“Tynisha,” I called over to her, being sure to get close enough to not have to shout too much. “Isn’t Erika’s makeup launch tonight? Why isn’t he there?”
Her neck snapped up and her face screwed harshly as she hissed, “Because his damn son’s mother just graduated from college. Girl, everybody knows if Zoey had a damn root canal the same day Erika had a launch of her biggest product, he’d chuck the deuces at that bitch in a heartbeat. Them damn shots done fucked with your ability to reason, Mascot!” Tynisha’s head rocked back and she belted out the biggest laugh.
My eyes instinctively darted over to Stenton who, along with the guy he was speaking to, was looking our way. Panicking, I slammed the bottle of water on the small coffee table in front of me and picked up the cocktail.
“Ty, you’ve had way too many!”
The night progressed and Stenton and I ended up side-by-side again. This time we weren’t touching, which kept my body temperature down and my disposition stable. We were laughing at Alton’s crazy antics and at Tynisha cursing Alton out for his vulgarity. I laid reclined on the couch, entertained by them both until someone asked for the time.
“It’s almost 2:30 in the morning!” Cherry yelped.
“It’s time to go. I have a taping first thing in the morning,” Tynisha announced.
Everyone slowly rose to their feet. Stenton called over to the waiter while pulling out his wallet. Then Karen tapped me.
“You mind coming to the ladies room with me before we head out?”
Out of it, I nodded my head before leading the way. I attempted my walk with dignity, trying not to give away my blotto. While Karen relieved herself, I observed my makeup in the mirror. I looked a bit sloshed, but not in a gross manner. I sure as heck didn’t look like a college grad, more like a freshman at her first coed party. I laughed out loud at that observation. Karen came out to wash her hands and we left out of the bathroom.
“There y’all are!” Tynisha shouted over the music. “We had to get an extra car for Karen since she’s going home instead of back to Alpine with you, Mascot. Stenton had to head straight to Teterboro for his flight out to L.A. Come on. We’re leaving through the back.” Her small frame started its gait towards the back of the club.
On our way, there were people calling her in an attempt to get her attention. She spoke to some and ignored others. Tynisha was ready to go. A welcoming summer breeze met us once the bouncer opened the rear door. The softly flowing air felt magical against my dampened skin once outside. I didn’t see anyone else from our party. My regret of not saying goodbye to Stenton before he left blossomed in my chest.
Oh, well. It was nice spending the day with him.
“Karen, you’re over here.” Tynisha stopped in front of the limo we’d arrived in.
I hugged Karen goodnight and thanked her for helping me celebrate for the night.
“We really got wasted tonight, didn’t we?” she asked.
I nodded. “Ang would be proud of us!”
We laughed so hard that I stumbled in my heels. Before I was able to totally come down from my mirth, I watched her get into the limo.
“Come on, Mascot! I gotta go!” Tynisha called from two cars ahead.
I staggered toward her and when I arrived, I pulled her into a deep and clumsy hug.
“Thanks for your support all week, Ty. You may not like it or mean to, but you’ve acted like a friend. If you continue at this rate, I’ll start to think you really are,” I teased on a slur.
Tynisha pulled away from me, rolled her eyes, and sucked her teeth. “Girl, please! Mascot, you’re too corny to be my friend. You’re a bona fide nerd. I don’t do nerds, girl!”
I grabbed my belly in a deep laugh. “Yeah, ‘cause you’re too busy squirting on miniature point guards!” I couldn’t contain my laughter as I recalled Alton’s crude story years ago when Angela and I had lunch with them at the diner.
“Did his big ass mouth tell you I’m a squir—”