“He’s cheating, Joi. Trust what you feel.”
“Dudes really ain’t shit. I’m too old for this and he damn sure is too old for this. I’m breaking up with him. I can do bad all by myself.”
“True, but it doesn’t change the fact that some people will never be shit. I made peace with that a long time ago. Right now, I’m just focused on my career, my son, and occasionally getting a side of dick here and there that’s worth the effort. Anything else is not getting any play from me. I also don’t believe you’re going to break up with him. I think you should, but I don’t think you will.” Nyelle peered at her girl, wishing she would move on. She deserved better, but she knew Joi was sticking with Reg because, like most women, something was better than nothing.
The second Nyelle finished her spiel, Vega popped into her mind. She had mentioned the situation to Joi, who cussed her out three times over for letting him in her condo that night. Nyelle was beginning to wonder if he really lived there because it had been days and she hadn’t seen him since. Several times, she considered randomly knocking on his door the way he had done hers, but common sense prevented her from doing so. He could have easily lied and she would be face to face with another stranger who might actually do some harm.
Even if Vega was a liar, she felt safe with him, around him, and with him in her space. That was the part she didn’t understand. There was just something about him that didn’t set off any alarms, but she still hadn’t used the number he left for her. Nyelle wasn’t completely sure why, but a part of her wanted him to remain a handsome, sexy, charming mystery that shehad shared a moment with. If she called and got to know him, Nyelle was convinced it would only be a matter of time before he showed her what she already knew. He was just like every other man she encountered.
“I don’t want to be like that. I want all the good stuff. Life is too damn short to be on a fuck all men agenda, but it seems like that’s what it’s gonna be.” Joi pouted, slightly angry that she was, yet again, about to be alone. Sometimes she wondered if a piece of man was better than no man at all, especially considering that no men ever leveled up and proved themselves worthy.
“I don’t know what to tell you, boo. The fairytale doesn’t exist.”
Joi released a short sigh, feeling her girl’s energy. It mirrored hers and she hated how lost the two felt where love was concerned, but it was their reality.
Or maybe it wasn’t. As if the universe was trying its hand at changing the ladies’ minds, a fist connected with Nyelle’s door. The two women looked at each other before their focus went right to the door.
“Who is that?”
“Hoe, I don’t know. I’m sitting here with you.”
Nyelle grinned at her girl before pulling her feet from beneath her and placing them on the floor. She glided to the door with movement dangerously close to slow motion. When she pressed the monitor to see who had shown up at her condo unannounced, she dropped her chin and bit her lip to suppress her smile. Closing her eyes briefly, she then calmed her nerves enough to face her visitor.
“So you really are just dodging me I see, because clearly you’re alive and well. Tony told me that he gave you my number, but you haven’t hit my line once. It’s been three days.”
Joi stretched her neck to get a glimpse at the face and body that the sexy voice belonged to, but the angle at which Ny was standing blocked her view.Damn it.
“I’m not dodging you. I don’t know you, so why would I dodge you?”
Vega smirked and moved his tongue over the top row of his teeth before he lowered his eyes enough to see her face. The trail didn’t end there as he moved down her neck to her chest and her lower half. She was kinda short and curvy, or short to him, since he stood at six three and Nyelle couldn’t have been more than five six or five seven.
“If you didn’t hit my line when I extended the offer, then you’re dodging me. Can I come in?”
“No, I have company.”
“Oh, shit, my bad. He’s not gon’ be mad, is he? Not that I give a fuck.” It was the truth. Vega didn’t care one way or the other. With him having just touched down, he needed to keep his nose clean, but checking someone wouldn’t likely end up getting back to his PO.
“He’s in the shower, so he won’t know you were here.”
Vega sensed she was lying, but he didn’t call her on it. He only nodded and took a step back. “Aight, bet. But you play cards?”
Nyelle frowned. “Cards?”
“Yeah, cards, Pretty Ny.”
“Like Spades?”
“Spades, Poker, Blackjack, all that shit.”
“Umm, I know how. I won’t say I’m good at it.” She wondered if his hood ass was really about to ask her to play cards with him.
“Good enough. Send dude home and be ready by nine. I want you to hang with me tonight. We’re going to a card game.”
“Uh, no, I’m not. I have plans with my girl. Plus, I don’t even know if you live here. I haven’t seen you since that night. We should have at least crossed paths once.”
Damn, Pretty Ny has been looking for me.Vega felt a tinge of something, but he wasn’t sure how to categorize it just yet.
“I’ve been busy. Had a lot of shit to do. I’m trying to get my life together so I can qualify to be in yours.”
