Page 5
ChapterThree
The hostess was talking, but Sevyn didn’t hear a word she said. Her ears were burning from embarrassment. Literally. She actually thought that they might fall off the side of her face.
Her date, Maverick, or Dallas, as she knew him to truly be, thanked the hostess and pushed his chair back, standing as the young woman disappeared, leaving Sevyn alone with him.
From the looks of things, he was just as embarrassed as she was.
“Sev, have you lost your damn mind?” he barked, glaring at her. “What the fuck are you doing linking up with niggas you haven’t even seen before?”
“Me?” she shrieked, placing a hand against her chest. “You did the same thing. Maverick. Real cute. Nice play on picking an alias based on your middle name.”
“That shit is different. Do you know how many crazy ass niggas are running around here?”
“How could I not when one of them is standing directly across from me?” A frown etched its way across her face as she dropped her arm back down to her side.
Dallas’ glare was so intense it would have caused a lesser woman to fold, but Sevyn refused. She gave him every bit of energy that he was giving her. Years of experience had given her every tool she needed to maneuver Dallas’ personality.
The staredown continued until, somehow, their annoyance with the other began to trickle into laughter. Dallas’ face twitched, the corners of his lips hinted at a smile, which resulted in one from her. Before they knew it, they were both embroiled in a rambunctious laughing fit neither of them could control.
Swiping a tear from beneath her eyes, Seyvn attempted to get control of herself first. “How much of a coincidence is this?”
“Too damn much,” Dallas agreed, shaking his head while pulling out a chair for her. “You wanna sit?”
That gave her pause. Pinning her clutch purse tightly against her abdomen, Sevyn asked, “Should I?”
Amusement danced in his eyes, “You gotta eat, right?
“I suppose I didn’t get dressed to the nines for nothing,” she sighed, sinking into her seat as he pushed it in for her.
“I like that hair color on you. When’d you change it?”
“Last week,” Sevyn replied absently. Fishing her phone out of her clutch, she noticed the array of text messages from Lorren and Avery questioning her well-being.
“Let me guess,” Dallas said, reclaiming his seat. “Lorren and Avery are blowing your shit up.”
“No more than Pardi and Kohl are probably blowing up yours.”
“Just Pardi, I ain’t talked to Kohl today.” Dallas stroked his beard. “Now that I think about it, I ain’t talked to him in a couple of days. He did tell me that he was moving back though.”
“Yup,” Sevyn confirmed. “In a couple of months the deal will be done, and he’ll be back for good.”
“I know yo’ ass is excited about that.”
Seyvn cheesed, “Damn right, I miss his annoying ass more than I thought I would. Did he tell you that he’d be back in time for Lor’s New Years’ party this year?”
“Yeah. And he’s tripping out about potentially seeing Avery again.”
“Rightfully so. She’s acting an ass already.”
“She wouldn’t be Ave if she didn’t. It ain’t nothing to trip about though. Knowing Lor, she’ll be ready and waiting to reign Ave in.”
Sevyn’s eyebrows dipped in. “Speaking of Lorren, she’s never going to let me live this shit down.”
“And you think Pardi will let me?” Dallas snorted, eyes scanning his menu. “He was already talking big shit before you got here. If he finds out my date was you, the nigga is going to clown me until the end of eternity.”
“We don’t have to tell them.”
“You ashamed that I’m your date, Sev?” he smirked playfully.
