Risking It All by Ambrielle Kirk Page A

a mission to have fun tonight. The only person missing was Christina. But, Julissa was sure that Christina was having more fun than all of them with her new husband in more ways than one.
    Olivia pulled into the entrance of the lounge and had her Hummer valet parked. The moment they stepped into the place, they were already movi ng to the beat of the latest hit song .
    “Brian said they got a VIP section by the bar. Let’s hurry up . I’m ready to order some drinks. ” Shanice led the way to the back of the crowded lounge and club. Folks were nearly shoulder to shoulder, conversing and dancing. There was a dance floor and a bar on the roof top, which is where they were headed. Each VIP section was no more than a rounded booth seat complete with table and was privately sectioned off with a long velvet privacy curtain. She remembered coming here with Shanice and Christina a couple months back.
    “There they are.” Shanice pointed at the guys .
    Quinton, Ed, Brian, Leroy, and Tracey were already seated with drinks in hand. They were engrossed in conversation and didn’t see them until they were in front of the table.
    “L adies…How are we?” Ed greeted them .
    “Hey, guys,” Shanice replied . “These are my friends, Olivia and Renee. You guys already know Julissa.”
    Everyone exchanged greetings. Juliss a blushed when she noticed Quinton’s eyes remained on her the whole time . She broke the glance and turned away.
    “This DJ is tight,” Renee said, bobbing her head up when yet another hit blasted the speakers . “I don’t know why you guys aren’t on the dance floor.”
    “Waitin’ for y ’a ll…,” Leroy said, suggestively eyeing all the cleavage that was purposely on display at the top of her tube top.
    “Oh, well…here we are then,” Renee shot back, smiling.
    “Well, are you guys gonna invite us to sit down or what? We didn’t come here to stand up and watch you guys sit around the table,” Julissa commented, smiling.
    “Oo ooh, well excuse us.” Ed looked down at her heels. “What? Hubby let you out the house with them four inch stripper heels you got on? That’s what’s wrong with you girls…you come to the club in ten inch heels and your feet hurt as soon as you step out the car.”
    “Ed, puhlease …number one, I have no hubby and number two, believe me when I get ready to, I can work the hell out of some heels. Believe that .”
    Her quick reply seemed to shut him up, yet he still managed a smirk.
    All three girls squeezed into the booth. Brian waved the server back over and ordered a round of drinks.
    “So, Quinton, is it? ” Renee said . “I heard that you bought some real estate here in Atlanta. Congratulations.”
    “Thank you very much. I’ve been telling the guys that it’s about time t hat I come back to my roots, where I was born and raised, so this is just th e first step .”
    “Oh, so you’re moving permanently?” Shanice asked.
    “I’m gonna give it a shot.”
    “What else do you do for a living, Quinton?” Renee asked, flirtingly.
    Everyone knew Quinton was up for grabs, so Julissa didn’t blame her.
    “I program computers.”
    “Oh, so you’re brainy sma rt,” Renee replied.
    Both Quinton and Ed laughed, as if they shared an inside joke. “Brainy smart? I f that’s what you want to call it. I’ve been into programming since high school, so I’ve been doing it for quite a long time.”
    The server bought their drinks, cutting the conversation geared toward Quinton short . As usual, Shanice and Julissa ordered a shot in addition to their favorite mixed drinks.
    “For Christina…,” Shanice and Julissa chimed together, tapping their shot glasses.
    “Who’s probably making us god mo mmies as we speak,” Shanice chimed in .
    They both giggled as they took the shots to the head, oblivious to the guys staring at them.
    “Are you two trying to drink us under the table or something?” Brian asked.
    “No, we promised to drink one for Christina if