Some Good Days

2

Karis

I'm sitting in the beach chairs on the side of the pool keeping an eye on Brinique in between people watching and listening to music in my headphones.

Amir is Brinique's cousin and I'm always amazed at the things he comes up with because how he got a 100-person party at a high-end hotel pool, I have no idea. But it was great, if you like this type of thing. Music blasting, open tiki bar and water games.

I was even having fun but after an hour of courtesy giggles and dancing with Brinique my social meter died. I'm ready to go but I won't kill anybody's vibe, so I found a bubble of peace while I waited for the little social butterfly to make her leave.

I closed my eyes to bask in the sun when I heard Brinique giggle loudly. Popping my eyes open, I scanned the crowd for her. I located her sitting on the lap of some man on the other side of the pool. She didn't look drunk, so I decided to let her be and the guy looked like your average panty dropper besides the gun on his hip.

The girl can really hold her own when it comes to any man.

HE HAS A GUN ON HIS HIP!! My mind went on full alert as I rushed to gather all my things and power walk around the pool. What the fuck is this girl doing. IAs I walking into the little tent that she was under, this bodybuilder dressed like a penguin stood in my way.

"Sorry ma'am. No uninvited guest in this tent."

"Oh ok, well would you mind telling that girl I need to speak with her," I asked pointing at Nique. "She's the one in the green swimming suit."

"You'll have to wait until she comes out ma'am."

"Sir, can you make an exception? I'm just trying to get my friend and leave."

"No."

Now this bitch is pissing me off. This went on for the next five minutes and pissed me off. I was getting frustrated at the whole situation because my anxiety is rising as the minutes go on.

"One or two things can happen here, sir," I said, looking the large man in the eye. "You can let me in the damn tent, and I will be in and out quietly or I can force my way in and you won't like me very much."

"Listen la.." his sentence was interrupted by a man behind speaking.

A deep velvety chuckle came from behind me. I turned to the source of the noise, and he was hypnotizing. He was about a foot taller than me with smooth brown skin and his eyes were the same coffee color as my eye and .... Oh my God. I'm literally ogling this man, in his face.

I met his eyes and realized he was doing the same thing to me. So, now that I'm completely mortified, I turn away to plead my case.

Before I even started to speak his large hand invaded my privacy and clasped itself to my hip.

"Babe, why didn't you just tell him we were together," he said looking directly in my eye. His eyes told me to just go with it. So I quickly recovered from my confusion

"I wasn't thinking. Just really want to leave" I responded semi-genuinely because I had no reason not to. He kept his arm around me and silently walked with me as I guided him over to where Brinique was sitting. I reached for her as soon as she was in arms reach.

"I'm ready to leave. Let's go," I said, not giving her a chance to argue. She knew my tone.

"Okay." She turned to the man on her side. "I'll see later" she smiled at him.

"Gimme one second Yaasin," her man told the man whose arm was still at my waist before standing and wrapping his arms around Brinique in a very intimate goodbye. Did they know each other before today?

"Hey." I jumped because I had forgotten I walked over here with a man. He was looking at me with amusement in his eyes. "Can I talk to you for a second before you leave?"

"Sure," I answered cautiously. I mean he had gotten me to Nique and there wasn't a gun on his hip, so I had no reason to assume the worst. And the man is fine as hell. I tried to ignore my subconscious and her shenanigans.

He gently dragged me over to a corner of the tent so we could have some privacy.

"I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm Destin. Destin Yaasin" he said with a smile.

Damn, his teeth are perfect. He could bite me.

"Karis James," I held out my hand to shake his hand and he grabbed it and kissed the back. Okay, somebody smooth with it.

"So, Karis, can I call you sometime," he asked, running his tongue across his lips. And I tried my best to read him. It didn't feel like an attempt at a random hookup like it normally does.

"It depends." I paused. "What do you want to talk about?"

I could tell from the crease in his brows he wasn't used to anyone questioning his motives, but he recovered quickly with a smirk. "I could get to know more about you, or I could give you my services considering how you threatened that man when you were trying to get in." Oh, he heard that?

"What services do you offer?"

"I'm an attorney. You may have needed me in a different way had I not interjected." We both laughed.

Oh, I need you in a different way alright.

I decided he could work for my time and attention. Or at least that's what I told myself but I really didn't want to mean and flat out say no.

"Well, Mr. Attorney, you seem smart enough. You want my number, find it," I said smiling and walked back over to Nique.

She gave the guy one more kiss and hooked arms with me. We both walked out of the tent and out of the party in our own happy little bubbles. About halfway home my bubble popped.

"Brinique. What were you doing with a guy that has a gun?"

"That was Alfonso. I've told you about Alfonso," she replied calmly. She did tell me about him. They mutually liked one another but neither wanted a relationship. So, they just enjoyed each other when they were together and did their own thing the rest of the time. I've told her several times that they're lowkey in love but my best friend is convinced that she is in her hoe season and love doesn't fit there.

"You forgot to mention that Alfonso carries a gun."

"Karis?"

"What."

"Remember that guy Alfonso, I told you about. He's kind of," she hesitated " in a unique line of work."

I took a deep breath. Unique line of work my ass, that nigga thuggin. I can spot a career criminal a mile away.

"Nique. What are you doing with him? He's probably a murderer," I whisper yelled at her.

"He's not planning to murder me," she shrugged. This girl was serious. I knew I had no win here, so I gave it up.

"Are you at least being safe," I asked her in my mother tone.

"Yes mom," she said like an angry teenager. "Now, I saw you walking with Destin. What's up with that?"

"You know him?"

"He's Alfonso's attorney. I've met him before."

"Just how close are you and Mafia man?"

"You're changing the subject," she laughs.

"He just helped me get into the tent. I don't know him."

"You like him," she smirked teasingly.

"Nope. Didn't even give him a number."

"Whyy?" She whined beginning her regular speech about how I don't give men chances.