4. June

FOUR

"Got damn, bitch! I didn't know Sapphire City had fine ass niggas like this." Merci elbowed Candi as they passed a group of men.

They were at the park, ready to see what the city truly offered. Candi could've done without the night out but she promised her friend she would step out with her. It had been months since she found herself surrounded by temptation. The place she was in in her life, this just wasn't her scene anymore. However, she'd be a liar if she didn't admit it felt good to do something besides therapy and work. That was all her life consisted of. She did her hair and nails, so salon trips weren't even a thing for her anymore.

Playfully rolling her eyes to the setting sun Candi gave in. "I mean, they look all right."

"Bitch, please. What that nigga look like that got your car fixed? You 'round here holding out on me, acting like you ain't still the Candi that was known to get anything out of these niggas. The Candi I know didn't mind running these men's pockets," Merci accused while side-eyeing her friend.

It was true. The old Candi was a gullible trick who sold her body to the highest bidder. She was also an addict who used sex to cope with her childhood trauma of being used and abused by her mama's husband. The Candi Merci spoke of had no self-respect or morals. She fucked behind friends, men—hell, anyone. She put on shows with her friend and would've probably slept with her sister if the price was right.

The truth was vile. Thoughts of how she used to operate always left a sour taste in her mouth. Therapy taught her to embrace what was real. It didn"t matter if she didn't like the god-awful truth about herself. The nastiness she felt, her therapist taught her to use that as motivation for never going back. That and solitude helped her push through the trauma she felt on a daily basis.

She didn't want to be that reckless girl anymore. Sapphire City was supposed to be a fresh start where no one knew her. It was the ground zero Dr. Joy talked about. However, Merci's words didn't seem to match up with that.

Candi needed a drink so badly that her mouth watered. She could taste it. Being surrounded by temptation no longer felt like the best situation for her to be in. The pep talk she had with herself seemed to be null and void as she made her way through a world she used to love.

A journal and a quiet place were needed before she freaked out. Succumbing to the temptation wasn't an option for her—something else therapy had taught her. She was stronger than she knew.

Merci was oblivious to the meltdown her friend was so close to having. "Oh, let's make our way over there where them niggas playing the old school slow jams. They look fine from where I'm at. Come on." She grabbed Candi's hand, trying her best not to look like they were running in that direction.

Candi, on the other hand, was counting in her head. She was ready to go. She needed to make her exit before she gave in just because. Maybe hanging with Merci wasn't such a good idea. It would only be one night. What would it hurt? she thought. In her own world of temptation, she wasn't paying attention to where her friend was taking her. She inhaled a familiar scent, and long arms wrapped around her.

That quiet place she needed seemed to find her. In his arms, everything disappeared. Even his horrible singing.

"I just wanna be the one you come and give all your love make a nigga take all your love," Jay sang in her ear as Jagged Edge blasted from his car's sound system. "I got the kind of love you don't get tired of."

Jay's friend, Banks, hyped him up as he rocked Candi in his arms, turning his Southern charm up to the max.

As if he knew she needed to be pulled from her tortured world, Jay spun her around, pulling the biggest smile from her. He loved the way her eyes tightened from smiling so big.

Candi giggled as her stomach bubbled from the swarm of butterflies he gave her. And he didn't stop. Not when they became the center of attention. Not when phone cameras flashed. He didn't stop when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Her face hurt from smiling so wide. "Jayshun!" She tried to pull away to catch her breath but he wasn't letting her go. Her body melted into him perfectly—like ice cream on a summer day.

As the song faded out, Jay directed her to the front of his car, making sure to situate her between his legs.

"Was all that called for?" Candi asked while trying to create some distance.

"I'm the type of nigga to follow his intuition. Stop trying to break the bond, Candi," he fussed when she tried to break free again.

"What bond?"

"And who is this?" Merci interrupted with crossed arms, standing in front of Candi with her lips twisted to the side.

Blushing so hard, Candi wanted to crawl under his car to keep from explaining to her friend how Jay was the Jayshun she'd told her about. The man who made her body do weird shit. The man she wanted to break her fake celibacy for.

Extending his hand, Jay showed off his open-face grill with a smile. "I'm her future but you can call me Jay." His eyes went back to Candi. "You will only call me Jayshun."

Merci fanned herself before placing her hand inside his. "Well, it is nice to meet you, Jay."

"I'm Banks, baby. What's your name?" Banks" long and lanky body was sprawled out on the hood of his car, which was parked next to Jay's.

He was pecan tan with long locs he wore in a messy bun at the top of his head. His lineup was fresh and connected to the full beard that looked well-groomed. The diamonds in his ears twinkled under the lights and the watch on his wrist looked expensive.

Merci eyed him from his designer sneakers to the bun on his head. Liking what she saw, she decided to take the bait. "I'm Merci."

"Merci, huh? You ain't from here, are you?" Banks asked, removing a blunt from behind his ear.

"Nope!" Merci's glossy lips popped. "I'm from Jade City, the best city."

"That can't be true," Jay commented, with his arms still wrapped around Candi. It felt right and he had no plans of letting her go anytime soon. "'Cause if that was true you wouldn't be here, ain"t it?" His slightly sunken-in eyes gazed into hers.

"Where are you from?" His accent was different, and she hadn't heard it before. Merci had to admit, that not only was Jay fine as hell, but his deep, southern voice was a major turn-on. She could see why Candi hadn't said a peep when he pulled her in his arms.

"Bama," Jay revealed.

Candi's body shook from him talking so close to her ear.

"And you?" Merci asked Banks, who offered her the weed that she accepted.

"I'm from here. Sapphire City until I die." He lifted his shirt to give her a peek at the words sprawled across his stomach.

Merci couldn"t care less about his stomach or tattoos. She wanted to see what that V in his torso led to. Licking her lips, she winked at him, causing him to blush, which was comical.

"You smoke, Magic?" Jay asked, ready to light up himself.

"Who is Magic?" Merci looked around.

"Me." Candi grinned, loving anything Jay called her. "No, I don't smoke." She wanted to add her reasoning but wasn't ready to kill the fantasy he had of her. Her therapist had suggested cannabis but she wasn't ready yet. Especially not in a park full of people. Seemed too familiar.

Pointing between the two of them, Merci asked, "But where did that little name come from?"

"Look at her, big, cat-like eyes, skin dark and shiny—a pretty little black cat. Magical and shit," Jay admired her while running the tips of his fingers down her exposed arms.

Candi was grateful she had worn a racerback dress. It gave him access to her skin and his hands on her felt amazing. Lust bumps prickled her skin, and her center created a rhythm of its own. Swallowing hard, she avoided her girl's silly grin. Being wrapped up in Jay silenced the world. It felt like they were at the park all alone. The mix of different music coming from people's cars was silenced. His voice was all she heard—all she wanted to hear.

Jay removed his hands from her body to fire up his personal blend of exotic weed. Inhaling deeply, he turned his head away from her to blow out the smoke.

"My boy over there simpin'," Banks jested, loving the look on his friend.

He had front-row seats to the way Jay was weak for Luna. Which also meant he had backstage passes to the breakup. He was a producer that Jay put in contact with Luna when she first wanted to take her songwriting to another level. The move not only opened the door for her but Banks as well. He would forever feel indebted to his longtime partner, and because of that, he'd always wish for the best situation for him.

Marci shook her body like she was shaking off snow. "Woo! I would be draggin' that nigga down the aisle if I was you, friend."

"Damn, you ain't trying to drag me down that muthafucka?" Banks played hurt with his hand on his heart.

Shaking her head, Marci kept shit real. "You ain't gave me no damn nickname or looked at me the way he looking at my girl. What you see when you look at me, Banks?" She fluttered her extra-long lash extensions.

"Some fuckin' wings on your damn eyes." Banks laughed, making the rest of them do the same.

Playfully, Merci swung at him. "Nigga, please."

"I mean, you fine, no lie, but that's all I see. That and a fat ass. Is it real?"

"Come feel it and see," Merci flirted. She had no shame in her game. If the night went right, she wouldn't mind bending over to let Banks dig her out.

Candi thought about how that was once her. Maybe it still was her because she had no issues with ending her night under Jay. If he asked or initiated, she would be puddy.

Merci and Banks fell into their little conversation while Candi wanted to get in Jay's shirt with him. Dressed up in a designer button-up that was unbuttoned with denim shorts that were covered in patches, rhinestones, and pearls, he looked great and smelled better. People came up to him to show love and the girls called his name flirtatiously. He wasn't moved and never left from up under her.

"You good?" Jay whispered in her ear while his left hand rested on her flat stomach.

Candi nodded probably from a contact high from the many blunts he'd smoked. He was now sipping on some brown liquor and chewing on gum. Every time he smacked his lips together, she envisioned him munching on her coochie like that.

"Talk to me, Magic. You ready to head in?"

"I'm not going to leave Merci and she doesn't look like she's ready to call it a night, yet." Candi looked at her friend, who was bent over, shaking ass for Banks. They seemed to be compatible with the unseriousness they both seemed to possess.

Jay laughed when Banks did the Dougie behind Merci. "She's in good hands though. I promise you that. If you ready to head in, we 'bout to head in."

"We?" She looked over her shoulder.

"Hell yea, we. I ain't letting you out my sight ever again. These last three days have been hell without you."

"How so? You know where I live, so if you wanted to see me, you would've. Plus, I work with your mama," Candi said with an attitude. One thing she wasn't going to do was play games with Jay. She'd been undervalued all her life when it came to niggas. The woman she wanted to be wasn't going for it.

"You clammed up on me the last time so I wanted to give you some space, but if you tell me, I can come full speed, I swear I will." Jay had turned her around to face him. He needed her to look in his eyes and see he was telling the truth. With Luna, he moved off feelings, and although he was let down in the end, he wasn't going to switch it up. Candi felt good. She felt right, so he was going to build off that. If it worked out, cool. If not, he didn't mind starting over. "I just want your smile to touch your eyes. Give me a chance, Magic." High and tipsy mixed with his Bama slang, his words blended like a rapper.

Licking her lips, Candi decided to throw caution to the wind too. "I'm ready to go."

"With me?" His thick brows rose.

"With you, Jayshun."

"Aye, Banks, we 'bout to head out. Merci came with her so she coming with us too. You drove?" he asked, looking down at Candi. She shook her head no.

Merci smiled big at her friend, letting her hair down for once in months. After rehab, Candi had become a shell of the person Merci was used to. She knew it was for the better but still wanted her young friend to experience life—experience love. "Shit, I'm going with Banks."

"Damn right, she is. Get in and I'll drive you to your car so you can follow me." Banks slapped hands with Jay. "Be safe, my boy."

"Always, nigga. Aye, Merci, make sure you check in with Candi so she can know you good."

Merci blushed. "Look at you being a stand-up nigga."

"I'm the best nigga, ain"t it?" Jay smiled down at Candi, who only nodded. She was willing to agree with anything that came out of his mouth.

Candi and Merci hugged each other and let the other know their location was on. As Candi made her way to the passenger seat, she got nervous. Shaking it off, she prayed her night didn't turn out bad. Her gut told her it was going to be perfect, but since when was her gut ever right?