Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
Navy
I had the most fun with Zander. He was always a vibe without really even trying.
We got along so well. Since we both loved sports, we’d spent the last decade going to basketball and football games together.
Today, we randomly decided to take the three hour drive to Memphis to watch the Grizzlies play.
Once the game was over, we went to a Mexican restaurant that did karaoke as well.
I went live and we were having a time talking to our people that joined while singing and rapping along any time someone performed.
Zander was great at a lot of things, but singing wasn’t one of them.
That never stopped him from hijacking a microphone though.
When he decided to serenade the packed crowd with three songs, I alternated between laughing so hard I wheezed and cried and hyping my friend up.
His friends were dragging him in the comments which only made it funnier. We’d gotten a margarita tower to share, and the tequila was flowing through our systems. I was honestly having the time of my life until Ian started calling me. When I first declined his call, he commented on the live.
“I’m live, babe. I’ll call you back as soon as I log out,” I said since I knew he was still watching. This man had the nerve to tell me to end my live to call him. “Is it an emergency?” I checked. When he said no, I repeated, “Then I’ll call you after my live.”
I ended up getting irritated because since he was on my favorites list, his calls came straight through, and it kept pausing my live.
By the time Zander finished his last song, my mood was ruined and I’d ended the live, but I still didn’t call him back.
I hated feeling like he, or anyone for that matter, was trying to force me to do something I didn’t want to do.
“What’s wrong, NaeNae?” Zander asked, sitting next to me in the booth.
“Nothing,” I grumbled, pouring myself another margarita.
“We lying to each other now?” When he ran his finger between my eyebrows, I stopped frowning and smiled.
“Ian was blowing me up while I was live and it pissed me off.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I doubt it. I asked him was it an emergency and he said no. His petty ass just wants me to call him now instead of later.”
Zander shrugged and squeezed my thigh. “Fuck ’im then. This my time; not his. Matter fact . . . give me your phone.”
We’d slept in the same bed and been physical before—hugs, kisses, even hand holding at corn mazes or scary movies.
This felt different. The closeness, the heat, the firm grip he had on my thigh.
Licking my lips, I stared at him for a few seconds before shaking my head and snapping myself out of the trance his stare had me in.
Zander Gough was easily the most handsome man I’d ever known.
He was tall, wide, and chiseled. The man’s body and face were true works of art.
His skin was a golden caramel brown that was littered with tattoos.
He had a square head and naturally arched brows that hovered over dark, shiny eyes.
Stubble for a beard enclosed bowtie shaped lips that always made his words feel like a gift.
And he had the cutest pointy ears that I had to stop myself from pinching and using to pull him close for a kiss.
I did rub them until we fell asleep when we took naps together though.
Hadn’t had a good nap like that since I’d been with Ian.
Ian.
Sitting back in my seat, I looked away. The last thing I needed right now was to be lusting after Zander like I didn’t have a man that was quite literally blowing me up.
A part of me wanted to call him back because I didn’t want him to feel like I was rejecting him, but the other part of me that didn’t like to feel controlled wanted to rebel.
My eyes shifted when I saw Zander grab my phone off the table. I watched as he entered my password, went to my call log, and dialed Ian’s number.
“Oh God. Please don’t.”
There was really no point in me saying that because Zander was going to do whatever the hell he wanted to do. Massaging my temples, I shook my head at the same rapid pace as my leg.
I heard Ian’s muffled voice on the other side of the phone, but I couldn’t make out what he said.
It didn’t seem like Zander cared either way because the first words out of his mouth were, “Aye. When you be taking my sweet girl out on dates and shit, do I be blowing her phone up and impeding on y’all time?
” Ian’s tone grew louder. “Nah, fuck all’at.
I don’t. I let you have her peacefully. Give me that same respect. ”
Zander chuckled at whatever Ian said. “You knew ya girl had a male best friend when you pursued her. If you were uncomfortable with that shit, you shouldn’t have pursued her.
Now I’m here for forever, and I’ve been gracious enough to share her with you.
Keep making this shit more difficult than it needs to be and making her feel like she has to choose between us.
I promise you . . . you will not win.” Zander paused, jaw clenched as he inhaled a deep breath.
“Now, Navy will be back home tomorrow. You can have her to yourself then. Tonight, she’s mine.
Stop fucking calling her and pissing her off. I’m not trying to deal with that shit.”
He hung up as Ian yelled and casually tossed my phone back on the table before drinking my margarita. For a while, all I did was stare at the side of his face. Zander looked at me and released a bark of laughter before asking, “What did I do?”
“You know I’m going to have to hear about this shit right?”
He sucked his teeth. “I’on care. He’s too uptight and emotional. Always complaining about shit that ain’t gon’ change. If you want a relationship that’s like a circus with that clown cool, but you ain’t gon’ be babying his ass when you with me.”
“Ugh.” I groaned and held back a smile. One thing I would never deny was how serious Zander was.
It was always amusing because he never held back, but I could only respect it.
I also appreciated it. He protected me, my peace, and my heart in ways no one else did.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. ”
“Love me and let me take care of you. Now fuck him. Drink, eat, and enjoy yourself.”
My smile widened as he shoved the chips and queso in my direction. Not too much time passed before he had me laughing and forgetting about the tension that was mounting with me and Ian.
For the rest of the night, I enjoyed our time together and decided I’d deal with my stubborn man when I made it back to Rose Valley Hills.
Because what Zander said was the truth—Ian knew about our friendship and routines before he asked to commit to me.
I wasn’t sure why he thought my friendship with Zander was going to change, but he’d have to accept it or break up with me, and I was starting not to care either way.