“What type of person?” Bella asked.
“You remember my
friend Creme?”
“The one that used to work with y’all at the club?” Bella questioned.
“That’s her,” Diane said.
“What about her?”
“Jada thinks she would be a bad influence on us because she sniffs.”
“I don’t know about her being a bad influence; we’re all grown and capable of making our own decisions, but I agree with Jada.”
“Why, Bella?” Diane asked.
“I don’t know. I just never liked being around people that do that,” Bella said.
“People that do what?” Simone asked as she came dragging out of the bedroom.
“Well, good afternoon, sleepyhead,” I said. “Glad you’re still with us.”
“Yeah, well, y’all are making so much noise out here I couldn’t sleep. So what y’all talking about?”
“Diane wants us to start hanging out with her crackhead friend from Ecstasy,” Bella said.
“She is not a crackhead,” Diane insisted. “And I only brought it up because Jada was talking about recruiting somebody new.”
“Why?” Simone asked quickly. “I think we’re doing just fine. We don’t need anybody else,” she added.
“Jada thinks we do,” Diane said like a pouting child.
“I just said that business has picked up and I was thinking about it. But let’s talk about it.”
“I say no,” Simone told us firmly. “It’s true we all have been working a lot and I am a little tired, but what I’m not, is ready to give up any of this money.”
“I agree with Simone,” Bella said.
“Well, when you put it that way”-Diane said and winked at me-“there’s just enough money for us.”
“I guess that settles it,” I said. “But from what I’m hearing, we all could use a break.”
“Maybe we could take a trip,” Bella suggested. “Go to one of those resorts in the islands and have West Indian men wait on us hand and foot.”
“That’s sound like a great idea,” I said. “But I was thinking of something a little more immediate. It’s been a while since we went to the club.” I didn’t have to say another word. The ladies were all for the idea and we quickly agreed that we were ready to go back to Sensations.
The moment the limo pulled up in front of the club, flashes of the last time we were there flooded my mind. “You thinking about the last time we were here, huh?” Bella asked reading my mind.
“Yeah, that shit was foul,” Diane added.
When our driver got out and opened the door for us, there was a small round of applauses from the few members of security that were standing outside. “Welcome back, Ms. West. The place hasn’t been the same without you ladies.” He walked up to Bella. “I really missed you, cutie.”
“Thank you,” Bella said to him and kissed him on the cheek.
Just as they always had, security escorted us to our spot. It did feel good to be back. Sherman, the clubs manager, sent over a complimentary bottle of bubbly and it seemed like old times.
It didn’t take long for the ballers to pour into Sensations that night. I noticed this chick walking around like she owned the place; I wasn’t mad at her though, she was working the hell out of this bad-ass white Gucci pants suit. She gave me a knowing look as she passed, hot on the tail of this up and coming actor.