Chapter 13 #2
We talked regularly, so I had all the tea on her and Qua.
They were so stinkin’ cute. Like me, Tesha didn’t want to move too fast, but she was enjoying the way Qua made her feel.
I could definitely relate. It had been seven days since I had dinner with Kastian at his home.
Seven days since I saw him or had sex with him.
We had one phone conversation, and I was lowkey sick, but the distance was necessary.
Seeing him, talking to him, and having sex with him every day would have me walking around bowlegged with my head in the clouds.
Qua took Tesha on a three-day vacation and when they returned, he became super busy.
When she told me she wanted to stop by the lounge, so she could see him I was down.
They had good food and strong drinks, so it didn’t take much to convince me.
I was almost done with my first drink, smoking hookah, and dancing on my stool when Tesha’s body stiffened.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” she growled lowly.
Following her line of vision, I saw two men ambling in our direction.
One of them made my pussy thump. The way Kastian was easing through the small crowd had my stomach caving in.
It took me a few seconds to look at his companion, and his fine ass didn’t look too happy.
Ryder looked like he was about to show his ass.
Ryder stood beside her with a hint of rage but also pain flickering in his eyes. He had the nerve to look hurt after all the times he’d cheated. “Damn you been hiding from a nigga for almost two months. You don’t think we should at least have a conversation?”
Tesha’s head snapped in his direction. “I don’t have a fuck ass thing to say to you.” She then turned to look at me. “I promise I hate to leave you, but I’m not doing this with him. Swear to God I’m not.”
“It’s fine. I understand,” I assured her.
Tesha eased off the stool, and Ryder grabbed her arm. “Tesha, it’s like that bro? I just want to talk.”
The same time that she snatched away from him, Qua appeared like a knight in shining amour. “You good?” he asked Tesha.
Ryder didn’t even turn to look at him. “Yeah, she good nigga.”
“Tee, you good?”
Ryder turned around faster than the speed of light. “Tee?” he looked over his shoulder at Tesha, and it registered. “You fucking this nigga?” he frowned. I could tell it was about to go down in a major way.
Tesha attempted to walk around him, but Ryder grabbed her arm again. “Yo,” Qua gently released her from Ryder’s grasp and moved her behind his massive body. “Not in here. Not tonight my guy.”
“Nigga,” Ryder looked him up and down just as security approached.
It was then that Kastian moved forward. I had damn near forgotten that he was even there. “Nah,” he told the security guards. “I got him.” The warning in his orbs was clear.
The two men stood waiting for him to remove Ryder.
“Come on, G. She doesn’t want to talk. Don’t do this here,” Kastian attempted to reason.
“You want me to air this muhfucka out?” Ryder asked Tesha with his nostrils flaring as he ignored Kastian’s words.
Tesha didn’t respond with words. She simply walked off leaving him standing there. When Ryder attempted to follow, Kastian stepped in front of him. His tone was low, but I could hear him and knew he was serious.
“Nigga, let her go. She doesn’t want to talk, bro. I know that shit doesn’t feel good, but she’s done, bro. You gotta let that go.”
Ryder turned to leave, and Kastian followed him. Qua and the security guards moved to the side and started talking while the bartender stood stumped with her mouth slightly hanging open.
“I’ll cover her tab,” I assured her. “Let me get one more drink. Cancel her food order too. She probably won’t be back.”
The bartender looked relieved that Tesha hadn’t skipped out on her tab. While I was waiting on my drink, a guy came over and was staring a hole in my head. I pretended not to notice, but he was just standing there staring. Finally, I turned toward him with an annoyed look on my face.
“I swear I’m not a creep,” he chuckled. “You look like someone I know, but you’re clearly not her. I was trying to figure out if I should speak or not.”
I gave a slight head nod but didn’t speak. He was handsome. Like very handsome. I mean, Kastian looked better, but this man was a very close second.
“My name is Rodney.”
Turning to face him once again, I gave him a tight smile. “I’m Persia.” I didn’t want to come off as rude, but I wasn’t sure I was interested. I was truly stuck between not dating and allowing myself to just be and being a city girl out here living my best life.
Fine men who were truly one hundred percent single, faithful, respectful, had a job and some business about himself and didn’t have babies all over the city were super rare.
I felt as if I’d already found a Unicorn in Kastian.
There was zero confidence that I’d run across that again.
So that meant most of the men I met would be a complete waste of my time, and time wasn’t something that I had a lot of to spare.
“Are you single, Persia?”
Rodney’s gaze raked over my body, and I almost felt violated. But he was a man doing what men did.
“I am. I’m very newly single, however. Newly single to point that I don’t think dating this soon would be wise.” I gave another forced smile.
“I hear you. I’ve been divorced for a year, and I just decided to get back out here.”
My interest was piqued. “How long were you married?” the bartender brought my drink over, and I wasted no time taking a sip of the beverage.
“I was with her for twelve years total. We were married for seven years. We were high school sweethearts.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I just filed for divorce. It’s tough.”
“It’s tough but sometimes, it’s necessary. Sadly, I don’t think that for better or worse applies to everyone.”
“Amen to that,” I lifted my glass slightly.
“Sorry to interrupt but Tesha wants to speak to you outside,” Kastian came over and stated calmly.
“Is she okay?” I was borderline frantic as I waved the bartender over. I forgot all about my conversation with Rodney.
Sliding off the stool, I almost tossed my debit card at the bartender and rushed outside. My head was on swivel as I looked around for Tesha. “Where is she?” I asked Kastian only to realize he had a smirk on his face.
“She left. I just wanted that fuck ass nigga out of your face.”
My eyes cut into slits as I stared at him. “Are you serious right now?”
Kastian invaded my personal space and pressed his body into mine. “Very. Why the fuck is that cornball in your face anyway?” the smirk was gone, and Kastian appeared as serious as a heart attack.
“That’s the definition of doing too much. I’m single and free to converse with whoever I want. Let’s not forget that.”
“Oh yeah?” I could feel his hard dick pressing into me, and I was growing weaker by the second. I refused to let him know that, however.
“Yes.”
“You ready to go?”
“Where is Tesha and your friend?” my eyes darted around the parking lot.
“Stop deflecting. She left, and I spent a good ten minutes talking that nigga down. Now, are you ready to go?”
“Who said I’m going with you?” I smirked, and Kastian’s nostrils flared as he flicked the tip of his nose.
“Who the fuck you playing with?”
I shook my head at him. “All jokes aside, Kastian. I’ll come to your house, but let’s not forget the plan here. Nothing too serious. Very light and casual.”
“Man, you don’t have to remind me of that shit,” he kissed his teeth. But something told me he was lying.