Her love - Maia Paige (ebook reader web .txt) 📗

to her phone for the majority of the ride.

She sighed, turning her head to look at me. “Why can’t you just call me by my first name?”

"Why can’t you just call me by mine, ma?" I retorted. She shrugged. "I like calling you by your last name." I smiled slightly. "So, you like me?"

 

"Not in a million years." She said. "You hurting a nigga heart." I said, mock hurt in my voice. "Eh. I think you’ll be okay." I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She finally put her phone down. Shawty had a beautiful side profile, but then again she was beautiful all around. Even with that slick ass mouth.

"Are you going to tell me where were going now?" Shit, I almost forgot. Ain’t even get the pussy yet and she got me trippin’. "My barbershop."

"How old are you?" She questioned. "24. How old are you?"

"Why do you have to answer my question with a question?"

"Why you always gotta be difficult with me?" She rolled her eyes and sighed. "21. Aren’t you kinda young to have your own barbershop?"

 

"I inherited it from my uncle. It’s actually still in his name, but I’ve been running it under his supervision for the past two years." She nodded. "So, that’s why you’re a business major?" She was sharp too. "Yeah. The shop came with a requirement. I could only inherit it if I went to school."

 

"You didn’t want to go before?" I shrugged, pulling into my reserved parking space at the shop. "Not really. Looking back on it now, I’m glad I made the decision to go." She nodded again, falling quiet. "Come on, ma."

I waited for her to gather her belongings and motioned for her to follow me. From the cars in the lot, I could tell it was the usual group. I held the door opened for Mariya and as soon as we entered we were met with stares. I was surprised when Mariya shrunk back a bit and hid behind me. Shawty ain’t strike me as the type to be shy in a group setting. I thought that shit was cute tho.  Before I had the chance to tell them niggas to stop staring, a voice interrupted. 

 

"Nigga, how the fuck you pull her?" Trey exclaimed. 

I was about to reply, but Mariya beat me to it. “Excuse me, but he didn’t pull shit.” At her response, a collection of laughs were heard around my shop. I see that shyness ain’t last long. She was right back to her usual self. I chuckled a bit as Trey’s facial expression. Nigga ain’t know how to reply. I stepped forward and patted her lower back. “Can you go wait for me in my office? I’ll be back there in a minute.” She only nodded and made her way back to my office.

 

After she left, Trey immediately came over me. “Is that the chick from the club?” I nodded. “She bad as fuck, but she rude as fuck too.” I shrugged. “I know. Imma fuck that attitude right out of her.” Trey only shook his head and chuckled. “She gonna cut yo’ dick off, man. I’m telling you.”

A long time friend of my uncle interjected into our conversation. “August, you still out here being a playa?” I shook my head a bit. “Something like that, Ace.” He stared at me a moment before turning his attention back to his paper. “You’re getting older, Aug. Maybe you should start thinking about settling down.”

I heard what he was sayin’. I really did, but I didn’t have an interest in settling down.

Mariya

I had been sitting in his office for five minutes. I hoped whatever he was talking about was important. I decided to check Instagram while I was waiting. Going through my notifications, I was still processing the fact he was my partner. Out of all the people I could have gotten paired with it had to be him. I sighed, liking a few photos and scrolling past others. The sound of the office door opening caused me to look up.

 

I was about to give August a piece of my mind, but instead of him I was greeted by another female. She was about my height, light skinned with blonde hair and an array of tattoos covering her left arm. She smiled at me and I returned it with one of my own. “Hello.” I said.

 

"Hey. You must be Mariya." She said, smile still on her face.

I raised my brow at her. “How do you know my name?” She chuckled and made her way to the chair next to me. “I’m Reina, but call me Rei. And August told me about you.” I sighed, wondering what August could have told her. “Don’t worry, love. He only had the nicest of things to say about you.”

 

"I’m sure." I replied. "Are you waiting for him?"

"Naw, not really. I just came to pick up my money." She replied, standing up.

"Money? You work for him?"

"Kinda sorta. I’m a tattoo artist and whenever I get new clients i direct them here. I’m kind of like a referral service, if you will." I watched her walk over and open the top drawer of my admirer’s desk. She pulled out a small clip of money and shoved it in her pocket. "I told him he didn’t have to pay me, but he insists." She shook her head. "Aug has trouble taking no for an answer."

 

"I know. Trust me." Reyna only giggled at my remark. "Well, it’s time for me to take my leave, but it was an honor meeting you, Mariya." 

 

"It was nice meeting you too, Rey." I said, smiling slightly. "See you around?"

"Definitely!" She gave me a small wave before heading towards the door. As soon as she left, August came in. "I see you met Rey."

"And I see you decided to grace me with your presence."

He only gave me that same cocky smirk I was used to. “My bad. Had to handle some shit.” He walked past me and I caught of whiff of his cologne. Old spice. I loved Old Spice. “Is there anything you want to go over first?” He questioned.

 

I shook my head. “No. Just do whatever you usually do. You don’t need to change up your routine for my benefit.” I replied, storing my phone in my purse. “Aight, ma. Just stop me when you got a question.”

For the next two hours I observed August in his work setting. He seemed..different. More focused, more serious. Sometimes I had to remind myself he was employed. He did have different sides to him, not just the flirtatious, cocky side I usually saw. 

 

Before I knew it, I was right back in the passenger seat in his car. “So, how was it?” 

"How was what?"

 

"Our first lil’ shadowing or whatever you call this shit." He replied, scrunching up his face. I giggled, though I wish I hadn’t. "It was nice. Even my talk with your lil’ friend." Tremaine was certainly a character. August chuckled a bit. "Yeah, Trey a dumb ass, but that’s my roun’. Been knowing that nigga for years now." I smiled a bit at his words. "That’s how me and Isis are. She’s..special, but I love her all the same."

 

I heard August mumble as he pulled into GSU’s parking lot. “Iono know bout’ that love shit, but that’s my nigga.” He leaned back in his seat, turning his head to face me. I twisted my body to look at him and flashed that intoxicating smile. “Why you still sittin’ here, ma?”

"Excuse me?"

"I don’t mean it like that. I just thought you would have dipped the second I parked."

"You say that like I curse your existence."

"I feel that way sometimes."

"You do?" I asked, frowning. I knew I was rude, but I didn’t think it was that bad. "I’m sorry, August."

I frowned even more as I watched him shrug it off. “Can I make it up to you?”

 

"Let me take you out to dinner?" He asked, a cheeky grin on his face. And that’s when I realized I’d been tricked. I pursed my lips and sent him a small glare. "You catfished me." As soon as those words left my lips, he burst out into a fit of laughter. 

"Iono think it was that severe for you to call me a catfish." 

"It really was. Made me feel like shit for a moment." I admitted. 

"My bad, ma. I was just teasing you a lil bit. You so serious. Lighten up a bit."

"You sound just like Isis." I shook my head. "You two would get along." He only smiled and the car was left with a comfortable silence. 

"August?"

"Yeah?"

 

"I really do appreciate this. I know I’m not the easiest person to deal with." I admitted, locking my eyes with his. "So..thanks." He stayed quiet and for a moment all he did was stare at me. His gaze was intense and after a few seconds I averted my gaze. He smiled at me and I could see his bottom golds peeking out. "You’re welcome, Mariya. And like I told you before, I’ve heard worse."

"Mhm." I grabbed my bag and my phone before getting out his car. Holding it open, I gave him a small smile. "Bye, August. And thanks again."

"Bye, Mariya. Be safe, ma."

And with that, I shut his door and I was off.

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Publication Date: 11-24-2014

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