Page 36 of It’s The Dawg In Him For Me

“Why?” Denise said, coming out of the back room. “What happened?”

I finished my first glass, and Raven poured me a second one.

“I don’t have time. I got Mariah comin’ in for a fitting soon.”

“And she can wait. This is my store,” Denise said.

I laughed. “The date was cool. We went to the club⁠—”

“The first date he takes you to the club?” Ari interrupted.

I nodded. “Yeah, but I was cool with it since we went to dinner first. So we went to the club, and he is known, people was yellin’ at this nigga like he was a celebrity.”

“Was the vibe off?” Raven asked.

“No, he gave me his attention all night. Some nigga came to talk to him. He made sure I was comfortable. Bitches started hating, of course, but for real, we just sat close in the section and talked until he said it was time to go.”

They all nodded.

“And then what did y’all do?” Raven asked.

“He asked what I wanted. Y’all know I love Chinese. It was late, but the nigga had some people with a Chinese place; they was closed, but they let us in. We ordered the same thing and continued talking there. After that, he took me home. We smoked, talked some more. Then he left. The nigga didn’t kiss me or nothin’.”

“Ummm, Nylah,” Denise said softly. “I think we are missing the problem. It seems like you had a good date.”

I took a sip. “I did. The nigga smooth with it. The vibe was real. He made me laugh and smile. But I think I’ma have to fall back. I got three messages this morning from bitches asking me if I was talkin’ to him.”

“Man, them bitches just want that nigga. Pitbull is fine,” Raven added.

We laughed.

“Nah, I called one of them, Sonya. She said he is known around the way for keeping bitches.”

“Damn,” they all said at the same time.

“So what are you goin’ to do?” Ari asked.

I shrugged as I exhaled. “I like him, but I think I’ma have to fall back.”

Just as Raven opened her mouth, the door opened and Mariah walked in.

“I'm sorry, are y’all still closed?” she asked.

“No,” Denise said. “Just havin’ a lil’ girl talk, come on in.”

I stood up. “Yes, come on in. I have your dress ova here. I’ma put it in the dressing room, and we can go from there.”

She nodded with a look on her face that I really couldn’t tell what it was.

I put the dress in the dressing room, and she walked in without another word.

“Oh, shit, she looks like she might be hard to please,” Raven expressed.

I nudged her and told her to shut up.

Me and my girls changed the subject. Raven started talkin’ bout her nigga and the movie they didn't have. Ari talked about the date that she went on and how the nigga’s card declined and she left him there. We were having a good laugh when I noticed that Mariah still hadn’t come out.

“Are you okay, Mariah?” I yelled out.