Afterglow ❃ l.m.j

• chapter nineteen •

The scent of cloves, cinnamon, and apple filled my nose as soon as I stepped into Allyson's house. People were littered all over in sweet banter and the white and gold decorum of the entrance was filled with cute decorations like stockings and elf figurines. Ally herself was behind the door, dressed as what I could only guess was Santa's helper.

"Ally, you look so cute! I love your boots, where did you get them?" I grinned, engulfing her in a hug. She smelled comforting.

"Some boutique when I went shopping in Texas, I'll see if I can find you the name later. Hi hun, how are you?"

"I'm great! I love this so much, everything looks so cute!"

"That's so sweet, thank you! So there's charcuterie boards in the living room but actual food and drinks are in the kitchen. The bathroom is directly down this hall, and my room upstairs which is the second door on the right is off limits." Ally listed with a firm nod. I gave her a playful salute before she reached for my jacket and turned away to direct someone carrying a box through the house. The minute she left me to my own devices, I took it upon myself to scope out the place. Not even two steps into the kitchen, I found Rosé and Stefanie giggling over their wine glasses, Rosé nibbling on a piece of sharp cheddar cheese. When they seen me, their eyes lit up.

"Bitch, you didn't tell me you were coming!" Stefanie beamed, holding her arms out for a hug.

"Surprise!" I laughed, embracing her and then Rosé. "So, how are we feeling, what are we drinking?"

"Me." The fair skinned woman said suggestively, tilting her glass towards me. Her cheeks were tinted pink. I raised my eyebrow in contest. "Rosé, duh."

I scrunched up my face. "Does Ally have any red? I don't like white."

"I think there's some... Right here!" Ro said, walking over towards the table of refreshments and pulling a bottle from what seemed like thin air. I gave it a glance over, barely recognizing the name.

"Did anyone taste it yet?"

Stef shook her head. "No, I've been glued to my glass since I got here. I seen some fine ass woman come take some though. She looked so familiar."

I smiled, grabbing a glass and beginning to pour. "Oh, really? What'd she look like?"

Stef bodied her wine and tapped me as if to get my full attention. I pulled back the bottle, and brought the glass to my lips as I listened.

"Um, dark skinned, coily hair in a side part, cream colored turtleneck, blue jeans, nude heels... I don't know, that's all I remember. She got ass though. Full package if you ask me."

"She looked good as fuck." Rosé mumbled.

"Right? See, I can appreciate a beautiful woman! I've kissed the both of you."

"Yeah, for work."

"Work, pleasure, it's all the same thing." The black woman waved, eliciting an eye roll from Ro and a snort from me.

Rosé then picked up the conversation, sliding some of her hair behind her ear. "How are you doing, you doing okay? You've seemed different around the club lately."