𝑭𝑨𝑴𝑬 & 𝑫𝑬𝑽𝑶𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵

𝘖𝘯𝘦

-Jermaine-

Man.

Of course Tony had to pick today to have me out here at a publicity event. I woke up feeling like shit, and the last place I wanted to be was sitting in this BMW on the way to some snobby celeb party.

"Fuck Tony, I couldn't have gotten a warning? I need a damn haircut." I sat in the backseat checking my reflection in the rear-view mirror.

"What you need is a change in attitude. There are going to be some big time opportunities at this event. I'm your manager, why would I ever steer you wrong?" Tony turned and made eye contact with me from the passenger seat.

"Whatever man, don't expect me to be all in these people's faces like I wanna be there.  I'm keeping shit low-key." I crossed my arms and leaned against the car door like a teenager  with an attitude.

"Do that, and the only thing that's gonna be 'low-key' is your damn career. Tighten up Nigga!" He pointed an accusing finger at me and I sucked my teeth looking out the window.

A few minutes later we arrived at the huge arena. I adjusted the collar of my navy blue suit and nonchalantly stepped out as the driver and Tony left to find a park.

"Go ahead, we'll catch up."  I internally sighed and walked into the building. I was automatically bombarded with the nearly blinding flashes of paparazzi . I strike a quick pose and then move on into the party.

The lights are low and dim, and the soft sound of R&B plays over the speakers. I scan the room and see bodies swaying and grinding to the rhythm of the music. It kind of reminded me of a party I would have went to back in college. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

I say a few hellos to people who speak to me as I make my way over to the bar. It isn't very crowded considering everyone is dancing on the floor.

Great, the less mingling I have to do the better.

A female bartender comes up to me almost immediately.

"Hey boo, what you drinking tonight?" she said giving me the sexy eyes. I looked her up and down before responding. She was decent, light-skin with big curvy hips and flowy loose curls. Not really my type of woman. But that didn't mean I couldn't have a little fun.

"Surprise me." I bit my lip and smiled as she turned around and started mixing up my drink. I drop the sexy act as soon as her back is turned and scan the room uninterested.

There had to be at least 200 hundred people in here. Everyone talking and laughing, taking a sip from their glass every once and a while. I wasn't a party kind of guy anymore... Hell, I hadn't been to one since I graduated. So it gave me a longing feeling to be back in such an environment.

"Here you are." I turn back to the bar to see the light-skin shorty had placed my drink down in front of me. Her finger lingered on the rim of the cup still trying to seduce me. "On the house."  Well my interest had worn off so I wasn't going for it anymore.

" 'Preciate it." I grabbed the cup and got up from the stool I was sitting on. She raised her brows at me and as I turned and walked away I felt her eyes on the back of my head like daggers.

I walked out on the dance floor, trying to squeeze through all the grinding and swaying bodies that took up the space. I finally found a decent area that wasn't filled to the brim with sweaty dancing bodies.

How Deep Is Your Love - Keith Sweat was playing over the speaker. I hit a lil two step tryna keep shit gangster. I heard a laugh from behind me and I quickly glanced over my shoulder.

"Boy I know you ain't doing the two step to this song!" My eyes land on a fine ass dark-skin with a slim figure and big plump lips. She's standing with a hand on her hip and one eyebrow raised looking at me like I'm crazy. I chuckle and turn around to face her.

"At least I'm doing something, you over there looking stiff and hating!"

"You damn right I'm stiff, this the last time I wear this tight ass dress." She adjusts her black leather body-con and I let out another laugh. "I'm serious! You lucky I do have it on, I would have took your ass to town."

"Oh reallyyy?" I flash her a smile and she flashes me one back. Except hers is more than a flash, maybe an explosion. She has gorgeous teeth and the way her face brightens up is so angelic it makes me want to see it more often.

I extend my hand for her to shake.

"Jermaine Brooks."

She reaches out and shakes it.

"Ashanti Miller."

-Ashanti-

He was a tall, light-skin man with a goatee and a low taper fade. He had freckles scattered across his face and full dark eyebrows.

"Wanna go sit down?" he cut his eyes at an empty booth while still holding my hand. I nodded and he led me over to where he was looking. He let go of my hand as we separated to each side of the table. I already missed his touch.

"So where are you from?" Such a cliché conversation starter, but I genuinely wanted to know.

"Boston, I moved out here to LA to expand my acting career, get more gigs you know."

"As a matter of fact I do. I'm a model, but I dabble in acting too here and there. Nothing major of course, but I was born and raised in New Jersey." He twiddles his thumbs as he watches me talk, almost like he's studying me.

"Is that so? Well maybe we could collaborate on something, I also do photography, this acting shit is new to me. But I'm a man of many talents." He winks and I laugh at his flirty mannerisms.

"Maybe, I'd love to see some of your work though." I take sip of my drink and he watches my lips wrap around the straw.

"Mmm." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He quickly taps a few buttons and then hands it to me. I scroll through a website titled "Jermaine's Eye" and see a portfolio of pictures.

It consists of black men and women posed in elegant clothes and lustful lighting. I feel his eyes on my face to catch my reaction. When I glance at him he holds eye contact with me. I hand him the phone.

"Beautiful, I guess I could trust you to take my pictures." I give him a grin.

"You guess huh?" He returns the favor, grinning harder and sitting back into his seat.

God this man is gorgeous.

"Wanna get out of here?" There it was. The reminder that he was just like any other man. It always comes eventually. I let out a sigh.

"Well, as much as I would love to be a one night stand I have some business to take care of here. As I'm sure you do as well." I get up out of the seat and his expression drops.

"No no, that's not what I meant-" He starts to get up after me but I rest a hand on his shoulder in a dismissive way.

"It was nice meeting you Mr. Brooks, enjoy your night." I let my hand drag down his arm as I walked away. I heard him curse under his breath.