Realize

Safaree lifted up his leg as he sat on the gym bike. He adjusted the speed and began pedaling and watching the door for his guest to appear. He got up to 35 miles per hour and slowed down the sped back up to go up another five. He pulled off his top and threw it on the floor. His nerves were kicking in just like the first time he had encountered her in the seventh grade. When love was innoncent and they both were pure. That summer was the first time he had bust and the first time he had popped a cherry. He could remember that night like it was yesterday.. One of the only memories he actually didn't forget or force to the back of his mind. He was startled from his flashback at the sound of her voice close to his ear. 

"Hi, Baby."

"Hi, Leslie."

He slowed the bike down the reached over and hugged her tightly. She smiled as she rubbed his back before he pulled away. He stepped over the bottom of the bike, grabbed his shirt and followed behind her to the showers. He turned on the water in one of them then stepped inside of it and closed the curtain as she stood outside of it and leaned against it waiting for him to get out. He threw his bottoms out of the curtain then began speaking to her.

"Nice flight?"

"Better than usual. Where we having lunch at?"

"Marcus' spot. I was thinking we'd have some chicken fredo like old times, cool?"

"Great."

She answered as he stepped out in a towel. He looked her over then headed towards the locker room with her following close behind. He sat down on the bench in front of his locker and unlocked the lock then pulled out his change of clothes. He pulled his boxers up over his leg and to his knees before qstanding and letting the towel drop. Leslie stared at his manly penis then looked up at him. He shook his head then fixed his briefs and pulled his pants up over his waist. She reached out and touched his leg then pulled him towards her. She leaned forward and kissed his clothed package.

"Remember when I first gave you top in high school."

He looked down at her and pushed her head back. She continued to grab at him as she reached for his zipper and unzipped his pants. He shook his head no then stepped back, but she grabbed his pants rim and yanked him forward. She pushed the briefs a little and out popped his large friend. He yanked back and hopped back quickly.

"Yo, calm down... I'm not fucking you."

"You don't have to, right now. I want to make you remember how good I am."

"I don't need to alright, can we just talk first before all this."

She nodded then picked up his shirt and handed it to him. He snatched it out of her hand and in that moment, he remembered exactly why they were together. She always needed sex and if he really thought about it, she had always been like that even when they were together. Those thoughts made it much easier to let her go. He put on his watch then his fitted and grabbed her hand. She smiled happily as they made their way through the gym where everyone watched them.

Leslie had driven a cab to the gym from the airport, so they were currently in Safaree's car on the way to the restaurant. She kept staring at him as he focused on the road. She was still madly in love him and wanted to work it out because she was changed and ready to be married. She could look at him and see that he was still angry with her, but she had planned on getting him over that and had the perfect way to do so. She placed her hand on his and he looked over at her then back at the road. He shook her hand off of his and huffed. He was ready to get this over with. Why the fuck did even want to meet with her? What the fuck kind of crack was I smoking even entertaining her shit again? It was the fear of him actually moving on with Nicki without having closure with Leslie. He had brushed her under the rug back then and tried to keep her there, but he knew that was no way to handle what happen between them. 

He pulled up into the restaurant and took out the wad of money that he had stashed in his car. He smiled at the stash area being one that Nicki taught him about. He laughed at her knowing how to stash money better than him. Leslie looked at him strangely then shook it off. As they both climbed out of the car and walked into the restaurant where they were seated at their old hang out spot. She sat close and waited for the food that she knew he had already ordered. He looked over at her and put his hand around her like when they were just friends. She frowned and lowered his hand, but he put it back over her shoulder.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Us, Leslie."

She smiled big, but it quickly faded away.

"There is no, us... Anymore and never will be again."

"Who is she?"

"Huh?"

"The look you use to give me was the look you got when you were messing around in the car. Who is she?"

"Is that important, right now? 

"She's the reason you're changing your mind about us giving it another try."

"No, YOU'RE the reason, I've changed my mind. You're a sex addict, Leslie."

"I'm not tho, I only want you! I've only wanted you."

"Then why you fuck all them other niggas?"

"Because you weren't there! We were suppose to go to school together, we were suppose to have a family by now, you weren't suppose to leave me when I needed you the most!"

She cried wiping her face with the napkin that was on the table in front of her. She looked off trying to gather herself, but broke down again.

"You know what it's like trying to feel what you first had? You were my perfect, I fucked up, trying to find it in those other guys until I could have you again, but don't leave me again please?"

He shook his head then looked at her. Her face was really red with her mascara running down her face. He could see the truth in her face and she was telling it, but that didn't stop her from being addicted to sex. If he wasn't around at her every back and call, she'd fuck someone else for the satisfaction. 

"Leslie, you need help... Not me. I'm sorry, I did this to you. I shouldn't have taken your cherry before you were ready.. Mentally or whatever."

"Safaree, please..."

"You're good, I'll call you later about a program. You'll realize it isn't me that you want."

He kissed her cheek as the waiter came back with their favorite dishes when they were young. Her lobster tail with mash potatoes and his chicken wing platter with extra everything from fries to veggies. He placed a fifty dollar tip in the waiters hand and told him to get her a cab straight to the nearest hotel near the airport. He got in his car and headed towards his house. He kept glancing at his watch and looking up at the road. He had twenty minutes to get to a fifty minute drive to his house from there. Shit, I'm not... Oh. He thought as he grabbed his phone.

"Samuels &...Maraj Residents?"

"Ty, it's Lloyd... Do me a favor!"

"What is it?"

"Stall Nic, I need her there.. I'm still in NY.."

"Why? You didn't.."

"Not now, Ty, come on please."

"Got you."

He replied before hanging up. Living on the city lines of New York was really an obstacle right now. He knew her friends would probably be there, but it really didn't matter. He was going 120mph in a 45mph street zone. He turned onto the Highway and continued swerving and speeding towards his destination where hopefully she was still there.

Nicki was in her room packing up her clothes when Ty came in with juice, almonds and a movie. She frowned as he sat down on the bed with the tray on the nightstand. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at him without saying a word. She didn't know how she felt about leaving him, he was a good friend to her.

"You could always stay here with me."

"Will Safaree still be here?"

He smirked a little then sighed and grabbed the almonds. He passed them to her and she began eating them like they were going to jump out of her hand. He could tell she probably hadn't been doing much eating or was just hungry that minute. 

"You need to talk to him. You and I, both, know he's afraid... This Leslie shit was just stupid on his part, but it may bring something more clear to the table."

"Like what? That he isn't over her? That I wasted my time on him?"

"No, that maybe he wasn't going in the right direction. Home is here with you."

"Obviously it's not. He didn't even care enough to make it right."

"Are you sure?"

He asked knowingly. She stuffed more almonds in her mouth then stood up to go pack some more things into her bag. She came across a picture of them on the rooftop at the condo. It was beautiful because he was looking at her and she was looking at the camera. It was the last day of the tour and everyone wanted to go out and celebrate, but Nicki had decided to cook for everyone and they loved it. That was the first night, one of his friends had told him to wife her. She smiled, but frowned at the sound of Ty's voice breaking her from the memory.

"Don't be mad at him forever... You guys are best friends & this is a new year. That was last year."

"Just a month ago tho."

"Okay, well let's talk about..."

"I don't want to leave, I want him to realize that it's us that are meant to be."

"You don't think...."

"I know that?"

She looked up to see him standing in her doorway. He rubbed his hands together then licked his lips before approaching her. He grabbed her cheek and rubbed it as tears fell down her face. Why the fuck am I crying?

"Nicki, it's a lot with being your man and it's a lot with being my girl. I'm not trying to rush us and I don't want to slow us down either, but we're moving too fast. You aren't really ready and neither am I. I don't want to be your Webb replacement and I don't want you to be Leslie's rebound or whatever. Sitting at the table across from her made me realize that I'm sending love letters to the wrong girl. It's you I want, but there's a time for us..."

"When is that?"

"I'll let you know."

"Another seven months?"

"Nicki." He laughed. "This is what I'm talking about. Webb gave you exactly what you wanted and I'm doing the same, I don't want you to have to depend on me because that's what you're used to.. Even if you move, just be in arms distance."

"You want me to leave?"

"I didn't, but on my way here.. I thought about how I was just being Webb in a pretty boy way tho."

She smiled then pulled him closer. He wrapped his arm around her and they began kissing. She lifted up on her toes and sighed against his lips. He pecked her lips again then they looked at her stuff that was packed.

"I'm moving in with Dip. I'll be there until you're ready."

"I'll be over tomorrow to pick you up."

"No, I'll see you, when you're ready."

He looked confused at her, but her face showed she was serious. She turned around and pulled away from him. She grabbed her purse and the bag she had packed. She understood what he was saying and it was exactly what Nan had told her the day she ran to her crying. You just have to deal with the cards that are given to you, you can't play what you don't have and you don't play the best cards before it's time. Safaree was her best card and she was his and right now was time for them to be played. He walked her out to the car and helped her put her bag in the trunk.

"Don't have another bitch in my room."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm not playing with you."

"I gotchu."

"Call me tonight before you go to bed."

"Can I get a kiss."

"No."

She answered laughing. He leaned into the car window and she kissed his lips then his cheek. He smirked as she pushed him back then drove out of the drive way. The next few weeks were going to be interested for the both of them.