Page 9 of Brown Sugar
My feet inch forward. I step off the dance floor with my pain-stricken heart pounding faster. So fast it fills my ears, sounding louder than any beat of music.
I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s a mistake.
It’s foolish of me. But… I can’t help it. I can’t stop myself once my feet start moving toward him and the other girl.
“Shawn?” I croak once I’m close enough.
He and the girl jerk apart, looking up at me with wide-eyed expressions. Then the shock slides off his face and healmostrolls his eyes, shaking his head instead.
“Kiki, what are you doing here?”
“It’s the Ice Lounge,” I answer, my tone strangely even. “Did you forget it’s one of the hottest spots in the city? Where all the people come after the Grammys?”
“So what? I can’t come here now ’cuz you might show up? That not allowed ’cuz you’re some superstar?”
Ouch.
The dismissiveness in his tone almost makes me flinch. I swallow against emotions rising up my throat, my skin feeling hot. “Shawn, we broke up how many hours ago?”
“You broke up with me. That means I can do what I want, right?”
“But how could you?—”
“You wanted some space. You got your wish,” he snaps, standing up. He grabs the girl’s hand to pull her up to her feet. “I’m doing me now. Let’s go, Alexis.”
I’m left blinking in shock as he and the girl get up from their table in the VIP and walk off.
Words fail me. All thoughts other than wondering if I’m dreaming.
How could he do this to me?
Have I really been this blind?
I bring a hand to my face, wishing I hadn’t listened to Amari. If I’d gone to the hotel like I wanted, I could be wallowing in private. I could be holed up in my suite ordering carts of room service as I watched chick flicks and stuffed my face with pasta and champagne.
Instead, I’m stuck in the middle of a noisy, crowded club swimming with celebrities and paparazzi. I’m reeling from the fact that my now ex-boyfriend made me look like a total fool as he walked out with the woman he was cheating on me with.
So lost I’m barely able to breathe much less think, I cut a direct path for the nearest exit. Somewhere in the distance someone calls my name. Probably Amari or Tommy tracking me down for the meeting.
I push through the crowd and keep going, paying no mind to my surroundings. The club has begun to blur, melting into somekind of deformed funhouse version of itself. But it’s not until I’m footsteps away from the side exit that it occurs to me how careless I’ve been.
…how I’ve failed to notice the hooded man that’s walked through the same door and brandished a gun to shoot up the club.
5
TYSON
Hal’s waiting for me when I turn up at the Ice Lounge.
He hasn’t changed from the last time I saw him. Shit-eating grin and all.
“Bison!” he calls out, opening his arms like we’re long lost brothers. “I was a little worried you’d stand me up.”
I dig my hands into the front of my jeans and give an indifferent shrug. “Still might. Where’s this manager we’re meeting with?”
“Inside. Tommy Tocha. Considered one of the best in the business. I used to be lucky enough to manage Kiana before he came along and snatched her away. And now look. She’s the biggest superstar in the world.” Hal turns to lead us toward the entrance. “You ever been around this many celebrities? Hope you don’t get starstruck!”
“Fuck off,” I mumble to myself as I step past the bouncers.