Everything That Glitters Ain't Gold, Danielle Martin [best books to read all time .TXT] 📗

Ava to examine her outfit. Ava turned to look at her. Little did she know, she had already checked her out. Jade’s dress was made from purple and white zebra-stripe print fabric.  It had a short layered skirt with a V-line waist and bell-shaped sleeves. Her friend was gorgeous in almost anything she wore but in all the honesty, the dress wasn’t Ava’s style. She didn’t dare say it out loud. “You look hot!” she complimented her.

Jade laughed while rolling her eyes, knowing Ava was being dramatic. “Sureeee… Everybody can’t wear backless dresses and look good like you do.” She referenced to Ava’s outfit, which was simple but absolutely stunning.  Ava wore a vanilla cream spaghetti strapped dress which exposed her back, hips and long curvaceous legs. Her hair was bone straight and neatly pressed falling down her back. Ava chuckled and waved her hand, brushing her off. “Whatever, your body is just as fine as mines.” They both stepped forward towards the door after the couple ahead of them proceeded inside. Ava took the initiative to step up first. “Hey ya’ll!” she spoke in a friendly tone as she waved, greeting the 4 tall security guards that stood guarding the door.   She motioned over her shoulder towards Jade walking in behind her. “This is my girl, she is with me…” she spoke confidently.

Security nodded his head and moved to the side, allowing them to proceed into the club without paying or being patted down. Ava smiled and waved over her shoulder, instructing Jade to follow her in. Together, both ladies walked up the stairs and into the main area of the club.

“I would like to get to know you baby

Like to get under your sexy body

I would like to get to know you baby

Like to get under your sexy body”

The reggae song boomed from the speakers as they entered the club. “Damn!” Ava shouted out over the music. She looked around immediately realizing how packed the place was. Filled from wall to wall. The dancefloor was filled with people and the bar had been swamped.

“Damn!” Jade echoed her while looking around. “It’s soooo many people in here!” she shouted into her ear over the music.

“I know!” Ava shouted back at her. “Come on, follow me.” She reached back and grabbed a hold of her wrist so she could not lose her in the crowd. Together, they began to walk, politely brushing past large groups of people attempting to make their way through. “Excuse me!” Ava shouted while leading the way. They walked deep into the club, pasts the main area and towards the bar. It was hot and musty inside. The typical large and spacious club felt extremely small and cramped tonight. She glanced over her shoulder, noticing Jade’s extreme discomfort. Once reaching the bar, they both emerged from the crowd and quickly walked around the counter away from the swarm of people. “Come on, we can hang out back here.” They both walked to a clear area behind the bar.

“Damn, Hazel, you didn’t tell me it’s crowded like this in here….” Jade spoke while lightly fanning herself with her hand after becoming flustered.
Ava shrugged her shoulders and retrieved two bar stools for the ladies to sit on. “It’s a hit or miss. Some nights we’re slow. Nights like this, it’s busy as hell…” she placed the stools next to each other, both ladies having a seat facing the crowd.

“Hey Hazel! Hazel! Baby girl” as soon as she sat down, Ava noticed a man waving at her on the opposite end of the bar. She glanced over at him, noticing he was flagging her down with a 20-dollar bill in his hand. “I’m so glad you’re here! Can I get a drink??? A patron mixed with sprite???”

Ava smiled. The man was a regular customer and she had seen him plenty of times before. She innocently held her hands up in the air.  “Sorry, no can do… I’m not working tonight David.” She called the man by his name.

He frowned, visibly unhappy with her answer. David pointed towards the opposite end of the bar which had a line wrapped around the corner. “Come on! Do you see how crowded it is???” he asked her in an aggravated tone. Ava’s eyes followed in the direction he was pointing. She glanced over at her coworker Sweat Pea who was on the opposite end of the bar. She was the only other bartender on duty and was also extremely hard to miss. Sweet Pea was a tall woman. About 6 feet with wide hips and brightly colored lime green hair. She appeared busy as she rushed back and forth in-between collecting money and passing out drinks. Sweet Pea worked so quickly, she didn’t even notice Ava and Jade sitting on the opposite end examining her. Taking the hint, the man shuffled away to the other side hurrying to get a spot in line before it grew even longer. After he was gone, Ava turned to Jade. “Is this okay???” she asked, motioning towards the clear area.

Jade smiled and nodded. She rotated her hips in her bar stool as she danced to the song playing from the speakers.

“I want a dude with the wickedest slam,

I need a one, two, three hour man

I want a dude who will tie me to the fan,

A thug that can handle his biz like a man”

Quickly, her best friend lost herself in the music. She began dancing and twirling in her chair, grinding her hips to the beat. Ava smiled while watching her, secretly happy to see her let loose and have fun for once. Theodore had kept her cooped up in the house for so many years. It was nice to see her out enjoying herself for once.

“That wasn’t very nice Hazel…..” Suddenly, Ava heard another male voice call out to her. She looked up, immediately locking eyes with a man who casually leaned across the bar staring at her. He smiled as soon as they laid eyes on each other her. Slowly, Ava’s lips crept into a smile as she smiled back. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nervously broke eye contact. “What???” she asked, shrugging her shoulders as if she did nothing wrong.

The man chuckled. “I’m sure you could have made his drink….” He laughed while teasing her.

Ava rolled her eyes. She shifted her weight and stood from her chair, walking over to the bar to where he was leaned. “What do you want this time, Blake???” she asked in a playful tone while eyeing him. Blake smiled back at her as she approached, his deep dimples breaking through the surface of his cheeks.  

“Nothing... I saw you walk in. Just thought I would say Hi.”

Ava titled her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest. “Hmmmm…” she mumbled underneath her breath. “Okay then… Hi…” she greeted him dramatically. He chuckled at her sarcasm, running his fingers down the edge of his mustache. “Alright then, I won’t bother you. It’s a little crowded, I think I’m going to head out of here.”

Unknowingly, Ava’s face twisted in disappointment. Playfully, she laughed it off. “Aww... So early? The fun is just getting started.”

Blake smirked while taking one last look around the club. “Not for me… I’m going to Maxie’s.” he referenced a small bar that was right around the block about 5 minutes away. Ava raised an eyebrow, wandering why the hell he would leave the hottest spot in Wilmington to go to a run down, hole in the wall bar joint. “Maxie’s???” she repeated him.

He nodded his head. “Yep… It’s chill and relaxed… and there’s more than one bartender.” Blake smirked after throwing subliminal jabs at her. She shook her head, watching him as he winked at her one last time before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Immediately, she noticed several women around the room staring him down giving him the side eye as he brushed past. As usual, Blake didn’t pay attention to any of them. Ava stood for a second, watching him walking away shaking her head. He’s got jokes I see….

She turned back to Jade who was no longer dancing. She was now sitting still on the bar stool still as a rock. Jade stared straight forward into the crowd with her jaw hanging open as if she just seen a ghost. Ava shot her a crazy look as she approached her. “Um…Hellooooo?” she waived her hand in front of her face.

As if snapping out of a day dream, Jade immediately became alert as she straightened her posture in her seat. “What??? Oh… sorry….” She nervously blushed while gathering herself together. Ava raised an eyebrow, keeping a close eye on her as she sat down on the stool. “I thought something was wrong…”

Quickly, Jade shook her head. “No, girl I’m fine… Who was that??? That guy that you were talking to at the bar????” she asked eagerly.

Ava glanced over at her, her heart skipping a beat. “Who are you talking about??? Blake???” she asked.

Jade became more specific. “That man you were just talking to… The one with the dimples….”

Ava knew exactly who she was talking about. Hesitantly, she nodded her head. “Oh…” she began to fidget with her fingernail. “Um…yeahhhh… that’s Blake. You know him???” she asked.

Quickly, Jade shook her head. “No… I don’t… but I damn sure would like to….”

Ava looked over, her jaw dropping in surprise. “Come again???” she asked her to repeat herself.

Jade smacked her lips and playfully shoved her arm. “Come on girl! Who is he? Is he married? Is he single? What’s the tea????”

Ava stared at her completely caught off guard. “Ummm…” she stammered, unsure how to answer that question. She couldn’t tell if she were being serious or not. She eyed her closely. “You for real??? You’re interested in him???” she couldn’t help but ask in a surprised tone, making sure she was hearing things correctly.

Jade shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know about interested, but the guy I just saw was fine as hell! You have to give me his number…”

Ava continued to stare, examining Jade’s expression which was serious. She was shocked by her persistence. It had come out of nowhere like a zombie rising from the dead.   “Wow…” she murmured. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t think you were ready to move on... So soon….”

Jade laughed and rolled her eyes. “Come on Hazel. Let’s be serious. I will be 31 this summer. I’m not getting any younger!”

Ava turned to her and raised an eyebrow. Jade’s expression was serious. “Blake is a really close friend of me... Extremely close…” she eyed her. “If you’re serious about talking to him, I can hook you guys up. But do you really think you’re ready for that???”

Jade smiled. Instead of verbally responding, she pressed her lips together, smiled and nodded her head like a school girl begging for a piece of candy. Ava stared at her in silence. For some reason, she was hesitating. Ava had history with Blake. A long rap sheet of buried feelings that Jade would probably not understand. A huge part of her did not want to explain it. But then again, she knew she was just being overprotective. This territory was not hers to protect. Blake was a good man. Jade was a good woman.  Who was she to stand in their way? Ava took a deep breath, processing what she was about to get herself involved in. I’m no matchmaker… I can’t believe I’m about to do this. God please don’t let this backfire on me…

“Alright then.” She suddenly placed her feet to the floor and stood up from the chair. “Let’s go.” She instructed her to stand. Ava caught Jade by surprise. She followed her with her eyes and quickly stood up after her. “Where we going???” Jade asked in a confused tone.

Ava smirked over her shoulder while falling into step towards the opposite side of the bar. “We’re going to Maxie’s…”