Toni stood up slow, sliding out of Kay’Lo’s hold. The girl stood too, foldin’ her arms like she was security.
I tilted my head and said, “You told me to pull up if I wanted my ass beat. I pulled up. Now what?”
Toni’s eyebrows jumped, and for a second, I thought she was gon’ laugh, but she didn’t. She stared at me.
Kay’Lo still hadn’t moved. He was sitting there cool as hell, just lifting his shades so he could see everything better. He didn’t jump up or didn’t try to break shit up. He just watched Toni.
That pissed me off even more.
I stepped closer, loud enough for them to hear me. People started turnin’ around and inching toward the section because drama was moving over here like smoke.
“You been talkin’ all that shit online,” I said, “so now I’m here. Show me what you gon’ do to me.”
Toni looked me up and down like she was disappointed. “Nah, bitch, you came in here loud ‘cause you want attention.”
The girl chimed in, “She want a new ass whoopin’.”
I got louder. “You not gon’ keep talkin’ crazy like you really like that. So, what’s up?”
Toni laughed once.
“Girl,” she said, “shut the fuck up.”
Before I could even open my mouth back, before I could swing or push or even lean in?—
This bitch hauled off and slapped me.
It wasn’t a regular slap. It was a loud, disrespectful, open-handed slap right across my mouth.
It sounded like the whole club gasped.
My lip stung instantly, and I tasted blood. I tried to launch myself at her, but Kay’Lo’s hands were already on me.
He shoved me hard enough that my back hit the floor.
My head spun, and the shock damn near swallowed me whole. Kay’Lo had actually put his hands on me.
Dream and Mia lunged forward at the same time, cussin’ Kay’Lo out, but security was already pushing through the crowd. Two guards grabbed Dream and Mia, pulling them back while two more reached for Toni and the girl who was trying to swing.
People were shouting, phones were out, and the club owner was yelling for the DJ to cut the music.
Kay’Lo wasn’t even looking at me. He had pulled Toni behind him like I was some danger he needed to keep her away from.
My lip was still bleeding, and all I could do was sit there while security grabbed my arm and forced me up. My whole face burned with embarrassment, rage, and disbelief.
Dream got loose long enough to yell, “Bitch, we’ll see y’all outside!”
Security pushed us toward the exit, almost dragging us because the fight was growing behind us. People were still yelling, and I could hear Kay’Lo cussin’ out somebody, probably the club staff.
We were finally shoved out the door, and the cold air slapped me harder than Toni did.
My lip was swollen and bleeding, and Dream grabbed my chin, looking at me like she wanted to go back inside and burn the club down.
“Echo, say the word.”
I shook my head because I couldn’t even think straight. My whole body was vibrating.
“Kay’Lo pushed me,” I whispered. “He really pushed me.”
