Page 37 of Love me Like XO

“C’mon Ro you know me. Just open another bar.” He was already shaking his head no. My boy was a beast with tattooing, but he didn’t take it as serious as he should have. He had raw ass talent that most motherfuckers went to school for.

“You’re right I do know you and that’s why I’m telling you that the money from Henny is yours. You gotta open something legit in yo’ name. I hope you open up yo’ own tattoo spot, but if not, you could open up a fucking titty bar for all I care. Just think about it for me.”

Chapter 6

Xo

EMPRESS

Instead of doing the family road trip bullshit with my family, I opted out and hopped a flight. As a matter of fact all of my siblings did except Fiona. Though we were arriving at different times, it was still the same day for everybody flying. My pops was probably pissed but Fiona was his daughter so not everyone should’ve had to deal with her ass. I couldn’t have imagined a fourteen-hour ride with her or her kids. We wouldn’t have made it and I for sure would’ve been on the side of the road with my thumb out for a ride with a complete stranger.

Somehow Zero was able to finagle my flight to be with his so we arrived and checked into the room at the same time as my sister and Malik. That was good, because I swear, I planned to eat good tonight.

“How far did your auntie say they were out?” I looked up at Zero as he entered the room with a towel around his waist from our shower session.

“Ten fucking hours. Ain’t no way I could’ve did that.”

“I me?—”

“Naw baby that was too long. Plus I need to be between yo’ legs at least every few hours.”

A giggle escaped my lips. “I know nasty.” Immediately I got flashbacks of the plane. His nasty ass couldn’t even wait until we were in the air twenty minutes, he was already unfastening his seatbelt talking about we gotta release.

“You think it’s a game. I got a lil’ addiction to you, that it’s all yo’ fault I got. Nigga ain’t never been this hard up for pussy.”

I continued to laugh at him while getting dressed for what the rest of this day had in store. Irish had already called me and asked me to bring him food back to the hotel, because his ears were popping, and Rev hadn’t landed yet.

We continued talking and getting dressed, not knowing what was in store besides food. I currently had this insatiable food checklist that I needed to get to checking off. Coming to New Orleans was like coming to a food capital for me. I had to eat at least every four hours, and for some reason that felt like the only reason I was up right now. Yeah, I wanted to chill for a little while with everyone, but I was also hungry and the snacks on the plane didn’t help. They did nothing but piss me off.

Standing in the mirror I worked on fixing my hair, while my phone rang on the countertop. I already knew who it was, and I need not answer, but while Zero was out getting ice I did.

“Khalil, you have got to stop calling me. My guy won’t like it and I don?—”

“Man tell that nigga to cool off. C’mon so you jumped in a relationship that fast after wasting my money on a flight you never took?”

“I asked if you wanted me to reimburse you because I would.”

“And I told you no. All a nigga wanted was to see you, can I get that?”

“I can’t do that, and I only answered the phone to ask you to stop calling me. I don’t wanna block you but if I have to I will.”

“You gonna have to block me baby because I’m a competitive nigga.” He was so cocky, and at first it was cute, but now it was annoying to say the least.

I hung up the phone without another word. If Khalil was stupid enough not to heed my warning than that was on him. Less than a minute later I heard the hotel room door open and Zero’s voice.

“Yo, you ready baby or are we ‘bout to star—Yo whole fucking cheek is out, Em.” He stepped behind me with his finger looped in the bottom of my jean shorts attempting to pull them down. “You tryna get a nigga bodied.”

Though that wasn’t my intention at all, I laughed as I finished getting myself together. Then I checked myself out in the mirror for a few moments while Zero did something in the bedroom. When he was ready he walked out and met me by the door.

We were headed down to my sister and Malik’s room. Just the thought of that made me laugh. She truly thought they weren’t together, but they were sharing a whole hotel room. I was willing to bet there wasn’t two beds, there was one. Shit, if they weren’t together before this trip, I sure as hell knew they’d be a pair after they left. She was playing a game of keeps with a nigga who for sure had already won. I saw it in the airport, at the shop and when we were checking in. She liked Malik and the way he didn’t give her much of a choice with anything. I guess for so long having someone who didn’t do all those things would create a longing for someone who does. That longing was a feeling I was all too familiar with.

“The fuck you over there too deep in thought about?” Zero’s voice trampled on my thoughts.

“Food. I am freaking starving.”

“You ate on the plane and in the airport,” he reminded me.

“So, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m still hungry. Plus those were snacks.”

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