“Aww, shit, bitch, not a private cabana. What I gotta do to work here?” Nazuri asked as we followed Kadeem.
I just laughed as we walked over to the cabana that sat on the far side of the field. Just as Kadeem had said, there were bottles on ice with glasses for us to use. On a separate table, there were trays filled with ribs, chicken, and shrimp, along with every side dish you could think about having at a barbeque. I smiled at Kadeem, thanking him, before he walked away.
Nazuri laid across the lounge chair beside me, sunglasses sitting low on her nose, while she scrolled through her phone. I was curled up in another chair, sipping from a glass of champagne, as I watched the party. A group of employees were dancing near the pool with some of the clients, drinks in hand. The music was bumping, and the entire party was a vibe. Iwatched as Nazuri reached into her purse and pulled out the blunt she’d brought with her, along with a lighter. She lit her blunt just as I stood and walked over to our food table. I’d just picked up a plate when I noticed Crue standing at the bar, talking to Kadeem. I smiled to myself because Crue looked good as hell.
He wore a pair of Balmain jeans and a white Balmain t-shirt. His locs that had been honey blonde on the tips were now all black and freshly twisted. The Cuban link chain and crush faced watch he wore gleamed in the sun, the diamonds dancing so bright that I could see them from where I stood. Placing the plate back on the table, I told Nazuri I’d be right back before walking out the cabana. Crue turned around just as I walked up to them.
“Damn, you look good as fuck,” he complimented.
I thanked him and extended the compliment. In reality, I couldn’t wait until this party was over because I was going to give both of them a night they wouldn’t forget. The three of us stood there talking for a couple of minutes before a bitch that I had never seen before walked up. She was short and dark skinned with tattoos down her arms and across her chest.
“Crue, baby, I was going to make you a plate, but I’m not sure what you want on it.”
My eyes widened the moment she started speaking. “Baby?” I yelled out before I could catch myself.
There was no way this nigga was serious. I just knew this had to be a joke because there was no way he brought a date to a company party that he knew I would be at. Then, she had the nerve to be walking up to my man calling him baby? I was about to show my ass out here in front of all these people. However, somehow, I was able to get it together.
“Saniyah, this is my…”
“I don’t give a fuck who she is, Crue. Go tell yo’ baby what you want on that plate, nigga.” I didn’t even wait for him to respond as I turned around and walked away.
CHAPTER 10
Crue
“Itold yo’ ass not to bring her here. Why the fuck would you even do that shit?” Kadeem asked, looking over at me, clearly irritated.
I heard what he said, but my eyes were locked on Saniyah as she made her way back to her cabana. I had no clue she would be upset about me bringing April because I personally didn’t think it was a big deal. However, I also didn’t know why April was in my face, calling me baby. She never did that shit. Yeah, April and I fucked, and she’d even gotten down with me and Kadeem a few times, but that was all it was. The truth was, no bitch was holding my attention the way Saniyah was. The only reason I had even brought April was to have a plus one at the party. Why she was in my face, calling me baby, and offering to make my plate like she was my bitch was beyond me.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Let me go talk to her,” I replied, walking over in Saniyah’s direction.
“Bitch, we just got here. Why the fuck we leaving?” the woman that was inside the cabana with Saniyah asked.
Before she could answer, Saniyah looked up and saw me standing there. “Come here, Saniyah. Let me talk to you.”
“Hell no. You better go talk to that…”
“Come here, Saniyah,” I interrupted her, this time with an order.
She looked at me for a moment before walking toward me. Taking her hand, I led her out of the cabana. I didn’t know the woman she was with, but I knew I didn’t want her in our business. We walked over to a part of the field where no other guests were, and I looked into her eyes.
“Saniyah, why are you mad?” I asked genuinely.
“Why would you bring her? Who the fuck is she?”
I could see the hurt in Saniyah’s eyes and hurting her was something I never meant to do. I didn’t think bringing April would be a big deal. Saniyah and I had never said we were in a relationship. Hell, I thought we were just fucking. I truly liked Saniyah a lot, and I wasn’t letting up on her. So, if bringing April here had her feeling some type of way, that bitch had to go.
“Her name is April, and she’s just a friend of mine.”
“What type of friend is she, Crue? Is she a friend that you and Kadeem have in common?”
I knew exactly what she meant by that. And as much as I didn’t want to lie to her, I didn’t want to rat my homeboy out either. I was just about to speak when I heard April calling out to me from behind. When I turned around, she was right there, holding a plate of food in her hand.
“Babe, here you are. I been looking all over for you. I just ended up putting a little of everything on your plate because I didn’t know what you wanted. You didn’t tell me, and I wanted to make sure you ate,” April voiced, smiling from ear to ear.
“I know you fuckin’ lyin’.” Saniyah shook her head then turned around to walk off.
“Oh, hell nah. I ain’t letting you go.” I grabbed Saniyah’s arm, stopping her from walking away. “We still talkin’,” I continued.
