Chapter 22 Nyree
Asia thought a nigga was playing when I said I was gonna take her on a yacht but I wasn’t.
Jamel’s uncle was hella rich so I asked him to talk to him for me when I got back from Vina Bonet’s event and he agreed to let me use the yacht for a small fee.
Asia was the reason I just got the biggest gig of my life so I had to do something solid for her in return.
"Damn," I said as she approached my car, not even trying to hide my appreciation.
She rolled her eyes but smiled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You clean up nice yourself," she said, taking in my navy blue button-down and slacks.
"You ready for this?" I asked, opening the passenger door for her.
"Ready to see if you're a man of your word," she replied with a smirk, sliding into the seat.
The drive to the marina was filled with casual conversation. Asia asked about LA, and I filled her in on some of the details of my trip—the luxury hotel, the charity event, the nerves I'd felt stepping onto the red carpet with my camera.
What I didn't tell her yet was how much bigger things had gotten since that night. I was saving that for the yacht.
When we pulled up to the marina, Asia's eyes widened as we walked past rows of impressive boats.
"Where are we going?" she asked, a hint of skepticism still in her voice.
I just grinned and guided her toward the end of the dock where a sleek, 50-foot yacht was moored. "The Kimberly" was printed in elegant script on the hull.
"No way," Asia breathed, stopping in her tracks. "You were serious?"
"I don't make promises I can't keep," I said, enjoying the look of surprise on her face.
A crew member greeted us at the gangway, dressed in crisp white. "We're all set for your sunset cruise."
Asia shot me an impressed look as we boarded. The deck was set up with a small dining table draped in white linen, candles ready to be lit as the sun went down. A bottle of champagne chilled in an ice bucket nearby.
"How did you even arrange this?" Asia asked once we were settled at the table, the yacht pulling away from the dock.
"Jamel's uncle owns it," I explained. "I pulled some strings, paid a little something for the evening rental."
"This is..." she looked around at the water, the skyline beginning to glow as dusk approached, "...a lot."
"You deserve it," I said. "This wouldn't have happened without you."
"All I did was make a website," she said, shaking her head.
"A website that changed everything." I signaled to the crew member, who opened the champagne with a satisfying pop and poured us each a glass. "To new beginnings," I said, raising my glass to hers.
She clinked her glass against mine, her eyes studying my face. "So tell me about the event. How was it shooting Vina Bonet?"
I took a sip of champagne, savoring the moment. "It was dope. She's cool as hell, not stuck up at all. Had me shooting all these celebrities, big-name actors, music industry execs. I was nervous at first, but once I got in the zone with my camera, it all came natural."
"I can imagine," Asia said, looking happy for me.
"But that's not even the best part," I continued, leaning forward. "Vina introduced me to Young Dro."
Asia's eyebrows shot up. "Young Dro? For real?"
"For real. He was at the event, saw me working, liked my vibe.
Vina told him I was the best photographer she'd worked with in a minute.
" I couldn't help the pride that crept into my voice.
"He pulled up my Instagram right there, scrolled through my work, and booked me on the spot for his show next month. "
"Nyree, that's amazing!"
"Paid me a deposit and everything. Twenty thousand dollars, Asia. Twenty stacks, just like that." I snapped my fingers for emphasis.
Her jaw dropped. "Twenty thousand? For one show?"
"One show, plus some content for his social media. But yeah. More money than I've ever made from a single client." I reached across the table and took her hand. "And it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't built that website. If you hadn't believed in me enough to put your skills behind my work."
Asia squeezed my hand, her eyes shining. "I'm so proud of you, Nyree. Truly."
The crew served us dinner as the sun began to set—grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and a quinoa salad that was surprisingly delicious. As we ate, the yacht cruised smoothly through the water, offering stunning views of the city skyline.
After dinner, music played from hidden speakers as we moved to the cushioned seating area at the bow of the yacht. The stars were beginning to appear above us, the moon casting a silvery path across the dark water.
Asia leaned against me, her head on my shoulder. "This is perfect," she murmured.
I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer. "You're perfect."
She looked up at me then, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, and I couldn't resist any longer. I leaned down and kissed her, soft and slow at first, then deeper as she responded, her hand coming up to rest against my cheek.
When we broke apart, she was smiling, a genuine smile that reached her eyes in a way I hadn't seen before.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of champagne, music, and stolen kisses as we cruised under the stars. By the time we returned to the dock, there was a comfortable warmth between us, a sense that something had shifted, barriers coming down.
The drive back to her place was quiet but not awkward, her hand resting on my thigh, my thumb brushing over her knuckles when I wasn't shifting gears.
When we arrived at her building, I walked her to her door, not wanting the night to end but not wanting to push too hard either.
"Thank you for tonight," she said as we reached her door. "It was beautiful."
"Thank you for being the reason I had something to celebrate," I replied, leaning down to kiss her goodnight.
The kiss deepened quickly, her body pressing against mine, her hands sliding up my chest. When we pulled apart, both breathing a little harder, I started to say goodnight, but Asia held onto my arm.
"Come in," she said, and the steadiness of her voice did something to me. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty—just a clear invitation in her eyes that told me she was ready... ready to let me in.
I opened my mouth to ask if she was sure, but what came out instead was, "Okay."
She unlocked her door and led the way inside, and I followed, my eyes drawn to the sway of her hips in that white dress, the smooth skin of her back visible through the thin fabric.
As the door closed behind us, I knew we were crossing a threshold that went beyond just entering her apartment. Asia was letting me into her space, her life, her heart—and I was determined not to make her regret it.