Chapter 21
THE HAMPTONS
It was the day after Pretti’s birthday. Lunden had thrown her and Dexz a big birthday bash at an exclusive nightclub, and it was invite-only.
The night played out like a movie with money being thrown around, exotic strippers hanging off poles, and all the expensive gifts they received.
Everyone was getting along, but after the party, Lunden disappeared, and he still hadn’t made it to her place.
She figured he didn't want to be around when Dexz picked her up for their vacation.
But him not returning didn't bother her.
It just meant leaving the house would be easy.
She woke up excited about her trip to the Hamptons.
She could hardly sleep after she looked up the house again that they were staying in on the beach.
It was beautiful, and she almost wanted to buy it if it weren't so expensive.
She badly wanted a house, and she hoped the trip would motivate her to boss up.
After packing her luggage with everything she would need for three days, she sat in her living room picking at her white acrylic nails. She was nervous and didn't know what her future would be like after her three days with her soulmate.
Ever since she was fifteen, she always wondered what it was like to be his girl.
Now she had gotten a taste of it. She knew they had chemistry now, so there was no way they were going to be on a friend’s trip, especially after their moment at the spa.
As she sat there waiting, she heard a loud engine roar and bass from a sound system. She stood up and looked out the window.
“Oh my God, what the hell.” She smiled brightly when she saw Dexz step out of a black-on-black Lamborghini. He was blasting Fivio Foreign’s album and looked good enough to eat in his white Versace swim shorts, tank top, and an open white linen button-down shirt.
“Come on, woman! Let’s bounce!” she heard him say as he knocked on the door. She grabbed her rollaway luggage and handbag and rushed to the door like a kid. With all the money she made and even being in a relationship, she had never been anywhere exciting.
“Really? We’re riding like this for the weekend?” she asked as she continued to beam.
“Yup! We work hard, so we get to play even harder.” He grabbed her luggage. “Let’s go so we can beat traffic. It’s a two-hour drive, and I got some stops to make. But I know we will be there in less time than that in this.”
They raced to the car and got in. Dexz drove the Harlem streets feeling like a star with the love of his life in his passenger seat.
The car was a rental, but he still had to drop thirty grand on it for a week.
So he bent a few corners to floss and met a few people before hitting I-438 to the Hamptons.
After thirty minutes into the ride, the road was clear.
He hit 110 mph at one point and then slowed down.
Pretti was enjoying the luxurious ride while Fivio Foreign’s song Big Drip blared through the speakers.
He had the windows rolled down, so her long, 30-inch Brazilian weave ponytail blew in the wind as she moved her hips to the drill beat.
Dexz looked over at her and smirked. She was sexy, and he couldn’t wait until she was completely his.
“I feel so great right now. I can’t believe this is our life after everything we’ve been through as we were kids,” she cooed calmly, looking at Dexz in awe.
He reached over, grabbed her hand, cuffed it into his, and kissed the top.
“Just know we ain’t never going back to living like that. It’s nothing but up from here.”
“I can agree to that.”
$$$$
Two hours went by fast, and they were finally in the Hamptons. They stopped at a grocery store and grabbed a few things they needed. Pretti promised to cook Dexz’s favorite meal: lemon pepper baked pork chops and smothered cheese potatoes. Then they would head to a club he was invited to.
When they pulled up to the house and got out, she fell in love with the mansion yet again. It was beautiful in person, just like it was online. The blue saltwater pool and view of the beach were breathtaking, and so was every room in the house.
“I wish I could live here. This place is beautiful,” she said when they walked into the stainless steel and marble floor kitchen. They started putting the groceries in the refrigerator.
“I want you to enjoy these next three days like it is your house. You work hard, ma. I’ve watched you grind since I’ve been out, and you don’t let anything distract you. I admire everything about you. I set all this up for you and not me.” Dexz closed the refrigerator.
“Thank you. I love how you are always thinking of me, no matter what. You deserve this getaway as well, and I am glad I’m here to enjoy it with you. I’m so happy you are home for good.” She hugged him, feeling emotional.
“You’re welcome. You know I’m going to always look after you.
” He kissed her forehead. “Now, let’s get our evening started.
We have to be at some nightclub on the beach at nine.
It’s business, but it’s also for fun too.
So get sexy for me because, for these next three days, you are my lady, not Lunden’s,” he stated boldly.
He wasn’t concerned about Lunden’s feelings when it came to what God made for him. This had been his plan since the first night he met her when they were young. He didn’t want to tie her down when they were younger because he knew she had goals. Plus, he wasn’t a good nigga when he was with Kayla.
He always told himself he would wait until she had experienced life before he made her his girl, and he was finally comfortable enough to do so. He knew he still tugged on her heart, so it wasn’t going to take much to make her change her mind about Lunden and transition over to being with him.
He knew him taking her from Lunden would cause friction in their friendship, so he was going to play it cool and be with her on the low until she finally had enough of keeping them a secret.
He and Lunden were making thousands together, so he’d rather have her on the low than nothing at all, for now.
Either way, they were going to be friends for life.
“Your lady? I like the sound of that. I’ve waited years to hear you tell me those words.” She kissed his lips. She loved their intimate moments because they always felt so right.
She sashayed off and slipped into something comfortable and revealing to entice her bae while she cooked. Dexz hung out in the kitchen with her, rolling blunts and drinking D’usse. They had the music blasting, having their own party while catching up on what'd happened since they had been apart.
“So, do you miss Cali?” he asked her as he lit his first blunt for the night.
She sighed as she finished up her smothered potatoes. “Yeah, I do sometimes, but I’m content in Harlem. I make a lot of money here, and I have a tribe now. I didn't have any of this in California. I only miss the aesthetics. I want to visit just to go to Malibu or shop on Rodeo Drive.”
“Shit, with the money you make, you can go to Cancun or some shit if you want to lay on a beach like that. You bossy, ma. I want you to always think big.”
“I know. I can’t wait until you’re off parole so we can go.”
“Baby love, that’s another five years. Live your life without a nigga.”
“That’s why I love you. You’re always letting me do me.”
“As you deserve.”
After she whipped up Dexz’s favorite meal, they ate and got dressed for the night.
When she stepped out of the room in her satin long-sleeved, emerald shorts romper, his eyes bugged out of his head.
She was grown and sexy, showing off a little cleavage, and her ass was fat.
Her skin glowed from the body glitter, and her long ponytail gave her features an exotic look.
He swallowed the lump in his throat as he gazed at her while sitting on the couch. “Damn, ma… you grew up to be a baddie. I love it.”
“I wasn’t going to grow up and be anything less. You know my self-esteem isn't low. You ready to go, though?”
“Yeah, grab a jacket. It’s supposed to rain later.”
After she got her jacket, they stepped outside into the cool air and hit the road.
Dexz found his location in ten minutes. They stepped out, and he grabbed the duffle bag he had near Pretti’s foot on the passenger side.
He let the valet park his car, and they headed to the back door of the club, where he was meeting a guy named Timmy.
Timmy was a rich, middle-aged Italian man who owned two clubs in the Hamptons and did a lot of cocaine.
He was born in Queens, but his family made money in stocks, so they moved to the Hamptons when he was young.
Still, moving to the richest area in New York didn’t stop him from living a rock-star lifestyle.
Timmy met Lunden and Dexz through some kids off the streets a week earlier, but Lunden didn’t want to do the deal.
He wasn’t fond of cocky white dudes, but Dex didn’t give a fuck.
Nothing was stopping his cash flow. So after he did his research to make sure the nigga wasn’t a cop or informant, he decided to meet with him while on vacation to see how much he wanted to buy.
When they walked to the door, Dexz asked for Timmy, and the bouncer escorted him through the back of the club.
The loud hip-hop music faded as they walked into the plush office where Timmy sat.
The office looked like something out of the movie Scarface.
He had naked women sitting on his couch, making out while he sat at his desk snorting a line.
Pretti had never seen anyone snort dope before or been on a drug deal, but she didn’t say a word. Lunden didn’t involve her in any of his street business because he felt like she was too green and wouldn’t understand her surroundings. But she wasn’t afraid and minded her business while Dexz worked.
“Dexz! What’s up, my man. I'm glad you came on time. I'm running out of this shit!” Timmy boasted in a high-pitched voice and then snorted his last line.