“Wait a minute. I don’t like the little homewrecker, but let’s not blame all of it on her. It was Rodney’s ass who was out here in these streets chasing Jeb down when he got in that wreck. What woman in their right mind would take his ass back after he was out here stalking his ex’s boyfriend?” Jayne asked. “I know like hell I wouldn’t.”
Everyone at the table raised their glass to that.
“You have a point there,” Alise said.
“And speaking of taking a man back. I guess I’m going to have to steal my security guard crush back from you. That damn Bruiser has been watching you like a hawk since you hired him, and you won’t give the man any action,” said Jayne while giving Alise a playful side-eye.
Alise sighed. “He said he was going to assign one of his men to work for me, but every time I put in a request for a guard, he shows up,” she said, frowning.
“Don’t act like you don’t know why my man is there,” Jayne teased. “And besides, you keep calling back, knowing that he’s going to be the one to show up.”
Everyone at the table looked at Alise because it was true. She was always complaining about Bruiser, but yet she kept hiring him to be her security.
“You can have him back, Jayne,” Alise said. “The man is nerve wrecking.”
“I bet he can wreck something more than your damn nerves, whew chile.” Jayne took a sip of her water. “I need to cool down.”
“Yeah, cool your hot and bothered butt down,” Alise said, and we all laughed.
“Alright, so let’s just change the subject,” Kemara interjected. “Who knows what I should do for little Bryce’s earache. He’s been whining about it for a few days, and the antibiotics the doctor gave me aren’t helping it.”
“I see what you did there,” Jayne said. “You know we all love little Bryce, but Alise needs to shit or get off the
pot.”
“Stop it, Jayne! You’re sounding as stalkerish as that crazy man who was the catalyst to me ‘needing’ a bodyguard,” Alise said, looking at Jayne as if she were trying to understand her intent. “If you want the man, I will hook you up.”
“I’m only kidding with you, Alise. I’m trying to push you to see what’s right in front of you. A hunk of Hulk Hogan, The Incredible Hulk-built man who’s ready and willing to give you everything you’ve been singing about,” Jayne said.
“Ah, another subject change is needed,” Alise said as she looked at Kemara to save her.
“Is that Rochelle girl still trying to get with Jeb?” Kemara asked, and everyone turned and nosily looked at me.
“No. Jeb handled that situation, and she hasn’t been at the club lately,” I informed them. “But you should’ve known the answer to that because, if she was still disrespecting me like that, I would have been locked up in somebody’s jail.”
“Well, I’m glad Jeb handled it,” Kemara said.
“I’m glad you brought that up though. I have some good news!” I said and turned up my glass to drink another gulp of wine.
“Well, are you going to make us drink shots for it, or are you going to tell us?” Jayne asked.
“What is it, Tameka,” Kemara chimed in.
Alise didn’t say anything; she just sat there patiently waiting for the news.
“Well, before I left home, Jeb told me…” I paused for dramatics. “That the deal went through! He is opening another location in Atlanta!”
“Now see, that is great news that I can get down with!” Jayne said.
“I’m so glad for him. Tell my cuz congratulations,” Kemara added.
Alise raised her glass. “Okay, we finally have something to drink to.”
With that bit of news, we enjoyed drinks, light conversation, and friendship for the next few hours. When we were finally ready to leave, I was walking out of the restaurant behind Alise when in walked Jeb’s father with a big brute man.
I opened my mouth to speak to the men but thought better of it when Jeb’s father looked at me like he’d seen a ghost and then shook his head. The guy with him had his eyes glued on me, and he scowled as if he wanted to claw my eyes out.
“Your boy has lost his mind,” the brute man mumbled under his breath but clearly loud enough for me to hear.