A chocolate, petite, younger woman brought the bottle over to our table offering to pour. Attracted to her natural features, I couldn’t help but flirt with the gorgeous woman filling our glasses one by one. “So, what’s your name beautiful?” She shyly smiled before filling my glass and eagerly answering, “It’s Torian. You’re Edily Graham, right?” Delighted that she knew who I was I extended my hand to grab and kiss hers, “I am. How’d you know?” “My uncle has been talking about you and your artist Prime Theory there for weeks now. Uncle Craig said you favor one of our regulars and well ya’ artist is true talent. He couldn’t wait to get ya’ll up in here and now I sees why!” Her accent and lack of annunciation were worse than Smitty’s, but it didn’t stop my attraction to her. “Ya’ll want me to get some menus, we gots’ the best craw boil from here to well, anywhere?” The three of us laughed at her humor and agreed to get a couple of menus. Zion leaned in closer to me, “
“Yep, I sure did! Plus, I brought some craw boil and another bottle of Patron from the club. Sorry it’s not full but I couldn’t get a full bottle without Unc noticing.” She smiled nervously handing Theory the bottle as I walked toward the elevator. I was very much turned on by the little denim shorts and strappy heels Torian was wearing. Her skin glowed more now than it did in the club, her body more full and ripe. Her beauty compiled with Parker’s audacious demeanor caused me to lose control; I pinned Torian against the wall of the elevator kissing her neck to get a scent of her skin. I'd been eager to see what she had smelled like all evening. She shivered lightly, obviously nervous about what may have been getting ready to take place. “Are you alright?” I whispered. “I’m okay, just never been with a woman or man on this level or stature. I just hope ya’ll enjoy me. I hope I’m good enough for ya’ll.” I kissed her again this time on her lips. The way she kissed me back let
The ride over to the church seemed long and awkwardly quiet. Having security made me feel uncomfortable about talking about real issues so I kept playing with my phone. “I’m kind of glad right now for the security. On top of the calls and hanging up, whoever it is, is starting to send text messages talking about how they’re gonna meet me at the funeral.” “Whoever it is got me messed up, I’m down here with my daughters and grandson. Security or not your mother is strapped and ready for anything that comes our way today. This ain’t momma out here in these streets today ladies, it’s JoAnne.” “Wait Mama you brought your gun?” “I sure the hell did. After killing that bastard, weird things have been happening to me and to Edily. I feel like I have to stay ready for anything.” “That’s exactly why I called security, so we could fee
I finally caught up with my mother who was talking to Lori, Izzy on her hip growing impatient. I interrupted the conversation by scooping the baby up into my arms giving Mama some relief. “I was just speaking to your mother trying to convince her to at least come to the repass. We have a southern buffet and I really would like to catch up with all of you to honestly see how things have been going.” I turned to my other awaiting a response from her, “I don’t think that’s a good idea especially with this stalker crap going on.” Mama was right we still didn’t know who the stalker was and that would have us exposed to anything seeing how we would no longer be in the house of the Lord. I don’t think Mother or any of us was in the mood for yet another shootout at a family function. “It is a bad idea. Maybe we’ll just stay in touch or something Lori.” I grabbed my mother’s hand to head to the truck. While we walked I looked and listened hard to the people around me, trying to matc
I took my sweaty clothes off, mentally reminding myself to burn them in my backyard when I got home. Hot, perplexed, and still very much off-kilter, I turned on the air conditioner and sat to check my phone for notifications worth responding to. I had a couple of missed calls and messages from Holland and Maleek, seeing how I was holding up. Ignoring them, I offered no response, not even via text; there was nothing left in me to be able to relive the details of my day all over again. Perhaps checking my phone was a false hope of having a call from my mother, newly found sibling, or father for some odd reason. I wanted answers, an explanation for my traumatic ass childhood. I felt depleted; my nerves were shot, and my blood pressure had to be sky-high. Skimming through my carry-on for something to help calm my nerves, I ran across an old prescription of Xanax that had been prescribed to me around the time Maleek and I split up. Not caring that the pills were probably expired and purpos
“Now Isa, don’t forget to soften up when you go into the bridge.” “Look, I’ve got this Edily, if anything you’re going to jinx me having me make a complete ass out of myself!” For that exact reason I was reminding my little sister to soften up at the bridge; so, she wouldn’t make a fool of herself. She has the tendency to go over-board with things, especially when she feels like she has everyone’s undivided attention. Nodding my head in response she continued to babble, “Please Edily just spare me at least once in my life, besides this isn’t a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Its’ just a wedding reception. It’s funny how I couldn’t perform at the wedding because my ignorant sister found a way to book Jon B. just in the nick of time. Imagine how that panned out for me.” Before allowing this conversation to get out of hand because this wasn’t the time or place, I cut her off, “Isa please cut it out, you’re still mad over that mess? Like I
Despite my believing that Isa needed to be at a party with so much money and potential in the building, Isa decided to stay back and be with Izzy for the night. She claimed to want to spend some time alone with her baby for a change. I on the other hand, believe Isa is afraid to fly. If it isn’t a party with Indie or underground rappers, smoking, drinking, and doing other random drugs; Isa isn’t interested. I decided not to push the issue for a change and let Isa be. Zion and I pulled up as if we were luxury in a pear-colored Rolls Royce owned by my boss at about a quarter after 11. Serenity Grey had to ensure that her employees made a hell of an impression for her label, and I didn’t mind it one bit. The chauffeur came around to let us out, and like always as soon as our feet touched the sidewalk all eyes were on us. I could hear people whispering amongst themselves trying to figure out who we were and betting we were some type of celebrity. Little did they know, my best fr
Since it was a Monday and I didn’t have to work, I locked in a few more meetings for later in the week, securing the meeting with T Mobile first. It was a little after 1pm, rainy out, and I was frustrated on so many levels. I decided to get up, cook, and make it a lazy day in. Parker was still here being concerned, telling me he could make a few phone calls if I needed. Since I enjoyed and needed the company, I played my role. Parker and I sat, talked, and watched a few movies while I prepared a soul food dinner. I was Creole’d out from the wedding, so I made sure there was no seafood or anything spicy on today’s menu. I had been blessed with exceptional old school cooking skills from my mother. I don’t remember much about my grandmother, other than sitting on her lap eating crab cakes at a retro themed diner and suddenly longing for her at some point of my childhood. Smitty’s mother never really talked to me so I had gotten all my wisdom and homemaking skills from my mother