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“
Well, you should go talk to her.”

Jordin looked up at her again.

“
No. You think so?”

“
Hell yeah,” he urged. “You only get one shot. Can’t miss your moment, Jordin.” Jordin figured she’d take his advice and go for it.

He watched her as she stood and confidently sashayed over to the circle of older and prestigious black women. She was beaming the entire time, and he saw how the women halted their conversation and gave Jordin their attention. He watched as she interacted, so demure and so charming. She smiled a lot, gracefully touching their arms when she spoke, tilted her head slightly while listening to seem attentive, Jordin carried herself well Julez noted. After the group shared a long laugh, Jordin made her way back over to the table with a Kool-Aid smile.

‘
Oh my god!’ she mouthed.

“
I take it that went well.”

“
Better than well, I owe you a million times for bringing me here,” she revealed excitedly.

“
I owe you a million times for coming,” he admitted truthfully. Julez thought of how he’d never had this much fun at one of these events and he had been wondering if they had done something different, but he realized it was the company that he was keeping. He didn’t even want to think about the fact that he may have not enjoyed himself as much if Jordin were Noelle right now. He excused himself when a potential client heading for the door interrupted his thoughts.

“
That’s right,” Jordin said after him. “Don’t miss your moment!”

The minute he left, Kira began to talk to her again; basic things like hair products and shoes until they were picking at their desserts and it seemed to be time to leave. Kira stood, knowing it was time to go since her boyfriend looked like he was nodding off.

“
It was really nice meeting you Jordin,” she said. “I know that Noelle is your friend, and I know that she doesn’t care for me, but I don’t know, maybe we can hang out sometime?”

Jordin smiled lightly.

“
It was nice meeting you too, Kira. But to correct you, Noelle is my
best
friend. And no offense at all, but I don’t think we can hang out.” The way she said it wasn’t rude, only truthful, and Kira had to respect it.

“
I understand, you’re a loyal friend. But maybe you shouldn’t uhm…trust Noelle’s opinion so much. She may not be the best judge of character.”

Jordin became instantly serious.

“
Please Kira, don’t insult my friend.”

Kira nodded and grabbed her clutch, heading out behind her man. But as she was about to walk off, she doubled back and leaned down to Jordin’s ear…

“
You know, I like you Jordin.” She looked her in the eyes seriously before she continued. “Just, be careful. Keep your friends close... and keep your enemies… well, you know the rest.”

Jordin matched her stare unblinkingly.

“
Goodnight Kira.”

Kira stood up, smiled, and shook her head like she knew something that Jordin didn’t.

“
Goodnight Jordin.”

And then she walked off, leaving Jordin wondering what the hell Kira was talking about.

The Bold and the Beautiful

It was around a quarter after 1 am when the limo pulled up to Julez’s home. He got out first, still laughing from he and Jordin recapping the night, and he helped her out of the car.

“
Nah yo, but I don’t understand that shit. Where the fuck was that lady’s rhythm? Like what beat was playing in her head when she was doing them crazy ass dances?”

Jordin laughed so hard she doubled over, recalling the old white woman dancing wild when they played “Low” by Flo-rida.

“
She was in a whole ‘nother world, a whole different planet!” Jordin added as they walked toward the front door. Jordin couldn’t remember having this much fun in a long time, she was glad that Noelle had convinced her to go.

“
Oh my god, hilarious!” She exclaimed, as they walked up the steps. Their laughs subsided and Julez took out his key, about to slide it into the lock until he looked over at Jordin. It was like, once he put that key in the door and they went inside, the night was over. And he wasn’t sure if he wanted it to be.

“
I had a lot of fun tonight,” he admitted to her, still avoiding opening the door.

“
Hey, I’m supposed to say that.” She spoke softly, punching him playfully on the arm, and then she flashed him a smile. A smile so bright, he had to look away. Look away, and just open the door, and go inside. And that’s what he did.

As he pushed the door open, Noelle’s voice greeted him and brought his attention to the couch.

“
Hey papi! Wow, you guys are back already?” Noelle was chipper, and Slim was sitting beside her coolly,
‘Love Jones’
playing on the large flat screen.

“
Fuck is y'all up to?” Julez immediately asked, and Noelle couldn’t believe it. She looked down at herself and over at Slim briefly to make sure they were not touching, that his pants were re-buckled and her clothes were on proper.

“
Wh-What you mean? We’re watching a movie.” Her voice was filled with a false innocence, and Slim just looked up nonchalantly, with no answer. He was trying his best to not react on instinct and square up with dude, so he figured he'd take the backseat and lay low, letting Noelle deal with her husband.

Julez stepped up, his body rigid, and he threw his keys down onto the table with force. Jordin stood behind him, thinking that he was over reacting, although she did feel a slight knot in her stomach. But hey, she had just spent the whole evening laughing and smiling and dancing with Julez and that was innocent… or was it? She looked on, back and forth between Noe and Slim, but it all seemed very innocent. They weren’t even really close by each other.

“
I thought you were sick?” Julez knew the scene seemed like nothing, but she had told him she couldn’t go out with him, and here she was watching a fucking movie with Slim.

“
I
was
papi, but I felt a little better when I woke up so I came down to watch a movie. Slim just got in.”

Slim stood up and made his way over to Jordin, nodding at Julez. Julez nodded back and took a deep breath to tide his temper. Maybe he was over-reacting. Slim rested his hands on Jordin’s waist, taking in how good she looked.

“
Damn, J. Look at you…you really pulled out the guns tonight, huh?” He ran his hand over her curve hugging dress. Julez cut his eyes and plopped down on the couch.

Noelle wondered if Slim thought Jordin looked sexy and if he was jealous that she’d gone out with Julez, and the thought now made her jealous. She chimed in.

“
I know right, it looks like she’s losing weight.” That was a stab and Noelle knew it, but she couldn’t help it, her claws came out for a moment. She felt bad when she noticed Jordin’s face drop. “Did you guys have fun?” She asked, trying to save her crude comment.

“
Yeah,” Jordin answered with a little sass in her voice. She rolled her eyes briefly and looked at Slim. “You coming to bed?”

“
Nah, I gotta make a run somewhere.”

Jordin squinted her eyes in confusion.

“
I thought you just came in?”

“
Yeah,” he answered firmly. “And now I gotta go back out. I’ll be back.” He kissed her on the cheek and headed for the door and Jordin sighed, fed up. Noelle watched as he left out to the streets, and she was sad that their time was over.

“
Well, I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” Jordin slowly started up the stairs, beginning to feel the tire from the night, and then she turned. “And thanks, Julez.” She had little to no words for Noe tonight.

Julez glanced up at her briefly, but couldn’t look for too long. He didn’t know why.

“
No problem.”

When she was all the way up the stairs, Noelle turned to Julez.

“
So, was it as boring as I think it was?” She asked giggling. Julez shrugged, loosened up his tie, and unbuttoned his top two buttons of his crisp designer dress shirt.

“
Uh, nah. It was alright…it was cool.” Noelle moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slim was so sexy but so was her husband, and he was still the king.

“
Mmm, cool huh? And what was that about, when you came in? Tripping over a movie.” She wanted to feel him out and remove any doubt from his mind if there was any there.

“
I was just asking what was going on. If you came in and me and Jordin was sitting close and shit, watching a movie, you would ask too. Don’t lie Noe, I know you.”

Noelle sucked her teeth and chuckled.

“
Please Julez!” She yelled, getting a little loud. “
I’m
the one who told you to take Jordin tonight to the party. I would not care about you watching a harmless movie with anybody. And… I mean, please…
Jordin
?” She laughed obnoxiously.

Julez shot his eyes at her.

“
What you mean
Jordin?
What’s wrong with Jordin?” He couldn’t believe he had asked that. He wanted to smack the shit outta himself.

Noelle raised her eyebrows at him.

“
Well, first of all…she’s pretty but she’s for one, a little, I don’t know... thick, not even your type. And for two, she’s my best friend. I just wouldn’t be worried about Jordin. But no, nothing’s
wrong
with Jordin, no nothing at all. Especially according to you, the way you said that. Wow Julez, where did that come from?’

He shook his head and ran his hand over his face, not wanting to get into this.

“
I’m just saying, you sounded a little… I don’t know, shallow. I mean that’s your friend, it just sounded like you were playing her out.”

Noelle sucked her teeth and faced the movie, her arms crossed in front of her, mad that he called her out.

“
Well no, I wasn’t. I’m just saying, I would never worry about you guys. And the whole purpose of this conversation was to show you that I would not trip over you watching a damn movie with somebody!”

Julez threw his hands up and stood, tired of her fussing.

“
I wasn’t tripping. I’m going to bed.”

“
You
was
tripping, and whatever, bye!” He started for the steps and Noelle called to him, angry.

“
Oh so what, you don’t want no pussy tonight? You not gonna ask me, you not gonna try me, like you been doing?” She was not only guilty, but also shocked that he hadn’t attempted any physical contact.

“
I’m tired Noe,” he mumbled, and then he headed up the steps. And as Noelle was left wondering why he didn’t want to fuck, Julez was scratching his head wondering the same thing his damn self.