“Oh, um, I know. Actually, I know who all of you are.” She looks around at all of us.
“Oh, really?” Arnold asks, his voice harsh and skeptical. He never trusts anyone who claims to know us, always looking for their ulterior motive.
“Yeah. I admit I didn’t recognize Chris because I’m so used to just hearing his voice but then I saw you guys when we came over here.” She points to me. “Your article inEsquirewas dope as hell and my niece is obsessed with your games.” She turns to point at Micah. “A friend of mine put me on to your work. I went to your gallery opening a few years back.” Micah nods his head with respect. She points to Arnold, who still has his eyes narrowed at her. “And you made headlines for making Jay Daniels the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history. Nobody saw that coming after his injury, but it was well deserved. I was impressed.”
Well, damn. She really does know each and every one of us.
“Wait a minute,” Christian interrupts. “So, you mean to tell me I was the only one you didn’t recognize?” Typical Christian. He wasn’t interested in a damn word this woman had to say until she wasn’t fawning over him.
She chuckles. “I said I didn’t recognize you at first. I don’t live in Baltimore so I don’t listen to your station like that, but I am a faithful listener of your podcast.”
He puffs his chest out with pride. This man is really simple.
We talk to Tiana a little more and I’m surprised that Christian stumbled upon a smart woman to spend his time with when he normally likes the women who are happy sitting in silence while he chops it up like they’re nothing more than life-size dolls. I’m sure this was an accident on his part, but I hope she digs her claws in him deep enough that we won’t have to deal with anyone else for the rest of the trip.
Watching Christian openly flirt with Tiana makes me wish I could do the same with a certain voluptuous beauty.
“Ay, Janelle!” Christian’s voice travels over my shoulder and when I turn my head, I see the woman who has completely clouded my brain.
She looks amazing in the same copper brown shorts and white tank I saw her in earlier. Her thick thighs are slick with some kind of oil, making my mans sit up a little in my shorts. When she hears her name, she stops and scans the area before she spots us and the storm clouds in her eyes tell me that someone undid all the work I did to de-stress her earlier.
She looks behind her before walking over to where Christian, Tiana, and myself are sitting.
“Hi,” she says lamely.
“What’s wrong with you?” Christian asks.
She looks at me briefly before sitting down beside me, careful not to let her legs touch mine. What happened between earlier and now?
She sighs. “Nothing. I’m just tired now. It’s been a long day.” She seems to shake herself out of her stupor enough to notice Tiana. “Hi, I’m Janelle. I love your top.” She gestures toward the black mesh-like top she is wearing.
“Aww, thank you. I love your hair. I’m Tiana. Nice to meet you.” The two women share a warm smile between them.
Christian rolls his eyes and continues his line of questioning. “Where y’all been at all day?”
“Why, you miss us?” We all turn to Eve who somehow snuck up on us.
“It depends, did you miss me?” He licks his lips when he asks the question, causing Eve to stick her finger in her mouth, pretending to gag. I think he enjoys flirting with her because she genuinely doesn’t like him. He thinks he can get under her skin and worm his way into her panties just to say he did it, but to flirt with her while another woman sits on your lap is bold even for him.
Tiana doesn’t look put off by it at all, though. I think she has her own motives for spending time with Christian.
“Please, the day I miss you will be the day I strap weights to my ankles and jump in the ocean.”
“You play too much.”
“Who’s playing?”
Janelle cuts into the conversation before these two can really get started. “Anyway, we did the spa today. After that, we went to explore the ruins, then we went to look for some specific flower Ri really wanted to get from here for the wedding, and now we’re about to do some other errand for her before we all go out tonight.”
They crammed a lot into their morning while the guys and I did nothing. From what Arnold has told me and the little glimpses I’ve gotten from Janelle, I knew Amerie was a type A personality, but I wasn’t expecting her to have an itinerary for every moment of every day.
A glass appears between Janelle and I, and we both look up to find Micah holding out a Mezcalita for her and a Bay Breeze for Eve.
“Y’all look like y’all could use a drink.”
Eve gives Micah a seductive smile, and he just laughs before walking back over to the bar and scanning the pool area.
“Thank you, Micah.” Janelle and Eve swoon in unison.
