Page 19

“Hey, I’m new at this, okay? Cut me some slack.”

I took a beat to order my food, as well as something for her, despite her objections. We grabbed a table, and her nose wrinkled as she took in my attire.

“Serene Landscaping,” she murmured, tapping her chin. “I take it that’s what has you as only part owner of Staccato?”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s my solo business and my baby. Named after my grandmother, Serena. I started it when I was twenty-one, and after stumbling for a few years, it finally took off.”

“Hmmm, landscaping. I don’t think I would have pegged you out to be a flower man,” she teased. “And who needs lawn maintenance in winter?”

“I see you have jokes,” I replied, opening the container of tomato soup. “And it just goes to show you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I was involuntarily forced into gardening and yard work when I was a kid and grew to be great at it. That talent birthed something bigger and turned into something I could use to make a profit.

“Now, I have a couple contracts with a few big businesses that need maintenance for their indoor set-ups, which keeps me afloat in winter. The other half of the building is a nursery that houses plants and flowers.”

“An entrepreneur,” she commented, nodding slowly. “I can get behind it. Is it what you love to do, though?”

“What?” I raised an eyebrow, unwrapping my sandwich.

“I asked if it’s what you love to do. You said that you got good at it, but being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re passionate about it.”

Slightly uncomfortable, I switched the subject. “Are you passionate about bartending?”

Sitting back in her seat, Nyx crossed her legs. “Great deflection. But no, it’s just a means to an end. I had an entirely different plan, and then life happened.”

“What was your plan?”

Sadness appeared in her eyes, and for a moment, I thought she might start crying. Instead, Nyx sucked in a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face.

“I thought you lured me here with a promise to tell me all your relationship business? Go ahead and run the tea. Did ole girl come crawling back to you begging for forgiveness?”

I wanted to know more about whatever she had going on in the background. But, it was her story, and she wasn’t obligated to share if she didn’t want to.

“Hell no,” I chuckled. “But to answer the question you tried to ask the other day, I did attempt to talk to her about our relationship a few days after she ended it, and the conversation went badly.”

“How badly?”

“Like there was another nigga there, so ultimately, I made an ass out of myself by even showing up badly.”

“And she’s still alive?”

“I don’t think murder would look good on a resume,” I joked, laughing at her seriousness.

“In this case, it might be justifiable.”

“It wouldn’t even be worth it,” I bit into my sandwich again.

“Well damn,” Nyx folded her arms. “I was hoping that someone around here would end up with a happy ending.”

“Well, I hate to break your heart, but it won’t be me. I finally told my Pops what happened today, and his suggestion was that I go back to her groveling for another chance.”

Nyx’s eyes widened. “Go back to her? Is he crazy? She’s the one who played you.”

“I ain’t tell him all that. Together or not, certain shit about Kinsley and how our relationship ended is better kept off the radar. As far as he knows, she turned me down, and we broke up.”

“Wow,” she whistled. “It was very big of you not to throw her ass under the bus and then run her over. I don’t think I could do it.”

“Eh,” I shrugged, chewing my food. “Some shit just doesn’t deserve the energy. Airing her out doesn’t do anything for me. Eventually, she’ll have to deal with the consequences of whatever the hell she’s been doing. Not me.”

“That doesn’t bother you, though?” Nyx inquired, narrowing her eyes. Her body language was starting to shift, becoming more animated with each word. Whatever situation she was battling still had a tight hold on her. “You think it’s fair that she gets to waltz around with no consequences after pretty much wasting your time?”