• 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 •

• 25 •

eneaj

"Hey, thanks for letting me know though. Byeee," I hung up with Max.

"Who was that?" Val asked, sitting across from me at the table.

"Max. Just some people clownin' around the property again, but they left. You heard bout that place that burned down in Dallas?" I asked her, chewing on a slice of bacon. "Yeah," she said, bringing her glass of orange juice up to her mouth, "What about that?" I shrugged, still chewing, "Ion know. I don't want nothing wild happenin' to my place. I'm already finalizing my plans for the venue me and Yenvy workin' on and I can't afford anything extra pullin' at my funds."

"How's it going?"

"Yenvy's getting her decoration' shit together there but nothing's been bought. They're still working on plumbing and scaling everything to make sure shit is right. But I really think it'll be pretty hot up there in Dallas."

"Why so far away though? If you both are here in Houston now?" Val inquired.

I sighed. "I'm considering going back to Dallas."

"Eneaj, what the fuck? You just got on me for making a decision without considering you now this?" Val genuinely asked, genuinely sounding hurt.

"Or maybe just moving to Zinnias. I haven't made the actual decision yet, Val. I'm includin' you now, aren't I?" Val shook her head, scraping her chair back and picking up her mostly empty plate. "That's cool, I guess," she shrugged.

"And now you're mad. We're supposed to be talking, remember? Communicating? Like you wanted the other day?" I stated.

"If you leave the mansion...then what about me? I'm just supposed to keep livin' with your best friend? I don't think that seems...right." She went to go throw away her stuff, then came back, standing at the other end of the medium-sized table.

"No. You'd be coming with me to Zinnias, of course."

"But what if I don't want to go to Zinnias," she argued.

"Then...don't. But my money comes," I stopped talking, "I guess I can see why you made that decision without me. I guess money comes first for the both of us," I admitted.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I don't mind moving to Zinnias with you, Eneaj, by the way," she came over and pecked me on the cheek. "That way you can get to your club quicker and you won't be too long of a drive from your venue."

"Yenvy is mainly the one who will be caring for it, but I'll still need to check in on it and shit like that since it's essentially incorporated with Strapped."

"Right," she nodded.

I pulled her face down closer to mine as I sat down.

I moaned appreciatively, kissing her lips.

"Why do you need to meet Yenvy at 12?"

Val pulled back, looking a little too nervous for my liking. "Who told you that?"

"Answer my question," I said firmly. She wasn't finna stall for time with me.

She sighed, "To talk about something."

"Like what?" I asked, looking up at her, clutching the fork in my hand. Do I need to stab her?

"About your friend, okay? Illiora," Val sighed.

"And you couldn't tell me that?" I asked.

"No, because I know how much it's hurting you. Yenvy might let her emotions show, but you won't."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I shook my head, trying to comprehend her. "She's an open book and I'm not- That's-That's a problem for you, Val?"

"No! What?" she sighed heavily, "That's not what I'm tryna say, Eneaj. Well, it is." I sent her a look. "But I don't want the whole situation workin' you up."

"So Yenvy, someone who's struggling with alcoholism versus me, is someone you wanna burden with whatever info you now have? You don't think she's stressed too?"

"It's not new info. Just turning over the facts to see if I can spot a lead anywhere to give to Jadyn and the crew. She would know those facts since she was helping Illiora get out of Texas and tell whatever story she had to tell."

"Yeah, plus she went to school with her...like me," I added on the last bit. "But fine. Just let me know how it all goes, okay?"

"Okay," she pecked me on the cheek again.

"Yenvy told me by the way. She didn't want any drama. And she's my best friend. You thought she was really finna keep that from me?" I smiled.

Val shrugged.

"Wasn't really a secret. Just tryna maintain yo peace of mind," she rubbed my shoulder. "I'm goin' out to meet her now," she told me, checking her watch.

Me and Val usually didn't get up until 12 or 1 during the day, while Yenvy left early for the office, but she was coming back here a bit earlier so she could be ready to turn up tonight.

"What's your plans for today?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the table.

"Okay, go ahead and break it now," I playfully warned.

"Hush. But what you gon be up to? You could come with me and Yenvy if you wanted to," she offered.

"No, no it's fine. I'm just gonna drive up to Dallas and check on things down at the venue then come back here and chill a bit," I shrugged.

She leaned forward and kissed me again on my lips.

"Okay, baby. Drive safe."

I nodded, still a little uneasy about today as a whole.