on the porn videos Ashton and I watched in New York.
My mind was spinning, completely overwhelmed by all going on around me. To add to the fuckery, Ashton began dancing on my ass.
“Is it just infatuation…” he tried singing high-pitched, but low for only me to hear. I had no idea of the song, but listened to the lyrics.
“‘Infatuation,’ ahhhh…” NormaJean’s breathy laughter had my attention returning to her. “How ironic?” She watched him “perform” his two-step on me.
This was a side of Ashton I’d never seen, but liked on the low low. I would have much preferred it when we were alone. The flash of angry an squint in NormaJean’s twinkling eyes told me she didn’t like it either, though she watched with her glass resting on her red lips.
Ashton stopped singing to chastise me. “Speak, KaToria.”
I was being weird. That’s what he meant.
“Who’s singing this?”
“NormaJean’s boy, Jamie Foxx.”
NormaJean’s breathy laughter burst in the air. “Are you serious!” She waved him off. “That was so long ago, like this song. I remember when it came out.”
Ashton’s apartment phone rang. “Damn. That’s my cousin calling me about my aunt’s birthday party.” He kissed my neck. “I’ll be ready for you as soon as I’m done.” He then left my back and moved toward his “best friend.” “NormaJean, baby girl, thanks for coming through. Now that you’ve met her, I can now give her a proper Valentine’s Day. Call me when you land.”
Ashton went to kiss her cheek, but as she eyed me hard, NormaJean went for his lips. That shit nipped at me. It happened so quickly, even her wiping his mouth as he took off for the back of the apartment.
“Well, Marv.” She sighed, laying her glass on the counter. “We’re being kicked out. Let’s let these lovers do what lovers do.” Her smile wouldn’t fade. Until she grabbed her black, top handle designer bag. I knew it had to be designer, based on her shoes and belt. Her face went hard as stone. “FU.”
“What?”
“FU, the letters. While enjoying fucking Ashton, remember those two letters can be an analogy, as they both can begin words like fucking and future.” Her voice was soft, yet strong, and each word flowed smoothly. “But fucking Ashton absolutely does not lead to a future with him.” Her eyes dropped to my tits again. “I could show you how to use them to do more than he’s taught you already.” She made a clicking sound with her mouth. “But then that’d be teaching you how to delay the inevitable between him and Aivery.” She began for the hallway to leave. “You do know that will be resuming soon enough, right?”
She was out of my eyesight before finishing her question. The big guy, Marv, too. I stood in the middle of the living room with my head spinning. What the hell just happened?
And how did I not know NormaJean was a fucking porn star?
“Nabby-girl.” His thick voice had me spinning around. Ashton carried a big box filled with a bouquet of red and black roses. The black ones formed into a K. “Happy Valentine’s Day, champ. I didn’t know if you were a flowers girl, so I may have overdone it.”
Flowers. Suddenly, I remembered walking in to rose petals. I turned around and saw small bouquets everywhere. And candles. They lit the entire living room.
When I swiveled back to him, Ashton caught me in the mouth with a kiss. He held me at the small of my back, faces pressed together.
“C’mon. I’m starving. And I got the night off, so you’re mine until tomorrow morning at six-fifty nine.”
I couldn’t speak. He didn’t give me a chance before yanking me behind him on the way to the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty-Two
-THEN-
As I walked toward the office, I could see her head down as she scribbled with a pen on a writing pad. My steps were heavy, long, needing to get to her. Coming out of nowhere with his face in the stack of folders, Collin had me stumbling over my feet. He didn’t look up, too focused on balancing the bundle in his arms. I was relieved when he made a right, heading down the opposite hall.
Trisha didn’t even notice me. Either that or she didn’t acknowledge having someone walk into her office. That was until I pushed the door closed.
“Trisha.” My voice was so small.
Her head shot up. Big eyes hit me, then the door finally shut.