“As lovely as that sounds, it’ll have to be another day. Aspen will be with me all day today, and I need to make sure she’s straight.”
Dynasty smacked her plump lips and mumbled something inaudible that Mahari ignored. He pulled up to Aspen’s house, noticing Lance’s driver was parked in front of it. The last thing he expected was for his cousin to be there since he’d been on the road so much. Mahari wondered if Aspen would still leave with him.
“Well, when can I see you, Mahari? It’s been over a week since I’ve had you, and I’m craving you.”
“What you got up for tomorrow?”
“You if you’re down.”
“Say less. I’ll hit you up tomorrow when I’m free.”
“Sounds good. Be safe out there.”
“Always.”
The beeping from the call ending echoed throughout Mahari’s car before one of Lance’s new tracks filled the air. He turned it down to get his mind together and allow his member to return to normal. Dynasty mentioning their escapades from last week had him fiending for her. She was the only woman he was entertaining, and she held his attention when they were together.
Dynasty was an artist with a label Mahari produced for often. When he and Dynasty first met, the chemistry was intense and immediate. Sessions with her quickly became Mahari’s favorite, and one thing led to another, and he ended up fucking her in his studio one night. The rest was history.
Knocking on Mahari’s window broke him from his thoughts. He looked over to see Lance standing there with his hands cupped around his eyes, trying to peek through Mahari’s almost illegal tint. With a shake of his head, Mahari pushed his door open, and Lance stepped back.
“What’s good, mane?” Lance greeted and pulled him in for a brotherly hug. “You here to steal my woman?”
Mahari and Aspen hanging out wasn’t an unusual thing for anyone. They’d been friends for years which meant they often hung out without Lance or his asking.
“Hell yeah. Is she ready?”
“Good looking out. Keep her occupied long enough for me to slip off after I handle my business.”
Mahari snapped his head back with his nose snarled. “You need to get your shit together when it comes to your relationship, Lance. Why are you even with Aspen if you’re going to continue cheating on her?”
“You think I’m about to let some nigga play house with her and my girls? Listen, I might not be the best boyfriend, but I love Aspen. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“Then do right by her. The shit isn’t that hard, mane.”
It was Lance’s turn to look Mahari upside his head. “Says the man who hasn’t been in a relationship in years. What you know about love, cuz?”
“Don’t do that. You know why I haven’t been in a relationship. You act like my fiancée and child dying doesn’t warrant why I haven’t been in one.”
Lance held his palms up in mock surrender. “My bad. You’re right. My fault.”
“Exactly, and just because I haven’t been in a relationship doesn’t mean I don’t know how to treat a woman. Didn’t my auntie teach you to treat others how you wanted to be treated?”
“And?”
“And say it was Aspen out here doing her thing, not giving a fuck about your feelings. How would you feel?”
Lance rubbed his hairless chin and stared off into space, as if he were in deep thought, before shrugging his shoulders. “It ain’t me, so I can’t say.”
“You’re hopeless, mane.”
“I mean, shit can’t be that bad, right? Aspen hasn’t left me or attempted to in over a year, so why are you and Justin down my throat when she isn’t?”
“Because we both care about Aspen. Don’t forget she’s one of my best friends, Lance.”
“And I’m your blood, so I trump over whatever she means to you.”
Mahari crossed his thick arms and chuckled. “Shit don’t work like that with me. You and I both know that.”
