“Well, it’s not all bad. Seems like Anika and Dante made a love connection.”
“That ain’t love. That’s pure unadulterated naked lust.” I opened her glove compartment, not looking for anything in particular. I was just nosy.
“I mean that could be fun too.”
Flashing her a quick glance, I said, “I’m sorry we pulled you out of bed for an X-rated peep show and fist to cuffs.”
“You really were going to beat Dante’s ass?”
“Absofuckinglutely.
“Anika didn’t surprise me. When she’s near a rich eligible man, I don’t exist. But you, caught me off guard. You might want to slow down on the vodka cranberries.”
“I did that shit sober.”
“Principle, it that what you claimed?”
“Yep, without order there is chaos. So when someone is talking grimy to your ex. You might need to realign shit with a tap to the jaw.”
“You know if push came to shove, Anika and I would’ve had your back.”
“She’s selfish that’s for sure, but at the end of the day if anyone fucked with you she’d rip their throat out with her teeth.”
“She would.” Danessa chuckled.
“Anika is that for you and Duane is that for me.”
She nodded. “Duane was always so proud of you. I imagine that hasn’t changed.”
“Yeah, when he’d call from prison the one thing he’d always say before hanging up was, “Don’t end up like me Aldi. You’re better than me.”
“He was right.”
“Nah, I was never better, I just had some lucky breaks.” Having a big brother was like having a blueprint of what to and not do. Duane made all the fucked up choices before I could with varying success. Duane stood up to his bully, so when I was in second grade, I did the same. People knew not to fuck with the Mosley brothers. Duane got a job selling drugs. I opted for food delivery. Duane got his sixteen-year-old girlfriend pregnant. So, I wore a condom every time in high school.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty about that.”
“I know. Rationally I know, but I still do.”
Danessa reached for my hand and gave it a quick squeeze. The contact was brief but enough to get my heart to accelerate. It’s weird how something once second nature, a hug, a hand squeeze now felt foreign to us both. “I’m excited to report I think I’ve found some pretty good homes for our next outing.”
“You’re batting O for two right now. So, you’ll have to really bring it.”
“I plan to.”
“Don’t get me wrong, hotel living has its perks like twenty-four-hour room service.”
“I’d imagine. Once a month I wake up in the middle of the night craving pork dumplings. It would be so nice to just press a button and have it delivered to my door.”
“The pros of being in transit.”
“Is Ashley going to make the move to Vegas?”
“Why do you keep bringing up that woman’s name?”
“She’s your girlfriend. It’s a fair question. It may impact the types of houses I show you.”
“Ashley and I have been broken up for months now.”
