“Aight bet, but I’ll see you tonight.”
After one last kiss, Vega was on his way and Nyelle watched his sexy, confident stride as he moved through her office. The second he was gone, April was in her face.
“That’s your new man?”
“Yes. Say something disrespectful and I’m slapping your ass. I mean it.”
April rolled her eyes and walked off mumbling “I wish she would”but kept her voice low. Problems with Nyelle were something she didn’t want and April needed her job.
Nyelle pulled her phone out and shot Vega a quick text telling him that he was banned from her office then got back to work. All of a sudden she was prepared to get through her day so she could be home with her man. Life was good, really good, and only going to get better.
35
“Give me that. You’re here with us enjoying a girls’ night. You can drool over East later.” Ria snatched Joi’s phone from her hands, but she grabbed it right back, going to his last post and leaving heart eyes under it. The image was a selfie of Kelsey propped up in East’s lap, smiling from ear to ear but the angle she used cut his face off , only exposing him from the chin down. Joi was familiar enough with his body that the exposed chest had her smiling.
“That man has you wide open.”
“And?” Joi wasn’t ashamed of her addiction to East, especially since the feelings were reciprocated. Things with East felt right and Joi didn’t mind being wide open.
“And you better slow down. Once the high wears off, it’s just another relationship. I see how women look at East. You better be careful.” Ria lifted her drink and placed it to her lips.
“Maybe that’s your life but don’t try to dim her light because you can’t get your shit together or keep a man under fifty interested in you.” Nyelle rolled her eyes at Ria, sensing she was a little salty because her current situation wasn’t working out.
“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m just saying, it all starts off like that then it gets routine. I have no problems keeping any man interested, trust.”
Joi and Nyelle shared a look but neither of them expressed their thoughts out loud.
“You talked to Dix lately?” Joi questioned, knowing she hadn’t, causing Ria to suck her teeth.
“No, but I haven’t tried. I can’t take an insecure man.”
“Girl, did you really just call that man insecure? Dix is anything but. He’s a man who isn’t trying to be side dick because you’re too simple to get rid of your sugar daddy.” Nyelle had heard enough bits and pieces of conversations between Vega and Dix to know he cut her off because she was still fucking with Lue.
Joi clamped her mouth shut and decided to stay out of it. She knew it was true but that was Ria’s fight. Not hers. She had already spoken her piece on Ria’s situation with both men.
“What you’re not going to do is act like you know anything about my personal business.”
“Nah boo, what you’re not gonna do is try to act like Dix is the problem. I might not know him that well, but Vega does. And the few times I’ve been around him, he made it clear that you’re only interested in him as far as his dick is concerned, but the minute your sponsor snaps his fingers, your ass jumps in line.”
“Y’all, come on. We’re supposed to be chilling.” Joi tried her best to defuse the situation, but it didn’t do any good and she couldn’t control her amusement.
“No, fuck that. My life is not your concern. I knew your fraud ass never liked me anyway. I told you she was fake, Joi.”
“Hold up.” Joi sat up quickly. “You’re not about to call her fake because she’s calling you on your shit. When you dipped on me, she was there. She’s been here, and in fact, nothing she said to you is a lie. You do jump in line when Lue calls, yet and stillyou’re creeping around with Dix. Shit, I would have cut you off too.”
“Wow, I see what it is.”
“Good, it’s about time.” Nyelle looked Ria right in her eyes. The two women had a stare down before Ria grabbed her purse and placed her drink on the bar.
“I guess I’m not welcome so I’m gonna go. Y’all keep your little bond going without me.”
“If you can’t be real about your shit, then no, you’re not. Neither of us really care what you do with your life, as long as you’re real with it, but don’t try to downplay my situation because you’re on some bullshit with yours. Nobody’s judging you. If you like it, we love it. Your problem is you can’t be honest. You want Lue’s money and dick from the next man. Just admit that and keep it pushing, but you can’t, so...” Joi stated, unbothered. She didn’t need Ria in her life, but she attempted to give her a chance. Apparently Ria didn’t really want the opportunity and Joi wasn’t about to kiss anyone’s ass.
“Whatever,” Ria mumbled, walking away with her head held high. She didn’t owe anyone anything, so she wasn’t about to act like she did.
“Did I not tell you that wouldn’t work?” Nyelle rolled her eyes and shook her head at the thought of Ria.
“I was trying to be nice.”
