Spin it Like That by Chandra Sparks Taylor

to take a sip when I remembered what had happened the last time I was in a club. He didn’t look like the type to spike someone’s drink, but then I didn’t really know him.
    â€œAren’t you going to drink it?” he asked, and smiled. I realized he didn’t have his gold grill in, and he looked much better without it. His teeth were white and even, which I loved. I was a sucker for brown-skinned men with pretty teeth.
    â€œNah, I’m cool,” I said.
    â€œSmart girl,” he said, nodding in approval.
    â€œDid you put something in my drink?” I asked, relieved that I had followed my gut.
    â€œNah,” he said, shaking his head. He had on a baseball cap that was covering his eyes, but I knew they were hazel because they had shown a close-up shot of him in the interview I’d seen. “But you’re right. You don’t know me, and I respect that you decided not to drink what’s in that cup.”
    â€œWhat’s in it?” I asked.
    He grinned, and I noticed he had an adorable dimple in his left cheek. “Water.”
    I laughed and decided to trust him. I took a sip, and as he had promised, there was just water in the cup. “Thanks,” I said before I turned my attention to the music. I put on a few more songs and tried not to let it show that I was excited that he was waiting so patiently for me to finish.
    â€œI’ve been hearing a lot of good things about you,” he said when I was done.
    Before I could respond, Loretta came over and threw herself into his arms. “Triple T, I thought that was you,” she said. She gave him a big kiss on the cheek.
    I frowned. “I didn’t know you guys knew each other,” I said.
    Loretta laughed. “We don’t,” she said. “I’ve just seen him so much on television and in magazines that I feel like he’s fam.”
    Although I was glad Loretta didn’t know him, I didn’t appreciate the way she had thrown herself at T.
    He looked a little embarrassed and tried to extricate himself from the death grip Loretta had on his arm.
    â€œGirl, go sit down somewhere,” I said.
    Loretta swayed a little, and I realized she was drunk. I wondered where she’d gotten the liquor, since everything in the club was on the up-and-up—there was no sign of alcohol or drugs—but I figured I’d find out about that later.
    â€œWhy you trippin’?” she asked, slurring her words.
    â€œNo, why are you trippin’?” I asked. “You see we’re trying to have a conversation.”
    â€œWhatever,” she said. She reached into her purse and pulled out a modeling comp card that featured her in different poses and had her phone number on it, then handed it to Triple T. “If you or someone you know is ever looking for a model, look no further,” she said. She winked at him, trying to look sexy, then squeezed his bicep before walking away.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said. “That girl is crazy, but you gotta love her.”
    Triple T just laughed.
    â€œSo what are you doing here?” I asked.
    â€œI came to see you,” he said, smiling.
    â€œMe?” I asked.
    â€œYeah. I heard there was this hot DJ doing Teen Scene in Queens, so I decided to come check you out. Nobody told me how cute you are, though.”
    I blushed and glanced down at the floor. When I looked up, Kyle had stopped dancing and was staring right at me. He looked like he was about to come over, but I shook my head.
    â€œYou’re really good. You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind tonight, though,” Triple T said, drawing my attention from Kyle.
    â€œYou can tell that from my music?” I asked.
    He nodded.
    â€œWow, you’re really good. I do have some things on my mind.”
    â€œYou want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”
    â€œThat’s really nice of you,” I said. “Maybe I’ll take you