I position myself in front of my phone, open the PopShot app, and take a deep breath before I press the live button.
A three-second countdown starts, and then it’s just me…plus a thousand people, and counting.
“Hey, divas, the divorcétante is here! Tonight, I’m live-streaming for the first time…with great reason!”
Tiny bursts of animated hearts, flowers, and coins rain down on the screen as the comments climb like vines.
“We love the drama. Nothing like some exclusive, scandalous content.”
I look into the camera, curving my red lips teasingly.
“But what if tonight is about something better? What if it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for?”
We’re over ten thousand viewers on a Wednesday night in less than a minute, and the comments are a scrolling blur of excitement, flying up the page.
“It’s our date night! I announce, twirling in my lavender satin robe. Y’all, I’m so excited to meet this guy. Excited to put myself out there again. Pumped to see if there’s any chemistry, am I right?
“So, the reservation is at seven thirty, and no, I’m not telling you where. But I’ve got the address, and three hours to get ready and meet him there.”
Hearts explode, as glorious and triumphant as I feel.
Whitney and Priscilla are cackling and carrying on as they join the live—for moral support—along with our other two divas, Tatiana and Chanel, joining in the comment section, adding their tiny animated flowers to the fray. Plus, they add a fewI love Black womencomments, to keep the general merriment going.
“Now, you might’ve heard a bunch of giggling and keekee-ing in the background. That’s because my divas are here with me tonight to help us out. See, I was hoping, since we’re live, I might do a Help Me Decide spin on the Get Ready with Me for this date night. So, are y’all staying with me?”
The viewer count continues to grow.
Right on cue, Whit turns a Black Girl R&B playlist on low—For ambiance, she mouths—and I’m absolutely here for it.
“Okay, so far, we’re going with the new hair. I’m loving my new cut. For the makeup, this is the beat. I went with a soft, glowy complexion, amping up the sultry look with a smoky eye and winged liner for the drama. Always bring the drama.” I laugh. “And, of course, my Red Dahlia lip. Done and done.
“Now, this is where you come in. I’ve got three outfit options. Classy chic diva, spicy vixen, and dazzling, grown, and sexy. So, let’s choose an outfit.”
I dash out of view to where I’ve set aside each look, and I quickly shimmy into a simple pleated and belted black minidress.
“Okay, let’s get into this classy chic diva, I say, posing and playing up my angles. Easy, elegant, sexy, no fuss. I’ll pair it with diamond studs, black strappy heels, a statement clutch…”
I lean in to see what the consensus is, and the comments do not disappoint.
A full-body laugh washes over me as I take in the onslaught of “no”s, thumbs-down emojis, and the glaringIs sexy in the roomwith us?
“Um, so I’m just going to go, and, uh…tear this off my body.”
Unfortunately, I barely make it into shot in the sleeveless bronze sequin scoop-neck midi dress that I picked for the “dazzling, grown, and sexy” option before it’s shot down, too. Not that I didn’t switch up the order on purpose, secretly hoping they’d go for the spicy vixen because, frankly, even keel isn’t going to cut it tonight.
I need high romance. Elegant, but summery. Flirty.
“Yes, I know what time it is. It’s six thirty-two, so y’all better love this last one, because we are fresh out of options.”
When I step out in the black bustier wrap Bodycon minidress that’s molded to my curves, I feel all twenty-five thousand pairs of eyes trailing from the thin spaghetti straps to the sweetheart neckline, inching lower to the sheer lace bodice.
Heat singes my skin as I sway to the smooth, soulful music.
“Is this too much? Because I think this is the one.”
“It’s giving icon, legend, the whole moment,” Whit says, passing me a champagne flute.
Priscilla clinks my glass with hers, then Whit’s, before she takes a long pull of the effervescent amber liquid. “It’ll be perfect with the strappy stilettos and diamond-drop earrings…”
