“We’re almost done and I’m glad!” Karen shouted in my ear. “Y’all gon’ have to carry me out of here tonight!”
I tossed my head back and laughed at her slurring of words. She looked great in her fuchsia mini. Tynisha advised the makeup artist on the colors on her eyelids and lips to bring out the motif. I was grateful that I didn’t have to check Tynisha for taking out her lingering distaste of Angela on poor Karen. Tynisha still hated my cousin’s guts, and I prayed for my cousin to stop hating mine. How ironic.
As I swayed my hips to the pace of the beat, feeling nice and warm thanks to the alcohol, I felt big hot hands encircle my waist. Moving slower than usual because of my inebriation, I drew my head over my shoulder, but before I could completely fix my neck, his stubbled cheek rubbed the side of my face, prickling my skin.
I heard him sing coltishly, “Somebody’s having a good time celebrating. I haven’t seen you gyrate like this in a minute.” Only his baritone, words, sentiment and, abrupt lush scent, could cause each of my nerve endings to tickle and a shiver to swarm my entire posterior. Trying to fight my tremble in his arms—arms I’d missed so much—I nodded my head. My eyelids fluttered shut and when I opened them, I noticed first Cherry, looking directly at me and then Karen’s eyes filled with…something. I had to gain a hold of myself. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Zo,” he growled in my ear.
At that, I turned in his embrace and reached up to enclose on his neck. Right away, I noticed the glint in Stenton’s slanted eyes under his black fedora. His smile was unguarded and his posture inclined to me, something I hadn’t experienced in what felt like forever. We hadn’t been intimate since Christmas, but his expressions were never of sheer joy like this one. Stenton seemed more than happy…exultant perhaps. It loosened my expression, too. I let it all hang to share that moment with him.
“You look…proud,” I shouted in his ear, trying to speak over the music.
Stenton lowered himself into me as he took me in by the small of my back. “I’m fucking ecstatic. My best friend…number one lady is a Princeton alumnus.” He pulled up from my ear to observe my regard.
My cheeks had begun to smart from the mile long smile plastered on my face.
“I knew you were happy for me, but you weren’t this...celebratory at the graduation or earlier at the BBQ,” I indirectly inquired.
He returned to my ear. “That’s because we were around the holy people, and Michael. Here, I can be almost as over-the-top as I want.” Then his eyes returned to mine again. That’s when I saw a flicker of…more than pleasant words being expressed. I understood the satyr-like coquetry in his words.
I didn’t want to pay too much thought to that possibility, but was happy to have him with me. It felt right. I knew he had other obligations—
“Aren’t you supposed to be in California tonight?” That reminder almost interrupted my welcomed buzz and tipped off my stalking of his girlfriend. He said earlier his flight was scheduled for this afternoon.
Stenton didn’t answer right away with his mouth, yet his eyes held more of an explanation than his words could ever give. He deliberately missed Erika’s event to be here…with me.
“I’m not done celebrating. I pushed back my flight to a redeye.”
“Thanks, Stenton,” I hoped he didn’t hear the cry I swallowed.
“Thank you for persevering. I’m so proud of you, Zo. Not that I ever doubted you, but you’ve once again inspired me. The night belongs to you,” he professed as his arms unraveled from my waist, leaving me feeling bereft. His touch and words sent me adrift that instantly. That quickly, I’d gotten caught up in Stenton’s all-consuming presence. “Which round are we on?” he yelled over my head to no one in particular.
“The last one!” I pivoted and saw Tynisha in Alton’s embrace.