“I’m not judging her, Hunz. These yo’ people, so I don’t see why I’m here,” I responded.
He ignored me and kept walking to a section that held a group of people. I spotted Belle Air before anyone. As soon as we walked up, she graced me with that beautiful smile she carried. Belle Air was a very beautiful woman that kept my brotha in check. He acted like a married man at all times. They were good for each other.
“Gills! I didn’t think you would show. How are you?” she asked, offering a hug, which I gave.
“I’m cool. How you and them babies?”
“We’re good. Come sit and enjoy the vibe. The birthday girl just stepped away, but she’ll be right back.”
I nodded and sat down, checking my surroundings. The DJ was spinning music that had the ladies moving their bodies in ways I missed. Temptation was in the building, front and center, no doubt.
A pretty, high-yella-toned woman approached me, asking to dance not even moments later. Declining was on the tip of my tongue, but Hunz kicked my foot and threw a nod. I stood and stepped away with her to let my night begin.
The woman chose to dance back to chest, but I wasn’t goin’ for it. She tried to inch her way closer to rub her backside against my manhood. The amount of distance I kept between us wouldn’t allow it. A simple two step was all I could give her.
I was a man, so of course having an attractive woman that close sparked somethin’ in me, but she would never know. I had control over my body, unlike most men.
We ran through a couple songs with her trying her best to give me a visual of her skills through a dance. If it had been sixor seven years ago, and I would’ve taken her up on her unspoken offer. We would’ve been in somebody’s bathroom stall or car doin’ everything but praying.
After that last song, I was ready to sit my tail down and catch my breath. I started to walk away when she caught my hand. I saw the look in her eyes, but I wasn’t that guy. I bent down to whisper in her ear. “I had fun. Enjoy your night, love.”
She watched me until she lost me in the crowd. I wasn’t gon’ lead her on or give her an impression of anything more. Like I told her, it was fun. It just wouldn’t leave the dance floor. I didn’t interact with people if it wasn’t church related. I was big on maintaining my peace, and those women weren’t about to disturb it.
I headed back to the section Hunz brought me to. I heard laughs from various people, including Hunz and Belle Air, before I got there. Seeing others have a good time was dope to me. I witnessed a lot of bad growing up, so to see or hear genuineness warmed my heart.
When I stepped in, Hunz was the first to notice me. “I saw you out there givin’ that hoe the business, my boy. Yo’ ass ain’t that saved. Aye, Journei… Journei! This my best friend, Gills. Gills, this is the birthday girl, my number two, my best friend, Journei.”
Our eyes locked and made no attempt to find another target. She was still as beautiful as the day we bumped into each other. I was finally provided a name for mystery woman, which fit her perfectly. It was gon’ be one heck of a journey gettin’ to know her. That I could sense.
Her vitiligo was on display again, and I found myself struggling to breathe. Journei was simply breathtaking. She was sitting, and for some reason, I was jealous of the couch. For the first time in a long time, I feared temptation would win the battle if ever presented.
“Helloooo? The fuck is goin’ on, Journei?” The woman sitting next to her was tryna get her attention as Hunz was tryna get mine.
I broke eye contact and took a seat next to Hunz. Staring wasn’t somethin’ I intended to do, but her beauty wasn’t somethin’ I could just easily turn away from. Grabbing a bottle of water, I tried to put out the fire she ignited within me.
“Y’all know each other or somethin’? The fuck goin’ on, Gills?” Hunz leaned over and questioned me quietly.
“Melanated queen from the mall,” I answered.
He gave a confused look until it registered. His eyes grew big and then a laugh followed suit. Asking him what was funny was pointless. He was dying laughing, and even Belle Air threw a chuckle in the mix.
“A’ight, let me finish introducing everybody. Gills, you know my baby. Then the couple in the corner is Lex’s younger brotha, Max, and his lady, Farrah. And then this is Alexis… Journei’s wife.”
When he said wife, I lost all hope. She was married, and whether the marriage was right or wrong in the eyes of the Lord, I wasn’t about to disrespect their union. I spoke to both Alexis and the couple with genuine smiles.
The response from Alexis was exactly what I expected. She gave a dry “wassup” before her attention was back on Journei. I practically held her wife’s gaze hostage right in front of her. At that point, I was ready to leave. I didn’t like causing confusion or problems for nobody.
I enjoyed myself for what it was, but before it got out of hand or awkward for anybody, I decided to leave. I stood and dapped Hunz up with him asking where I was headed. I answered when Belle Air insisted on me crashing at their house until the morning. That time, I accepted.
Looking at Journei, I could see the internal battle she was having with her eyes. Her wife was talking directly in her face, yet she couldn’t stop glancing at me. That was gon’ get messy if I didn’t depart soon.
“Journei, is it?” She gave me her full attention and nodded. “Happy birthday, Journei. I wish you many more. I don’t have a gift for you at the moment, but I’ll send one through Hunz. Enjoy your night, beautiful.”
She smiled and said, “Thank you, Gills.”
I walked away with her voice lingering in my head. Not once did her having a significant other cross my mind. It never dawned on me that maybe she was spoken for and off the market. I saw her and felt the need to have her.
I left out the club, disappointed and happy at the same time. I was disappointed about not being able to take that leap and get to know her on that level and then happy that she had somebody that cared for her enough to want a marriage with her.
