Page 29 of Lucci

“I was handling something that my phone didn’t need to be on for.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. Lucci didn’t have a job. That could only mean he got his money illegally because let’s be for real, a nigga with no job buying Chanel bags? If he was in fact doing something illegal, I didn’t expect him to mention it over the phone, so I was going to drop the subject.

“You over there thinking I’m out chasing pussy?”

Avoiding eye contact, I leaned over and rubbed lotion onto my legs. “I just asked you a question. Who said I assumed anything?”

That made him laugh. “You were more than likely over there coming up with all kinds of scenarios. You probably had an attitude and all. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I’m not going to lie about shit that I do.”

Insecurity wasn’t exactly an attractive trait, so I checked myself. He hadn’t given me any reason not to trust him, so I was going to stop assuming that the worst would occur. I couldn’t even be worried about him possibly rekindling things with Kiandra because even if my father was wrong, I wasn’t sure I could be with a man that knocked the Mario coins out of him. My eyes almost jumped out of their sockets when Lucci’s fist connected with that man’s face.

“Anyway,” I changed the subject. “I think I’m about to take the continuing education classes and the test that I need to become a BIC which stands for broker in charge. That way, I won’t have to work under anyone, and I can start my own firm.”

“Word? I think that’s a good idea.”

“Yeap. And I don’t know of any all black real estate firms in Diamond Cove. All black is cool but all black women would be dope.”

“Y’all stay trying to exclude niggas. All female car club. All female real estate firm. We don’t get no love, huh?”

“Welllll,” I sang while rubbing lotion onto my arms. “You could always enroll in another real estate class, pass the test, and be the first man to work at my firm.”

I didn’t miss the silence that ensued. I didn’t want to press Lucci about real estate. He had been doing well in the class, but I knew that if he wasn’t in the right head space it would be a waste of time anyway.

“We’ll see.” That was the only answer he gave.

I gave a curt nod. “I can live with that. I still have your book and your notebook.”

“Damn I hadn’t even thought about asking you if you grabbed them. I kind of assumed you left them, and they were just gone.”

“Ohhh but women assume?”

Lucci chuckled and before he could dwell too much on the events of that day, I opened my towel giving him a peek of my body. I didn’t miss the flicker of desire in his orbs.

“Damn. You gonna make me catch a flight to Bali and crash that all girl’s trip.”

“Or you can miss me and when I get home, you can fuck me so good that I walk funny for the next few days.”

“Say less my nigga. Say less.”

Bali was so much fun but back at home, I had to get back to business. I had new clients that were looking to buy. There was a married couple that I could tell right away were going to work my nerves. The second one was a single man that more than likely wouldn’t be too hard to please. As soon as I got back to Diamond Cove, I showered, put on some comfy clothes, and started looking for listings that met each client’s criteria. I wanted to show them as many houses as possible at once. There was a lot of competition out there so more than likely, the first house they found and put offers on wouldn’t be accepted. I’d had clients that didn’t get the first, second, or third house that they wanted. One woman literally cried because she didn’t think she’d ever get a house that she liked. People that shamed others for renting and acted as if the home buying process was so easy annoyed me real bad because the way my clients cried, got frustrated, rejected, and inconvenienced while looking for a home wasn’t for the faint of heart.

Most times when they were frustrated, I was on the receiving end of it. I just had to suck it up and learn not to take it personal. When I was done composing a list, I reached out to my clients and set up a day and time to do the viewings. Then, Iresponded to some emails and reached out to the appraiser that was working on a home for one of my other clients. Her offer had been accepted, and we were just waiting to see what the house appraised for.

When all of that was done, I felt accomplished. My phone rang, and I saw that Gavin was calling. I hadn’t spoken to him since my second day in Bali. Gavin was nice, but I didn’t feel right wasting his time. In my heart, I wanted Lucci, and anyone I entertained while we got to know one another would be strictly platonic. I didn’t assume that Gavin was looking for a relationship with me, but I was pretty confident that he was looking for someone to at least have sex with. It wasn’t going to be me.

“Hey.”

“Damn you’re supposed to be my personal tour guide. You don’t hang out with me tell me the cool spots to go to or anything.”

“Um for one, I told you to come on the strip that day; you’re welcome. And I just got back from my trip this morning.”

“I’m fucking with you. I know you’re a busy woman. Can you grab a bite to eat with me in about an hour? I’m tired of eating alone looking lame as hell.”

“Sure,” I replied slowly. There was nothing wrong with keeping it casual. If any weird or inappropriate conversation took place, I’d politely tell him that this wasn’t that. “Where do you want to go?”

“You tell me. What’s the best spots? I like different shit. Indian food, Caribbean food, good Mexican food.”

“There’s this really good Mexican spot. They have the best elote and ceviche.”

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