“I’m not fucking with it. Not out here. Your feet work just fine and so do mine.”
She grinned when they entered the mall but tensed when he dropped an arm around her shoulders, making them cozy. Midday on a Friday didn’t change the fact that the crowd wasthick. Bodies moved around with bags in hand like nine to five jobs didn’t exist.
Their first stop was at Kamren Taylor. As soon as they entered the store, every female associate tracked them. The hat on Asao’s head hid half of his face but he looked like money. As simple as his attire was, it radiated the presence of status. His walk told a story of the weight that hung between his legs and his vibe drew folks attention as if a spotlight followed his every move.
Hood certified with money and a phenomenal dick game.
Although all eyes were on them, only one woman had the confidence to approach. She threw Samari off when the vanilla-skinned woman with sandy brown ringlets bouncing around her slim face bypassed Asao and stepped to her.
“That shirt is cute but what do you know about The Manor?” She flashed Samari a smile which allowed her to relax.
“A lot. I didn’t live there but I grew up there.”
“Same. My best friend Tione lived in Crescent Ridge and I spent damn near all my time there.” Samari nodded in understanding. Her experience had been the same. While she grew up in Crescent Pointe in a nice but modest home, Samari spent ninety percent of her time sharing a twin bed in Sheree’s tiny bedroom in Crescent Manor.
They were both raised by single mothers who worked more than they parented their girls, so neither had restrictions on where they lay their heads. There was never any excitement in the suburban neighborhood where Samari lived, so the hood always won.
“I’m Ju’rae, by the way. Now are we spending your money or his?” Ju’rae glanced at Asao who chuckled, already knowing what was about to go down. Pending the answer, Ju’rae was about to assist Samari in running up a tab, but he was cool with her conspiring to help Samari spend his money becausethat was his intention. Maybe this way he could get her to relax and let him empty his pockets. There was enough in the bank to replenish them with very little effort.
“Mine,” he said smoothly, which had Ju’rae nodding while she mentally put a plan in place. She gave Samari a thorough inspection before dragging her to the back of the store where their exclusive black label filled the racks.
“We just got these in. Wait right here, I’m going to pull some stuff for you.”
Samari had no leg in this fight so she decided to go with the flow. “You didn’t ask what I needed.”
Ju’rae waved her off. “Girl, that man just gave you permission to run up a tab. Don’t nobody give a damn what you need. We’re hitting all reasons and seasons. Now let me do what I do.”
Samari watched Ju’rae move with the grace and confidence of a runway model as her six-inch heels carried her from rack to rack, pulling together a diverse selection—jeans, sweats, shirts, dresses. Samari tried to make sense of the items, pairing what she assumed went together in her mind, but gave up each time an armful reached the style rack near the dressing room because she couldn’t keep up. Twenty minutes later, Ju’rae pointed to the dressing room that held the first pieces she’d selected for Samari.
“Start with these.” She handed over baggy, faux leather pants and a cropped, black, jersey knit, sleeveless top.
“Wait, you need something under that shirt and I need to grab shoes. And eight or nine?” She motioned to Samari’s feet.
“Eight and a half.”
Ju’rae’s glossy, chocolate-tinted lips blossomed into a full smile before she was on her way. Samari’s eyes circled the store where she located a woman grinning in Asao’s face. The womanwas too damn close for Samari’s liking but she quickly rolled her eyes and checked herself.
He wasn’t her man, and if he wanted to entertain another woman, doing so was truly his prerogative. Regardless, seeing him engaged in a conversation with the woman while she made a point of touching him on the arm and shoulder brought out feelings that had no business existing in Samari’s heart and mind. So she stepped into the dressing room, hung the clothes Ju’rae gave her on an empty hook, and yanked the curtains closed.
Ju’rae returned a few minutes later, sticking her hand through the black linen curtain that separated her from Samari, and handed over a pair of combat boots and a satin and lace bralette. “Here, add these too.”
Samari accepted the items and began stripping out of her clothes. As soon as she was completely dressed, her mood changed. There was no way in hell to suppress the smile that surfaced after seeing how damn good she looked. She turned her body from side to side before retrieving her phone and posing with a kiss on her lips as she leaned forward, shifting into varied positions for several shots.
“Girl, hurry up. I need to see.” Ju’rae’s animated voice had Samari tucking her phone back into her purse and stepping through the private curtains of the dressing room.
“I knew it. That shit is sexy.” Ju’rae clasped her hands together then dropped them to her hips. “Turn around, let me see.”
Obliging the request, Samari turned in a circle, smiling big at the praise she received.
“Okay ass. It’s sitting nice in those. I see you. Definitely your style.”
“The boots are cute too but you could definitely switch it up and do heels, but those are going to be fire on stage.”
Samari’s expression dropped and she quickly glanced over her shoulder toward Asao who was still occupied.
“You know who I am?”
“I do. Kinda hard not to with that.” Ju’rae pointed to Samari’s tattoos. “But I’m also a fan. I love your music. I heard you today on Beauty and the Beats. I’m glad you’re back and the song is dope as hell.”
