Page 36 of Cause When You Love Someone
“You gon’ disrespect me like that?” Chaz quizzed between slits for eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We are not together. Four weeks without talking confirms that.”
“Bullshit! I gave you space to get your mind right since you’ve been acting like a bird brain.”
Ishmael cleared his throat, interrupting our back and forth.
“Do you need some water or something, nigga?” Chaz snapped.
My protector didn’t respond with words. He just smiled and looked down at his phone.
“Clarke, stop acting like this,” Chaz continued. “You know I can’t live without you, woman. I’m not perfect, but I’m perfect for you.”
I scoffed. “Bullshit. Would you want your daughter with a man like you? You would want her to love a man that cheats, lies, steals!”
“I’ve never stolen anything from you.”
“Chaz, you’ve stolen things I could never get back.”
Simone waved Chaz away before he could speak. “Enough of all this. She doesn’t want to talk. Give her some space until we get to the club. Damn!”
Instead of challenging her, Chaz openly poured a bump of coke on his knuckles then fed it to one of his nostrils. I slipped my shades on and faced the window to keep from calling him out. He wasn’t my man, and I didn’t need my words to be confused with concern.
The clock struck midnight as we pulled up to the lounge. Ishmael stood up when the party bus slowed down. From my seat, I admired how good he looked when he checked the guntucked in his waistband. I smirked when he cut his eyes at Chaz while he did it. I never wanted tension between them to expand to the point of needing to cut with a knife, but I enjoyed having someone around to put a little fear in the user’s cold heart.
“Sage, you and Clarke’s friends will get out first. I’ll follow you, and the princess will walk between me and dude.” Ishmael looked at me over his shoulder. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’m going to be.”
A plethora of flashing lights hit us like fire to a blunt when our driver pulled the sliding door open. Careful not to trip over my jacket, I accepted Ishmael’s outstretched hand as I found my footing. There was a line of people waiting to get in, while others were fans pleading for a picture.
After walking the red carpet and taking a few pictures with Chaz, the club promoter escorted us to our section. I had never been to the spot, but the two-story layout covered in gold, screamed elegance, though the crowd was rowdy. The dancefloor was huge, and aside from the second floor being reserved for VIP, there was a rooftop area where guests could enjoy a blunt or a cigar.
When we made it to our section, I noticed we were placed between another reality couple and a group of men and women dressed in black and red, sporting diamonds. Most of the men looked like athletes, and the women at their sides rocked different styles but were all beautiful.
While everyone partied and enjoyed the perks of being in a private section, I stayed attached to Sage and enjoyed a mixed drink. We danced in our seats and talked shit about people on the dancefloor until Simone’s drunk ass crashed into the cushion beside me.
“Why are you sitting over here like two boring bitches in the club?”
Sage mugged her. “Boring? Bitch, we’re sipping and sitting pretty, while you’re over there dancing offbeat with a group of powder heads.”
“Sage, you got one more time to talk to me crazy before I slap the hell out of you.” She faced me. “Anyway, come dance with us! This wallflower shit is the same shit you pulled at the club a few weeks ago.”
“You know more than anyone why I’m not in the mood to party.”
“Right. That’s why I’m trying to turn you up!”
“Girl. You’re trying to turn yourself up. Maybe I don’t want to drink to sort through my pain. There are other things I can do to forget about a nigga.”
She laughed. “Like what? Messing with your bodyguard? You’re moving backward, Clarke.”
“And you’re moving funny! Go get something to eat and a bottle of water.”
She smacked her lips. “Ugh! I’m grown. I’ll drink what I want. Come on, Sage! I want to go to the bar.”
“Girl, I am not following your drunk ass around this lounge.”
I tapped the top of his thigh. “Please. Just make sure she doesn’t get into any mess.”
