“Ali, can I talk to you for a second?” She walked toward the exit of the kitchen.
“Don’t stray too far, baby. We got somewhere to be in an hour,” Trayvon said to her back. Raeley spun around and glared at him.
“Alicia,” she said, and I sprang into action.
“Coming.” I walked out of the kitchen behind her as we walked down the long-ass hallway. We passed by housekeeping to a room that wasn’t being serviced. She pulled me inside and closed the door.
“Rae, what the hell is going on?”
“I fucked up. I need to get out of here and go get a Plan B ASAP!”
“Pla—Rae, what the hell?” I asked again, baffled.
“I got too fucking drunk last night. I was on my way to find you to tell you I was leaving, but then I figured you’d be getting your back blown out, so I sent you a message instead. Girl . . .” She closed her eyes, then plopped down on the bed.
“You had sex with Tray?”
“I don’t know what we had last night. I don’t even know if I can call it sex. That nigga fucked me like he was auditioning for a porn star role. I’ve had some great sex before, but I never told them niggas to nut in me. Never in a million years would have letthe thought cross my mind. I swear to Moses I’m never drinking again!”
I couldn’t help but find this amusing. Raeley might have been unhinged, but she had never been stupid. But not only did she have sex with a stranger, but she’d also let him shoot up her damn club. And told him to do it.
“You let him plant his seeds in you, Rae?”
“Three times.”
“Oh my God! Wait until I tell Aunt Lex!” I laughed.
“Bitch, you bet’ the fuck not! That nigga is crazy, talking about we going down to the courthouse to get married. Cousin, get me the hell out of here before that nigga have me tied up in this creepy-ass basement.”
I laughed so hard that I almost pissed on myself.
“Rae, please. That man is not going to do that. I’ll make sure you get out of here. But to remind you, you did say you needed to find your baby daddy at this party. So, you kind of manifested it, bookie.”
“Go to hell. I don’t even know that man!”
I shrugged. “He’s Basil’s best friend.”
“What is that supposed to mean? Now, if Basil shot my club up, I’d gladly have his baby,” she said, doing that goofy wiggling of her eyebrows.
“Okay, bitch. Trayvon!” I yelled.
“Ali!” she exclaimed, putting me in a headlock, and we play fought like we used to when we were little. We both fell out on the bed and sighed, both tired as hell from playing too damn much.
I liked it though. It had been a while since we’d been able to be so carefree. We were both grown now, with demanding careers. Me, with my wayward love life and three babies, and her working herself to the bone, and not giving herself a chance to even date anyone exclusively.
“This feels nostalgic,” I voiced, looking up at the ceiling.
“It does. I miss this.”
“So, . . . do you at least like him?”
She sighed. “Girl, that nigga’s mouth is something crucial. I thought it was the sex talk until I woke up this morning, and he was still saying the same shit. He has me intrigued yet scared as fuck. I know if he delivering that kind of dick, that shit has to come attached with a warning label:Will have you making extreme life decisions.” We both doubled over in laughter.
“Well, I need to get back to my man.” I sat up, and she did the same.
She looked at me and smiled. “I’m happy you’re embracing this, Ali. Basil is a huge glow-up from Cleo’s tired ass. Your babies are going to be so happy when they find out y’all are together.”
“I knooow. I’m still a little nervous about this, but . . . I trust him. He’s great at taking care of me and the kids.” I smirked.
