“You invited me here, and you’re acting like I don’t even exist,” Stassi said. She didn’t know why she even wanted his attention. It was his audacity that made her feel insulted. What kind of nigga spends racks on a dress and sends a car for a woman to ignore her?
Day leaned down in her ear. “I see you. Saw you when you walked into the building. I smell you. Baccarat, I think. Shit been swirling around me since you stepped into the section. I hear you over every other voice even though you not talking that loud. I’m zeroed in on you. A nigga feel you when he not even looking your way. Only thing left to do is taste you. But you bullshitting.”
He turned back to the crowd.
“I’m not…”
“You’re not what?” He asked without turning her way.
“I’m not for sale, Day. I’m hella confused because you got me in this club, you send a girl you’re clearly fucking over to entertain me…”
“I didn’t send her to entertain you, Stassi. I sent her over to eat your pussy,” Day stated.
Stassi felt like he had transported her out of this club. She didn’t even hear the music anymore. The smug look on his face made it hard to inhale.
“You like the attention she gives you. She makes you comfortable. That’s good. I want you comfortable for what I have in mind,” Day responded.
“I don’t like women…I don’t do this,” Stassi hissed, standing close to him so no one else would overhear. She glanced back at Livi, who was engaged in conversation with one of the beautiful waitresses.
“It looks like you do it just fine,” Day said, a sly grin playing at the corner of his lips. “You may not like women but you like Liv. She’s a star. Everybody likes Liv.”
“I’m leaving. This is bullshit,” Stassi said. She was snatched back toward him before she could take one step.
“Go have a drink and relax.” It was like he knew she was going to do as he said. She snatched away and met eyes with Livi. She beckoned Stassi to her side. Against her better judgment, Stassi followed her to the private VIP room.
“He’s so fucking arrogant, I swear,” Stassi fussed.
Livi laughed. “That he is, but did he lie to you?”
“No,” Stassi said. “And that’s what I’m afraid of.”
Livi sashayed to the bar and walked behind it, setting up three glasses before pouring up. Stassi’s gut told her to walk the hell out of this lounge, but there was an itching curiosity that kept her rooted.
“Liquid courage, girl,” Livi said, tapping her long stiletto nail on the rim of one of the glasses.
Stassi sighed. “Fuck it.” She walked over to the bar, picked up the glass, and lifted it. “I’m so nervous.”
“Nervous is good. Nervous means this world hasn’t washed you up. These niggas. The hype. The creating fake lives for Instagram. Nervous means you’re normal, Stassi. Hold onto that normal girl, no matter how abnormal shit gets. To the pretty girls and the boys we manipulate.”
“How are we the ones doing the manipulating?” Stassi asked.
“Once you learn to leverage what you have against what these niggas want, you can control the win,” Livi stated.
They clinked glasses, and Livi poured another. Back to back. The burn of the second shot went down easier, but it heated her entire body. Livi walked around to her side.
“Day and I have been seeing one another for a long time. He’s one of my best friends but he only calls when he’s stressed. You stressed my guy out, Stassi. He wasn’t expecting you to say no. How the hell did you say no?”
“He made me feel cheap,” Stassi replied, shrugging. “I’ve worked hard to feel like I’m worth something, and then with one sentence, he just put me on clearance.”
“If six figures are clearance, I’d hate to see what worthy going for,” Livi answered. “He wants me to seduce you,” Livi continued. “He didn’t say that, but I know him.”
“Why can’t he seduce me himself?” Stassi’s words were throaty as Livi came a bit closer. Her perfume was absorbing the oxygen, and Stassi couldn’t breathe. Livi was an inch away.
“Because I’m better at it.” When their lips touched, Stassi’s chest erupted.
Three drinks. That’s how many drinks it took to convince her that this was okay.
She had never kissed a girl before, but the delicate way Livi handled her made Stassi moan. Everything tingled. Her entire body felt like it was dipped in glitter as the taste of Livi invaded her mouth.
