"You too Kel. I mean that."
She held my gaze for one long beat then turned and walked toward the exit. I watched her go and felt the particular sadness of ending something that wasn't all bad. Just not right enough to stay.
I turned back to the group. Dex was watching me with an expression that had gone quiet and unreadable, his jaw set. The weight of everything, Mexico, Stella, this man who kept showing up no matter how many times I pushed him away, landed on me all at once.
Decompressing was the last thing I was going to do on this trip. I knew that now. I was walking straight into the eye of a storm I'd been circling for years and the only question left was whether I was finally ready to stop running from it.
Chapter fourteen
Against the Current
The dark roast coffee was the only thing keeping me upright as I navigated the morning traffic toward the interstate. I hadn’t slept for real since that first night in the hotel with Nique. It had only been a few hours, but it was the most peaceful rest I’d had in years. Having her tucked against my side made the rest of the world feel quiet.
We had separate villas in Tulum, but I was already plotting. I was thinking of every way possible to convince her to let me sleep in hers. It wasn’t just lust. Nique was the only woman alive who could drive me crazy and make me want to stay right therein the middle of it. The fact that she matched my freak was just an added bonus. My dick jumped at the mere thought of how she was damn near begging for the dick. I was serious on my stance not to cave until she officially agreed to be mine. Our days of fucking and fighting were over.
I glanced at the clock on the dash. I was right on schedule to pick up my mother. Lisa Nash had always been a stickler for punctuality. All my life she preached that being on time was actually late. Airports stressed her out, so she liked to be checked in and waiting long before it was time to board.
I pulled into her driveway with a grin already tugging at my lips. She stepped out of the house looking radiant in a travel-ready linen set, waving as she smoothed her hair. I hopped out, meeting her halfway to grab her suitcase.
"You must be mighty excited about this trip, son," she said, studying the expression on my face.
"I am," I admitted, hoisting her bag into the back of the Escalade. "I haven’t been out of the country in a while. I'm looking forward to the break."
"I'm glad to see you smiling, Dexter," she chirped, climbing into the passenger seat. "You’re usually all work and no play. Your father was the same way, and that kind of stress is what killed him."
I climbed into the driver's seat and pulled out of the driveway, shaking my head. "Mom, Dad died from heart disease."
"That was nothing but stress," she persisted, her voice tight with conviction.
I wanted to say it probably had more to do with the pork chops and fried chicken she used to keep on the table every night, but I kept that thought to myself. My father’s death was the exact reason I ate clean and hit the pavement to run every morning. I wasn't going out like that.
“I’m taking a whole week off,” I promised, merging onto the interstate. “No blueprints, no contractors. Just the beach.”
"Mhm and maybe some good company?" she probed, adjusting her sunglasses as she leaned back into the leather. "You know, if you had a wife, she’d be the one making sure you took these breaks. A man in your position needs a partner, Dexter. Someone who understands your speed."
I didn’t argue. I wasn’t against settling down. I was already picturing the life I wanted to build, and Nique was at the center of every version of it. My mother just didn’t have Nique in mind when she talked about good company. She wanted the safe bet, the polished image, no history and no complications. What I wanted was the woman I’d spent sixteen years circling, the one who challenged everything in me and made me better just by existing.
Before she could launch into the full lecture the Escalade’s Bluetooth chimed. Amina’s name flashed across the dashboard. I hit the button on the steering wheel knowing the timing was messy.
"Hey," I said.
“Hey Dex. Are you on your way to the airport yet?” Her voice came through sharp.
“Just picked up my mom. We’re about to hit the interstate. Everything okay with Demi?”
"Demi is fine. She’s already playing with her cousins in the backyard. But listen, I was thinking it makes no sense for both of us to pay those ridiculous long-term parking fees at the airport for a whole week. Since you’re already passing by, can you just swing by my mom’s and pick me up? It’ll save me the hassle and plus Demi wants to tell you bye."
Amina knew I was a sucker for Demi. I glanced at the clock. It was a detour but not a huge one.
"Fine," I said. "Be ready. I’m not trying to be the last one at the gate."
I hung up and didn’t even have to look over to know my mother was wearing a satisfied smirk.
“I’m so glad you two are getting along for Demi’s sake,” she said warmly. “Amina has always had a good head on her shoulders. She handles everything with so much grace.”
"She’s a good mother," I said, merging onto the connector.
“She’s more than that, Dexter. She’s a good woman from a good family. Every time I see her, I think about how well you two fit together. You’re both ambitious, you both love that little girl. It’s a rare thing to find someone who matches your drive.”