Raising up on her tippy toes, her lips brushed mine. “I like hearing that more than I liked getting sprayed by a hose in middle school.”
I cringed, “I was really a piece of work, huh?”
“A piece of shit,” she shrugged. “But you’re not that kid anymore.”
Once she pulled on her strappy heels, and took another look at herself, we were off to the night club Odyssey. They played a lot of smooth 90s R&B and I knew Paul and Chyna would dig it. The minute we stepped out of the car, paparazzi were on the scene. There were camera flashes everywhere and it felt like I was going blind. Trying to shield my face before I had some sort of seizure we entered into the club.
“We’re going to be all over the blogs tomorrow,” Silver muttered as we passed by.
My hand moved to the small of her back as we maneuvered around people and found Paul and Chyna already seated along with a guest I hadn’t expected to see.
“I can see it already, Kelton Kline’s newest girlfriend,” Silver continued to rant.
“What is she doing here?” I asked.
“Who, Dani?” Silver asked quietly just as we approached. “I invited her. She’s lonely and doesn’t have a ton of friends or family. Besides this is our friends giving thingy. Be nice. ”
I let the subject drop as Paul and Chyna stood to greet us. Hugs were passed all around and I said hi to Dani.
“This a nice spot,” Paul dabbed me up and I nodded.
“A few guys on the team said it had a nice vibe, and the food is good,” I smiled as my fingers began to caress Silver’s leg under the table.
My best friend looked between the two of us. “So this is nice.”
He’d said his words so low that only I’d heard him. A smile cracked on my lips. “Ever since that last visit home, things….”
“I feel you,” Paul smiled. “Chyna makes me crazy. When we had that break senior year…”
My stomach began to twist into a knot. Paul and Chyna had been hot and heavy for years but that break had nearly destroyed them.
“It was a tough time,” I agreed.
Silver went down the rabbit hole of college memories. Some of them I’d been a part of. Like when we’d all done senior pranks and I’d come up with the great idea to sit tiny cups outside of her and Chyna’ suit that they’d shared with someone else. Her name escaped me at the moment.
“That’s a really lovely bracelet,” Dani came out of nowhere.
“This,” Chyna held up the diamond bracelet glittering her arm.
“Yes, I love it. Kind of vintage looking.”
“I gave that to her in college, she never takes it off,” Paul volunteered.
“I’ve never seen one like it,” Dani smiled.
“One of a kind,” Chyna smiled.
The waitress approached and we ordered a few drinks off the menu.
“Should I?” Silver asked, peaking over the menu looking at everyone.
“Girl, do it,” Dani spoke surprising me.
“Do what?” I asked looking around hoping someone would clue me in.
“You been with her for months now and don’t know?” Dani asked rolling her eyes at me.
I wasn’t imagining it; this woman didn’t like me. She played off her comment, and high fived Silver and Chyna giggled with her friend. The waitress gave a twirl of her hair and looked annoyed as she waited.
