“This is impressive. When you said you had a place, I wasn’t expecting this.”
“I like to keep you on your toes.” She offered a casual leg kick.
“My footing is always precarious when I’m around you.”
“Let’s go. This is your VIP tour.”
“How do you know Earl?”
“He used to date my mom.”
My left brow lifted to signify my skepticism.
“He may not look like much now. But back in the day he was a professional wrestler. He was super strong and could lift both me and Anika at the same time.”
“And now he works as a security guard?”
“Life comes at you fast. You know how it is, people come into a ton of money and start spending. Fuck the future when you need a Rolex and a Mercedes right now. He got injured and was never on top again, and after that he blew through his cash pretty fast.”
“Damn.” A chill overtook me. You hear about stories like this and think that could never be me. But a bad investment, health issues, or a greedy accountant and all you could be left with are the memories.
“A common Vegas cautionary tale.”
“And when the money was gone, so was your mom?”
“You know Jemini. She doesn’t do broke.”
“I respect your mom for her honesty.”
Danessa’s mouth bunched into a dubious pucker. “She’s transactional. I don’t know if love should ever be that.”
“I don’t know, at the end of the day we all want something. Men want sex and a baddie on their arm. Women want a provider and a man over six feet tall.”
“I don’t believe that. That’s what people say because they’re afraid of being hurt. But when you peel back the layers at the end of the day, people want to be loved … sincerely.” I looked at her as if she’d just beamed in from another planet. “Don’t tell me you’ve become jaded.”
She had to break into a slight jog to keep up with my long strides, so I switched direction, walking backward in front ofher. “I’m not jaded. I just live in the real world. People are not looking for love. They’re more interested in status, likes, and views.”
“Not everyone.”
“Danessa you are the exception, not the rule.”
“Well, I still believe in love and that each of us has our own person.”
I forced a smile at the realization she didn’t see me as her person if she was holding out for someone better.
“What?” she looked at me.
“Nah, you just said a mouthful.” I turned forward, needing a minute to hide my disappointment.
“So did you leave the party because of your confrontation with Colin?”
No, because I’m an addict in a new city with no support system in place.“It just wasn’t my scene.”
“Because of Colin Pratt?”
I jerked my shoulders. “I think Colin Pratt hates me.”
“Well technically you’re his replacement. It would be a shock if he didn’t.” She hooked her arm in mine and our steps synced.
