Page 3 of Pills and Potions: Kase
Before she could respond, I heard a familiar voice off to the side.
“Oh wow. So this what we doin’ now?”
I looked over and saw one of the chicks I invited, Denise, posted by the wall with her arms crossed, lips twisted, eyes locked on me like I owed her rent and child support. She was supposed to be in the other VIP area.
“Man,” I muttered, still lookin’ at Key Key. “They really don’t make ‘em chill no more.”
Key Key sipped her drink, unbothered. “You got fans, huh?”
I gave her that sly-ass grin. “I got options.
“But I walked over here to seeyou.”
I turned to see Denise, stormin’ toward me like she had a right to be mad. She was somebody I was just fuckin’. We weren’t exclusive at all. But we had history. The kind you keep quiet about. She was married and committed to another nigga. That’s what made it funny.
“Really, Kase?” she said, lookin’ Key Key up and down like she had beef she couldn’t back up. “This what you on tonight?”
I didn’t flinch. Just grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her in closer, low and smooth, right into my space.
“Don’t start that jealous shit,” I said, voice calm but firm. “You knew what it was. Don’t act brand new ‘cause I’m not allowing you to be under me tonight.”
Her body softened on reflex, like she forgot she came over here mad.
Of course, she couldn’t resist a nigga. Not when I touched her like that. Not when I looked her in the eye like I still owned part of her. She licked her lips, like she wanted to argue, but didn’t have a leg to stand on. Not in front of Key Key. I let her go just as fast as I pulled her.
“You good now?” I asked, brushing invisible lint off my shirt. “Cool. Go enjoy the night. You was invited, not entitled.”
Then I turned right back to Key Key like Denise never existed.I chilled with Key Key and her homegirl for a bit, sippin’, talkin’ shit, lettin’ them laugh at whatever smooth shit I threw out. Key Key had that flirt down to a science. She knew how to flip her hair, smile just enough, and keep it cute without giving too much. Her homegirl was cool too, had jokes, but I wasn’t tryna entertain no double feature. I gave ‘em a good moment then dipped before it started feelin’ like a commitment.
I headed back to my VIP area and saw everybody was havin’ a good time. The section was vibin’, food was hittin, bottles on ice. A few of my day ones were posted up with girls on their laps, everybody laughin’ and talkin’ loud over the music. Shit, evenJace and Tuesday were smiling and kissin’.But that damn Blyss, she was on another level, looking secluded, as hell.
Shawty was sitting off to the side like the noise didn’t phase her at all. Curled up in the corner of the sectional, legs tucked under her, a damn crossword puzzle book open in her lap as her glasses were tipped on her nose. At my event. Like we were in a quiet corner of Barnes & Noble instead of one of the hottest clubs in Magnolia Valley, I slowed up, confused and lowkey amused.
A crossword, though?
I dropped down next to her, leaned back with a smirk. “You really in here tryna solve six-across while the bass shakin’ the floor?”
She looked up, squinting ‘cause she had her glasses off again.
“Oh—hey,” she said, acting like I didn’t just catch her doin’ the nerdiest shit ever. “It’s just... too much going on. I needed something to focus on.”
I shook my head, still lookin’ at her like she was the weirdest, cutest disruption in the room.
“You somethin’ else, Blyss.”
She pushed her glasses up and shrugged. “No, I’m just trying to stay in tune with my knowledge.”
I raised an eyebrow. “This ain’t the library where you work. This my event. So get your nerdy ass up and turn up.”
She looked shocked. “Wait, wh?—”
“Now let’s go, Wheels.”
Before she could protest, I snatched the crossword puzzle from her hand and casually tossed it across the room like it offended me. Then I reached down, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up. Not ‘cause she was my type, hell nah. But because she needed some damn flavor in her life.
She stumbled a little, off-balance like she wasn’t used to standing in heels this tall, or maybe just not used to me touching her.
“Wait, I don’t really dance,” she mumbled, already nervous.
