Page 52 of Grown
“Anyway, I better get back. Korey’s probably looking for me.”
Derrick cocks his head to the side, a question on his lips.
“You... with him?”
“Nah, no. We just, uh, sing together... like Marvin Gaye and Tammi. They weren’t together in real life either.”
He shrugs. “Well, looks like your boy has his hands full anyways.”
Across the room, Korey is whispering in a girl’s ear. Not just any girl. Amber. The one with the gold curly hair from theMusic LIVEaudition. She’s in a tight sequined green dress, shimmering like a mermaid’s tail. Her giggle is unnerving.
“Um, yeah,” I say, my voice fading. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Derrick.”
“Word. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”
On the way back to the VIP area, I text Gab, hoping she’ll be up. I need advice on how to handle girls creeping up on myman. Jay was popular in his neighborhood, and Gab had to put several girls in their place.
“Hey, Enchanted, hold up!” Derrick chases after me. “You left your purse.”
“Oh! Thanks.”
“No prob,” he says, touching my arm before jogging back to the bar.
When I look up, Korey is staring, his eyes stone-cold. I give him a smile.
He doesn’t smile back.
Chapter 36
Ice Bucket
On the way back to the hotel, I’m invisible. Well, at least to Korey.
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
He ignores me, glaring out the window of the Suburban. My stomach in knots, I bite the inside of my cheek until I draw blood, trying to figure out what went wrong as we take the elevator up to the penthouse.
Inside, I trail behind him, keeping a distance, then kick off my shoes, toes throbbing.
“Korey, what’s wrong? Can you talk to me? Please?”
A shadow crosses his face, eyes ten shades darker.
“What the fuck were you doing talking to some other man right in front of me?”
I blink twice. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act stupid!” he screams. “You know what I’m talking about.”
An unfamiliar panic rises in my throat as I replay the evening.
“Do you mean Derrick?”
He stares at me, face contorting, almost unrecognizable in anger.
“That’s Richie’s son! Your friend. I was making conversation. There was no one else to talk to. Plus, you were busy.”
“Don’t give me your bullshit excuses!”
