CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER THREE
Normally, Nina would have been cursing Charlene to hell for keeping her waiting, but not that time. Her mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of fine ass Deon.
In the heat of the moment, she texted him while she waited for Charlene to get to the restaurant, since she didn’t have anything better to do.
She wasn’t the type to hit a guy up first, but something about him had her very intrigued.
She grew nervous when her phone buzzed to let her know the message was sent, and thought for sure his ass wouldn't respond. Yeah, she was bad and had a gang of people who wanted her, but Deon was just as bad—nice chiseled body, a cool demeanor to match the jeans that hung off his waist just right. Nina caught herself smiling at the way he said her name before he asked for her digits, and wished like hell she had stayed at the gym a little while longer.
"Uhh, hello!" Nina heard tapping on her window. "You wanna eat here, or does La-La-Land have a better selection?" Charlene sassed.
“Shit, my bad, girl,” Nina chuckled as she got out of her car. “I was thinking about something.”
"What's wrong with you? You alright?"
"I’m good. I met this fine ass dude at the gym earlier, bitch! Mm! Daddy is banging, ok?"
"Well, is he banging you? Cause the way you were just zoned, I'd be willing to bet my last on it."
"Shit, he could be," Nina smirked. “Now let’s go drink, so I can tell you about Ty’s lying ass.”
After their second round of drinks and empty appetizer plates, Nina had summed everything up about Ty and how playa she thought she was.
Sick of the mind games, Nina decided they could stay friends, but that was it. No sex, no extra shit. Strictly friends. She wasn't mad at the way Ty had played her, but she was hurt. She didn't want to lose her best friend. Though she knew things would be a little awkward trying to move forward, she was willing to look past all the bullshit and just take it as a lesson learned.
"Enough about Ty,” Charlene said. “Tell me about Mr. Man. What's his name? What does he do? Where is he from? And how come you sitting here with me and not him, since he so fine and all?"
"Girl,” Nina blushed. “His name is Deon. And shit, I was so damn stunned by how fine he was, I didn't even ask any of that. I was trying to get out of that damn gym so fast, I accidentally kicked over his Gatorade trying to come down the bleachers. I offered to buy him another one, but he didn’t want me to at first."
"Well, did y’all exchange numbers at least?"
"Yeah, we did. I bought him another drink and was gonna leave without giving him my shit. But he called me out on it." A smile broke across her face.
"Ooo, look at Nina with a crush!” Charlene teased. “You go, girl. It’s about time somebody got your attention besides Ty."
Nina agreed. She had been stuck on Ty ever since the first time they had sex. They hadn’t even talked about being in a committed relationship yet, and Nina was already playing the role. That’s just how she was when she liked someone. She didn’t play with people’s hearts because she didn’t want anyone playing with hers.
"I texted him while I was waiting on your ass to get here,” she said. “Let me see if he texted back."
As soon as she looked at her phone, she saw all kinds of messages from Ty, talking about how she better not try her. Who was that dude she left with? Where’d she go? Why she ain’t responding?
Nina ignored every single one of Ty’s messages until finally, she came across the one she hoped was there.
"Well? What he say?" Charlene peeked over her shoulder, hoping to see something juicy.
"Well, first off, I asked him if he always got females buying him Gatorade. Cheesy, I know, but I didn't know what else to say,” Nina laughed. “He said: Nah, but if they happen to knock mine over, I at least want them to offer a replacement. A date or something."
"Open invitation, girl. Better get on that. You know fine niggas don’t last long around here."
"Right! His smooth ass would definitely get snatched up quick by one of these hot in the twat ass hoes."
Nina couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of Deon taking her on a date. Three rounds later, they decided to get the check and break even. Charlene was tipsy and ready to get home to her bae, and Nina still had to make a bank run to drop her deposit.
"Call me and let me know you got home safe. I gotta stop at the bank before I cross that bridge."
"Alright, mama.” Charlene leaned in for a hug. “Be safe. And let me know what’s up with you and your new boo. Ty gon’ have a damn fit when she find out.”
“Oh, fuck Ty!” Nina rolled her eyes. “I’ll let you know when me and bae link up.”
In a rush to get her funds into the drop box, Nina hit her head on the rearview mirror while reaching for her purse on the floor of the passenger seat. She was feeling a little tipsy and turned on at the same time. As someone who wasn’t a heavy drinker, the liquor and thoughts of Deon had her fumbling and stumbling all over herself.
Just her luck, she spotted him sitting in his car, talking on the phone. Not sure if he was coming or going, she hurried up and grabbed the money bag from her purse and headed towards the teller. Seeing someone stumbling about in his peripheral vision, Deon looked up and realized who it was. And since he had wanted to get up with her ever since they left the gym, he hurried up and ended his call.
"Yo, let me call you back in a second."
He hung up, got out of his car, and leaned against the grill. He watched as Nina deposited her bills and thought she was crazy for being out alone, late at night with a bag full of money. In the heart of Sarasota, a drunk woman alone at night with a bag of cash would’ve been a sweet lick.
"What you doing out here by yourself looking like you been drinking all night?"
Nina stopped dead in her tracks. With her back still turned, she put her hands on her hips and said, "I'm minding my business. And what might you be doing? Following me or plotting?"
Deon couldn't help but laugh. Shaking his head, he pushed away from his whip, pulled up his pants, and strutted towards her with the coolest stride.
"I ain’t doing none of that,” he said. “I was here first, remember? So which one are you doing? Ms. Nina?”
Making the shape of a gun with his hand, he pressed his fingers into her lower back, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered, "Bang."
Nina's knees grew weak as hell. She wanted to turn around right there in front of the bank and ride him like ‘95 going South.
She played it cool, though. Glancing at him over her shoulder, she flashed him a flirtatious smile and continued doing what she was there to do.
Deon respected her privacy and stood at a good distance while she handled her business at the teller. When she was finished, he told her to hold up until he finished his. Nina was curious about what he was doing with so much cash on hand, but she also respected his privacy. Just standing behind him, watching him press the keys on the machine sent fireworks through her coochie.
So simple but still so sexy.
"So, what you ‘bout to do?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Oh, you can't hear me now?” he chuckled. “I said, what are you about to do?"
Being funny, he pretended to do sign language like she was deaf.
"Boy!” Nina laughed. “I'm going home. What you mean? It’s late as hell."
"Yeah, it is. You good to drive? … Girl?"
"Yes, father, I'm ok to drive."
Deon grabbed her hand like they had known each other forever, and escorted her to her car. He even opened the door for her and buckled her in like she was his child for real.
"I’ma follow you anyway, til you get close. You say you stay over the bridge, right?"
“Mhm. Don’t get no funny ideas. My name ain’t the only Nina I got.”
She quickly sobered up. Even though Deon was fine as wine and as smooth as Tennessee Whiskey, she’d watched a ton of murder docs and knew she had to be careful about letting a man know where she lived.
The whole ride to the bridge, she couldn't stop checking her rearview mirror to see where he was, and sure enough, every time she looked up, he was right behind her.
So into Nina, Deon had forgotten all about calling his baby mama back. He didn’t really want to talk to her anyway. If it weren’t for the child they shared, he would’ve never said a word to her again.
"Damn, my bad, Rose. I ran into a friend at the bank and had to help her out with something real quick."
"You just love to keep me waiting so you can play captain save-a-hoe with these hoes, huh?"
"Nah, nothing like that. She just needed a lil’ help. But listen, let me give you a call tomorrow, and we can link up for lunch, cool?"
"Whatever, Deon. That's fine. Just don't keep me waiting forever."
Nina peeped him on the phone and felt herself growing curious. She merged into the turning lane at a red light, and he pulled up beside her. She didn’t really want to part ways with him so soon, but it was late, and she had things to do.
"Think you can take it from here?"
"I'm sure I can manage," Nina said. “I been doing it for years now.”
"Alright then. Shoot me a text? Maybe we can do lunch or dinner, or something."
She wanted to ask who he was on the phone with so late, just so she didn’t get caught up in another entanglement, but Deon was so fine, she didn’t give a damn who he was on the phone with—she was ready to get cracked like a crab leg.
"Ok. That’s cool," she said. “I’ll let you know when I make it.”
Once she got home, she did as she said she would and texted him. With every intent to keep it simple, she said, I made it, and started her bath water. While she got her towel, night clothes, and pinned up her hair, she waited for a response.
A few minutes had passed, and he hadn't replied. Low-key, his slow texting got on her nerves, so she picked up her phone and texted his ass again. That time, he ended up calling her. And when she answered the phone, she heard nothing but lust on the other end.
"Should I take that second text as you missing me?"
Totally caught off guard by his question, Nina started to stumble over her words.
"Yeah. Nah. I… I just… felt like it was rude of you not to respond after telling me to text you."
"I apologize. I guess just knowing you made it home safe was good enough for me. Shit, you said it’s late; I didn’t wanna keep you up."
"Hm. You know just what to say, don't you?"
"Nah, I just know how I feel."
Something about the way he said that—the tone of his voice and the calmness in his of his aura did something to her. She got so quiet and wrapped in her own thoughts that he had to check to make sure she was still on the phone.
"I'm here,” she said. “Just tired. I got a busy day tomorrow."
"Well, get you some sleep. Maybe we can catch up tomorrow or something?"
"Sounds good." She sarcastically replied. “I’ll wait for you to hit me up this time. Goodnight.”
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