“Hello, y’all. I’m Ashley and these are my bridesmaids.I’mgettingmarried…”She overly emphasizes as if ‘bridesmaids’ wasn’t a clue. “…tomorrow to my wonderful fiancé Dre. Every time I hear this song I think of how we first got together.
We groan collectively when the Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha starts to play. We swivel in our chairs to watch the show from the comfort of the bar.
“Everybody put your hands together for the new group, Ashely and the Co-Bitches,” Heaven jokes and the four of us laugh.
Her off-key singing wouldn’t be an issue if they didn’t have tight, precise dance movements.
“Am I trippin’ or did these bitches actually learn the routine?” Heaven asks with a head tilt.
“Nope. Those hoes probably practiced every day once they realized you were here,” Latoya confirmed.
Ashely smirks at Heaven every time she gets to the chorus. I watch Heaven’s face to see if she’s upset. I thank everything holy when she shrugs and turns back to the bar. I lock eyes with Ashley’s dad across the bar. He has the nerve to look sheepish. I guess he’s just seeing first-hand how Ashley taunts Heaven.
I look over in time to see Heaven’s shoulders shake with laughter. “How extra.” She laughs with her friends. “That’s petty and pathetic as hell, but I do have a response though.”
Heaven heads back to the DJ booth to give him her selection. His cheeks dimple with amusement as he nods his shaved head. “You bet,” he mouths and pats her on the shoulder.
Heaven takes center stage again, and I lean back, resting my elbows on the bar while I wait to see what she has up her sleeve.
“Hey, It’s me, Heaven, again. I’m gonna level with y’all, okay?” The crowd cheers, and she continues, “I had a bad break up over a year ago. It sucked then, but it’s not a big deal now. Honestly, I don’t care. However, the Pussycat Dolls who just left the stage seem intent on trying to rub it in my face.” Heaven rolled her eyes then continued.
“I’ve said several times to several people this week that I don’t care that she’s marrying my ex, but it doesn’t seem to register for anyone in her wedding party. I figured if I said it publicly, they can finally understand that I’m unbothered by their nuptials. Until this week, I haven’t seen them at all over the last year. He works for Channel 13, and I prefer to watch Channel 2.” She shrugs, and I move to the stage. “Anyway, I’m not here to fight, ruin a wedding, or get anyone back. She holds up her drink. Feel free to congratulate the bride and groom.” I motion for her to pass the mic to where I’m standing below her in front of the stage.
“Mara,” I say into the microphone, I watch until she acknowledges me. “Give the wedding party a round on us.” The crowd cheers as I hand the mic back to Heaven.”
“But, since she was petty as hell and chose to try to shade me with that song. I have a response, because I don’t do subs, Ashley. Hell, youaregettingmarriedtomorrow. I’m happy, you should be too. Here’s my theme song.”
I laugh when Lil Duval’sSmile Bitch (I’m Living My Best Life)pumps through the speakers. Heaven dances like it’s her jam of the century. Latoya grabs the mic and starts doing Lil Duval’s part of the song. Keri sings along on the hook. Heaven does Snoops and Ball Geezy’s part while I play paparazzi. I let out a hoot of laughter when Heaven does Lil Duval’s dance.
Ashley pouts like a child while Dre glares at Heaven. They wanted her to be mad, and for the first time since I’d met them, I wonder if they are going to move forward with the wedding. I pray that they are not that self-absorbed. Surely there has to be something more between them than a mutual ‘fuck you’ to Heaven. Only time will tell. I for one will not waste my night pondering their future. I have a very relaxed, happy, and slightly tipsy Heaven to get naked.
I lift her off the stage once the song is over. She wraps her arms and legs around me and squeezes me tight. Man, I just need her to do that naked. The crowd cheers. At my height, something like that is hard to miss.
“Do you want another drink?” I offer before she dismounts.
“No. I would prefer to be mainly sober tonight.” Her message is received by my dick. She disappears into the crowd.
When I see her again, I find Dre is trying to engage, but she swerved him as effectively as I swerved Ashely the day prior. I shake my head to myself. I’m no longer mad. Heaven publicly drew her line in the sand. Anything they do beyond this point is just silly.
The DJ announces his desire to stay in the same positive vibe. He playsLevel Upby Ciara. Heaven settles in her seat and sips water while she chair dances. Latoya and Keri are on the dance floor, dancing as if their lives depend on it.
I laugh when the next few songs are blaring out a ‘fuck you’ vibe. The wedding party is trying to make the best of it by being unnecessarily rowdy, but I don’t give a fuck. Heaven is giving me that look again. That I-would-give-anything-to-see-you-naked look.
She jumps up and starts dancing before I could drag her out. Apparently, she’s quite fond of Madonna’s Unapologetic Bitch. I like the gentle island vibe, and Heaven loves the lyrics. I pull her close as she rocks to the beat. I bite my lip when she pushes away and turns her back to me. She grinds on me to the beat. I focus on the beat and dancing. If I allow my brain to zero in on the realization that her perfect ass is close to my cock, I will be saluting the entire bar.
We step out into the night; the sound of the crowd drowns out from a roar to a mumble. The vibrations of the beat still pulse in the air. The girls didn’t want to be around Ashley and Co. anymore. Me either. No one wants to be watched while partying. It’s exhausting.
I hold Heaven’s hand lightly, toying with her fingers as we walk. The sexual charge is there. Neither of us acknowledges it, scared that the spell will somehow break again. The girls claim to want just one more drink at the bar. I’m not stupid. I see the way Latoya leans in to talk to Bodhi. I also see how Keri is silently shooing us off with her eyes. I like that she wants us to get to where this has been leading all week, but now that it’s in my grasp. I want to savor the sexual tension just a little longer.
I order us weaker drinks and converse with Keri. Just fifteen minutes I tell myself. I’ll hang a little longer unless Heaven gets aggressive.
I’m not mad at that possibility.
At all.
Heaven
He’s teasing me. All night he’s either been touching, hugging, dancing, kissing, or singing to me. Now? Nothing. He’d barely held my hand or touched me on the way back to the hotel. I bite back a gripe when Axel laughs at something Bodhi said. I’m horny, and I’m horny now…I want the torture to end.
