“Damn, you look beautiful. How are you feeling now that you’ve talked to Maj?”
“Thank you. You look nice yourself. This tan linen suit is so sexy on you. I feel better since I’ve talked to her. I’m still slightly embarrassed, but I know that will go away in time, or it will at least get easier to manage.”
“Yep.”
“I talked to my dad before you woke up,” she said, then averted her gaze. “He was so disappointed in me. I could hear it in his voice. When he found out that it was two years ago since the last time, he handled it a little better.”
“Okay. When you’re up to it, we can talk about how you wanna handle the fallout. You have options.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There are people requesting interviews. Noah said yesterday that he could probably get you a Netflix deal. My aunt also owns a center for at-risk girls. She would probably love for you to go and speak to the teenagers about making the right decisions. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to teenagers, there are a couple of women facilities in the area that she works with as well.”
Her eyebrows were lifted. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’m not on social media, but my mama told me about the things she was seeing. She said there was some negativity and jokes, but there were also people seriously interested in your story and of course, speculations on how you sank to that level. You know the conspiracy theorists have to do their part.”
“I don’t understand how they do these think pieces on people’s real lives that they don’t have a clue about.”
“Right. There were a couple saying you were homeless and others saying how the label screwed you, and you were broke.”
“Well, that was partly true.”
I kissed her forehead. “Well, whatever you decide to do, I’m with you one hundred percent.”
“Thank you, baby. Where are we going?”
“There’s this brunch spot by the Harbour that RJ told me about. He’ll be here to pick us up in a little bit. I can’t wait to get back though.”
“Why?” she asked with a frown.
I frowned at her, and she laughed. She knew exactly why. I was more than sure she was just as horny as I was. I suffered last night. When I woke up in the middle of the night, her ass was right against my dick, and it was only clad in panties and some short ass silk shorts. All of that could have been moved to the side.
“I wanted you last night, but I knew there was more I wanted to talk to you about. I want to ease your mind, Graham. I know had the tables been turned, I would have plenty of questions. You may not feel comfortable asking me things, but it’s okay. I can handle it. One question I want to answer to put you at ease is that I’m clean. I get checked every year and before you, I hadn’t had sex since the last time I went to the doctor. I have my results at home if you want to see them.”
“Who said that was a question?”
She twisted her lips to the side.
“It wasn’t a question . . . more like a fleeting thought. I trust that you wouldn’t have slept with me without protection if you knew you had something. I know women can usually tell within a day or two if something ain’t right down there. If you gave me something, though, I would be just as at fault as you. I knowbetter than diving in raw. That was my decision, so if I would’ve gotten burnt, you wouldn’t have been the only one to blame. You just so fucking irresistible.”
“So are you. I’m not on birth control, so I could have said no if you didn’t have a condom.”
“My parents had swiped my box of condoms from my luggage when they left the dinner party.”
She frowned.
“Arlie, I know you know the details. Maj told me as much. My mama revealed all of that to me before the dinner party. She was so fucking triggered, until she wanted my dad to wear a condom.”
“I hate what all she went through. Miss K told Maj, and she was so bothered I could tell something was up. It was a little easier to hide that I knew, since Noah had distracted me. Then when we got back to Houston, I was so busy with writing and planning how my meeting with Sonya would go. Is she mad at me for missing our meeting and not answering her calls?”
“Nope. She totally understands. She suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She understands more than you know. Everyone you’re around has been through a lot of shit and knows how it feels to be embarrassed. Aunt Serita is a counselor if you need her. She’s also a recovering drug addict. She tells all of her clients that in their first session to make them comfortable with her. She’s extremely transparent.”
She nodded as I grabbed my wallet from the nightstand, put on my watch and shades, then grabbed my phone. I smiled at her, and said, “Let’s get out of here and enjoy ourselves.”
When I opened the door, there were two men standing there. One of them said, “I work for Noah and will be your security detail for wherever you choose to go today.”
Arlie frowned. “Do we really need security? I mean, I don’t think people out here really know me like that.”
