Page 5 of A Minute Past Midnight

“Cornell got them settled in,” I heard Drew say behind me. I turned to him after taking my drink and nodded. “What's the play?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll know by the time I get in there.”

Drew grew quiet.

I knew when he went mute, he’d already made up in his mind that they weren't walking up out of here. Drew was my shooter. Always the ‘never ask, shoot first’ type. Once you crossed either of us, your life was on a short countdown.

Very short.

I had to remind my homie that we weren't in the streets no more. That every move we made from now on had to be calculated before we executed.

I chuckled lightly. “Calm down, brodie.”

He smirked. “I am calm. That’s the problem.”

“This is our busin⁠—”

“I know, fam. I just hate goofy shit. Like, these niggas don't think before they do shit, and it makes me irate. I hear you though, bro. I’m following your lead.”

I nodded, then my eyes caught the sight of a woman at the end of the bar. It wasn't just that she was beautiful in every sense of the word, but I could see the stress written on her face as if it belonged in a dictionary. I saw the familiarity all too well.

Before I knew it, I was headed in her direction.

“Where you going?” Drew asked.

“Give me two minutes, and I'll be ready,” I told him. In the eight seconds it took for me to get to her, I had already assessed her from head to toe. She wore a navy-blue dress that clung to her thick frame, with silver flat sandals on her feet.

Her hair was in bohemian locs with half of it pulled up into a ponytail. She wore red lipstick and subtle jewelry. Her drink rested in her palm, but the vacant look in her eyes pulled me toward her.

“You're in a club full of strangers, good music flowing, looking like a goddess, but you look like you're over the night already. Are you not enjoying yourself?” I asked as her eyes assessed me.

She looked away with a subtle smile on her face. “I’m trying to. I'm sure by drink number three, I'll start to feel it.”

“Samir,” I said, extending my palm to her.

“Juliana,” she replied, placing her hand in mine. I noticed that her nails were bare as well as her toes. Pretty and soft but bare.

“I hear a bit of an accent. Where are you from?”

“A small town in Tennessee. Jonesborough.”

“Gotcha. Lisa!” I called out to the bartender.

“What's up, Mr. Frost?”

“Give Miss . . . It is Miss, right?”

“It is.”

“Give Miss Juliana here whatever she desires. It's on me tonight.”

“You got it, sir.”

“That's not necessary.”

“It may not be for you, but it is for me. I’m trying to get to know you and want you well taken care of to show you what it would be like if this goes any further.”

She smirked. “I’m flattered that you want to get to know me, but I have no room to date anyone right now, especially someone of your status.”