Page 139 of The Need to Know

“New York?” I was distracted, but not that out of it to hear his good news. “Oh my God. Zeke! New York?”

Ezekiel halted in his deadly game of pleasing me as he bobbed his head. “Pops figured we got a club in LA, one in Miami, one here, why not New York? He says I’m the one in charge and it’s my total vision from the beginning. If I open this club with a bang, he’ll sign over BLVCKJVCK to me.”

My jaw dropped. He was practically the owner of this new nightclub Mr. Marcuson wanted to open, but now he’d officially own BLVCKJVCK too. “What? That’s it? What are you going to do?”

Ezekiel smirked. “I’m moving to New York. I got all the connects I need, I just gotta really touch down and scout locations, tap in with an architect, feel out the competition—whatever it takes, I’m ready.”

My horniness took a back seat entirely. “Move to New York?”

Ezekiel’s smile lessened a degree. “Yeah. I gotta be there. I gotta watch PVWN grow from this idea to a reality. I want to be able to wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and walk by the building to see new developments.”

I scooted back from him, going and grabbing my throw from the back of the couch to cover up with. “But I live in Georgia?”

His brows teetered together. “Okay…?”

He didn’t get it, so I had to say it bluntly. “H-How are we going to be together if you move to New York?”

“Why wouldn’t we be together?”

I placed one hand on the couch. “Georgia.” And the other I held in the air farther away. “New York. That’s not like you working in Atlanta while I’m in Belmont, Zeke.”

Ezekiel sat back, on the opposite end of the couch from me. He looked over at me incredulously. “Nas, this is my fuckin’ dream.”

Now I felt selfish for bringing it up. “And I’m happy for you.”

“Doesn’t really seem like it,” he shot back.

My throat began to swell the way it did when my emotions were heightening. “I…I don’t want a long-distance relationship. Outside of my issues in the past with trust, that’s a lot of space and time between us.”

Ezekiel narrowed his eyes. “Why does it sound like you’re giving me an ultimatum?”

I couldn’t breathe. “Why does it sound like you’ve already made your choice?”

Ezekiel didn’t speak. He turned, threading his fingers together and hanging his head before shaking it. “It’s only been four months, and you’re acting like I’m supposed to give up what I worked hard for, for this.”

I hated the way his words hit me hard. It was like he’d stabbed me. “I’m not asking you anything, but to leave now. It sounds like you’re going to be very busy, and I’d hate to get in the way of that.”

Ezekiel snorted, looking my way. “It doesn’t have to be like this, Nastasia.”

But didn’t it? He wanted to move. He was already so wrapped up in this new venture in his life. “I’m…I’m not going to get in the way of your dream.”

Ezekiel reached for me but I dodged him. Doing one better, I got up from the couch and fought my way around him until I was almost at the steps. “Please, just go. Call me when you get yourself sorted.”

Ezekiel rose from the couch and faced me. “Nas⁠—”

I didn’t hear him out as I rushed up to my room. What more could he say? He wanted to go and build something in another state. Not stay here with me. He loved working, that was what he did best. Not relationships.

At the sound of the door closing behind him as he left, I felt my heart cave in my chest and a sob escape from my mouth.

He was gone.

He’d really left.

Not a word. Not even a goodbye.

Across the array of monitors, I watched as the club was alive with a never-ending party. Positive vibes. Flashes from camera phones. And an ample number of smiling faces. Behind me, I heard the door open, leaking in the sounds of Gucci Mane’s “Freaky Gurl” to complete our Friday night theme. Freaky Friday. It wasn’t quite Freaknik, but the tone was set and everyone was showing out. Too many sexy women were showing up wearing their late-night best. The men didn’t try—but it wasn’t about them.

Gucci was cut short as the door shut.