"I'm nothin' much more...than this life seems to give me. Got a mind full of vision...all these thoughts tryna' kick 'em down. Is it love or a gimmick? If I go, would you miss me? 'Cause I don't even know if I would miss myself right now. . ."
-Sharna Bass💋
Chapter 38:
Ariel
Two Weeks Later
Birthday weekend aftermath. . .
"Ariel, I know you ain't gon' keep moping around here like it's da' end of da' fucking world. You got to get it together girl. Come on, get up. Your hanging out with me and Paris tonight." Brandy said.
"No, I'm really not up for it."
"Ariel, how long are you gonna' sit here feeling so damn sorry for yourself, 'dat you can't even get up and go wash your ass? You need to get up, take a nice hot bath and come on out and have sum' fun. You don't even have to worry about finding anything to wear cause I already took care of 'dat at D&G earlier. So come on."
"Brandy, where are we supposed to be going?"
"Out!"
"Out, where?"
"To Lotus." Brandy started pulling the covers off of Ariel.
"On a Monday night?"
"Yeah girl, 'dats da' night it be jumpin'. And damn, do it matter? You act like you got a job to be at in da' morning or sumn'. You quit, remember? So what's with all da' questions, anyway? You ain't got shit to do, but sit up in here and be mad depressed. You might as well get used to going out and meeting people, cause August ain't hesitating to do da' same."
"I guess you're right. Shit, let me see 'dat outfit." Ariel said absorbing all of Brandy's advice.
" 'Dats my girl. Now go wash your stinking ass cause we gon' party on sum' real hot girl shit tonight," Brandy quotes from Megan Thee Stallion.
The night was just beginning, and the trio was back together again. Since Ariel's birthday weekend, it had been a while since all three of the girls hit the club together, so of course they had to represent.
Ariel was dressed in an all black cut-out Dolce & Gabbana mini dress. She styled her long hair into a low side swoop braided ponytail, flowing nicely down her back. She applied a nude gloss to her full lips along with an earth tone eyeshadow that complimented her hazel-green eyes.
After all her last minute primping, she slid her freshly painted white pedicured feet into her black leather thigh-high Manolo Blahnik boots and was ready for whatever.
Brandy wore a cute fitted little black dress by Chanel and a pair of Christian Louboutin strappy stilettos. Her hair was crimped curled and her makeup was beat to perfection.
Paris arrived to Ariel's apartment at a quarter past ten. She was looking cute as well, wearing a simple red crop top and black high-waisted distressed skinny jeans, with a pair of red stilettos from ShoeDazzle.
She wasn't really into all of that name brand shit, to her it was the person that made the clothes not the other way around. So while chicks were out there trying to keep up with the Jones' (like her mother, Ms. Kay, would say) spending three or four hundred for an outfit, red hair Paris' cost about eighty bucks and she still looked good.
The girls made it to Club Lotus around midnight. They headed straight for the bar. The club was kind of empty at first, but didn't take long to fill up with all kinds of people; black, white, Asian, you name it and they were up in there partying it up.
Lotus was also a well-known hang out spot for the baller/celebrities. That particular night, Future and his entourage was up in there along with Drake and Lil' Wayne, who danced the night away in the VIP section.
Brandy, of course being the diva she only knew how to be, wanted nothing less than VIP status, plus she wanted Drake to notice her and how good she looked in her new dress. She started by making eye contact with one of the big body bouncers in front of the velvet ropes. His arms were folded and he didn't seem to pay her much attention.
She walked over to him and bluntly asked, "Ahhh, can you let me 'n my girls through please?"
Without even looking down at her he replied, "Nah' shorty I can't."
"Come on, I said please. I'll give you my number." Brandy said with a flirtatious smile. He gave her a dirty look.
Disappointed and bothered by the bouncer's rejection, Brandy stormed off and headed back over to Paris and Ariel, who stood holding their drinks, waiting patiently for her to signal them over to VIP.
" 'Dat mutha'fucka got to be gay," she yelled out to them over the loud music.
"Or maybe you just lost your touch." Paris laughed at her snide remark.
"Never 'dat." Brandy didn't find the humor at all.
"Oh come on you guys, let's just have sum' fun." Ariel said, being the mediator as always.
"Yeah, lets." Paris rolled her eyes.
"Brandy just take your drink. You and her go have fun, I'ma go stand at da' bar 'n see if I can get a seat." Ariel said pointing towards the crowded bar which was right next to the VIP section.
"You sure?" asked Brandy.
"Yessss, go." Ariel yelled as she headed back over to the bar.
Her feet were killing her, and she desperately needed to have a seat to relieve the pain that her desinger stilettos were providing. However, she was shit out of luck when she realized that she was forced to continue standing.
The Dj was putting it down with the music. The fellas were hawking the females like vultures, it didn't take long for Paris and Brandy to find dance partners. Ariel sipped on her drink and checked out the scene carefully out of habit, while casually shifting her stance every so often. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Slowly, she turned to her left and there stood a six-foot-five, nicely built, light-skinned complexion brother covered in a thousand tattoos with a nicely tamed beard and Pop Smoke platts.
"What's yo' name, shorty?" he asked with a killer smile.
When she looked down and saw he was standing on the other side of the ropes in VIP, Ariel was shocked and couldn't believe that someone of his stature had taken notice of her. She smiled at him, and it damn near melted the man's heart.
"Ariel."
"Ariel?" He repeated.
"Uh huh."
" 'Dats pretty, it fits you perfectly." he said, causing Ariel to smile again as she moves seductively to the music and taking a sip from her glass. "What you drinkin'?"
"A mimosa," she replied in her sexy, heavy Brooklyn accent.
"Oh word, so why don't you come chill wit' me 'n have another one?"
She smiled some more, "Okay."
"Yo', dude let shorty through." he said to the bouncer, causing him to reluctantly unhook the rope to let her through.
She walked over to her new friend's table and he introduced her to four of his boyz and two girls that looked like video hoes with all their assets hanging out.
"Okay, I know their names, but I don't know yours," she said.
He gave her a dumbfounded look like she was supposed to know who he was.
" 'Dats cause you ain't ask."
"Well I'm asking you now." Ariel replied.
"Dave."
"Dave what?"
"Dave East," he said.
"Oh, okay. Well it's nice to meet you, officially."
The two hit it off so well, she forgot all about her friends still on the dance floor. Dave East entertained her with his conversation, jokes and plenty of Veuve Clicquot mimosas refills.
Ariel surprisingly found herself attracted to him, as a matter of fact on a scale of one to ten she'd rate him a eight and a half, and it sure didn't hurt that his pockets were deep too. Dave seemed like a very free-hearted spirit, and she was enjoying getting to know him.
She learned that he was a rapper with quite a few hits under his belt featuring some of the most hottest artists, and owns his own clothing line called FTD apparel. Ariel felt kind of bad for not knowing who he was from the jump. She didn't care for the limelight niggas like Brandy did, but Dave was truly peeking her interest.
"Ariel!" Paris was standing next to the security guard.
"Yo', is 'dat yo' friend callin' you?" Dave asked.
Ariel turned around and noticed Paris signaling her to come over.
"Yeah 'dats one of them," she said getting up to see what Paris wanted.
"Nah', hold up a minute." Dave pulled Ariel back down in the seat. "Yo', my dude," he called out to the bouncer. "Let her through."
"Sorry man, I can't let no more through right now." the bouncer replied.
" 'Dats alright, let me just go see what she wants, okay?" Ariel said to Dave as she got up and walked over to Paris.
"What's up girl?"
"Nothing, but we're ready to go."
"Already?" Ariel said looking down at her diamond face Rolie, which only read three am.
"Yeah, I'm tired and I think Brandy had too much to drink."
Ariel sucked her teeth and lets out a hard sigh.
"Okay, just give me five minutes."
"Alright, we'll be waiting by da' exit." Paris informed.
Ariel walked back over to Dave with an agitated look on her face.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing, I should of drove my own car 'dats all, but since I didn't, I have to go."
"Ahhh come on, you can't be serious. Our vibe is too good for you to go now."
"Yeah, but my girls are ready now."
"So 'den let 'dem go 'n I'll take you home."
The offer sounded good, but Ariel didn't want to seem too thirsty, so it was best that she played it safe.
"Nah' I'm gonna' go, but why don't you take my number."
"Oh no doubt, hold up let me put it in my phone." Dave said pulling out his iPhone. "Okay now what is it?"
Ariel recited her number while he punched the number keys on the screen of his phone, and repeated them back to her.
"Aight beautiful, I'ma holla' at you."
Ariel blushed as she said goodnight.
"Damn these bitches get on my nerves," she mumbled under her breath, making her way to the exit.
------
Two days later. . .
With Brandy keeping Ariel company for the past three days, it had been strictly girl-time with all of the spa days and shopping sprees that the two consistently indulged in. They always enjoyed a good splurge, and spending time together really did wonders to help Ariel slowly get over her break up with August.
Unfortunately, the fun had to come to an end with Brandy deciding to head back home, and she also needed to go check on her man. Naturally Ariel was sad to see her leave, but she understood that her friend had a life of her own and that she has a relationship to tend to. When Paris arrived, she called Brandy on her cell to let her know she was out front.
"Hey Ari', I'll be back 'dis weekend, Paris is out front." Brandy said.
"Okay girl, y'all be safe and text me when you make it home." Ariel replied.
"Aight boo." Brandy walked out with her overnight bag heading down the idle hallway towards the elevators.
Once Brandy left, Ariel went outside and sat on the stoop of her building, which was something she hadn't done in a while. The instant sounds of the city life was active as usual, while the old school hip-hop beat of Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by P.M. Dawn could be heard bumping loudly off in the distance. It had been about 90 degrees out, the sun was blazing.
As she watched the kids on the corner running in and out of the fire hydrant, laughing, playing and having a good time, while trying to stay cool, she remembered back when she was a kid. Missing how things used to be so simple back then when her father was alive.
God, if only I could turn back da' hands of time, she thought sadly while watching the kids continue to play.
The ring of her cellphone broke her heavy train of thought. It was someone calling from a 332 area code.
332 where da' fuck is 'dat? she thought with a confused frown.
"Hello?" Ariel answered.
"What up, beautiful?" said the man's voice.
"You got da' beautiful part right, but who is 'dis?" she responded.
"Damn ma, you forgot about me already, huh? It's Dave East, how you doin'?"
"Oh hey, I'm good. I thought you forgot about me."
"Nah' never 'dat, I just been tied up out here in LA tryin' to blaze sum' tracks, 'dats all."
"Oh, so when you coming back to NY?"
"I'm flyin' in tonight, late night, but I was hopin' we can get together sum' time tomorrow."
"Well, call me tomorrow and I'll let you know." Ariel didn't want to seem anxious, so she played it cool.
"Oh, you'll let me know, huh? Why you can't just say yeah now?"
"Because, I'm gonna' be kind of busy tomorrow. I don't wanna' commit to anything now and 'den have to disappoint you later. You know what I'm saying? It's called having consideration." Ariel said with sarcasm.
"I'll see you tomorrow, early, so we could spend all day and night together, aight shorty?" Dave disregarded her weak excuse. His confidence turned her on and brought a smile to her face.
"Yeah okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." she replied hanging up the phone.
Dave East's call had completely taken her mind off of her father and August, well maybe not completely, but Ariel was most certainly distracted for the moment and looked forward to what tomorrow might bring.
*****
Omniscient
The next morning. . .
"Yo', how I get to you?" Dave said as soon as Ariel picked up her cellphone.
"Well, hello to you, too." Ariel said as she glanced over at the clock, which read 9:00 am.
"Oh my bad, hello beautiful, now how do I get to you once I hit Brooklyn?"
Ariel smiled, liking his persistence, and gave him directions. "Aight, I should be there in like 45 minutes 'n bring a few things just in case I decide to kidnap you for a couple of days."
"Okay, I'll see you when you get here."
After ending the call, Ariel excitedly jumped out of bed to search through her many clothes for the right outfits to pack. She decided to wear a off-shoulder denim jacket, with a pair of matching high-waisted distressed denim shorts, and her tan Boston Red Sox snapback to top off the overall fit.
She packed three other cute outfits that showed expensive taste, class and style, because by no means did she want him to think she was anything less than fabulous. She handled her daily hygiene as she rushed to get herself together.
Dave pulled in front of Ariel's apartment building and phoned her to come outside. When she reached the passenger door, he jogged to her side and opened it for her like a gentleman. She smiled and thanked him politely.
As she climbed inside, she fell in love with the interior design of his sparkling silver Hummer, not the affordable h2 Hummer, this was the real deal.
"What's up beautiful, don't I get a kiss," asked Dave as he got inside the driver's seat.
"Nah', I don't kiss on da' first date," laughed Ariel.
"I respect 'dat."
"Good." she replied causing him to smile.
Ariel played it cool, but in her mind she was excited to say the least. She glanced out of her window admiring the weather, as the city flew by in a blurr.
The early morning grey sky is a perfect, pale blue. The air was slightly muggy and the wind blew lightly indicating that it was a possible storm coming.
I love mornings like 'dis, she thought as she stared up at the cloudy sky.
The Light by Common bumped through the speakers, as they cruised in comfortable silence enjoying the old school hip-hop track. Once they had crossed over the George Washington bridge heading towards Route 4, Dave slightly turns the music down while phoning his cook and told him to start preparing breakfast for two.
"You like omelets?" he asked.
"Yeah, they're alright." Ariel answered.
"Well my chef Geoffrey makes sum' bangin' ass omelets, you'll love'em."
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up to a tall black gate that Dave opened with a little remote like gadget. Ariel was still trying to get over the fact that he had a chef when he pulled into a four car garage next to a convertible black Bentley.
'Dis is so beautiful, she thought as she looked around the grounds, while he got out of the driver's side and rushed over to open the car door for her again. He was being the perfect gentleman.
His 2.5 million, eight-bedroom house was located in the ultra chic Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and came equipped with an outdoor in-ground swimming pool, sauna, a huge patio and basketball court. Indoors was a gym, a small movie theater, a recording studio and a game room.
Ariel had to admit that this was far more impressive then any nice car or house she'd ever seen in her life. Even with her growing up with money due to her father, she had always been accustomed to this type of lifestyle, but it still couldn't compare to the immaculate estate that Dave called his own.
He escorted her straight to the kitchen for the best breakfast she had ever had. After breakfast, Dave gave Ariel a personal tour.
'Dis house is definitely made for a celebrity, she thought as they entered the master bedroom.
It had a brick fireplace, a kig size bed with plush feathered pillows and a matching cream colored comforter. The bathroom was all marble with an oval-shaped jacuzzi and attached shower. His walk-in closet was bigger than the bedroom in Ariel's apartment and being the fashion fanatic that she was she couldn't help but to take a look inside.
According to her, you can tell a lot about a person from his or her style of dress. One side of his closet had at least two-hundred pairs of jeans and shirts from every designer neatly hanging up, rows of snapback hats on the shelves, about fifty pairs of white on white Air Force Ones, ninety pairs of Air Jordans in different styles, a couple of Ken Griffey's and a few pairs of Timbs.
Ariel could tell judging by the amount of suits and shoes he owned that he wasn't big on dressing up, but when he did at least he did his thing by rocking designer names like Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, and Gucci. Last but not least, she glided her hands up and down his mink coats and butter soft Iso Life leathers.
She couldn't help but to smile feeling like all of this was just an amazing dream that she never wanted to wake up from.
------
The next day. . .
Ariel was enjoying her time with Dave so much that she didn't want it to end. In twenty-four hours they had already managed to do so much; he bought her a Versace bikini to swim in amongst other things they picked up during their shopping trip.
They also played video games and spent half the night staying up late talking. Her stay felt more like a mini-vacation away from her reality and it made her realize just how much she was ready for some changes in her life.
Being with Dave was a different experience for her. He most certainly wasn't no August, but he was a breath of fresh air and he had the means to expose her to a whole new world. Not to mention the other qualities he possessed; sweet, nurturing, and transparent.
Dave grew up on the rough streets of East Harlem, NY, doing the norm. Stealing cars, robbing niggas, hustling, while rapping and playing basketball on the side. And even though he was fortunate to make it out the hood, Ariel admired the fact that he was still street, unlike some niggas, who were quick to switch to that Hollywood shit.
He also had other characteristics that she admired, like his confidence, sense of humor, and his deep outlook on life. Dave was feeling Ariel's personality, which was effortless since she was just simply being herself. He loved the fact that she didn't try to put on a font to impress him, and he felt comfortable around her.
She didn't appear to be fake like most of the bitches he came across during his success. Plus, she could relate to his struggles and to top it off he found her absolutely gorgeous.
As nightfall envelopes the sky while sitting out on the patio smoking weed with Girls Need Love by Summer Walker ft. Drake sounds faintly from the white Beats pill speaker, Dave entertained Ariel with crazy stories about the music industry.
Quite often, he found himself staring at Ariel, to him her beauty was such a natural one that made a nigga weak at the knees. She cocked her head letting the moon catch her sparkling exotic eyes, and Dave couldn't help but to become mesmerized.
"Ariel, can you sing?" he asked, thinking if so she'd definitely give Beyoncé a run for her money.
Ariel couldn't help but to blush, "Sing? No!"
"Come wit' me." Dave took her by the hand and led her to his studio.
"I can't sing." Ariel repeated shyly.
"So, half of da' singers out now can't sing. Just go in da' booth 'n sing sumn' into da' mic when I tell you to, aight?"
Ariel never had a problem with shyness, but she didn't want to embarrass herself.
"Come on girl. Fuck around, you could be da' next J.Lo," he said cracking a smile.
"Okay, here goes nothing." she entered the booth with her all-time favorite song in mind, Cold Case Love by Rihanna.
Dave fumbled with a few buttons on the mixing board before he gave her the okay to sing. Ariel closed her eyes, tried to catch the tune in her mind and opened her mouth.
" 'On my roof...Dark and I'm burning a rose... I don't need proof...I'm torn apart and you know...What you did to me was a crime.. Cold case love...And I let you reach, me one more time. But 'dats enough.. Huuh uhhh... Your love was breaking da' law, but I needed a witness. Oh oh...So pick me up when it's over, it don't make any difference. Oh oh...Will it ever be solved? Or am I taking da' fall? Truth was there all along, tell me how did we miss it?
We opened up a cold case love...And it got da' best of us...And now prints, pictures and white outlines, are all 'dats left at da' scene of a crime of a cold case love. Oh oh oooh uuhh...' Okay 'dats all I'm giving you of my Rihanna rendition," she laughed.
The instrumental continued to play out until he cut it off, "Aight 'den, I see you shorty. Talkin' about you can't sing. You got sum' pipes on you, okay 'den bet! Let me see what I could do wit' 'dat." said Dave.
He slightly improved Ariel's voice, but for the most part her vocals were on point and he just successfully cleaned them up a bit by using the enhancement key on his computer.
"Ahhh, don't go quittin' yo' day job. Aight?" They both laughed.
Ariel was having a lot of fun with him, but all this fun was beginning to turn her on. She felt extremely attracted to his aura and she found herself wanting him bad.
It didn't help the fact that her pregnancy hormones were also raging, and she felt as though she would loose all will power if he didn't make a move soon. It had been so long since she's had the touch of a man on her body, and the lack of dick was starting to rear its ugly head.
She wasn't used to being around a guy for more than ten minutes that didn't try to fuck her... well besides August, that is. Dave was in the entertainment business however, and Ariel had already assumed that he wouldn't be press for pussy since all type of chicks probably came at him.
One thing was certain, from his hard-on in the bed last night he was definitely attracted to her. Still and all, Ariel wanted to maintain a respectable classy image so she fell back and continued on acting like the lady she was.
Allowing Needs by ELHAE to sound throughout the studio from the playlist on his computer, Dave sat in his plush leather chair staring at Ariel, then out of nowhere he pulled her closer to him and started to slowly caress her body as though he had read her mind. Ariel straddled his lap and slid her tongue inside his mouth, for their first real kiss.
Damn, he can kiss, she thought as his tongue motion flowed with hers perfectly.
He pulled her lips into his mouth roughly, passionately, pouring his wanting into her as their bodies pressed together. He slid his hand to the nape of her neck, her delicate curls brushing against his fingertips. They kissed like they were trying to undo each other, their mouths greedy.
"Hmm..." she moans softly in his mouth.
Ariel wanted to slow things down, but the spot between her thighs had a different agenda as she grinds against his bulge. The only thing that stopped her wet pussy from soaking the crotch of his pants was the tiny fabric of her thong.
Dave started to undress her right there in the studio. He went to remove her top, but noticed some resistance every time he made an attempt to remove it. She was nervous for what was about to take place between them, and she didn't want him to go there, but didn't say anything, instead she just redirected his focus by devouring him with her magnetic kiss.
The distraction of her soft full lips was working for the moment, but Dave was craving to have a taste of her body. He desperately wanted to put his mouth on her other set of lips, and his dick jumped instantly just at the mere thought of her juicy clit gliding against his tongue.
"I wanna' see you play wit' yo' pussy, ma." he whispered in her ear, causing her to shudder at the sound of his deep baritone.
He picked her up and moved from the chair placing her ass on the mixing board as he kneeled down in front of her, gently lifting up her skirt and pulling her thong down from around her wide hips. He released his manhood stroking himself slowly, as he licked his lips in anticipation, staring in between her thighs hungrily.
"Come on, let me see you play wit' yo' self, ma." Dave prolonged insertion not wanting to be too eager, as he took a condom from his back pocket and ripped it open, placing it on to his shaft.
The light in the room was gleaming, their shadows overlapping the walls in front of them. She watched him, releasing a small smile that told him, she could handle him. His free hand moved hungrily over her body, grabbing her ass while continuing to massage himself.
Ariel slightly bit her bottom lip sexily, as she leaned back on the mixing board and started to lick on her fingers until they shined from her saliva. Then cocking her legs up, she slid two of her fingers inside of herself and began to move them in and out of her pussy.
"Mmmmmmm...." she moaned as her pussy became drenched with juice.
Withdrawing her fingers from inside of her, she inserted them into his mouth. Dave sucked on them like they were popsicles, and then dove in head first between her legs for more. His tongue moves in tight circles on her throbbing clit, she took a short breath, her back arching.
Dave was trying to take in every feeling, as he slowly made love to her pussy with his warm mouth. He wanted to hear her moan, hear her give herself over to him. He kissed his way down her inners thighs, his lips pressing against her soft skin, making her moan as he began tasting her again.
Her nails dragged against the buttons on the mixing board, as if the pressure and the thrusting of his tongue was too much for her. He pulled back a little, teasing, making her wait for his next move.
"Oh no, no, no I don't want you to stop..." Ariel whispered in a yearning moan.
Dave groaned, "Tell me how badly you want it,"
"Fuck... I'm gonna' feel sore tomorrow.." she trembled, "Take your pants off..."
"Nah'... Nah' not yet."
"What?.." she whispered gazing down at him in confusion. "No... take 'em off..."
"Be patient..."
Dave's hands gripped on her thighs while she dug her fingers into his hair, scratching up his scalp. He sucked on her clit, craving more of her as he groans uncontrollably. She moaned helplessly while slowly grinding on his face, but the gentle strokes of his tongue were sending her over the edge.
"Ooooh, shit... I'm gonna' cum..." Ariel breathed heavily. "You're about to make me cum..."
"Don't cum yet, I want you to sit on my dick 'n cum okay?"
"Okay..." she whimpered softly.
Dave continued to feast on her melting core trying to savor every drop, "Damn, you taste so fuckin' good... so fuckin' sweet... shit, ma, I knew 'dis pussy was gonna' be good. Fuck..."
"Oh my God... I'm about to cum..." Ariel whispered, panting heavily. "I feel it... I can feel it..."
"You about to cum, ma, huh? You about to cum?" he groaned as he gently flicked his tongue against her clit.
She arched her back in sheer bliss gripping the edge of the mixing board, "Yes... yes... yes..."
" 'Den let me feel it on my dick..."
Without holding back any further, Ariel mounted his manhood that wore the king size condom and slowly stroked him, not quite ready to endure the pain it would've caused if she slammed down on his ten inches right away. Not until her pussy's walls adjusted to his fullness, it was on and popping.
She worked it, grinding her pussy, winding her hips back and forth on his dick like a pro until they both exploded. Retreating to the bedroom, they went for round two in the shower not being able to keep their hands off of one another, sexing until they both could no longer cum.
Laying restless in the plush king size bed, he held her in his arms as she rested her head against his tattooed chest. He could feel her breath trying to return to a steady rhythm, as her chest heaved up and down.
Her fingers slid across his chest, gently nudging him back. The intimate moment that had just unfolded between them, meant something more to Dave than he could've imagined, and he found himself developing deep feelings for Ariel.
She wasn't just some random chick that he wanted to fuck off on, and he was determined to make her his. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to take care of her. She was slowly but surely, quickly becoming the most important person in his life, and he couldn't deny that he loved the feeling that she gave him as he enjoyed laying in the bed with her for the remainder of the evening.
*****
August
Later on that night. . .
With Miracle sleeping peacefully beside him, August stared at the dark ceiling in a trance. The moonlight peeked through the blinds of his bedroom, and the only sounds that could be heard were from the lively city swirling outside. It was another sleepless night for him, and the only thing that kept him entertained was his overactive mind.
While Ariel kept herself occupied with getting back enrolled into school and her new found dating life to avoid dealing with her heartbreak from August, he could not find enough to do to keep her off of his mind.
Naturally, he found himself wondering about her and worrying about her well-being even though he knew it wasn't his place anymore. It had been a full week since he had last saw her the night of her birthday when she had popped up at his crib and laid hands on Miracle, and he had not talked to her since.
The pain that was etched upon her beautiful face stayed with him, and knowing that he was the cause for her heartbreak made him feel like absolute shit. Even when August was making moves in the street he could not stop thinking about her, and when he saw Miracle he found himself wishing that it was Ariel on his arm instead.
When she had confessed her undying love for him, he had denied her due to his own selfish reasons, but now that he was exposed to the possibility of living without her for good, August couldn't bare the thought of it.
After becoming acquainted with the type of woman that Ariel was, she was irresistible and it was inevitable to become trapped within her spell; but because of their past he forced himself to keep his life in perspective.
He knew that if he ever invited Ariel back into his life, trouble would soon follow. Like a black widow, his world of crime was dangerous and poisonous, and August could not afford to have her bitten again, which was why he did not make an effort to reach out to her.
Although Ariel and August's thoughts brought them together many times in the course of a day, their pride, mixed with the cold sting of reality, kept them apart. The notion of this pained him severely because he loved her more than he loved himself, and he felt it deeper than ever before. It had taken a toll on him for the past two weeks, and the depression that he unknowingly slipped into was bothersome.
August didn't know what to do with himself anymore. The separation from her was slowly eating him alive, and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. However, he knew that moving on was the right thing for him to do, no matter how hard it was. Besides, Miracle was a nice girl with a good head on her shoulders and that somewhat reminded him of Ariel.
Her support kept August sane for the most part and for that he was grateful. She became the shoulder he needed to lean on, gave him moral support and made him a priority in her life. So, once she decided to stay after getting into a fight with his ex and that she wasn't going anywhere, he welcomed her with open arms, although he still felt he needed time to get over Ariel.
August missed her so much and without her around everyday was a struggle for him. His biggest fear was not being able to be a part of their child's life once he or she is born, and to keep that from happening August knew he had to make peace with Ariel. He sighed before sitting up and quietly excusing himself from the bed.
He grabbed his phone from the nightstand then walked out of the bedroom, making his way downstairs to the living room. He took a seat on the couch with his phone in his grasp and dialed Ariel's number, but to his surprise he was greeted by her voicemail box.
He tried calling back on and off for a good five minutes, but each and every time he received the fuck you button. August was growing frustrated at this point, and he decided to check her social media page to see if she's been active recently. He knew that if she wasn't answering the phone for him then something had to be up, and he was determined to find out exactly what it was.
Going to her Instagram he pulled up her page, but just before he could even start scrolling through, the first picture that was posted had quickly caught his attention. He frowned as he tapped on the picture, and when it opened to full view, his blood instantly began to boil with pure rage and jealousy.
It was a new photo of Ariel and another guy looking extremely comfortable with one another, and they appeared to be in a relationship from August's eyes. The anger that consumed him had him feeling hot all over, and he felt as though he was about to lose his fucking mind. He bit into the side of his jaw as his teeth clenched, trying his hardest to maintain his composure.
The sight of his soul mate being involved with a new nigga unleashed something within August, and he knew deep down that he was the only one who was truly at fault for letting her go. He was to blame for choosing to step away from what they used to share, but that still didn't stop his jealousy from rearing its ugly head.
Why da' fuck didn't I take ha' back when I had da' chance? Fuck! he thought slighted.
There was a selfish part of him that had expected for her to remain single especially with her being pregnant, but now that it was revealed that she has in fact moved on with someone new, infuriated him beyond measure and he refused to allow another nigga to play daddy to his seed that she was carrying.
August was hot with Ariel, he tried calling her cellphone again but he was hit with the recording line of her voicemail for the twelfth time in a row. She wouldn't answer her phone.
He buried his head in his hands thinking how she must have really lost her mind if she thinks he's going to go for her bullshit. He never ever thought about putting his hands on any woman, let alone Ariel, until now.
Fuming, he was to the point to where he really wanted to hurt her. Water flooded his eyes and his heart was filled with pain. This was the ultimate slap to the face, and he felt his gut twisting violently as he continued to glare at the screen of his cell phone, but he would never give into the weak attempt of crying.
His militant father instilled in him as a boy that a man ain't supposed to cry. A strong man sucks it all up and keeps it moving. By now, all types of distasteful thoughts ran through August's mind, but he never said a word.
He simply stood from the couch, went back upstairs to quickly get dressed, grabbed his car keys from off of the nightstand, then stormed out of his condo beyond heated.
To be continued. . .
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Copyright © 2019 by Ariel O. Jones
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2019
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