pocket of Kaiâs jean skirt.
âI mean,â Kai said, letting out a heavy breath, âlet it be a one-time thing.â
Red drew away from her, his bright eyes momentarily falling dark.
âYou mean not do it again?â
Kai shook her head.
âBut it was good, Kai, too good. You trying to tell me you wasnât feeling it?â
âI was feeling it, I was. Iâ¦.â
Kai broke into a smile and stepped away from Red.
âWhatâs up, baby? How you?â she asked, giving a short, dreadlocked man a hug.
âChillinâ,â he whispered, placing a kiss full on her mouth. âYouâre looking scrumptious.â
âThanks, baby.â
Kai could feel Redâs frustration building behind her. She turned and rested her hand on Redâs wrist. Her other hand was linked in the crook of Beyâs elbow.
âRed, Bey. Bey, this is Red.â
Bey grunted a nondescript greeting in Redâs direction. Red crossed his arms and slid a hard glance over Beyâs body.
âAlright sis, I see youâre busy,â Bey said, returning Redâs challenge with a brief display of menace.
Kai let a guilty smile slip across her lips.
âIâmma be at the other side of the bar, so come check me when youâre done,â Bey said, dismissing Red with a flick of his eyes.
âYeah, a lil later,â she murmured and watched Bey saunter away.
âKai, I donât get you,â Red said as soon as Bey was out of earshot.
Kai whipped around to face Red.
âWhat?â
âYou chasing after niggas who wonât give you the time
of day. That dude was in here ignoring you the night I met you. Iâm all up in your ass and you donât want nothing to do with me.â
Kai leaned back and put her hands on her hips.
âI donât know you, Red. I spent one night with you. One.â
âAnd how many nights you spent with him?â
Kai let out an irritated sigh.
âWhatâs your point?â
Kai didnât hear Redâs point. While he was arguing his case, she felt a hand squeeze her shoulder. She turned and dropped a little exclamation of delight from her lips. Red watched as Kai fell into some manâs embrace without even saying, âexcuse me.â Her head was tilted back as she giggled, laughing flirty words into this new manâs ear, behaving as if Red wasnât in the middle of a conversation with her. Behind Kaiâs back, Red nodded a cold greeting to the stranger. The stranger raised his eyebrow and inclined his head just briefly enough for Red to know that he had seen him. Within seconds Red could hear the man saying good-bye. As soon as the stranger turned away, Red grabbed Kai by the arm and dragged her into the restroom. He slammed the door and locked it.
âSo you donât want to fuck with me?â Red asked.
âNo,â said Kai. âI donât.â
Red turned away from Kai and hung his hands on top of his head. Kai leaned against the door and trained her eyes on the dirty vinyl floor.
âKai, I done slept with a million women, so I know what itâs like when itâs good. I know when I find somebody who can really ride with me, and you take me there, Kai. The way you were riding meâ¦.â
Kai held up her hand for Red to stop. Visions of her sitting on Redâs lap, one foot on the restroom trash can, the other hugging the porcelain of the toilet, invaded her mind. Red saw the look on her face and moved in close.
âYou were with me, Kai, I can see it on your face. Why are you denying it?â
Kai wouldnât speak. She let her eyes drift up to Redâs. His face hovered just inches from hers. In the silence, she felt his hands go to her waist, his mouth go to her throat. She let out a breath of tension.
âRed, just stop.â
Red pulled his lips away from Kaiâs neck.
âKai, you know you like it.â
âI like it, OK. I like it.