“ W here are you heading ?” Nova asked me when I walked down the stairs and grabbed my keys off of the mantel.
“It’s Gwap’s birthday. I’m heading to celebrate with him at the casino out in Arundel Mills.”
As soon as I responded, I could see her mood shift. Her posture turned threatening while her brow wrinkled.
“Do you have to go? Can you stay with me tonight?” she asked.
“Babe, I haven’t gone anywhere since we found out about your father. I just need a night out, alone. Can I have that?” I stepped closer to her and caressed her cheek.
“Whatever, Ty. It’s funny that when I need you the most, you disappear.”
“Nova, that’s bullshit. I’ve gone to work and came straight home to you every day this week. How can you say that I’m not here for you? I’ve been nothing but here for you!” I barked.
“Fuck you! Just get the hell out!” she yelled before stomping back up the stairs. Without fighting back, I dipped out. I needed a break from the drama.
While I sped over to the casino, I blasted Desiinger’s “Timmy Turner” to clear my head. Nova was my heart. I loved her more than anything in this world, but this shit with her family was becoming cumbersome. Since we’ve been together there has been nothing but craziness between her and her trifling mother.
And after listening to her complain about her mother for a week straight, I needed to get out of the house. I don’t even understand how she can talk about the same thing over and over again.
I parked in the garage at the casino, and headed into the building to meet up with Gwap. He was one of my homies that I grew up with in the Gardens. That nigga was still one of Chop’s hit men. The man wasn’t that smart, but what he lacked in brains, he more than made up for in tyranny.
He would take anyone out at anytime for the right price. I was a little nervous hanging out with him considering me and Chop’s beef, but I doubt that Chop would kill me. Whether I get my company to back off of the condos in the Gardens or not, I could still be valuable to Chop. And Gwap and I are best friends. Before he would kill me, that nigga would give me a heads up and possibly a head start to get out of town.
“Wsup nigga!” Gwap shouted when I entered the VIP area. He was surrounded by a horde of gorgeous model-looking bitches. It was like a candy store for grown ass men.
“What’s good!” I dapped him up.
“Shit. Get you something to drink. We got everything back here. Henny, Ace of Spades, Cuervo, nigga you name it!” Gwap looked lit. His words were slurred while his eyes sat low. I’m surprised he even recognized me. He was nursing a bottle of champagne and I’m sure that wasn’t his first drink.
I walked away from him to take him up on his offer. As I made my way through the crowd to the private bar, I made sure to look out for Chop, but he was nowhere in sight. It surprised me that he wouldn’t be at Gwap’s birthday party, but that’s probably because he had some work to do.
“What can I get for you?” the sexy bartender asked me when I approached.
“Remy on ice,” I replied, sizing her up. Her skin was a creamy caramel hue, complimented with a pair of slanted eyes, a button nose, and a pair of kissable lips She wasn’t wearing a ton of make-up like every other woman in that party, which made her stand out. And from what I could see her body was banging.
“Sure thing,” she sweetly replied, while pouring the drink and sliding it over.
I whipped out a couple of twenties to tip her because she was that damn fine. She was actually the baddest bitch in the party. It was crazy that she was working rather than sitting at Gwap’s side with the rest of his harem.
“What are you doing? The drinks are on the house.” The look of surprise in her eyes was adorable. I chuckled at her response.
“Relax, it’s a tip.”
“Thank you!”
“No, thank you. What’s your name?” I couldn’t fight it.
“Aoki. What’s yours?” she asked back.
“That’s a different name. What’s the origin?” I asked, without giving her my name.
“It’s Japanese. It’s my mother’s maiden name.”
“Well it’s very beautiful, much like yourself. Why your man let you work this late, especially at this type of place?” I pried while sipping the Remy.
“If I had a man, I would hope that he wouldn’t let me work this late.”
“If you were my woman, you def wouldn’t have to.” What the fuck was I doing? There was only one way this was going to end up. I was going to get her number and eventually we would fuck. That was my pattern. It was a crazy ass pattern that I needed to break.
Things weren’t going that great with my wife. And I really needed to end shit with Kinasha. Some new pussy would be nice but I should just be focusing on my wife and my career. But Aoki was fine as hell.
“Sounds nice, but I know how you men are,” she rebutted.
“And how are we?”
“Full of shit. For one, you’re wearing your wedding ring. For two, you never even told me your name.”
Embarrassed, I looked down at my ring and shook my head. Welp, there goes my chance at new pussy. I shrugged it off.
“I’m not full of shit. If you were mine, you wouldn’t be out here this late. Just like my wife isn’t.” I smirked before I walked away with my drink in hand.
“Wait! I didn’t say a wife was a deal breaker. I just don’t like liars,” I heard her say from behind.
Intrigued, I walked back to the bar. It wasn’t every day a man hears that his wife is no big deal.
“Liars get on my nerves. But I liked how you didn’t bullshit me when I pointed out your ring. So again I ask, what is your name?” She leaned in closer, allowing me to get a whiff of her Dior perfume.
“Tyriq,” I replied.
“Here’s my number.” She wrote it down on a napkin before sliding it across to me.
I slipped it in my pocket.
“Go have fun at your friend’s birthday party. We’ll talk later.” She winked.
“I look forward to it.”
I returned back to the party, where Gwap was pouring a bottle of champagne on some chick. I couldn’t help but laugh. This nigga was wild.
While I chatted up some of my other homeboys, I received a text message from Kinasha, begging me to come over. I told her no but she kept threatening to tell HR. I had to do something about her. And I had to do it quick.