a couple of weeks later
“Hey,boo. I’m gonna head out early. If you need anything, call me. Dreaux told me he wouldn’t be coming around the office for the rest of the week.” Maliah informed me.
“We can handle it,” I assured her. Hearing his name stirred mixed emotions because we seemed to be on a constant roller coaster.
We took an official DNA test to confirm Promise’s paternity a couple of weeks ago, and she was indeed Dreaux’s daughter. Although it was a crazy turn of events, I was happy she would have the opportunity to grow up with a father in her life. Stupidly, I thought our moment at the hotel would turn into more, but things seemed to be the complete opposite.
His focus had been only on Promise, and while I was happy for them, I questioned where I fit in. Dreaux made sure he saw her daily, but we had yet to sit down and have a conversation. According to Dominique, he came back home, but he wasn’t speaking to any of them. She broke down and told me about what happened, and I could tell they were all upset about it. Itmade me wonder what was going on with him because he wasn’t the same Dreaux I was used to.
What confused me most was the mixed signals he was sending. One moment, he was being distant, and the next, we were fucking like two horny college students. When we made love, it felt like nothing could ever come between us, but then he would leave the next day and ignore me as if it had never happened. I should have cut him off, but it was easier said than done. Dreaux’s touch made me weak in the knees, and my body had a mind of its own when it came to him. I craved his touch, his presence, and even his scent when he wasn’t around.
I sent him a text to let him know we needed to talk a couple of hours ago, but I still hadn’t received a response. My feelings were hurt, but I refused to shed another tear over another man. I wasted too many years on Chop, and I would never allow anyone to make me feel the way he did.
Once I clocked out, I sent a message to Dana asking if I could pick Promise up in the morning. I needed a night out to clear my head. I sent a message to the ladies to see if anyone was free to go out for drinks. Janae, Tyeis, and Ciyani all agreed to meet me at a lounge called Lost and Found.
We decided to head out at ten, so I had time to take a nap and take my time getting ready. Ciyani offered to pick me up, so I texted her to let her know I was ready. I called my baby to check on her, but all she wanted to do was show me the new toys her aunties bought her. When I broke the news to them about Promise being their niece, they were surprised, but nothing changed. They still spoiled her rotten and fought over her as usual.
Ciyani: I’m here
I checked myself out in the mirror one last time before grabbing my purse and heading outside. I decided to keep it simple with a yellow-and-black off-the-shoulder top, some black leather leggings, and a pair of wedges Dreaux bought me. My hair was in a messy bun, and I kept my makeup simple.
“Hey, boo! You look cute!” Ciyani complimented me as soon as I got inside the car.
“Thank you. You do too. I’m so glad y’all said yes; otherwise, I would have had to go out by myself.”
“Yeah, right. I would never let you go alone. Our city is cool and all, but there are creeps everywhere.”
We jammed to some music and rapped the lyrics. The lounge was twenty minutes away, but it seemed like we got there fast.
“Hey, bitches! Now, I’m telling you, my husband said I need to have my ass in the house by one, or I’m not getting any dick tonight. I need that shit like I need air, so y’all have me until then.” Janae blurted out. I cackled because of the serious expression on her face. My girl was not about to be put on punishment, and I didn’t blame her.
“You need help, bestie. I know for a fact you fucked that man before you left the house. You’re acting like an addict.” Ciyani teased her.
“And I am. Listen, you should already know what it’s like. Those Graham men have dicks laced with cocaine. You can’t convince me otherwise.”
“You might be onto something, Nae. Loyal has been out of town shooting a music video, and I feel like I’m about to lose my mind. Phone sex is cool, but I need to feel the real thing,” Tyeis cosigned.
I followed them as they walked past the security guards and entered the lounge. The hostess escorted us to a section and let us know someone would be there to take our orders. The lounge was outdoors but enclosed. Our section was L-shaped, with atable in the middle. There were two bars on the other side of the room, and the place had a nice crowd.
“Hey, ladies. Welcome to Lost and Found. What can I start you off with?” The pretty caramel baddie held out a tablet as she took our orders. A handsome stranger walked up and whispered in her ear, and she nodded her head. Another walked up next to him, and I instantly recognized him.
“What’s good, family?” Messiah greeted the table and then turned towards his teammate.
“All these women are my family, and they are all married except for her. And she’s off limits because she’s my sister. I’ll fuck yo ass up for playing with mine.” He warned. On the outside, Messiah seemed like a playful, laid-back person, but based on the way his teammate reacted, he must have realized he meant business.
“My bad, Siah. You know it’s all love. I wanted to buy the beautiful ladies a round of drinks. No disrespect.”
“It’s all good. You didn’t know, but you do now. As far as their drinks, they’re straight. All they niggas have money, they don’t need anything.” I snickered at the way he handled his teammate.
“You can put their stuff on my tab. He handed her his card, she swiped it, then handed it back to him.
“Thank you, cousin,” Ciyani called out.
“No thanks needed.”
Messiah stepped around the waitress and hugged them all individually. I sat awkwardly in my seat, not knowing what to do. Yeah, he might have claimed me as his sister, but we hadn’t spoken since.
“Get your ass up and hug me, kid. I don’t know why you’re sitting over there looking like a sad puppy as if I was gonna leave you out.” Messiah commanded as he made his way over to me. I coached myself internally to hold in my tears because we were in the middle of a bar. The moment his arms wrapped around me,I almost failed the mission because he felt…safe. It was one of those hugs you got from someone you knew cared about you. A feeling I longed for my whole life.
