“Nah,” I muttered, eyes still stuck on the direction she walked in.
“Open up the Presidential booth for me. I’m staying here for a minute.”
“What about the meeting with Escobar about the new club?”
“I’m staying here for a minute. We can leave when I’m ready.” I made sure he knew I wasn’t about to budge on shit.
He nodded and pressed his earpiece closer to his ear, handling shit from where he stood. Proctor was my head of security for enforcement, but Sergio was often the brains of my operation. He is what I used to be to Kansas years ago. Shit, when I think about it, Proctor and Sergio both are.
“Alright, Boss. Everything is in order. We can head up that way now.”
“Cool, lead the way.”
Truth be told, I know I should’ve left here. I had shit to do. Sticking around this pool party was nothing but trouble waiting to happen. But I needed to know if that was really her or if my mind was playing tricks on me, because I wanted to see her again just once. Maybe that is causing me to chase a scent and a silhouette like some weak-minded ass nigga who didn’t know how to let shit go.
Sergio led me up the stairs to the president's booth overlooking the whole party. From up here, I could see the cabanas I rented to guests, the dancefloor, the bar, the whole vibe. Even in winter, the place was packed because there aren't too many pool parties in Vegas this time of year. I opened the pool today on a “why the fuck not” type of thought. People loveexperiences, even when they are cold. Shid, folks go to Alaska to jump in ice water just to say they did this shit. Nina told me I was tripping, wanting to open the pool in the winter, but I had ideas, and now look. God showed me I wasn’t tripping by putting the sun out bright as ever to send a warm glow over the rooftop today. It was one of the many signs I got to show my intuition is never fuckin wrong.
But even on cold days, I could still keep the pool open and put plenty of heat lamps out here. Cover up the pool, put fire pits over them, and keep that whole vibe going outside while still making revenue on the inside.
My phone was always on silent when I was out handling shit, but it’s like the universe told me to look at my phone just in time to see Nina’s call. I exhaled before I even answered the phone because I knew her ass was being dramatic about something. She will turn the simplest shit into a big fuckin ordeal if it doesn’t align with what the fuck she has going on.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Baby, where are you?” Her sniffles and cracked voice already let me know how this conversation was about to go.
“I’m at the club checking up on shit. What’s up?” I asked, preparing myself for whatever she was about to throw at me.
“I’m stuck in fuckin Colorado, and I am about to miss my dress appointment! They said they had to land here because of some dumb ass mechanical issue.”
“Well, aren’t you glad they did?”
“What!”
“I mean, isn’t it a good thing they landed the plane willingly instead of crashing?” I said without thinking.
“That’s not funny, Hawk!” she snapped.
“It took me forever to get this private appointment at Galia Lahav. That’s why I told you to let me take the private plane here, but you don’t listen!”
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly because I knew the wrong words would have her flipping her shit. Nina loved luxury. And not small luxury. She wasn’t the type to be happy with a purse or dinner at a nice spot. She liked big shit like private jets, overseas venues, five-star everything. And because of that wedding she planned overseas at the venue I couldn’t even pronounce, she had already run up a million dollars on the ceremony. No matter how much money I have, I’m not into blowing it, so I've been telling her we can cut back on unnecessary spending. Flying first class is just as good as a private jet with headphones on, and a good airline.
Nina continued to ramble about the flight, the dress, the appointment, the private plane, with her voice climbing higher by the second. And normally, I’d shut her up immediately and stop her bitching, but right at that moment, my attention was focused on the girl down in that cabana sitting right in my eyesight. Laughing with her girls, tossing her head back, letting the sun kiss her skin like it had a crush on her. Every curve, every angle, every damn movement was like she was being slow-motion directed for me only. Even from up here, she stood out in the crowd like she was dipped in a whole different kind of light.
“I’m so fucking mad, and you’re not even saying anything?” Nina snapped in my ear, and I didn’t answer right away.
“Hawk?” Nina said again, louder this time.
“Hello, are you even freaking listening to me. What is going on over there?”
I inhaled slowly, trying to keep my cool.
“Nina, calm down.”
My voice came out deeper, flatter than I meant, but I didn’t fix it.
“No, because you’re not listening! I’m stuck here, and my whole family is literally waiting for me! This shit is not fair at all, and I need your ass to care a little more.”
“Nina!”
