Chapter 23
My phone vibrated on the bedside table next to me.
The display read Lamonte Mosley. Most children saved their father in their phone under “Dad” or “Pops” but in my opinion, those were terms of endearment, and he didn’t deserve that type of respect.
So, in my phone he was listed under his full government name.
I glanced at Danessa, who was fast asleep. It was still dark outside.
“Hello?” I whispered while exiting the bedroom and making my way to the half bath. “Aldridge, it’s your father.”
“I know who this is. Do you have any idea what time it is?”
“It’s six thirty. Don’t tell me your lazy ass is still in the bed.”
“Six thirty your time. I’m on the West Coast now.”
“Well excuse me for calling to check on my son.”
“What do you want?”
“The money you deposited into my account was a little light.”
“You mean your allowance?” Yes, I intentionally picked that word to chin check him.
My father cleared his throat and, in my mind, probably fought the urge to call me out my name. “I spoke with your assistant.”
“You texted her and you don’t get to demand extra money. She doesn’t have the authority to approve a request like that.”
“I thought she’d run it by you.”
“You should’ve saved us all the trouble.”
“Listen I have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a very promising business model.”
“You can’t keep your bank account from being overdrawn, how do you expect to run a business with employees and expenses?”
“I’ve got a guy who’s going to handle the day to day.”
“What’s the business?”
“It’s a strip club slash sportsbook.”
“Gambling is illegal in Philadelphia.”
“Yeah, well the sportsbook part is silent.”
“You woke me out of my sleep to ask for money for an illegal enterprise.”
“It’s cool, everyone does it.”
“I’m sure you know every underground gambling joint in a one-hundred-mile radius.”
“Stop acting like I’m asking you for a million dollars. It’s just ten grand. That’s chump change to you.”
“I give you money every month, why didn’t you save some of it to fund this dream?”
“Okay then don’t give me the money outright, you could be an investor.”
“I have no interest in owning a strip club that will most likely get raided for gambling and sex trafficking in less than a year.”
“Well, your momma got some money saved up, maybe I’ll just ask her.”
The way I wanted to reach through the phone and choke his old ass out. Like rockabye baby. Lights out motherfucker. “If you ask my mother for so much as her opinion the checks from me will end. I will freeze your account, and the gravy train will be decommissioned.”
“Damn you’re strict. You’re twenty-four and rich.
This should be the best time of your life.
” I was twenty-six. This motherfucker couldn’t even be bothered to remember my date of birth let alone my age.
Maybe Danessa was right. Perhaps I’d been too damn generous.
The life of an oat milk farmer was looking real good right now.
“I learned from you. Gotta go.”
“Aldrid—” I ended the call before he could say another word.
As a grown man I wasn’t interested in going back and forth with him on this.
I didn’t mind giving him an allowance, but I wasn’t his personal ATM.
That’s a lie. I hated he got five thousand a month from me for being the most horrible person on the planet.
Initially I was only giving my mother money but when my father got wind, he’d bully her to hand over the lion’s share.
I weighed my options and killing him wasn’t a viable one.
Not that I hadn’t workshopped the idea of the perfect crime.
No DNA or forensic evidence, just my father disappearing, never to be heard from again.
At the end of the day, I determined I wasn’t a killer and if I had to hire someone it would no longer be the perfect crime.
So my father got to walk around Philly breathing fresh air when he should be decaying in a shallow grave somewhere.
My phone dinged with a notification, and I was certain it would be a text from my father telling me he had no son.
Instead, it was a message from my brother Duane with a link attached from No Drill, a gossip site that trafficked in rumors and stories loosely based in the truth.
There was her side, his side, and then there was No Drill. Clicking the link I opened the post.
NBA SUPERSTAR, ALDRIDGE MOSLEY SPOTTED AT A COLLEGE BOOKSTORE WITH A BARELY LEGAL BEAUTY.
Under the post were two grainy photos of me and Danessa. One was just us talking, the other was me kissing her. Scrolling down, the comments were no better.
@nocaptherealest: That’s what’s up.
@TiffandStiff: Yet another groomer.
@shakeshaq: Who the fuck is this?
@Polytimestwo: Why is my husband cheating on me?
@Jackieluvs: Shit I don’t blame her I’d let this man do unspeakable things to me.
@MEDschool: Men are all the same. At least she’s Black.
Sometimes I was able to forget I was famous but shit like this was a stark reminder if you weren’t ready to make shit official, don’t do official shit.
Personally, I didn’t care if the world knew about Danessa and me, but I got the sense she didn’t feel the same.
She agreed when I jokingly called her my fuck buddy.
Why would she cosign if it wasn’t what she wanted.
Aldridge: Barely legal? That’s Danessa.
Duane: Why anyone would be interested in what you do still blows me.”
Aldridge: I’m a very important person.
Duane: Yeah, according to you and No Drill.
Aldridge: Have you talked to Lamonte about his latest business venture?
Duane: The last time Lamonte and I were in the same room I punched him … so no.
Aldridge: I forgot about that. That was good shit.
Duane: Whatever he wants don’t give it to him.
Aldridge: …
Duane: I’m serious, fuck him. He thinks he deserves money because he’s your father. But he ain’t do shit to raise us. If we’re keeping it a hundred his presence only made our lives worse.
Aldridge: I already told him no.
Duane: Good.
Aldridge: How’s my niece?
Duane: Shit growing like a weed. She wants to try out for the soccer team.
Aldridge: I’ll send you some money to get her started, sports can be expensive.
Duane: I didn’t say that looking for a handout.
Aldridge: It’s not a handout.
Duane: Aldi, I’d love you if you had nothing. You know that right?
Aldridge: Yeah.
Duane: So Danessa?
Aldridge: Yeah, Danessa.
I made my way back to the bedroom and curled up in Danessa’s arms. Her body wrapped around mine. “Are you okay?” she asked, still half asleep.
“I’m just happy you’re here.” Danessa’s fingers played with my curls. “Let’s go away for the weekend.”
“What?”
“I have a game at noon on Saturday, but after that I’m free until Tuesday. Let’s go on a mini trip.”
“Really?”
I nodded.
“Okay, I’ll Google some places. Do you wanna fly or drive?”
“Nah, I’ll get Nori to handle it. You just pack and look pretty.”
“Done and already done.” She rubbed my chest looking for trouble. “Since we’re up …”
“Since we’re up, why don’t I fucking help you start your day?”
Danessa was already naked, she opened her legs welcoming me. I grabbed her hips pulling her lower on the mattress, so my head didn’t hit the headboard. Sweeping the tip over her fold, I located a pool of her juices already dripping and ready. “Why are you always so wet?”
“Because I always want you.”
It was getting harder and harder not to tell this woman I loved her.
I’d just have to show her. Sliding into place we groaned in unison, her at my girth and me at the tight squeeze.
Our bodies fell into a rhythm, stealing kisses in between earth quaking strokes.
Danessa stretched her hands overhead, and her body slightly arched.
When I tell you this woman was perfect, I wasn’t lying.
In fact I probably wasn’t doing her beauty justice.
“I wanna be on top.” She bit down on her bottom lip.
“You can have anything you want.” Flipping over, she repositioned herself on my shaft and made good use of her elevated position. I looked on with a curious eye and she hit the hydraulic switches on my dick. Running my hand up the length of her body, I cupped her neck bringing her closer.
“I needed this so bad. Damn Nessa. I’m about to say some shit.” I seeped in air practically gasping for breath.
“Tell me you missed this pussy.”
“I was lost without it.”
Her hips were tyrants the way she floated over top of me damn near bringing me to tears. “Tell me you’d do anything for it.”
Sitting up, I locked in on her face. “I would do any and everything for you. Because I lov … I deeply care for you.”
Danessa studied my features, her hips slowed but the effect was still the same. Loss of breath, erratic heartbeats, and blurred vision. Her kisses were slow and methodic as if she was attempting to steal my soul. Clutching her waist, I rocked when she rolled. “Aldi.”
“Hmm.”
“Take all of me.” Like a runner at the starting line when the gun fires, I flipped her over and encircled her waist while slipping my erect dick back inside.
Her almond-shaped eyes fluttering closed as we both indulged in one another.
My dick thrummed as if her pussy was a tuning fork.
Each kiss punctuated my deep desire for her.
Danessa worked her core over my length, as if we both had the same urgent, unrelenting need.
My lips found her perfect breast and I suckled them until they were taunt and slick from my tongue.
Pulling out I teased her clit with the tip of my dick.
Both our eyes grew big with lust at the sight of her juices misting my penis.
When I slid back into place, Danessa’s head lolled back.
Her hands landed on her pussy, and she worked her bud while I fucked her like the lyrics to a love song. “That’s my girl.”
My skin was damp and hot from our increased thrust. I could feel myself unraveling.
Danessa’s pussy was a dick charmer summoning me to come inside her.
When her body shivered and she murmured my name in a low, raspy voice, I knew it was okay to let go.
Pressing into her thigh, I lifted her from the bed and stroked her out which spurred on a second orgasm for her as I spiraled into my first.
“These comments are cracking me up.”
We were in first class on a quick flight to Arizona. I wanted something low key and Sedona was the perfect place. Normally, Arizona was like sitting on the tip of the Devil’s tongue, but in the winter months it was a good time.
“Which ones,” I asked.
“@kellyho-land: Why are all the good ones taken.
@Dungeonmaster23768: That motherfucker is tall as hell.
@Beckywithak: When did Aldi and Ash breakup?
@Buzzmightstare: He’s so washed.
@MosleyFanatic: Only bad bitches in the building. Do you know this person?”
“No grandma I don’t.”
“Why I gotta be grandma?”
“Because you act like you don’t know how the internet works. I can’t control fan sites.”
“My bad. I don’t have fan sites.”
“Enjoy that while it lasts. Fan sites, hate sites. Weird emails. People showing up to your place and breaking in.”
“Wait, that’s happened?”
“Yeah, a weirdo broke into my house back in KC and climbed into my bed while I was sleeping.” My voice got higher with every word.
“Aldi you could have been killed.”
“Thank God all she did was grab my dick—”
“What? Who the fuck is she?” Danessa’s hands balled into fists ready to fight.
“Calm down.”
“How do you fucking know this?”
“Video surveillance.”
“That’s assault. She assaulted you.”
“I pressed charges. Didn’t know what happen until the morning when random shit was missing.”
“Is she in jail because she should be?” Danessa gasped.
“What?”
“@Anika it had been several days of speculation and deep dives into how Danessa was more into me or vice versa.
Random strangers acting like they had the inside track into my relationship was laughable.
“It was bound to come out eventually.”
“Has Jemini called you about all this?”
“She sent me an ‘I told you so’ text. I hate the satisfaction she gets from being right.”
“Let her have this one.”
“I’ve been avoiding her many calls. Must admit it’s weird that everyone thinks we’re a couple.”
“I wonder what gave them that impression?” Those pictures were giving Love Jones vibes.
Danessa ignored my comment, changing the subject. “Why Arizona?”
“Because it’s chill and low key. I go there every year for a weekend wellness retreat.”
“Wellness retreat. With who?”
“Wanye and—”
“You and Wanye are still tight?”
“That’s my ace. The hotel hosts a retreat once a year. No phones. No TVs. Just nature, walking trails, and serenity.”
“When did you become so granola?”
“After years of being Pop Rocks, granola is good.” I needed to tell Danessa my Pop Rock years included pills and coke.
It just never seemed like the right time to bring it up.
“Hey Nessa thanks for breakfast, by the way I’m a recovering addict.
” You see how awkward that was? Pete’s advice was delaying the inevitable would only make things worse.
As much as people swear it to be true, love was never unconditional, and Nessa deserved to know what she was getting herself into.
I was working hard to stay sober and surrounding myself with people who supported me was paramount.
Danessa was down, she always had been, but loving an addict wasn’t easy no matter how long they’d been sober.
Because every day the only thing preventing me from scoring was a choice.
If I woke up one morning and my resolve was tested shit could turn rapidly.
“Hey, come here.” The seats laid flat. Danessa joined me in my seat laying her head on my chest. Sinking my hand into her hair I scratched her scalp.
“Mmm, that feels good.”
“I’m happy you’re here.”
“Of course, who doesn’t like a weekend getaway.”
“I don’t mean here in this moment, although that’s nice too. I mean here, in my life.”
Danessa shifted her head and looked up at me with her doe-like eyes. “Being with you is my happy place. It’s always been.”
“Come closer I need to tell you a secret.” She scootched until my mouth brushed her ear and I whispered three words.
Danessa’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I love you too.”