Chapter 9
“So you just left it at that?”
I met up with Cesar for a workout Thursday morning. Despite her saying she would need it, I didn’t see Nastasia anywhere around the vicinity. At least, not yet.
Cesar was curious, and I didn’t blame him. I was curious as well. Taking the time to plan a trip to Stokely Park with a picnic was new for me, not my style, but something about Nastasia made me want to put in the extra effort.
Some of my rounds didn’t like the pageantry of going out to eat or getting drinks.
They just wanted the dick and for me to leave until the next time they wanted it.
Realistically, in a friends-with-benefits scenario, it was I fuck you and you leave or vice versa.
Now, there were other women I had I could kick it with and go out and grab food with before or after, but Nastasia didn’t seem like the type who would go for that.
I was still feeling her out and her approach was much more different.
For starters, her energy was different, the type that was a quiet confidence, rather than an out loud one like Paisley.
The fear in her voice when I’d mentioned linking up on the phone Monday let me know that I couldn’t press heavy for a hookup.
Her last relationship had left her scarred and she wasn’t really trying to rush into anything physical.
All signs were there to just walk away, but damn, shorty was pretty.
Conversation was simple and easy, and could go deep or light—either way, it was nice.
The gym wasn’t crowded for ten a.m., but I kept my voice low as I stood with Cesar by the treadmills telling him about my time with Nas.
“That sounds like dating with extra steps,” Cesar noted after hearing about the whole encounter.
“Exactly what I said,” I responded. “Except she said it’s non-exclusive. If I want to fuck around still, I can.”
Cesar studied me. “Are you?”
I met his gaze. “Permission or not, that sounds like a trap.”
“Oh, it most definitely is a trap. The next time y’all meet up, she’s going to ask if you fucked someone, and then she’ll have her decision made for y’all. Point is, are you going to go for it?”
In my phone, I already held a roster of friends-with-benefits. Women who understood my intentions as I understood theirs. Meeting someone new wasn’t a must for me, specifically with Pops and his lecture still fresh in my memory.
“Her word or not, I’m going to cool it with other women for a minute any way,” I admitted. “I don’t need folks poppin’ up or any drama getting back to Pops. So, for the time being, my attention is on Nas until we figure out where she wants to land.”
Cesar wasn’t convinced as he let out a whistle and swiped up his water bottle. “How long until you’re bored?”
That was another thing.
“She’s not boring, but I could see us being better friends than anything in the long run,” I said.
There was only so long this in-between, limbo, could last. Nastasia was almost the homie type.
I wouldn’t brand her that way yet, especially when a large part of me wanted to sleep with her.
Thinking about all that smooth golden-brown skin, the soft texture, the sweet scent of her perfume—my overall attraction to her couldn’t be denied.
I wanted to taste her lips. I wanted to taste her body.
Wanted to hear the sounds she made when I was deep up in it.
Wanted to see the delicate features of her face twist and contort as she felt all the pleasure I could give her.
Wanted to watch her come for me again and again.
“She different,” I concluded.
Cesar took a swig of water, pausing to ruminate on my words. “She’s not the first woman who wouldn’t have sex with you.”
“Yeah, but…” There was something about Nastasia.
I wanted to sit and watch Vanilla Sky with her, to see her reactions to the parts I liked and the parts I didn’t.
Some people watched movies for escapism, but I liked that Nas went deeper.
Her intellect was fascinating, and her wit had me loosening up.
She boldly thought Life was better than The Shawshank Redemption and I still couldn’t wrap my head around it as I fought a smile at the thought.
Something told me this was a bad idea—fuck it though. I was curious.
For the time being, I dug my phone out of my pocket and shot Paisley a DM. Nastasia hadn’t given me her info—it still felt awkward to flirt and then hit her up for her homegirl’s number. As confusing as things were in my sex life, that wouldn’t stop this impending bag.
Me
I’m serious about Ladies’ Night
Thankfully, Paisley was prompt and I didn’t have to play the waiting game.
@PaisleyP
And I’m serious about the $
I chuckled and shook my head. I liked that she was real, on and off the radio.
Me
Say less. Can we meet for lunch?
@PaisleyP
When? And where?
Me
Tomorrow too soon? Eleven? Copeland’s?
@PaisleyP
Yum. Sounds good.
Me
Dope. I’ll be bringing my father, but that’s just a formality. He’ll agree regardless
@PaisleyP
Cool. See you then
Cesar was watching, probably thinking I was talking to Nastasia.
“I’m about to lock in with Paisley for this Ladies’ Night event. That’s gon’ be a bag,” I said as I put my phone away.
Cesar reached out and slapped his palm against mine. “No doubt about it, Paisley owns these airwaves from here to Atlanta. Shit, probably beyond.”
“And it’s about time she graces BLVCKJVCK with her hosting,” I agreed. “I figure she can come through for us and do her thing, and we can cross-promote her shop, tell all the ladies in the building where to get some gear. Win-win for everybody.”
Cease bobbed his head, but then he glanced at my pocket where my phone lay. “And Nastasia?”
One more glance around Phat Fitness and I still didn’t see her in sight.
I wasn’t about to call or text her. It was Thursday, club night, business hours.
Come Friday, I’d be confirming a solid deal to gain us another successful event.
Pops was about to see what I could do for the club, and for the time being, that was my focus.
Getting back to Cesar, I shrugged. “Guess we’ll know when we know.”