Chapter 36
“You good?” East kissed Joi’s neck, pulling her closer to his side while he waited for her response. Her eyes moved around the club a few more times before she nodded, looking up at him.
“I’m fine. This place is just too damn pretty to be a strip club. It’s nothing like the ones I’ve been to.”
East’s smirked and looked down at Joi, curious about her statement. “You go to strip clubs?”
“I’ve been to some.”
“Men or women?”
“Both.” She shrugged and East chuckled, shaking his head, amused at the thought.
“What?”
“Nothing. You just don’t seem like the type.”
“What’s the type?”
“Shit, I don’t know, not you.” He laughed again and Joi rolled her eyes.
“They’re not all trashy. Some are nice and it’s sexy.”
“Men or women?” East questioned again.
“Both, well… not really. Women more than men because they’re kinda nasty. They’re all sweaty and just usually, ehhhh.” Joi balled up her face and East laughed again.
“That’s because you didn’t have any business trying to look at some muthafucker with his dick in your face. That shit is played.”
“But it’s not played if you’re in a strip club with a woman having her pussy in your face.” East smirked and nodded.
“It’s not the same and I don’t do strip clubs.”
“But you have, and it is the same.”
“Nah, shawty, it’s not. Trust me.”
“Mr. Joseph, we have your section ready for you. Mr. Orr reserved it for you.” The host East and Joi were waiting on returned after checking the VIP list to figure out where she was to seat them.
“Follow me.” She smiled hard and East allowed Joi to move first, placing his hand on the small of her back as they moved through the crowded space.
Once they reached their destination, she stopped, extended a hand, and waited for them to enter.
Ace was there with his wife and stood to greet East with a handshake and hug before he greeted Joi with a nod.
“It’s been a minute.” Ace took his seat again and pulled his wife into his side. East and Joi sat across from them and Paris offered a warm smile to Joi who returned one.
“Yeah, it has. Life happens,” East gave as his reasoning.
Ace smirked and nodded, then turned his attention to Joi. “This is my wife Paris.”
“Nice to meet you, Paris, I’m Joi.”
“Same,” Paris offered, inching closer to Ace greeting an old friend. “It’s good to see you again, East.”
“I know. It’s been a while.”
“It has. You’re still family. You and Joi can join us for family dinner anytime you want.” East smirked and nodded. Paris was always Paris.
“I appreciate that.”
“Hey, boo.” Nyelle breezed in the section looking like a million bucks. She was dressed in all black, ripped jeans, heels, and a strapless top that hugged her thick frame.
“Look at you matching your man’s fly.” Joi grinned at her girl when she leaned down to hug her.
“You know I have to make sure these hoes know what’s up.” Nyelle glanced over her shoulder at Vega who was scowling at one of his employees, talking fast. His fit was all black as well which fit him nicely.
“See… there you go. Your man owns a strip club, you better just make peace with his hoes. As long as he knows what’s up, that’s all that matters,” Joi said and stuck her tongue out at Nyelle who rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, whatever, I’m still not playing these games with them. What’s up, East?”
He offered Nyelle a nod before she turned her attention to Ace and Paris. Vega entered right after, greeting everyone.
“What you think?”
“Shit is dope,” East answered honestly. He could tell Vega had put a lot into the place and was happy for him.
“It’s a strip club,” Joi stated, scrunching her nose. “But it is nice. Just don’t expect him to be here.”
Vega chuckled. “Damn, so my people can’t support?”
“Nope, the only stripping he gets is what I provide. Sorry.” East laughed, inching closer to Joi to speak privately.
“So can I get that later?”
Joi shrugged and delivered a smug grin. “Depends on how well trained your eyes are tonight.” East and Vega both burst out laughing, with Vega shaking his head.
“Come on Joi, let him get a pass for tonight. It’s my grand opening.”
“Mmmhmm. Congrats,” Joi said, unbothered. She truly didn’t have an issue with East enjoying himself as long as he didn’t enjoy it too much. She wasn’t that type of girlfriend and never would be.
“Damn, East. I tried but at least you’re not too close to the stage, so you might be aight.”
East shook his head and kissed Joi’s neck. “I’m straight and she isn’t running shit.”
“You just remember that,” Joi warned, causing Vega to laugh again.
“Bruh, tread lightly. But I’m out. I have to make sure things are running smoothly and I have my own problems.” He glanced at Nyelle who cut her eyes at him over her shoulder.
“Good luck.”
“Thanks, I need all that shit.” Vega glanced at Nyelle again as she made her way to him.
“Aight fam, y’all enjoy. The night’s on me. I appreciate you coming out. It means a lot.”
“It ain’t shit, fam. We’re here for you.
” East extended a closed fist to Vega which he met before dapping his brother and heading out of the section with Nyelle right beside him.
Joi smirked at her girl playing her role while cock blocking and supporting her man at the same time.
A lot had changed for Joi and Nyelle, but in a good way.
There was no price that you could put on happiness and they both had it.
“I’m exhausted. That was my first and last time doing that with you,” Nyelle complained as she entered Vega’s condo and kicked off her heels.
It was just after four in the morning and she was seconds from passing out.
The night had gone smoothly, other than a few small issues like running out of a few items on the menu and ice for the drinks.
The place was packed all night, with a line around the building, which was more than anyone expected, even Vega.
He was pretty popular but popularity when it came to support was a completely different ball game. Tonight proved Vega was well-respected.
“So, you’re really not going to support your man?” Vega shut and locked his door, walking up behind Nyelle and kissing her exposed shoulder while his hands rested on her stomach.
“With that club, no. Well, not in person. I will support you from afar.” Vega smiled against her shoulder, kissing it again.
“Fair enough but I don’t want you complaining while I’m there.”
“Oh, trust me, I won’t because I will get my time in. And if I don’t? You’re going to have a failed business venture. If a choice is to be made, it’s me.”
Vega smiled big as shit, turning Nyelle to face him, cuffing the back of her head for a real kiss. “You already know, but I’ll make it work so I get to keep you both.”
“Fine but I’m the priority.”
“You damn sure are.” Vega reached for the hem of the spandex shirt that covered her top half, tugging it upward until Nyelle raised her arms enough for him to remove it completely.
Her jeans and panties were next, leaving Nyelle’s body completely exposed.
Vega admired her for a minute before lifting her around his waist and carrying her to his room.
In no time at all he was undressed and easing into her with his face tight from how good it felt.
“Fuck. You are definitely the priority,” Vega growled after hitting Nyelle deep a few times. She smiled, wrapping her hands around his biceps, pulling him closer while he slowly and purposefully glided in and out of Nyelle’s oasis.
“It better be for more than just sex.”
Vega smirked, biting his lip. “Do I have to be honest now?”
Nyelle balled up her fist and it landed against his arm, causing Vega to laugh fully.
“It’s more than just sex, Pretty Ny. You already know that but this right here,” he paused his words and hit her deep a few times, “this shit wins every time.”
“Mmmm, yes it does.”
An hour later Vega and Nyelle were cozy in his bed, with her snuggled in his arms, exhausted and satisfied, only Vega’s mind was racing. As tired as he was, he couldn’t sleep so he lay there in the dark thinking about everything.
“What?” Nyelle mumbled when she realized he was wide awake at almost six in the morning. She wanted to be anything but awake but she felt Vega’s anxious energy.
“Nothing, go to sleep.”
He kissed the top of her head but Nyelle groaned and turned to face him. “I can’t. I feel you thinking and it’s loud.”
Vega kissed her forehead, exposing a smile. “How you feel me thinking?”
“I just do, so talk.”
His lips curved against her forehead. “My pops being there was weird as hell. I’m still not feeling him, but I was glad he came. He’s trying.”
“He is. I can see it. He wants you to be happy.”
“Yeah, he does. He also told me that my mom would like you. He said a bunch of other shit about her too. That really fucked my head up at first but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You’re a lot like her. I think that’s why I just knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I was gonna marry you. It’s also why I’ve been so pissed at him lately.
My mom was everything and it’s like she died and never existed to him.
That shit fucked me up. After being with you, I know for sure I couldn’t just forget someone I had a connection with that strongly.
I didn’t understand how he could. If anything ever happened with us, I wouldn’t be able to just walk away like that shit didn’t matter. He did. It made me hate him.”
“But you don’t know that he did. Everything’s not always what it seems.”
Vega exhaled slowly and nodded. “Yeah, I know, but it still hurts, and I’m still pissed.
But when he was talking to me about you tonight, I could see it.
He still loves her and he wants me to love you like that.
He can’t give me shit, I’m grown, and he missed the opportunity.
He knew that but he wanted to give me something, so he gave me confirmation that it’s supposed to be you.
I know it sounds crazy as hell and it may not make sense, but he spoke for my mother tonight about you in a way I couldn’t get any other way.
I still have shit to figure out with him, but I appreciate him giving me that. ”
Nyelle wasn’t sure what to say. His words were an emotional overload, so she didn’t say anything.
She simply kissed his chest and tightened her arms around him which was good enough.
Vega closed his eyes, allowing his brain to settle after speaking his piece and sleep began to settle in.
It wasn’t until that moment that Vega realized there was nothing in his life that would ever be more important than the woman who had effortlessly stolen his heart.