I looked at him, and he was already looking at me, holding in a laugh. I put my eyes back on the road as we had a good laugh at my father’s expense. He was indeed a frugal man.
We arrived atPitch Blackfifteen minutes before the event was set to start, and I found a parking spot about a block away. I noticed quite a few attractive women getting out of their vehicles and heading in the same direction as us.
Once inside, I looked around and immediately liked the vibe. It wasn’t a new club, but it wasn’t around the last time I’d visited. It felt more like a lounge, and we could hold a conversation without shouting because the music wasn’t too loud, which I liked.
“Nice place,” Knox said.
“Yeah. Looks like a mature crowd. We can’t be in this bitch trying to hook up with twenty somethings.”
“Hell, nah. Thirty might be pushing it.”
We laughed as we walked further into the club. It was set up with mostly highboys, some with high chairs or stools, some without, and a few regular tables and chairs. What I assumed was the VIP section was set up with long tables and, from what I could see, a nice spread of food.
Knox and I looked around as we made our way to the bar. The women were plentiful and outnumbered the men, as usual. I didn’t have any hope of finding my future tonight, but someone to hook up with when the need arose would be nice.
We got our drinks and headed toward the food, speaking to several women on the way. A few of them looked very interested, and as soon as I got some food in my stomach and a drink in my system, I planned to circle back and become acquainted.
About fifteen minutes later, we’d eaten some of the appetizers they’d offered and were standing near the bar, sipping our second drink. I looked toward the door, and it felt like my heart had stopped. I hit Knox’s arm a little harder than I meant to, and he looked at me with a confused expression.
“What, nigga?” he asked, annoyed, while rubbing the spot where I’d hit him.
“That’s her.”
“That’s who?”
“That’s the woman I saw yesterday atSoulful Dinerwhen I picked up my food.”
“Okay? Is there more to this story?”
“I’ll be back.”
Every man in the club noticed her when she walked in, and I refused to allow one of their asses to snatch her up before I got a chance to. Although she moved with ease through the club, I could sense that she’d rather be somewhere else.
The woman she was with, who was pretty, too, looked much more excited to be there. She leaned into the woman I had my eyes on, whispering before they both broke out in giggles. I kept my eyes on her as I moved in her direction, and when she noticed, her entire demeanor changed.
“Hello,” I said, offering my hand. “I’m Kilo.”
She smiled softly as her friend watched our interaction.
“I’m Nyomi. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Can I buy you a drink?”
As she was preparing to decline, her friend said, “Of course you can. I’m Skye, and we were headed to the bar.”
Skye took Nyomi’s hand and pulled her toward the bar. I smiled as I followed behind them. Knox hadn’t moved and appeared to have watched the entire scene. Skye wasn’t looking where she was going and ran into him.
“Hold on, pretty lady,” he said, holding her arms.
“Damn. You are gorgeous,” Skye said, looking up at him in awe.
“I appreciate that, but not nearly as gorgeous as you. I’m Knox. Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’m Skye, and you sure can. This is my best friend, Nyomi. This gentleman offered to buy her a drink. Wait a minute. Are you two brothers because the resemblance is crazy?”
Knox and I chuckled.
“Yes, that’s my big brother,” he told her.
