Page 4 of Love's Most Wanted
“Did you know about her?” I inquired, polishing my drink off and signaling for a refill.
He sighed, sipping his own, so I already knew the answer.
“I did, love.” He glanced away from me briefly as I chuckled silently.
I felt so dumb prancing around with that man and all these people knew I was getting played. You couldn’t make this shit up.
For some reason, I thought Unique was a good guy and would’ve mentioned something like this to me, but I realized I was wrong as hell. He was just like the rest of these niggas, always looking out for one another even when the shit was dead wrong. The same types of niggas who sat by while their homies beat on their girlfriends or was a deadbeat to their child, all becauseit wasn’t their business. The thought made me scoff and shake my head as I inhaled his cologne peppering the air of the crowded ass bar.
My phone had been buzzing nonstop in my clutch, and I didn’t need to retrieve it to know my socials were blowing up because of the scene I’d caused back there. Also because of what I’d just found out.
“That’s fucked up,” I admitted once I could find the words. “You watched me with him and didn’t even drop me a hint.” I shook my head. “I hate men,” I stated truthfully, holding my refilled glass to my lips and clutching the glass tightly so I wouldn’t take my anger out on the man beside me. That one hit to AJ’s jaw wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to fully kick his ass.
“Itwas…in hindsight. I just felt like the shit wasn’t my story to tell. I ain’t in the business of snitching on other niggas, not unless it was gon’ benefit me somehow.” He smiled, and I wanted to slap the shit out of him for thinking this was the time to be flirty. And it wasn’t a compliment because Unique flirted witheverywoman. Even the bartender just now—he had to mesmerize her with his smile and tell her to enjoy her night along with a smirk. She ate it up, unaware of how he was. When he noticed I wasn’t entertained by his statement, his smile dropped, and he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry though. Real shit. Soon as I saw ya face back there when she popped up, I regretted not putting you on.”
“I don’t know why I expected you to tell me something like that when you live the life you do.” I snickered a bit out of anger.
This man had two girlfriends, so I was sure he saw nothing wrong with what AJ was doing.
“It’s not the same, love. I’m honest with my shit. I don’ said something to that nigga plenty of times, but also, I ain’t nobody’s daddy yet, so I can’t make his ass do shit. At the end of the day, though, I agree I should’ve kept it a buck with you. I ain’t got no loyalty to AJ to be keeping secrets for that muthafucka.”
“To think I thought you and I were friends.” I tittered, taking in the shelf of the bar littered with beautiful liquor bottles that appeared to be custom.
Okay we weren’tfriendsbut we’d kicked it enough, with AJ included of course, for us to be somewhat cool.
I was only finishing my second drink, but I was already feeling a bit past buzzed. I was starting to feel numb, though, so that was what I needed. Lifting my glass, I gestured to the bartender for another.
“We are?—”
“Where have I seen that girl? Is she an actress?” I cut him off as the woman poured more of what I saw was straight Don Julio into my glass. She gave Unique more as well, taking his card after, to open a tab.
“Nah, but she’s in the movie industry via her pops. Konrad Tillman was a movie mogul—owned a studio, produced several films and hit TV shows before he died. So she’s in with that crowd because of him.”
I nodded as Unique talked, taking the information in. I didn’t know much about Zosia, but I’d heard of Konrad hundreds of times from being in the industry but especially once I was around AJ’s people.
“How is it not front-page news that she’s married to AJ?” I turned in my seat, gulping more of the liquor that didn’t taste as strong anymore.
“Said they kept it on the low so people wouldn’t think that was how he got on.” Unique shrugged, letting me know he wasn’t sure if that was true or not.
I felt tears drip down my cheeks suddenly, which caught me off guard. It prompted me to turn back to the bar to shield myself from his view. When Unique reached to thumb them, I moved from his touch, shooting him daggers in response.
“I appreciate you… um, coming with me but umm…” I lost my train of thought and began to giggle. “We need shots.”
“You sure? You seem a little lit. And I ain’t gon’ hold you, a nigga feeling warm, too, trying to keep up with yo’ ass. You drinking like a fucking uncle.” His cheeks flushed a bit, and it made me smile at how cute he looked once he blew out air.
“You don’t have to. You can go. But me? I’m taking shots. Tequila, please.” I nodded to the bartender who looked to Unique for confirmation as if he were my father. “He’s not my man or my daddy, so you don’t need permission from him,” I told her, making her give me a look that held slight attitude.
“You too?” She grinned lustfully at Unique, to which he nodded giving her his signature smirk.
“Guess I’m taking a shot, because I ain’t leaving a drunk woman in the club.”
I smiled inwardly, not knowing why the fact that Unique planned to stay here with me and not leave made me feel some type of way, especially when I was kind of upset with him for keeping AJ’s secrets. Ultimately, though, my wrath was only and mainly going to be directed at AJ.
“I’m sorry for blaming you… kind of,” I said, shutting my eyes for longer than normal. I chuckled when I opened them to see Unique wearing a worrisome frown.
“You good. Low-key, I would be hot, too, if you knew some shit like that and I found out publicly in that fucking way. I ain’t gon’ even lie.” He took the shot from the bartender.
We clinked them and then threw them back before I told her to bring another round. She didn’t ask any questions or hesitate this time, or the few times after that when we ordered more and more.
