Chapter 20 #2
“Just stay. We’re about to have dinner.”
Vega chuckled and shook his head. The issues with his father had a way of pushing him into the worst bouts of stubbornness ever.
He wasn’t fucking with him on any level and for good reason.
His father basically chose his new brick over his son.
Ace was old enough to stand on his own, but Vega wasn’t.
The kid in him who wanted his father’s love and guidance wouldn’t let him be civil about it.
“Nah I’m good.” Vega shot his father a hateful look before he turned to Paris. “I’ma hook that up soon. You got my word and she already in love with you because of all that extra shit you put into our meal, sis.”
Paris was at his side out of habit. She knew the discord amongst the Orr men and felt the need to stand by Vega because he was affected most by it.
Vega kissed her cheek before he walked away tossing out, “I’ll holla at you too, Ace.
” Vernon Orr was tired of the separation in his family, which prompted his decision to follow his younger son to the door.
“Do you hate me so much that you can’t share a meal with me?”
Vega turned quickly and narrowed his eyes at his father.
“I don’t hate you. Shit, I barely even know you.
You made sure of that when you chose the next brick over your family.
” Vega laughed arrogantly before looking his father in the eye; one of the only things he remembered his father teaching him as a young child.
“I just don’t fuck with you. It’s all love though, Pops. ”
Vernon had no argument. He was wrong. After all these years, he understood that now, seeing how badly it affected his son.
“It’s on me, Vega. I get that and I want to make it right.
” He spoke honestly, from the heart. He did.
He knew he fucked up by leaving his youngest son in the care of his brother.
But his head was all fucked up over losing his wife.
Vega reminded him of that loss, which made it hard to deal with him.
He did the cowardly thing and walked away, handing over his empire and his child who needed him.
“Yeah it is, but I’m good. Live your life, old man. You been doing that, so why change now?”
Vega reached the door, opening it just as his father spoke again. “I fucked up, Vega. I do love you, but I didn’t know how to not have your mother and still love you. You reminded me so much of her. She loved you most. You’re the most like her. I just—"
“You were a fucking selfish ass coward,” Vega said, looking over his shoulder at his father before he shook his head and walked out, slamming the door. Fuck him. I’m good. Even if he wasn’t, Vega would find a way to make sure he was.
It was half an hour before closing and the only clients left were the two in chairs.
East had finished his last a few minutes before and was in the process of cleaning up his station when the door signaled someone was entering the shop.
Because of the late hour, East assumed it was Joi.
He had texted her and asked her to meet him here so they could spend the night at his house.
When he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed a woman, just not the one he was expecting.
“Damn she’s bad, I got her.”
East laughed under his breath when he heard Poole speak from beside him. Seconds later he was on his feet moving her way. All eyes were on Asako as she moved with purpose, stopping only when Poole addressed her.
“I know you’re not here for a cut, so what can I do for you?”
East, along with everyone else, watched the interaction, amused at how Poole was damn near drooling, but it was understood.
The woman was fine. She had a mixed vibe going on, Black and Asian, if East had to guess.
She was thick as hell which couldn’t be missed because of the skintight black jeans she wore and the matching cropped tank top.
It stopped just below her full breasts which peeked from the bottom but were covered in some type of lace bra.
“Actually…” Asako paused and scanned the room.
She appeared confident, however, inside she was a ball of nerves.
Patterson had finally forced her hand and pushed her toward her introduction to East. That was the reason she showed up at East Side Cuts.
“I am here for a cut. I wanted to try something new and I heard that you’re the best person to see.
” Although she was standing in front of Poole, she looked right past him with her sights affixed on East. At the moment his back was to her, but he lifted his eyes to his mirror and met her gaze.
“That’s what you heard?” he questioned, keeping eye contact through the mirror. He saw the flirty look in her eyes. She very well might have been there for a cut, but that wasn’t all she was there for.
“Aww hell,” Poole groaned and went back to his station. If she was there for East, none of them had a chance in hell of pulling her attention away from him.
“The fuck you pouting for, Poole? You knew that shit wasn’t happening anyway, and besides, your mama is gonna be here to scoop your ass in a few.
Let her walk up in here with her in your chair and that’s your ass.
” Dawson was the first to speak, causing the rest of them to laugh like little ass kids.
All but East. He was tired and ready to shut down so he could get home.
One more head meant at least thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on what she wanted.
She was fine but not that damn fine that he wanted her in his chair at the current moment.
And then there was Joi. They were already in a fucked-up space, he didn’t need her walking in, spazzing the hell out because another woman who was clearly interested in him was in his chair.
“That’s exactly what I heard. You’re East, right?
” Asako’s eyes moved across East’s body, lingering in certain places to fully take him in and approve of the view.
Damn, this man is fine. She was loving his perfectly fitted black on black clothing.
Jeans sat low on his waist with a barely-there sag, exposing the slight bow in his legs, apparent even with his relaxed stance.
A pocket tee covered his upper half with EastSide printed on the sleeve.
The tee hugged him in a way that exploited his chest and triceps.
She had seen him a few times in passing while they shared the same space at clubs, but never had she been this close to him.
While Asako’s eyes devoured East, he kept his on her hair. It was down and shoulder length. Thick with curls he attributed to her mixed ethnicity. He hadn’t found any places that were shaved but assumed it might have been hidden under the sea of hair.
“We’re closing soon. What you trying to get done?”
Asako’s smile stretched widely as she eased into his personal space.
Shit, he smells good. Her thin eyes searched his face, admiring his handsome features.
She could get used to looking at him but knew better than to get attached.
This was business; an attachment to East was dangerous.
Get close to him, find out a way to get Patterson the money he needs, then move the hell on, she coached herself.
After the deed was done, she was moving the hell out of Georgia like she should have years ago.
She just couldn’t stomach leaving her family, they were all she had.
Fighting the urge to be frightened by the intimidating look on his handsome face, Asako tilted her head slightly to the left and threw her hair over her shoulder.
“I want this side shaved. Just a few inches from here to here to here. She lifted her hand and moved her fingers from her hairline just above her ear to the middle of the back of her head, outlining the right side of her head.
East raised his brows then narrowed his eyes. “You sure you want to do that?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Why? You don’t think I can pull it off?”
“Hell yeah you can,” Poole responded with a little too much enthusiasm before East shot him a look, waiting for him to shut the fuck up.
East then addressed Asako. “Yeah you can. I’m just trying to be sure it’s what you really want.”
She flashed him a seductive, teasing smile before peering at him, thinning out her already slanted eyes. “Why? You gonna mess it up?”
East accepted the challenge with an arrogant laugh before he motioned to his chair. “Sit down.”
Asako did as she was instructed and her stomach fluttered from the anticipation of East having his hands in her hair and his body close to hers. This is business. Get a grip.
Once East had the cape draped across her body, he ran his fingers through her hair.
She damn near let out a moan and he smirked, shaking his head.
With some women it didn’t take much and he knew for sure she was feeling him.
He was ’bout to make the cut as quick as possible and keep it as professional as possible.
After lifting a comb, he turned her to the mirror and extended it to her.
She watched him through the mirror with lustful eyes.
“Separate it, so I know how much you want cut.”
Asako shook her head slowly, biting her lip before she responded. “You do it. I might not get the part straight.”
East groaned, knowing it didn’t have shit to do with the part, but he went with it. After he agreed on the amount, she pulled the rest up into a ponytail to keep it out the way. Once she had it secured, East lifted his clippers and turned them on, giving her one last out before he got started.
“You ready?”
“Yep, let’s do it. And don’t mess up my head,” she warned with a playful smile, which caused him to laugh under his breath. He was indeed the best and would not fuck up her head.
They were both quiet while East focused on what he was doing, but during the process of admiring his work, he felt a tug on the hem of his shirt and was pulled closer to Asako.
“You smell good.”