Page 77 of The Need to Know

Fuck.

Nastasia’s soft lips grazed my cheek and soon were at my ear. “For the record, this would’ve been a more important meal to start my day.”

And then she was gone, leaving me hanging. Literally.

Ten minutes later I was still somewhat stiff as I climbed in behind the wheel of my ride. Nastasia was in the mirror again, checking her appearance as if she hadn’t just placed me under her spell.

My shit was almost a brick and now I was supposed to attempt to focus on whatever it was Pops had to say to me.

“Don’t do that shit again,” I warned.

She tossed me a grin that had me halting in my annoyance. She had some nice teeth and a pretty-ass smile. She was a whole siren.

One way or another, I’d get her back. I’d bring her close and leave her as unfilled as I felt.

For now, it was time to link with Pops.

I started up my car and found The Love Below on my phone. To properly introduce Nastasia, I put on “Prototype” as I chose shuffle.

“Welcome to The Love Below,” I enlightened her as I backed out of her driveway and hit the road.

Nastasia bobbed her head to the melody and a slow smile captured her golden-brown face. The song was an easy record to fall into. Shit, the whole album was a melodic breeze. No wonder it won album of the year with its sister album Speakerboxxx.

“This better be the best damn breakfast I’ve ever had,” Nastasia said as she snuck me a serious look.

After hearing the breakfast she would’ve preferred, this would have to do. “It will be.”

“How you know?”

“Because it’s with me.” I flashed her a smile that made her blush and roll her eyes.

For the rest of the drive over to Jam, Nastasia sat back and listened to the magnificent André Benjamin and pleased me by liking the songs she was hearing.

Pops wasn’t in sight in Jam’s outdoor café, so after giving my keys to the valet, I took Nastasia’s hand and walked with her into the main floor of the bistro. Inside, it was early, not too busy as I quickly found my father, who wasn’t alone as my mother was beside him at a booth toward the back of the establishment.

This changed things.

“What’s wrong?” Nastasia lifted her head to look at me as we paused in the doorway.

Having breakfast with my father to avoid his wrath was cowardly in itself and one thing, having it with my parents was another. They hadn’t met any of the women I’d seen casually over the past few years and it worked that way for all parties. This was personal. And I wasn’t sure I wanted that with Nas. Shit could get messy when you mixed family in. It was nice Cesar liked her, but I didn’t need my folks to.

I peered down at Nastasia, finding her worried and curious. She was here and there was no avoiding it.

“Nothing,” I said.

Nastasia frowned and looked away. Instantly, her energy switched up and she got happy about something.

“I can’t wait,” she said. Her vision had landed on the counter, where a standing advertisement was displaying the annual Belmont Fair. Big red letters gave the dates and times.

“Haven’t been to one of those since I was a kid.”

Nastasia returned to me. “Really?”

“Too busy.”

Again she frowned. “Did you do extracurriculars in high school?”

“No. Not a sports guy. Business was my main interest anyway.”