Chapter 6 #3
“Oh! Of course not, I’m sorry,” she said, embarrassed. “Um… I’ll just have water and a Sprite.”
“No apologies, it’s just not my thing anymore. I can drink; I just don’t,” he said. “It’s a discipline thing.”
“You’re big on discipline. That’s admirable. The way life been on me lately, the only relief I can find is in the bottom of a wine bottle. My life is miserable.” She chuckled, but she was only half-joking. He didn’t laugh at all because he didn’t find humor in her pain.
“Be careful how you speak about yourself. Some of that misery you’re attracting,” he said.
Some things just hit you in the gut. Some words are so simple that they just bitch smack you into reality. Behind her woe is me attitude was the realization that she had been pulling nothing but negativity out of every second of every day since Demi had left.
“Wow. I didn’t realize exactly how true that is until this moment,” she said. “Guess God sent that message to me through you.”
“Nah, that was a real-ass nigga telling you some real-ass shit. I’ll let you know when it’s coming from God.” He winked, and she smiled.
“You’re so easy to talk to.” She didn’t even mean to let that part slip out. It was supposed to be a thought in her head.
“I’m withchu when you’re right,” Nyair answered, the arrogant response pulling more laughter out of her.
“That laugh is beautiful. That smile too. Got to do more things that bring those out of you. I’ve been coaching your boy for almost a year, and the laughs and the smiles are foreign to me. I lowkey thought you were mean as hell, girl.”
“Maybe I was. I mean, I can be. My job, my ex…” She shook her head. “Stress and overworking made me overlook the funny things. The little things, I guess.”
“It’s only too late if you let it be too late.
You’re young, you’re successful, you’re ambitious, face card is unbelievable.
I’d say you got a lot of life left to live.
Key is to never let a nigga forget that he lucky to have you.
A man see you, and they see someone they want to conquer.
A powerful woman that they want to tame.
Wild woman and all. Ms. I Don’t Need A Nigga.
That’s what you give off. An alpha male lives to get women like you to submit.
You’re the goal, but when we get you, you start changing, start doing everything and anything to be what that man likes but you don’t realize you’re already what he likes.
You change into someone weak, and that’s not what he had to work to get, so he stops working.
You become a chore. He fucks around with a new challenge because you let him forget that he chased you. ”
“I can’t even argue with you,” she said, shaking her head. That was exactly how her marriage had played out.
“A man just want to chase sum’n,” Nyair said, rubbing his hands together, warming them as he looked down at the motion he made. He was creating friction…manifesting heat and not just between his hands. She warmed from the inside out.
You can not like a pastor. Get your shit together.
“So, about this banquet that you’re so graciously lending your time and expertise to. I prayed for you. You don’t even know how in over my head I was with all this,” he said.
“Lucky for you, a few people owe me big favors. I was able to secure the event center Downtown for the boys,” Lauren said.
“My staff is occupied, but I’ve pulled the interns at my firm and the junior chef to prepare the meal and decorations.
This place is fancy, though, so the boys will need to dress up. Those tacky-ass moms too.”
Nyair chuckled and nodded. “I’ll make sure they get the memo. Anything you need from me? I want to be of service. I ain’t the type to lay my burdens on you without taking on something of yours. You helped me, let me help you. What can I do to make your life a little easier?”
Why was this nigga such a breath of fresh air? He was just different. He had taken from her, yes, but he was willing to replenish as well. Reciprocity was rare, yet here he was offering it up.
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m glad I could help.”
He shook his head, leaning back in his seat and rubbing his hands over strong thighs.
Lawd, why is his thighs that big? Strong, built-ass man. He’d probably never get tired of…
“You in there?” Nyair asked, waving his hand in front of her face playfully.
Lauren had gotten lost in her thoughts of lust, and she blew out a tense breath as she came back to reality.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I said, take everything a man offers you. Whatever you need, I got you for doing me this massive favor. I can’t let that debt linger.” Nyair made Lauren dizzy.
“Okay, yeah, maybe a small favor wouldn’t hurt. I need this Ring system taken down at my home. I bought a new one that I’d like installed, but Best Buy has like a month wait time and…”
“You can’t ask your ex because you taking the old one down because it gives him too much access,” Nyair finished. He wasn’t a mincer of words. He was so accurate with his assessment that she couldn’t even say otherwise. “Consider it handled,” he finished.
She smiled as the waitress approached the table with enough food to feed ten people.
“I’m at your disposal,” Nyair stated. “But right now, let’s eat.”
It was the most enjoyable two hours she had spent in a long time. He was a breath of fresh air. When he dropped her off at her car, she found herself sitting in the parking lot of the church, shotgun in his whip, laughing as the conversation flowed even longer.
“I should probably get home,” Lauren said, finally, as a fear of blurring lines invaded her as the sun set on the horizon.
“That’s a good idea,” Nyair agreed. “Drive safe. I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you to let me know when you made it in.”
She met his stare as both flattery and shock invaded her. “I will make sure I don’t leave you wondering.”
The slickest smile graced his face as he turned his head out his window before gripping the steering wheel tightly with one hand and nodding. “I’m already wondering so many things.”
She blushed and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” he confirmed.