Chapter 3

"We meet the people we're supposed to when the time is just right." - Alyson Noel

"From the moment we started talking I knew that I wanted you around."

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_|Armani

"So how old is your daughter again?"

"Five."

"Aw, I bet she a cute little something, looking at her mother." He has been making me blush all night.

"Yes, she always keeps me running around, but thank you. What'd you say your name was again?" I swear I am having the hardest time remembering his name. I think this is the third time I have asked, but I also think it is because of the drinks. I will work to remember it this time though. I hear him laugh and he shakes his head.

"Jason. Funny how I can remember yours, Armani, but you don't remember mine. Guess I am not doing something right." His face looks so hurt, but I can tell he is just trying to make me feel bad.

"Oh no, I am having a good time. Don't take it personal! I am very bad with names. And these drinks are not helping with that right now."

"Okay, Ar-Man-I!" He is so goofy. "I can not help that I am offended though." He starts sniffing and wipes a fake tear away.

"Stoooppp! Don't make me feel bad." I lightly push him and he laughs.

"Okay, okay. Now time for serious business. Armani, do you have a boyfriend?" I look at him and his eyes are doing a run through of my body and he starts biting his lip and I can't help but smirk. When he looks back up at me he sees that I caught him staring and he starts blushing. He is so cute, I swear.

"No I don't have a boyfriend, but only because I need to focus on my daughter and my upcoming career." He nods his head, and he kind of looks impressed.

"And your upcoming career would beee...?"

"I love to write..always been my dream."

"Oh, so you get all like philosophical and shit." I laugh as he takes another sip of his drink and he smirks at me. "I was actually being serious." It is hard to tell with him. Just always seems like he is joking, but I guess that is what makes it so easy to talk to him.

"You are so funny, but I don't know. First book is getting published though, so check it out, if you remember to."

"I want a personal copy. From the author herself, signed and with a side note." He winks at me and it makes me blush. He seems amused by it. Before I can really answer back he speaks again. "It is a good thing you don't have a boyfriend."

"And why is that?"

"Because flirting with you is too cool. And I do not want some 300 pound athlete knocking my head off my shoulders in the process." That makes me laugh. I see Jason here is not afraid to speak his mind at all.

"Do you ever not speak what you are thinking?" It seems like he is actually contemplating my question then he shakes his head no.

"Nah Ma, honesty is the best policy. Plus, I am a horrible ass liar. Like for instance, outside the club. Nobody has ever made me double take my head so fast in my life." I blush again and he smirks. "Lord, you are gorgeous." I can feel myself getting redder but I try to distract myself from his complement.

"Who was that you threw out when we got here?"

"Just this kid that always comes to my club starting mess with the women, or picking fights with the guys in here. I should put his picture up on the wall so that when he is trying to get in the bodyguards can just look at it and know that he is not allowed in. He is so annoying. But tonight, I am glad he was here for me to throw out."

"Because I was standing there when you got done?"

"Hell yes. You are a very smart woman. Probably why you are an author." I feel his hand that is around my shoulders start to mess with my hair and he seems distracted for a minute. "So Armani.."

"So Jason.."

"Since I might not see you for a while after tonight, because I know I will be seeing you again, what if I asked to kiss you. Would that be too forward?" I look at him for a little while. He does not seem like he is anxious or anything, but he just seems relaxed and chill. I can tell he is simply just asking and if I say no he might be disappointed but he will not beg me to. He is still messing with my hair waiting for me to reply, and although I barely know him, I see no harm in kissing a cute dude that has been very generous and has not insulted me in any way.

"I see no problem with it." He smiles and he finally looks me in the eyes. He leans in and I meet him halfway. Our lips finally meet and it's nice. We start out simply kissing, but it eventually leads to making out. Until one of his body guards steps in.

"Aye, Jay." We turn to look at the door and some guy sticks his head in. "There is a problem with the DJ booth."

"Don't I pay you to fix shit like this?" He sounds so irritated and I try not to laugh.

"Uh, no I am your bodyguard."

"Ugh, maybe I should fire you and hire somebody that can guard my body and fix DJ booths without interrupting me when I am with company!" I shake my head and laugh.

"Jason, you are fine! Go fix your club." He takes a big sigh.

"Fine, but you better be here when I get back."

"Yea yea yea, now go!" He gets up off the couch in the VIP lounge and goes out with the body guard and I can hear him fussing until they walk away from the door. This is way cool, because it is all secluded and it is not fully sound proof because the music plays in here, but the people's voices are only shouts and whistles around us. I have never seen anything like it.

While Jason is gone I decide to check my phone to see if I have many missed calls from my mom about Kai. I see a couple of texts from Joe asking if I am okay and if I am still with the owner. I reply to his texts and place my phone back in my purse. I look at my empty cup and shake my head. I want another drink.

I get up and head out the door, making my way towards the bar. I have only been drinking martinis all night because I don't want to get back to Kai looking and sounding drunk. This is my fourth and last one for the night because I already feel the alcohol getting to me. I hope Ebony is doing the same. Sometimes she gets too caught up in the drinking and partying that she forgets to stay sober for Naomi's sake.

"Damn Ma, that ass though." I look to my right and see some guy leaning on the counter beside me, with a devilish smirk on his face. Of course, I just roll my eyes and go back to watching the bartender make my drink. "So you're not gonna acknowledge me?" I cannot believe him.

"Not after having you acknowledge me like that."

"You're right, my bad. Just could not control myself. You are looking too good." He slowly moves closer to me and next thing I know he takes his hand and slides it down my back to my butt. The Lord knows he is trying to get this kid killed. "You know what I mean?" I turn around super quick, but before I can put ole dude in check, I feel his hand removed from my ass and I turn to see Xavier standing behind me looking like he is ready to stomp him into the ground.

"Mani, we got a problem here?" He does not look at me, just keeps looking at the other guy.

"Nothing I can't handle." I put all my attitude into those four words.

"Last time I checked this doesn't concern you." The guy is trying to look all hard in front of Xavier and I just shake my head and pull Xay away from him.

"He isn't worth shit, come on Xay." After I finally get him away from that guy and outside into the fresh air we start to walk down the street some. "What was that all about?" I look at him and he still looks mad.

"It's nothing. Dudes like that, I just don't respect." He shakes his head and gives a sarcastic laugh. "Now I know I am not like the best guy for a woman, but for real though? You don't violate a woman's personal space at any time unless you're invited to. Whether she is in a club half dressed or coming from out of a business meeting."

"Wait a minute, I am not half dressed." He glances at me from the corner of his eye.

"If you say so." I watch him with a glare until a smirk spreads on his face. I hit him on the arm.

"Punk, you're not funny!" Even though I am trying to sound mad, I cannot help but laugh. "Calling me a hoe."

"Oh please, you look waayyy better than a hoe."

"Mhm, I know I do." I pop my booty at him and he laughs.

"Okay, don't get cocky."

"Nooo, I am being confident! Oh shit!"

"What?" Concern covers his face.

"I forgot my purse."

"Well lets go get it. We don't know where we are going anyways." I laugh as we turn around and head back to the club.

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_|Xavier

I am walking behind Armani back to the club and damn that ass. She took me kind of on a cool down walk because I was about to make some kid bleed. I know, I am considered sort of like a player, but you don't touch a woman inappropriately EVER! I only find women that are looking for a one night stand, not a woman looking for a relationship so that I can break her heart.

Now there have been times where a woman has wanted more and I had to let her down gently and tell her that I just was not ready for a relationship, but I never did it in a rude way. Growing up with just my mom made me learn to respect women better than that.

"Armani, there you are!" The guy that runs the club is already standing out there when we reach the entrance. He has taken a liking to Armani and you can tell. Jo has been keeping an eye on him all night.

"Yea, I think I left my purse inside."

"Yea, I saw. Here you go. Are you about to leave?"

"Uh yea, we are. It is going on one, and I can only party so much. I really need to get back to Kai too." Joe exits out with Jewel following him who is holding a drunk Ebony. "Hey, where did you disappear off to?" Jo asks Armani this.

"Went for a walk with Xay so that he could cool down." As soon as she says it I look over at Jo and he is already giving me that look. Armani quickly rushes over to Jewel's aid in holding up Ebony. Jo and I walk ahead to the car.

"What are you trying to do, X?"

"Nothing, look you did not get the full story. If anything you should be thanking me!"

"And why is that?"

"Because, some kid in there was hitting on your sister and had his hand all on her ass and I spotted it, so I went to help. That is all. She saw I was mad and pulled me out before things got hectic. You know how I am about that shit man!" He takes a sigh and looks at me.

"Yea I guess...thanks man, but don't forget what I said."

"Jo, I got it. But really man, that dress she is wearing right now, is not helping me." We have stopped walking and Jewel and Armani walked ahead to try and get Ebony into the car. We look over at the girls again and good God, Armani has bent over in the car to help buckle in Ebony. "Lord Jesus, Jo you are doing this on purpose." He just laughs and pats my back as he heads towards the car. After I collect myself I follow him and wait until Armani and Jewel have gotten Ebony situated before I slide in the backseat beside Armani.

"We are the wooorld, we are the childreeennn!" Ebony is laying on Armani's shoulder and starts singing at the top of her lungs.

"Eb, how many drinks did you have?"

"Girl, she downed about ten...not including the free ones given to her by other guys." Jewel answers for her.

"Damn, you need to slow down...I will let Naomi just stay with me and Kai tonight."

"Thanks girl, you know...you were always a good..." she burps and has a laughing fit, but then finishes her sentence, "...friend." I hear Jewel whisper 'Oh my gosh' under her breath. "God, I need a nap." In the next five minutes you can hear her snoring on Armani's shoulder. Armani tries to maneuver her onto the window and I try to help her as much as possible without waking Ebony. We finally get her off Armani's shoulder and Armani seems to feel relieved. I watch Armani pull out her phone for like the tenth time tonight. She really does worry about her kid as much as Jo said. It is actually kind of cute.

We finally make it back to the hotel and I hold the door open as Armani pulls Ebony out of the car. Since we are on the same floor, I help her carry her towards the elevator.

"Damn, she is heavy."

"Aw, don't whine..I thought guys were stronger than girls." I roll my eyes at her smirk as we finally get on the elevator to go up. The doors open again and we both carry her out the elevator again, but then I stop her.

"Wait, wait I see the problem." I lift Ebony up and throw her over my shoulder. Muuuch better. Armani was just too short.

"You were just too short. Her weight was off balance on me."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"You're short as hell, duh."

"Shut up." I laugh as she leads me to their room. When she opens the door, a little girl runs up to her and hugs her.

"Auntie Mani, where is my mama?"

"Come on Naomi, lets go get Kai, your mom just needs to rest." I set Ebony down before she turns around with Naomi. I have her arm wrapped around my neck and I help her walk to the bed.

"What's wrong with my mommy?"

"Uh...baby, she is tired. Come on, you want to go get Kai?" Naomi looks like she is going to cry as they walk out of the room. I lay Ebony on the bed, and whoever the woman is that was watching Naomi thanks me before tending to her. I close the door as I leave and I see Armani is carrying Naomi to another room on the other side of the hall.

I would follow, but I just decide to go into my room. Armani seems like she has it all under control.

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_|Armani

I knock on the door with one arm while holding Naomi in the other. I have warned Eb so many times about drinking when she knows she has to come back to Naomi.

"It's my mommy, grandma."

"Well we have to be sure." The door opens and when my mom sees it is me she opens it wider. "You have fun baby? Where is Ebony?"

"She had a little...too much to drink." I whisper the last part to her as I set Naomi down. "Can we stay here tonight?"

"Sure baby, my second bed is all yours. Your father should be in tomorrow night."

"Thanks Ma. I will be back with some PJs in a few."

"Mommy, where are you going? You just got back!" Kai runs up and grabs my leg.

"I am going to get you guys some PJs; we are sleeping here tonight."

"Okay." I kiss my baby on the forehead before I leave out the room again. I travel down the hall back to Eb and I's room. When I get inside, her mother is sitting and watching TV while Ebony is knocked out in the bed.

"Hey, Mrs. Flowers."

"Armani, next time talk some sense into my daughter."

"Yes ma'am. I always try to." I walk into the bathroom and change into my something sleep worthy. I grab two of my t-shirts for Naomi and Kai to change into and head back down to my room.

"Young lady, it is past your bedtime." I turn around to see Xay walking out of his room.

"I could say the same to you."

"Men make their own bedtimes." I laugh as I reach my mom's room.

"Goodnight Xavier." He reaches the elevator and nods towards me.

"Goodnight Armani."