Chapter 10 #2
He laughed and stepped back. “You really gonna interrogate me about why the fuck I want to spend my money or you gonna get this sale.”
I rolled my eyes, fully not believing he wanted to buy this townhouse. But if that was the game he was playing, then so be it.
“Fine. Let’s go.” I turned on my heels and marched into the kitchen, throwing my hand to the side and mumbled, “Kitchen.”
“That’s all I get?” He smiled and I rolled my eyes.
“Newly renovated, all new appliances, open floor plan, butcher block countertops, cozy fireplace, and private back patio.”
“Put an offer in.”
“What?” I blinked at this man like I was hard of hearing or he had lost his mind because again, what?
“Put an offer in?”
“You want me to put an offer in on this townhouse?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna buy it even though you really didn’t give a fuck about convincing me that it’s worth the money I’m about to spend.”
“I just sold you a house; why would I take you seriously?”
“Maybe I need a place to kick it when I don’t feel like being alone in that big ass house or maybe I just want to see your pretty smile because the way you’re grilling the fuck outta me damn sure ain’t doing it for me. Now you gon’ take my money or not?”
“You’re gonna buy this townhouse just to make me smile.”
“Yeah I am, but under one condition?”
Please don’t ask for sex because I’m going to say yes, then I’m going to feel terrible because I’m offering up my coochie for commissions…
“I feel like if I entertain this, I’m going to regret it.”
He laughed and yanked at his beard, smiling sexily after. “Shit, you might, but you also might enjoy it. Come here?”
“Is that the condition…”
“Nah, just come here.”
I moved closer and he dropped his hands to my waist and lifted me onto the counter before wedging his body between my legs. Kove placed his palms flat beside my legs and lowered his face so we were eye level.
“You want this sale? And I want your time.”
“I’m not sleeping with you so that you’ll buy this townhouse.”
He smiled smugly.
“Oh God, you really think I would have sex with you for a sale.”
“Nah, I don’t. Chill, man. What I want is a favor for a favor.”
“My pussy for a purchase?”
“Bruh, don’t reference your pussy unless you want me in it.” He yanked me forward and pressed his dick against her and she purred in approval of the contact.
“My agent and publicist have me committed to a lot of appearances over the next couple weeks. Some of it requires me to show up with someone. They have a list of potential women they’ve vetted and shit but I’m not feeling that. My one condition is that you be my plus one.”
“Me…” I squealed.
“Yeah, you.”
“You want to fake date me?”
His expression tensed and he shook his head. “Nah, that’s some shit my team would set up. That’s not what I want. You’re cool. I fucks with you heavy, and if I gotta be at this shit, I would rather be there with someone I’m comfortable with.”
“You’re comfortable with me or do you just like saying that since you were also comfortable with the house I sold you even after you had no real opinions about it?” I smiled, arching a brow.
“Did it feel comfortable when I was in your pussy? Because that’s how I remember things, so yeah, I’m comfortable with you.”
“Kove…” I slapped his arm and felt my face blaze.
“Answer the question.”
“No, and regardless, I can’t, sorry.”
“Can’t or won’t.”
“Can’t…” I paused with the reason on the tip of my tongue. Random sex with a stranger as one thing. Being the plus one for an NBA player who would undoubtedly be photographed while I’m in the middle of a divorce that my ex is avoiding was not a smart decision.
“Aight.” He backed away from me, yanked on his beard, then looked around the townhouse.
“Put an offer in and send it over for me to sign.”
Kove turned and walked away, which had me hopping off the counter.
“Wait, you still want me to put an offer in?”
“Yeah, I’m not gonna play with your money, Xi. That’s not the type of shit I’m on. As soon as you send the contract over, I’ll sign it and get it back to you.”
I stood there dumbfounded, watching Kove leave the townhouse.
I frowned, trying to process what the hell just happened.
By the time my feet were moving enough to get me to the door, his car was on its way to the corner and turning before I could make sense of why he was that annoyed about me not wanting to be his plus one.
I dug my phone from my pocket and proceeded to call my sounding board. I was going to get her opinion on this while I locked the house up because apparently the viewing was done.
“Hey, booski.”
“Hey…” I sighed, climbing the stairs to the upper level so I could shut off the lights.
“Who are we fucking up?”
I smiled as I turned off the lights in the main bedroom. “Why would you assume this is a fade them hoes call.”
“Because you sound sad and anyone who makes my friend sad makes me irrational and you know I have no problem using my hands. These shits stay up to date.”
“Not that kind of call but I love you long time. I do want your opinion on something, and for the question I’m about to ask, I need you to make the decision from above waist level and not below, please.”
“So you’re not letting my girl chime in. She’s utterly offended because you know she gives the best advice.”
“If this were about having a good time, I would agree, but I need more than that right now. Above waist, Koa.”
“Fine, what’s up?”
“So my viewing today was Kove.”
“Girl, fuck that man and let him buy that townhouse.”
“Koa…” I warned, heading back downstairs after I made sure all of the lights were out in the three bedrooms.
“What, friend? You know I love you so don’t expect me to not be on the side of you using all your skillsets to get that commission.”
“So you’re okay with me fucking my way to realtor of the month?” I moved to the patio door and made sure it was locked, then flipped off the lights in the living room and kitchen before heading to the front door.
“I mean, do what you have to do, friend.”
“You’re a horrible bestie, and for the record, that is not the issue. He didn’t propose sex for the sale. He actually wants me to be his plus one to some stuff that his agent has him committed to.”
“Xi, the fuck? Why didn’t you just lead with that? He wants you to be his plus one, then what, he’ll buy the townhouse as a thank you?”
“Pretty much.”
“I know you’re not calling to ask if you should say yes, because again, the fuck…”
“I told him no and you know why.”
I left the townhouse and hit the lock button on the keypad, checking the door twice before I got into my car to leave. “No hoe, I do not know why?”
“I have a husband, Koa. I am actively trying to get rid of him because he’s a piece of shit but we’re still legally married.”
“Weren’t you legally married when Kove had you singing in soprano?”
I cringed, backing away from the townhouse. “Yes, but in my defense, that was a one and done…”
“More than once, friend. According to you, there was a sex marathon going on that night.”
I grinned and nodded. “Definitely a marathon. I’m still recovering.
” I squeezed my thighs together. “But the point is… That was just us. If I agree, that means media attention. That man just signed a very nice contract with the Royals. I have a husband who played for the Badgers. I refuse to put Kove in the middle of a scandal before he even plays his first game.”
“You’re right. I just really hate that Kaden is still costing you happiness. He’s a fucking coward and an egotistical asshole who never deserved you. I hate that I encouraged you to marry him.”
“He was a good guy until he wasn’t. That’s not your fault.”
“Well, I feel like it is because I’m so much better at reading people. He should have never bypassed my bullshit meter.”
I grinned because she was truly pissed that she didn’t see who Kaden was until it was too late, but it wasn’t her job to protect my heart.
Neither was it my parents and I didn’t want either of them carrying the weight of my stupid decisions.
He played all of us. I didn’t know if he ever truly loved me or if our entire marriage was a fraud, but parts of it actually felt real.
I simply refused to let myself go there.
“We’re not giving him energy, Koa.”
“You’re saying that but you’re giving him energy, Xi. You have a fine, rich man whose dick game is phenomenal—your words exactly, friend—but you’re refusing to give him a chance because of your fucktard of a husband. He’s getting energy he doesn’t deserve.”
“Okay, but what else am I supposed to do?”
“Say yes. What’s the worst that could happen?
If it comes out that you’re married, which is highly unlikely, we have proof that you’re over it.
You petitioned for divorce six months ago.
I filed the paperwork for you. There’s also legal record that you have been trying to track him down to end the marriage.
Not to mention text messages where he bluntly stated he refuses to divorce you because you’re not going to be with anyone else.
He wants you to be miserable with or without him.
There’s no way in hell anyone will blame you for moving on with your life, divorce finalized or not.
Maybe seeing you with a real man will make Kaden step the fuck up and sign the papers knowing he could never measure up. ”
“You’re underestimating just how much of an asshole he is. If there’s even a chance that I can move on with my life, he’ll fall off the face of the earth just to stop me from getting what I want.”
“Falling off the face of the earth works in our favor because then you can file for a default divorce for lack of service.”
“Why can’t we do that now?”
“Because we have to actually prove that we’ve tried to serve him and exhausted all possibilities of actively searching for him. So unless you plan on making a social media post in search of him and running an ad in the paper, we have to try to serve him three more times before you can do that.”
“I’m not opposed to a social media post or running an ad in the paper.” The words left my mouth but they were a lie.
I was opposed, because this was embarrassing.
Who failed at getting a divorce? Never mind the fact that the only reason I wasn’t successfully divorced was because he was evading me.
Regardless of the facts, I was devastated that this was my life and didn’t want the world knowing how pathetic it was.
“I’m going to leave it at this, think about it.
Seriously consider the offer. Chilling with Kove will either turn into something good, or at the very least, be amazing sex that keeps you happy until you find the man who’s going to prove Kaden should have never had you in the first place.
If you’re lucky, that man will be Kove, because friend, that man can give you beautiful orgasms and beautiful babies. ”
“When did I say I wanted babies, Koa?”
“You didn’t but you can’t waste good DNA like that. Let that man give you babies, Xi. A lot of them.”
“I’m hanging up now.” I smiled, exiting the ramp to enter the highway.
“Fine, but please tell me you’re at least going to consider what I’m saying.”
“I am.”
“Good enough, love you and fuck yo’ ex, friend.”
“Definitely fuck him,” I returned before we ended the call. I was heading home to bake something because I needed a stress reliever while I reevaluated my entire life.