He leaned against the cart, arms crossed, looking way too good for 9 a.m. “There’s no way I can show you all of New Orleans in one day. So let me be your guide until you leave. We’ll knock out everything on that board and more.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That kinda breaks the whole idea of a Heaux Phase. Pretty sure the rules say I’m supposed to engage with multiple men.”
He smirked and handed me a glass of orange juice. “But do you really wanna do that?”
I took a slow sip, stalling—because honestly… no. No, I didn’t.
I liked him. I liked the way he looked at me like I was the only woman in the room. I liked the way he kissed me like he had all the time in the world. Ireallyliked what his tongue had done to me, too. And I was very curious about what the rest of him was capable of.
It had been over a year since anyone touched me like that. Honestly, my walls might collapse from pressure if he hit it too hard. They weren’t used to that kind of attention, and I wasn’t either.
He walked over, sat beside me, and brushed my hair back off my shoulder with the gentlest touch.
“I know what the phase was supposed to be,” he said, his voice low, “but maybe the universe wanted you to find one good experience that made you feel everything. Not just the highs, but the joy, the ease, the softness…”
He kissed my bare shoulder, slow and warm. “Let me give you that. Let me be the reason this whole trip brings out the Heaux in you.”
I tried not to smile. “What about work? Don’t you have to help your parents?”
He smiled, picking up his cup again. “My job needs me. I don’t need them. I’ll take a few calls here and there, sure, but they can give me a week to show the prettiest girl in the city around.”
That made my cheeks burn a little. The man had the nerve to be fine, sweet, and available? Whew.
“I ain’t saying yes,” I said, grabbing a grape off the tray.
“You don’t have to. Not yet,” he said, leaning in, lips brushing my ear. “But by tonight, you’ll wonder why you ever wanted a Heaux Phase that didn’t start… and end… with me.”
If this was what vacation hearts were made of, I was absolutely in danger.
Later that afternoon, we pulled up to the Superdome.
I should’ve known something was up the moment Maison told me to get some rest because he’d be back in a few hours to “takeme shopping.” I mean, what man you just met says that and actually follows through?
When we walked into the store, and I saw black and gold everywhere. Jerseys, hats, foam fingers, jackets, I already knew what was going on.
“Oh, so you tricked me,” I laughed, picking up a glittery Saints cap. “This where we headed?”
“Yep,” he said, grinning. “It’s your first time in New Orleans close to Mardi Gras and it’s football Sunday? You think I’m not taking you to see the Saints when we have a home game? That’s illegal.”
I’d never been to an NFL game before in my life, but the way he was excited? Made me feel like I’d been missing out.
When we stepped into the Superdome, it was like stepping into a whole other world. The energy hit me first. Gold beads and Mardi Gras masks were everywhere. People were dressed like they were going to a costume ball and a tailgate at the same damn time. Music was blasting, people were dancing in the aisles, and everybody was hollering “Who dat!”
I looked around, wide-eyed. “This ain’t no football game. This a festival.”
Maison laughed beside me. “Told you. You can’t come to New Orleans on a home game day and not experience this.”
The seats were good too. We were close enough to see the players, but high enough to take in the whole stadium. He handed me a drink, and I leaned back, watching the pre-game show unfold like a concert. The cheerleaders. The crowd screaming like Beyoncé just walked out.
Then the game started… and I was immediately lost.
“Wait,” I leaned toward him, squinting at the field. “Why they keep backing up? Did we lose something? That don’t look good.”
He snorted. “That’s called a penalty.”
“Oh. So… are we losing?”
“It just started.”
