“Whatever. You know you’re feeling him.”
“I am, but I’m not trying to be all in with anyone right now. I did that with one who remains nameless, and then Reg, and you see where that got me. I’m just trying to build my business. That’s my focus. I’m not about to let a man get me sidetracked.”
“Mmmhmm. Tell that lie to someone who might believe you because I sure don’t. East is about to be all up and through you, and I can’t say I blame you for letting him. He seems cool and has his shit together. At least he’s not a thirty-year-old D-boy. At some point, you either need to be the supplier or let that shit go. There is nothing cute about a thirty-year-old corner boy.”
Joi burst out laughing and rolled her eyes at her girl. “Reg is not a corner boy.”
“Shit, he’s close.”
“Stop. You’re doing too much.”
Joi was defending Reg, but she knew her girl was right. At least Reese had his own thing going on with a team of people under him who handled the product. He also brought in a lotmore money because of it. Reg was literally still buying, selling, and trying to flip his profit. He did decent but had no plans to do anything but what he was doing.
“Girl, bye. Stop trying to help that man out. It is what it is.”
Nyelle glanced at her phone, noticing she finally had a response from Vega. It just wasn’t the one she was looking for.
What floor you on?
She frowned and looked around before getting back to her girl. “Hey, let me call you back later. My break is almost over and I need to finish eating.”
“Aight, boo. I might come by your place. It’s not like I have a life.”
“Me either, so just let me know.”
“I will.”
Nyelle ended her call with Joi and made one to Vega. She smiled at the sound of his voice.
“Pretty Ny.”
“Where are you?”
“In the lobby, staring at this old ass woman who won’t tell me what floor you’re on. Y’all security is tight up in this bitch and I’m not trying to have any problems.”
Nyelle grinned and shook her head.
“Why are you here?”
“’Cause I wanted to see you real quick. Can I come up there? They said I need a badge.
“Yeah, you do, so I’ll come down. I only have about twenty minutes left on my break.”
“That’s straight. I can’t stay. I just wanted to see you for a little minute.”
Nyelle blushed again, collected what was left of her lunch, and tossed it in the trash on her way out the door.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be down here,” she instructed before ending the call with Vega and shoving her phone into her pocket.
Even though he popped up on her without permission, she was excited about seeing him. Riding around the city with Vega was cool. The two talked about a little of everything, with him asking most of the questions. It was how he knew where to pop up on her. After asking what she did, Nyelle informed Vega that she was an echocardiography technician for a private practice. He made jokes about coming to see her after she broke his heart by not giving him any play.
Vega’s personality was energetic and easy, which was a contrast from Reese, who was always about business and rarely ever cracked a joke or smiled. Nyelle was falling for Vega already, but it made her nervous because she wasn’t sure if it was about Vega or if it was that he wasn’t Reese.
Oh, it was definitely about Vega. Nyelle’s smile stretched so wide when she stepped off the elevator that she had to contain it by pulling her lip between her teeth. She took him in as he leaned against the corner of the security station, elbows balancing him while his legs were crossed at the ankles. He was extremely comfortable in a navy Bally tracksuit with bright yellow stripes down the sleeves and side of his pants, wearing navy socks and navy and yellow Bally slides to match his clothes. He was every bit sexy with the sleeves pushed up his forearms while his head was low and he typed away on his phone.
That didn’t last long, however, because the second he sensed her, his phone was locked and pushed into his jacket while he approached Nyelle and wrapped her in a hug. She closed her eyes and inhaled his cologne, not wanting to separate.
It wasn’t until he kissed her cheek that she allowed some space between the two.
