“I’m sorry, do you know what I’m about to be doing?”
“I think a photoshoot, honestly.”
“That sounds accurate. He is a photographer.”
“Come on, let me get started.”
Forty minutes later, after a wash and deep condition, she had me facing the mirror, braiding me down. Honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling at myself.
“What you thinking about? Dick?”
I laughed. “No. I just remember one day you had me in this exact position, and I could not recognize the person in the mirror. Today, I look in the mirror and I see a new person coming out of her shell. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good, Elle.”
“Girl, that’s what grown man dick do to you.” She humped the back of the chair for emphasis, making me cackle. “But, no, you deserve this. Baby, you had a terrible three years, and this is your glow-up. Embrace it. My question is, is this glow because of you… or you letting Big Daddy be the sole reason for this glow because you know that is different right?”
“Yes, I know it’s a difference and it’s kind of an even split, but… don’t look at me like that, but… I feel like I’ve already numbered my days with him, so I won’t be too upset when he decides that I’m no longer fun for him. Like a part of me is already prepared for it, so I don’t think it’s going to affect me that bad.”
“Okay, because next time I ain’t nursing you back to health, we will be getting bonds baby. Attempted… what. Capital… who.”
I laughed so hard that tears sprang into my eyes. She wanted to get an attempted murder charge on Kyle so bad.
“But you’re happy right, Grey?”
I looked at her. “I’m so happy. And he is too, but it’s just easier for him to be mean.”
Her lips spread across her face in a smirky ‘I know something’ smile.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“You know something?”
She shook her head again while shrugging her shoulders, which told me everything I need to know.
I shifted in my seat. “Elle.”
“Girl, be still before you have a patch missing.”
I huffed, but she still didn’t tell me whatever it was that she knew.
* * *
Hours later,I was in the backseat of a truck with Mona heading to wherever Diesel was. We’d dropped Elle off at her hotel. She didn’t tell me what to wear, or what to pack, but she confirmed it was a photoshoot and my clothes were already there. That was so ominous that I was actually nervous about what Diesel had up his sleeve. We’d been riding for nearly an hour when we finally pulled up behind his car. His car tag read DANGER, making me roll my eyes. He had an ego the height of the Empire State building.
“What’s in here?”
“His studio.”
The driver got out and opened the door for me and Mona. Mona typed the code in the keypad and opened the door for me. The inside didn’t look anything like the outside and I was highly impressed. It was like a mini warehouse. There were a few people sitting in front of easels drawing. She led me past them down a short hall to a door that was slightly ajar. She tapped the door a couple times before pushing it open. It was a mini private studio with a lot of backdrops around the room. Diesel leaned against the counter staring down at his camera. He had on a durag, white t-shirt, a pair of fitted blue jeans, and some white shoes that I was sure was designer. I loved seeing him dress casually.
I stood by the door while Mona walked over to him. He looked up at me and then looked me up and down while Mona was talking to him. They talked for a few minutes before she left the room, smiling at me on the way out.
“Hi.”
“What’s up?”
Across the room were a few lingerie sets on hangers.