𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 ❷ ⓿ ❷ ❷
"So..." Landon started, as he stood in the doorway and watching Anicia pull her large logo-print canvas suitcase Michael Kors off the king-sized bed and placed the rotating wheels on the hardwood floor. "Who you going on this unexpected weekend trip with?"
Anicia pushed tresses of hair behind her ear as she looked at her boyfriend. "I told you a friend of mine."
Creases formed between his eyebrows as they knitted. "You don't have friends on this side of the coast."
"She's a new friend," She responded as she grabbed the handle of her medium Michael Kors travel satchel and walked with it to the bathroom by Landon. "I went to her baby shower last month and she's just wanting to relax and get away for the weekend."
Her quick lie was believable enough for him to nod and watch her pack her necessities into the travel satchel. "Where are y'all going?"
"Not too far." Anicia replied simply, zipping the satchel and strolling back into the room with it. "You must gonna miss me?"
"You know I am," he hugged around her waist from the behind as she slid her feet into the Sophia Webster mules. "You have to go?"
Anicia chuckled quietly. "Yes, I need some women time."
"So hang with your sisters."
"Other than with my sister's." Anicia moved out of his hold and grabbed her small Valentino tote bag, "Carry these down for me?"
Carrying her suitcase and travel satchel, he followed behind her down to the bottom level and out the front door to her Audi. She popped the trunk with her key-fob and as he placed her bags in there, Anicia settled in the front seat and removed the tote bag strap from her shoulder and sat her bag on top of the Tom Ford trainers.
The trunk shut and Landon crouched down beside the driver door. "I'm gone miss you."
She smiled as she leaned closer and kissed him. "I'll be back Sunday."
Landon kissed her once more. "Drive safe." he shut the door for her as she started the ignition and drove away from her Sherman Oaks home.
The whole drive to Santa Barbara, Anicia listened to music and sung along with the songs. She pulled her car in front of the refined hotel on the beach with the valets awaiting at their post. She switched gears to park, removing her heels to cover her feet with ankle socks, and slipped on the Tom Ford trainers. She turned off the engine that cuts off the music and grabbed her tote before getting out the car as she popped the trunk.
A male valet stood near her car door. "Do you need someone to help with your suitcase?"
"No, thank you." Anicia respectfully declined as she accepted a ticket from him then grabbed her suitcase from her trunk before heading into the hotel lobby to the receptionist desk. "Hello. I'm looking for someone's room."
"Name?"
"Booker. Toby Booker."
She looked in the computer and let Anicia know he was in one of the beach house suites on the first floor along with the room number. Anicia walked there and the closer she got to his beach house, her heart pounded in her chest. What am I doing?
Anicia may not have made the flight Toby told her about, but there she was, standing in front of the door of the beach house with her ex-boyfriend and first love on the other side than being home with her current boyfriend and lying to him about being there.
She took a deep breath, building the courage to knock on the door with her closed fist. She was there now and no turning back. She just waited on the door to open and smoothed her hand down her olive green jumpsuit.
Momentarily, the door opened and revealed the chocolate man with her smile conflicting with confusion when she noticed the man wasn't Toby.
"Well, well, look what da' cat done drug in." his stature leaned on the doorway as he smirked.
"Um...hey, De'Aundre." She greeted with confusion, "I thought—"
"That Toby was hea'?" De finished as he laughed quietly, "Yea', I kno'. He hea'; sleep tho'."
"Oh..."
De chuckled at her pause and pushed the door open. "You can com' in, girl. I'll wake 'em up. I kno' you ain't drive out hea' on a dry mission."
Anicia walked in behind, sitting her suitcase near the door and further into the furniture beach-facing suite. De disappeared into the room as she stared out the terrace patio doors at the ocean. "Stand me up at the terminal but show up hea'..."
The rich, baritone voice caused her to turn around to face Toby, who stood there in a plain T-shirt and sweatpants with a silky durag protecting his waves and the cape of it tucked. Even with him wearing something simple, she was still turned on by the sight of him.
"Yeah, sorry." She apologized, smiling.
"Na', yeen' gotta apologize, baby." he sat on the armrest of the chair, "Don't worry bout De ass eitha'. He in the one next door but he always seem to follow me where I lay."
"He just likes to be under his big brother"
Toby laughed quietly. "I see you followed instructs wit the trainers," he referred to her shoes.
"Yeah, well, I can't promise I don't have a pair or two of heels in the my suitcase." Anicia admitted, as they chuckle softly with one another.
"You want yo' own room?" he wondered, "Ion' mind doin' it. I'll take the pull-out bed in the couch. You take the bed. Or can you handle bein' in the same room wit me ova' night?"
She shuddered inwardly. "No, uh, I can handle it."
"We'll see." he smirked, "Com' on; you want som' breakfast?"
"I can eat."
Toby retrieved his keycard and slipped on his pair of sneakers before heading to the door and holding it open for Anicia. "De, be out my damn room before I get back!"
"Nigga, I will!" De hollered back in return as Toby shut the door.
Anicia chuckled at the brothers. "Y'all really are funny."
"So, whatchu tell ya mans?"
"The truth—kinda." She chuckled, "Like you said, I'm here with a friend and we are friends."
"Mmhm."
They walked in the dining with a farm-to-table concept and a host leaded them to a empty table. The waitress came quick, giving the menus, and ordering their drinks; the two orange juices returning promptly.
"Befo' we start to eat and shit, you got anything else you wanna get off yo' chest?" Toby wondered as he stared at her, "Last time we sat across from each otha' wit food between us, you had a lot of shit to say."
Anicia chuckled softly. "No. I think I said all I need to say that day after twenty years of being apart. I didn't think that you would know the person I'm with now. But I guess the world is full of surprises."
"Yea' it really is," he watched at her closely. "Why you so nervous?"
"I'm not," Anicia wind up chuckling nervously. "What makes you think I am?"
"Cause you bite yo' inner lip when you are." he stated, which makes her stop the trait she done since a teen. "You actin' like we don't kno' each otha'."
"We know each other as teenagers, Toby. We're grown now."
"Na' that's true," he agreed with a head nod. "I mean you got a li'l mo' meat on yo' bones than you did back then, breast fuller; I like it."
She released a soft chuckle, remembering her being braless. "Ha-ha nice one. I had breasts."
"You had nipples; it's a difference." he clowned playful as Anicia gasped and tossed the napkin at him with them sharing laughter.
"Didn't stop you from laying on them either."
"Didn't stop me from suckin' on 'em eitha'." he retorted as her smile falls slowly and they locked eyes.
"You guys ready to order?" the waitress returned, pulling their gaze away from one another.
"Oh...uhm," Anicia had to clear her throat which makes Toby chuckle inwardly. "I'll take the Eggs Benedict with the house-smoked salmon. And can you bring me a full glass of Pinot Grigio?" she asked and murmurs, "This orange juice is not cutting it."
"Yes ma'am. And for you, sir?"
"Bring me that Mira Vista breakfast wit da' bacon and a side of french toast. Just give me a refill on da' orange juice. I can handle da' heat." he smirked, staring at Anicia.
The waitress takes the menus, walking away from the table to put the orders in and to get their drinks.
"Needed a glass of wine already?" he smirked, "Damn I at least thought you can handle me fa' a hour wit out it."
Anicia laughed nervously as the waitress returned with his new cup of orange juice and her wine. She raised the glass to her lips, swallowing the wine down with a break which makes the waitress and Toby pause.
She gulped the last sip and pulled it away from her mouth as she breathed heavily. She held the empty wine glass out to the waitress. "Another, please?"
Sun was down, a breeze blew, and guffawing filled outside on the terrace coming from Anicia and Toby occupying the cushioned couch as they spoke on their past memories. .
"It's not funny, Obee." She slapped his arm, calling him the nickname. "I almost fell on my ass running from that Pitbull. You know I'm not used to that."
"I told you; you gon' run from two thangs in da' hood: a big ass Pit or bullets. Luckily fa' you tho'; it was only the Pit."
"Oh my God that was so hilarious after I was safe indoors." Anicia leaned back and chuckled.
"Ian' heard you call me 'Obee' in years." Toby mentioned, "Last thing you said to me was; 'Fuck you, Toby'."
"Yeah...well, I was pissed—hurt, too." She added, staring ahead at the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean adding to the serenity setting.
"Sorry bout da' hurt," he leaned forward and took a hold of her right foot and placing it on his lap.
"What are you doing?" Anicia asked; voice slightly shaky, as he grabbed the other foot which makes her reposition, with her back on the armrest of the couch.
"You wear heels a lot—which ones yo' favorite?"
She was confused on why he was asking, but answered anyway. "Well, you can't go wrong with Jimmy Choos. I love, love Lou—" she stopped suddenly when she felt him start massaging her feet.
"Lou what?"
Anicia released a soft breath, enjoying the feel of his strong hands applying firm pressure on her feet to reveal the aching. "Oh...uh, Louboutins. I have everyone of So Kate's designs..." her moan cut her off.
Toby smirked, as fully relaxed her body at him massaging the arch of her right foot. "All of 'em?"
"All of them." She repeated, but through her moan as her eyes closed.
An eyebrow of Toby's lifted. "Neva' gotta foot massage?"
"Of course from women at my mother spas," Another moan slipped. "But, not by strong and masculine hands and might I say, it feels so much better coming from a man."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Not even by yo' li'l boyfriend?"
The mention of the word 'boyfriend' opened her eyes immediately. "He doesn't...like feet. Not even his own. Kind of normal with guys."
"Na', not all guys," Toby commented quick. "I love women feet especially when the soft and up-kept. See, wit a woman; you gotta appreciate every part of they body."
Anicia watched him attentively as he raised her feet to his lips and kissing her red painted toenails soft and delicately. He never broke their gaze as her heart pounded in her chest.
"You gon' lemme show you how a man 'posed to appreciate every inches of yo' body?"
"I..." her words trailed off into a soft breath, tongue tied.
"I need to hear you say it."
Anicia stammered, tempted as the heat covers her body. "I—I should go lay down."
Toby nodded with a soft smile and kissed her toes. "Go 'head baby."
Her body barely wanted her to move, but she forced herself up from the couch with her knees buckling by only his touch. She got herself together and hurried by him. She was in need of a shower after that short affection.
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