"You know because your husband is a multimillionaire, it doesn't mean we all can afford this highfalutin shit," Sarah quipped as she met up with the rest of the girls in front of Roka Akor, a premiere sushi restaurant.
Jane sighed and shook her head as she arrived with her husband, Mike. Sarah had always been the rough one around the edges among the rest of the sorors. If the movie Bridesmaids were real life, Sarah was the Megan to Jane's Helen. "Why must you be so crass?"
"Why must you be such a pain in the ass?" Sarah mocked.
"I've always wanted to try this place!" Trisha Jeffers commented. With smooth café au lait skin and gorgeous model looks, she often surprised dates with her political knowledge and Jeopardy-like smarts. It wasn't a surprise to anyone when she decided to enter medical school. "This looks really trendy and hip."
"That's code for really expensive," Sarah deadpanned.
"So what is he like?" Trisha asked. "Is he a nice guy?"
"Super nice and super hot," Sarah fanned herself. "I'm telling you, her and Dean are going to get married and pop out a bunch of little mulatto babies."
"Sarah!" Jane admonished. "For real?"
"Now I know you're not offended with your Instagram handle being 'mzlilmulatto'," Sarah side-eyed Jane. "I know you're not giving me shit."
"Enough, guys." Trisha played referee. "I don't want any drama tonight between you two."
"I'm fine," Jane played innocent, "we're here to vet out Dean and see if he's good for our girl."
"Exactly!" Trisha agreed. "And speaking of which, I know your nosey ass did your research on him."
"Other than popular with groupies, he's legit." Jane shrugged. "Nothing bad on him. Never been arrested. Graduated from high school and took some college courses. He's great. He's not a racist, not prejudiced. He did a campaign for NO-H8 and went nude for PETA."
"There's a catch," Trisha picked up on Jane's hesitation, "you're not telling us everything."
"What's up with that Renee chick?" She asked. "He was seen carrying her out of a bar the other night. Did Sydney say anything?" Trisha shook her head and Sarah looked in the other direction. "Sarah, what did she say?"
"You know how Sydney reacts, J." Sarah reminded. "How do you think she reacted? She was slightly under heart attack status."
"There's nothing going on between them?" Jane asked. "If there is, I want to know."
"Pray tell?" Sarah asked.
"She's my friend and I don't know Dean," Jane defended, "I don't want Sydney to get hurt. Especially after what that last one put her through."
"Dean is not Roman," Sarah assured. "We went out to dinner the other night and trust me, he's absolutely nothing like Roman."
"He better not be," Trisha chimed in, "I can't handle another category five storm named Sydney again."
"Shh! Here they come!" Jane spotted them as they arrived by car service. "Remember, Sarah…no crass tonight."
"Remember to kiss my ass tonight." She responded.
"Nice to see you on the straight and narrow, kid." An older man who simply went by Taker commented to Roman as they sat down at Roka Akor. "I'm glad everything is looking up for you finally. You don't look good behind a jail cell."
"Those days are done. You're looking at a changed man, brother." Roman took a sip of his Blue Moon. "With the dispensary up and running and the tat shop becoming bigger and better every day, I can't be no jailbird waiting to get bailed out like I used to."
"I'm glad to hear that," Taker held up his beer and clinked bottles with Roman. "That makes me very happy. I put a lot of money into that shop so I'm glad to see it's not going to waste."
"I've learned my lesson, man. I've definitely learned my lesson." Roman was thankful that Taker believed in second (or in Roman's case, third and fourth) chances and he felt he got a new lease on life. While other people complained about the responsibilities of paying bills and being an adult, Roman relished in it. It was better than feasting on stale bread and slimy bologna sandwiches for lunch.
"So what's new?" Taker asked. "Business is booming and I saw that recent feature online about your shop. Very nice." There was an international article that featured the shop and specifically Roman, as one of the nation's premiere tattoo artists.
"Everything is great. Just put a down payment on a nice condo not too far from here and looking at another building to expand the studio." Roman smiled. "Other than that, just living a boring life."
"That's good," Taker replied, "how's your girl?"
"No longer my girl," Roman's voice crossed with sadness. He and Sydney were a mismatched couple from the start and lasted much longer than they probably should have. It was their love for art that solidified them. It was Roman being the class-A asshole he'd perfected that drove them apart. He didn't appreciate her and he would have to settle knowing that another man would be tracing the notorious S&R tattoo with his tongue every night.
Roman gripped the beer bottle harder. "It's for the best, though. I took advantage of her without realizing what a jewel she was. She's moved on and she's happy."
"Syd the kid," Taker remembered the nickname he'd given her, "she was too good for your dumbass."
"You don't have to remind me, you know?" Roman suggested.
"She really loved you, kid. She really loved you. I haven't seen that kind of love since Michelle," Taker mentioned his wife.
"Third times the charm," Roman blinked.
"I finally got it right," Taker took another sip of beer, "you will too."
"When do you kick a midget in the balls?" Sarah asked around the table as Jane hung her head in disbelief. "When he's standing next to your girlfriend and saying her hair smells nice."
Everyone burst into laughter except for Jane. "Must you be so crass! We're trying to have a nice meal here, Sarah!"
Over the course of an hour, Dean was grilled on his political beliefs (he's neutral), equality rights (he believes everyone should have the same protections under the law), and if the 1996 Chicago Bulls could defeat any team in the league today ("Hands down!"). When Jane was about to ask him another question regarding which side of the coin he was in terms of a hot topic issue, Sarah intervened. She was not going to sit through a Meet the Press interview at an expensive restaurant. She'd already wasted a bottle of sake, drowning Jane's questions out. "Dude, we've been talking about politics and all sorts of boring shit that I'm pretty sure Dean doesn't give two flying fucks about. Let's have some fun in this joint!" Sarah leaned over to Dean and whispered in his ear. He chuckled and shook his head. "Do it when you get home. Do it!"
"Do what?" Sydney smiled.
"Nah, girl, it's a surprise!" Sarah winked. "You'll like it."
"You know, Sarah, it's becoming really disrespectful that you're always flirting with our partners," Jane commented.
"Well, I would flirt with Mike if I wasn't afraid he'll pull my skin off and eat it," Sarah retorted, "looking like a love child of Uncle Fester and Pinhead."
"So Dean," Trisha interjected, "how long are you in town?"
"Just a few more days. Then hopefully, I'll see Sydney again around Valentine's. Either I'll come up here or I'll fly her down there." He winked at her.
"How's this long-distance thing working out?" Trisha asked. "You two are pretty dedicated to each other."
"It's tough. You always want someone to come home to and that feeling of a warm body next to you at night. But I believe everything will happen in due time." Dean picked up Sydney's hand and kissed it. "We're taking it slow-ish and that's good enough for me."
Trisha pressed a hand to her chest. "That is so romantic. Oh, I'm so happy for you both!" She raised a cup of sake to the couple. "To Sydney and Dean!"
"To Sydney and Dean!" Everyone said.
As everyone toasted to the happy couple, Sydney briefly looked around the restaurant. She caught Roman's eyes as he held up a beer and toasted to her and Dean.