r.e.m

did it first.

"If he cheatin', I'm doin' him worse
No UNO, I hit the reverse"

The penthouse is packed. Everyone's here, the music loud enough to make the floor vibrate beneath my feet. I scan the room, spotting familiar faces—some laughing, some caught up in their own drama. I had just wrapped up some business for Jasai, ensuring everything was handled smoothly before stepping away. After freshening up, I finally made my way back into the party, my eyes scanning the crowd for the only person who really mattered right now—Jazelle.

When my eyes find her, for a moment, everything else fades away.

Samiyah and Jazelle were dancing together, laughing and swaying to the music, drinks in hand. The flashing lights from the dance floor reflected off their glasses, casting a playful glow over them.

Before I could reach her, Tatiana appeared in front of me like she always did, all smiles and confidence. "You finally made it!" She exclaimed, her voice rising above the music as she pressed closer. Her eyes lingered on me, and she bit her lip. "And you look so fine, Daddy." She eyed me up and down, her gaze dragging over the black leather jacket, sleek pants, and designer shoes I was wearing.

"Yeah, my bad. I had some shit to handle," I replied, barely glancing at her. My focus drifted past her shoulder, locking onto Jazelle. She glanced over in my direction, our eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looked away. That's when I knew I needed to put my shades on—to mask whatever was stirring between us that Tatiana might catch onto.

Tatiana slid her hand down my arm. "Come on, let's get some drinks. You look like you could use one," She said with a wink. She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the bar before I could object.

I glanced back again at Jazelle, but Tatiana was already dragging me through the crowd. The music pulsed around us as we weaved through the sea of bodies, and the bartender had barely noticed us when Tatiana leaned against the counter, turning to face me. "Two shots of tequila," She ordered with a smirk, eyes flicking back to me as if trying to pull me back into her world.

I played along, but my mind was miles away. My eyes darted toward where Jazelle stood, her silhouette bathed in flashing neon, laughing with Samiyah. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the moment, everything kept circling back to her.

Tatiana handed me a shot, her eyes locking onto mine as she clinked her glass against mine. "To us, babe," She said with a forced smile, but the words felt hollow. I couldn't muster up the energy to match her enthusiasm, the weight of everything between us pressing down like a ton of bricks.

"To us," I mumbled, my voice flat as I threw back the shot. The burn did nothing to ease the discomfort settling in my chest. "Yo, lemme get another one," I signaled to the bartender, not even waiting for a response before the glass was filled again. I downed the second shot just as quickly, hoping it would numb the unease gnawing at me.