Chapter 23

𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚢𝚗

By the time my father said “day trip,” I already knew my patience was finna be on life support for a solid six hours minimum. He said it over breakfast like it was nothin’. Like he wasn’t ’bout to parade me around in front of people who measured everything by how expensive it looked.

“You’re goin’,” he said, buttering his toast slowly. “And you’ll bring your girlfriend.”

I stared at him, my chin propped in my palm as my brow raised. “You ever get tired of lyin’?”

He smiled without lookin’ up, takin’ a bite out of his toast. “Only when it doesn’t work.”

See, and this is why I don’t argue with him before noon. It’s like debating with a brick wall that owns stocks.

I turned over to Aries. “Blink twice if you need rescuin’.”

She didn’t even blink, she just nodded once. “I’ll go.”

“Same arrangement as before?” I asked calmly and my father nodded.

“Affectionate, Convincin’, all of it.”

I hummed, dragging my eyes over to Aries again, my eyes trailin’ down her flexed arms as she leaned against the island countertop holdin’ a plate. I still don’t understand why she never sits with us for breakfast like a normal person. She be posted up like security and eye candy at the same time, it’s annoying.

Her eyes met mine, and I sent her a small smile without thinking. She smiled back, easy, and I looked away real quick before my face did something embarrassing like soften too much.

My father clocked that immediately. His brow lifted just a little, and I cleared my throat so fast you would’ve thought I choked.

“Well, I’ll go get dressed then,” I said, standing up like I ain’t just got caught slippin’.

I brushed past Aries, and for a second we held eye contact again, and I broke that real quick too, heading upstairs before I started acting out of pocket in front of my own father.

“Wear somethin’ appropriate, Londyn!” He called after me. I groaned loud, throwing my head back. He says that every time like I ever listen fully.

And I didn’t. Because let’s be serious, something strapless is always gonna eat, regardless of the occasion.

I came out in a cream set, clean, fitted, and nails still fresh. Aries walked in a few minutes later in dark slacks, a black fitted top, and a leather jacket thrown over her shoulder.

I halted, my brow raising slowly. “You like pissin’ me off on purpose?”

She glanced down at herself. “What? Bad choice?”

I shook my head, steppin’ closer and grabbin’ her tee, tugging her toward me because clearly she needed to be closer if she was gonna be looking like that?? “You look good.”

“And you look gorgeous,” she replied easily, her hands adjusting the top of my corset.

I rolled my eyes and reached up, draggin’ my nails lightly along her jaw, just because.

She froze, just for a second before she let out a chuckle. “You been touchin’ my face lately.” she said softly as her eyes shifted toward the door.

“I like my nails on you.” I replied. “Mind your business.”

𐃯

The car ride was quiet…until it wasn’t. Aries sat beside me, close enough that our thighs touched every time the car turned. “You good?” she asked, finally lookin’ up from her phone, her voice low.

I hummed like I wasn’t busy mentally preparing to survive this whole fake-rich-people circus. “I’m excellent,” I said dryly. “Just preparin’ myself to watch grown men pretend they not starin’ at me for the wrong reasons.”

She huffed, gently patting my knee, and I flinched.

My skin heated up instantly and I frowned at myself because gosh damnit, bitch. It was your knee. Your knee?? Like, get it together…

The second we stepped out the car, it was like stepping into a live auction, except the product was me. My dad’s little circle of rich, polished, overly observant friends were already watchin’, smilin’, and calculating, like they were tryna assign me a price tag.

I let out a soft huff, leanin’ into Aries without thinkin’, my body moving before I could object.

My fingers hooked into her belt loop, and she leaned down.

“You aight?” she murmured.

“I’m surrounded by rich ass liars,” I muttered. “So yeah. I’m home.”

“She’s beautiful,” one of the men said. “You’ve done well.”

Aries hummed. “I know.”

Her hand came around my waist, firm, steady, pulling me in, and I felt her squeeze slightly. When I looked up, her eyes were narrowed at the group, her jaw tight like she was two seconds away from beatin’ somebody’s ass.

Is she mad?

Their daughters suddenly came outta nowhere. Same energy, different fonts. All polished, all confident, all suddenly very interested in my girlfriend—well…. fake girlfriend.

“This is my daughter Kiana.” My fathers friend, Richie, ushered his daughter forward and she softly waved, her eyes subtly glancin’ at Aries.

Aries reached out to shake Richie’s hand, all professional and composed, and I was fine with that. Then Kiana extended her hand too.

And logically? I knew Aries was just being polite and doing her job. But logic and emotion can’t be friends sometimes.

Before Aries could even take her hand, mine brushed hers out the way, and I stepped in, shakin’ Kiana’s hand myself, side-eyein’ Aries, like don’t play with me right now.

Aries straightened up immediately, clearing her throat like she got my message loud and clear.

“You don’t look like you’re from here.” Kiana spoke up and I turned around, lettin’ out a sigh, knowin’ damn well it’s gon’ be a long day.

Aries shook her head. “Nah, I’m from New York.” she corrected and Kiana smiled, noddin’ like she just scored a 10/10 on a chemistry test.

“You got that vibe.” she added and Aries chuckled.

Next thing I know, the conversation grew legs and ran, more girls joinin’ in, laughin’ a lil’ too loud, leanin’ a lil’ too close, like they forgot boundaries existed. While I stood there with my arms crossed, watchin’ the whole thing like I wasn’t about to lose my patience in 0.2 seconds.

Then one of them laughed too loud at somethin’ Aries said and touched her arm. And I’m not talkin’ about a graze. No. Touched. Her. arm.

I smiled through my teeth real sweet, and walked right over. My hand slid up Aries’ chest, fingers spread flat like a warnin’ label slapped on expensive glass.

“She don’t like being touched,” I said sweetly, my voice dipped in honey.

Aries glanced down at my hand, a lil’ smirk pulling at her lips before she looked back at the girl. “Yeah,” she added smoothly, “my girl don’t approve of that.”

The girl raised her brows. “You serious?”

“Dead,” I said quickly. “Now keep it pushin’, girly.”

She huffed, clearly not used to being checked like that, and walked off with an attitude that I ain’t give two flyin’ fucks about.

Aries leaned in closer once she was gone, her voice low, almost teasing. “You enjoyin’ this?”

“Aries.” I said flatly. “Don’t start. ‘Cause I will.”

She didn’t pull away, if anything, she leaned closer, her shoulder brushin’ mine. Her fingers slid into the back pocket of my pants like she not only forgot where we were but who she was.

My breath hitched.

“Aries,” I warned.

“Wassup.”

“You gettin’ real bold for somebody on payroll,” I muttered, shootin’ her a look. “And my dad’s around. Watch it.”

She smiled. Slow, knowing. “Youn mind.”

I rolled my eyes, subtly stepping closer into her touch. “Shut up.” I murmured, glancing around to see everyone mindin’ their business.

“C’mon.” I said softly as I pinched the end of her shirt, draggin’ her toward the docks.

We walked along the dock, the sun heavy and the breeze warm.

Every single time someone’s eyes lingered on her for too long, I found any excuse to touch her—adjust her belt, smooth imaginary lint, trail my nails along her cheek just to watch her jaw tighten. Everything just to let them know who’s timin’ we on.

“You know they starin’ right?” I muttered and she glanced over to the group of girls chattin’ it up.

“At you.”

“Lyin’ ass nigga.”

She stopped walkin’ and turned to face me fully. Close enough that I could see the little scar near her eyebrow, and the way her eyes softened when they stayed on me too long.

“You jealous?” she asked quietly.

I scoffed. “Please. I just don’t like sharin’ attention.”

Her hand slid to my waist, thumb pressin’ in gently. “You not sharin’.”

I tilted my head, studyin’ her face, deciding whether to believe her or not as my hand reached up to her jaw. “Say it again. Slower.”

“You not sharin’, Lo.” she repeated, her voice raspy. “It’s all yours.”

Before I could do anything, someone called our names from behind us, breakin’ the moment. I stepped back first, rollin’ my shoulders back like I wasn’t two seconds away from sayin’ some reckless.

“Act right,” I warned and she walked ahead.

“Yes ma’am.”

When we headed back, my father had already cornered me into one of those conversations. You know the ones with stiff handshakes, fake smiles, businessmen talkin’ like everything is a deal waitin’ to happen? Yeah. And I’m standing there nodding like I care, while my attention was on Aries.

She was across the room, laid back in one of the lounge chairs by the fireplace. And then the girls joined her. She was doing what I told her. Sitting still. Minding her business, but one of the girls had the audacity to tug her back when she tried to get up, and make her sit down. All the of them hovering over her.

I scoffed under my breath, arms crossing tight across my chest. Richie chuckled beside me. “Seems she’s quite popular with the girls.”

I rolled my eyes, watchin’ every little movement. And oh, were they playin’ with the little kindness I got. Just playin’ in my damn face.

I stood up so fast the chair scraped behind me, storming over without a second thought. I stepped in, grabbing Aries by the leather jacket and pulling her up off the lounge chair.

“She’s good over here.” I positioned her behind me and the girl raised her brow, lookin’ at me.

“Girl, relax.”

“I am relaxed,” I said simply. “This my relaxed.”

Aries tapped my hip. “Baby.”

“What??” I whipped around with a huff, before my eyes grew wide.

“The hell you just call me?” I whisper-shouted.

She leaned in, her lips near my ear. “You want them convinced or not?”

I murmured, my face hot. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Say it like that.”

She smirked, glancing past me at them for a second before looking back down at me. “Like your girlfriend?”

I huffed, turnin’ back and glarin’ at them all. But before I could get into it, my father called us all to get on the boat for a lil’ ride before we all left.

I knew I was about to be irritated, and possibly pushed into the water against my will, because nothing about this day had gone peacefully.

My father walked ahead like he owned the ocean itself, and everyone followed behind him like obedient little ducklings with money, while I stood there for half a second debating if I could fake a sudden illness and collapse dramatically right on the dock.

Unfortunately for me, Aries’ hand found my lower back before I could commit to the performance, guiding me forward like she already knew I was plotting nonsense.

“Don’t even think about it,” she murmured low, and I sucked my teeth, rolling my eyes.

“I wasn’t gon do nothin’,” I lied smoothly, stepping onto the boat with care because one thing about me, I am not about to bust my ass in front of a group of rich spectators like it’s a live show.

I walked further in, arms crossed loosely as I glanced around, already spotting the little seating area where I knew these girls were about to gather like it was a meeting spot.

Aries barely got two seconds of peace before they circled her again, all smiles and soft laughs, one of them still leaning a lil’ too close like she forgot I was still very much alive and capable of causing a scene.

I tilted my head slowly, watching the entire thing unfold like it was a nature documentary.

And here we have the overly confident rich girl, attempting to flirt with a taken stud in her natural habitat.

“Aries, baby,” I called, my voice calm, too calm, the kind of calm that usually comes before I ruin somebody’s mood.

Her head turned immediately, and I beckoned her over. She didn’t hesitate either, excusing herself with a quick nod before walking over to me, leaving them all standing there looking mildly offended.

I stepped closer, fixing the collar of her jacket that did not need fixing at all, my fingers lingering just a second too long. “You seem real comfortable,” I muttered, glancing past her toward the group before looking back up at her.

Her brow raised just slightly. “You jealous again?”

“Girl—” I scoffed, pushin’ lightly at her chest, but I didn’t move away. “Don’t get comfortable with that word.”

She chuckled under her breath, her hand sliding to my waist again. “Then stop actin’ like it fit you.”

“Aries,” I warned softly, but it came out weaker than I wanted, especially when her thumb pressed just slightly into my side.

“And you keep touchin’ me every five seconds,” she added, leaning in just enough for her voice to drop. “What that mean?”

I opened my mouth, ready to snap back with sumn clever, sumn that would shut her up real quick, but nothin’ came out because she was lookin’ at me like that again.

So instead, I grabbed her by her neck lightly. “It mean behave,” I said, my tone sweet but my eyes not playin’ at all. “Before I embarrass you in front of these people.”

She smiled, like that was exactly what she wanted.

“Promise?” she murmured, and I felt my stomach flip in the most disrespectful way.

Oh, she’s irritating as hell.

I dropped my hand from her neck with a small huff, turnin’ away before she could see my expression, because fuck that. I’m not ’bout to fold on a boat.

Before I could take two steps, one of the girls called out. “Aries! Come sit with us!”

I stopped walking and slowly turned my head. Then I turned my whole body.

“Did she just—” I started, blinkin’ once then twice slowly, like I needed to process the audacity in HD.

Aries laid her lips flat like she was holding back a laugh, and that right there irritated me even more.

“Oh, so you think it’s funny?” I stepped back toward her, grabbing her hand this time, intertwining our fingers before I could even think about it too hard. “Nah, c’mon. Sit.”

“What—”

“Sit. Now.” I said firmly and she sat down immediately.

I sat on Aries’ lap, her arms wrapping around my waist. “Sorry girls!!” I called out from the other end with a fake smile.

Every time the water rocked, she tightened her hold just a little, steadying me.

Her chin rested against my shoulder as her breath brushed my neck when she leaned in. “You okay?” she asked softly, as if she wasn’t already holdin’ me together through all this bullshit.

My hand lifted without me thinkin’, fingers tracing along her jaw, thumb brushing her cheek. “Mh-hmm,” I hummed. “Just wonderin’ who I gotta fight.”

She laughed under her breath, her hand slidin’ along my waist in that absent, gentle way.

When the trip finally wrapped, my father looked way too happy for my likings. “Why don’t yall just date?” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start.”

Aries chuckled and I sighed as I stared out the window, pretending I wasn’t now replayin’ every look, every touch, every time she choose me without sayin’ it.

This fake relationship was startin’ to feel a lil’ too real. And I didn’t know how to joke my way out of that.

𐃯

My father dipped before sunrise. No warnin’. Just dropped us off and sent a text that said, ‘Don’t get into trouble.’

Yeah. Okay.

The shower ran longer than planned. Steam clung to the mirror, the walls, my skin. I stayed under that water until my shoulders loosened and my thoughts slowed enough to feel what I’d been ignoring all day.

The damn frustation that sat low in my stomach. Real present, annoyin’, and persistent.

I stepped out, wrapping myself in a towel as I stared at my reflection, like I could shake it off. I threw on a baggy tee and shorts then headed for the theater room, craving noise. Distraction. Anything but the thought of Aries and I.

The door was cracked. I pushed it open and stopped.

Aries was laid back on the couch in the front. No shirt, just a sports bra hugging her chest and sweats sitting so low it honestly felt intentional at this point.

Her stomach flexed when she shifted, the low lighting catching along her v-line just enough to make me look twice.

My mouth went dry. 

My thoughts were already messed up right now, I don’t need more chaos.

She looked up, our eyes lockin’. “You good?” she asked.

“Why you naked.” I said flatly, rollin’ my eyes.

“How?” her brows furrowed before she smiled, shakin’ her head. “You dramatic as hell, you know that?”

I crossed the room, droppin’ right next to her. “And why you quiet?” she questioned and I shrugged.

“I’m tired.”

“Mm.”

The movie played in front of us, practically watchin’ itself. All I could focus on was the warmth coming off her, the way her arm brushed against me when she shifted and how her breathing changed when I leaned closer.

“You starin’ again,” she murmured.

“I like what I see.”

That surprised both of us, her eyes darkening just a little. “You flirtin’ with me?”

I stood up from the couch, takin’ her hand in mine. “C’mon.” I said softly before draggin’ her into my room.

I shoved her down onto my bed and she glanced up at me, her gaze low and dark. I walked off and into my bathroom, grabbin’ my clay mask container.

When I walked back out she sighed, letting out a chuckle. “Seriously?”

“Please?” I tilted my head to the side as I said softly and she huffed, nodding.

“You really dragged me in here for skincare.” she laughed.

“Yes,” I said simply. “You should be grateful. I’m upgrading your life.”

I pressed my hand against her chest, pushing her down as I got on top. Her hands instinctively reached for my ass and I rolled my eyes, smirkin’.

“Freaky ass.” I mumbled and she raised a brow, slappin’ my ass.

“Aries.” I warned and she chuckled.

I shook my head, ripping the top off the container and squeezing a bit of clay onto my finger. “Don’t move,” I said softly, leaning down toward her face.

“Londyn,” she started, voice softer now, but I ignored it completely, bringing my hand up and swiping the clay across her cheek.

“Stop talkin’,” I said, focused, even though my fingers lingered just a second longer than needed. “You gon’ mess me up.”

Her hands moved from my ass to my waist, holding me in place. I rested my finger against her cheek, continuing to spread the clay slowly across her face, focused.

“Damn that shit cold as hell??” she blurted, looking straight at me, and I chuckled softly. “Be still,” I murmured, concentrating as I smoothed it over her face—but of course she couldn’t just behave.

Her hands started movin’ again. Caressing my waist… then lower.

“Aries, I’ll make you eat this.” I huffed, my thighs pressing against her hips subconsciously as I tried to stay focused.

“You’re distractin’ me.” I added, quieter this time, tryna finish what I started.

And you’d think—after I said that—she’d stop. But nooo.

Her hands slid along my thighs instead, and I let out a soft sound before I could catch it, our eyes lockin’ instantly.

“Shut up…” I said, slightly breathy and she nodded.

My heart was pickin up speed, a warm heat pooling by my lower abdomen. I’m tryna be cute, do a face mask, act like I got sense—and her bitchass thinks what she’s doin’ is funny as fuck.

She pulled me closer to her, pressin’ me against her front, and I froze for a second, my breath hitching. “Cut it out.” my words came out breathy, my body burnin’ from just her touch.

“Yes, ma’am.” she rasped and I raised a brow.

“Is you?—” I shook my head. “Nevermind.”

I might be trippin’ right now but I’m sure I ain’t the only one who frustrated.

Once I finished doing her face, she put the clay on mine. The two of us just chatting it up. And after we rinsed it off, we ended up laid out on my bed, a movie playin’ on my laptop that neither of us was really payin’ attention to.

“How’d you get that scar on your brow?” I questioned softly as I caressed her face.

She was laid on her stomach beside me, one arm draped loosely over me, eyes already half-closed.

“Glass cut me.” she mumbled, half asleep and I hummed, scanning every feature on her face as I watched her slowly doze off.

“Lemme take you to get your cut.” I kept my voice low and gentle and she hummed, making me softly giggle as I ran my fingers through her hair.

“Lemme pay..” she trailed off, barely awake. “For your nails.”

“Alright, my love.” My voice was gentler than it had ever been, catchin’ me off guard.

She pulled me in closer and I chuckled, massaging her scalp softly while she settled against me, finally giving in to sleep. But suddenly a loud sharp crash came from outside.

Aries jolted up, and my brows furrowed. She moved immediately, her body alert. “Stay here.” she said, her voice all firm like when we first met.

I sat up, my heart poundin against my chest. She quickly grabbed her hoodie and darted outside.