I was off tomorrow. My last off day, and Ermias was supposed to still be with Delion, so…
“Um…okay. Do I have to have money to throw?” I quizzed.
“Don’t worry ‘bout that. Just come out. I’ll scoop you if you don’t want to drive.”
“Is the club in Heartville or Love Grove?”
“We can go to one down here. It doesn’t bother me to get on the road and drive.” He grinned.
“Yeah, I see that.”
Zyro stood and adjusted himself in his shorts. I saw the bulge. It was definitely there, but I turned my head because I now understood why he walked wide-legged.
“I’m fin get on this road,” he announced and started heading to the door.
I stood to lock up behind him, pulling my shorts down as far as I could, but when I began to walk, they crawled back up my ass. Zyro turned halfway and paused when he reached the door, his hand on the knob. His gaze slid down my body with no shame at all.
“You slept wit’ that bear last night?” he asked teasingly.
Heat rushed to my face because I indeed did. Slept real good and peacefully.
“It…it was in the bed with me, so I guess so,” I mumbled.
“Maaaan,” he guffawed with his fist to his mouth. “Stop fuckin’ playin’, ma. You slept with that muhfucka to your damn chest. You gon quit playin’ wit’ me, for real.” With a cocky smirk, he said, “Say it. Say you slept wit’ it.”
That shit made my core throb. It caused me to shift my weight to the other leg. “I slept with it,” I said lowly, causing his smirk to spread into a wide grin. The craters in his cheeks appeared.
Zyro’s hand slipped off the knob, and he took two steps toward me until he was towering over me. I think I stopped breathing then.
“Sleep wit’ it a lil’ closer tonight,” he leaned down and said into my ear. His lips were touching my ear as he spoke. I reached out and grabbed onto the wall. Zyro simpered and tweaked my chin. “Have a good night, Eriss.”
He turned back around, unlocked the door, and opened it.
“You too. Be safe,” I managed to get out.
“Always,” Zyro replied, and I shut the door, locking it. With my back against it, I slid down because what the hell was he doing to me?
Instead of driving, Mahlia offered to get dressed at my house and to drive us. We rapped to Crown Heart as we rolled down the highway. Because I told Mahlia everything, I told her about the bear, and I told her how I damn near lost control of my legs last night. Of course, she clowned me.
Mahlia swerved around a slow driver, causing me to hold on to the seat. I gave her a look, making me wish I had driven myself. Mahlia knew that if she got drunk that I wasn’t lettingher behind the wheel. She’d have to stay at my place until the morning.
The closer we got to The Dollhouse, the more my nerves tangled up. Meeting Zyleek had my stomach flipping, just because Mahlia already put me on the fact that he spoke before thinking, and said he meant no harm—sometimes. She told me not to take anything he said to me personally. She said he was a loose cannon, but with Zyro around, he might not act like a fool.
“I just can’t wait to see you and Zyro around each other again. The back-and-forth banter yesterday was so cute,” she cooed, bringing me to roll my eyes.
“Girl, it ain’t even that serious, I promise. You know I don’t really feed into shit a nigga say,” I told her. I bit down on my lip and looked out the window.
“Aight,” Mahlia squealed out. “I keep telling you my cousin ain’t like these other niggas, Eriss. I guess he gon have to show you since you’re not trying to take my word for it. From what you told me, he is on you bad!”
We pulled into the club lot, pink neon lights glowing off the cars already parked. My stomach fluttered again, a mix of excitement and nerves. Mahlia found a spot, killed the engine, and then turned to me, grinning and twerking in her seat.
“You ready, friend?”
“I guess,” I laughed.
We stepped out, and I pulled down the black mini shirt that I paired with a black crop top and strappy heels. A red purse was draped across my body for a pop of color. My hair was down in loose beach curls. The only makeup I wore was mascara and lip gloss. I wore rings, a necklace, and hoop earrings.
Mahlia wore a bright pink dress with clear heels. Her hair was in fresh braids and in a high ponytail. She had a full glam on her face.
