“Girl, you can’t be nice to stupid people. Stupid people aren’t smart enough to recognize what nice is.”
Joi laughed, almost spitting her drink on Nyelle. “Ny, stop.”
“No, you stop acting like she didn’t piss you off.”
“She really didn’t. Anybody can say what they want about East. I know what we are. Hell, I trust what I have with him better than I ever did with anyone else.”
“Like him.” Nyelle pointed to the door where Reg was entering Presidential. It had been months since Joi had seenhim and she didn’t miss him at all. Riggs walked in behind Reg, smiling and looking around for a victim like the pretty boy he was. When he noticed Joi, he offered a nod and nudged Reg, who only glared in their direction and walked off. Joi laughed and rolled her eyes, but Riggs came over and joined them.
“What’s up, Nyelle. You’re looking good.”
“And I would look even better without you in my face.” She rolled her eyes at him, but Riggs only laughed.
“You good, Joi? I see you all glowed up since you left my boy. He hasn’t been right since.”
“Don’t mention him to me, and yes, I’m greatwithouthim.”
Riggs smirked and raked his hand down his face. “Don’t be too hard on him. Karma is kicking his ass. I kept telling him to do right. Your new man fucked Reg’s life up, so trust me, you’re a lot better off than he is.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Joi frowned at Riggs.
“It means Reg fucked with the wrong one but that’s on him. He’s living but he isn’t living good. That’s all I’ma say.”
Riggs left and Nyelle peered at Joi. “What do you know about that?”
“Nothing and I don’t care. Whatever happened is on him.” Joi was glad Reg was suffering. It was his fault.
“Damn that’s cold but I can’t say I blame you. Reg wasn’t shit. Maybe I’ll get East on Reese’s dumb ass too.”
“Ny, stop. Leave that man alone. You already got him moping around like a lost puppy.”
“Girl bye, he deserves what he gets too. That’s good for him. Him and that crazy ass woman he’s with. She’s putting him through it and I’m glad. He thought I was giving him hell? Michelle is a whole ass nightmare.”
Nyelle smiled. Every time Reese was around her, he complained about his relationship with Michelle. Apparently she was only good at spending his money and leaving him to carefor their daughter and Reese let her. Much like Nyelle, Michelle knew things about Reese that she threatened to use against him. Nyelle never would hurt him that way, no matter how wrong he had done her, because she knew Nick would be the one who felt it most. According to Reese, Michelle was very different and didn’t care, but that was his issue, not hers. Nyelle wasn’t sure why he felt the need to vent about this to her but the few times he had been around to pick up or drop their son off that had been his routine. Nyelle simply nodded and grinned, then sent Reese on his way. She was happy and had no fucks to give about his miserable new life. Karma definitely was a bitch.
“Well, now that it’s just us, let’s get these shots out the way and hit the dance floor. Since my man has me so wide open, I guess I’ll enjoy the moment until I can go home and let him fill me up.”
“This hoe.” Nyelle smirked at Joi who only smiled back before signaling for the bartender. Nick was with his father, something Reese had been doing much better with, but only because it gave him the opportunity to see her more. So both women were about to enjoy their night then head home to the real reasons for their recent happiness, Vega and East. When life was good, it was good, and they both learned to enjoy every minute of it.
A huge smilespread across Joi’s face when the door to her apartment opened and she laid eyes on East standing shirtless, holding the door while he peered at her with a slight scowl on his face. Joi looked down at her keys and laughed because of the buzz still present from one of many shots she consumed with Nyelle before the two left the club in an Uber Black.
“I tried but I couldn’t get it. Maybe you changed these locks too.” Joi lifted one shoulder as she leaned over to lift her shoes which she had placed in front of her door while she was struggling with her keys in an attempt to unlock it.
The second she was upright again, East’s arm circled her waist, pulling her inside and out of the way while he used his free hand to shut and lock the door after pinning Joi against it. Her shoes, clutch, and keys hit the floor around the same time her back met the door. East pressed his palms against the door just above Joi’s shoulders. His stare was intense and had Joi’s pulse racing.
“You’re drunk.”
“I’m…”
The smile that surfaced had Joi relaxing. “You’re tipsy as fuck but it’s cute.”
“You’re cute.” Joi’s low eyes dipped from East’s handsome face to his neck before lingering on his exposed chest. “And sexy. Very sexy.”
East chuckled, amused by how relaxed the alcohol had Joi. He also had plans to take full advantage of it. “Come on. I don’t know what fuck ass me you’ve been dancing on so we’re about to wash that club off you.”
Frowning at the thought, Joi poked her lips into a slight pout. “I only danced with Nyelle. Ria left. She was being a bitch.”
“Word, why is that?”
