Chapter 17
Seventeen
Retail therapy was the best.
No one could convince Nhuri otherwise. She adjusted her shopping bags as she and Jazmyn strolled through the mall.
The smell of fresh pretzels was left behind as they entered Nordstrom and inhaled designer perfumes mixing in the air.
It was a gentle reminder for Nhuri to pick up a new scent.
With her sign-on bonus, she felt she could splurge a little and not feel bad.
It’d been a while since they had a proper girls’ day, and she didn’t know how much she needed it until now. Nhuri planned to take full advantage of her early day off and catch her girl up. Thankfully, Jazmyn was also able to get off work early.
“Girl, I don’t even know why you brought me in here,” Jazmyn said, eyeing the shoe section with narrowed eyes. “You know I don’t need to be spending no money.”
Nhuri smirked, nudging her. “Nobody said you had to buy anything. I’ll get you something, but window shopping ain’t never hurt nobody.”
Jazmyn sucked her teeth but followed her toward the clothes racks anyway.
They flipped through racks, commenting on pieces they liked, the ones they’d never wear, and the ones that screamed money they didn’t need to spend.
Nhuri wanted to step up her wardrobe and get more statement pieces, so that’s what she did.
“These jeans will look good on you,” Nhuri said, holding up a pair of Levi’s for Jazmyn to examine.
“Those are cute. Let me see,” Jazmyn said, grabbing them.
Knowing she’d need to try them on before deciding, Jazmyn headed toward the fitting rooms. Nhuri wasn’t too far behind her, with an armful of garments.
She only planned on trying on a few things.
Certain shirts were cute on the hanger, but Nhuri had to see if they still made the cut once she slid them on.
They entered the fitting room and snagged rooms side by side.
“I think the jeans are on sale,” Jazmyn commented.
“If they are, that’s a steal. You know Levi’s be taxing.”
Jazmyn chuckled. “Hell yeah.”
While Nhuri slid out of her shirt, she felt her phone vibrate inside her purse.
She and Shyriq had been texting all morning after getting off the phone before he had to handle some business, so she wondered if it was him.
Unlocking her phone, Nhuri’s face screwed up when she realized it wasn’t Shyriq who texted her; it was her ex-boyfriend, Dru.
“What the hell does he want?” Nhuri mumbled.
“What’d you say?” Jazmyn said, tugging the jeans over her hips.
Too engrossed in the text message, Nhuri ignored her. It’d been months since he reached out, and Nhuri wondered what the purpose was now. They didn’t have anything to discuss, so she couldn’t possibly understand what he had to say. Her eyes rolled before she could fully read the text.
What’s going on, Nhuri? I know it’s been a minute since you heard from me. I hope everything is all good with you. I’ll be in your city next week and was hoping we could meet up and talk. Hit me back and let me know. I miss you.
Nhuri read the text a second time and got even more annoyed. You miss me? she thought with pure disgust, scrunching up her nose before exiting her text messages and locking her phone.
“Girl, what the hell are you doing?” Jazmyn asked. “I’ve been calling your name for who knows how long.”
“My fault. Hold on. Here I come,” Nhuri said, rushing to slide into one of the shirts.
She opened the door to Jazmyn, examining herself in the mirror. As she suspected, the jeans looked good on her, hugging her curves and making her booty sit up just right.
“You weren’t lying,” Jazmyn said, running her hand over them before making eye contact with Nhuri through the mirror. “What’s wrong?”
She hadn’t realized the expression on her face was one of pure annoyance. “Why did Dru just text me?”
Jazmyn pivoted so fast she could’ve given herself whiplash. “You’re lying.”
“I wish I was.”
“What the hell does he want?”
Instead of reiterating what she read, Nhuri handed her the phone so she could read the text herself.
It was just like a no-good man to reach out or pop up when she finally felt good about moving on.
Whatever Dru wanted to discuss, he could talk to himself about it.
Where was this energy when I wanted him to talk and listen to me back then?
Nhuri thought as Jazmyn handed her the phone.
“Girl,” Jaz dragged. “The audacity.”
“Right.”
“Does he expect you to just jump at his request?”
Nhuri shrugged. She wasn’t sure, but knowing Dru, the answer was yes.
He had this controlling behavior about him that Nhuri found unsettling.
She didn’t know when or why it began to happen in the last couple of years during their relationship, but she couldn’t handle it.
Any and everything she did seemed to tick him off and walking around on eggshells around someone who supposedly loved you wasn’t how she wanted to live.
It hurt to leave, but it would’ve hurt worse had she stayed.
“Probably, but I’m not,” Nhuri said, returning to her dressing room. When she didn’t feel Jazmyn behind her, she looked over her shoulder. “What? Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Because I know you. If you don’t respond or give him an answer, you’ll be thinking about it all day. I can already tell he ruined your mood.”
Nhuri’s nostrils flared. He had, but she was trying to shake it. Jazmyn wasn’t lying, though. Knowing that his text was sitting there waiting for her to respond would irk her nerves all day, possibly all week.
“Yeah, but it’s whatever. I can ignore him. It’s not like I haven’t before,” Nhuri said, trying to sound convincing.
“You know . . . sometimes, no response is a response. He doesn’t deserve to have you go out of your way to hear him out.
His ass should’ve been more accommodating and a communicator back then.
The ship has sailed, my boy,” she said, stepping inside her room and then quickly popping her head out. “And get that shirt. It’s cute.”
Nhuri couldn’t help but smile. It was just like Jazmyn to turn a bad moment into something good.
While she tried on a few other items, Nhuri couldn’t help but talk herself out of texting Dru back.
A part of her was curious to know what he had to say, while another part didn’t care.
Her heart and mind were playing tug-of-war with each other, and she knew they shouldn’t have been.
Plus, Dru should’ve been the furthest thing on her mind when she had a date to prepare for.
She could tell Shyriq was excited through his text messages, and Nhuri loved his energy.
Once he stopped being hot and cold, his true personality made Nhuri want to get to know him more.
Jazmyn thought they were just coming out for a girls’ day, but she hadn’t told her about tomorrow.
After an hour of more shopping and spending more money than they intended, they went to the nail salon for their pedicure appointments.
It was on the opposite side of town, and Saturday traffic was thick.
The weather was nice, so that was expected.
Once they made it inside, Nhuri settled into the plush massage chair and sighed deeply as her feet plunged into the warm, bubbly water.
“You had a long day already?” her nail tech Bia asked.
Nhuri chuckled. “Just came from shopping, so, yes. Kind of. You know how it is when you’ve been walking around the malls and stores.”
Bia nodded. “I do. It’s all good, though. I’ma get you right.”
Nhuri smiled and glanced to her left as Jazmyn settled into her seat. “Whew. I needed this.”
“Me too. After the week I had, all I want to do is relax.”
“Don’t tell me they’re stressing you out already?” Jazmyn wondered, adjusting the massage settings to target her lower back. “It hasn’t even been a full month.”
Nhuri chuckled. “No, it’s not that. I just had a lot on my plate mentally, but things are finally starting to feel good. I feel settled in.”
Thanks to Shyriq’s suggestion, Nhuri had been included in the setup and discussions about the VIP lounge for Nine Oak Gold members. The way she saw it, they deserved and had earned the privilege to have a grander experience. So, she didn’t mind extending her ideas, but, boy, was she tired.
Jazmyn gave her a knowing look. “Mmm-hmmm. And does this ‘settled’ feeling have anything to do with a certain boss of yours?”
Nhuri rolled her eyes, but the heat creeping up her neck gave her away. “It’s not like that.”
Jazmyn leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the armrest. “Oh, but it is something. You can’t hide that little smirk from me. Spill it.”
Nhuri exhaled, staring at her toes as Bia removed her gel polish. “He asked me out.”
Jazmyn’s eyes widened. “What? When?”
“Earlier this week, after a meeting we had,” Nhuri admitted, glancing at her. “It kinda caught me off guard. I mean, I knew there was something there, but I didn’t think he’d just come out and say it.”
Grinning, Jazmyn said, “Oh, there’s definitely something there! So, what did you say?”
Nhuri hesitated for a second before shrugging. “I said yes.”
“As you should’ve. I don’t know why you wouldn’t have.”
“There were plenty of reasons. He checked one of his employees for flirting with me.”
Jazmyn gasped, and the slight smirk Nhuri was sporting made her slap her arm. “Girl, what? Who was it?”
“The event coordinator. He asked to take me out in front of the entire room. It was hushed, but Shyriq heard him. Without saying too much, he basically told him to fall the hell back.”
Jazmyn clapped and nodded. “I know that’s right, Shyriq. Let these people know you’re not about to play with them about your woman.”
Nhuri snorted. “Oh, please. I’m not his woman yet.”
“Yeah, but you have a date with him, so it could be more.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m just seeing where it goes. But I’m not jumping headfirst into something.”
Jazmyn squinted at her. “I understand you, I do. But how are you gonna keep your guard up when you already like him?”
Nhuri sighed. “I don’t know, Jaz. I mean, he’s intriguing. He’s got this serious, no-nonsense vibe at work, but then he does things that throw me off. Like getting me a gift basket and a designer bag for finishing my first week. Is he love-bombing me?”
Jazmyn cackled. “Um, no. I wouldn’t consider it that.
I mean, why wouldn’t a man want to show he’s interested in a woman from the jump?
Why not go all out in the beginning so there’s no confusion about how he’s coming behind you?
Shyriq is trying to court you, friend. Let him. He’s clearly serious about you.”
Nhuri bit into her bottom lip and stared at the blue water surrounding her feet. “That’s what I’m afraid of. It’s been a while since I’ve let someone in, and I don’t want to get caught up in something that could get messy. You know his divorce just finalized.”
Jazmyn tilted her head. “I hear you. But listen, you ain’t gotta map out the whole future today. Just go, enjoy yourself, and see how you feel. But don’t overthink it.”
Nhuri smirked. “You know I overthink everything.”
Jazmyn laughed. “Exactly. So, this time, don’t.”
Nhuri let the thought settle as Bia began scrubbing her foot. Telling an overthinker not to overthink was like expecting a fish to drown. It would never happen. But maybe Jazmyn was right. For once, Nhuri just needed to let go and enjoy whatever this was without expectations.