“Ican’t believe this is our last day. I do not want to catch the flight home.” Joi pouted slightly, looking out at the water that surrounded them. The past two days had been a blur, but one she remembered every second of. Miami brought out a different side of East. He was more relaxed, less intense, and happy.
“I can’t believe you convinced me to be out here on this death trap.”
Joi glanced over her shoulder and grinned at the scowl on East’s face despite the fact that his eyes were closed. That morning, when she mentioned them spending the day on Cabo’s yacht, East was the only one who objected. His reasoning was to the point and simple.I don’t fuck with boats or water.It took some persuasion on Joi’s part, but she got him to agree. Persuasion that involved the stiffness Joi now felt in her jaw, but it worked in her favor because East didn’t hesitate to reciprocate before blessing her in a way that left a lingering feel of his presence hours later.
East, Joi, Vega, and Nyelle had spent most of the day sitting on the ocean, enjoying the benefits of privilege from meals ondemand to the most expensive liquor money could buy. Nick was supposed to be with them but backed out at the last minute for the chance to go to a water park with Ava and Cabo, who had the same reaction East had when he was included in Ava’s plans. Whatever guilt trip she placed on him worked because they left with Nick while the four of them left for the yacht. It was the first time in the past few days that the four had been together other than late night dinners and drinks on the beach because Nyelle and Vega stayed true to their word and spent time with Nick. Most of it at the pool on the second level of Cabo’s massive home, but Nick was simple and didn’t ask for much.
“It’s not that bad and it looks like you’re enjoying it.”
“If he’s not, I am. How the fuck I live to be damn near thirty and never experience shit like this?”
East smirked, releasing a muffled laugh. “Because your hood ass doesn’t know a damn thing about anything other than hood shit and this isn’t hood shit.”
Vega chuckled, nodding to agree. “Aight, you can get that but it’s about to be a part of my résumé. As soon as we touch down, I’m looking at properties and yachts. How much you think one like this runs?”
“How the fuck am I supposed to know?” East peeled his eyes open and frowned at Vega who only shrugged.
“It doesn’t fucking matter, my pockets are deep enough.”
East shook his head, grinning. This Vega reminded him of the one he knew before the bid.
“Are you really going to buy a house and yacht here?”
“Shit, yeah. Work hard, play harder, Pretty Ny. I’ve put enough time in. I think I deserve to relax for a minute. You might have to quit that job though.” He winked at her and she balled her face up, biting into her lip to give herself time to react in a more controlled manner.
“Calm those crazy ass thoughts I see you processing. I understand your need to be independent and have your own, but I also want you available to me and our son.”
“Yourson?” Joi, who was trying not to be nosy, repeated with raised brows.
“East, pay attention to your girl so she won’t be over here in grown folks’ business.”
East only chuckled and gripped Joi’s thigh but he didn’t insert himself in the conversation.
“If you’re over there talking aboutourson, that insinuatesmygirl needs to be telling me something. It is my business, grown or not.”
Nyelle rolled her eyes and shoved Vega in the shoulder. “I’m not pregnant, hoe. He’s talking about Nick.”
“Oh, well then, carry on.” Joi shrugged with a grin. She was about to get up, but East held her in place.
“Nah, hold up. Give me a minute, unless you want them all inourgrown folks business.” Joi grinned harder, knowing and feeling exactly why he didn’t want her to move. The thin trunks he wore didn’t do much to camouflage the hardness that rested beneath her. Turning her body so her back was no longer to East, Joi took him in. His eyes were still closed but she saw the smile forming. “You really aren’t helping the situation moving your ass on me like that, and if I remember correctly, you were damn near in tears a few hours ago, begging me to take it easy on you.”
Joi sucked her teeth hard before leaning toward East and brushing her lips across his, prompting East’s hands to attach to Joi’s waist. His eyes opened right after. “Keep it up,” he warned. Joi knew better and decided to let it go, admiring his handsome features when his eyes closed again. His face had tanned from the sun, giving the appearance of red undertones with his brown skin and his exposed chest displayed slightly defined contours littered with various creations. Most were dark hues while afew had color, like the red heart next to his mother and sister’s names. Joi couldn’t resist tracing a few with the tip of her nail, causing a one-sided smile to appear on his lips again.
“You’re hardhead, shawty. Keep touching me like that.”
“Aight Joi, you’re already limping. Don’t think I didn’t notice,” Nyelle shot back just to mess with her girl. Joi didn’t bother looking her way, she only lifted a hand in the air, shooting Nyelle a bird.
“This wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“Nah, not really. It’s just weird as hell to be out here like this.”
“I figured you would be used to it. Aren’t you and Cabo close?” Joi’s question was deeper than it appeared on the surface. East’s connection to Cabo said a lot.
“Not like that. We’re cool but it’s business. We don’t hang out and shit. That’s not how this works. Most people get the real confused with what they see on TV. Muthafuckers handing off keys then partying side by side for the world to see.”
“Oh.” Joi nodded but kept her eyes on East. He pushed out a sigh then opened the floodgates to get it over with.
“Ask me what you want to ask me, shawty.” The stern look that followed his words had Joi second guessing, but this was her life too, so she wanted to know what she was dealing with.
