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This nigga had two bitches in his lap, kissin’. I glanced at Rue, and he had a stripper with her back pressed against the wall, in the corner. He was a wild ass nigga. I focused on whoever the fuck was in front of me. She turned around and dropped to her knees in front of me. Her hands dragged from my chest, all the way to my dick.

“You leavin’ alone?” she asked, grippin’ my dick through my pants.

“Depends. What time you tippin’ out?”

Her hands moved under my shirt, grazin’ her nails across my chest. “I got an hour left. Can I come keep you company?”

I tilted my head, smirkin’. “Yeah. What’s your name, shorty?”

“Nubia… And I know exactly who you are.”

“I bet. Be ready in an hour. I ain’t waitin’ on you.”

“Okay,” she purred. “I gotta go to the stage. You gon’ come watch me dance?”

“Nah. Go handle yo’ business.”

I watched Nubia walk off toward the stage, then checked the time on my phone. I could kill an hour easy. Rue walked by and passed me a bottle. Don yelled somethin’ from across the section, but I barely heard his ass. Somebody was walkin’ through, passin’ by our section in a pair of heels. But I knew that fuckin’ walk. My eyes traveled up, and I was lookin’ right at Juicy.

“The fuck?” I said under my breath.

She stopped right in front of me, smilin’, dressed in a see-through black dress. The lil’ shit she had on underneath only covered enough so she wouldn’t be naked. I couldn’t even stop myself from lickin’ my lips. Juicy was bad as fuck. Always had been.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and giggled. “Up here, Juvie. Keep looking at me like that, and your eyes gon’ get stuck.”

“You keep poppin’ up where I’m at. Startin’ to think you followin’ me, shorty. Who you here wit’?”

She rested her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, grinnin’. “I am not following you. I’m here on business. One of my clients just closed a major deal with Nike. We’re celebrating.”

“Yeah, okay,” I replied, draggin’ my eyes all over her body. “You bein’ safe, Juicy?”

She sucked her teeth. “I’m grown, Juvie.”

“That ain’t what I asked you.”

“Your name ain’t Derrick, and even he don’t tell me what to do no more… But yes, I’m always safe.”

I chuckled, rubbin’ my beard. “That lil’ smart ass mouth.”

“That ain’t never gon’ change.”

“I remember… Take a shot wit’ me.”

Before she could say no, I grabbed the bottle and two shot glasses. I passed her one, then I held mine up to hers. We locked eyes for a second, and I knew I was trippin’. This was too close. I could smell her, feel her body heat. She cleared her throat and stepped back. When I stood, she stepped back again, but the banister stopped her. My hand touched her waist, and I pulled her closer. Ain’t take shit for me to close the rest of the space.

“To your success,” I said, holdin’ up the shot glass.

“To our success.”

When our glasses clinked, I knew she was about to walk away. I took my shot fast, but time slowed down as I watched her toss hers back. A drop of liquor rolled down her lip, and she licked it before it reached her chin.

Nigga, don’t take no more fuckin’ shots.

“Well, Juvie. Thank you for the drink. And congratulations on signing with the Blackhawks. I’ll see you around.”

“Thanks. And yeah, I hope so.”

She smiled, but I could still read her. Juicy was nervous. I watched her walk to the section beside mine, and the first nigga she hugged, I wanted to punch the snot outta his nose. His hand was too low on her back. He pulled her too fuckin’ close, and she laughed too hard at that funny-lookin’ nigga.