“Don’t worry, cousin,” Danae said. “I had to rock the mic before I left Aura too.” She winked, and we all cracked up laughing.
We weren’t in the section long before a few bottles were delivered to our table. I didn’t party often outside of the events that I put on for the family, and even then, I was so busy making sure things went off without a hitch and everyone else was enjoying themselves that I couldn’t fully enjoy the festivities. So tonight, I planned to be on my worst behavior and let my bitches take care of me. There would be no sitting. I would be standing on couches with my bottle of Reposado in hand, feeling myself.
We were an hour in, and I’d had two mixed drinks and was on my fourth shot. I was feeling it too, but I kept it cute. I’d learned how to hold my liquor long ago. As teenagers, me and my cousins would sneak drinks at the family events. Aura wouldthreaten to beat our ass if any of us told, while Jay coached us on how to move if we drank too much. The boys were such a bad influence. It was the very reason I always wanted to hang with them.
Every time the DJ dropped a song, I threw my ass in a circle, while the girls recorded and hyped me up. The energy in the club was perfect. At a point, I completely zoned out, and it was just me and the DJ. That was until I felt it – a pair of eyes on me. Turning my head slightly toward the section beside us, I caught a glimpse of him, a dark skinned, bearded man, tall, solid, and appeared calm as ever amongst the other guys surrounding him.
He watched me openly, eyes never wavering. I held his gaze a few seconds longer before winking and turning away. I knew what that energy was. I could see, smell, and hear a boss from a mile away. Bosses didn’t chase. They didn’t beg. They waited for the right time to choose.
I knew that not only because I was a boss in my own right, but I was raised by one. Stepping down from the couch, I poured my fifth shot and threw it back with lemonade as a chaser.
“I’m glad I know how to drive, Dory,” Thyri teased, watching me.
“Me too.” I laughed, sticking my tongue out at her.
The DJ dropped Summer Walker’sTake Me Out This Club, and I threw my hands in the air. Body rolling my way out of our section, I ended up at the balcony, looking down at the dance floor. I sang the song, and mid lyric, I could see the bearded man headed my way out the corner of my eye. I kept dancing like I was oblivious, but a small smile pulled at my lips. Seconds later, he placed his hand on my waist confidently.
I didn’t know if it was drunk confidence or if he just had it like that. Either way, I didn’t push him back. Instead, I eased back into him, not missing a beat. Niggas didn’t get close tome this quick, but confidence was sexy, and the drinks had me feeling good.
“This shit dangerous, Mama,” he said low in my ear. His voice was smooth and deep enough to make me pause before turning my head to him.
He towered over my 5’6” frame, making me have to lift my chin to meet his eyes. “What’s dangerous, Dada?” I asked, still moving my hips.
“The way you throwing that ass without supervision.”
“Oh. How I’m throwing it?” I asked while boldly laying my head back against his chest like it belonged there. “Like this?” I pressed my ass against his pelvis and smiled.
One hand on my waist quickly became two, and then his head dipped to my neck. The man smelled good as fuck. Not a trace of weed smell in his clothes or liquor on his breath. He was talking that shit sober. That was sexy.
“What’s ya name?” he asked.
I turned so that I was fully facing him. Up close, he looked even better than what I could make out of his features from afar. His line up was clean with a low cut ceaser. The Cuban link that sat against his Off-White tee sparkled under the club lights. Fine was an understatement.
“Kyiris. But you can call me Key. Yours?”
“Mehki. But I like that Dada shit you just said. So, call me that.”
I was intrigued. Most men had a loud, overbearing approach when they tried to talk to women in the club, just doing too much and trying too hard. Mr. Mehki was cool, with eyes so calm they almost didn’t fit in the club.
“You always pull up on women like this?” I glanced down at his hands then back up to his face. “Hands on their hips, all territorial and shit?”
“Shit, you called me over here, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “And when did I do that?”
“The moment you locked eyes wit’ me.”
“Ooohhh,” I let out slowly. “Key words, no pun intended, you saidlocked eyes wit’ me, meaning I wasn’t looking at myself.”
He snickered. “I peeped you soon as you walked into your section, Ma. Ain’t no denying that I was lookin’.”
Smirking, I nodded. “Well, then maybe I did call you over here.”
“That’s what I’m sayin’. Now, I’m just here tryna figure out why.”
“It shouldn’t take you long. Clearly, you know good shit when you see it.” I smiled and turned my back to him.
The DJ must’ve felt the vibe because he dropped another Summer Walker song, and my hips had a mind of their own as they backed up against Mehki. For the remainder of the night, he talked shit in my ear and kept his hands firmly on my hips like they belonged there. After about four songs, I finally pulled myself away from him and switched back over to my section.
