Samari rolled her eyes. “The artist in question isn’t supposed to be me though. Today is about Fyre.”
“It is and your man said you’re in the conversation too. So let me do what I do so he can do what he does.”
“You better be glad I love all of these, and since he wants to spend his money, I’ll do whatIdo and spend it.”
“My girl.” Ju’rae tapped her fingers together. “Run that commission for me.”
Samari laughed and rolled her eyes while she examined a pair of black silk joggers. They were split down the sides from the top of the thigh down to the ankles where they tied with silk ribbon. Her style was simple and black appeared to be her go-to color. Everything she wore worked for her look and always had a sexy twist to it with cropped or off the shoulder shirts and baggy, loose pants that sat low on her waist. There was always skin exposed to show her feminine side but her look was always comfortable and chill.
“Oh those are cute but I need them in red,” Fyre said as soon as she reached the back.
“Those don’t come in red because they’re from the Shadow series but she has something like that you might want. The split is front and back instead of on the side and they’re high waisted. Hang on, let me see if we still have them.”
Fyre nodded and pointed to the front. “There’s some woman up there spazzing because she’s trying to use an account but they won’t let her. She was about to catch these hands too because she got mad when ol’ girl at the register told her she had to pay or leave the store and I laughed.”
“Did she leave?”
Fyre shook her head. “Nope, she’s still up there pleading a ‘my man’ case but her man must not be her man anymore because her name is no longer on the account.”
Samari smirked, deciding to be nosy and walking to the end of the style area so she could see the front of the store. She stared at the woman’s face, watching her yelling and pointing her finger at the sales associate, trying to figure out how she knew her. She recognized the woman’s face and it didn’t click until the salesassociate cut her eyes to the back then said something to the woman going off. Both of them swung their heads toward the styling area and Samari knew.
That’s the bitch from the club…
Apparently the same one who had been using Asao’s name to buy things on his dime.
“This bitch…” Samari mumbled. Fyre was at her side, watching as Tori glared then headed their way
“You know her?”
“No, but she knows me. That’s Asao’s ex.”
“Wait, so she’s trying to usehisaccount.”
“Yep.”
“Oh this is gonna be fun. She was mad as fuck that ol’ girl shut her down.”
When Tori reached Samari, she looked her up and down in disgust but internally hated that she could see everything about her that held the attention of the man she was still lusting after.
Samari was beautiful without trying. Deep chocolate skin that was smooth and flawless. She was void of makeup but still had a glow. The one side of her head that was shaved had some new growth and housed a short layer of tight curls but not even that took away from her allure. Everything about her was simple but stood out. Even now, with the nylon track pants and graphic tee she wore, Samari presented like she was ready for a spread in a high-end magazine.
“You know this is temporary.” Tori tried to assert confidence she didn’t feel. Seeing Samari in person further confirmed why Asao had moved on. She had stalked the singer’s pages and obsessively watched all her interviews trying to dissect what it was about her that kept Asao coming back.
“Temporary?” Samari questioned with amusement. She wasn’t the type to throw hands over a man. With Asao, she didn’t have to because he was hers. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind,so she wouldn’t go to war to prove what was already understood. She would, however, beat a woman’s ass over disrespect. If Tori crossed that line, Samari would be dragging her.
“You have months, I have years…” Tori said before Samari cut her off.
“And I have my name on his account and you don’t…”
Tori’s eyes narrowed but Samari kept going as she stepped closer. “That’s why you’re in my face, right? You’re trying to run up a tab with a man who doesn’t even remember what your pussy feels like, and yes, I know for sure he doesn’t because since he’s been in mine, that man has been acting brand new. That’s what happens when you’re with a woman that feels likehome. Your walk changes, your talk changes, the way you love is different. Baby, if you want to know your relevance in his life, peep how he shows up in the world. That’s all me. Every fucking thing you’re trying to circle back to is all me.”
Samari’s words gut punched. Asao was different. Everyone had seen it. It wasn’t about how fine he was or how he stepped because he always had that. It was about who he stepped for, something Tori had always wanted but he would never give. Her mother always told her that a man who fucked you in the dark but wouldn’t love you in the light was not your man.
“Bitch please. I built that man. You’re welcome,” Tori asserted, still attempting to present as unbothered.
“Did you? Because from where I’m standing it seems like he built you.” Samari’s eyes traveled the length of Tori’s body. She reached into her purse and removed her bank card and held it up. “If you want me to approve those purchases, just let me know. My man isn’t buying you shit, but I like doing charity work so…”
“Oh you think that shit is cute. Trust and believe, whatever you think you have is temporary.”
