34- Ariyah Nova Stevens
“What you got going on today?” I rolled over and looked at Landon getting dressed.
“Stopping by the gym and then swinging by my parent’s. You know I told you they having a get together.” I had a goofy smile on my face.
“Awwwnnnnn, I forgot they celebrating they baby.”
“Shut up. It’s something we do before every fight of mine. You coming?” When he brought it up before he didn’t ask if I wanted to come, so I didn’t say anything.
“Sure. I don’t have anything planned,” I said casually.
Knowing I was in the wrong, I’ve been playing it cool.
He’s been coming over every day for the past few weeks.
Everything seems like it’s back to normal, but we haven’t stated what we are.
I didn’t want to push because I understood why he needed to take his time.
“Aight, I’ll grab you after I go home and change. Be your ass ready.”
“If I go with you to your house now, I can just stay there and wait on you. Instead of you having to drive all the way home, come way back out here, and then going back that way.”
“Only I’m not going home now. I’m going straight to the gym.”
“Oh, okay.” I was trying to help, and probably sounded like I was trying to push my way in.
“After Titan takes me to the gym, I’ll have him swing back and take you to the crib.” Leaning down, he kissed me quickly. Almost as if it was out of habit. A normal routine.
“Okay, I’ll see you later.” He walked out, and I laid back on the bed smiling from ear to ear.
Not wanting him to curse my ass out for being late, I got up and started getting ready.
By the time Titan texted me that he was downstairs, I had already packed my bag and was ready to go.
Once I got downstairs, he was standing outside waiting on me.
“Good to see you back.” He gave a knowing smile as I smirked at him.
“It’s just a party.” He laughed as I climbed in the car.
Of course, he stayed quiet on the ride. When we pulled up to the house, I sat there for a minute just to take it all in.
It was a time I thought I would never see this place again.
Then it went from that to me yearning to be here with him.
Yeah, he was coming to the hotel every night, but that silently told me where we stood.
Getting out, I walked inside. Just like the first time I came over, I walked around getting familiar.
Heading up to his room, I walked in slowly.
Dropping my bag on the floor, I was about to lie down when I noticed something.
It was a shirt of mine still hanging across his chair.
Now looking around to see if I recognized anything else, I was surprised to see that I did.
Everything that I had left was still in the same spot.
Sitting on the bed, I dropped my head in my hands.
My heart warmed and hurt at the same time.
I had stolen so much time from us when I fell for Stone’s bullshit.
I couldn’t take back what I had done, but seeing this let me know I was right.
I agreed to enjoy the ride, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle it.
Knowing Landon didn’t hate me or become bitter shows me I could handle whatever when it came to him.
He was worth it. Lying down on his bed, I decided to take a quick nap.
****
“I knew your baldheaded ass wasn’t gone be up.” Opening my eyes, I smiled as Landon leaned down to kiss me.
“What time is it? Am I late?”
“You would be if I didn’t know you. I left the gym early, so I could get you up.”
“Then why you talking shit? I’m up, like you wanted.” We both laughed at my logic, as he slid in the bed beside me. Landon threw his arm around me and nestled his head in my neck. “Not you trying to go to sleep after talking shit to me.”
“I just want to lay here with you in a comfortable bed before you have me back in that rat hole.” Laughing, I swung my arm back to hit him. “Ariyah, what the fuck man?” Landon let me go, so I turned around to see what was wrong.
“My bad. If it wasn’t so little, I would have felt it.” Reaching over, he grabbed me and slammed me on my back. His face still wincing from the pain.
“This mufucka wasn’t little when I was in that pussy and you were crying for me to stop cause it’s too big.” He wasn’t lying, but he know me. I’m gone find a way to talk shit.
“I’m sorry baby. I didn’t mean to hurt my best friend.” His ass smirked.
“Your best friend in pain, can you kiss it?” Laughing, I pushed him off me.
“We’re going to be late. Bring your ass on.”
“Ughhhh, you don’t ever wanna give me no head. I bet I don’t lick that lil cat no more.”
“Boy bye, that’s your favorite meal of the day.” Leaning down, he kissed me on the outside of my shorts where my pussy would be.
“You right about that. Just give me a lil bit.” This time when I pushed him, I slid from under him and got out the bed.
“Your family already be on my head. They are not about to say I’m the reason you’re late.” Groaning, he got out the bed and removed his clothes.
“I hate when you right.” He knew what he was doing, but I fought the temptation.
I watched him walk in the shower with drool hanging off my lip.
Normally, I would get in with him, but that would be trouble.
I waited for him to get out, then I got in.
By the time I was done, our asses were running late. We were both scrambling to get dressed.
Thirty minutes later, and forty five minutes late, we were pulling up to his parent’s house.
I wasn’t surprised that it was bigger than Landon’s and he had a five bedroom mansion.
Getting out, I excitedly headed toward the front door.
At my big age, I’ve never been to a party.
Yeah, I’ve gone to parties at a club, but never with a family at their home.
Since I’ve let go the dead weight known as my family, I had a new yearning.
I no longer wanted to prove I was enough; I wanted to find people who knew it.
We didn’t have to wait on them to answer the door because Landon had a key.
“Damn, took yall long enough.” Adrienne was dancing with a cup in her hand but still managed to talk shit.
“We here, and I’m sure Moms ain’t done cooking. We the only family that eat Thanksgiving at nine o’ clock.” He said it like it was a problem, but my family didn’t have dinner together. Mila walked up, and Landon immediately bent down to her face.
“We good, Jammy Jam?” She nodded, so he hugged her before kissing her strawberry. She walked over to me and gave me a look like bitch, your turn.
“Are we good?” She shook her head no, shocking the shit out of me. Landon fell out laughing.
“Thought you had a friend.” I ignored him and bent down to Mila to see if I could find out what the problem was.
“How can I fix it?”
“You were supposed to take me shopping. I don’t particularly like liars. Mommy used to be a liar, but daddy forgave her.”
“Mila, don’t talk about your mama that way. Hey, Ariyah.” Devin spoke, but I was still side eyeing him. Walking over to him, I looked at him in the face.
“Devin, we good?” Leaning back, he laughed good and hard. Grabbing me, he pulled me in for a hug.
“Yeah, we good.”
“Do I have your permission to exchange numbers with Mila? I would like to keep my word and take her shopping. If that’s okay with you.”
“Yeah, but take Landon with you.”
“You don’t trust me with her? I promise I will-…” He threw his hand up to stop me.
“It’s not that. One, you can use Landon’s money, and I can keep mine to myself. Two, if she happens to have an episode, he can help. When I said we good, we’re good.”
“Thank you.” He looked over at Landon, and then back to me.
“How is he?” I laughed at him before answering.
“You scared to ask him, huh?”
“Hell yeah! Did you see how that nigga went off last time? I ain’t got time to be thrown out my own house.” We both laughed at that.
“Landon’s fine. He seems, different. When you don’t have him, don’t worry, I got him. Landon is lucky. He has a lot of people in his corner.” I looked away, but Devin reached out and turned me back toward him.
“You do too. Family isn’t always blood. Me and Landon are testament of that. If you need anything, we got you.” Wiping my eyes hard, I tried my best to stop the tears from falling. Not able to say anything, I just nodded.
“Bring yall ugly asses on. Every time we get together yall wanna go balls deep in a conversation. Shut it the fuck up.” I looked at Adrienne and fell out laughing.
“Adrienne, that is not what that mean. Please don’t say that no more.”
“Chile, and don’t call me that no more. I’m Nana, now bring your ass over here and show me how to walk my ass.”
“You know what, I’m going to check on Blaise and see if he needs any help.” Devin walked off, but I went over to Nana to see what she meant.
“You mean like this?” I did a move that had my ass and hips going up and down real fast without me moving.
“Yesss, now show me how to do it.” Me and Nana were laughing hard as I kept trying show her, and even Mila came over to join us. I glanced over at Landon, and he was watching us with a smile on his face.
“Mannn, you a hater. Why nobody told me my girl was here.” Milo mugged Landon as he walked over to me and hugged me. Taking off his hoodie, he wrapped it around my waist.
“What you doing lil nigga?”
“Trying to hide my girl’s ass. I see you looking.”
“Hey, watch your mouth,” Landon snapped. I was outdone with all of it.
“Everybody, yall can come eat. Where’s Mela?”
“Still sleeping,” Milo answered Blaise.
“I’ll go get her up. Ariyah, oh my God. I’m so glad you came back and didn’t let these strong headed negroes run you away. Before you leave, give me your number. Mila has been asking about you damn near every day.”
“Will do, and they can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“Good. I like you for him. Oh, and congrats on your fight. I don’t know if he told you, but we had a party for you as well. We were cheering you on.” That shit made my heart smile.
“Yeah, for a while I thought you was going to make me lose my money.” Devin walked up behind Blaise and hugged her.
“Me too. That strong hoe was beating my ass, but your son.” I looked over at Landon who was arguing with Milo. “Your son came and gave me hope.”
“Yeah, that nigga sprung. You gotta see the interview when they told him you were losing. Nigga slid across that floor so fast.” Nana walked up talking shit causing us all to laugh.
“Aight, I’m ready for this fish and spaghetti. Can we go eat?” Landon walked up, and everyone agreed. As they walked to the dining area, Landon grabbed me from behind and kissed me on the neck.
“You stay with me.”
“You really acting like the beds at the hotel are that bad, but yeah, I’ll come back with you tonight.” He kissed me again before turning me toward him.
“Naw, I mean for good. Come home, Ariyah.” My eyes got wide as hell.
“You sure? I don’t mind enjoying the ride. We’re good.”
“Yeah, but we can be great. Instead of enjoying the ride, we can ride that bitch to the end. Together!” Hugging him, this time I let the tears fall.
“Okay.”