Chapter Eight

**Deo**

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I knocked on Noel's door. Gabrielle had left me sprung without even having sex with me. I spent the night at her crib just sleeping in her arms. But, I refused to head to the shop by myself, knowing that Cooth rehired Shai. Kahh had the day off, so I was gonna be by myself. I kept knocking, but still, there was no answer. I pulled my key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. I hadn't heard from her since her and Sevyn left the bar.

"Man, where the fuck is this mothafucka?" Deo asked me.

"Shit, your guess is as good as mine. When I find my friend, you'll find yours," I said walking up the stairs of Noel's loft. I let Deo walk ahead of me. I heard moans escaping her bedroom.

"The fuck? Nah Sev ain't gay... Dom, We found your friend, but can we get my sis so I can get on with my life," Deo was pissed. We walked into the room but saw nothing but sheets thrown across the bed and the floor. The sounds of moans got louder. Then there was a scream.

Deo pulled the doorknob to the bathroom.

"Amber Denise Streeter. Get your horny ass out of that bathroom right now, sis. RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" Deo yelled.

I leaned against the wall, weak from laughter.

"Tear them walls up, Noel. Fuck it up," I called through the bathroom door.

"Give us about 20 more minutes, sis," Noel said peeking out of the door quickly before closing it back.

"Sevyn, hurry your gay ass up. I'm telling your mama, too," Deo called again trying to open the door back.

"I don't care. Tell her. I'm grown," Sevyn yelled back.

"Deo, let's wait in the living room. Let them fuck. Noel ain't gon stop anyway," I said shaking my head walking out of the bedroom, almost tripping over Sevyn's heels.

I drove us to the shop from Noel's house. Noel was grinning, but immediately stopped and looked at me.

"Take Kehlani back, NOW!" Noel said looking up at me.

"WHAT? HELL NO!" I blurted out as we pulled up to the shop.

"Nigga, the only way I can get another piece of Sev- I mean date with Sev is if you double date with us," Noel explained.

"Only if Gabby is there... Kehlani hurt me, fam. I rather be with someone I know who has my back regardless of where we are. I know where her loyalty lies," I said stepping out of the car.

"Yeah, well, I see Jaws and I see Janelle, so your life may depend on Kehlani right now. Not Gabby," Noel said as we walked to the doors of the shop.

I walked into the shop haring that everyone was cool and chilling. I saw Shaina sitting in the corner, drawing. She didn't say a word to me.

"Nell, whats going on boo? I said pulling Janelle close to me, hugging her tight before gripping her right ass cheek.

"Doomm... behave," she giggled. "I was actually leaving from getting a tattoo on that beloved ass cheek of yours so be gentle....I heard Gabrielle is back in your life."

"Yeah, something like that," I stared Kehlani up and down. "But, um, anyway, ma'am. You let someone else touch my goods. Don't make me take off my belt girl," I couldn't help but to flirt with Janelle. I mean look at her.

"Yeah, Shai took care of it... I mean if that's cool with you?" Janelle lowered her voice sensing the tension in the room.

"Nah it's not cool, but I guess it's already done right," I said eyeing Cooth. "I mean some people just can't keep their hands off of my women... but I guess that means my girls and I are doing something right. If they ain't looking, well hating, I don't want her."

Kehlani cleared her throat before narrowing her eyes on Shaina. Janelle sat down as her eyes narrowed at Shaina as well. Shai got up and walked to her office.

"Where you going, lil hoe. You missing your ass whipping," Noel called after her. I tapped her arm as we laughed together. The shop had become all against one, with Cooth playing the medium. Jaws even laughed a little. Janelle said she would text me before walking out, avoiding an even more of an awkward situation. I once again obviously watched her her ass jiggle in her grey tights as she walked out the door. Kehlani became uncomfortable causing her to finally speak up.

"Hey, you're finally on time to one of our meetings, babe," Kehlani muttered.

"Yeah, whatever. Make this quick," I snapped walking to my office. On the way there, I banged on Shaina's door, yelling 'stop fucking my leftovers.' Yeah, I was being a bit of a bully, but I wasn't about to let her play a role in me getting my heart broken. I walked into my office with Kehlani behind me. She closed the door and sat on the sink.

"What you want?" I said turning my back to her, pulling out my sketchbook, starting to finish up a sample tattoo.

"You. Dom, I miss you. I'm doing everything I can to get your attention and you keep pushing me away. Now you've gone back to your ex and completely forgotten I exist," she started to choke back tears.

"Understand you did everything you could do to get Noel's attention and Sevyn's attention. The only thing you did was sleep with my friend/ co-worker because you thought I was with Janelle. Lani... I'll admit it... I fell for you, but I refuse to be stupid for you," I said shading the face of the joker I had been drawing.

Lani stood up walking over to me and yanking the sketchbook from the table. She spun my chair around and sat on my lap, grabbing my face. She kissed me... Kissing me as if she hadn't kissed me in years. I refused to kiss her back. She pulled back, pouting.

"Babe, can you just stop fighting back already? I get it. I was wrong. Haven't I paid for it enough?"

She began to kiss me again. I gave her absolutely no emotion. My phone buzzed and I pulled away. She stayed on my lap.

Gabrielle texted me telling me to come over. I texted her back telling her I was on my way. I moved Kehlani off of my lap, grabbing my keys off of the tattoo table.

"If you wouldn't have fallen for Shaina's bullshit, we would've been together... Maybe next time you should make better choices," I walked out of the office leaving her there.

I passed Noel on my way out, saying my goodbyes to everyone.

"I'm still gonna kick it with Sevyn, sorry sis,"

"Get your girl... you're just gonna have to do it without me and Lani. Gabby might be down though," I said walking out. "By the way, let y'all friend know the meeting is over.

***

I walked into the living room. I was met by candles and the smell of vanilla. There were strawberries and chocolate sitting on the counter in the kitchen with a note.

Your gift is in the bedroom, pooh. Don't keep me waiting.

I damn near darted down the hallway to her. The hallway was illuminated similar to the living room and the kitchen. I opened the door to see her laying in the middle of the bed in nothing but her silk robe. Her legs glimmered from the candle-light. She sat there with her legs crossed holding a small box. She tossed the box in my direction.

"Open it... You can't unwrap this without unwrapping that first," She said softly. Her voice was a little sexier than usual.

I opened the box slowly, making her impatient. So many memories flashed back. It was my high school class ring, hanging from a gold necklace. I hadn't seen this ring since I gave it to her before she headed into the tunnel for her flight almost 5 years prior. I lowkey forgot it even existed. My eyes began to water a little.

"Damn bae. You really kept this. Shit. I thought you would have BEEN lost it," I said using every ounce of my energy to fight back my emotions.

"I know. I know. It pissed Kristal off every time I pulled it out... It was the only thing that kept me close to you. I couldn't keep in touch after you moved, so keeping that thing was the only thing I had left. I never got over you and you know that, " She admitted. The tears an down my face. She was the only person to see me emotional or to pull this out of me like this. "Come here... I didn't call you over here for you to stand over there. This took a lot of work, you know?"

I shook my head with a slight smile and pulled off my shoes and my jacket. I got into bed next to her. She adjusted the necklace around my neck before kissing me passionately. She got on top of me kissing me, making a trail from my neck to my belly button. For hours, we made love as if our lives depended on it. It wasn't like what I did with Lani or Janelle. We were connected in a way that was embedded in my soul.

I received a facetime call from Noel. I ignored it. After five more, I decided to pick up.

"What, sis. I'm busy. Fuucckk," I growled. Gabrielle was still attacking my center as I talked to Noel.

"Lani goofy ass is drunk as fuck and me, Deo, Edward, nor Sevyn can control her. Micah and Sam are still in LA. She keeps asking for you," Noel said obviously aggravated.

"Look... Shit. Gab wait a second. What does that have to do with me?" I asked leaning my head back against the headboard.

"Sis, please... I'm trying to do the same shit you're doing, but Lani is cockblocking. Hurry your ass up, Dom!"

"Fuck Alright! Bae let me up. We'll finish this later or tomorrow night, I promise. I have to once again take one for the team," I said sighing.

"You better," Gabby kissed me before pulling me up to head to the bathroom.

"Let me shower and I'll be there, Noel," I said quickly.

"Just shower... nothing else nigga."

I hurried out of the shower, quickly putting my clothes on. By the time I left Gabby had fallen asleep. I locked the door behind me and headed to my car. Kehlani better have a good explanation.

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