“It’s dope seeing my people in love.” Hasheem ushered me inside. His hand settled firmly on the small of my back a little too easily, like he was getting comfortable doing it. “You ready to sell madly in love?” he whispered in my ear.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I agreed as he steered us toward the bar.
“What you want to drink?”
“Something pretty and pink that tastes like juice with a little kick.”
“Say less.” He flagged the bartender down, and I did what I came here to do—record content. I pulled out my camera and filmed a quick pan of the room and then Hasheem ordering our drinks at the bar.
“Here.” Hasheem handed me a glass with a little rose petal floating on top.
“Ooh.” I took a sip and winced. “Oh. This is strong.”
“Good.” He tapped his glass against mine. “You need to loosen up.”
The drink hit fast. It was sweet at first, then that slow burn hit all the way down my chest. I took another sip anyway. I was going to need all the help I could get playing Hasheem’s fake girlfriend in front of all these real life couples. We had barely made it three sips in before another couple slid up next to us. I recognized them from the bus. They were the only couple that was awake.
“Hey.” Tiana grinned. “Y’all settling in okay?”
“Trying to,” I said. “Jet lag is winning, but we pushing through.”
Malik nodded at Hasheem. “You the firefighter, right?”
“Yeah.” Hasheem gave him one of those chin lifts men do. “Azalea County.”
“Oh, he a hero-hero,” Tiana said, fanning herself with her wristband. “How y’all meet?”
“High school best friends,” I answered automatically.
Tiana’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, y’all just been secretly pining over each other for years?”
I laughed a little too loud. “Something like that,” I lied.
“So what’s y’all’s content lane again?” Malik asked. “We do lifestyle and money talks. We help couples navigate finances.”
“That’s so cool.” I perked up a little. “I’m a Booktoker. I give romance recs, reading vlogs, all that nerd stuff.”
“And date nights,” Tiana added. “I told you I’m a follower. I love your date night reels.”
My stomach dipped. Those “date night” reels were solo dinners with my tripod and a good angle—me, a book, and whatever restaurant didn’t kick me out for setting up my ring light.
“I just be trying to brag on my man,” I said smoothly, tipping my head toward Hasheem. “He plans the best date nights.”
“Shit, maybe you can help a brother out then, my guy,” Malik said, laughing.
“Anytime.” Hasheem took a slow sip of his drink, then slid his arm around my waist like it was the easiest thing in the world. His hand landed just shy of my hip. My whole body clocked it.
“Okay, okay, Duality couples.” The DJ’s voice boomed over the music, making the room jump. “How we feeling tonight?” The room answered with cheers and whistles.
“We outside!” Someone called out as Hasheem’s fingers tapped against my waist. I forced my smile a little wider and leaned into him like it was all second nature, being sure to get it all on camera.
“We’re gonna ease into things with a little dance floor game,” the DJ announced. “I want y’all on the dance floor. So when I call the number of years you and yo’ boo have been together, I wantyou to find a space, get real close, and let’s kick this weekend off right. Y’all hear me?”
“Yesss!” The crowd responded, and he continued.
“That’s what I like to hear. Let’s get this party started. If you’ve been together over twenty years?” A few couples stepped out, and the room erupted in applause. Being together for twenty years was a big feat. I patted my thigh with my other hand as I smiled at the couples. “Fifteen Years?”
I glanced up at Hasheem. “We technically qualified for that, you know?”
