Using every opportunity he got, Q ground his private parts against Tender. She threw her body right back at him. There was no doubt to where all this sexually provocative dancing was headed.

“Let’s get up outta here,” he suggested, in a low seductive voice. “Go somewhere where we can be alone.”

“Whateva,” she replied simply.

They slipped out the party without drawing any attention to themselves. Q was glad that no one had seen him leave, especially another female who might have thrown a monkey wrench into his game.

Making their way to his car, Q hit his key ring alarm, deactivating it. His candy apple-red Porsche 911 two-seater glimmered under the moonlit sky. Sitting inside, Tender’s nose was rushed with the smell of newness. Q had bought the ride in Philly and had it shipped down so he could style and profile.

As soon as he stuck his key in the ignition, the engine smoothly cranked up, and the instruments on the dashboard began to glow a fluorescent orange.

“Betta buckle up,” he instructed her. “I drive fast.”

“Jus’ don’t get us kilt. I’m too young ta die,” she pleaded.

Q shifted the stick in reverse, backing up out of the parking spot. He shifted again and took off, leaving tread marks on the concrete. He drove past the valets, who stared at him like he was crazy. Tender’s heart was racing as fast as the car. Q shifted from first to fifth gear, recklessly switching lanes from the city streets to the expressway. It was a miracle that they didn’t get pulled over by the police.

He drove at crazy speeds, but handled the car well. He was a pro at driving from his earlier adolescent days as a car thief. There wasn’t a cop in the city of Philadelphia who could keep up with him.

They arrived at a gated community in Coconut Grove. Relieved, Tender unglued herself from the seat and opened her eyes. She sighed, then looked over at Q, who smiled back at her.

“Told ya I drive fast. You thought I was playin’?” he remarked.

“Fast ain’t da word. You’s a nut behind da wheel. You drive like you gotta death wish or somethin’,” Tender stated.

Q pulled into his reserved parking space, directly in front of a bungalow.

“We here,” he announced, getting out of the car. “Let’s go. Last stop!”

“Oh, you got jokes, huh?” Tender asked playfully, following him out of the car. As they walked, she noticed it had begun to drizzle.

He responded, “Only when I’m ’round cool peoples.” He fumbled through his keys to open the door. This was some kinda different here, Tender thought. She wasn’t treating this guy like a trick. She felt like she was on a date, for real. Was she trippin’ or what?