The deejay’s voice boomed through. “Ladies and gentlemen, help me wish the birthday queen E a happy birthday!”
We made it to the section overseeing the club just as bottle girls came out with sparklers on bottles and a sign in hand. My mouth flew open.
“Wait. How did you–” I started.
He smirked. “It’s about you.”
“But it’s your night. You invited me.”
“I already got mine. You enjoy. Come on, birthday girl.”
Suki squealed. Rhea was trying her best not to smile with a cup in her hand. She tilted her imaginary hat to me. Rayzor handed me a cup.
“Happy Birthday, E.” He raised his glass.
“Happy Birthday, E!” the crowd shouted with their cups in the air.
We downed the liquor, and I nestled under his arm.
“You could’ve had any woman tonight, why me?”
“Because you were the only one that looked into the darkness and didn’t want to run.”
He was right. I was lured into the darkness. Afraid of what I couldn’t see, yet I wanted to stay.
Ihad enough of this club shit. It was cool while it lasted, but after a few hours of this, I wanted to dip out and clear my mental. Tonight was big, but the work wasn’t done. There’s always more shit for me to do. I made a lot of mistakes and shit that I needed to work on because if Flow spotted those flaws, others were studying it. I had to be five steps ahead.
“You coming with me?” I asked E.
She glanced up from her cup and conversation with her girls.
“I mean… I can.” She shrugged.
I stood.
“Talk to ya girls, let ‘em know we’re leaving.”
I stepped down from the section to chop it up with security while scanning the crowd for any funny shit going on. It’s the usual shit. Niggas holding the walls up and sharing bottles theycouldn’t afford. Then you got bitches wanting attention but weren’t chosen because niggas like attention from other niggas instead of bitches. Shit was weak to me. It was a crowd and bits of chaos, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was cool to dip.
“Ready to go?” he asked, getting in position, buttoning up his suit jacket.
“Yeah, but I’m good. You can take off after this.”
His eyes fell on E and her friends, then back over at me. I knew what the nigga was thinking before he opened his mouth. He took his job serious as fuck, but he knew I did whatever the fuck I wanted to.
“You sho?” he questioned curiously.
“Nigga, I said it, didn’t I?”
He threw his hands up.
“Aiight. Just checking.”
“Is everything alright?” Eris asked, coming down the stairs.
I grabbed her hand.
“Make sure her girls get back to their spot,” I let him know.
