Page 47 of Rich and Rotten

It didn’t matter how fine he was, though. It was dangerous for me to feel this way about him. I wasn’t going to be that girl who falls for a man while being in a relationship.

I couldn’t be her.

When he went to take a shower, I quickly grabbed my phone and called Tatiana. She was the only person I could talk to about this. She answered the phone sounding wide awake. If there ever came a day when she picked up the phone and sounded half asleep, I would be shocked as hell. Sleep and my girl didn’t mix, and I hated that for her.

“I’m assuming you took the best nap once you were settled.”

I snickered. “The best nap––mouth all wide open and drool on the pillow.”

She laughed. “Good. You need the sleep. You’re always so busy working.”

“I could say the same about you. Why are you even up right now? And don’t blame it on the time change either.”

“In my defense, there’s a beautiful terrace attached to my suite, and I did take a nap on the lounge out there.”

“I won’t complain or get on your case since you took a slight nap. But knowing you, it was only a fifteen-minute nap.”

“Ten minutes, because Rick Valora came to my suite to have a quick chat over tea. You know rich people.”

I snorted. “You are rich people, Tatiana.”

“Not that type, I suppose. Anyway, why are you calling me?”

I pulled my legs up to my chest and started rubbing the scar from my childhood. I was seven years old, and my cousin was teaching me how to ride a bike. I fell in the process, scraping my knees and crying at the sight of the blood. But no sooner than my mother cleaned up my cuts, I was right back out there on that bike, determined to master riding it in one summer afternoon. The scar was still visible and a reminder of my tenacity.

“Jonah’s room was overbooked, so he’s staying in mine.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s that sound?”

“You on birth control, right?”

I laughed. “Tatiana.”

“What? I’m asking because the sexual tension between you two is thicker than me. Does your room have a pull-out couch?”

“No.”

“Yeah, be ready to toot that ass up, Yaya. Or should I call you Yummy?”

I climbed out of the bed and walked onto the balcony. The water show was now dark, but the lights of Las Vegas were still brighter than ever.

“I’m not going to sleep with him. I mean, the thought is there, but we can’t do that. We share a godchild together, and it would only complicate things.”

“If that’s the excuse you want to use, I’m going to let you have that,” she replied, chewing in my ear.

“I have a girlfriend, remember? I’m not that kind of girl who just does someone wrong,” I replied, even though my mind was telling me that my relationship with Sav was over. I just needed my heart to agree.

The line went quiet. I knew what Tatiana wanted to say without her actually saying it. She finally broke the silence, her voice low and steady. She was coming from a place of love, and I knew that before the words even left her mouth.

“You were never really happy with Sav, Yaya. Not once.”

I remained quiet, allowing her to continue.

“How many times did you cry over that girl? How many times have I stayed up on the phone with you while you waited for her to come home at night? Yaya, you begged her to leave the streets alone––handed her chances most people would give their life for––and she spat in your face every time.”

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump that formed. It hit me hard because every word she said was the truth. She had front row seats to witnessing the shit I put up with Sav––all the broken promises, disrespect, and arguments. Tatiana was always there to listen while I vented.