I love this girl so I’m going to let her have it, Samari thought, rolling her eyes with a smile.
The plan was to give Sheree her one night then go back to her boring ass life.
"You're drunk."Samari reached for Ree's glass but her reflexes were still quicker than Samari’s. Her fingers wrapped around the glass before Samari could get to it.
"Yes, I am. Extremely but it feels aaaaamazing." She sang the last word through a tipsy slur that had Samari pinching her eyes at her. They had been at the club for a few hours—danced, sang songs at the top of their lungs, and ordered more drinks than needed. Samari was taking it easy but her buzz was in place.
One of them needed to be responsible this evening, and since Ree was not trying to play that role, it was handed over to Samari. She didn't mind. Her friend was having the time of her life. She could tell Sheree needed it, and even with all the men she pointed out and admired, if any got too close or friendly, Ree shut it down.
Samari was grateful because it was a clear sign that Sheree loved her husband. She knew Sheree did but sometimes situations caused people to make the wrong decisions. Samari had been placed in plenty of situations where married spouses either hit on or allowed others to do the hitting. It soured her perception of marriage and love but the industry was known for presenting fantasies. Marriages were business deals and not founded in emotions, commitment, or love.
"Are you having fun? I'm having fun." Sheree smiled at Samari with those thin eyes of hers barely open. The giddy aura that emanated from her pushed a smile onto Samari's face but it didn't live there long because Sheree’s faded. "Do you think Cantor would cheat on me?"
"No, do you?" Alarm flashed through Samari’s body as she tried to sober her mind from her tiny buzz. Were they having problems? Had she missed something? They talked all the time. Sheree was her best friend and it was Samari's job to notice things.
Sheree’s eyes briefly lowered to the glass in her hand before her head shook slightly and her gaze landed on Samari. They were in a crowded club. The music was loud, people were happy, dancing, enjoying the atmosphere, but Samari felt as if Ree and she were alone on an island. Everything around them blurred instantly and Ree was her only focus.
"No, he wouldn't. I don't think he would…but…" She paused and shook her head again. Her voice was a lot softer and Samari could barely hear Sheree over the noise surrounding them. "Things are different. He's different. I don't know what changed but I feel like something’s off. He didn't even fight me on this tonight. It was like he shoved me out the door." Ree's eyes were unsure. She was searching for something in Samari's that would make it all make sense.
"Ree, he loves you. He loves you so much. More than I've ever seen a man love a woman."
"You've never seen a man love a woman, so that's not helping." She flashed Samari pouty lips and thin, hooded eyes. It was true. Her father was never in her life, she didn't know her grandparents, and shamefully at twenty-seven years old, she had never been in love before. Not the real thing anyway. But she knew what it was. She saw it in Ree and Cantor’s eyes. They were in love.
"You know what I mean. He loves you. I'm sure of it, so stop it. We're not doing that tonight. We're here to have fun, get drunk, and dance our asses off. You have me out here looking…"
"Fine as hell. Like wifey material. Totally and utterly fuckable." Ree’s smile was wide, even if her eyes weren't. Shewas happy again. Maybe the doubt surfaced from the alcohol. It had a way of giving people courage or making them insecure.
"Fuckable?" Samari’s eyes rolled and Ree laughed…hard.
"Yes, so let’s see if we can find a willing participant…" She paused as her eyes swept the area. "Ohh, look at him. God, look at that man," she purred. Samari followed Sheree’s line of sight and found three men moving through the crowd.
One big and burly in front,hewas in the middle, and the tail end of their crew was a cute, medium built man who had nothing on the one the other two seemed to be protecting. He was somebody. She could feel it. The way he moved was beautiful, confident, authoritative.
His shoulders were broad and wide, his head was angled slightly higher than the other two men, making it seem as if he were above them. He seemed cocky, like he had the right to be admired, but then again, he did. The man was gorgeous. His smooth brown skin seemed to glow under the club’s low, fluorescent lights. His hair was cut low and circled with waves attached to a low-cut beard that covered the lower half of his face. Just that quickly Samari was curious about the rest of him but didn't have much time to do research because they disappeared into the sea of people who had parted ways to allow them space to move, closing up right after they passed through.
"Wow?" Samari heard from the side. Her eyes left the area where they had been glued to find Ree grinning up at her.
"What?"
"That damn man was fine as shit and you noticed. We have to find him."
"No the hell we don't."
"Mari, you damn near drooled when he walked by. I've never seen that from you. We have to find him."
"No the hell we don't."
Samari’s eyes darted around the space. She saw people checking them out. They had been all night. A few had spoken but most allowed them space and offered knowing looks and nods. They recognized her but didn't approach.
That was a mortal sin in places like this. Everybody wanted to be somebody, so dick riding a so-called celebrity was a big no-no. It was another reason Samari agreed to come out with Sheree. In clubs, no one bothered her.
Her quick run of fame didn't put her at the top of the list but people knew her. She’d never liked the attention but she loathed it now because it came with questions like: What happened to you? When are you going to release something new? That made her chest tight.
"Mari, that was the point of coming out."
"It absolutely was not. We're out so you can drink too much and enjoy a night away from your boring life, remember?"
Ree’s lips pouted again and Samari rolled her eyes, not caring. She wasn't about to be that woman. Searching through a club for a man who likely had droves of women tucked away and willing to satisfy his every need. Yeah, a man like that definitely had women. A lot of them.
