“Don’t act brand new, because until my dick no longer finds its way to your mouth, you are my business,” B-Syde said smugly and she rolled her eyes. Asao chuckled and lifted from the space he occupied.
“This shit sounds personal. I’ll let y’all have this.”
He dapped his boy, thanked Kolby, and left their section. Before he could make it to the door, Tori was grabbing his arm but the look he delivered had her releasing him like his body was on fire.
“Can we talk?”
“Nah…” he said coolly with no emotion and proceeded to walk away but Tori stepped in front of him.
“What did I do? Why are you mad at me?” she pouted, hoping he would grant her grace.
“Don’t mistake me not fucking with you with being mad. The fuck I need to be mad about?”
She tensed at how emotionless he delivered the response. There was no care or empath. Regardless, she kept pushing. “But I don’t understand why? You at least owe me that.”
He smirked and looked her up and down. “I don’t owe you shit, but let’s be real, you know exactly why this didn’t work. Own that and move around.” The warning glare paired with his words was enough to make Tori fall back. She watched him leave, and with every step he took, her heart dropped a few more inches.
She pulled herself together and zoned in on her next target. Tori made her way back to the section B-Syde occupied, rolling her eyes at Asia who was damn near sitting in his lap. She settlednext to the thick chocolate beauty who’d had Asao’s attention and looked her up and down.
“What were you talking to Asao about?”
Kolby smirked and took her time removing her eyes from the device in her hand before she focused on Tori. She had no clue who Tori was but assumed the unwarranted conversation was fueled by jealousy based on the exchange she’d just witnessed. “And who are you?”
“His girlfriend.” The lie barely survived the transfer from her mouth but Tori held firm to it.
Kolby didn’t know much about Asao because he wasn’t her business to focus on but what she did know from B-Syde was Asao was in pursuit of someone other than Tori. “You really think you need to be asking me questions thatyour manshould be giving you answers to?”
“Bitch, I’m asking you,” Tori hissed but the threat didn’t deliver as intended because Kolby laughed in her face, finished what was left in her glass, then lifted the money Asao had left on the table.
“Baby, if you have to check another woman behind your man, he isn’t your man.” Kolby smirked and walked away.
When B-Syde noticed Tori was about to react, he delivered a lazy warning. “Bruh, chill with that before you get your feelings hurt.”
After suffering enough embarrassment for one night, Tori decided to let it go, grabbed the bottle of Black Ops, and poured a glass. She damn sure planned on revisiting the issue.
14
Asao: I’m pulling up.
Samari was waitingin the lobby of her building as instructed by Asao. He’d called and told her to head home and he would come get her because it was late. She bypassed the argument, knowing that he would win. She hurried to her apartment when she arrived, took a quick shower, and threw on comfy clothes, knowing they would be recording.
Her smooth brown skin was moisturized, leaving a lingering scent of mandarin that blended nicely with the few sprays of pineapple she’d added right before she left her bedroom.
With a stampede of nerves fluttering in her stomach, she walked into the night air and ducked her head to hide her smile as she made her way to his Jeep. The door pushed open from the inside before she reached it and she eased into the passenger seat. Asao’s sexy smile greeted her first before his eyes did a survey and he commented on her fit for the night.
“We ’bout to get our hands dirty? You look like you’re trying to be my rider instead of my songbird.”
She blushed at the prospect of being anything of his. “I can’t be both?”
Samari was in black baggy sweats that sat low on her hips and a matching hoodie she’d cut the bottom off as soon as she removed the tags after bringing it home. The baseball cap on her head sat low, shielding her face and adding to the reason for Asao’s comment. Her tiny feet were covered in slides and socks ,because as far as she was concerned, they were chillin’, and comfort was best for long hours in the studio.
His low set eyes gave the answer before his deep, raspy voice gave verbal confirmation. “You can be whatever you want as long as mine is attached to that.”
“Yeah I bet.” She brushed off the affirmation, trying to avoid the pull from his amused eyes and handsome face.
Asao didn’t push. When he navigated from the curb, Samari watched him like a creep. She caught a glimpse of his cinnamon-hued skin as they moved through the city and warmed each time his beautiful brown eyes made their way to her. He didn’t speak or make her feel uncomfortable for enjoying the view, so she didn’t shy away. Handsome did very little to express what Asao had to offer.
She had no clue where they were going nor did she ask. Not even when they pulled up to a free standing building not far from Crescent Manor she knew was utilized by hood hopefuls as a catalyst to realize their musical aspirations. She had been there a handful of times and had even recorded in the makeshift booths.
