Free Jaded 2: Broken Love Series by Renee Tyler Page B

people’s husbands. You know me. I just go after wallets. Please just don’t be mad at me. Please let’s just talk about it later, and try to enjoy the night. I told him so much about you. He was so excited to meet you. He’s already meet Marcus. He knows the two of you are the most important people in my life. I just want ya’ll to get along.” She looks at me, pleading for me to understand something that I just can’t relate to. I’m so mad at her right now that if Calvin’s wife comes in here, I’d probably take my time helping Charity if she decided to beat her ass. I know Charity loves clothes and money. I didn’t think she’d stoop so low as to date a married man to receive the lavish gifts she enjoys so much.
    When her eye’s fill with tears pleading for my understanding, my anger turns to disappointment. When the tears fall, I’m hugging her telling her I love her no matter what. I mean that - Charity and Marcus have become very close to me in a short time. She’s like the sister I always wanted. She’s always understanding with me and isn’t jealous like my cousin Karen, who’s the only girl besides Tonya that I’ve been close to. Tonya was ten years my senior and though she’s a great friend, I wasn’t able to connect to her in the same way that I’ve connected to Charity and Marcus.
    After I helped Charity fix her make-up, we wandered back into VIP where Calvin was pouring champagne flutes of Ace of Spades, and passing them out. He handed Charity then me a glass. He pulls Charity into him and kisses her on her neck, then walks her to the glass partition that affords the second floor VIP a view of the dance floor below. Seeing his interaction with her, I can see that he cares for my friend. However, I still couldn’t get over the uncomfortableness of knowing that he’s married. Several members of his entourage attempted to gain my attention and engage in conversation with me. However, I was too sober for my mood to loosen up. After downing my champagne, I know I’m going to need something stronger. I look over and see that Charity and Calvin are still hugged up, and he only has bottles of cognac and champagne. All the waitresses are busy with other VIPs, so I decide to make my way to the bar for a vodka-mixed concoction. 
    I look over to the bar that’s in VIP, then look at the bar downstairs. The one downstairs actually has fewer patrons, so I weave through the drones of people, ignoring the constant grabs at my elbow and the attempts to gain my attention. I only have one goal in mind. Get to the bar and get several cups of liquor into my system. When I finally make it to the bar, I momentarily wonder how badly it would look if I tried to walk back to VIP with three drinks in my hand. I decide against it and settle on ordering two glasses of coconut Cîroc with pineapple juice. When the bartender returns with my two drinks, I hear “Put that on my tab.” I turn to see Chris smiling down at me. Chris is the manager to the famous Grammy award-winning rapper Cedric. Cedric is on Troy’s label Boulevard Records. Chris has been trying to get me interested in him for months. I don’t know when Chris is going to get it through his head that I’m not impressed with money. I don’t know how he keeps up with my frozen coffee tab at the café at work, but he does. I haven’t had to pay for my iced coffee habit in months, thanks to Chris somehow starting a tab.
    “Thanks, but I had it. Especially since I haven’t had to pay for an iced coffee or muffin in months,” I say, and immediately take a long sip of my drink. Nodding my head at the perfect mix of alcohol and pineapple juice, I place a tip in the bartenders’ glass. Chris looks at the two drinks I’m holding.
    “You trying to turn up, huh beautiful?” I look up at the VIP section and see that Charity is still hugged up, so I decide to entertain Chris for a moment.
    “What brings you here?” I ask. Ignoring his question, he points