Page 34 of Lucci

LUCCI

A nigga typically wasn’t afraid of anything but walking up in the gala that Breezy’s car club was hosting and looking stupid was one of them.

It had been a month since the last time I spoke to her.

After days in the hospital, a week and a half shut up in the house like a recluse, and handling business, I felt like a conversation was needed.

My mind was rested, and I was off to a good start with the things I had planned for the future.

I could have just called her. That was the first thought that entered my mind when I walked into the large space dressed in a tuxedo feeling like a sucka.

At home, I sat in my car for almost twenty minutes contemplating going back inside, taking my clothes off, and just shooting her a text message.

The moment I crossed the threshold into the room, a server dressed in a white shirt and black pants greeted me with a smile and offered a glass of champagne from the tray she was holding.

I hadn’t smoked or drank any alcohol since the day I decided to do my detox, but the sobriety streak was going to be cut short.

I nodded my head at the server and took a big gulp of champagne.

When I surveyed the room and my eyes landed on Kiandra standing in a corner wearing a black gown sipping champagne, I emptied the rest of my glass.

I should have done what the hell I started to do and stayed home.

Kiandra didn’t even drink, so the fact that she was drinking champagne, was the first red flag.

The second red flag was the fact that she was even there.

Kiandra wasn’t a confrontational person.

And even if she didn’t like the fact that I had a past thing with Breezy, it wasn’t Breezy’s fault.

So, why crash her event? There was no way she still wanted to be a part of The Hellcat Barbies.

Kiandra must have felt my eyes on her because her head lifted and even from across the room, I watched her entire body tense when she realized I was there.

We had a brief stare off before she caught a server passing by and switched her empty glass for a full one.

Champagne wasn’t going to be enough for me, so I headed to the open bar.

My chest tightened when I thought about the fact that if Tyler was alive, he would have been right by my side.

Maino would have been too, if he wasn’t healing from damn near dying.

I wasn’t a stranger to loss, and I wanted to believe that if I could survive life without Tyler, I didn’t give a damn about losing anyone else, but that wasn’t true.

Life without Breezy didn’t feel right. I had grown accustomed to her infectious smile.

That good ass pussy. Her soft voice. As I ambled toward the bar, I saw her.

Breezy looked delicious in a body hugging wine colored sequined gown that reached the floor but had a high split on one side.

She was standing in front of a nigga that I’d seen in her face one too many times.

His shoes matched her dress, and my teeth grinded at the revelation that he might be her date.

There were two bars. One on each side of the room.

There were three bartenders working each one.

The bar I’d chosen had four people ahead of me, but I wasn’t in a rush.

Turning my back on Kiandra, Breezy, and ole boy, I waited patiently for my turn.

When the bartender asked me what I wanted, I requested rum and coke.

After he handed me the drink, I placed a five in the tip jar.

As I sipped my drink, I watched the crowd.

There had to be about seventy people in attendance.

The room was large, however, so there was still plenty of space for people to mingle and move around without being cramped.

I had never been to a real classy put together event where everyone was dressed up, and ninety-five percent of the people in attendance were black.

I always felt that Breezy’s car club was dope but after I got to know her and saw how much they did for the community I gained a newfound respect for them.

My gaze landed back on Kiandra, and when I saw her stumble, all I could do was shake my head. She wasn’t a drinker, and something was telling me the situation wasn’t going to end well. I inched closer to her even though she was talking to a woman in a red gown.

“You good?” the woman implored, her brows dipped from concern.

“That’s a good question,” Kiandra giggled.

“I haven’t really been good since my man of three years left me for no obvious reason.

Then, less than a month of us being apart, he was already infatuated with someone else.

Just tossed me to the side like yesterday’s trash.

” Kiandra drained the champagne from the flute she was holding.

“And he’s here tonight,” she swayed a bit and chuckled.

“No matter how many times I’ve stood by his side, he still chose someone else over me.

Now isn’t that something? Do you think I’m good? ”

Kiandra eyed the woman who wore a confused expression on her face like she really needed an answer. Her lips parted, but no words left her mouth. I stood in front of Kiandra but smiled at the woman.

“I got her from here.”

She gave a slight nod and wasted no time getting away from Kiandra. “I think you need to let me take you home. How did you get here?”

“I drove. How do you think I got here? I saw you watching her. She’s here with another man, and you still can’t keep your eyes off her. What is it about her?” Kiandra’s face crumpled, and my jaw muscles flexed. Next time something told my ass to stay home, that was what I was going to do.

I didn’t answer, Kiandra, but when she reached for another glass of champagne, I gently grabbed her arm. “I think you’ve had enough.”

Clumsily, she snatched away from me. “You are not my father, and I’m no longer your concern,” she snapped before her face contorted. “Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick.” She rushed from the room, and I followed her to make sure she was good.

Kiandra ran into the bathroom, and I leaned against the wall to wait with drink in hand.

When Breezy stepped out of the ballroom, my chest tightened.

“Is she okay?” she walked briskly toward me bringing an alluring scent with her.

My dick bricked up, and I hated that shit.

Fuck, it had been too long since I had sex, and Breezy was looking like she needed me to fold her up and stroke her like a man possessed.

“Had a little too much to drink,” I mumbled.

Breezy’s throat bounced as she swallowed hard. “I didn’t expect to see either one of you here.”

“I’m not sure why she came. Honestly, I’m not sure why I came.”

Breezy stared at me with an expression that I couldn’t read. I braced myself for the words that were about to fall off her lips. After a brief but awkward silence, she spoke. “I’m glad to see that you’re okay.”

“Why didn’t you come in the hospital room that day?”

“Because you clearly had company.”

“Company that I didn’t ask for.”

“Yet, you and her always seem to end up together.” Something that looked like pain flickered in her orbs.

Before I could respond, the bathroom door opened. “I think I need to go home,” Kiandra whined with throw up in her hair. When she noticed Breezy, she snorted. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Kiandra, you don’t need to drive,” I called out as she walked off.

Pivoting, she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “She’s who you want to be with. Her. So be with her, Lucciano. I don’t want to be your charity project anymore. I bow out gracefully.” She turned to walk away, and she tripped.

I knew Kiandra was already in her feelings and adding embarrassment to that wouldn’t make it any better. I rushed to her side, and she stormed away from me. “Just leave me alone, Lucci.”

I understood she was upset, but I refused to let her drive.

With my drink still in hand, I followed Breezy to her car, took her keys from her as she sobbed, and got in the drivers’ seat.

She leaned her head against the window and thankfully, before we were out of the parking lot good, she was asleep.

Once again, Breezy had to witness me prioritize Kiandra over everything else.

I was proving her point without even trying.

Maybe that was simply my sign to leave well enough alone.

Never would I have imagined that breaking away from Kiandra would be so hard to do.

When I pulled up in front of her house, I almost dreaded waking her up. “Kiandra.” She didn’t budge. Raising my voice a little louder, I shook her arm. “Kiandra, wake up! You’re home.”

“Ummmmmm.” She moaned but didn’t open her eyes.

Gritting my teeth in effort to remain calm, I turned the ignition off and went to open her door.

I then walked back to the car and contemplated whether or not I wanted to pick her up knowing that it hadn’t been a full month since I had surgery.

I didn’t want to risk it, so I very lightly smacked her cheek.

“Kiandra, wake up, ma. You gotta walk in the house.”

Her eyes opened, and she looked around bewildered. When her gaze landed on me, she frowned. “I have to throw up again.”

Kiandra bolted from the car and into the house while I pulled my phone from my pocket to request a rideshare.

There was one ten minutes away, so I sat on the porch to wait.

I had done my due diligence and made sure she got home safely.

She better be able to handle it from there because I was done.

Being nice was what had my ass in the situation that I was in.

While I waited on my ride, I also made the decision to get my car from valet when I got back and take my black ass home.

My intentions were good with going to the gala, but I was over it already. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.