Reece
What the hell just happened?
I was still standing by Nena’s car, trying to figure out the interaction between Troy and me. The way he was looking at me made me so confused. In fact, this entire day made me confused. Am I starting to have feelings for him? I only been around him for a few days, and the two of us haven’t interacted much, so I don’t see how that is possible.
“Are you really daydreaming?”
I looked over to see Nena staring at me. I shook my head and smiled.
“Girl, no. Let’s go have some fun,”
As we linked arms, we followed everyone to the line. After a five minute wait, we walked inside and the guys immediately went to the bar. We found a table near by while the beats from the song “Level Up” was pounding through the club. I began to feel the beat as I started dancing in my seat.
“Come on, let’s dance,” Jamarcus said, grabbing my hand. I quickly got up, wishing I hadn’t just been put on the spot like that, but I really did like this song.
I could tell someone was watching my every move, but I knew I couldn’t ignore it. Maybe I didn’t want to.
As the song continued, Jamarcus started dancing with some random, leaving me on the dance floor by myself.
Really, Jamarcus, I thought as I was about to go back to the table, but I didn’t get far when Troy grabbed me by the waist.
“Leaving so soon?”
“Jamarcus decided to leave me for a random,”
Troy laughed. “Come on,”
I gave him a crazed look as he took my hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not taking you to some back alley,”
“Where are you taking me, though?”
“You’ll see,”
I looked at him as he had that grin on his lips. “Unless you don’t want to be alone with me.”
I slowly nodded as we left the main room to go to the hallway. I didn’t want to leave Nena by herself, but as we passed the table, I noticed she wasn’t there. She must have been with Tyler, Alejandro, and Jesse.
We entered a room where salsa music was playing. Troy looked at me and smiled. “I noticed some music playing near the bar, so I quickly went to check it out. Now, this is my type of dancing.”
I stared at him. “Oh really,”
“Really. You think you can keep up?”
I smiled as he took me to the dance floor. He took my hands and we began to dance. I had to admit, he was actually good.
“You didn’t think I could dance, did you?” he asked.
“I knew you could,” I replied as I found the rhythm to the music.
Before long, we’d ended up dancing to three songs. I was having fun with him, but I knew I needed a break after the third song. I hadn’t danced in awhile, so I was already feeling the effects from it.
“Okay, we have to take a break.”
“You’re tired already?”
“I haven’t danced in awhile,”
“Sure,” Troy said while shaking his head.
“Whatever,”
“I’ll get us a drink. Nonalcoholic for you, though.”
“Fine with me,”
As we went to the bar, I felt Troy’s hand go down my back. My body started to shudder from his touch as I tried to play it off, but he saw it and gave me a sexy smile.
“I see your body loves my touch,”
I glanced at him as his eyes stared into mine. “So, are you ever going to admit that you were jealous earlier?”
I shook my head. “Nope, because I wasn’t.”
“Please, it was written all over your face, Reece. Just to let you know, nothing happened.”
I looked at him as he grabbed his shot of tequila. He took one swallow and threw the glass on the bar.
“What?”
“You heard me. Nothing happened. I couldn’t go through with being with her.”
“Why not? You could have.”
“But I didn’t. I couldn’t see myself with her.”
I stared at him as he came closer to me. “Why not?” I asked.
“Maybe because I want to be with you.”
My heart was thumping against my chest as his hand caressed my back. “I admit it, I like you, Reece; and I think you like me too, you just don’t want to admit it.”
“Why would I like you? You’re a…”
“Stop saying that. Yes, I’ve dated a lot of women, and maybe you think I’m trying to pursue you to up a notch on my headboard, but I’m not. I think the reason why I couldn’t be with Tracy is because I want to get to know you.”
I was still looking at Troy when I heard someone clearing their throat. I don’t know how I could even hear them with the music blaring around us.
“Troy? What are you doing here?”
We looked over to see the girl that was at Suds a few days ago. She had a devilish smile on her face, which instantly made me despise her.
“Kari. I didn’t think I would be seeing you tonight.” Troy said.
“I’m sure. So, who’s this? Your new woman? I’m sure you met her at Suds, right?”
I rolled my eyes at her and took a calming breath . I really didn’t want any type of drama tonight.
“Why are you rolling your eyes at me? You’re just the flavor of the month to him. Once he sees someone new, he’ll push you to the side. Trust me.”
“Listen, I don’t want any drama tonight. I just want to have a good time, so kindly walk away, please.”
She started laughing, which irritated me. This chick really didn’t know who I was because I’d spilt her skinny butt in half.
“I’m going to talk to you now since you haven’t been returning my calls or texts.”
“Just go, Kari.” Troy said.
“Or what? Besides, I need to know if you’re going to give me my old job back,”
“I talked to Mark about it, and he said no,”
Kari started laughing again, which made me want to punch her in her throat. I don’t see what Troy saw in this girl.
“So you can’t make your own decisions?”
“Well, Mark is the owner, so I have to go by what he says. You were a loose cannon while you there,”
“Excuse me, but do we really need to talk about Suds business right now?” I asked. I turned to Troy. “Remember, what you said earlier? So just enjoy tonight,”
I gave him a sweet smile and he nodded. “You heard the lady. Bye, Kari.”
She threw daggers at me as she went up to Troy.
“This isn’t over.”
She was about to walk away, when she turned around and smiled.
“Oh, and just to let you know, Deena is pregnant again. I would tell her that you said congrats, but she hates your guts.”
I could tell Troy wanted to say something; his eyes became dark with rage. He took a deep breath, turned back to the bar and ordered a whiskey. I just sat there watching him wondering if I should say something.
“I can tell she hit a nerve,” I said.
Troy grabbed his drink from the bartender and downed it in one swallow. He asked for another one as I told the bartender no.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Let’s see, you were already drinking before you came to the bar; you had drinks in the main room and just now. So, I’m cutting you off.”
“I can handle my liquor, unlike you.”
“I’m trying to help your ass, so don’t throw that shit in my face.”
Troy sighed. “Sorry,”
“I know about your ex-wife, Deena. Simone mentioned it to me,”
“Of course. Big-mouthed ass.”
“Stop it. Now, how does Kari know her?”
Troy sighed. “Kari is Deena’s cousin. We sort of hooked up after I got my divorce.”
I shook my head. “Was it to get back at Deena?”
He nodded. “She was having an affair with my best friend,”
“So it was okay to keep it in the family? Wow, you’re truly messed up.”
“I was pissed.”
“For something that you have done countless times? Or was all the whoring around done after the divorce?”
Troy folded his arms looking pissed off . “I’m not talking about my personal business with you.”
“Maybe I would know you better if you did. Something or someone must have hurt you to make you act this way. Inside that hard exterior, I know there is a sweet guy.”
“You don’t know shit about me,”
“No, I don’t, but maybe I want to get to know you.”
Troy frowned at me as I put my hand on his arm. My breath started to become shaky as his gaze never wavered.
“I’ve gone through a lot of shit in my life, Reece. A lot that I haven’t told people about.”
“Maybe you should talk about it. If you’re ready to.”
“Only if you talk about your life, Reece.”
“Why would you think my life is complicated?”
“Because no one’s life is perfect. Everyone has a past,”
I stared at Troy and sighed. “Okay, let’s talk then,”
Troy nodded as the two of us got up. I pulled out my phone to get an Uber. I thought this conversation would be better in a private setting. I know after tonight, things will change between us.