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A very short time later, Onyx glided into the living room in a bright and colorful sundress.
“That looks great, new dress?”
She smoothed her palms over the fabric. “Yeah girl, this new boutique opened near the salon, and I had to have it! Then the owner was chatting me up at the checkout, so I got to leave some business cards for the salon at the counter. So sweet.”
“Networking at its finest. You ready?”
She grabbed her purse, I grabbed mine, then we headed out. When I looked over at Mike’s door as I walked down the stairs, I forgot about being totally fine, but only briefly. I slowed for a second, then lifted my chin and got back to my normal, casual pace.
Totally fine.
Onyx drove. “You can enjoy your drinks. I’ll have a little when we get there then cut it off. This is your special day!” she said, tossing me a wink.
The sentiment was nice, but I hardly drank. Working in a bar you got tired of smelling alcohol, and it doesn’t have the same appeal. But I did enjoy a little bit here and there, when the occasion called for it.
As suspected, it was busy when we pulled in. We parked anyway since it was just the two of us, went inside, and put our name down for a table. The interior was beautiful with lots of black furniture with red symbols all around, paper lanterns as light fixtures, a large exotic fish tank in the waiting area, and of course a Japanese Ceremonial Gong. I chuckled at the sign over the gong that read, “Please Do Not Touch.” Rules and signs existed because someone did something questionable.
A familiar voice squealed as I stared at the fish tank. “Oh my God!”
Turning, I saw Lucy bouncing toward me with her arms out. “Hey, babe. Long time no see.”
She squeezed me and I noticed Amy and Val walking in. “Hey Jaz, how’s it going?” Amy asked as she walked over.
“Good, good. Just grabbing a bite with my sister. You remember Onyx?”
Onyx heard her name and strolled over. “Hey, of course! Congrats on the engagement, Lucy.” She looked over toward Amy. “But I don’t recall this fucking fantastic creature,” she said as she eyed Val up and down.
Amy possessively pulled Val to her, and Val rolled her eyes. “Look at you,” Val said before extending her hand to Onyx. “I’m Valentina, but you may call me Val.”
“My girlfriend,” Amy said with a cocked eyebrow.
Onyx grinned. “Amy honey, simmer down. You know I like beef steak.”
That garnered a hearty chuckle from all of us.
“Well, hey, is it just you two?” Lucy asked. “You should sit with us. We called ahead. I bet they’d seat you faster if we asked to add you.”
I put my palms up, not wanting to impose, but Onyx chimed in first. “Oh, that would be great, let’s go ask.” Lucy grabbed her arm and they walked to the host station.
I was about to make small talk with Amy and Val when the door opened andfuck…Jason and Mike walked in.
Jason grinned and walked over. “Miss me already? I told you I’d keep a shift open for you at the club.”
I smiled and squeezed his shoulders. “I was here first.” Looking over his shoulder, Mike stood with his hands together awkwardly in front of him. Jason gave a slight nod and locked eyes with me.This was fine.
Breathing in a deep breath, I plastered a kind smile on my face and said, “Hey, Mike.”Hey, Mike.Better than nothing, I suppose.
His face brightened and he walked next to Jason. “Jaz, good to see you.”Why did men always refresh their cologne to go to dinner?It’s fine. It’s a natural bodily reaction to his pheromones mixed with the fragrance.Warm, soothing tobacco and vanilla fragrance…
“Guys, they said you can be seated with us, but we have a few minutes before the table will be ready.”
“Mike, hey brother!” Onyx shouted before hugging him then patting Jason on the shoulder. “Are y’all stalking us? We just saw you this morning!”
“Oh my God! Jason told me Mike moved into your building,” Lucy chimed in. “Small world!”
Amy spoke under her breath. “Small worldindeed.” Then Val gave her a nudge without looking away from the conversation. Amy and I had a chat not too long ago when she was having some issues with Val, and Mike came up. She didn’t know the whole story, but she knew there was some past there, along with some unresolved feelings. Clearly, she talked to Val about it. That’s not a problem. It wasn’t too deep, and it was meant to give her hope, but it did reopen the wound a little. It had never completely closed, but I worked the last few years to get it as small as possible. The events of the last day had blown it wide open again.
“Sanders, party of seven,” the host called.
