Chapter 22 #2
“Morning,” she replied giddily. She took her headphones off and rested them around her neck. “How did things go with Remedy yesterday?”
“Pretty good actually.”
“Did she—hey, Matias!”
I looked behind me and waved at him. Not too far behind him were Jacqueline and Jonah. When the five of us were together, I felt the group’s attention shift to me. They all wanted to know what happened with Remedy.
“She wanted to make sure I knew that it was business and not personal,” I told them with a shrug. “She said that it’ll be fine, so I’m going to choose to believe her.”
They mostly seemed satisfied with my answer, and we boarded our flight to Atlanta.
They booked me in a seat next to Jacqueline and she managed to talk the entire trip.
I’d nodded off for at least thirty minutes and when I woke up, she was still talking.
I was thankful they didn’t have us sharing rooms.
“I made it safely,” I told Aaliyah over the phone after checking into my hotel room.
“Okay, good,” she replied, a hint of relief in her voice. “I’m glad you’re safe. There’s a storm here and I was worried about you.”
I glanced toward the window and the sun was shining bright. “It’s clear skies over here. But since it’s raining, does that change your plans to go to the fair with your man?”
“I think we’re still going. He has to work on Friday so today was the only day we could go.”
I smiled as I listened to her talk about his plans for her. It made me happy to hear how happy she was. After the summer she had and the dates she’d experienced, she deserved to find a man who would love her right and treat her well.
“And what about you and your situation?” she inquired.
I pulled the dress I’d planned to wear to dinner out of my bag. “Which situation?”
“The Russ being your boss situation. What other situations do you have?” she laughed.
“Well, the Russ situation is the main one. He says he’s handling it.
Paperwork is being drafted and we actually went out last night.
It was a small restaurant on the outskirts of town.
Low lights, very intimate, extremely romantic.
But I couldn’t help but feel like we were hiding in the shadows.
Fashion Week is going to be big—possibly for the both of us—so we can’t afford to get caught. ”
“But if he’s working on it and y’all are back to going out on dates, his plan must be legit.”
“I’m choosing to believe that’s going to work out. Especially because I have another situation. RLF brought on another model to replace me.”
“What?” she screeched.
I told her about the RLF link to Bowen and Bowen’s preference for Gabby.
“I’m so sorry,” Aaliyah wailed.
“No, it’s fine.”
“If you weren’t at my party, you would’ve been at that event and—”
“Liyah,” I interrupted. “It’s not your fault! There was no way I was missing your party. You’re my best friend and it was your thirtieth birthday. I’m glad I was there.”
“But I feel bad you missed out on Bowen.”
“Bowen should feel bad they missed out on me!”
We talked for a few more minutes and then we got off the phone.
I took a shower and then climbed in bed.
I briefly texted with Russ before I took a nap.
He was in and out of meetings finalizing the runway show and didn’t have a lot of time, so I told him we’d talk later.
I edited content and responded to comments until I drifted to sleep.
When I woke up from a nap, I got dressed and then went to dinner with the other models.
We were having a good time, exchanging stories in a more relaxed manner than we had the first time we’d gotten together. A few weeks ago, after The Player’s Ball, we were getting to know each other. Our dinner was our first time together in a relaxed atmosphere and free from RLF eyes and ears.
And it was a time!
I’d just finished laughing at something Matias said about his DMs being flooded when my phone vibrated against the table. I picked it up and smiled.
Russ: I’m finally home and the only thing I can think about is this place I want to take you. Are you free right now?
Nina: You had a long day!
Russ: Yeah, I’m going back and forth about what I want to do for the runway show. Work stuff that I’m trying to leave at work. What are you up to? Are you free?
Nina: I’m at dinner with the others. Where is this place you’re thinking about taking me?
Russ: Let me pick you up from the airport on Sunday and surprise you.
Nina: I’ll be getting off the plane with other people who represent your company.
Russ: I’ll figure it out. Just be ready on Sunday. And call me when you’re free.
“—and clearly Nina’s got one,” Taisha teased.
I looked up from my phone to find everyone’s eyes on me. I wasn’t texting for that long, but I clearly missed something.
“What did I miss?” I asked, locking my phone and placing it on my lap.
“We were going around asking who was single,” Jacqueline answered before leaning forward. “From the way you were smiling and texting, I would guess you aren’t single.”
“The way she keeps dodging my advances, I’d guess she’s not single either,” Jonah chimed in.
I laughed. “Y’all are funny.”
“So again, dating? Single? In a relationship?” Taisha wondered, pointing at me. “What’s your situation?”
“I’m not single,” I answered.
“Okay!” Taisha reacted. “You’re the only one of us in a relationship.”
“I figured you had a man when you didn’t want me to take you out. But since you didn’t mention him when we were talking about people sliding into the DMs, I feel like I have a chance,” Jonah joked.
I laughed, pushing his shoulder. “Shut up!”
“That’s a good point,” Taisha acknowledged. “How does your man handle what you do? My ex was so jealous. We were together before I kinda of blew up on social media and everything was cool. But the more attention I got online, the more jealous and ridiculous he’d become.”
Jacqueline nodded in agreement. “Mine was the same way.” She pointed at Jonah and Matias. “If we were still dating, he would have lost his mind because I’m on a trip that includes these two fine-ass men. His jealousy got to be too much.”
I remembered the only time Russ seemed jealous. Just the mere thought of how he fucked me behind that partition as a result of that jealousy got me hot. I squeezed my thighs together and refocused on the conversation.
“My ex was like that, too,” Matias mentioned. “She hated if I did a collab with anyone she thought I had too much chemistry with.”
“I’ve had women not want a relationship with me because they assume I’m fucking everybody I work with.” Jonah shook his head. “I guess I look like I’m a player, even though I’m not.”
Jacqueline tapped her chin. “It’s interesting… Nina looks like a player, yet she’s in a relationship. Jonah looks like a sweetheart, yet he’s not beating the player allegations.”
“How do I look like a player?” I wondered, trying not to laugh with the others.
“You just got this look about you,” Matias agreed. “You look like you got a boyfriend, a side-dude, and a husband.”
I cracked up. “That’s not the case.”
“Just the one man, then?” Taisha questioned.
“Yes! And I’m not a cheater,” I explained. “I would never have a side-dude or cheat on my man. I believe in being upfront and honest.”
Matias looked at me knowingly. “You had hoes, didn’t you?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“What!” I screeched.
He pointed at me. “I know a reformed player when I see one. I know my people. You weren’t a cheater because you weren’t ever committed to one person.”
I was weak.
The waiter placed each of our desserts in front of us. As soon as she left the table, I tried to defend myself. “Does that make me a player?”
“Yes!” they said in unison before we erupted into joyous laughter.
Matias sat back in his chair. “I have the mindset that when I meet the woman I want to be with forever, that’s when I’ll settle down. Until then…” He shrugged.
“How did you know he was the one you wanted to give up your player ways for?” Taisha asked me.
Twisting the bracelet around my wrist, I grinned. “I just knew.”
“When we get back, I have a date with a Maryland Monarchs cheerleader,” Matias told us. “Maybe I’ll just know.”
“The professional football team?” Taisha asked.
He nodded. “Yup.”
“Are you interested in her or are you interested in her discounted game ticket?” Jonah asked. “Because you were talking about a different woman earlier and you never even mentioned a cheerleader.”
Matias looked shocked.
“Oop!” I grinned, looking between the two men.
“Matias!” Jacqueline cried out. “You’re really a player? You’d date someone for tickets?”
“I didn’t realize cheerleaders got discounted tickets,” Taisha mused. “I knew the football players got their one discounted ticket. I guess I didn’t realize the cheerleaders did, too.”
The line of questioning turned to Matias, and I was relieved to have the heat off me. They all knew a lot more about football than I did so I just ate my dessert. Flipping my phone over in my lap, I smiled.
Russ: I miss you.
My heart skipped a beat as I reread the text again. Before his house was finished and he moved to Richland, we’d tell each other that we wanted and needed to see each other. We’d said those words jokingly. But we never explicitly said it and I didn’t expect the reaction I had seeing it typed out.
Nina: I miss you, too.
“I love the New York Nighthawks,” Taisha said. “I have a player in my DMs right now.”
I jumped back into the conversation at just the right time.
“Which one?” I asked.
We sat at the table for maybe an hour longer, talking, laughing, and mentally preparing. We didn’t know what the weekend had in store for us, but we were excited about it.