Sample Sunday: The Best Night You’ve Ever Had.
“He’s here! It’s shot o’clock,” a brown-skinned woman yelled while shoving shot glasses into our hands. We’d barely made it inside before she announced us. After handing us the shots, she disappeared into the next room. I stood in the foyer confused and overwhelmed. Future’s melodic flow reverberated throughout the penthouse Laughter and the smell of weed filled the air.
“What is this?” I looked up at Fame, unsure of what to do next.
“Knowing Nicole, it’s tequila,” he surmised, then nodded for me to follow him. We continued through the living room to the kitchen where a group of five gathered around the bar.
“Everyone, this is Heaven,” Fame said while wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
They replied with a series of, “Heys,” before returning to their conversation. My eyebrows met as I tried to make sense of the people here.
“The girl in the red is my cousin, and assistant, Nicole. These are her friends.”
“Did you bring me some food?” came from behind us, prompting Fame to turn around.
“This is Wayne, my other assistant, who is basically just collecting a check because Nic does all the work.”
“Man, whatever. Wassup,” he said to me with a nod then continued past us.
We gathered around the bar and tossed back the shots before Nicole fired off questions at Fame.
“We have the entire VIP Section tonight. Here’s the menu. Let me know what we should order.”
Fame glanced at the tablet she handed him. “How many people are coming?”
“About forty,” Wayne said while checking his phone.
“Order a few of everything,” Fame concluded.
Wayne walked over to them and reached for the tablet.
“Make sure it's enough chicken wings, because my guests like wings.”
“Boy, this is not about you,” Nicole said while pushing his shoulder.
“Listen, I don’t care what is ordered, just get it done,” Fame said with flared nostrils. “Y’all are always fighting like some little ass kids.”
Nicole rolled her eyes. “I’ll handle it.”
“We need to leave soon,” Fame said to Wayne and Nicole to which they nodded in agreement. Everyone went their separate ways as Fame made his way back to me. “You okay?”
“I’m good. This your place?”
“Yeah, Fortune and I bought it together but he just moved out.” He started walking so I followed behind him. “I’m thinking about making it my permanent spot.”
“It’s nice,” I noted as he led me back to the living room, where it was quieter.
We looked out the floor to ceiling windows onto the city below. Fame’s penthouse condo was nestled in the heart of Manhattan, with views of the Empire State Building from his living room. Everything in his place was pristine from the waxed flooring to the crystal clear windows. Even the curved ivory couch looked brand new. On the walls were plaques some gold, most were platinum. I bit the inside of my cheek hoping to have the same accolades one day.
“Look, I want you to enjoy yourself tonight,” Fame said, peering down at me. I tore my eyes away from the plaques to him. “If there’s anything you want, let Nicole know and she’ll make it happen.”
I wanted to ask why he was being so nice to me. Why did he care whether or not I enjoyed myself tonight? There was no reason for people to treat me like I mattered, unless they wanted something in return.
My ex, Quan, was to blame for this faulty thinking. He was a well-known music producer who I started dating early in my career. He would make beats in exchange for dates, and I was so naive that I didn’t think anything of it. Eventually, the dates turned into shopping sprees, and then trips. Everything happened so fast between us. I blindly handed over my career to him which caused a lot of strife between me and Puma. When I tried to take hold of the reins of my career, our relationship turned dark. Quan was as toxic as they came from physical and verbal abuse to infidelity; I went through it all with him.
During the worst of it, I found out I was pregnant. Our relationship ended shortly after. I didn’t give myself time to process what I’d been through with him because I had a child to worry about. I repressed so much of that relationship and compartmentalized the things I couldn’t forget. When the baby blues turned into full-on postpartum depression, I knew I needed to talk to someone. My therapist, Dr. Marks helped me work through my traumatic relationship, grief from losing my brother, and settling into motherhood.
If I told her about my encounter with Fame, she’d remind me that I was worthy of random acts of kindness. She’d also encourage me to have more fun. I had become such a recluse over the last few years. Getting cute and going out with my friends used to bring me so much joy.
I deserved to go out and celebrate myself.
So instead of overthinking Fame’s kind gesture, I smiled and said, “You better make it worth my while.”
Fame didn’t take my challenge lightly when he replied, “It’ll be the best night you’ve ever had.”