"the hardest part is knowing what you need, but not what you want"
Torrian | ATL
9:04pm | May 9th
"You good?"
Andre's voice pulls me out of my thoughts as I lean back on the cushioned booth seat, nursing the bourbon in my hand. The low hum of chatter surrounds us in the upscale lounge.
I glance at my younger brother, who's sitting across from me, drumming his fingers on the marble tabletop. We were here with some friends, catching up and talking shit for the past hour and a half.
"Yeah.." I reply, though the weight of everything—Brooklyn... the baby.
Matthew raises an eyebrow. "You don't sound good."
"Damn right." Andre agreed.
"Just thinking." I mutter, trying to dismiss them.
"Uh-huh." Andre smirks knowingly, tipping his glass toward me. "You've been acting weird lately. What's her name?"
"Nigga, what?" I made a face. "Not everything is about a woman, Dre."
"Bullshit." He counters. Matthew and Sean chuckled.
I don't answer, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. There's no point in telling them about Brooklyn—not yet, anyway. I don't even know how to process it myself. The one-night stand that turned into some shit i couldn't even imagine—now spiraling into a reality I'm not ready for.
Andre studies me for a moment, but when I don't take the bait, he changes the subject. "Alright, fine. You wanna be mysterious n shit, whatever, nigga. Anyway, I met this chick last week—bad as hell. Curly hair, thick as fuck. A Gemini, though."
I can't help but smirk. "You and that astrology shit again?"
"Don't play me." He says, pointing at me with his glass. "That shit's real. Geminis are crazy. But she's fine enough to risk it."
"I hope so, nigga. Good luck." I chuckle, taking another sip of bourbon.
I pull out my phone, feeling the vibration in my pocket. There's a text from my father.
Dad
Check your email
EMAIL
URGENT: Financial Reports for NY Expansion
I sigh and set the phone down. Even when I'm not at work, my father finds a way to drag me back into it.
"What is it now?" Sean asks, leaning back in his seat.
"Dad... work as always."
Andre shook his head. "Figures. I'll never work for that nigga."
"As if you could." Matthew joked, laughing.
"Fuck up." He scoffed.
Our laughter is interrupted by the waitress who swings by to check on us. She's slim, light-skinned, with long braids cascading down her back.
"Can I get you gentlemen anything else?" She asks, her tone dripping with flirtation.
Andre and Matthew sat up a little straighter, grinning. "Nah, we're good for now. But what's your name?" Matthew flirted.
She laughs softly, leaning a little closer. "It's Danielle. You need my number too, or just my name?"
His grin widens, and I shake my head at these niggas. "Just your name for now." He replies smoothly. Andre snickers, while gently hitting his side. I look over at Sean not paying them any mind while scrolling on his phone.
