“It’s necessary,” I said, standin’ up. I walked toward the foyer, takin’ my time, blunt still in hand. All the women stood straighter when they saw me, like I was passin’ judgment from a throne.
I scanned the room once. Then again.
“Renae Dior,” I called.
She stepped forward real smooth, and confident like she already knew I was keepin’ her. She wore this sage green silk wrap dress that hit just right. I pointed to the space beside me. “Bring your pretty ass over here.”
She smiled and walked over.
I kept goin’.
“Jayla Noelle,” I said.
Jayla stepped up, her gloss poppin’ and her eyes locked straight on mine. She was always cool with it, never doin’ too much, and I liked that. She joined Renae on my right.
“Khari Belle,” I said next, watchin’ her eyes light up like a Christmas tree.
She was fine, yeah, but she had somethin’ behind those pretty eyes. She stepped beside me and stayed quiet.
Then my eyes drifted to the back where Pluto Monroe was. She was just standin’ there, leanin’ against the staircase rail with Kashmere. She wasn’t tryna smile, pose, or be seen. That’s what made her stand out. Her whole aura was chill, like she ain’t have nothin’ to prove, but she was still watchin’ me—eyes locked like she was tryin’ to read my soul.
There was somethin’ about the way she looked at me… like she wasn’t scared of me, and that shit turned me on.
“Pluto,” I said, and her brows lifted just slightly.
She didn’t move like the others. She took her time, like she was sayin’ “I got this” without even openin’ her mouth. I watched her until she made it to the line.
“Kashmere,” I added next, not even lookin’ away from Pluto when I said it.
Kashmere damn near danced her way over. Her body was movin’ to a rhythm only she could hear. I smirked and gave her lil’ cool ass a head nod.
Then I scanned the room again and saw Toni Roc… loud ass, wild ass, ghetto ass Toni.
“Toni,” I called, already halfway amused. “Bring your ghetto ass over here.”
The room laughed a little, and she rolled her eyes but strutted like she owned the floor.
Just as she stepped forward, Chanel Banks muttered loud enough for everybody to hear, “I don’t even know why he picked this ugly bitch.”
Toni froze mid-step and turned her whole body around.
“Say that shit again,” she snapped, already ready to go.
“I said what I said,” Chanel replied, foldin’ her arms. “He could’ve picked literallyanybody.”
Toni took a step toward her. “Bitch, you better go find somebody else to play with this mornin’. You mad ’cause I got picked and you over there sweatin’ through that liftin’ ass wig, hoe!”
“A’ight, a’ight, chill,” Kay’Lo stepped in quick, gettin’ between them. “Y’all got some real beef or y’all just need breakfast? Y’all been goin’ at it since y’all stepped foot in this bitch, damn!”
The other girls giggled and whispered, but I ain’t say shit. I just shook my head slow, already peepin’ the tension.
Toni brushed past Chanel and made it to the front like she ain’t just threaten to drag her across the foyer. When she got to me, she smiled, real extra, and wrapped her arms around my neck like she was locked in with a nigga. Then she kissed my cheek.
Chanel rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “Tired-ass behavior.”
I decided not to speak on the catty shit. I just let it play out and kept puffin’ my blunt. But I made a mental note—Toni and Chanel? Yeah. This beef shit they had goin’ on was gon’ be a problem.
I went down the list. A few more came forward—women I already knew had some type of hold or interest. I didn’t need no second guesses. By the time I finished callin’ them, there was seven left standin’. I folded my arms, just starin’ at ‘em. A few was lookin’ down, some tryin’ not to cry, others still tryna smile like they had a shot.
