“What, my breath stinks?” she asked, looking completely confused.
I laughed, but it wasn't because anything was funny. “Nah, girl. We just need to talk before we go any further.”
I grabbed a stack of paper towels and started wiping the oil and sex off my skin. I adjusted myself in my boxers and fastened my jeans back up, taking my time while I watched the disbelief written all over her face.
“Talk about what?” she asked, her voice finally getting some of that defensive edge back.
“About us.”
“What about us, Dex?” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to pull herself back together.
“When you gonna stop playing these games, Nique?”
“Omg, Dex,” she rolled her eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. “You really know how to kill the mood.”
“The mood been dead for years, Nique,” I countered, stepping into her space until she was backed up against the sink again. “The mood would still be dead if you hadn’t of needed me to bail you out of jail.”
“So now you holding that over my head?” she asked, her eyes flashing as she started to get mad.
“You know me better than that. I’d cross an ocean for your ass and you know it.”
“Then why you tripping?” she asked, matching my energy.
“Cause I’m done with the back-and-forth. I want you to be mine. For real this time.”
She looked away, her jaw tight as she tried to find a way out of the conversation. “Dex, you know how we are. We fuck, then we fight. Why you trying to change the rhythm?”
“Because the rhythm is tired,” I said, my voice dropping. “And I’m tired of playing. I want you, Nique. Not just your pussy—all of you.”
“Yeah, well, pussy is all I got to give. You better hurry up and get it, too, 'cause this conversation is making me dry as fuck.” She was trying to play it cool, but I could see the flicker in her eyes. She was rattled.
“I’m good.” I turned and headed for the exit.
“This the second time you done turned me down. You gay or something?” she called out, her voice echoing in the shop.
I laughed, looking back at her. “You been munching carpet for two years and got the audacity to ask if I’m gay? I should be asking if you’re straight again. I could have sworn you were a lesbian, so why you want the dick so bad?”
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the sink. “You’re deflecting but just know it’s your loss. I’m not offering you none of this a third time.”
“You still want to have a destination wedding?” I asked, completely throwing her off.
“What?” she questioned, her face scrunching up like she didn't hear me right.
“I know how you like to be different. Since Paris had a destination wedding and London is having one, I know you probably want to do something different.”
“Dex, you about to make me mad as fuck.”
“I’m just trying to see where your head at for our wedding.”
“Nigga, I’m not marrying you,” she snapped.
“Not yet, but you will, baby. I got to get you to be mine first. That’s why I ain’t tripping about fucking you right now. Soon enough, that pussy gonna be mine for real.”
“In your dreams.”
I smirked, reaching for the door. “I was hoping more so like in Tulum. Take some time and get your mind right, Nique. Agree to be my girl so I can beat that pussy up properly in Mexico.”
I didn’t wait for her to respond. I walked out through the shop and back into the Mobile heat, headed to work with a smile on my face.