Drama at the Club

There was a beautiful crispness in the air. I had been enjoying the lower temperatures over the last couple of weeks during my walks to work from the spot where I parked my car.

Even though I was at a high-end entertainment spot, it was not without its share of low-budget drama. I decided not to play into whatever Malik was attempting to prove.

There was a new girl. They called her “Spice.” She was supposedly Summer’s cousin who had just moved to town from somewhere in Mississippi. In my opinion, she wasn't that cute. I wasn't saying it because I was jealous. She had one of those faces that needed makeup. And that wasn't the problem; it was that she was under the impression that she was cuter than she was. And those are some of the most annoying folks. It's like, girl, you already look like a catfish by the face, please sit all the way down.

I was in the dressing room preparing for another exciting night of shaking my ass for dollar bills when the girl strutted into the dressing room with Summer. I was like, Oh joy. They looked like the number ten when standing next to each other, whispering.

Caramela nudged me, “Mira, tu amiga y su prima.”

I smirked, “She ain’t no friend of mine.”

Then we saw Spice approaching us. She looked at me through the mirror, “I need a place to do my hair and makeup.”

My left eyebrow raised, “Okay? I agree that you need all the makeup and hair care, but this spot is taken.”

She sucked her teeth and turned to Summer, “She’s not moving.”

Carmela started huffing, “I know this bitch is not about to try us.”

“Relax, sis. I got this.”

Summer waddled her ass over to us, huffing, “Um, did you not hear Spice say she needed a spot to do her hair and makeup?”

I stared at her with utter confusion. It was quiet; everyone stared, waiting with wide eyes. I started laughing. Then I started rocking in my seat.

“I know you like to play crazy, but as you can see, Malik has a new favorite. So you can go do your makeup at another spot or share with ya lil Spanish friend.”

“First of all, I’m not even Spanish. I was born in New York, and I’m Domini—”

“No one gives a fuck, Caramel. Shut your tortilla-eating ass up.”

I reached for Eliana. That was her real name, “Don’t. She’s not worth it.”

“I’m not moving. And if she wants this spot, she can come remove me from this seat.” My head tilted as I looked at her cowering next to the door.

Summer rolled her eyes. I thought the matter was done. Then I felt the heel of her hand on the back of my head. My head moved forward. Then I blacked out. When I finally realized what was going on in the chaos, one of the bouncers had me in a corner next to Eliana.

I saw Malik and someone helping Summer off the floor. Her wig was under the bench, one of her eyelashes had come off, her lip was bleeding, and she held her eye, “I wanna press charges." She mumbled.

Malik looked her in the eyes, “You’re not pressing charges. You’re going to go home and sleep this shit off.”

“I can’t drive like this. My eye.”

He turned, “Spice, take her home.”

She nodded like a little girl.

*****

We stepped into the hallway. One of the servers approached Malik, “There’s a problem in the room.”

The room was something new. A lot of big timers started to frequent the establishment for high-stakes poker games. I heard that Malik joined even though it was not allowed, but Malik had free rein over the spot. He was on good terms with the owners.

Malik looked at me, “Wait for me in my office.”

I marched off. I could have just gone home and never returned. I was only staying until the end of the year. I only had seven weeks to deal with the bullshit. Every day, I attempted to convince Eliana to join me. She was ****. She was determined to find a wealthy man.

I told her, “The wealthy men who come here are already married, and they come here for an escape.”

She shrugged as if she still had hope that it would happen. I could only wish her the best.

I walked into Malik’s office. I went straight to his desk and sat. I looked around for signs of her. I wondered if he had been fucking her in his office. How many girls? Ugh, I hated thinking about it. He wasn’t mine. How could I be jealous?

Before I could trouble myself with more toxic thoughts, the door opened. He stepped inside and locked it. He cleared his throat.

“Would you like your seat?”

He stood staring down at me, “What was that all about?”

“You already know.”

“Just because you’re leaving doesn’t mean you have to wreck shop. Some of us still have to make a living.”

I sighed, “That’s not what I’m doing, and you know it.”

“Then why are you trying to recruit more people to leave with you?”

I made a face.

“Don’t deny it.”

“It was only Eliana. The rest of these bitches can kick rocks.”

He rolled his eyes, “I knew you didn’t give a fuck about me.”

“What?”

“Ever since Redd’s son came back, you’ve been all up his ass. You used me when he left. I was there for you, and now that he’s back, it’s the same thing. You want to be in his face.”

I stood, “Are you serious?”

“You haven’t come to see me at all. Not once since you came back to work.”

“Thought you were busy with your new girlfriend.”

“Who, Spice?"

“Yeah. Her and all the others.”

“You really think I’m fucking other women here? I know you don’t think I'm that reckless with my dick. I have a wife.”

I stared at him. Suddenly, I felt convicted, “I don’t know Malik.”

He lifted my chin, “I have been waiting for you to come here and show me something. That I mean something. Do I mean anything to you?”

I nodded, “Of course.”

That was all I had to say, and next thing I knew, Malik had me butt ass naked on my back. Our flesh got warmer with each passing minute. I lay there looking into his eyes in disbelief. We had been together many times in his office, but never had he lain on top of me, kissing me all passionately.

I held his face, “You can’t.”

“I can and I want to.”

He pressed deep and held. I felt him throbbing inside. I bit his shoulder and hummed. Slowly, his lips found mine, and we kissed until our orgasms faded.

*****

I was leaving the club when I ran into Elaina. She was talking to a man. She stopped me, “Aja, meet my friend, Emilio.”

I was frozen for a second, then I shook his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

I hugged her, “I'll see you tomorrow night.”

He chimed in, “Are you walking?”

“Um, no. I’m parked not too far away.”

She chuckled, “Aja is private. I don’t even know where she parks her car or what she drives.”

I laughed, “Well, you can find out way more about me if you take me up on my offer.”

She nodded, “I don’t know. Maybe I won’t have to.” She said with a wink.

“Have a good night.”

“Buenos noches, Aja.” He said.

*****

I did not have time to really think about Eliana and Emilio. I pretended not to know him because it wasn't anything serious. Maybe he would be her ticket out of the business.

I was not far from my car when I got a text message from Micah. I had not heard from him in a while. His wife had finally given birth to the baby.

“I need help. Nicole went to her mother’s, and my mom is away for the weekend. The baby won’t stop crying.”

“Aside from dropping off a gift the day the baby came home from the hospital, I had not been to the house.

I replied, “I’m on my way.”

He was waiting for me at the door. I could hear her wailing. “Geesh, what happened? No fever, right?”

He shrugged, “I, I, I don’t know.”

I walked by him and saw her in the playpen, fighting the air. I touched her forehead. She wasn’t hot, but I got him to bring the thermometer. I checked, and she was not running a fever.

I pressed her belly. She felt bloated, “Um, yeah. She’s got gas.”

“Why doesn’t she just fart?”

I chuckled, “Maybe she can’t. You have to massage her belly so she can get it out. Watch this.”

He watched in amazement as I helped his child relieve her belly of all that air. Then I changed her diaper and rocked her to sleep.

We walked to the sitting room. He gave me a drink and we talked, “Thank you.”

“No problem. You good?”

“Yes. We are just getting used to all of this. I don’t think Nicole likes being a mom.”

“Give her time. It’s a lot. Her body changed. Her emotions are all over the place.”

“So, it’s going to get better?”

I nodded, “It has to.”

He smiled and reached for my hand, “So, have you missed me as much as I missed you?”

I leaned back. He kissed his teeth, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just. I don’t know. Your mom told me a few weeks ago to fall back to let you and Nicole get yourselves together.”

He sat back on the sofa in disgust, “My mom needs to mind her business.”

“You're gonna tell her that?”

“No," as he scratched his head, "my mom doesn’t know what you, Nicole, and I have done. You remember all those times we did it in the shotgun house.”

I turned my lips over.

He pushed my knee, “Stop acting like you didn’t like it.”

“It’s not about whether I liked it. You were just being greedy. You didn’t want to choose, and we were stupid behind you.”

“y'all loved me and I loved y'all.”

I was so tired, but I could see that look in his eyes. I was not leaving the house. I was too tired. It was late. So, we went to the guest bedroom. I was on top of him. His hands were on my breasts. He squeezed. Slowly, his hands went to my waist. He pulled me into him and we kissed.

He was married. Malik was married. Yet my heart was entangled with them. Ms Gail told me to leave them both alone. “How can you be ready for the man God is going to send you if you’re playing around with these other folks’ husbands?”

I closed my eyes. I had no idea, but the feeling I had from being with them both had me on a serious high. My eyes opened. He smiled, “You still love me?” he asked.

I smiled, “You already know.”