Chapter 7 #2
“Okay, fine, but you didn’t have to call me out like that.”
“Whatever, so what’s with you? How was your ride home?”
“Don’t say it like that. It was just a ride home. Nothing major.”
“So you didn’t ride him on the way home? Because y’all were all cozy before you left and the man is fine.”
“I’m glad you think so highly of me. I do still have a man…”
“A cheating ass man, and what?”
“I don’t have proof—”
“Yes, you do. I told your slow ass to trust your gut.”
“You’re about to make me ride up to that doctor’s office and slap your rude ass. Stop interrupting me and let me speak. I was gonna say, I don’t have any tangible proof, but I know he is. I just have to talk to him.”
“About what? You know he’s gonna lie.”
“I know he’s gonna lie, but that doesn’t mean I have to stay with him.”
“Wait, so you’re gonna break up with Reg?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Because of the cheating or because of East?”
Nyelle waited, even though she already sensed she knew the answer.
“I like East, he’s cool, but he’s not the reason.
You know I haven’t been feeling Reg that much over the past few months.
He’s always tripping about me spending too much time at the shop and complaining about how he wasted money on it.
That shit is annoying. Don’t do something for me then throw it in my face.
I’m about to give him his money back and tell him we need some space. ”
“Don’t give him shit. You earned that for putting up with his stupid ass and you don’t have that type of money anyway.”
“I have a line of credit from my bank. I don’t ever want anyone to hold anything over my head, and I know Reg, he will. Hell, he damn near throws it in my face now every time he can’t get his way. I need grown men to act like…”
“East,” Nyelle chimed after cutting her girl off.
“No, hoe, I was going to say like grown men.”
“Whatever. You know you’re feeling him.”
“I am, but I’m not trying to be all in with anyone right now. I did that with one who remains nameless, and then Reg, and you see where that got me. I’m just trying to build my business. That’s my focus. I’m not about to let a man get me sidetracked.”
“Mmmhmm. Tell that lie to someone who might believe you because I sure don’t.
East is about to be all up and through you, and I can’t say I blame you for letting him.
He seems cool and has his shit together.
At least he’s not a thirty-year-old D-boy.
At some point, you either need to be the supplier or let that shit go.
There is nothing cute about a thirty-year-old corner boy. ”
Joi burst out laughing and rolled her eyes at her girl. “Reg is not a corner boy.”
“Shit, he’s close.”
“Stop. You’re doing too much.”
Joi was defending Reg, but she knew her girl was right.
At least Reese had his own thing going on with a team of people under him who handled the product.
He also brought in a lot more money because of it.
Reg was literally still buying, selling, and trying to flip his profit.
He did decent but had no plans to do anything but what he was doing.
“Girl, bye. Stop trying to help that man out. It is what it is.”
Nyelle glanced at her phone, noticing she finally had a response from Vega. It just wasn’t the one she was looking for.
What floor you on?
She frowned and looked around before getting back to her girl. “Hey, let me call you back later. My break is almost over and I need to finish eating.”
“Aight, boo. I might come by your place. It’s not like I have a life.”
“Me either, so just let me know.”
“I will.”
Nyelle ended her call with Joi and made one to Vega. She smiled at the sound of his voice.
“Pretty Ny.”
“Where are you?”
“In the lobby, staring at this old ass woman who won’t tell me what floor you’re on. Y’all security is tight up in this bitch and I’m not trying to have any problems.”
Nyelle grinned and shook her head.
“Why are you here?”
“’Cause I wanted to see you real quick. Can I come up there? They said I need a badge.
“Yeah, you do, so I’ll come down. I only have about twenty minutes left on my break.”
“That’s straight. I can’t stay. I just wanted to see you for a little minute.”
Nyelle blushed again, collected what was left of her lunch, and tossed it in the trash on her way out the door.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be down here,” she instructed before ending the call with Vega and shoving her phone into her pocket.
Even though he popped up on her without permission, she was excited about seeing him.
Riding around the city with Vega was cool.
The two talked about a little of everything, with him asking most of the questions.
It was how he knew where to pop up on her.
After asking what she did, Nyelle informed Vega that she was an echocardiography technician for a private practice.
He made jokes about coming to see her after she broke his heart by not giving him any play.
Vega’s personality was energetic and easy, which was a contrast from Reese, who was always about business and rarely ever cracked a joke or smiled. Nyelle was falling for Vega already, but it made her nervous because she wasn’t sure if it was about Vega or if it was that he wasn’t Reese.
Oh, it was definitely about Vega. Nyelle’s smile stretched so wide when she stepped off the elevator that she had to contain it by pulling her lip between her teeth.
She took him in as he leaned against the corner of the security station, elbows balancing him while his legs were crossed at the ankles.
He was extremely comfortable in a navy Bally tracksuit with bright yellow stripes down the sleeves and side of his pants, wearing navy socks and navy and yellow Bally slides to match his clothes.
He was every bit sexy with the sleeves pushed up his forearms while his head was low and he typed away on his phone.
That didn’t last long, however, because the second he sensed her, his phone was locked and pushed into his jacket while he approached Nyelle and wrapped her in a hug. She closed her eyes and inhaled his cologne, not wanting to separate.
It wasn’t until he kissed her cheek that she allowed some space between the two.
“You’re official, I see. Scrubs and everything.” Vega smirked, looking Nyelle over and enjoying the snug fit of her scrubs on her butt and hips. They weren’t tight, and she looked professional, but those hips and ass were struggling a bit. He was feeling it.
“Did you think I was lying? Is that why you pulled up on me?”
Vega chuckled while his eyes swept her body again. “Nah, nothing like that. You’re smart as shit. I could tell. I knew you weren’t lying. I just wanted to see you.”
“I said, maybe later,” Nyelle offered with a smug grin, causing him to nod and laugh.
“True dat, but maybe wasn’t good enough for me, so I had to pull up. I’m glad I did.”
“Whatever.” That giddy feeling she had each time she was around Vega grew. It had her nervous about her building expectations.
“Nah, not whatever. Facts, Pretty Ny. But, real shit, I know you probably think I’m on some bullshit, so I wanted to explain.”
“Explain?” Nyelle questioned with a raised brow. This man didn’t owe her anything. They hung out once at a card game then rode around the city, burning up his gas. The night ended with her falling asleep on him.
“Yeah, explain. I know that shit is a foreign concept to women these days, but I told you I’m trying to keep my shit legit for you.”
Nyelle shook her head with a slight grin. That same grin that had Vega’s dick hard for the past twenty-four hours. He even slid through an old friend’s place to get some head, but he didn’t fuck her. The reason he didn’t stood inches from him.
“My brother has been riding me about my next move. I’m trying to put my name on a few things. My boy wants me to invest in a club he has, and…”
“What kind of club?”
Vega grinned, already knowing she knew. “A strip club…” Nyelle’s eyes rolled, but Vega kept going. “But I’m just putting money up. That’s all. I have to start somewhere, and he needs an investor, so I’m looking out. I told him I would meet him tonight to check things out.”
“You mean to sample the goods and services.”
Vega chuckled at her little attitude. “Nah, nothing like that. I’ll be there, but it’s business. You can go with me if you want to. I just didn’t think you would.”
“You’re right, I don’t. We can do something another time.”
“Nah, I’ma fall through when I’m done. We can just chill for a little bit if you’re okay with that. I know you’re not gonna have time when your shorty gets back this weekend.”
Nyelle gave it some thought. He was right. She had no plans to have Nick around another man. At least not until she felt like he would be around for a while. She didn’t know that about Vega just yet, and she was still learning him.
“That depends on how late, late is.”
“Fair enough. I’ll text you. Promise me you’ll at least stay up for that?”
“No promises, but I have to get back to work. My break is almost over.”
Vega stared at her for a minute, not wanting to go. He loved her energy and wanted to be around her every chance he could, but he would never stop her hustle because he wouldn’t want her trying to stop his.
“Aight, bet. Can I get one more hug before I go?” He was already inching closer and wrapping her into his solid arms and chest before she could object. “Damn, this feels good,” he mumbled before pressing a kiss to the side of her face.
It damn sure did.
“I have to go,” Nyelle rasped before pulling away. Vega was right, being close to him felt great, and she liked it a little too much.
“Aight, I hope the rest of your day is good. I know mine will be now that I got to see you.” He winked at Nyelle and backed away. “I’ma hit you later,” were his last words before he turned to exit the building.