Page 45 of The Need to Know

“Oh, it most definitely is a trap. The next time y’all meet up, she’s going to ask if you fucked someone, and then she’ll have her decision made for y’all. Point is, are you going to go for it?”

In my phone, I already held a roster of friends-with-benefits. Women who understood my intentions as I understood theirs. Meeting someone new wasn’t a must for me, specifically with Pops and his lecture still fresh in my memory.

“Her word or not, I’m going to cool it with other women for a minute any way,” I admitted. “I don’t need folks poppin’ up or any drama getting back to Pops. So, for the time being, my attention is on Nas until we figure out where she wants to land.”

Cesar wasn’t convinced as he let out a whistle and swiped up his water bottle. “How long until you’re bored?”

That was another thing.

“She’s not boring, but I could see us being better friends than anything in the long run,” I said.

There was only so long this in-between, limbo, could last. Nastasia was almost the homie type. I wouldn’t brand her that way yet, especially when a large part of me wanted to sleep with her. Thinking about all that smooth golden-brown skin, the soft texture, the sweet scent of her perfume—my overall attraction to her couldn’t be denied. I wanted to taste her lips. I wanted to taste her body. Wanted to hear the sounds she made when I was deep up in it. Wanted to see the delicate features of her face twist and contort as she felt all the pleasure I could give her. Wanted to watch her come for me again and again.

“She different,” I concluded.

Cesar took a swig of water, pausing to ruminate on my words. “She’s not the first woman who wouldn’t have sex with you.”

“Yeah, but…” There was something about Nastasia. I wanted to sit and watch Vanilla Sky with her, to see her reactions to the parts I liked and the parts I didn’t. Some people watched movies for escapism, but I liked that Nas went deeper. Her intellect was fascinating, and her wit had me loosening up. She boldly thought Life was better than The Shawshank Redemption and I still couldn’t wrap my head around it as I fought a smile at the thought.

Something told me this was a bad idea—fuck it though. I was curious.

For the time being, I dug my phone out of my pocket and shot Paisley a DM. Nastasia hadn’t given me her info—it still felt awkward to flirt and then hit her up for her homegirl’s number. As confusing as things were in my sex life, that wouldn’t stop this impending bag.

Me

I’m serious about Ladies’ Night

Thankfully, Paisley was prompt and I didn’t have to play the waiting game.

@PaisleyP

And I’m serious about the $

I chuckled and shook my head. I liked that she was real, on and off the radio.

Me

Say less. Can we meet for lunch?

@PaisleyP

When? And where?

Me

Tomorrow too soon? Eleven? Copeland’s?

@PaisleyP

Yum. Sounds good.

Me

Dope. I’ll be bringing my father, but that’s just a formality. He’ll agree regardless

@PaisleyP

Cool. See you then