Chapter 3 #2
"Again, I told you what this was when you tried to push a relationship for the first time. We aren't compatible."
"How do you know that?" she challenged, shifting her weight to one leg, folding her arms across her chest. "You haven't even given us a chance."
Lately, Ari had been pushing the relationship thing between us more than before. Whenever we were around each other, she'd ask about becoming a couple. My answer remained the same each time. There were no sparks between us.
Instead of entertaining Ari and her antics, I got back to the reason she called me over. Granted, I should've done that in the beginning, but seeing her wetness hypnotized me. I fell into a trance. I became a dog in heat, causing me to forget my responsibilities.
"Where is the leak you wanted me to look at?" I asked, standing to my feet.
She sucked her teeth. "Don't worry. You fixed it."
"Ari, don't piss me off. Where is the leak? I'm already here."
She rolled her eyes. "You fixed it," she repeated, looking down between her legs.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Really, Ari?"
She walked over to me, rubbing her hand across my dick. I felt myself bricking back up. Ari knew just what to do to have me bending her over, giving her more dick. I needed to gain control, so I moved her hand and placed some space between us.
"Ari, I told you about that shit. Only call when you truly need something, not when you want dick. I could've been home resting before heading out tonight."
"I know, I know. I just had to see you, Trey. It's been so long." She pouted, removing the space between us, rubbing her hand up and down my chest.
I looked down at her, wondering how many niggas she used the same look on to get her way.
"Plus, you weren't answering any of my phone calls, so I became concerned."
"I was busy, Ari. Look, I will not tell you again. Stop doing this shit. If you need dick, say that. I'm gaining more and more properties, so I'm busy as fuck. Don't let this happen again."
My words were stern. Ari couldn't keep doing this. It took away from my doing what I needed to do. She stared at me instead of responding.
"What, yo?"
"I don't like it when you're mad at me," she whined.
"I'm not mad, but you need to follow the steps and stop making false calls," I stated, controlling my tone. "Understand?"
I ran my hand down my face, mentally counting to five to stop from cussing her out.
Ari was a client. I knew I'd crossed the line, giving her dick now and then.
I still had to make sure I kept things on good terms. She moved closer and ran her hand across my dick a few more times. She looked up at me with a smirk.
"Understood." She licked her lips. "I'm sorry, Trey. Let me make it up to you."
Already an hour late, I rushed into the diner.
The first quarter of the game was halfway over.
My boys sat in the corner, right in front of the TV mounted on the wall.
We'd visited the diner, Justine's, for years.
Justine's was a local spot. It had gone through many renovations over the years to keep up with the changes in society.
Every night, the diner held some sort of special.
Thursday night football games, Monday Night Football, or they showed all the basketball games that aired.
Included were specials on food and drinks, which brought out most of the town.
As soon as I made my way through the crowd toward our booth, my boys were shaking their heads at me.
Owen and Vance had been my friends for fifteen years.
We met here in the diner while watching a football game.
What started as a simple what's up turned into hours of us discussing football, women, and work.
After the first interaction, we would always meet at the diner on Thursdays.
Over time, our bond deepened. The conversation shifted from the bar to a booth, thus creating a fifteen-year-long tradition.
I appreciated more than anything the friendship we built.
We knew everything about each other and were each other's free therapy session, whether good or bad.
"I don't want to hear it," I warned, dapping them up.
Owen looked at me and took a swig of his beer. "Ari, be having your ass not knowing your left from your right."
"Man, it ain't even like that. She pretended she had a leak."
"Why she ain't call the maintenance company?" Vance asked.
Owen sucked his teeth. "Because she wanted that dick. That's why."
Both burst out laughing, and I joined in.
Owen was a straight shooter. He didn't give a damn what he said and how he said it.
He was a defense attorney and didn't hold back.
There was only a soft spot in his heart reserved for his newborn daughter.
Owen, unfortunately, had a hard upbringing.
He grew up in poverty and witnessed a lot of things in his early childhood and teenage years.
He knew he wanted to get out and make a way for himself.
He was now a successful lawyer, but the tough-guy, born-in-the-hood image never went away.
Vance was the opposite. He had more empathy in his heart than anyone I'd ever met.
He was a principal at a middle school, and he loved those kids like they were his own.
Their personalities combined balanced me out.
"She gets you every time, Trey. You need to put a wall up because if you don't, she's going to keep doing this type of stuff," Vance advised.
"I know, but the pussy is so good!"
Owen reached over and we dapped up while Vance shook his head, laughing.
"Enough about Ari. The next round is on me, since I'm late."
I didn't want to discuss Ari any longer. I was still pissed about the stunt she pulled.
"Where's Chasity?" I asked, looking for Chasity.
Anytime she was our server, she did a good job. In my opinion, she was the best server at Justine's.
"She's behind the bar tonight," Vance answered, looking over at her.
Owen and I noticed lately how Vance would pay a bit more attention to Chasity than usual.
The two flirted often, but Vance claimed it was innocent.
However, Owen and I could see that Vance felt something for her.
Their conversations were more intense compared to the way we interacted with her.
We agreed not to press the issue, but we did have a bet going to see if Vance would make his move.
"Damn, who do we got tonight?"
"There she goes, right there," Owen said, waving his hand.
I looked in the direction Owen waved. He waved at a chocolate-skinned woman.
Her eyes widened and never settled as she made her way over to us.
I studied her more. She gnawed at her bright pink bottom lip while fidgeting with the front of her apron.
She had full cheeks and a button nose. She wore the diner uniform, a jersey-style blue top and black pants.
I had never seen her before, but her beauty was striking.
She looked innocent but mature. She wore a short haircut that complemented her bone structure.
I could barely see her figure behind the baggy jersey and apron.
Her eyes fell on me once she arrived at the table.
I offered her a smile, but she quickly turned and looked at Owen, still fidgeting with her apron.
"Is everything okay?" she asked. Her voice was soft, so I had to strain to hear her.
"Yes! My boy just arrived. He wants to order some drinks."
Her eyes bounced to me, and she stared at me again. I was used to women staring, so it didn't bother me as much. She cleared her voice and reached for the booklet in her apron.
"Wh-what can I get you?" she asked, stuttering.
I looked her up and down. I could tell she was nervous. I thought it would be nice to break the ice so she wouldn't be nervous. My boys and I had nothing to be nervous about. If she were going to be working here, she would need to get over that.
"What's your name?" I asked with a smile.
"Mila."
"Tremaine."
Again, she stared at me. Nothing behind her brown eyes.
"How long have you been here? I ain't ever seen you around here before," I commented.
"Um, since Monday. I'm still learning."
She kept her response simple, avoiding all eye contact with me.
"Bet. Are you from here?" I asked.
She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Sir, what can I get for you?"
My eyes bounced over to Vance and Owen as they tried their hardest to muffle their laughs. I was confused. This was my first time meeting her, so I had no idea where the attitude stemmed from.
"Damn, are you okay? I'm just trying to make small talk. Shit, we're here every Thursday, so we might as well become acquainted."
"That won't be necessary. I'm here to do my job, not to make friends with anyone. Now, sir, if you don't mind, may I please take your order? I have four other tables to get to," she asserted, this time, her voice dripping with attitude.
"Damn, who hurt you?" I asked, offended that she was giving me so much attitude when her money relied on me.
"I just walked in here, trying to get my boys and me a few bottles and be cordial with you.
We ain't the type of people y'all stereotype.
We do tip, so don't worry, baby girl. We're good for it," I snapped.
"I never said you weren't. I would like to get through a shift without some nigga trying to be all in my business. Order your shit and I'll bring you your shit. There's no need for small talk," she spat back at me.
I looked at Owen and Vance. This time, they both had confused looks on their faces.
"Yo, where the fuck is Justin at? Bring him out here. I ain't got time for this shit!" I fumed.
Her expression changed as if she had realized what she had done. It was too late.
"Listen—" she started, but I stopped her.
"Nah, baby girl, fuck all that. Go get him."
"But—"
"Yo? What did I just say? You approached my table with a fucked-up attitude. Go get your manager."
She hesitated for a second and then sped off in the back.
"Yo, who the fuck is Justin out here hiring? She's coming at me sideways like I asked her to fuck," I ranted to Vance and Owen.
"Yeah, she wasn't like that with us. She said her name, asked our orders, and that was it," Vance explained. "She might be having a bad shift."
"No excuses. I just got here."
"Damn, man, you don't think you might have fucked with her in one of your one-night stands, left that hoe on read?" Owen asked.
I shook my head. Mila had a look that I wouldn't forget. She wouldn't have been just a one-night stand. She would've been someone I remembered being with.
"Hell no. Either way, it doesn't matter because once I finish telling Justin about her, she's as good as fired."
"Damn, not you a snitch," Owen joked.
I didn't care what he thought. There was no way I was letting this mad-ass woman handle my drinks or food.