girl…first. You took her virginity. Do you not realize you’re cheating.”
“On who?”
“On Aivery.”
That shit threw me askew. Cheating? “You know the details of that dead situationship.” I was fucking annoyed that I couldn’t speak freely.
Though my voice was low, I couldn’t risk Tori hearing shit about me cheating on Aivery.
“It isn’t dead, my love. It’s just going through a rough patch, something all relationships do.”
My face tightened, but I forced a smile on my face and in my voice. “Who’re you advocating for here, sweetheart?”
Since last spring, NormaJean had no problems expressing her abhorrence of Aivery. She even advised that I try lightening up on Tori when I initially brought her up over dinner at Mario in September. Now, it sounded like Tori was the invader.
“I’ve gotta go. Mark Anthony just stepped in.” I heard swishing as though she was moving around. “Can we make plans for me to fly out after the New Year?”
Instead of answering her question, I countered with, “If I were in the same spirit as you, I’d ask if you were eating his ass yet.”
“Ashto—”
“But I wouldn’t because as long as it made you happy, I’d be good with it.”
She whispered, “Your happiness has meant more than my own since I’ve met you.” Her voice cracked. “You know that.”
“Just like you know I never judge.” I licked my lips, suddenly angry. “Enjoy your time in Nice, baby girl. Be good to yourself.”
“Love you, big guy.”
I disconnected the line. Anger churned my belly at NormaJean’s flipflop. We were usually on the same page about the matter of sex. It was not a consort of commitment, only respect. I’d never fucked anyone since being official with Aivery, something NormaJean never agreed with. So what was the problem with me hanging out with Tori?
A categorical snore crossed the room, and my eyes landed on the perp. Tori was fucking out like a teenage mother leaving her baby home with her momma.
Ragee: My nigga! It’s been three days since you been back in Jersey and your dusty ass is just now hitting me up? The fuck you been doing? Fuckin and suckin day and night?
Laughter ripped through my throat and I tried covering my mouth with a damp hand.
“The hell is so funny?” Ashton swam toward me.
We were in his indoor pool. A freaking indoor pool. His father’s house was unbelievable. It was four brick stories with seven bedrooms and ten bathrooms, something I didn’t understand. Why would a house have more bathrooms than bedrooms? The living room, kitchen, dining room, pool, and family room could fit about three of the trailer units from my neighborhood. The third floor was mostly all his bedroom alone. There was a gym, billiard room, and this indoor pool room.
He had a cook, housekeeper, and some old guy who worked on the property. Ashton said he lived in the in-law suite in the back. I had to ask what the hell an in-law suite was. The whole place was ridiculously massive. I would’ve felt mad uncomfortable had there been more people around. The house was empty all the time. Even with all the staff there—and the guy who we ran into the night we arrived—we mostly only saw his housekeeper, who was super sweet and obviously loved Ashton.
When I sensed him near me, I answered, “Raj. He’s asking what have we been doing here these past three days.”
We’d been chilling: eating, sleeping, playing games—just slowing down the world around us. Ashton had a small theater room here. After a big ass breakfast made by the housekeeper, Muriel, we spent much of yesterday watching movies. He had thousands of them. Then we ate again before shooting pool most of the evening. Then…more food. This morning, we spent three hours in the gym. It was small, but had good equipment, something I needed to work off all the food I’d inhaled yesterday.
“Aren’t you chillin’ with him tomorrow?” Ashton asked, kissing my shoulder.
He moved toward the wall and let his long legs float in the water.
“Yup.” It was the day before Christmas Eve, and I needed to get Ashton a gift. I didn’t have much money, but enough to box something and slap a bow on it. And Raj was creative. He could help me find something for Richie Rich here. “Let me make sure we’re still on for eleven. I know he has a gig in the evening.”
Me: shut your big ass up! you’ll be here at 11 right?
“My uncle June hit me earlier, saying