He walked off, going back over to his boys. And out of my own control, my eyes followed him. I couldn’t help it. Yes, yes, yes, I was aware of my sisters. I felt their eyes on me, but I truly did not give a damn. My current circumstances had my give a fuck meter at an all-time low.
“Mmh,” Hazel said, tilting her head to block my view. “Hello. Earth to Mahogany.”
I laughed and shook my head. “What?”
“You shol’ is staring. Like you’re not somebody’s wife,” she said before flagging the waitress down.
I wasn’t.
Legally, yes. But mentally and emotionally, I was a single fucking woman. So much of a single woman that when I got dressed, I did not put my wedding rings on. I know. I needed to end things to make it official but… baby steps. It was fuck Duke. Forever. I just needed to get the paperwork drawn up.
“Girl, please,” I said, before placing a piece of hair behind my ear. Turning, my eyes met Sienna’s and she gave me this knowing look that I couldn’t help but notice. One with a squint and pursed lips that read ‘mmhmm’.
“How long he been your client?” Sienna asked, fishing.
“About two months,” I said, before accepting my drink from the bartender. “Thank you.”
“Y’all close?”
I looked at her with a squint. “What are you trying to ask me, Si?”
Hazel jerked her head in their direction but didn’t turn to face them. “Seems like he can’t stop looking at you neither. He’s definitely giving you come fuck me eyes.”
I sucked my teeth and glanced over. She was right. Crescent was staring at me, but I wasn’t sure if I could call them comefuck me eyes. There was a bit of fire behind them. A bit of longing. So much so that looking away was a bit hard for me to do. I swallowed and ran my hand down the back of my neck, steady feeling his eyes piercing through me. He wanted me. And I wanted him too. Not just to fuck but to catch up. I missed Crescent. Missed his incompetence. Missed how attentive he was when I talked about design. Missed of back-and-forth banter over topics that had absolutely nothing to do with work.
Sure, I was being difficult. But he’d pissed me off real bad with that complaint. I didn’t want to give in easy. Regardless of how I felt, Crescent didn’t deserve an in-person meeting yet. He wanted to throw around the contract and shit, I could do the same. But damn… seeing him tonight made me realize how much I actually missed him.
“He know you married?” Hazel asked, mentioning that fucking marriage again. I thought it was funny how Sienna hadn’t mentioned it once. It was usually her that would remind me of my ring.
I sucked my teeth. “Yes, bitch, he’s aware. Get off of me. What you got to tell us?”
She squinted at me and turned the corners of her mouth up. “Mmhmm. Anyway.” With a deep breath, she pulled her purse closer to her and fished around it. A couple of seconds later, she pulled a black velvet box from it and slid it to Sienna who was in the middle.
“What is this?” Si asked as she opened it. Before Hazel could respond, her jaw dropped. Mine did too. Inside of the box was a diamond ring.
“This what I think it is?” Sienna asked.
Hazel nodded. “It’s exactly what you think it is.” She smiled. “I’m asking Tuesdai to marry me.”
“You must really be done with dick this time huh?” I mumbled with a smile of my own. “You know momma gon’ flip, right?”
“Fuck momma,” Hazel said, laughing. “You know I never gave a damn about that ladies opinion.”
“It’s beautiful, Haz,” Sienna said, before giving me the box.
It was beautiful. Very beautiful. As I stared down at it, I thought about what she said about not giving a damn about ‘that ladies’ opinion and it stung a little. My entire life was based on giving a damn about that ladies opinion. And I wondered what she’d say now, after the shit with Duke and I came out. Did it matter? Should it matter? It didn’t. For the first time in my life, it didn’t matter what she said. Knowing her, she’d say something like ‘what’s done is done. It was the past. You forgave him once, forgive him again’. And you know what I’d do with that? Tell her to shove it up her muthafucking ass.
“It really is beautiful, Hazel. Congratulations. I know she’s going to say yes.”
Hazel and Tuesdai had been together for a couple of years. Even though they’d been together for a while, I did not expect her to come with a ring. My little sister was… I guess you could say a little promiscuous. A free spirit, really. I was surprised the relationship with Tuesdai lasted as long.
While we talked, I felt Crescent’s eyes steady on me. Turning, I faced him and he didn’t shy away. He kept staring. Ran his tongue over his bottom lip and stared deeper. I squinted and made a face at him. He laughed, shook his head, and went to take a sip of his drink. I wondered what it was. It was brown. A man like him, I’d bet it was scotch.
After finishing my drink, I ordered another one. The edible had kicked in, and I felt good as hell, but I still needed a couple of drinks. I was going through shit and really wanted to numb the pain. And the drinks and edible were doing a damn good job.I was really happy my sisters came and got me out of the house. I went from crying to dancing on a barstool, exchanging looks with Crescent within a couple of hours.
“You don’t want to slow down?” Sienna asked.
“You don’t want to mind your business?” I snapped, biting into one of the wings I ordered not too long ago.
