With fortitude, I chuckled, much to myself before speaking. “If you mean in the pole sense, no. I practice the artistic form of it. No dollars involved,” I said calmly yet directly.
You could hear a pin drop. Lord, keep me from snatching this broad from across the table! Syn was probably only a hundred and five pounds—soaking wet. I knew I could drop her quickly.
“Man…Syn, shut the fuck up before you find yo’ ass in sum shit you ‘on’t wanna be in,” Kid barked, giving her the look of death. Syn, unmoved, slowly rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth.
“I’m just saying,” she hissed, suddenly ruffled by now at Kid’s verbal discipline. Her girls giggled in the background. I’m sure it was at my expense. Azmir’s face was set in a scowl. I really didn’t want a scene.
“What da fuck is you sayin’—Divine girl is a fuckin’ go-go dancer? Is you crazy! Don’t fuckin’ try to come up in here fuckin’ up the cipher and embarrassing me. You can take yo’ trick ass friends…or cousins and drive y’all ass back up to the Watts!” Kid was obviously livid and it made me incredibly uncomfortable.
I don’t know where the thought came from, but before I knew it I announced, “This brings me back to an idea I’d already had. I would like to invite you to my show next weekend. It’s a fundraiser and all proceeds will go to dance lessons for underprivileged children by my dance coach. It would be great if you all could join Azmir.”
I knew Azmir wouldn’t approve because he was almost as private a person as I was when it came to our relationship, but I didn’t care. I felt like I had something to prove at this point. This was clearly Azmir’s inner circle and I was attempting acceptance on both sides—mine and theirs.
“Rayna, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone at this table. One of us seems to have lost our manners, but that’ll be handled immediately. I’m sure of that,” Azmir vowed, looking directly at Syn whose face was ashen in fear. He was trying to give me an out.
“No,” I shook my head. “This is your family. I’m very comfortable with them and I would like to allow them to get to know me better,” I murmured, piercing into his examining eyes then turned my attention back to the table. “Please. You all are invited.”
“I can’t let you invite all these knuckleheads here, but some of us’ll roll through,” Petey accepted, being sure to inform The Clan that they all were not allowed to oblige even though I’d put the invite out there.
Kim nodded her head in agreement. I could tell she wanted me to know I had her support against Syn’s foolishness. She wasn’t a woman of many words, but her presence had always been strong.
“You know I’m in ‘dat mufucker, Rayna!” Chanell championed. I smiled at her enthusiasm.
I shot my eyes across the table. “The invitation is open for you, too, Syn. Maybe you can gain a little culture, aye?”
I had to clap back at her for taking that jab at me unexpectedly. She never looked at me, just kept her head in her plate. But the act of her rolling her eyes and letting out an exasperated exhale didn’t miss me. I had no idea what was her beef with me. I mean—seriously!
“Now if you good people will excuse us, I have to get the little lady home and rested for tomorrow,” Azmir bode in much of a snarl as he rose from the table. “Peace-Peace.”
His hidden brash scared me. I could tell Syn’s words did not sit well with him. I was just glad that things didn’t get out of hand.
One by one, everyone—with the exception of Syn, her crew, and Chanell’s girls—got up and exchanged farewells with Azmir. Kim gave us hugs while Petey hugged only me. Petey and Azmir exchanged a few brief and muttered words before parting ways.
We took off for the airport.