Page 27 of Color Me Broken
“Okay,” Tasha agreed, and the phone went dead.
Shyann tossed the phone onto the bed and stretched out like a cat. A genuine smile spread across her face. This was perfect. Tasha was leaning on her for support. And Juelz was trapped, doing whatever she said and whenever she said. She had them both exactly where she wanted them. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text from her cousin.
Kenya:
So???
Shyann smirked, typing back a reply.
Shyann:
I gave that nigga the best head he probably ever had. Bitch!
A moment later, her phone rang.Shyann answered, putting it on speaker as she walked into the bathroom.
“Hey, girl.”
“So, you’re really going through with this, I see,” Kenya said, her voice a mix of awe and disapproval.
Shyann turned on the shower, the sound of spraying water filling the small room. “You know, when I want somethin’, I go to extremes to get it. And that nigga Juelz, got a big ass dick, too. The nerve of Tasha keepin’ all that to herself.”
“Oh my goodness! Shy, you are a mess,” Kenya laughed. “I would hate to be your friend. I’ll have to tap your ass.”
Shyann sat on the edge of the tub, watching the steam fog the mirror. “Hoe! Don’t act all innocent. You the one who gave me the fuckin’ video to put this shit into play.”
“Umm… I didn’t forget,” Kenya’s tone sobered. “But don’t ask me to do nothing like that again, Shy. I can’t be putting my job on the line for you?—”
“Look, I don’t wanna hear all that right now, Kenya,” Shyann said, cutting her off. “I just had a good night, and you really blowin’ the fuck outta me. So I’ma hang up now before I say some shit that ends our cousinship.”
She ended the call before Kenya could reply, dropping the phone onto a dry towel. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over her. She didn’t feel guilty. She felt powerful. And she was just getting started.
One week later,Tasha, Niyah, and Shyann were at the hottest bar in town. Even though it was Thursday, the bar was still crowded. Girls dancing, heavy smoke in the atmosphere, distant chatter throughout the bar. It was exactly what Tasha needed. She nursed her drink, the rim of her glass cold against her lips. Niyah sat across from her, phone in hand, probably texting, checking on the kids, and half-listening to what Shyann was talking about.
“Bitchhh, I told y’all the bartender here was cute as hell,” Shyann said, tapping her nails on the counter. “Shit, if I wasn’t in a situationship, I’ll let him mix me a lil’ bit.”
Tasha rolled her eyes but forced a smile, swirling her straw in the glass. “Girl, you say that about all the bartenders. Just soyour ass can get free drinks. But I ain’t mad at ya. Do you boo-boo.”
“Well, they all fine when you drunk. Just squint one eye, you’ll see,” said Shyann, squinting her eye. She leaned over the counter, batting her lashes at the bartender. “Hey, Mr. Bartender… you wanna go back to my room?”
Right on cue, Tasha and Niyah burst out in unison, dragging the words to Silk out. “My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my….rooooom.”
The whole table hollered, heads turning from adjacent seats, even the cute bartender cracked a grin. Shyann swatted at them both, laughing but still trying to look serious. “Yall play too much. I was being for real, for real.”
“Sure, you are, Shy. You’re always being for real, for real,” said Niyah, sipping her amaretto sour drink.
Tasha slapped Niyah on the shoulder. “Nah, let her cook. She been tryna find a man ever since that other nigga ghosted her months ago.”
“First of all, Tasha. That nigga didn’t ghost me,” Shyann shot back. “He just… went to prison. There’s a difference.”
The table fell out with laughter again. The bartender slid another round over with a grin. “This one on the house, ladies,” he said.
“Oooh, see? Tasha pointed with her straw. “Hedefinitelywants you, Shy. Look how he tryna win you over.”
The bartender leaned over the counter, whispering for only the three of them could hear. “To be honest, ladies…. I want the same thing y’all girls want. Ya dig.”
Shyann almost choked on her drink at the revelation. “Dug!” She faced Niyah and Tasha, frowning. “Damn all that good meat ‘gon to waste.”
Once again, Tasha and Niyah looked at each other, and in unison, they said.“Literally!”
