“Hold up. Is this a picture of you and Rayzor?” Suki asked, lifting the picture of us on our date at a steakhouse from my TV stand. He put it there even though I told him not to. I never thought to take it down.
“Rayzor, who? Not from Miami,” Rhea retorted.
I felt the judgement coming. And I didn’t like the way she ridiculed me before even letting me answer. Rhea always took it too far.
“Yeah, that Rayzor. Y’all know another one?” I asked, eyes bouncing between the two of them.
Suki flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Only the ones I use on my legs,” Suki commented.
“Hold the hell on. I don’t have nothing strong enough to drink for this,” Rhea exaggerated.
“We…” I watched her leave the room. “Ran into each other at Adrienne’s, and we’ve been hanging since.”
“Bitch, that’s the short version. I need the long one,” Suki screeched, ready for all my business.
While my girl had a smile on her face, Rhea wasn’t having it. She was coming down hard, even cutting her eyes. I knew she couldn’t be acting like this when they’re the ones who encouraged me to even talk to the man in the first place.
“Miami was all fun and games, Eris. That’s the sand, boo…” Rhea said.
“Shit.” I shrugged. “I might wanna dip my toe in it,” I explained.
Rhea rolled her eyes, looking away.
“What’s the problem?” I asked, feeling her judgement.
“Didn’t you hear her say they ran into each other at Adrienne’s?” Suki commented.
“We wanted you to have fun, but you’re not ready for a man like Rayzor–”
“And what the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re not about that life. You work and come home. Rayzor is a fucking celebrity that be in the headlines for fucking and leaving them. The kids don’t need to be around him.”
“Y’all must be new because I’m already in the headlines. And the kids like him. I still make my money, and we still have fun. Now what? I don’t see a problem,” I replied.
“Girl, fuck what Rhea talking about.” Suki laid her hand on top of mine. “You know how she can be.”
“No.” Cleared the floor. “Please let me know!” Rhea snapped.
Suki sucked her teeth, turning her head back in my direction.
“You do too much,” Suki stated.
“And we’re getting to know each other. You’re acting like I said the man asked me to marry him,” I said. “But we don’t say shit when you be bringing them sketchy mothafuckas around. Play your part, Rhea.”
“I’m not the one to throw salt,” Rhea said.
“So… use sugar,” I retorted.
“He lives a fast life.”
I shot up from my seat. “Damn, bitch, you acting like you wanna fuck him.”
“Ohhh, I see what it is! She’s mad he chose you!” Suki shouted then burst into laughter.
“See, hoe, you’re taking it too far.” She pointed to Suki, and her laughter halted. She stepped forward. “If I wanted the nigga, I could’ve–”
With my hands on my hips, I didn’t back down. “Could’ve what?”
