Chapter 5 #2
“Oh, I’ve never had that before. What do they have?”
“Ah, shit. Come on. Let me teach you something.”
“Okay but if I don’t like it…”
She lifted from the table and stepped around me. The light scent of apricot and ginger caught me and changed what I had a taste for.
“You’re not gonna like it.”
She frowned and I flashed a smile. “You don’t just like Fire Peaux Boyz. It’s praiseworthy, so you love that shit.”
We walked past multiple trucks until we reached the one we needed. I ordered for both of us, paid, and stepped out of the way to wait.
“That’s a lot of food. Is there a surprise guest I’m not aware of?” Her pretty ass smiled and I knew I wanted all them shits from now on.
“I’ve been out the country for almost three years which means I’ve been missing out. I’m about to make up for lost time but you’ll understand when you take the first bite.”
After we had our food, we walked back to a spot in the shade and she placed a big ass leather tote on the table and sat in the most dainty manner I had ever seen in my life.
The way she wrapped the bottom of her skirt and gracefully placed her legs over the bench and smoothed it out after she was seated had me grinning because all she was missing was a gotdamn tiara on her head.
I sat on the same side, straddled the bench facing her, and extended my legs, one in front of her and one at her back, watching while she removed the three containers from the plastic bag.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“You’re not what I’m used to.”
“What are you used to?”
“Damn sure not women like you.”
I wouldn’t be the type of man who said the hood didn’t produce quality, intelligent
women worthy of praise because they damn sure did. Bodies that had men willing to risk it all and make promises they didn’t mean and would never keep just to sample their pussies but they carried themselves differently.
Most of the women I experienced had to defend their hearts, minds, and bodies, so they were guarded in a way that protected them from men who should have never had access to them.
Xiah was green but not in a way that made me feel like I could take advantage of her.
More like she would trust me to see her worth and respect that but niggas where I came from couldn’t handle that type of responsibility.
“What’s wrong with me?” She scrunched her nose and I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Not a damn thing. Tell me what you think.” I motioned to her food and she smiled, lifting a fry to her lips. When it disappeared behind them and she began to chew, I started nodding, already knowing the deal.
“Oh, this is good.”
“Told you. I’m ’bout to smash this shit.” I lifted my po’boy and the first few bites had me nodding again.
“Me too.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
“How do you come out here and walk right past this?”
She was working with a forkful of slaw so it took her a minute to respond. “I don’t know but I would have eventually gotten to it. I kinda had a plan.”
“How the hell do you have a plan for food trucks?”
“Don’t make it sound weird.”
“Nah, it ain’t weird. It’s very you.”
She rolled her eyes and devoured some fries before wrapping them pretty lips around her straw. “And what am I?”
“The kind of person who tells me to vibe with a house instead of making sure it has amenities that give it resale value.”
“You have to live there. It has to feel good but my job as your agent is to provide you with properties that are worth the two point two million you’re investing.”
“So am I getting fucked or did you work your magic?”
“You’re absolutely getting fucked,” she said before biting into her po’boy.
“Bruh, I’m pretty sure that isn’t how you’re supposed to answer that question.”
“No, it’s not but I’m being honest. The houses in Chandler Heights are beautiful and they have all the good stuff, but honestly, you could get more house for half the cost in Crescent Pointe. You’re paying for the Chandler Heights name, but…”
“Nah, ain’t no buts, Xi. You just told me you’re running game.”
She laughed and threw her hand across her lips to hide the mouthful of food she was working on.
Dainty shit…
“I’m not running game, the city is for placing a higher property value on the houses out there.
I just sell them, sir. I have no control over what they’re valued at, but if it makes you feel any better…
” She reached for a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth before rolling her shoulders back.
“You have twenty-four hour security. Scanners on your car to allow you touchless access and also key cards for you and your guests. There’s a private lake, golf club, and two full golf courses, eighteen holes.
Tennis and racquetball courts and two private gyms. Crescent Pointe doesn’t offer any of that and there’s no privacy out there. ”
“Damn, did you spend all day memorizing that shit?” I finished what was left of my first container, licked my fingers, and reached for the second.
“Actually yes, I did, and I also memorized your stats, all of which you would know if you hadn’t been such an asshole to me.”
“I wasn’t being an asshole.”
“Yeah, you kinda were. You didn’t talk to me and we were in the car for forty minutes there and back.
That’s definitely asshole behavior considering I was kind enough to be your transportation.
” She paused and glared at me. “And if you talk shit about my car, be warned I have every right to inflict bodily harm.”
My dick was game for Xiah delivering bodily harm because it twitched at the weak ass threat she issued about putting her hands on me.
“I like your car. It’s cute, just not anything my six-six ass needs to be in.”
“You’re six-six?”
The way her eyes moved from my head down my entire body and back up had me smirking. “I thought you memorized my stats. You don’t know how tall I am?”
“No, not those kinds of stats. I know your shooting average from three point range, assist to turnover ratio, and free throw percentage. You should be impressed because I don’t even like sports.”
“Hold the fuck up. You don’t like sports?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “I mean, I don’t actually dislike them but I’m also not a sports girlie.”
“I’m getting your ass courtside seats for the season.”
“I’m assuming you’re hard of hearing. I just told you I’m not a sports girlie.”
“I heard you but you can’t be my real estate agent and not have respect for what I do.”
“I never said I don’t have respect for what you do. What you do granted you the two point two mill, providing me with a very substantial commission.”
I laughed. “Bruh that’s fucked up and I’m definitely getting you courtside seats for the season. You need to know how hard I work for that money you’re getting from me.”
“Fine, your dime. My best friend will be forever grateful.”
“The tickets aren’t for her. They’re for you.”
“She’ll be my plus one.”
I lifted my sweet tea. “I said you.”
“You can’t expect me to come alone, no one does that.”
“So you’re basically just robbing me now.”
“How am I robbing you?”
“Two courtside seats.”
“You’re forcing me to be there so I’m placing my demands.”
I chuckled. “You’re a damn trip but why your best friend and not your man?”
I didn’t have any business asking about her man, because if she had one, that was gonna piss me off. If she didn’t, I couldn’t do shit about it, because I had a whole list of reasons I needed to be focused on my upcoming season…
“I think we should get started on this contract.” She wiped her hands with a napkin and dug a tablet from her tote.
Damn, did she just curve me…
“Okay, so let’s see, we can begin with the contingencies.”
I had already thoroughly read the contract.
Knew all the details and understood them shits probably better than she did.
What most people didn’t know was that I graduated from CFU with honors.
I also could’ve had a full scholarship but I missed all the deadlines of accepting the awards from financial aid because I didn’t care enough to take it seriously.
Street ball handled that. Playing for D-Ville Ballerz guaranteed my tuition was paid at CFU.
Suleem and Kassir looked out. Gang was life but gang also provided me with a life. One I was forever grateful for.
We moved through the details of the contract, with me listening and pretending to be engaged while she highlighted everything. What I appreciated most was that she naturally assumed whatever she discussed was just for clarity instead of speaking to me like I didn’t have any damn sense.
She gave me an hour of her time before letting me know she had to get back to work and I was grateful for the call from Tyriq asking me to pull up so I wouldn’t play myself by demanding more of her time.
When we made it back to our vehicles, she leaned against hers, offering up that pretty ass smile that had me about to hit Tyriq’s line and tell him I had other plans and would catch him later. Unfortunately, I knew better…
“Thank you for lunch.”
“You’re welcome.”
She still didn’t make a move to get into her car so I leaned against mine. She chewed the corner of her lip and looked around before she brought her eyes back to me.
“You leaving or you trying to ride with me?” Her lashes lowered and highlighted her cheeks before she grinned.
“No, just trying to decide on the polite way of asking if you’re going to finalize the contract without harassing you because technically I’m not supposed to do that.”
I chuckled. “So the only reason you’re blessing me with your presence is because you want my money?”
“It’s actually my money.”
I shook my head and pushed off my car, crowding her space. “Not until I sign the contract.”
“Right.” She huffed. “Then you should handle that.”
I removed my phone from my pocket, moved to the email with the finalized version, and navigated through the electronic signatures. Once I hit submit, she glanced at the device she was clutching in her hand.
“You’re not going to leave a bad review about me, are you?”
“Nah, I’m not gonna call you out about your poor customer service skills.”
“I would argue, but I need more clients at your price point, so I’ll let you have that.”
I chuckled and nodded. “Aight, I know you got shit to do so I’m about to head out.”
“Okay,” she said but still didn’t head to her car.
“You sure you not trying to ride. Your ass is still standing there.” I rounded my car to get to the driver’s side, giving her an out, and she finally pulled her door to get in.
I let her leave first and backed out of my spot after her, knowing I had started some shit I wasn’t sure I could finish but was damn sure gonna try…
I was feeling Xiah’s pretty ass and that was a problem. A huge fucking problem.