I walk back in with a coy smile on my face as I approach the table I hear Bryan say, "The shawty is giving." What did I walk into?
" Beb!" Vicky cries out and Will smacks Bryan at the back of his head. What is going on? Rather not ask aloud, I will eventually know because this group of friends doesn't know how to keep quiet about something, they hardly keep secrets or anything between us, it is rather hard, but they will eventually fold and speak up. I find myself a seat and join them.
"You haven't met Bev yet," Vicky says referring to the pretty face she walked in with
"Hi, Bev."
"Beverlyne."
"Rick."
"Bev came here for you," Vicky continues. What did she mean? "I showed her your pics and she was elated to meet you."
Mhh the meddler, the girl was uncomfortable and all I could do was offer her a consoling smile.
She continues, "You have been single for a while, well I brought you a date today. That's how much I care for you." she says so pleased with herself. I knew she meant well but I wanted to be single not that she didn't know that.
"How thoughtful of you. Thanks."
Unsure of what to say. What was she thinking? Is she serious? Despite me not having a type, not every walking pretty face with boobs and ass is my type. The girl was okay. Normal petite, pretty light-skinned. Will was practically drooling, she is his total package type and weakness. He has three girlfriends who look the same that we know of; am sure if he had it in him today and this Bev would be on a list of many other petities. The table had gone quiet waiting, gauging, was this why she was giving Ell the icky eyes?
"Well, out with that, can we be normal again? Bev nice to meet you, am glad you joined us" The spell broke and the drinks started flowing with the food spread. I don't know if what I said was the key because the girl was on to me like a predator. Her hands ran through my silky hair, playing with the coils and curls. We were in public but she was brazen, I had to remove her hand from me multiple times.
After the three-hour brunch we headed out to the clubs along the avenue, she was on me trying to hold my hand. Vicky seemed to have laid it all for her. We need to have words. This chick was behaving the way I liked but I didn't expect this on the first meeting, her carrying herself in this manner made me uncomfortable. Dislocating my hand from hers I join Will on the sidewalk.
"Man, today you are blessed, the sun is shining bright upon you."
"Stop being crazy you know Vicky sold me out."
"Bev seems to like you very much."
"From what she has heard from a third party."
"Maybe she does like you, why don't you ask her?"
"Who?" Bev asks. She was on me again, her hand trying to engulf my arm. Girl, give me a break.
"Could you stop with the hand and the touching?"
"Oh am just used to!" she says glancing at the innocent sweet snake Victoria.
"I'm not used to."
"You are invading his personal space too much." way to put it, Will.
"Oh! I get it."
"Do you?" Will was enjoying himself too much.
"Guys, we are here." Isa comes to the rescue.
We enter the establishment. The place wasn't full but an hour from now it would be packed like sardines. We easily find a table adjacent to the wall-to-wall windows that provide a view, the sun was beautifully setting and the city street lights were coming to life. The place was full of booths, purposefully to give large groups space and time to catch up. I sit between Isa and Will to avoid Bev who sits between Will and Vicky; Bryan had the pleasure of enclosing the circle. A waiter approaches us and we give our orders plus a bottle of whiskey to kill the night with as we hang out. The waiter leaves and we go back to the chatter. Will was talking to Bev and Vicky, and Bryan was doing his usual; listening rather than talking, his girlfriend does that enough for the both of them.
"How's your week been?"
"We talk on a daily."
"I know but talk to me," typical Isa
"It was okay."
"How's your Saturday so far?"
"Cool."
"Are we avoiding a person?"
"A situationship rather."
"She is pretty."
"Yeah, I got eyes; I can see she is."
"And…"
"I just don't feel her."
"Is this about the other girl in the restaurant?".
"I guess."
"You guess."
"She was fine."
"Fine than her."
"Obviously, is that a question?"
She chuckles, "Why didn't you make her stay?"
"She had other things to do."
"Planning on talking to her?"
"That's the plan."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Just hang out with Bev then, it doesn't mean you guys are dating or something and let her down easy."
"Between Will and her bestie, I think she is well covered, besides she is Will's type."
"She came here for you."
"Isa?"
"Are you sure or she is an excuse to avoid Bev?"
"I want Ell, not Bev, she looks like Vicky. They are friends, what do you expect?"
She laughs heartedly, "Drama! all her friends look like her apart from me."
We both laugh and attract the attention of the others, and before Will says something corny a waiter appears with a tray, what a save.
The place was swamped, I hadn't realized how time had flown by; between the drinks, banter, and laughter, we were having a good time. Will stood up and excused himself; to hunt his meal for the night. Someone caught Isa's eye and she stood up swaying her body to the music and she got lost amidst the bodies. The only thing that had kept me from having a conversation with her was out, and the two lovebirds weren't helping either, they were consumed in each other, leaving the two of us awkward.
She covers the space between us in the booth left by that traitor Will. Well better deal with this and follow Isa's advice there is no harm in hanging out and having a good time.
"You having a good time?"
"Yes, thank you!" she sips on her drink before she asks, "You come here often?"
"Yeah, this is more of our hangout."
"Ooh, I haven't seen you around."
"This place is huge."
"Yeah, we might have missed each other."
"I gather."
"Wanna dance with"
"I'm not good at that."
" I can show you some moves."
"This place is packed; there is no space for moves."
"You can just sway behind me."
"Is that it?"
"Yeah, I will do all the work."
"Let's have shots first."
"Hey, Vicky we taking shots." That did break the lovebirds' interest in each other and they were present for a moment.
She pours whiskey into our glasses and we all do a shot. There was nothing else to do when Bryan and Vicky got up to swaying to the beats from overbearing speakers, so I give in to the dancing offer. We both stood up and joined the other couple. Our bodies mold together, as I follow her lead as we take the dance floor. She had a nice body and I found myself enjoying the moment. She skims her hands all over me, touchy much, but I was getting a kick out of it. Except the way she was pressing on my crotch stimulated other things and not the pleasant kind; this wasn't going to last long, I was pressed to visit the Johns.
I was looking for a way out when I saw some dude dancing towards us and I knew I had got it. He seemed to like how Bev was moving on me and he wanted to cut in, how marvelous. I made my escape as I excused myself. After the johns, I went out to the balcony to catch a break and breathe something else apart from, shisha fumes and alcohol sweat. Ell has been at the back of my mind all this time and am tempted to call her, although drunk calling isn't my thing, I really wanted to. Hands in pockets my phone is missing, not again. This year I have lost three phones and it's just half a year in. Before panic sets in someone approaches, looking in their direction, Isa joins me.
"Hey, you!"
"What you doing out here alone."
"Looking at our beautiful city."
She joins me on the railings, opens her tiny purse, and gets out a splint and a lighter.
"Wanna light?"
Taking what she was offering, I had to ask. I wasn't sure if I had left it in the booth or my jacket.
"Have you seen my phone?"
She pries open her small clutch and holds it out for me. "I'm your keeper tonight."
"Thank you dear; you are a lifesaver, just keep it for me."
We inhale the smoke silently as we look over the city.
Going back in, it was time we called it a night; I was done for and I assumed these amateurs were. Approaching the booth, Bev and Vicky were busy chatting off, the moment they saw me, their eyes lit up. Vicky stood up unsteady and sat me between her and Bev, not again, I will sober within a minute if they continue with this.
"What are we talking about?" Isa asks as she joins us and Bev rests her head on my shoulder.
"What a perfect match Bev and Rick can be," Vicky says, "more friends; no outsiders."
"By outsiders, you mean?"
"Ell." Will says from behind us before he settles down opposite us."
"Oh, that's her name."
"Yeah, I didn't catch it."
"You were occupied with murdering her with your eyes," Will says as he sips on his drink casually. It's good to know I wasn't the only one who saw that.
"What are you talking about? Bev, what do you think of Rick here?" Vicky asks.
"He is perfection," Bev said too eagerly, latching on my hand
"I rest my case."
"Okay, time to go!" Isa says and everybody gathers their belongings and we leave the building.
We all walk out of the club but Will was missing as always, of course someone caught his eye, or he had done the obvious, disappearing without saying goodbye. Once outside the night is cold and I welcome it. Isa hands me my phone as she gets hers out ordering an Uber and Brayan does the same.
"You coming with, right?" she asks Bev. "We can continue this party at Bryan's place. Rick you coming too, there is a spare bedroom."
We were sharing a ride, automatically I would end up at their place, even though we lived in the same street. Our cab came first and we bid Isa goodbye. We all stumble into the Uber and leave for Bryan's.
The ride was short, and we walk to an open dinner to get takeouts before we head to Bryan's place.I was starving, we ate immediately upon reaching the house and we continued with our merriment. When we were done, board games were drawn out and we had a great time. It wasn't long before Vicky and Bryan left for their room leaving the two of us together, they were having a heated conversation that couldn't be quietened, and we know how that goes, so no one interfered with their 'talk'. The only logical thing to do was pump up the music to drown their argument, before we could enjoy the music, the bell rang, and I knew the caretaker had come to shut us down. I tune the music down a bit before I go for the door; standing on the threshold are Bryan's opposite-door neighbors with friends and goodies in their hands no sleeping tonight, it seems.
"Hey, we just came in and saw your lights on and we decided to check-in. Can we come in?"
"Sure."
We have hung out together a bunch of times and we love company, they weren't that bad. They could keep the Bev and I company. How wonderful, I open the door wide for them.
"Bryan, we have visitors," I say as soon as we enter the living room, loud enough for him to hear. That would give him a break from Vicky, she can be exhausting sometimes. A few minutes later he re-enters the living room, Vicky not far behind him.
"The more the merrier," he says with glee as he greets the new company.
They came with more food, alcohol, splints, and other party spoilers there was no more me helping myself. Truth and dare was next and everyone was coupled up apart from me and Bev who was trying too hard. After the first bottle was done spin the bottle was next; with liquid courage, raging hormones, and close proximity of the alluring opposite sex; everyone wanted a piece of everyone. Obsessed make-out sessions and the side eyes from the chicks with no words, revenge takes place immediately and the fun continues. At the end of it, I found Bev in my arms, intoxicated; I was weak.