Chapter 14 Against the Current
Chapter fourteen
Against the Current
The dark roast coffee was the only thing keeping me upright as I navigated the morning traffic toward the interstate.
I hadn’t slept for real since that first night in the hotel with Nique.
It had only been a few hours, but it was the most peaceful rest I’d had in years.
Having her tucked against my side made the rest of the world feel quiet.
We had separate villas in Tulum, but I was already plotting.
I was thinking of every way possible to convince her to let me sleep in hers.
It wasn’t just lust. Nique was the only woman alive who could drive me crazy and make me want to stay right there in the middle of it.
The fact that she matched my freak was just an added bonus.
My dick jumped at the mere thought of how she was damn near begging for the dick.
I was serious on my stance not to cave until she officially agreed to be mine.
Our days of fucking and fighting were over.
I glanced at the clock on the dash. I was right on schedule to pick up my mother.
Lisa Nash had always been a stickler for punctuality.
All my life she preached that being on time was actually late.
Airports stressed her out, so she liked to be checked in and waiting long before it was time to board.
I pulled into her driveway with a grin already tugging at my lips. She stepped out of the house looking radiant in a travel-ready linen set, waving as she smoothed her hair. I hopped out, meeting her halfway to grab her suitcase.
"You must be mighty excited about this trip, son," she said, studying the expression on my face.
"I am," I admitted, hoisting her bag into the back of the Escalade. "I haven’t been out of the country in a while. I'm looking forward to the break."
"I'm glad to see you smiling, Dexter," she chirped, climbing into the passenger seat. "You’re usually all work and no play. Your father was the same way, and that kind of stress is what killed him."
I climbed into the driver's seat and pulled out of the driveway, shaking my head. "Mom, Dad died from heart disease."
"That was nothing but stress," she persisted, her voice tight with conviction.
I wanted to say it probably had more to do with the pork chops and fried chicken she used to keep on the table every night, but I kept that thought to myself. My father’s death was the exact reason I ate clean and hit the pavement to run every morning. I wasn't going out like that.
“I’m taking a whole week off,” I promised, merging onto the interstate. “No blueprints, no contractors. Just the beach.”
"Mhm and maybe some good company?" she probed, adjusting her sunglasses as she leaned back into the leather. "You know, if you had a wife, she’d be the one making sure you took these breaks. A man in your position needs a partner, Dexter. Someone who understands your speed."
I didn’t argue. I wasn’t against settling down.
I was already picturing the life I wanted to build, and Nique was at the center of every version of it.
My mother just didn’t have Nique in mind when she talked about good company.
She wanted the safe bet, the polished image, no history and no complications.
What I wanted was the woman I’d spent sixteen years circling, the one who challenged everything in me and made me better just by existing.
Before she could launch into the full lecture the Escalade’s Bluetooth chimed. Amina’s name flashed across the dashboard. I hit the button on the steering wheel knowing the timing was messy.
"Hey," I said.
“Hey Dex. Are you on your way to the airport yet?” Her voice came through sharp.
“Just picked up my mom. We’re about to hit the interstate. Everything okay with Demi?”
"Demi is fine. She’s already playing with her cousins in the backyard.
But listen, I was thinking it makes no sense for both of us to pay those ridiculous long-term parking fees at the airport for a whole week.
Since you’re already passing by, can you just swing by my mom’s and pick me up?
It’ll save me the hassle and plus Demi wants to tell you bye. "
Amina knew I was a sucker for Demi. I glanced at the clock. It was a detour but not a huge one.
"Fine," I said. "Be ready. I’m not trying to be the last one at the gate."
I hung up and didn’t even have to look over to know my mother was wearing a satisfied smirk.
“I’m so glad you two are getting along for Demi’s sake,” she said warmly. “Amina has always had a good head on her shoulders. She handles everything with so much grace.”
"She’s a good mother," I said, merging onto the connector.
“She’s more than that, Dexter. She’s a good woman from a good family. Every time I see her, I think about how well you two fit together. You’re both ambitious, you both love that little girl. It’s a rare thing to find someone who matches your drive.”
“Ma, don’t start. We’ve found a rhythm that works for Demi. Let’s not mess with it.”
“It’s very uncouth of you to get that girl pregnant and not make an honest woman out of her,” she continued, her voice tightening with that old school disappointment. “A man needs a foundation. Someone who understands his world. Amina understands you. She doesn’t come with complications.”
I knew what complications meant. To my mother Amina was the straight paved road and Nique was the winding backroad full of history and heartache she didn’t want her son anywhere nearby. What she never understood was that the backroad was the only one that ever felt like home.
She hadn’t been fond of Nique since the shooting.
In her mind, me being close to her was a liability.
What she never knew was that I almost didn’t go to Howard at all.
I was ready to stay in Mobile and attend South just to be near Nique while she recovered.
Nique was the one who shut that down. Go be great, she told me from that hospital bed.
So I went. I just never stopped thinking about her.
Ten minutes later, I pulled into the driveway of Amina’s mother’s house. Amina was already standing on the porch, looking effortless in a black yoga set, her hair pulled back neatly. Next to her, Demi was jumping up and down, her little braids bouncing as she spotted the Escalade.
"Daddy!" Demi shrieked, breaking into a sprint.
I hopped out and swung her around, and for a second the noise of everything else went quiet. Just my daughter and her laugh and the way she said my name like it was the best word she knew.
“Hey princess,” I murmured into her hair. “You gonna be good for Grandma while we’re gone?”
“I’m gonna go to the park!” she announced, already planning her whole week.
Amina walked down the driveway, her stride confident. She waved at my mother through the windshield before turning to me. “Hey Dex. Thanks for doing this. I know you’re on a schedule.”
“No problem,” I said, setting Demi down and watching her run over to give my mom hugs and kisses. I reached for Amina’s suitcase and our hands brushed for a second. She didn’t pull away immediately, her eyes searching mine with a familiarity I had learned to ignore.
“You okay?” she asked quietly. “You look like you’ve had a long couple of days.”
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice clipped. “Just grab your carry-on and let’s move.”
Amina rolled her eyes but didn’t push. I loaded her bags next to my mother’s, said a final lingering goodbye to Demi, and climbed back into the driver’s seat.
The atmosphere in the Escalade shifted the moment Amina pulled the door shut.
Her perfume was light and floral, filling the cabin, and my mother immediately commented with an approving hum.
“What scent is that, Amina?”
“Gucci Flora,” Amina said cheerfully.
“That smells amazing. Dex, I want that for Mother’s Day.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I nodded. The lady knew she could have whatever she wanted.
“Here, Mama Nash,” Amina said, passing something toward the front seat.
“Oh, no sweetie, you keep it,” my mother said, as I realized it was the perfume in a travel size.
“I have another in my carry-on,” Amina assured her, her voice smooth and helpful.
“Thank you, sweetie,” my mom smiled, tucking the bottle away.
“I was just telling Dex how wonderful you are. I really hope the two of you take the time to talk and work things out during this trip. It’s a rare occurrence as a parent to be kid-free, so enjoy it and try to remember the love y’all had for each other when you made Demi. ”
My mom was preaching now, and there was no stopping her.
“Yes ma’am,” Amina nodded, her eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror. “I’m hoping the same thing. I think Tulum is exactly the right place for that.”
Amina reached forward and squeezed my shoulder, her touch lingering just a second too long.
I kept my eyes on the road. It wasn’t just Amina I was worried about. It was my mama and the campaign she was clearly already running, and we hadn’t even made it to the airport yet. Getting through this week with my sanity intact was already looking like a long shot.
My legal troubles were behind me somewhat after yesterday’s court appearance, but I still felt uneasy as I sat waiting to board our flight. I had gotten over one hurdle, but this trip to Mexico presented two more. Seeing my mother and her "perfect family" and avoiding the temptation who was Dex.
Even with a fresh start in front of me, the tension from Sunday night was still stuck in my chest. Walking into a courtroom yesterday was a wake-up call I hadn't asked for, and now I was headed to a wedding where I had to pretend everything was fine.
I was just trying to keep my head above water without letting anyone see the cracks.
"You planning on telling Unc and Auntie about the arrest?" Nel asked, leaning back in the uncomfortable airport seat.