Page 6 of Finesse
I look over and see the slightest smile forming on Cameron’s lips. Damn, they look so soft and moisturized. I can tell hanging around Black people actually influenced that white boy about moisturizing. None of them look ashy.
“What’s on your mind, baby girl?” He sets his drink down and puts his arm behind me. He doesn’t touch me and he’s very respectful. “Are you comfortable?”
“Very.” My nerves are gone. “Are you?”
“I’m always comfortable, baby.” His tongue darts out to wet his lips and I don’t think I’ve ever been so jealous of lips before. I shake my head of the thoughts and he notices it. “Are you okay?”
“I am.” I’m embarrassed he saw me but he cannot know what I was really thinking. “So, what is it that you do, Cameron?”
“I own an enterprise.” He’s intentionally vague again. “I have many businesses connected under one umbrella. Tech companies, real estate, auto dealers…” He nods. “…just a plethora of stuff.”
I was expecting to say something like he’s a hustler, an IG model, influencer, YouTuber…and instead he actually tells me of the legit businesses he owns. It’s more impressive considering how old he is. Wait…how old is he? “You look pretty young.”
“I’m 25.” He mentions. “And yes, I am pretty young.”
“And you own all of that at 25?” Now my spidey senses are telling me it’s not his businesses but maybe his parents. The nepotism is strong with this one.
“I do.” He repeats and he already knows I don’t believe him. “I wouldn’t lie about being rich, baby girl.”
“You don’t have to lie.” I already know his type. Why lie when money does it for him? “But you don’t have to be completely honest, neither.”
He glances over at me and I catch the faintest hint of mischievousness in his eyes. I don’t know if he’s lowkey annoyed and is keeping his cool in front of his boys or if the gleam is something more. A part of me wants to find out.
“I hope you enjoy your drink,” he mentions as he sips on something brown and strong, “don’t worry about paying for anything tonight. Me and the fellas got it.”
“Oh heyyyyyy!” Hayley likes anything free. She’s part grifter and part bonafide hustler. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”
I turn to Cameron and he winks at me. “I say that’s a splendid idea.” He raises his glass.
Two
“Oh my God!” Hayley looks like she’s about to have an orgasm as she eats a French fry. “This is so good!”
“I told you, ma.” Que nodded as he chews a fry. “I wouldn’t lie about this place.”
We all left the club early and headed to a late-night diner for some grub. We all ordered burgers while Cameron just sipped water. Usually a woman is on the ‘I don’t want to eat too much’ and only orders a water diet so it’s weird to see a man embody that.
“So, what are y’all gon’ do after we’re done here?” Hayley asks before she takes a bite of her burger.
“Probably go home and kick it,” Que looks over at Hayley. “Want to join?”
“I wish I could, but I left with my girl and I’m going home with her.” Hayley nodded. “But I can see you after we drop her off.”
“Okay, fuck you.” I roll my eyes and Cameron quietly chuckles.
“I said I was going to drop you off, damn!” Hayley shrugs. I can’t be mad at a ho doing what a ho does.
“I’ll make sure you’re safe when you get home.” Cameron finally spoke. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
His velvety voice soothed me, but I know this is how all of those bad indie romance flicks start. “I may look like a fool, but I’m not one.”
Cameron’s lips curved into a sensual smile and a flicker ofsomethinghappens between us. Cameron was the only white boy in the crew and he stood out like a sore thumb. A white dot in a sea of chocolate.
Yet, somehow he ran with the crew like it was second nature to him. He didn’t try to speak with a blaccent or act like he was from Chosewood Park or any other predominantly black neighborhood in ATL.
He was quiet enough, yet he wasn’t brooding. He wasn’t moody. He was just a sponge. He soaked up the atmosphere, the conversation, and added a bit or two where needed.
While his friends were the lives of the party, Cameron kept it cool. He never drew attention to himself nor was he about showing off and showing out. And honestly, his quiet strength is what drew me to him.
