try, the less of a chance you’d have, even if you were single and had some sense.”

He chuckled, and it made me do the same.

“Plan was to leave you alone, but it’s been hard on a nigga. Real shit.” He exhaled loudly. “I listened to you about ya mom and ya background, and I don’t want you to think I brushed that shit off. I’m gon’ do my best to leave you be, love, but don’t be surprised if I pop up on yo’ ass, claiming to be a changed man and shit. Aight?”

“Unique, bye.” I grinned, knowing that would never happen. He loved to flirt and loved women too much.

“Mhm,” he said just before I hit the end button, pulling into the parking garage of his building.

* * *

Pulling up to my aunt Bell’s house, I climbed out, ready to eat some of the pie she made. She’d claimed that she made one for me and the other was for her and any guests she had over, which really meant her trifling boo Elijah.

Using my key, I entered to see a woman around my aunt’s age sitting on the couch.

“Is this Kabrina?” she asked, rising to her feet. She was a pretty woman with dark skin, hazel eyes, and long dark hair. She reminded me of Kenya Moore.

“Uh… yeah.” I giggled politely as my aunt Bell came back into the living room carrying two glasses of wine.

“It is!” She beamed. “Brina, you remember Sharon, don’t you?” my aunt inquired.

“Oh yeah, I do,” I lied.

Pursing her lips and realizing I didn’t, she said, “My best friend. You remember her from when you were in elementary school, when she used to come over every Friday and Saturday.” Aunt Bell sat down on the couch after handing Sharon her glass.

The latter took a sip, smiling at me over the glass like a proud mother. So this was who my aunt had been kicking it with so much as of late. She told me no name, just ‘my best friend.’

“Oh wait, yeah, I do. You did come over a lot and then you kind of just… stopped.” I frowned, sitting in the recliner across from them.

Descending next to my aunt, Sharon replied, “I started dating my now husband. Things moved fast, which I am not complaining about, but one day I was single, and the next, I was planning a wedding, opening a new church, and pregnant.”

“Want some wine?” Aunt Bell asked, and I shook my head.

“I see. In that case, I’m happy for you, even though it’s been like what, eighteen years since I’ve seen you?” I ran the numbers in my head.

“Excuse me.” A tall teenaged boy came from the back, low-key scaring the shit out of me.

“Speaking of being pregnant, this was the baby I had.” Sharon gestured up to the very tall, baby-faced boy with a honey complexion and bright brown eyes. “Deacon, this is Kabrina, Bell’s niece I mentioned.”

“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand as he nodded to silently say ‘same,’ before he stepped past me to sit down. Immediately, he pulled out his iPhone to scroll on like a teenager would.

I didn’t know what it was, but something about the boy’s aura was familiar, like I’d either met him before or met someone like him.

“So, Kabrina, when are you going to visit the church?” Sharon pulled my attention from her son as my aunt flipped through channels, sipping her wine.

“Uh, what church again?” I stalled, knowing I would never attend. Now that Sharon was here, everything was slowly coming back to me, and when my aunt gave me brief, knowing eye contact, I recalled the things Bell had said about Sharon’s husband.

She claimed he was money hungry and how weird it was that he seemingly came out of nowhere. The details were spotty since I was only in like third or fourth grade when I would be eavesdropping on her and my other aunt Rosette’s conversations, but I distinctly remember my aunt being suspicious of him. Especially the fact that he claimed to have no family and that his parents had died when he was a boy.

“Crossroads Church. Big church out in Costa Mesa.” She smiled, pointing toward the door as if the church were right in the front yard. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it, Kabrina.” She sized me up a bit. “Do you attend church?”

“Oh right, and yeah, I do when I can.” I caught eyes with my aunt again before saying, “I’ll come to that one someday for sure.” I stood, suddenly uncomfortable. “Aunt Bell, I’m gonna grab my pie and go. I have an early appointment in the morning,” I said, only wishing that shit was true.

“Oh… well, okay. It’s the one covered in foil and with your name on it.” Aunt Bell eyed me for a moment before engaging Sharon in conversation.

I quickly grabbed my pie and said my goodbyes. But before slipping out, I stole one more glance at Deacon, trying to figure out why something about his young ass was so familiar to me.