Chapter 15 #3
While Nic and Troy left us out on their deck to refresh everyone’s drinks, I noticed Nari’s eyes moving between all of us until they stepped through the sliding doors leading to their kitchen.
I touched her leg, gently massaging her thigh to check-in.
As comfortable as she presented, my friends weren’t technically hers, and ensuring she was okay was important. We’d been here for several hours.
The connection of my hand on her body had Nari looking up at me. I leaned in closer and kissed her cheek. “You all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just trying to make a connection. You two seem close, but you’re so very different from each other. He’s definitely not Cast or Darius.”
I cracked a smile and nodded. “They are different. Neither knows anything about the life you’re familiar with. All they’re aware of is that I’m a business associate and a good friend.”
“They really don’t know about that stuff?”
“That stuff, like I’m into things that would likely have them questioning my presence in their lives?” My eyes lowered to Nari’s, delivering a loaded gaze, and hers softened.
“Yes. I mean, I’m not saying—”
I chuckled at her fumble. “It’s cool. I know who I am, but a small part of me craves an escape and needs to share a meal with friends who know nothing about the heaviness of my life.
Nic and Troy are those friends. They see me, and only me.
” I covered her hand with mine, lifting it enough to place a kiss on her wrist. “And now, they see you. You’ve added another layer to the man they know. ”
“Which is?”
“Husband and father. For that, I’m truly grateful.”
“So, then, how did the two of you meet?”
“On the playground. Your husband tried to steal my husband’s favorite toy, and Troy stood his ground and told him no.”
“Damn sure did, and I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who’s ever gone toe-to-toe with this guy. He’s pretty determined when he has his sights set on something he wants, but I’m just as tough, so I handed him his ass.”
I threw my head back and laughed while Troy and Nic returned to their seats. Nari looked confused as her eyes bounced between all of us.
“Wait, so you’ve known each other since you were kids?”
“Oh God, no. I don’t think we’d still be as close as we are if we had. There’s only so much pushiness one can take in a lifetime. Wouldn’t you agree? You’re married to the man.” Troy grinned at Nari, whose beautiful smile expanded.
“I plead the Fifth.”
“Good answer,” Nic returned before sipping her wine.
“This doesn’t make sense then.”
“The very beautiful and cunning Nic, here, is using an analogy. The playground she’s referring to is a conference room at Lux Flight, which he owns.”
“And he tried to steal from up under me.” Troy pointed a finger my way.
“It was business, nothing personal,” I shrugged.
“Well, it turned personal. The two spent weeks negotiating, or rather, arguing over the company. However, Troy won.” Nic winked at me, and I chuckled.
“Indeed, he did.”
“I was having trouble keeping things afloat. It was stressful, and to make matters worse, this twenty-something, arrogant-ass kid bulldozed his way into my office, telling me I had a week to sign over my company to him. He showed up without an appointment, carrying a stack of papers, offering me money for my blood, sweat, and tears.”
“And what did you do?” Nari seemed too intrigued by this story, but I was sure it was because she wasn’t prepared to hear that someone had gotten the upper hand on me.
“I told him to get the fuck out of my office before I beat his ass.” Troy laughed, shaking his head, likely remembering that day.
“And what did he do?” Her eyes shot up to mine before she waited for Troy to answer.
“He left and came back a week later with a better offer. Truthfully, I should have accepted, but Lux Flight was my baby. I couldn’t imagine handing it over.
That night, I invited Kincaid to dinner at my home to meet my Nic, and he agreed.
We didn’t talk business; we just shared a meal and a good old faithful glass of brown.
The next day, he returned and asked if I would be willing to allow him to help me rebuild my company as an investor.
I agreed, and we shook on it. Now, he’s my business partner. ”
“But how did you go from full-out war to being business partners?”
I looked over at Nic, who grinned and shrugged. “I explained to Caid how important this business was to my husband and me. He had a change of heart.”
Troy kissed his wife’s cheek. “The fact that my wife was the one who forced a change of heart was a blow to the ego, but I’ve learned over time to know we’re a team. This woman loves me enough to fight on the front line without question or reservation.”
“You’re damn right I do. When you love someone, you go the extra mile.”
Nari nodded and smiled softly, but I could sense her uncertainty when her eyes met mine.
I wondered what that was about but chose to wait until we were alone to explore her thoughts.
The conversation shifted to our new addition to the family, and Nari seemed to settle back into a comfortable space.
We ended up with Troy and Nic until just after nine that evening, and by the time we made it back to the beach house, showered, and climbed into bed, I was grateful for the downtime.
I never really knew how exhausted I was until the opportunity for me to be still presented itself.
While Nari sat Indian style next to me, tackling her hair with some sort of twist style to prepare for bed, I allowed myself to settle for the evening.
When I occasionally looked up at her, I could see the thoughts heavy on her mind.
It was still odd how I could feel her moods and see those frustrations in the simplest gestures.
Right now, it was the way she stared blankly, chewing the corner of her lip while her eyes were slightly squinted.
As adorable as it was, I knew my lady had something on her mind.
“What’s got you in your head?”
“Huh?”
Those brown orbs found their way to me in a matter of seconds.
“You’re lost in your thoughts. What’s up?”
“Troy and Nic are older than you?”
“Yeah, Troy is fifteen years my senior and Nic is maybe ten. Why?”
“How long have they been married?”
I was curious where this was going but decided to answer and allow her to get there without me expediting the process with my own questions.
“If I remember correctly, their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary will be at the end of this year. It’s supposed to be a big deal, according to Nic. She’s planning a huge party.”
“Is that the type of wife you want?”
“Excuse me?” I frowned, lifting myself and scooting back so I was upright against the headboard. She turned enough at my side to face me.
“The way she talked about stepping in when you were bullying Troy over his business—”
“I wasn’t bullying him, sweetheart. The situation was no different than any other acquisition I initiate.”
She grinned and shrugged. “Sounds like it was quite different considering the outcome.”
Nari was teasing me, which was a good thing, but I needed to get us back on track.
“I was young and out of my league with that one. I didn’t know shit about a business producing a luxury jet line.”
“Then why go after his company? I thought your thing was failing restaurants and hotels?”
“I wanted a jet, so why not own a company that provides them for leisure? It’s the best of both worlds, but can we get back on track? Why are you asking me about Nic? I’ve never—”
Her eyes quickly rolled. “No, that’s not where I’m going with this. I know you’ve never slept with her or even been interested in her. I can tell from how the two of you interact. You do, however, admire her as a friend and also as an example of a wife to your friend.”
The explanation allowed me to release. I was sure Nari still struggled with her insecurities about me and other women despite her working on it. The feelings were still potentially there.
“I agree to all of those things, but I’m still at a loss about the direction of this conversation.”
“What I mean is her dedication to Troy. Is that the type of wife you want? Because, if so, I haven’t been anything close. At least not the way I should.”
“The wife I want is the one I have, Nari. You can only be you, and I’m okay with that because it’s who I fell in love with.”
“I feel like I’ve been so focused on me, trying to find my place with all this, that maybe I’m not being what you need, and I want to be as committed and supportive to you as you are to me. I can see the way she is with him. They seem so . . . perfect for each other.”
I chuckled at the thought before motioning to my lap. “Up here.”
She moved without hesitation, taking a minute to get settled.
“They’re anything but perfect. Yet, they work well together.
Their union is one I admire because it’s genuine.
But no marriage exists without conflicts or struggles.
Not theirs, not my parents, or even Darius and Alisha.
Nic and Troy have been through rough times, but they’ve survived because they honored their commitment to each other.
They also have years of navigating their marriage, which is why they’re comfortable in the space they’re currently in.
We’ll get there, but not without days, weeks, and even years that have us questioning ourselves and our marriage. ”
“You worry about that stuff?”
She seemed concerned, which meant she took my words to mean I was second-guessing our future.
“I do because I always want to give you the best of me, knowing there will be times when I fail. But never do I worry in a way that means I feel as if I’ve made a mistake or we won’t have a marriage that survives our struggles.”
I could see her body relax. “Me either. I just wonder sometimes if I can be everything you need. There are so many layers to your life that it’s hard to keep up. Nic seems to have it all together. I want to be that for you.”
“Her role in his life is much different than yours in mine. Troy and I are not the same man. Your challenges with me are experiences Nic can never begin to understand.”
“I get that. I’m just making a point.”
“Nic is Troy’s wife. I need you to be mine. I’ll never expect or require you to be anything other than who you are.”
“Well, just for the record, I think the fact that Nic stood up to you for her husband is badass, and I would totally do that.”
I laughed at the thought. I could see Nari going hard on my most challenging competitors to ensure my victory. “I have no doubt in my mind that you wouldn’t.”
“Good. As long as you know. I might only be an Akel by name, but the weight it carries is kinda growing on me.”
She leaned in, placing her hands on the headboard to balance her weight while delivering a kiss. One of my hands gripped the back of her neck, and the other rested at the small of her back, bringing her chest to mine.
“You wear it well, sweetheart. You certainly wear it well.”