Page 38 of Cause When You Love Someone
“Now that I’ve seen you with your friends, I must admit you’re cooler than I thought. I still can’t believe a motorcycle club is the company you keep.”
“They’re more versed than what meets the eye.” He pointed to the man with the skunk strip in his hair and another who was built like a football player. “Shiloh owns a few businesses, and Church owns a cleaning company.” He nodded toward the man with the toothpick. “Durk purchased his tattoo shop a little while ago, and Loso’s been running his garage for almost ten years. Not too much needs to be said about O’Cyrus Dellinger, the heavyweight champ.”
I snapped my fingers like I was in a poetry club. “Damn! All those successful black men, and almost all have a black woman on their arm. I love to see it! Where’s yours?”
“I’m waiting on God to tell me.”
My head sloped to the left as I admired him. “You speak of God a lot. Did you grow up in the church?”
“No, and I didn’t have a grandma to pray. I had to learn to pray for myself.”
We changed spots and marveled at the city until I felt compelled to address the scene on the party bus.
“Thank you for being cool earlier. Chaz doesn’t have any self-control.”
“I didn’t do it for him. I did it for you. You are too damn pretty to be crying over me breaking his fucking face.”
My brows crawled up my forehead.
“What does that look mean?” he quizzed.
“Mm. That what you said may not be the worst idea.”
Ishmael shook his head and laughed into his fist. “That’s your date for the night. Did you forget why we’re here?”
“Yeah. For a second, I thought I was with my man and his friends.”
Tempted and tipsy, I spun so I was facing Ishmael. He looked like he was waiting for me to make a move, pushing me to stand on my tippy toes, despite wearing heels.
The corners of his lips twitched. “Do it. You bad.”
I moved to feel him against me, yet the feeling of someone watching us caused me to check my surroundings.
Sage stood a few feet away with his brows lifted and hands on his hips, reminding me of a mad mama.
“Ma’am!” Sage waved at me. “Did you forget why you’re here?”
“Almost,” I admitted for the second time. “I guess I should get back to work.”
Ishmael slowly pushed his body off the railing. “Yeah. Me too.”
When we rejoined the party, I searched the second floor for Chaz. He disappeared after the bottles were empty, and I hadn’t seen him since. The smug expression on Simone’s face made me go to her. She was posted up off to the side while Chaz’s friends and the ladies I invited stood by the banister.
“Simone, have you seen Chaz?”
“Nope.” She smirked. “Call him and see if he’ll answer.”
I took my phone out of my handbag, and the flood of notifications on the screen caused my chest to cave in.
“What the hell?” I glanced up to find Sage staring at me with sympathy, slanting his gaze. “You saw this shit?”
He flipped his phone around. “Just saw the notifications.”
I didn’t tell anyone my next move as I marched outside to where the special guests parked. Sage, Simone, and Ishmael followed me, and ironically, Ishmael’s friends were already outside.
Unable to contain my disgust, I paced back and forth with no regard for who was watching me.
“This nigga has done a lot foul of shit, but this takes the cake. I wonder who even recorded his nasty ass.”
