Page 11 of Smoke

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Ain’t no imposition. You’re more than welcome to stay. If you want, I can make sure you get home safe.”

Her features took on a look of fear and relief. It was a look I’d seen many times when people realized exactly who I was.

“No funny shit,” I said, holding up my hands. “Just trying to give you a peace of mind.”

She bit her bottom lip, seemingly contemplating my offer.

“Can I let you know?” she asked softly.

“That’s fine. Listen, I gotta go, but I’ll find you later.”

“Okay.”

I tipped her chin before walking back toward the bridal party. When I was within distance of my brothers, they all turned to look at me, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Who’s that?” Maceo asked.

“A client.”

“A regular client or an after-hours client? You know how you do.”

“Fuck you. She a new client. Her name is Romi. She starts training on Monday.”

“Y’all looked awfully cozy,” Deuce noted.

“You got cozy from a five-minute interaction?” I asked.

Steel’s dumb ass grabbed my chin. “We got cozy from that.”

I slapped his hand away. “You play too damn much, big ass nigga. Like I said, she’s a client.”

“So you ain’t the least bit interested?” Maceo asked, slapping my chest.

I looked around him at the wedding planner coming down the hall. “Aye, Somya. It’s time to get this show on the road, right?”

She giggled. “Yes, it is. The ladies are coming now.”

I looked behind me to see the women of the bridal party coming out the same door Romi had come from. Attention quickly shifted from me to them and how beautiful they all looked. I was fine with that shit. I didn’t need these muthafuckas in my ear about Romi.

I didn’t know that woman, and I wasn’t trying to know her on that level. She was one client that was going to stay just a client… she had to. She had baggage, and it was the type of baggage I wasn’t equipped to carry right now.

Why would I set myself up for failure for a beautiful stranger?

Earlier

“I appreciateyou squeezing me in last minute, Romi,” Sharina said as I finished up her makeup. “My cousin came down with a stomach bug, and I was not about to have her getting me sick on my wedding day. I’m already dealing with morning sickness.”

I’d gotten an email from her yesterday about my makeup services for her wedding. Sharina and Salima had been coming to me for about three months now to get waxes and other beauty treatments. I found them funny and down to earth, plus they tipped handsomely.

I had no problem slipping her in for a last-minute booking. Her husband-to-be paid me double for the inconvenience, so I wouldn’t complain about it. On top of that, a few ladies from her bridal party paid me to do their makeup as well, so all in all, today was a good business day.

“You’re welcome, girl,” I said, picking up the setting spray. “Close your eyes.”

She followed my instructions, and I sprayed to settle the natural beat of makeup I’d done on her face. She told me she planned to dance her ass off at the reception, so she didn’t want anything that was going to make her hot or that would start running if she sweated. Just from her and Salima coming into the beauty bar, I really liked their vibe.

I could tell they’d been friends for a long time and were more like sisters than anything. Shar reminded me so much of Renay—loud, carefree, and said whatever was on her mind. Nay was my best friend, so it was a good vibe.

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