Page 33 of Only if You Catch Me
The way his comment stalled my breathing was a sickening. Lately, all I’d been saying was I’d never get married again, but Kastian hinted at it in a joking manner, and I was sweating and swooning.
“Says the man that’s never even been in a relationship.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“What is your chef cooking tomorrow?”
“I’m starting to notice a pattern with you. When you don’t want to touch on a topic, you deflect.”
“Observant, are we?”
“Very.”
“You call it deflecting. I call it not responding if I don’t have anything to say. And I didn’t have anything to say because I know you aren’t serious.”
“Respectfully, you don’t know shit,” he stated with a chuckle. “If I ever did get married, which I never said I wouldn’t, my wife would be upgraded in every way. There wouldn’t be much I wouldn’t do for her. A woman special enough to make my ass fall for her will get the world and then some. And you can’t beso sure that we’d never get married. So yeah shawty. You don’t know shit.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Whatever silly ass.”
My meal was gone, the kitchen clean, and the kitchen floors swept and mopped, and Kastian and I were still on the phone. I didn’t even want to end the call to take a shower, but when I finally told him I was about to wash my ass, he refused to get off the phone. As he talked, I grinned in the shower almost the entire time like an idiot.
I refused to deny myself the pleasure of getting to know Kastian. Running from him wasn’t necessary. I just had to play it smart. Mind over matter. There was a thin line between having fun and falling in love, and I was attempting to avoid the latter at all costs.
I was sitting at the bar when someone wrapped their arms around me from behind. I almost went the hell off until I smelled the Louis Vuitton scent that Tesha always wore. “Hey bookie butt,” she squeezed me making me giggle.
“Baby, I thought I was going to have to grab my mace. Hey.”
She sat down beside me, and I looked over at her.
“I used to think people were full of it when they told someone they were glowing, but damn girl, you are glowing. You look so pretty and happy.”
Tesha grinned and ran her tongue over her top row of teeth. “Finally being fuck nigga free will do that for you.”
We talked regularly, so I had all the tea on her and Qua. They were so stinkin’ cute. Like me, Tesha didn’t want to move too fast, but she was enjoying the way Qua made her feel. I could definitely relate. It had been seven days since I had dinner withKastian at his home. Seven days since I saw him or had sex with him. We had one phone conversation, and I was lowkey sick, but the distance was necessary. Seeing him, talking to him, and having sex with him every day would have me walking around bowlegged with my head in the clouds.
Qua took Tesha on a three-day vacation and when they returned, he became super busy. When she told me she wanted to stop by the lounge, so she could see him I was down. They had good food and strong drinks, so it didn’t take much to convince me. I was almost done with my first drink, smoking hookah, and dancing on my stool when Tesha’s body stiffened.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” she growled lowly.
Following her line of vision, I saw two men ambling in our direction. One of them made my pussy thump. The way Kastian was easing through the small crowd had my stomach caving in. It took me a few seconds to look at his companion, and his fine ass didn’t look too happy. Ryder looked like he was about to show his ass.
Ryder stood beside her with a hint of rage but also pain flickering in his eyes. He had the nerve to look hurt after all the times he’d cheated. “Damn you been hiding from a nigga for almost two months. You don’t think we should at least have a conversation?”
Tesha’s head snapped in his direction. “I don’t have a fuck ass thing to say to you.” She then turned to look at me. “I promise I hate to leave you, but I’m not doing this with him. Swear to God I’m not.”
“It’s fine. I understand,” I assured her.
Tesha eased off the stool, and Ryder grabbed her arm. “Tesha, it’s like that bro? I just want to talk.”
The same time that she snatched away from him, Qua appeared like a knight in shining amour. “You good?” he asked Tesha.
Ryder didn’t even turn to look at him. “Yeah, she good nigga.”
“Tee, you good?”
Ryder turned around faster than the speed of light. “Tee?” he looked over his shoulder at Tesha, and it registered. “You fucking this nigga?” he frowned. I could tell it was about to go down in a major way.
Tesha attempted to walk around him, but Ryder grabbed her arm again. “Yo,” Qua gently released her from Ryder’s grasp and moved her behind his massive body. “Not in here. Not tonight my guy.”
