Chapter 18
I hadn’t even logged into my computer and Anika was already in my office. “Are you ready to talk about this weekend?”
“Good morning, happy Monday.”
“Bump all that. I let you stonewall me the other night because Dante was waiting for me in the car, but I have nowhere to be today.” Anika claimed one of the chairs in front of my desk, crossing her legs.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Okay, so I see I need to treat you as a hostile witness.”
“What?”
“Ms. Irwin were you and Mr. Mosley on a date on the night I stopped by to pick up the burgundy dress that had my man taking it off of me with his teeth?”
“I want that dress dry cleaned before you return it.”
“Objection, the witness will answer the question.”
“No.”
“So what was he doing there?”
I clicked on an email attachment because unlike Anika, I actually had work to do. “Like I said it was work. I was giving him a tour of my apartment.”
“Your apartment and your pussy because—”
“Stop it.”
“So you gave him a tour of your apartment and then you two had dinner?”
Hitching my shoulder I said, “We had to eat.”
“Hmm, I’m sure you kept his mouth full.”
“Objection.”
She pointed a wagging index finger in my direction. “Overfuckingruled.”
“I’m requesting a mistrial.”
“Bitch you’re about to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole if you don’t answer my questions. Did you fuck him? And look me in the eyes when you answer because I know when you’re lying.”
“No.”
Anika leaned in. “Were you about to fuck him?”
“No, nah, nope.”
“Swear on Pudding Paws’s plushy life you’re telling the truth.”
Pudding Paws was the stuffed teddy bear I slept with for way too long as a kid. I named him Pudding Paws because his paws reminded me of tapioca pudding. And he may or may not be on one of the shelves in my closet as we speak.
“This is ridiculous. What I choose to do … or not do is my business.”
“We’re sisters, we tell each other everything. Like I’ve consumed so much cum this weekend I think I’m getting a sore throat.”
I aggressively gagged. “No one … no one needed or wanted to hear that. I could have gone my entire fucking life without that information. God you are such a fucking oversharer.”
“And you’re not a good sister. I gave you something now you have to give me something.”
Fuck, I know in Mexico I was whining about not having interesting stories, but Aldridge was off limits, sacred ground. But if I didn’t acquiesce, Anika would keep bringing him up. “Aldridge’s penis is still perfect.”
Anika gasped. “Did you put in your mouth?”
“No.”
“Did you wanna put it in your mouth?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“So are you guys back together?”
“No, it’s not that. I honestly don’t know what we’re doing.”
“Ask him or better yet, tell him. Tell him you made a mistake and that he’s your man again. Then suck the meat off his bone to seal the deal. A good dick sucking is like a promise ring, only wetter with a fifty-fifty chance you get a little something in your eye.”
“What if that’s not what I want?”
“To be with Aldi?”
“I mean I don’t know.”
“Well, you better get to figuring it out because he’s going to come back from being on the road with an erection and a dream. Do it for the culture.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“There are millions of women who would love to fuck an athlete. Shit there’s probably a couple thousand that want to fuck your athlete.
So do this for the women all across the country who will never know the thrill of having a man in peak physical condition fuck her until her walls collapse.
And I know Aldridge can fuck because when you two were together, you did not play about that man.
When them college girls would try to holler at him you got real froggy. ”
“Because he was my man. Play dominos, bitch, play in traffic but don’t play with me or mine.
” Back in college a lot of women ignored the fact that Aldridge was taken.
He always shut them down immediately, letting them know he had a girlfriend but some of the remedial bitches needed an additional reminder.
“You’re awfully heated about a man you claim to no longer want.”
“It’s the principle of the thing.”
“Send him a nude pic.”
“What?”
“Send Aldridge a picture of your wet pussy. Let him know you’re about that life and you’re calling dibs.”
“Why would I need to call dibs?”
“Because he’s a basketball player on the road. During the game he’s throwing the ball and at night pussy is being thrown at him.”
“You give the worst advice.”
“Do what you want, but Aldridge isn’t going to stay single for long.” Anika stood, took several of my pens and headed down the hall to her office.
Normally I listened to my sister’s advice and did the opposite.
Her life choices were not ones I wanted to necessarily emulate.
Of course I was attracted to Aldridge, time was never going to change that and seeing him again it was inevitable I’d be conflicted.
But I ended our relationship for a reason.
Nothing had changed, he was still a basketball player in high demand.
I noticed the way women looked at him when he entered a room or walked past them.
Why would I open myself up to that type of drama?
However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the possibility of seeing him with one of those other women would piss me off.
Yes, he was my ex, but I still felt connected to him and a tad bit possessive.
Did I have a right to feel this way? No.
When he wasn’t in my city, the chance of me seeing him with a beautiful woman on his arm was slim to none.
Vegas, however, was a small big city in which you could connect anyone by seven degrees of separation.
The thought of Aldridge dating, fucking, or falling in love with someone else was enough to make me crash out.
Grabbing my phone, I typed a quick text message.
Danessa: I’m calling dibs.
Aldridge: What?
Danessa: DIBS!
Aldridge: On what?
Danessa: Everything.
Aldridge: Can I get a vowel because I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Danessa: I know you’re on the road and there are plenty of women and opportunities and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t entertain anyone until we’ve had a chance to speak.
Aldridge: Oh shit are you putting my dick in your cart?
Danessa: No this isn’t about your dick this about you.
Aldridge: Danessa, I’m a singularly focused man so you don’t have to worry about me or my dick doing anything you wouldn’t approve of.
Danessa: I just think we should talk … about stuff and things.
Aldridge: Things and stuff.
And where he could stuff his thing.
Danessa: So we both agree to put a pin in any extracurricular activities?
Aldridge: Yep, I’m going to ask the woman I met at the club to go home now.
I knew he was joking. Right, that was a joke? There wasn’t a woman in his room. Right?
Danessa: Tell her Danessa Irwin has already licked it and so you’re mine.
Aldridge: I’m gonna go find a Sharpie and write your name on it.
Danessa: You better not I want that dick returned to me in pristine condition.
Aldridge: Gotdamn, yes ma’am.
Aldridge and the Ramblers returned to Vegas at one in the morning and since we had a house showing the next day, we decided to wait until then to talk.
I was currently pacing the hardwood floors of the home I planned to show Aldridge.
My confidence had waned considerably since our text message exchange.
What if Aldridge was looking to get his lick back?
Perhaps he was lulling me into a false sense of security and then once he’d gotten the cookie he’d dip, ghost me, or worse break up with me in an attempt to hurt me like I’d hurt him.
I’d never known him to be malicious, but time and heartbreak can change people.
Despite my best efforts, all I could think about were all the ways this could go horribly wrong. All the ways I could end up in misery. My life wasn’t in the best place right now but at least I wasn’t nursing a shattered heart. The past could only hurt me if I let it.
Today’s house wasn’t on the market yet, but I knew the realtor and she gave me a heads up that an estate sale was taking place in the home over the weekend.
So, I thought it would be smart to use that intel to get a jump on the competition.
Desirable homes in Vegas were scooped up quickly so sometimes you had to go above and beyond to get a leg up.
When Aldridge walked in he appeared frazzled. I waved and he made a beeline in my direction. “I had to park a block away. Why are there so many people here?” His hand found my waist and he pulled me into a hug.
I quickly pushed him away and scanned the room. “It’s an estate sale.”
“Why are we at an estate sale?”
“We are touring this house which is also the backdrop for this estate sale. Try to ignore the kitchen wear, jewelry, and clothes and focus on the bones of this house.”
“Got it.” Aldridge’s hand found mine.
“What are you doing?” I politely removed my hand from his.
“I … I just … I thought—”
“I’m at work. I’m working. We should tour the house.
” Shit was already feeling weird. Or maybe it was just me acting weird.
Me suggesting we circle back to the good old days was stupid.
“First, we have the living room …” Aldridge pinned his arms across his chest. He didn’t verbally object, but his body language was speaking volumes.
I believed in the separation of business and personal.
I’d worked hard to garner a reputation as a realtor who was both professional and knowledgeable.
The last thing I wanted was to be seen holding hands and making lovey dovey eyes at a client.