Chapter 8 Navy – Mix-Ups
NAVY – MIX-UPS
Igenuinely felt good after that public, heartfelt speech about Natika, but even more than that was the way that I felt seeing Nyako in my chat.
I had seen the moment that she entered it, but I wasn’t sure if it was her or not, despite the official blue check mark beside her name.
Her question left no doubt in my mind that it was her who was stalking me.
I pushed it out of my mind for the remainder of the ride.
She had probably been checking out the wedding photos of Natika and Shannon and seen my live feed suggested, since my name was often linked with theirs, especially at this first anniversary of that famous fiasco I created at the stadium.
I tried to shove Nyako out of my thoughts and mind.
I didn’t follow the fashion world, but it was hard to miss a woman like Nyako Bellacorte. She was not only universally famous, but she was a stunning beauty. At five-eleven, she was one of the few women who came close to matching my six feet and three-inch height.
Smooth sepia skin was rich and luscious like a Dove bar.
Her features were angular, precise, and perfectly symmetric from her high cheek bones to the angular nose with its snubbed, upturned point.
Between that and her upturned, nut-brown eyes with their long lashes, her appearance gave snobbish vibes, but the woman was anything but.
Thick arched eyebrows and full, heart-shaped lips added a polished touch to her diamond-shaped face.
Nyako wore her hair cut short on top and shaved on the sides and in the back.
She truly wanted to take away from everything else and bring exclusive attention to her regal, sleek features, .
. . and though she was a model, her slim curves were very visible.
My phone rang again, and rather than ignoring it, I stepped out of the shower and vigorously rubbed the water from my face and hair with my towel.
I fucked up sleeping with a woman like Nyako.
She was all I thought about since I left her at the airport.
Only an hour had passed since I arrived at the Airbnb, but I hadn’t been able to scrub her from my thoughts.
It was a little after eight, and though it was early for me, I wanted to go to bed. I needed to sleep a couple of days after being stranded at the airport in Colorado. When it was all over, then I would be ready to face the world.
I hadn’t even alerted my parents that I was coming to town. I needed some time to unwind. Because before I ran into Nyako, I was prepared to bury myself in alcohol and women this weekend and the next week. This last year had knocked quarters out of my ass.
No sooner than I posted that live and ended the call, my agent, our PR rep, my social media coordinator, Zach, and my coach had been calling me. I had ignored all their calls, opting to handle things myself, and I was getting ready for some much-needed R & R.
I saw that it was Zach calling back. Ignoring my gut instinct, I answered the phone.
“Aye, what’s good?”
“I wish I knew. Your accounts are blowing up like crazy. Why didn’t you call me before you went live?”
“It was something I felt I needed to do. I called Natika, and after I finished the call with her, I knew that I wanted to address the fans’ questions.”
“That’s all fine and well, dude, but you gotta prepare a brother. I mean, that’s all they’ve been asking you for this last year. You had to know that was going to be bananas.”
“My bad. Sometimes, there’s no time for that.”
“Listen, your fans are still commenting on that video, and they’re asking questions about the special person you mentioned.
A couple have noticed that the model, Nyako, entered the chat.
They’re wondering if she and you have something going on.
Got the women going crazy, and some saying only another woman could have triggered you to come on and clear the air on your feelings about Natika.
You should address your fans concerns and comments, Navy. ”
“That’s what I’m paying you for.”
“You’re right, but it would help if I had some solid answers myself, or at least a base from which to start.”
“Listen, I just arrived at my destination. I need some time to unwind and breathe.”
“A’ight. I feel you. Call me, Navy.”
“I will. Give me at least a couple of days.”
“Damn it, Navy.”
“Two days, Zach.”
“All right.”
I ended the call and finished my shower before I headed into the bedroom for some rest and relaxation. I rubbed the towel over my face and head as I stepped into the bedroom. There was no need for me to grab any clothes, because I always slept in the nude.
“Aigggh!” The astonished scream ripped through the air and startled me. I dropped the towel from my head to wrap it around my waist as I looked to see who was in the room with me.
Someone stood with their back to me and their shoulders hunched.
“Uhm, I think you have the wrong house, ma’am.”
The woman straightened up and slowly turned around.
“Navy?”
“Nyako?” Confusion and excitement filled me at the beautiful sight of her face, and all the excitement of being near her again rushed from my brain and shot straight to my dick. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m staying for the week while I look for a house. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“What do you mean look for a house?”
“I’m settling here. Remember when I told you this was home for me too? Well, I’m about to buy a new house while I work on launching my fashion magazine.”
“What about your modeling career?”
“I’m retiring, Navy.”
“I didn’t realize that. You never mentioned it when we were together.”
“Well, there was a lot that neither of us mentioned. We were too busy creating body language,” she stated with a slight giggle.
“Is that what you call it?”
“It’s the only language that I know that people speak universally and can understand one another. Even when two people aren’t eye to eye on some things, they can be on that.”
“But how did you get in this condo?”
“I booked it with a girlfriend of mine. She owns this place.”
“Are you sure it was this unit? What about another unit? Maybe you should check the unit she gave you.”
“Navy, it’s not another unit. This code only works on this unit.”
“Maybe she owns more than this unit, and she accidentally set the same code for the two separate units.”
“Wait one second,” she replied as she pulled up her phone. I waited while she pulled up the app on her phone and scrolled to the details of her booking. “See, it’s this unit.” She jabbed her finger at the unit number, and it matched the one I knew I had.
“I booked this through a friend of mine. Let me call her.” I could feel Nyako’s eyes burning right through me as I walked to the nightstand to get my phone.
I dialed the number and put it on speaker phone.
“I’m sure that it has to be some sort of mix-up,” Nyako remarked while we listened to the phone ring.
“Yeah. We’ll get it sorted out.”
As much as I enjoyed the time we spent together this weekend, I wasn’t trying to have her all in my space. It was one thing sharing a bed for recreational purposes, but another altogether to share living quarters with someone you didn’t know.
“Hello?”
“Adrian.”
“Hey, Navy.”
“That’s my Adrian.” Nyako’s eyes lit up as her mouth dropped open.
“Who’s that?” Adrian asked.
“Adrian, it’s me, Nyako,” she explained, walking closer to the phone.
“Hey, boo. Where are you?”
“I’m at the Airbnb you booked me into. Unfortunately, there’s some sort of mix-up, because the code that you gave me is the same one you gave to Navy, and it’s for the same unit.”
“Are you sure? Because I could have sworn that I had you two booked for two separate weeks,” Adrian replied.
“I’m sure,” Nyako and I both declared simultaneously.
“One second. Let me check something.”
Nyako’s gaze lifted from the phone to me, and the concern and frustration in her eyes mirrored mine.
“Where have you been? You left the airport before me,” I remarked, while waiting for Adrian’s return.
“I stopped to check on some business matters before coming past here. That’s how you got here before I did.”
“Hey, guys. I just checked my booking, and I’m not sure how this happened.
My apologies, but I did book the two of you for the same unit and the same dates.
I think it’s because I didn’t use the regular app, and I used another app that I’ve been trying out instead.
I’m so sorry. What can I do to make this up? ”
“It’s fine, Adrian. I’m willing to take another one if you have it available, since Navy is already settled in,” Nyako offered.
“Well, that’s going to be a problem, sweetie.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have another unit available for the next week. They’re all booked up. The only thing that I have is a unit in the building beside yours, but that doesn’t come available until the end of the week. So maybe Friday and Saturday?” Adrian suggested.
Nyako’s shoulders slumped, and she groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I cannot stay with my parents. They’re staying with my aunt right now while their home is being renovated.”
Me staying with my family was out of the question. I valued my privacy too much, and my mother was nosy as hell.
“I wish that I had another alternative, but all I can suggest is a hotel. I’ll pay for it and refund your money. I’m so sorry for the mix-up, guys.”
“Don’t worry about it, Adrian. We’ll figure something out,” I stated.
I ended the call and looked at Nyako. “There are two bedrooms here. I know it’s not the ideal arrangement, but we can figure something out.
Neither of us wants to stay with our families, and this condo is large enough for both of us for one week without creating issues for each other, I’m sure,” I suggested.
She smiled weakly, and her eyes dropped to my towel. “Yeah, . . . I’m sure,” she replied with a nervous laugh.