Chapter 29
“Hey,” Joi looked over her shoulder as she eased off her bed and away from East. She had been awake for the past hour while he was still out cold.
Her eyes swept his body one last time, taking in his broad shoulders and defined back along with the rest of his toned physique.
The man was gorgeous and fine as hell. And in my bed.
“Why are you whispering?” Ria was quickly alarmed.
“East is here, I’m trying not to wake him,” Joi explained, still whispering to Ria as she tiptoed to the sliding door that led to her tiny balcony.
Considering the fact that her apartment was a studio, it was the only place she could speak in peace without risk of waking him.
After the situation at her shop, she and East had gone to her place.
They both showered then climbed in her bed.
East was out in a matter of minutes and Joi watched him sleeping until she dozed off herself.
That had been hours ago and he was still out.
“Can you talk?” Ria really hoped Joi would say yes, she needed a voice of reason.
“Yeah, I’m on the balcony.” Joi’s voice was still low, but she was no longer whispering. “What’s up?”
“So I kinda don’t know what to do.”
“About?”
“Dixon.”
Joi grinned, shaking her head. “What about him?”
Ria sighed, closing her eyes. “I really like him, a lot. We’ve basically been together since we met, and things are cool, but he doesn’t really say much about us.”
“What are you expecting him to say?”
“Shit I don’t know, like that we’re good and working toward being better.”
“Awww, boo. You want to be with him?”
“Yes, hell yes. That man….” Ria paused and shut her eyes again. “He is everything but it’s like we’re just chilling all the time. I’m at his place or he’s at mine but I can’t feel him out.”
“Then ask him what’s up.”
“I did and all he says is we’re kicking it.”
“Just let things be what they are. Why rush? It’s still new.”
“I know,” Ria pouted. “It’s not like I’m asking for a ring or even a title, but I do want to know I’m not just something to keep him occupied for the moment. My life is not set up like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like casual sex. Lue saw me with Dix.”
Joi rolled her eyes. “I thought you were done with him.”
“I am but…” Ria paused, hating to admit the truth.
“But what?”
“We broke up, but he pays for my apartment and my car. He still gives me money because he thinks we’re going to get back together.”
“Wow. Why the hell would he think that, Ria?”
Sighing first, she answered hesitantly. “I might have given him that impression. What the hell else was I supposed to do?”
“You were supposed to leave the damn man. Clean break if you really don’t want to be with him. I guess you’re okay with being purchased.”
“I’m not and don’t judge me, Joi. I have my reasons.”
“I’m not judging you. I’m just confused about what you’re doing.
Either you’re going to be with Lue or you’re not.
If you’re not, stop spending that man’s money and leading him on.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too, and not just that, do you know how many people lose their lives behind fucking with people’s emotions?
That’s a dangerous game to play, Ria. I thought you were smarter than that.
” Joi paused, thinking about her parents but quickly getting it together.
“Why the hell are you even pressed about Dix if you’re not totally free from Lue anyway? ”
“Because I want to be,” Ria whined. “Lue promised he would never take any of those things from me but when he saw me with Dix he flipped out, threatening to put me out of my apartment and take my car. The only thing he can’t take is my business because it’s in my name but still—”
“Oh my God, seriously? Do you hear yourself right now? What do you want? Confirmation so you can get off Lue’s payroll and jump on Dixon’s?”
“No, that’s not what I want. Not Dix’s money anyway, but at least to know that he’s worth me leaving all the privileges I have.”
“You know what, I can’t with you. You’re the only one who can make that decision. Not him. You need to be with Dixon because it’s what you want and not because he made you feel secure enough to leave your sponsor.”
“You make it sound horrible.”
“Because it is!” Joi yelled, shaking her head.
“I’m not that person, Joi. You’re making it seem like I am.”
“Maybe because you’re acting like you are.
I can’t help you. Figure out what you want and make a decision, but don’t try to bully Dixon into being the reason you make the decision to leave Lue.
If you like him, let that be enough without putting pressure on him to move faster than he wants so you can feel good about your decision to cut ties with a man you don’t want to be with in the first place. ”
Ria was silent for what felt like forever before she finally spoke. “You’re right. That’s why I called you. I knew you would be straight with me.”
Joi rolled her eyes. “You called me because you don’t have anyone else to call and you knew I would give you the real.”
Ria smiled and rolled her eyes. “You’re right. I appreciate you and I might need your help soon. Looks like I might be moving.”
“Oh hell no.”
“Why not? You just said you’re all I have. Who else is supposed to help me move?”
“Check Google, boo. I’m sure you’ll find a list of certified people who do that for a living. I do brows and lashes. If you need me to hook you up, fall through.”
Ria burst out laughing, rolling her eyes again. “I hate you.”
“Love you too. Now go figure out your life and get off my line.”
“Whatever, hoe, and thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Joi shook off the thought of her insane friend before heading back inside where she found East sitting on the side of her bed, looking uncomfortable because it sat so low.
His face was hard while he had his phone to his ear.
Even as bothered as he appeared, East was still ridiculously handsome.
His rugged features mixed with his handsome face were a huge turn on to any woman blessed enough to experience them.
Joi’s eyes traveled from his profile, noticing his beard had grown out a little more, down to his bare chest, arms, and shoulders down to his waist. Unable to help herself, Joi’s eyes dipped lower to the area covered in a pair of briefs exposing his long muscular legs which were damn near at his chest because her platform bed was only about two feet off the ground.
Following their angle caused her eyes to pause momentarily where his briefs hugged his thighs.
Even a quick glance blessed her with a peek of the heaviness between them and Joi’s body reacted.
Feeling guilty about her lustful thoughts because she was well aware East was in a bad headspace, she elected to give him privacy.
Fighting the urge to be near him, Joi moved to her kitchen instead.
That didn’t, however, stop her from listening while he spoke.
“Not today, can you give me a couple days? I will, I promise. Are you good though? Word, that’s good.
I’ll tell her. How’s Kelsey? Good. He been back?
Aight, good. I have to go but give me a few days and I’ll be by there so we can talk.
I know, I love you too. Ma, I know. I’ma see you in a few days. ”
East raked his hand over his hair then down his handsome face, attempting to level the stress before he tossed his phone on the bed and stood, stretching as soon as he was upright.
The hours he spent sleeping were much needed since he had literally been up for the past forty-eight hours trying to process everything.
By the time he reached Joi’s place he was exhausted and his body was shutting down.
All he wanted or could do was sleep and East appreciated Joi for allowing him to do so.
His first stop was the bathroom where he took a leak then cleaned up. His face still showed the effects from the lack of sleep but there wasn’t anything he could do right now. It would take days to recoup what he missed.
“Was that your mom?” Joi asked when East walked up behind her while she finished the sandwich she was making for him.
He kissed the back of her neck before leaning over her shoulder to watch what she was doing.
East’s need to be connected to Joi was just as much of an annoyance as it was a pleasure.
Feelings he was still attempting to balance.
“Yeah, she said to tell you thank you for coming around while I was gone.”
“She doesn’t have to thank me. It was cool getting to know her and I love your sister. Maybe even more than you.”
East planted his palms on the counter while resting his chin on Joi’s shoulder, wanting to be closer. “So you love my sister more than you love me?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
East smirked and brushed his lips across her neck, inhaling the fruity scent that was faint but still present.
“Then how did you mean it because it sounds like I missed a whole lot in just a few days.” His statement was simple on the surface, but underneath were the feelings East had been struggling with.
While he spent the past two days parked outside the apartment he shared with his parents as a young boy, most of his thoughts circled back to Joi.
He felt a need to see her and be around her, but his mind was heavy, so he stayed away.
“I mean, I really like your family and I missed you. Now move so you can eat. I hear your stomach growling.” Joi lifted the plate and shrugged him away from her body so there was enough space to turn and hand him the food.
East smirked before hopping onto the counter and accepting the plate but he placed it next to him and reached for Joi instead, pulling her between his legs.
The anxiousness that battled a feeling of comfort from being close to East kicked in.
Joi felt at home with him but there was no denying he also had her pulse racing with every touch, look, or sound he blessed her with.