A man with long locs and a sparkling chain stood up, grinning as he gave War a dap hug. He was decked out in designer from head to toe, jewelry catching every bit of light. I wasn’t familiar with any of the name brands—my people didn’t shop at malls, our clothing was spun from magic.
“My nigga, Cashaun! I ain’t think you’d make it,” he said, clapping War on the back.
Cashaun? War’s evil ass name is Cashaun? Interesting.
“Ahhh shit, who is this?” the man asked, eyes sliding over me, lingering a little too long. He was average in the face but his body was solid, and when he grinned, rows of diamond teeth flashed.
“This is my lil’ cousin,” War told him.
“Cousin? You got family?” the man joked, eyebrows raised.
“What’s your name, sweetheart? I’m Jay,” he said, extending his hand. He held on longer than necessary. I slipped my hand out of his grasp.
“I’m Eboenia. Nice to meet you, and Happy Birthday,” I replied, giving him a genuine smile.
“Appreciate it. No disrespect, yo, but your cousin is gorgeous—and she smells good, too. My damn, I feel like I’m floating. I don’t even want to be here anymore,” he told War, then looked at me. “We could take a walk around Patterson Park to get to know each other,” Jay said, his eyes twinkling as he looked me up and down.
“She’s just in town for tonight,” War cut in.
“You gotta talk her into staying for a few days. I want to take her around the city,” Jay responded.
“She ain’t got time for niggas,” War shot back, jaw tight.
Jay put his hands up, backing off with a grin. “Aight, aight. You don’t want me to marry in the family, I get it. Where’s big bro at anyway? I thought he was coming through.”
“You know he really don’t be with the strip clubs,” War replied, shrugging.
“Fuck it then,” Jay said, waving us to sit. I slid in next to War, my thigh brushing his, while across the table two women were giving me the evil eye. I felt exposed, out of place without my sisters. War was definitely testing me—that’s why he brought me out, to see if I’d try to run without the cuff.
“Cashaun! You don’t see me sitting here?” a young woman with a nose piercing snapped. She was pretty, with a short, wavy hairstyle and flawless makeup, a few shades lighter than me. Her eyes narrowed at War, arms folded across her chest.
“Chill out, Jade, damn,” Jay said.
“No, I’m not chilling out. This nigga been ducking me for four months and pops up, and act like he can’t even speak!” she spat, her body leaning forward, nails tapping the table.
“You know the nigga is in college! You be trippin’,” Jay told her, shaking his head.
“I’m in college too and still know how to pick up the phone!” her friend chimed in, lips pursed, eyes rolling.
A brown-skinned man with a close cut reached over, tapping her leg. “Stay out of it, Reka,” he said.
“My bad, shorty, I get tied up sometimes,” War replied to Jade, not even glancing her way as he flicked ash from his blunt.
Jade crossed her arms tighter, the bitch was glaring at me like I was the reason behind War’s four month disappearance. I leaned closer to War, pretending to listen to his conversation with his boys, but really just trying to shield myself from her stare. I was itching to ram my horns through her eyes and slice her throat open. It was surreal seeing War blend in with these humans, laughing and talking shit like he hadn’t just threatened to kill me an hour ago.
“So, cousin, are you from around here?” Jade asked, her tone dripping with suspicion.
“No, I’m far from here,” I replied, keeping my voice even.
“Are y’all like first, or second cousins?” she pressed, eyes narrowing.
“The fuck does it matter, Jade?” War snapped, his arm draped territorially across the back of my seat.
“Because she’s sitting close to you like you’re fucking her! And she’s uncomfortable as hell when I look at her! I ain’t stupid, Cashaun!” Jade shot back, taking a long sip from her glass, her words slurring just a bit.
“You should’ve listened to me and got you a D.C. shorty. These Baltimore shorties be trippin’,” one of War’s friends chimed in, shaking his head.
“Shut the hell up, Damien! Y’all act like me and Cashaun hadn’t been on and off for two years! I’m tired of the excuses y’all make for him! He goes away and we don’t hear from him in weeks and then he comes back like nothing happened!” Jade ranted, her voice rising over the music.
