Page 169 of Curvy Girl Summer

I’ve lost my mind.

Nina looped her arm with my left, and Jazz grabbed my right hand. Looking between my best friends, I felt comforted and reminded that I was enough.

It wasn’t like I’d told the world that I had a man, and I was going to debut him at the party. But I hated that I’d planned a whole thing and forgot to cancel. I was kicking myself as we made our way to the dance floor.

The DJ was oblivious as he smiled and gave me a nod. Before I could respond, he started playing the song.

“We can dance together, or we can find Marcus,” Jazz offered quietly as we approached.

I looked between them. “Stay with me,” I whispered to them.

I didn’t know that man.

I turned to the DJ to try to get his attention. I was going to have him change the song, but he’d started speaking.

“We’re going to make sure all eyes are on Aaliyah right now. She’s the birthday girl, and we’re going to make sure she feels all this love.”

Everyone clapped behind me, but I was still facing the DJ. My eyes were shooting daggers at him. He apparently wasn’t picking up what I was hinting at or understanding that I was trying to stop what was happening, because he kept talking, pressed play, and then gave me a thumbs-up.

Sighing, I turned around and grabbed my best friends’ hands as the most romantic song played. Onlookers observed in what I knew had to be quiet confusion. Closing my eyes, I blocked them out and just grooved to the music.

I felt my girls stop swaying before I knew why.

“Excuse me,” a deep voice interrupted, catching me off guard.

My eyes flew open as the familiarity ran down my spine.

“Can I have this dance?”

24

My heart thumped in my chest, and my mouth went dry. Taking his outstretched hand, I looked over at my friends, who were gawking at him as they took steps backward. The shocked smiles on their faces seemed to be the opposite of the stunned expression on my own. I didn’t know how I felt.

My heart was racing. My stomach was in knots. My hands were shaking. And my mind was spinning.

Refocusing my attention on the man who had just taken me into his arms, I allowed my mind to catch up with my body.

“You look… wow,” he said softly.

“Ahmad,” I breathed. “How… What are you doing here?”

“Happy birthday.” Pulling me in close, he leaned down. “I’m showing up for you the same way you showed up for me.”

A wave of emotion hit me, and my eyes pricked with tears. With my face buried in his neck, I inhaled deeply and took in his cologne.

He looked as good as he smelled.

Wearing a dark-green-and-black suit that seemed tailored for his muscular body, he looked good. The color didn’t just complement what I was wearing, it looked good against his toffee-colored skin. I felt his thick beard brush against my shoulder, and I immediately had a flashback to the way my juices had glistened on his beard twenty-four hours ago.

Fuck.

The throb between my thighs was intense as I allowed him to lead us around the dance floor. My nipples hardened, and I tried to keep my body close to his so no one would notice.

He moved skillfully, much like when he was behind the bar. He floated around, and I merely held on and enjoyed the ride. Wedidn’t say anything else the entire dance. We just existed in the moment together.

It felt good.

It felt right.

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