Careful of the Company You Keep. Angie Daniels
myself.
Renee noticed, too. “Goddamn, the cutie is sweating your ass.”
“And I’m checking his ass out, too.”
It wasn’t long after, he walked across the room and stopped right in front of our table, and I thought I was going to fall out of my chair.
“Hey, sexy, you want to dance?”
I was tongue-tied. All I could do was sit there and stare at his sexy gold-tooth smile.
Renee intervened. “Hell yeah, she wants to dance.”
Nodding, I rose from my seat and followed him out onto the dance floor. The last time I was caught slow dancing in the club with another man, Ron had come over and started a fight. I glanced over to the right to make sure Ron wasn’t paying attention. He wasn’t.
“What’s your name?”
I smiled up at my partner and wrapped my arms loosely around his waist. “Danielle. Yours?”
“Chance.”
Ooh, his name was just as sexy as he was.
I leaned against him, and together we swayed side to side to the beat of the music. I gazed up into a pair of mesmerizing hazel eyes. Damn, could the brotha possibly be any finer? “You new in town?”
“Yes and no,” he began with a pearly white grin. “I went to school at Lincoln University and used to kick it up here all the time.”
“Where’d you grow up?”
“St. Louis. But I’ve been back a month. If I can find myself a good woman I’d have a reason to stay.” The music slowed down and Chance pulled me snugly into his arms and I closed my eyes and smiled. Damn, it felt good being held by him. Why couldn’t it be this way with Calvin?
When the song ended he pulled back slightly and stared down at me again. “I’ll let you get back to yo girl. But first put your number in my phone just in case you try to sneak out before I get those digits.”
I smiled and tried to hide my excitement. The last thing I wanted him to know was how much I was feeling him.
“Holla at me before you leave.”
I nodded, then sashayed back to the table and caught Ron staring. I tossed my head back and laughed all the way back to our table. Good for his ass.
8
Renee
I went and got another round of drinks even though I knew good and well neither one of us needed another. But what the hell? You only live once, and I knew I wouldn’t be back in this place again anytime soon. Although I have to admit I was having a hell of a time with the few folks in this place that were my age. I returned to the table just as Danielle came back and lowered onto the seat.
“Who the hell was that fine mothajumper?”
“His name is Chance.”
“Chance?” I frowned as I watched him move around the bar. “Where’s he from?”
“St. Louis, can you believe it?”
“St. Louis?” Something about him suddenly seemed familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“What?”
“I don’t know. I was wondering if I knew him.” There was something about him, but there was no telling. I knew a lot of people. “So whassup with him?”
“Nothing really. I gave him my number so I’ll see if he calls me.”
At least she gave him her number. I thought with Ron being in the room she’d be scared to even try to step to another. The last time she did, Ron’s ass clowned Calvin. He stole on that negro before he saw it coming. Hee-hee! That was some funny shit. That’s a good sign. Maybe she was ready to move on. And it’s about damn time. Ron just ain’t worth losing sleep over.
I looked over and saw Landon heading our way. Leslie was nowhere in sight. “Whassup?” I asked as if I hadn’t been watching him since he left our table.
“I’m so sorry about all that.” His apology seemed sincere.
“Whassup with you and Leslie? ’Cause inquiring minds want to know.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “That’s the past.”
I rolled my eyes. “Must not be, the way she was sweating yo ass.”
Danielle gave him a hard look. “I think you need to go on back over there with her, ’cause Ima have to whup her ass if she come over here trippin’ again.”
“She left.”
I smiled. “Good, then have a seat.”
9
Danielle
I waved Renee good-bye. I should have known she was going to take Landon home. Hell, I wasn’t no hater. If I had my way I would have been inviting Chance home with me. But as I followed the crowd out of the club, hoping to run into him again, I couldn’t find him. Hopefully he’ll call me—soon. In the meantime, I would have to go without getting any dick tonight.
You can always pull out your vibrator.
Hell no. I needed something tonight that a piece of plastic could not give me. Something rough and dirty that only a thug could offer.
I reached inside my purse for my keys and crossed the street. Everybody was coming out of the club, and both the street and sidewalk were crowded. Nobody appeared to be in a rush to go home. Neither was I, but where else did I have to go?
When I got close to my vehicle, I almost tripped on the heel of my boot when I spotted Ron leaning against the hood of my Durango smoking a blunt. Cops were circling the area, but leave it to him not to give a fuck.
My heart soared when I realized he hadn’t gone home with that slut. Bitch, you gotta play it cool. I couldn’t let him know how happy I was to see him waiting for me. Instead of running into his arms like I was dying to do, I ignored him and walked around and unlocked my door.
“Yo, whassup?”
I simply shrugged. “What’s up wit you?”
“Nothing,” he said and took another hit. “Where yo nigga at?”
Oh, he had noticed. By the frown on his face, I knew it pissed him off. Good.
“I don’t have a nigga.”
Ron dropped the blunt to the ground and put it out with his foot. The whole time I stood there with the door open, waiting. I knew I should get in and just pull off but I couldn’t, because this was the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“Want some company?” he finally asked.
“I guess,” I said. It took everything not to smile.
“Yo, it’s either yes or no.”
I rolled my eyes and climbed in. Ron was always trying to run things. “You can either come or you don’t.” Please come. I was already staring down at his crotch.
“Yeah, aw’ight. I’ll be there in a few.”
Nodding, I pulled away, and as soon as I reached the corner, I stopped my SUV long enough to scream “Hell yeah!” at the top of my lungs, then tried not to get a ticket as I sped home to change my sheets.
10
Renee
I pulled into the driveway, raised the door to the two-car garage, and signaled for Landon to pull into the spot beside me. The last thing I needed was for the neighbors to be knowing what’s going on at my house.
I’m