Hey guys ! I apologize for being gone so long school has been kicking my ass three times over. I'm nose deep in school work right now.
I also lost the journal I write this story in when I was at work so I was pretty discouraged, but I found it recently so I'm hoping to get back on track with updating as much as I can ! I have the next chapter after this one done and am beginning the following right now.
Please bare with me, and I hope you enjoy this update !
Sidenote : I'm retiring Huey's p.o.v. for a few chapter as using it will give too much of the story away.
JASMINE
Of course it's him.
His too brown eyes drill into mine, and my heart pounds against my chest, straining, screaming, " Of COURSE it's him !" This strange man seems to make a career out of invading my life. And he's looking down at me, completely cool and calm, indifferent to how much of a nuisance he has been the past few days.
My blood boils.
"Lin." he says cooly- too cool. "Why don't you introduce me to your friends ?"
Ferlin had finished his drink, setting it down next to me on the cool marble bar. His hand brushed mine slightly, and he chuckled anxiously. I watched Huey's eyes carefully move to where our fingers met and then back to Ferlin. An irrational feeling of revenge ran through me.
"So from the left we have Aniyah and Mai." Ferlin leaned over me to point and they waved gingerly at Huey. Ferlin then turned to me, smiling. " And this is –"
"Jasmine." Huey finished for him, just as I spat out " Huey."
Ferlin's eyes widened. "Ya'll know eachother ?"
"Can I speak to you in private ?" I grit out ?
"What ?" everyone gasped in unison The hole my friends were drilling in my head was enormous.
Despite being as shocked as everyone else, Huey just rose an eyebrow, shrugging indifferently. " So long as Ferlin doesn't mind."
I felt my brow furrow. Why would Ferlin care ?
"Uh- sure I guess." Ferlin sputtered. What was he my babysitter ?
"I'll be right back girls." I smiled at their still shook faces. " Tell Cindy to not worry and keep having her fun."
I flopped off my chair and sauntered off, feeling his loomy figure following. He kept a distance as if I had some plague – the bastard. As elegantly as I could ( despite my annoyance), I weaved through the bodies on the dance floor towards the back door.
Once outside, I swiveled towards him.
" You seem to know this place well." He scoffed, beating me to the punch. " Come here often ?"
I glared up at him, putting my hands on my hips. " Often enough I guess ? Ferlin is my friend."
" Does he know ya'll just that ?"
I sputter, heart pounding. The nerve of this man. "My relationships are none of your business Freeman." I hiss, kicking at the gravel under my heel. The chill of the air around us had risen goosebumps on my skin. Or was it the way he looked at me now, eyes piercing, unabashedly taking all of me in, wine orbs illuminated even in the dimness of moonlight?
No. Definitely the cold.
"My issue Freeman is how you're treating my friend. I watched him put blood and tears into this place – how dare you come through and switch everything on him? And intimidate him? He's done nothing to deserve it."
I point a finger at his chest, which he gazed at spitefully. " I'm thankful for your help that day, truly. But it is no excuse for you to be an ass to others, especially my friends." I huffed, glaring into his eyes. He was still looking down at my finger. Too suddenly, his eyes flickered to mine. Then he did something that made my heart stop. He smiled. A huge outrageous smile that showcased his dimples _ which of COURSE he has- that made his maroon eyes shrink into almond sized glittering orbs.
Then he laughed heartily.
And my fury came back tenfold.
" Woman you have no clue do you." He chuckled, arching a brow. Heat rose to my cheeks.
And other regions.
No ! Stop brain. He is incorrigible. And gross.
" Well," he continued, taking my silence as a no, " it's not my place to tell you."
I shivered angrily. " Look I don't care for your excuses, just don't bully my friend-"
He slipped off his coat and reached around me to drape it over my shoulders. The warmth emanating from the soft fabric shook me to my core. And god did it have to smell so good ? What was that ?
He cleared his throat, and I looked up at him again. All trace of humor evaporated from his gaze. He was tragically back to his indifferent ass self.
" Like I said it's not my place to tell. It's your boyfriend's."
My face was probably a tomato. " He's not my –"
" Have a good night Dubois. I hope you are healing well." He began to turn away, the watch on his wrist glittering in the moon's light like crystal. " By the way –" my heart paused protocol as he turned back to me once more, those wine orbs seeping into my blood, setting it aflame. " I might have to come back in to your capitalist stricken place of work for your coffee Dubois. You put my own assistants' to shame. He gave a half smile before walking away into the night, his back, his muscles flexing in his tight knit black sweater with each step. I gulped, blinking away stupid thoughts before walking back into the club toward the bar.
" Wow that booty appointment didn't last long huh ?" Miah snickered. Ignoring her, I turned to Fer. " Fer do you mind taking me home ? We didn't take my car."
"Sure !" Fer's cheeks looked slightly pink. It was hot in here. " Just let me grab my stuff." He hopped out his seat and weaseled his way towards his office. I turned to my girls, gulping the last of Ming's drink. "Ya'll watch Cindy, tell her I had to split but I'll text her."
" Great now I'm the designated driver." Miah groaned, putting her head down.
" No prob, we'll tell her in a second." Ming smiled at Cindy, who was still on the floor. " Don't wanna ruin her fun."
Cindy was by the wall with mystery guy, though they were no longer dancing.
He was leaning into her ear whispering ; one of his cornrows nearly falling into her drink. Cindy's drunk ass either hardly noticed or hardly cared. Her eyes were downcast and bashful as she smiled hard, hanging on to every word that fell from his mouth. My heart leaped – my girl deserved some attention like this for real.
"Alright guys." I waved at Miah and Ming, seeing Ferlin in my peripheral beckoning me to him. " I'll see you babes later."
"Later girl !"
" We want details later !"
I rolled my eyes at them before giving a thumbs up, following Ferlin through the crowd.
Ferlin vented about business the whole ride, and honestly I was too exhausted to give more than one-worded responses. I leaned my head on his window. His AC was on full blast. Subconsciously I snuggled into the coast, shivering slightly. The smell of it hit me with full force once more, and I felt shock run through me as I pinpointed the smell.
As something very familiar…
