chapter 1
ARIELLE
Ididn’t know what was heavier, . . . my emotional baggage or my physical baggage. I was tempted to say the latter as I grunted while tugging my suitcase, oversized purse, and duffel bag along.
“I’m not feeling very relaxed,” I grumbled before I nearly tripped over my own two feet. I cursed under my breath, and then, because I needed someone to blame, I turned and glared at my Uber driver, who watched me with a dull look in his eyes like he had nothing better to do. “Thanks for your help, asshole.”
It wasn’t my best moment, but I flipped him off as I stomped toward the entrance of the resort. Not even the smell of salt water in the air and the beautiful warm weather could temper my terrible mood.
This vacation was supposed to give me the space to relax and forget about my no-good ex, Donzell. Neither of thosethings had happened yet. My flight was delayed earlier, which was strike one. Strike two was the fact that I hated flying, and the damn plane ride was rocky as hell. The third strike was the airline misplacing my luggage. Luckily, it was just at a different carousel, but it took me an hour and a half to locate it. As far as I was concerned, that was three strikes, and I wassoout.
“Didn’t even want to come on this stupid as vacation,” I muttered as the air conditioning hit my ebony skin.
And that was the truth. My best friend and sister encouraged this little getaway. If it was up to me, I would be in the comfort of my own home and working around the clock to avoid Donzell’s ass.
My phone vibrated as I stood in line behind an elderly couple who looked like they were checking in as well. Donzell’s name flashed across the screen, and I sighed in irritation. He’d been up in arms since I left. Because we still lived together, it was hard to avoid him completely. The breakup was recent and completely my decision. Donzell tried to hold onto me like a crackhead with a baggie of white powder. The issue was that he didn’t want to let go of his provider. He got to sit on his ass all day long and play video games while I worked six days a week to provide for us. For three years, this had been our routine.
I fell for the old okey doke when we first met. The whole “I’m in between jobs” line. As far as I knew, the nigga never had a job before in his life. I had finally had enough, and I was set to move out only a couple of weeks after I got back from this vacation. Donzell didn’t like any of this shit, though. The temper tantrums at his big ass grown age were real, and I could tell he was about to ruin this little reset week for me.
I quickly jabbed my thumb on the red decline button and stuffed my phone back into my pink oversized purse as I contemplated blocking his ass, at least for the next week. Unfortunately, I still had to deal with him on some level once Igot home until I moved out, but that block button sounded more and more appealing with every second that ticked by.
Before I could make a decision, a deep voice snatched my attention. My eyes snapped to the tall man at the concierge desk. He was the one who held the line up, but I could tell he didn’t give an iota of a fuck.
“Y’all gonna have to make this shit right. I ain’t pay all this money to have a bullshit ass room,” he barked.
The people in front of me in line shifted uncomfortably. Me, though—I was locked in on the interaction. His big, intimidating ass had to know he made people uncomfortable, but again, I had the feeling he literally didn’t care. Either that or he really didn’t notice.
The poor little white man behind the desk tapped on his computer nervously while the fine-ass man causing a scene stared him down.
“M-Mr. Spivy, I apologize that your stay hasn’t been exemplary?—”
“Don’t apologize, lil man. Fix the shit. How ya presidential suite got a leak in the bathroom and the AC don’t work? Fuck kinda establishment y’all running here?”
Oop. His words made my ass nervous. This resort had great reviews. The last thing I needed was to be uncomfortable after all the money I spent to be here for a week.
I don’t know . . . I think I’m on your side, Mr. Fine-ass Spivy. I hope they make that shit right for you.
My eyes raked over his body. I could only see his side profile from where I stood, but what a magnificent side profile it was. His dark skin seemed to glisten. He wore a white undershirt and black shorts, like he just threw some shit on to come down here to cause a scene. His muscles flexed as I wondered how many tattoos he had. They littered his arms and traveled up his neck.
The last thing I was supposed to be doing at the moment was drooling over aman. Men had to be God’s worst creations, and I stood on that. I’d been in too many failed relationships to believe otherwise, but this man right here had me tossing my logic right out the nearest window.
“How about we move you to one of our private villas right on the beach, free of charge, of course?” the employee suggested. His hands shook as he waited for Mr. Spivy’s response.
I could see Mr. Spivy’s jaw clench as he finessed his thick beard. The tension in the air was insane as everyone waited for what would happen next. My eyes stayed trained on Mr. Spivy as he clearly thought carefully about his response.
Finally, he said, “Aight, bet. That and a full refund.” The couple in front of me groaned, and somehow, I just knew that was not the appropriate response for them. Mr. Spivy’s eyes snapped to them. “Is there a fuckin’ problem?”
For some reason, the way the older white couple took a step back made me cover my mouth, but my giggle was audible.
Mr. Spivy’s eyes locked on mine, and I swear all the breath left my body. My giggles immediately ceased, and I got hot all over, despite the cool air conditioning circulating around the area.
When he smirked at me, I thought I might melt into the ground. He seemed to find me just as amusing as I found him. I had no idea when I stepped into this resort that I would get free entertainment within sixty seconds.
His eyes landed back on the couple, who shook their heads vigorously. I couldn’t see their faces, but I could imagine their expressions were filled with bewilderment.
“What the fuck I thought,” Mr. Spivy snapped before he turned back to the concierge. “Like I said, full refund, and do that shit quickly so you can check these people in before they have a damn aneurysm.”
Another giggle slipped past my lips. Mr. Spivy caught my eye again, and I swear I saw the corners of his lips twitch. My heart swelled as I silently coached it to be still.
