Page 31 of When I Thug You Like That

“Aye, while you over here flirting with this nigga on the job, there’s thirsty folk ‘round here,” Red, the DJ, said over the music as he walked over to us.

Nori sucked her teeth. “Lemme go ‘fore he get to dry snitching on me.”

Red chuckled. “I love fuckin’ wit’ her. What’s good, Jay?” He held his hand out to me.

“Nah, nigga, you love to cock block.” I dapped him up. “The records spinning themselves?”

“Took a lil’ break to grab a water. Everything smooth though. You see everybody enjoying themselves.” He gestured out into the crowd.

“Yeah, it’s a vibe for sure.”

“This what I do.”

Nori reappeared with a bottle of water and slid it across the counter to him. “Here, big head.”

“You being affectionate with another nigga in my presence, woman?” I asked jokingly.

“What?” Nori’s hands found her wide hips.

“Over here calling this nigga big head.”

“Boy, I ain’t your property.”

“Ion know ‘bout that, Ma. Anything I hit automatically becomes mine by default.”

Red looked back and forth between the both of us. “Do I need to leave?”

I cracked a smile and shrugged. Nori knew how I played, so I knew she wasn’t offended by me saying I hit.

“Nope,” she said. “Ignore him.”

My eyes found their way to the crowd again. There were a few familiar faces. Most were regulars on a Friday night. As I continued to scan the people, I stopped, focusing on a face that was hard to forget, especially after I’d seen it earlier in the day. I straightened from the bar and smirked when she caught me looking. It was Ms. Jai. There was no button up, no slacks, or sneakers, and gone were the glasses that rested on top of her head. The all black hugged every curve that she’d kept professionally hidden earlier, and the heels had her standing taller than I’d remembered.

This muthafucka bad, I thought.

“Aight, this record ‘bout to end. Lemme get back on my job,” Red announced.

“Yeah. ‘Fore we have to fine yo’ ass.”

“Mann, please.”

We dapped each other up again, and he walked off.

“You get back to work too,” I said to Nori. “I see some guests I need to check on.”

“Must be a ho you know in here somewhere,” she said, sticking her tongue out at me, before going about her business.

I chuckled then started through the crowd, heading in Ms. Jai’s direction. I didn’t count on seeing her so soon, but I wasn’t mad at it, especially since I got to see the shape that I knew the school attire was hiding. As I got closer, she was no longer facing me. She had her back to me, while she talked to a woman who I assumed was her friend and had warned her that I was approaching.

“You know what’s wild? The teachers in school when I was growing up never looked like this outside of their work clothes.”

That line got me in, and the conversation went from there. Ms. Jai was quick on her feet too. Every time I flirted, she sent something right back that was just as witty. Her homegirl, Taina, was a fool and had just as much filter as I did. Somewhere in the middle of our shit talking, I let her know that I’d decided to enroll Baby Jay in the school.

I knew the smile that spread across her face from the news ain’t have shit to do with me. She was genuinely happy about having a new student, excited to teach my son. I fucked with that and found myself adding it to the list of positive traits I’d created in my head of her. Figuring we should celebrate the news, I offered to bring them a drink since they hadn’t ordered yet. After a request of the good shit and light bites since my last name was on the building, I laughed and found my way back to the bar.

“Aye, Nori,” I called out to her back.

She turned and walked over to me. “Wassup, Cassanova?”