“Not now, Jamal. That’s not cool. My parents are here, and I have guests probably wondering where I’m at. I can’t believe you’re trippin’ like this.”
“I’m not trying to. I just can’t help myself. You look good as fuck in that dress.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s get back before my mom notices we’re both gone.”
Jamal was really rubbing me the wrong way tonight. I needed to get from around him to be sure I wasn’t just tripping. SeeingReggie, then being close enough to smell his cologne and look into his eyes, I couldn’t help but to feel some type of way. I was still very much attracted to him, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be getting frustrated with Jamal because of my feelings for Reg. Jamal was making it hard from acting weird.
Making it back to the rooftop, I spotted Trista. We embraced as she handed me my gift for the gift table. I immediately filled her in on Jamal’s gift and Reggie being here. As Trista and I were talking, Reggie appeared at the bar that was near the area we were in. He and I kept stealing glances at each other as I tried my hardest to play it off.
I pointed out who Jamal was since Trista hadn’t officially met him, then mingled with my company. Once dinner was ready, we all dug in, buffet style as Reggie watched from afar. Jamal was making it a point to be extra clingy and I knew it was only because of Reggie. Once dinner was over, I couldn’t have been happier. It was now time for the after party to which my parents would not be in attendance and I was super excited about that.
My parents got a party bus for all of my guests that would be going to Navy Pier. Guests had the option of riding the party bus or driving their own cars to the location. I couldn’t wait to get on the bus to get lit as hell. Trista had THC vapes and Jamal had a bottle of Hennessy Black. Since I planned to let my hair down and act the fool, I needed to change into my second outfit of the night.
My mom had the outfit I needed to change into in her car, so when they got ready to leave, I helped them carry my gift bags to their car.
“Okay, baby, I hope you enjoyed your birthday dinner. Have fun at your party,” my dad said giving me a hug then getting into the SUV.
“Have fun tonight, Tati,” my mom said hugging me. “I know you think you’re grown and all, but should you decide to let thatboy that’s been stuck to your ass all night get any, please make sure he uses a condom. Blue Waffle is real out in these streets.”
“Blue Waffle? Mom, really! That’s so disgusting, please don’t start.” I pleaded, taking my bag with my outfit to change into.
“I’m serious. Don’t act like you’re not boy crazy. I saw how you was lookin’ at that grown man, too. Watch yourself, Tati! Google Blue Waffle when you get the chance. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”
“Ma, come on! Ain’t nobody out here catchin’ no Blue Waffle, and what grown man?”
“The owner guy, you know who I’m talking about. You looked a little too cozy chatting it up with him. Remember, you may not care about the reputation of our family, but your father and I do. And you know family likes to talk and start shit especially ours. Please don’t do no crazy shit at the party. Your cousin Juicy seems cool and all but she messy as hell and likes to talk. Folks out here just waiting on you to do something foolish and slip up. Please don’t give them the satisfaction of having anything to talk about.”
“Okay, Ma, I hear you.”
After thanking my mom again for a great birthday, I headed back inside the hotel to go to the bathroom to change before the party bus arrived. All of my guests were waiting for the party bus on the rooftop having drinks and mingling. I walked down the corridor from the garage, then through a hallway that led to a bathroom in a nook before the area where the elevators were. Stepping in, I changed as quickly as I could then left out as fast as I had come. Making it back to the rooftop, I rejoined my guests. Reggie was still off in the distance. He was busy doing other things, but we kept stealing glances at each other.
Once the party bus arrived, we got ready to pile on. Reggie looked out and gave everyone who wanted a drink, drinks to go. Then just as I walked by him, with Jamal right at my side ofcourse Reggie looked into my eyes and said, “I’ll be seeing you later, beautiful.”
He said it low enough that everyone could not hear, but loud enough for me to hear causing my heart to flutter. Jamal was right there and had peeped it also, so I played like I didn’t hear Reggie.
As we continued to walk out, Jamal asked, “What did he say to you?”
“I didn’t hear him say anything. Why do you have a hard on over dude?”
“I don’t. If anything, dude has a hard on for you, and I’m starting to think the feeling is mutual. You sure you don’t know him?”
“I’m positive. You know I got major love for you, but if you gon’ be trippin’ like this, I rather you not come to the party. I have to deal with my parents nagging the fuck out of me all the time. The last thing I need is for you to take their place in their absence.”
“If you want me to leave, I’ll leave.”
“That’s on you, Jamal. I wanna kick it with you, but I’m not trying to be arguing over someone I don’t know.”
“That’s fair.”
After Jamal apologized again, we got on the bus and headed to Navy Pier. The whole ride there I kicked it hard, and Trista came through on the Dank, but at the same time, Reggie was heavy on my mind.
I didn’t know what he meant by what he said, little did I know I was about to find out.
The night was going better than I could have imagined. Jamal was acting like his normal self thankfully. I think Reggie’s presence bothered him for some reason. I was just glad that we were able to all have fun. Then some weird shit happened that threw me for a loop. A large group of us were trying todo our best attempt to Drake’s,In My Feelingschallenge when I noticed Trista and Jamal were off to the side dancing and chatting it up kind of close. Walking through the crowd to get a closer look, I saw them both start laughing as Trista started backing it up on Jamal’s front. I could tell by the look on both of their faces that they were equally smitten with each other.
I didn’t recall backing it up as part of the challenge so seeing red, I went to approach them to see what was up. A crowd of people dancing appeared out of nowhere blocking my view and by the time I got from around them Trista and Jamal were gone. Sobering up quickly, I went in search of them. Once I was positive that I had searched the entire ballroom we were in, I started looking in the hallway.
I thought about going to check in the bathrooms but the area that we were in was private. There were several other ballrooms with parties going and the bathrooms were public, so I knew they weren’t dumb enough to drip off in the bathroom. Thinking for a second that I was tripping, I went back into the room where my party was and started asking people if they had seen Trista or Jamal. Everybody was so caught up in having fun that no one was paying attention like that.
