You make me wanna come through

Quarter after two

Just to put it down on you

You make me wanna behave

All of those things

That you and me, we do

-

"Girl if you don't shut up. You listen to this shit 'bout 20 times a day." Janeka rolled her eyes at Florice with a smirk as she scrolled through her Instagram with red circular shades on. She was popping the hell out of her gum at that.

"Why you so mad?" Florice giggled to herself, gripping Q6 steering wheel with both hands as we rolled into Florice driveway.

She had a whole townhouse to herself in the outskirts of Downtown ATL and, I honestly fucked with it. It was cute and very modern.

All three of us worked the afternoon shift at Pink Sake since we did so good the previous night that some slow money didn't even fuck with us so bad. 

"Hey MTV, this is my criiiiib!" When Florice put her car in park she extended her arms wide with one hand stretched out in front of Janeka. "My spring home is under construction or whateva so come to my summer guest house." Florice snorted as she laughed at her own joke, grabbing her oversized Louis duffle from the passenger side.

I couldn't help but laugh also at Florice being a little more free-spirited as opposed to how she is at the club. Always worried, always running behind the other girls like she was the den-mother. It was nice to see her softer side. 

I didn't want to bring it up but I saw the hickey on her neck when she wiped her foundation off. But that wasn't my business. 

We all had secrets.

Janeka had already hopped out Q6 car and dusted off her white baby tee before pulling up her Levi mom jeans. She was dressed casual as fuck too. It was cute to see these two dressed in regular clothes minus all the glitter and thongs. 

"Dang Florice, this shit nice." I whistled out loud as we walked up to her house.

"Its alright. I want to eventually get a condo but, you know, baby steps." she shrugged nonchalantly. When we walked in the door a huge chime went off to signal someone entering. Without even looking at the pin pad, she entered in the code and the alarm dinged off.

Welcome home, Florice.

"You even got an alarm system that knows your name?" I slipped off my Balenciaga sandals with a shake of my head. "Boss shit, girl. Lemme live like you."

"Girl, I know you not talking! That fancy ass apartment complex you live in? Janeka, peep this shit-" she was already in the kitchen rustling through the cabinets. "Ari got a whole fountain in front of her complex. Crystal blue water and an actual security guard. I swear I heard Maxwell hit a high note when the gates opened, girl." 

"Oh, you funny funny." I walked behind Florice as to not be rude and followed behind into the kitchen. 

I swear my jaw almost hit the floor.

Marble counter tops and a stainless steel sink and fridge. Cocaine white appliances and even a granite sectional I guess to cut the vegetables. I silently pulled a barstool around so I can sit and just sighed in admiration. I could see her living room from the kitchen and it was a smoky grey and white type vibe, I think I even saw a white fluffy rug in the middle of her blackwood floors. And was that cedarwood in the air? 

"Florice, your house is so pretty." was all I could say. I didn't want my voice to sound like no groupie bitch but shit. It made me wonder a bit just how she was able to reel in all this dough but-

"Florice, where the fuck is your Merlot? We JUST bought a bottle a few days ago."

"Well," Florice chuckled nervously as she tied her bundles into a low ponytail. "Girl don't worry 'bout that. I'll just have Q pick some up for us."

"Q?" Janeka tone matched my quick glance at Florice as she walked away from the heat. "Why is Q coming over? I thought this was a girl's night!"

"Girl, shut up! It is." Florice came back into the kitchen with large bags from The Children's Place and Dillards. "Q just want to come by and pick up some clothes for Reece, Nino and Parys."

"Oh." Janeka made an obnoxious 'O' shape with her mouth. As if to change the subject, she tiptoed out the kitchen and stepped down into the living room to grab a remote control. 

"Hey, Alexa!" Janeka shouted with a pop of her tongue. "Play Indigo by Chris Brown!"

Got it. Playing Indigo by Chris Brown.

When the song started, Florice automatically began to shake her ass and rotate her shoulder all exaggerated like Chris Brown do in his videos.

All I could do was prop my chin and laugh as Florice watched right along with me.

"So," Florice cocked her eyebrow up at me with a playful smirk "I heard you and Q went out. He ain't try no shit did he?" 

I held my hands up in surrender, shaking my head. "No! We just went to the movies, and we ate like two fat kids, girl I'm not dumb. That's your whole brother." I crossed my arms with a pout of my lips.

"Girl, that has Not Stopped some girls. Trust." she poured me a glass of Merlot and slid it my way. "Q is the oldest, then me, so sometimes I act like an overprotective sister. But I just wanted to make sure he not being extra friendly. He not about to trying one of my girls." there go that motherly tone again.

"That's really sweet, girl, thanks." I smiled appreciatively at her, taking a small sip. Whew! This was smooth!

"No thanks, don't be scared to come vibe with Janeka and I. We just gotta be serious and shit because if not the other newer girls will think we're soft."

Janeka, Florice, and I have been getting kind of close over the past few months since I started working the same shifts as them and I guess Florice started being extra caring of me since I caught Q eye a few weeks ago. Even though I still had that level of rookie to the vets there, it was actually nice to feel like somebody had my back in this Booty Benihana ass place. 

"So, yeah, if you do start dating Q, let me know so I can pretend its not happening." Florice gave me a wink, swigging her Merlot around to take in the scent. 

Even though she was off of work, it was hard to tell if she was flirting or serious.

"Janeka!" Florice yelled out. "What do you want to eat? Chinese or pizza?"

"Don't matter!" Janeka said mid ass-clap "Just make sure its good and not that shitty ass Sergios we got last time!"

Florice sucked her teeth, pulled out her phone and looked over at me questioningly.

"Chinese good with you?" 

I nodded quickly, lips already to the glass of Merlot for another longer sip.

Oh you nasty bae, you do everything I like.

- 

"Damn, Florice, I just said they needed school clothes not a whole wardrobe change." Q6 sucked his teeth as he picked up the large bags of clothes. "We even agreed on a $500 limit." he looked over at her with a slight annoyance as she spun around in her large white love seat, clearly buzzed from the wine.

"Whoops." she shrugged, taking another sip of her wine.

"Man, i'll talk to you when you sober." Q shook his head but took a double take at me as I sat on the adjacent couch with my legs tucked under me. I wasn't buzzed but I was surely feeling more relaxed. I could feel him looking at me but I didn't want to make it weird so I played like something popped up on my phone.

Q's lips spread into a smile. He turned his head to whistle out the door, signaling someone else to come in. "Aye, Dre! Help a nigga out with these bags."

I didn't want to make it obvious but Janeka sure did crane her neck to see who was coming in her girl house.

"Its please and thank you nigga! You don't gotta call me like i'm one of yo- oh- oh shit, wassup ladies?"

Janeka popped her tongue and looked at her phone with a huge smicker planted across her face. "Heyyyy." she waved at him with all 32 of her teeth.

Q was already out the door so he ain't even see this eyeplay that was going on between Janeka and her friend but by the double-takes and lick of their lips I was feeling like it was going to be a climax any minute now.

Alright imma head out

Slipping on my sandals, I double-timed to Q as he put the bags of clothes in the trunk.

"You need some help?" I asked.

"Nah, i'm good. I wish this nigga would hurry up tho. Wassup with y'all? You good?" Q leaned against the trunk and rolled his neck around to stretch.

"Hm? Oh yeah, we just chilling. Is y'all doing anything? Why don't y'all stay?"

"You sure?" Q looked into the doorway again to see Janeka and Dre talking to eachother. He put his hands on his hips like a disappointed parent and just sighed. "I guess we could vibe for a little bit." he looked down at me with a smile.

"Shit, i'm surprised you offering considering I ain't hear from you since the movies."

"It ain't even that-" I laughed off my embarrassment, "I just didn't know what to say after spillling coke on your jeans." I looked away as my cheeks warmed up, I think the Merlot was starting to hit me.

"Oh, naw, you good." Q laughed. "Them was just some old Balmains, ain't shit to be sorry 'bout. You too cute to ghost anyway."

I cut my eyes at him but before I could say anything an old champagne gold Honda Civic pulled up.

3 quarts pork fried rice and 3 plates of honey garlic wings for.. Florida?

That was my cue.

"Florice. But yeah, that's us." I jogged to the car and grabbed the large box of food knowing it was too big for me.

"Mind being a gentleman for a few seconds?" I literally begged, my arms shaking at the weight.

Q grabbed the box in a scoop and scoffed jokingly at me. "A few seconds? I'll be that all day."

Uh.. Tip?

"Yeah, I got one." Q turned back to the driver with a boyish smile "More duck sauce in your delivery orders!"