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“I come to your city, and you think taking me out in the middle of a musty-ass swamp with alligators was going to fly with me? You done lost your goddamn mind!”

Bent over in laughter, I listened to Jordan fuss as he drove us through downtown Miami.

After spending time with him in Milly Grove, we kept in touch as I’d hoped.

After months of texting and FaceTime calls, he finally came to visit.

Skip was a very stubborn man who was set in his ways.

He was guarded for some reason, and although I didn’t push the subject, I always did my best to show him that he didn’t have to be that way with me.

“I thought it would be nice if I showed you something pertaining to the culture.”

“You could have taken me to a damn Canes football game, Noemi!” he shouted as he glanced from the road to me. He told me regardless of whether he was visiting or not, he wasn’t trusting me to drive him around. "Ain’t no way you thought I was going to Lake Placid.”

Listening to him mumbled how I had life fucked up, I couldn’t help but take him in.

Jordan was so handsome with his low cut, lean build, and the plethora of tattoos adorning his exposed limbs.

There was hardly ever a time he wasn’t dressed in all black and today was no different.

Dripping in Prada from head to toe, everything about him screamed boss.

From the way his diamonds hit the light to the way he leaned as he whipped my car through the busy streets—whoever was crazy enough to let a man like this slip through the cracks must be losing at life.

“Can I ask you a question?” I sat sideways and stared at him as we approached a gaming center.

I couldn’t help but giggle because he hates being around a lot of people, but I knew he was doing it for me.

“Have you ever thought about getting into a relationship? You’re a good man, and you deserve a good woman. ”

“You trying to be my girl, Mimi?” He smirked as he pulled into the lot and parked. “Sounds to me that you are.”

“You wish.” I rolled my eyes and punched his shoulder. “A man that refuses to watch The Originals is not the man for me. Not to mention… your taste in fun is horrible.”

“So you’re saying I’m boring?” He turned and raised a brow. “Let a nigga know.”

“Yes.” I giggled at his hurt expression. “Skip, your idea of fun is sitting home on a Friday night with a box of Church’s chicken while you clean your guns, watching SportsCenter. You need to find a good woman, some kids, and a puppy.”

Mugging me, he got quiet. Jordan is a good man, and he deserves all of those things. I hate that he went through whatever happened in his past, but I wanted him to move on and let love find him.

“First off, I eat Popeyes.”

“Jordan—”

“Secondly, I’m good on the rest of it. Look, Mi…

I appreciate you looking out for a nigga and wanting to see me happy.

Love just ain’t for me. I’m a good nigga, but I will murder the next bitch that plays with my feelings.

” He took my hand in his and gave it a strong squeeze.

“I’m good on that. I just want to run my businesses, get some pussy here and there, and see my people happy. ”

“Friend, what about you and your happiness?” I asked, giving him a small smile. “I heard you, but you deserve all of that too. Promise me that when you meet somebody who proves that they’re worthy of your love and trust, you’ll be open to the possibility of happiness…”

He stared at me before running his hand down his face and sighing deeply.

“Aight, man… you got it. If it will make you shut up, I promise. You gotta promise me the same, though. Every nigga ain’t out to get you, and there’s a nigga somewhere that don’t care about your money or your brothers.

A real one will go toe to toe with Zoo and the Witch.

” He smirked as he tweaked my chin. “When it’s real, nothing will matter to him but you and the love he has for you.

The same way you want that shit for me, I want it for you. We got a deal or what?”

Looking at his outreached hand, I pondered on what he said.

I wanted real love so badly, but I was scared I’d set myself up for failure by falling for the wrong man.

I want my man to love and want me for me—not because of who I’m attached to.

At the same time, I had to be open if I wanted to receive it, and I knew that much was true.

“Hello pot, I’m kettle…” I smirked and placed my hand in his. He snatched it back and kissed his teeth. “Seriously, you have a deal. Now, come on! It’s time to put belt to ass.”

Walking into the arcade, I laughed as I glanced over at Skip. My friend looked like a fish out of water as he glared at everyone, yelling at sports on television, playing the arcade games, or just sitting around drinking and vibing.

“Will you please get your hand off your waist and relax?” I giggled as I dragged him over to a card dispenser to get us tokens. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught him mugging me. “We could always reschedule the gator ride. The swamp comes alive at night.”

Placing me in a headlock, I laughed uncontrollably as he dragged me around the arcade. Once we made it over to an idle basketball game, he snatched the card from me to start.

“I’m about to light your ass up in here.” He chuckled as he slapped the buttons, causing the baskets to adjust in each of our lanes and the balls to fall. “You ready?”

“They don’t call me Noemi Curry for nothing,” I smirked as I grabbed the first ball. “It’s about to be lights out for you, buddy.”

“Who the fuck calls you that?” He frowned as he dribbled the ball a few times. “It’s been months, and I ain’t never ? —”

“Gametime, scrub!”

As the buzzer sounded for us to begin, the balls began to fly.

Now granted, I love playing arcade games, and this shit is right up my alley, but I didn’t have an athletic bone in my body.

I was bricking everything that slipped through my fingers.

Glancing over at Skip, I was pissed that he had so many more points than me.

“Keep your eyes on your own lane, homegirl.” He laughed as he shot another three. “The bricks you’re throwing up ain’t the ones I’m used to.”

Pissed, I said to hell with the game and went to find a different one. Hearing him laugh behind me, I squealed once he hauled me in the air.

“You’re a sore-ass loser,” he said as he placed me on my feet near the bar. “Let’s get something to eat. I got all night to tap that ass.”

Taking our seats in a booth, we ordered food and drinks and got lost in each other’s company.

Jordan was a little rough around the edges, but he was nice to be around once he opened up.

Seeing the girls stop and stare, I understood where they were coming from.

A fine nigga that’s paid and loves to have fun?

Sign me up. Little did they know, this nigga was only in this type of facility because of me.

“Noemi? I thought that was you.”

Peering over my shoulder, I locked eyes with Chandler Gourneau. His family has done a lot of business with mine over the years, but lately, there has been nothing but tension. He was handsome, though, but he was a dick. This man felt as if he was God’s gift to women, and I couldn’t stand him.

“Hello,” I spoke dryly. “Hope all is well.”

“Things are definitely better now. You look good.” He smirked, causing the girl next to him to scoff. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth before dragging his eyes over to Jordan. Extending his hand, his smile grew wider. “You must be ? —”

“You don’t know me, nigga.” Jordan spat over his shoulder. He didn’t even bother looking at him or elaborating. The disrespect rubbed Chandler the wrong way, and I could tell by the twitching of his jaw, he wanted to react. Dropping his hand slowly, he turned his attention back to me.

“Well… I will let you get back to ‘whatever’ this is.” He chuckled and gestured between us as his date said nothing and looped her arm in his. “Tell your brothers I said, ‘hello.’”

Angling my head, I said nothing as he moved slowly and walked off. I watched until they disappeared into the crowd before turning back to Jordan, who was still watching the game on the screen.

“I’m sorry about that,” I apologized genuinely as I grabbed my phone and keys. “We can leave if you want.”

“Man, sit down and finish your food.” He threw a fry into his mouth as he pointed at my uneaten burger.

“I still owe you plenty of ass-whoopings, and that nigga ain’t gettin’ you out of it.

” He paused for a moment before adding, “Just know… I’m not above showing my ass in here. I don’t care who that nigga is.”

Sliding back into my seat, Jordan and I continued our night as if nothing had happened.

As promised, he beat my ass in every single game we played.

Thankfully, Chandler didn’t resurface anymore that night because I knew it wouldn’t end well if he did.

I wondered what he was doing in town because I wasn’t notified of him being in Florida.

Rosier usually lets me know when they have meetings for security purposes, so his pop-up was truly a shocker.

Brushing it off, I let it go. Chandler wasn’t my concern, and his being here wasn’t either. All I wanted to do was enjoy my night out with Jordan and have a good time. As he grabbed my wrist and dragged me from game to game, I knew he and I were doing just that.

“Sorry, I’m late! I had to finish up a few things for work,” I stated, apologizing to my family as I entered the private room at the steakhouse.

Today, we decided to have a family dinner, and I was the last one to arrive.

Kissing my mother on the cheek, I did the same for my brothers and cousin.

Taking my seat at the table, I sanitized my hands before grabbing a roll. “Where are the girls?”