“Mommy, you asked me that yesterday,” I said, walking into my closet.
She smiled, eyes crinkling. “I know. I just miss you, that's all.”
I sighed softly. The four months I’d been in Atlanta were the longest I’d ever been away from home. I was a diehard New Yorker, through and through. When I initially decided to try out travel nursing, I kept it local to the tri-state area. It was great for a while, but after the pandemic, I decided I wanted a real change of scenery that wasn’t another borough. I went back and forth for months before applying to Peachtree Memorial. I broke my lease, put most of my stuff in storage, and came down here.
Atlanta was a completely different world from what I was used to, and working at Peachtree felt like I was in the trenches most days, but Monica had quickly folded me into her friend group. Shit, I even had a cute little dating life— at least before Cash pulled that stunt with Amir. I was having fun, but I really needed to get a new contract. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could last.
“Maybe I’ll come up in a few weeks to see you and daddy,” I said, making a mental note to check flights this week.
“Yes! We’d love that,” she beamed.
“Where’s daddy anyway?” I asked, rifling through my closet for something to wear to brunch.
“Chile, he’s with Leonard down at the athletic club, playing pickleball,” she shook her head. “All I need is for him to come home limping ‘cause he set off his arthritis again.”
We chatted a little longer before hanging up.
As I settled on my outfit, my phone buzzed with a text.
Big Daddy Cash: When you gon’ let me take you out, Jas?
I couldn’t stop the smile creeping across my face. It’d been over a week, but I was still thinking about how he had me damn near drooling outside my building the last time I saw him.
Never
Big Daddy Cash: I thought you blocked me?
Getting ready for a date, ttyl!
Big Daddy Cash: Stop fucking playing with me, Jasmine.
I snickered, tossing the phone on the bed as I headed for the shower.
The chemistry between us was off the charts—but what did I look like getting caught up with a street dude at thirty-six?
It didn’t matter that Monica swore up and down that Cash’s hands were more clean than dirty these days. I wasn’t naive. He and his brother were too quick to pull out their guns like they were invincible. That was a young girl’s game, and I loved my career too much to risk it.
But that sexy ass southern drawl? The way my whole body reacted when he brushed against me?
I chewed on my bottom lip, feeling a tingle between my thighs at the memory of his lips skimming my neck, and that bulge in his pants that let me know he had something heavy between his legs. Yeah… if we ever slept together, it’d be a wrap.
I threw on a white tank-top bodysuit and a pair of high-waisted shorts to keep it simple but cute. After doing a quick makeup look, throwing on a few gold bangles and some gold hoops, I was good to go.
I stepped outside and slid my sunglasses on as the heat of the midday sun hit me. I was halfway across the sidewalk when the passenger window of a white Porsche Cayenne rolled down.
I nearly tripped when I spotted Cash in the driver’s seat, scowling.
I rolled my eyes and kept walking. I didn’t have time to entertain his antics today.
“Word, Jasmine?” he called out, the irritation clear in his voice.
I adjusted my purse strap on my shoulder without breaking my stride.
“Now you pissing me off. Come here,” he said.
I paused. He was the type to cause a scene, and I didn’t need drama outside my building. Sucking my teeth, I turned and walked over to his car.
“What do you want? I got a reservation to make,” I said, leaning into the passenger window.
