Page 29 of Juice

“How do you deal with that?” One of Sahdiah’s friends asked.

She was gesturing to the crowd of women standing in front of the stage yelling Julius’s name to the top of their lungs. “Girl they’re fans. It comes with the spotlight.”

“You a strong one for real.” She tittered. “I’m too insecure for that.”

“Can’t be insecure when you’re dating somebody like that.” Sahdiah spoke up. Sahdiah herself was in a high-profile relationship. Her dude wasn’t a rapper, but he was a well-known producer.

He and Julius had worked together a few times that’s how she and I became cordial.

“Exactly.” I proffered. “All you can do is trust that yo nigga won’t do you dirty behind your back.” Doing a quick perusal of the crowd I drew my eyes back to the stage. “On top of that my man look damn good.” I teased and stuck my tongue out.

I learned early on that you gotta have thick skin dealing with somebody in the industry. My man had sex appeal out of this world. Hoes were throwing themselves at him left and right. Like I told her you gotta kind of accept it when dealing with somebody of his caliber. Shit either that or be ready to scrap with every bitch that looked at him. I had too much to lose so I wasn’t ‘bout to be out here fighting no hoe behind Julius. I’d let his ass go before I lost my dignity.

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The minute Julius’s set ended he quickly grabbed me up and drug me downstairs to the room they had set up for him. Hewanted to change out of his clothes before rejoining the party. After facing a blunt and grabbing him something to eat he was ready to join the masses. Tito had secured the funds and now we could really turn up.

Sitting down in one of the chairs Julius pulled me down into his lap and secured his arms around my waist. I tugged on my scarf to make sure it was still in place. Being out on this water in this heat had my leave out frizzy as hell and with as many cameras flashing around us I wouldn’t be caught slacking.

Blowing out a cloud of smoke Julius placed his cheek against mine and asked. “You having fun?”

“It’s cool.”

“Where Sahdiah and her girls go?”

“They went to the bar.”

“You didn’t want to go with them?”

“Nawl. They ran into some girl they knew and I ain’t like the way she was staring at me.” I was minding my own business, but I peeped how this chick kept eyeballing the fuck out of me. I almost asked that hoe if she had something she wanted to get off her chest but for the sake of not ruining this man party I kept it cute.

“What girl?”

“I’on know.” I shrugged. “Some dark-skinned chick.” I kept my response vague. Julius swear I be reaching but a bitch knows when somebody be ice grilling them.

“Oh aight.” He shrugged and sat back.

“Right Now,”, by Megan Thee Stallion started playing and just about every female on the boat started to twerk. Twirling my hips to the beat I rapped along to the lyrics.“A nigga can’t boss me up. When we met, I was already bossy.”

“Yo ass capping down.” Julius chuckled. “I bossed yo ass right up lil baby.”

“Nigga please. With or without you I’mma boss bitch.” I bragged, making him suck his teeth.

“Tell him sis.” Tito called out. We fell out laughing when Julius flipped him the bird.

Tito was getting ready to say something else when Sahdiah and her crew walked in front of us.

Leaning down she hugged Julius. “What’s up brother?”

Any other time that brother shit would’ve pissed me off, but Sahdiah got a pass ‘cause her and Julius were close.

“Can’t call it. You and yo girls having a good time?”

“Yep.” She popped. “Wish my man had come.” She pouted.

“Kamp had a show tonight huh.”

“Yeah, they’re in D.C.”

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