Chapter 23
twenty-three
Scotlyn.
The doorbell rang and I sprinted from the living room to answer it then launched myself at Tezni. "I missed you."
"You should. Out here living your best life like you don't love me anymore."
I grinned and hugged her tighter. "There is no best life without you."
"Hoe, I know that."
"Come on." I grabbed her carry on and the small size reminded me that she was only here for two days.
This was going to be the hardest part about not being in New York.
Ninety percent of my life was work and traveling for work, but what little free time I did have was spent with her.
Especially after the divorce. She damn near moved in with me because I was so devastated and didn't know what to do with myself.
For the first week I pretended I was okay and threw myself into work but cried all night.
Tezni allowed me space then bombarded me with all her love when she showed up with what she called a "fuck him fam, fix that shit" friend kit.
We engaged in food, fun, a feelings dump, and lots of liquor.
In one weekend, I was fifty percent better and slowly improved while she stayed by my side, making sure I knew I was loved, valued, and more importantly, his greatest loss.
"Your man sent a damn jet for me. A jet, Scot!"
I pulled her into a hug that lasted way too long. "I tried to arrange things but he told me to fall back because he had it."
After a call with Tezni, I was in one of my moods.
Christian noticed and without asking he casually mentioned that she needed to come visit.
I wasn't sure about the logistics, since technically this was his house, but he quickly made sure I knew she could stay here and he would take care of the plans.
"Well no matter how it happened, it happened and I'm here. I've been looking forward to this all week. You've been talking about this fine ass man for weeks and I had to see for myself." She stepped back and looked me up and down. "Damn, you look good, girl. That post-dick glow is real."
"Tez, stop." I felt myself smiling though because if I looked half as good as I felt then she was for sure correct.
She stopped in the foyer and did a quick visual survey. "Okay, this is nice. Different from your place in New York, but I can see why you're comfortable here. Your man has a little change. Speaking of, where's Sexy Enemy?"
"He has meetings all morning. He'll be back later. Come on, let me show you to your room."
We walked through the house and I watched Tezni checking things out and nodding like she was doing a mental inventory of my new residence.
Based on the smile she was rocking, I assumed she approved.
As soon as we walked into the guest room that used to be mine, which Christian confidently cleared out, moving my things to his room to give Tezni space, she smiled widely.
"This guest room is bigger than my damn apartment. I see why you won't bring your ass home."
"It has nothing to do with this house."
"Friend, I know that. The dick is good and the man is better."
I rolled my eyes and moved her bag near the bed. "I wish you could stay longer?"
"I know me too but that's all I could manage with the salon. I figured it was enough time to properly interrogate your boyfriend and make sure he's worthy of my girl."
"You're not interrogating Christian."
"I'm going to have a conversation with him. I have questions, girl."
"Tez."
"What? I've been excited about this since you called earlier in the week. You moved in with a man I've never met and now you look happier than I've seen you in years. I want to understand what's happening and make sure you're good."
She had a point but that didn't mean I was ready for the insanity she was about to bring into my peaceful life with Christian.
"Just promise me you won't do too much."
"I never do too much." She paused and smiled like a damn deviant. "When it comes to your happiness, anyway."
I sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm happy, so calm all that down."
"Mhm, we'll see. Now tell me everything, and friend, I mean everything. Now that I'm here I can read you to see if you're telling the truth."
"I'm not giving you a detailed breakdown of my personal business."
"Fine, but at least tell me if he's living up to expectations." She lifted her hands and pretended to measure something with them, moving them out slowly inch by inch, as if asking how big his dick was.
"Definitely not sharing that." I smacked her hands down and she rolled her eyes.
"You ain't shit, friend. You know I'm not getting any on the regular. The least you could do is let me live vicariously through you."
"What I can do is tell you Christian is everything I need."
"I agree. Your energy is so different. I can't really explain it other than peace."
She was right. I did feel different. Happier, more settled, and more myself than I had been in years.
Even when I was married to Carlton, I was happy, but not like this.
I loved him, or rather the man I thought he was because he did a good job of pretending.
However... There was still something missing.
I could never really explain it and never complained because we worked.
What I felt for Christian in such a short time in comparison to what I felt for my husband didn't even come close.
"It's not just the sex, Tez. It's everything. He makes me feel like I can be myself completely with him."
"Because he sees you and wants you."
"In the simplest way, yeah, that's pretty much it."
"And the business stuff?"
"All handled. We're partners."
"So you're business partners and life partners? Okay, friend, I see your glow up."
I playfully rolled my eyes and she stared at me for a minute, studying my face. "Oh shit, you have feelings, feelings for him."
It wasn't a question and I didn't waste my time denying it. "Yeah, I do."
"Real feelings? Not just good sex feelings?"
"Real feelings. The kind that scare the shit out of me. I was married to a man for ten years who pretended to care about me under terms of an agreement. Things with Christian started with terms and an agreement…"
"One you were aware of and willingly entered into. Not the same, Scot."
"I know, and I'm trying really hard not to penalize Christian for things he had nothing to do with, but it's always there in the back of my mind. The what if…"
"But you believe he feels the same way?"
"I think so. We haven't really talked about it in depth but there's something more than we started with."
"Then stop stressing and just go with it. You deserve this, Scot. You deserve someone who sees how fucking amazing you are."
"Thanks."
"Now, what's the plan for today? Please tell me we're doing something fun. I need a break from real life."
"Spa day. I booked us massages and facials at Tranquil Breeze."
"Ohhh, we're about to be pampered princesses."
"We are, and since Christian decided he was footing the bill for your entire weekend, we're about to take full advantage."
She laughed and nudged my shoulder. "Tell that man don't be trying to bribe me for my vote."
"I mean… we could just stay here if…"
"Girl, hell no! We're going but I'll remain impartial until I grill him."
"Bring your silly ass." I stood and headed for the door, grateful to have my best friend here.
"Wait, what are we driving?"
"The Aston Martin."
"That man might as well sign that title over to you." She laughed, following me through the house, and I agreed. I loved that damn car but not as much as I was loving the man who owned it.
"Okay we're fancy," Tezni said as we walked through the lobby.
"I know, right? It's nice in here."
As soon as we reached the desk, a woman greeted us with a huge smile. "Welcome to Tranquil Breeze, ladies. How can I help you?"
"We have an appointment. My name is Scotlyn Whitney."
Her smile expanded. "Ms. Whitney, welcome. We've been waiting on you. Mr. Devereaux has an amazing day planned for you and your guest."
I blushed and cut my eyes at Tezni who was burning a hole through my profile. The woman rounded the desk and motioned for us to follow.
"Okay, sir, add another check in his approved column," she whispered as we were led to a dressing room to change then a private suite with side by side massage tables. For the next hour, we didn't talk at all, just let the massage therapist work out every knot and bit of tension in our bodies.
When that was done, we were taken to a mineral pool to relax and soothe our muscles, then facials.
"I have no idea how you're going to top this. I think I'm officially in love with your man, Scot."
I grinned, enjoying the lavender-scented gel mask currently resting on my face.
"You're going to love him even more when you find out what we're doing tonight."
"Oh hell, are we about to fall out over a man? Because if it's better than this, I might have to fight your ass for him, friend."
"You can try but my hands are pretty nice."
And I'm not giving him up for anyone…
"Okay, fine, back to living vicariously. What's the plan?"
"Sol is performing at McCall's and Christian got us one of the blackout rooms."
Tezni sat up so fast her eye mask fell off. "Sol? Our Sol? That fine ass man I'm secretly married to?"
"That fine ass man Cadence Barrett is married to."
"Girl, fuck that, we're sister wives." She lay back again and repositioned her mask. "You know I wanted to go to his show in New York but it was sold out."
"I know, and when I found out that he was here, I mentioned it to Christian and he said he could get us tickets."
"If you don't marry that damn man…"
"Over Sol tickets?"
"Um, yes the fuck ma'am. Your man, your, man, your man, is granting me access to my man, my man, my man."
I laughed, rolling my eyes.
"You're that easy to buy off?"
"When it comes to Sol? Absolutely. That man's voice is pure magic and his body is proof that God exists."
"You're shameless."