SUGAR - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

After a long and busy weekend, Bria and I decided to chill at my apartment for one of our Margarita Mondays and catch up on schoolwork before dead week.
"So you wanted this man, got this man, and now you not responding? Girl don't piss me off for real," Bria scoffed, taking a sip of her margarita with an attitude.
"I mean what was I supposed to say back? I was indeed 'with my nigga'. Plus I slept all day Saturday and had to study and write a paper Sunday so its not like I was ignoring him, it just wasn't on my mind."
"Bitch you are full of shit," Bria laughed. "You couldn't stop talking about that man last week and now Drew is 'your nigga' and Slim 'wasn't on your mind'."
My phone began ringing, a call from an unsaved 281 number.
"Damn I guess you were on his. Put it on speaker," Bria giggled, leaning forward.
"Hello?" I answered.
"You must be alone tonight."
"What makes you say that?" I asked looking over at Bria.
"You got me on speaker."
Bria silently choked on her drink as she tried her best to stay quiet.
"Who said I wasn't alone the other night?"
"You did when you never responded."
"Well it was almost 7 am when you finally hit me back, plus I was tired and I had a lot to do this weekend so I hadn't had a chance to reach out."
"I'll let it slide. You can make it up to me later."
"Make it up to you?" I asked with sass as Bria and I looked at the phone with the same "who he think he talking to" expression.
"I wanted to see you and you passed. I don't take rejection well so yes, you can make it up to me later."
"And how do you want me to do that?"
"Depends. What time you coming to see me tonight?"
Bria got up and ran around the living room jumping up and down.
"Who said I didn't have plans tonight?" I responded as Bria mouthed 'GO".
"I don't like games, Sapphire. I'll text you an address, be there at 10," he said hanging up the phone.
"Oh bitch he not playing with you," Bria laughed looking at the time. "That nigga said you got 2 hours or its clipped!"
A text came through and I opened it to see the location.
"Richmond Ave?" I scoffed knowing it would take at least 45 minutes to get there from Spring.
"Oh he got MONEY! Let me get your outfit together, boo!" Bria said running to my closet while I went to get in the shower. When I got out I saw that she had put together an olive green bodycon maxi dress and tan Hermes Oran sandals.
"Simple, cute, and easy to take off. Call me in the morning girl!" Bria yelled, grabbing her things and walking out of the door.
9:45 pm
"Hey, you outside?" Slim answered.
"I'm not sure. I'm outside this high rise building."
"Turn left and come around the back," he said hanging up.
I followed his piss poor directions and finally saw him leaning against a black Audi Q7. He motioned to a spot for me to park then came to open my door and help me out of the car.
"You must've gotten this recently," he assumed, looking down at my 5'5 frame from his 6'2 height.
"What makes you say that?"
"You still don't know how to get out the car yet," he chuckled, grabbing my hand to lead me inside the building. The walk to his apartment seemed never-ending and the closer we got to the door, the more my heart raced. Here we won't have his homeboys providing a distraction or security knocking on the door, ending the moment too soon. Just the two of us for the very first time.
He opened the door and we walked through the foyer to a very spacious, minimalistic living room. As I looked around towards the kitchen, the same theme followed. His apartment almost looked like a museum, lightly furnished with a tan and cream color scheme throughout. The artwork was minimal as well, brushstroke paintings with tan, cream, and small hints of a brown for depth. I took my sandals off at the edge of the foyer as he walked towards the kitchen.
"I have champagne, chardonnay, pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon, and I think riesling," he stated, looking at his wine cooler.
"I'll take a pinot grigio."
He grabbed an unopened bottle and one glass from the cabinet, poured, then motioned me over to the cream colored sofa handing me the glass.
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" I asked, eyeing him over the glass as I took a sip.
"I don't drink," he laughed. "Get comfortable. You look tense."
I scooted back further on the large sofa and placed my feet under me, still looking around the place.
"Where you from?" he asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Charlotte."
"What brings you here?"
"School. I go to A&M," I said taking another sip to loosen up. I noticed his expression change.
"What?" I asked softly.
"No offense whatsoever but why do you dance?"
"To pay tuition. I lost my scholarship after my freshman year."
Awkward silence.
"What made you come to the club that night if it's 'not your scene'?"
"My homie Troy asked me to come. He kept going on and on about this one dancer there so I went to show my face."
"Which dancer?" I asked, not sure if I wanted the answer or not. He moved closer to me and motioned for me to put my feet in his lap.
"I can't tell you that," he chuckled, rubbing my legs.
"Oh come on," I laughed. "Tell me."
He sat silent for a minute, then sighed and proceeded to rub my feet.
"I'm a very observant person. I pay close attention to my surroundings and see things other people wouldn't think to notice."
"You're stalling."
"I'm getting there. Troy wanted us to see Diamond, Pearl, something like that. From the way he described her and what she does, she didn't interest me so I told him I'll pass. Then he told me about a hidden gem. Gorgeous, petite girl with long hair and a homegrown ass. Someone I would usually go for."
"And you agreed," I stated, trying to speed up his story.
"I saw you when I first walked in, sitting on that white guy's lap, looking uninterested. I felt you watching me as I walked past. I felt you watching me from every inch of that club. Thought you were just trying to make a dollar so I played it cool. Then Troy told me you were the one he was talkin bout and when I looked at you, I knew you were different."
"You know I was just doing my job, right? Selling you a fantasy."
"Coulda fooled me. You didn't look at anybody else the way you looked at me."
"Maybe I just found you attractive," I said smirking.
"Found?" He raised his eyebrow and scoffed. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't want me."
I rolled my eyes and finished my glass of wine as his phone began to ring.
"I'm sorry, I gotta take this. Just give me a second. Hello?" he asked answering the phone. I could hear a woman crying and yelling on the other line and instantly my mood changed. You have to be a bold motherfucker to answer a woman's phone call in front of another woman.
"How the fuck did that happen?" he asked sternly into the phone, moving my legs off his lap to stand and walk to the back of the apartment. I heard him shuffling around and telling the woman he was on his way. He came from the back after throwing on a hoodie and sneakers, walking anxiously.
"I'm so sorry, something came up. Just sit tight here, help yourself to another glass of wine. I'll be back in an hour," he said in a panic and walked out of the door before I could say anything. There's no way he was seriously leaving me in his apartment to tend to another woman. I waited until I knew he was gone, gathered all of my things, and prayed I would find my way back to my car. Once inside, I instantly called Bria.
"Damn that was quick, its not even midnight," she said, surprised.
"Bitch, you won't believe what the fuck just happened." I ran down the entire encounter to Bria as I made my way back to Spring. As I was walking into my apartment, a call came through on the other line.
"I know he not calling me," I said, looking at the 281 number that I practically memorized.
"Well answer and see what he says, then call me back. It was probably a big misunderstanding."
The phone stopped ringing before I could answer.
"He hung up. I'm not even sure I wanna talk to him right now honestly. Imagine if Drew called me and I just up and left his place."
"You're right. You gone see him eventually but a little space might clear your mind. Get some sleep and I'll see you before class tomorrow. Love you."
"Love you too," I said hanging up the phone, noticing I had an unread text.
Why did you leave?
I sighed and typed my reply, hesitating before finally pressing send.
next time, slim.