Ellie’s face twisted up.“Aggressive? But nothing. He got aggressive with you?” Ellie asked.
“He wasn’t going to do anything. He just gets like this. He gets mean, and he makes threats, but…”
“Bitch, if you excuse his bullshit one more time,” Ellie fussed.“Where is he?” Ellie demanded.
Ellie went storming off for the front door as Courtney trailed after her, trying to explain away the situation.
“Ellie, you don’t understand. You and Loyal getting involved only makes it worse; please, just get Loyal. I can handle James,” Courtney pleaded.
Ellie pushed through the front doors and caught Loyal just as he was putting James inside a car.
“James! You threatened her,nigga?” Ellie shouted.
“Ellie!” Courtney shouted.“Please!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Loyal said, intercepting Ellie and all her rage. He turned back to the car.“Close the door and get him out of here,” Loyal instructed the driver.
Courtney was mortified.
“Courtney, baby, can we just go home? We doing this in front of all these people. Just come home. I’m drunk. You took my baby and just left. I’m going crazy,” James said.
Courtney looked at Ellie in confusion.
“Maybe I should just go home with him. This is embarrassing. Y’all shouldn’t have to be involved in this.”
“You’re not going anywhere with him. She’s not coming. Courtney protects your ass, James. She keeps a lot of shit to herself, and I know she do. We’re all over the place, so we miss a lot of bullshit that you take her through, but we’re all right here this time. We not letting her miss shit. We not taking no excuses as to why she can’t show up. One missed phone call, and we’re coming to wherever she is. You touch another hair on her head, and I’ma kill you myself, you piece of fucking shit!”
Loyal pulled her hand aggressively and forced her to turn to him.
“You’ve made your point, E. Youain’t wrong, but that’s enough,” he said. Loyal closed the door and hit the roof of the truck with one hand.“Get him home.” He turned to the valet and handed one of the men James’ticket.“Get his car and follow the truck to his address. Ride back with my driver.”
Ellie was on fire. She pulled her hand from his and shook her head.“Why are you protecting him?”
“I’m not protecting him. He’s going through a rough time, E. Let that nigga sleep it off. Cooler heads will prevail in the morning.” Loyal was a leader. He was a thinker, and right now, he was her enemy.
“Fuck what he’s going through,” she whispered. Ellie turned back to Courtney and wrapped an arm around Courtney’s shoulder before they walked back inside together.
As soon as they stepped inside the warm building, Shy was coming out the ballroom.“I’ve been looking everywhere for y’all. What the hell happened?” Shy asked.
“You don’t want to know. Go line up the shots, y’all. We deserve them. I’llbe right in,” Ellie said.
“I’llfill you in, girl,” Courtney stated as the pair walked off.
Ellie felt Loyal’s hand on the small of her back, and she turned to him.
“We need to talk,” she said.
Loyal shook his head.“You look like you got a lot to say, and I’m almost certain I’ma hear it all, but can we table it, E? I just want to enjoy the rest of my night with my girl.”
Ellie scoffed and shook her head.“Which is who, Loyal? Because right now, I’m feeling like you’re trying to play me, and I’m not feeling it.” She walked away, entering the ballroom, and his voice halted her.
“Elliot!”
She turned around. His baritone echoed through the room, and everyone gave him their full attention as uncertainty clung to the air.
I know this nigga is not making a scene, she thought, embarrassed but standing her ground.
“What, Loyal? What do you want from me?” She shouted back. Yup, they were making a scene. Lights, camera, action in this bitch.
