♫ Have Ya Babies | Smoke Moore
(6).. You say you ready, you ain't ready enough
Cause when it fall right in your lap, you be ready to get up..
Elijah didn’t leave that night. Aspen fell asleep and he was torn between leaving while she slept, or waiting for her to wake up. He decided against the latter.
They shared another kiss. Fast, passionate. She was the one who kissed him. He accepted it with generosity, but he couldn’t bring himself to accept it fully. Not tonight. Not when she was her most vulnerable.
He’d pulled away from the kiss, as much as he didn’t want to. “Aspen.” He redirected as softly as he could manage. He wasn’t too soft with words but he was weakened by the glimmer in her eyes.
She sighed. This is what she expected. She wanted him. Wanted something, but had the restraint of a soldier. Was she not worth slipping for?
“You ever gonna let go?” She whispered from her spot in his lap.
“Aspen.” He said a little more firmly. She sighed. She couldn’t tell if he wanted to or not. It was one thing to have restraint and to not want to. She was starting to think he didn’t want to.
Frustrated at the lack of attention and the heightened sensitivity of this particular day, she spoke from the intensity of her emotions. Grief and need. And hated how he looked like everything she needed.
“Just go.” She teared up, already walking towards her bedroom door, Miles in hand.
He watched her walk away and his heart sank. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but she wasn’t thinking straight. He wasn’t doing it that way.
He thought quietly for a few moments and against his instinct, he stayed in place. He sat back on the couch and sucked hits teeth.
You can push me away, but I’m not leaving.
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Aspen woke up with a throbbing migraine. She groaned into the blankets. Then she was reminded of yesterday. Remembered how kind Elijah had been to her - how considerate he had been.
But she remembered how silly she felt to practically throw herself at him and for him to shut it down. Like he did every time when they shared a nice moment.
She sank further into the bed. She was feeling embarrassed? She groaned once again as she patted the bed to look for her cellphone.
Right. She kicked Smoke out and abandoned everything, him included, in the living room.
She threw the blankets away from her body and prepared for the mess she’d made. She could almost hear her own heartbeat as she braced herself.
The takeout trays were discarded. The table had been cleaned, drinks were gone, and her space was cleaned like he’d never been there.
Her eyes watered but she refused to let the tears fall. What she’d been looking for sat neatly near the remote on the edge of the table.
A few missed calls. Emails. Everything looked fine until she noticed the one missed call from Smoke.
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Smoke sighed at the unskippable conversation between two men from legal. This would be fine if the conversation had been about what he paid them for, but this was small talk.
A conversation that he found himself stuck in as he rode the elevator. After awhile he thought that they’d noticed that his only contribution was a single head nod, but they didn’t care.
They asked if he was upgrading to a new truck since a new model was coming out, but he was so stuck in his own head that he didn’t hear which model they were even referring to. He also didn’t care.
Stack was waiting when he reached his floor. He laughed once he seen who he’d been stuck on the elevator with. They talked a lot, even too much for Elias.
“Gentlemen you’re suffocating my brother.” Stack said flatly as Smoke adjusted his tie, already over the day.
They scattered immediately and sent an apologetic smile. Everyone knew that they had one warning around here and then that was it. Booted and replaced and another professional eager to come in and assume their place.
“How are we looking for headlining next year?” Smoke asked as they walked to the meeting room.
Stack sighed dramatically. Then he grinned. “How we looking? We fucking got it.” He laughed. “Come on now I’m the best to ever do this shit.”
Smoke nodded. That was a given. “At least we got some good news today.” He mumbled. Elias raised his eyebrows, putting his hand out to stop his brother from walking further.
“You good?” Elijah looked at him, thought about how Aspen is actively ignoring him, but didn’t share that. He couldn’t. That wasn’t his thing.
“Elijah,” mama smiled softly as she fixed his shirt. “My big boy. ‘M so proud of you.”
This was the big night, or at least the biggest night of ten year old Elijah’s life. The church concert where he was the lead pianist.
He’d been in the play like Elias, but delivered the lines so flatly that they admitted he was better off standing there with the triangle.
But boy could he play those keys. It had been discovered on accident. They had been dropped off at Sunday school, but weren’t picked up when all the other kids were.
Elias was asleep in one of the isles, mouth open and snoring. Elijah found himself sitting behind the piano. He’d focus on it all the time.
He didn’t know what he was doing but he let his body lead him. He thought of a familiar hymn and before he knew it, he was playing it. It’d come to him naturally.
“Elijah that is amazing!” His Sunday school teacher beamed. He froze. “No I didn’t mean to startle you.” But he was already sliding the stool back in place and off the stage.
“‘M sorry ma’am.” He bowed his head.
“Don’t be. I think I have a spot for you in the play if you can do that again. What do you think?” She kneeled down to him.
He nodded. He reached over and hugged her before his brain could tell him to stop. Puzzled but grateful, she wrapped her arms around his body too.
“Never stop excelling Eli.” She whispered to him.
He jumped at the sound of daddy’s rustic truck. Elias was up from his sleep. Mrs. Smith, their lead Sunday school teacher, swallowed.
“Thank you Patty.” Daddy took his hat off in respect and nodded. “My boys give you any lip?” He asked.
She didn’t ignore their eyes on her. “Of course not. May be the most behaved kids here.”
Daddy grunted, disapprovingly so. They knew what would follow as they walked back to his truck.
“Eli you get in. ‘Lias you walk. Look like you need to wake up anyhow.”
He never noticed that Elijah hurried and switched shoes, their only distinction, and took Elias’ place.
Smoke nodded. “Always.” He dabbed his brother up but Elias could feel the disconnect. Recognized it clearly as he did himself.
“And this has nothing to do with Miss Miami?” He lightly taunted. His eyes caught how Elijah’s flicked down at that.
“Man I just need a damn coffee. Stack move.” He pushed him slightly.
Stack chuckled. “Yeah that’s was I was bracing you for,” Smoke stopped.
“Someone broke the machine.” Stack chuckled as his brother’s fists tightened.
“Look Mike Tyson, calm down. I sent someone to get you one. Any minute now.” He said still clearly entertained.
Smoke in a meeting without coffee was not a happy sight. Everyone knew that.
“Yo ass real annoying.” Smoke grumbled before taking a seat at the empty table.
“Yeah and you was nicer when you were with that girl.” Stack fired back.
“Good evening gentlemen. Pardon my interruption.”
The bickering halted. Back to business.
_________________________________
Meetings went as scheduled. Informative, boring, but very necessary.
“Thank you.” The boys stood up and shook the hands of their new partners. New advertisement/endorsement deal unlocked.
The room fell empty before they talked amongst each other.
“You have Jerry in legal double check those numbers.” Smoke suggested to Stack.
“I was thinking the same thing.” Stack now loosened his tie. “This endorsement would align with every visual needed for Grace’s album. It pays for itself.” Stack concluded.
That was his lane. He could hear information one time and think about ten clear directions to go. His brain processed information very quickly.
The sounds of a cellphone ringing sent both men searching for their phones. Elijah hoped it had been his but of course it wasn’t.
Stack looked at his screen and silenced it. Elijah recognized the look on his face.
“You hiding from somebody?” He inquired. Elias looked at him, he wasn’t as good holding his emotions in, never had been.
“Uh I guess.” He sighed. Elijah closed the notebook they had worked in to throw around numbers and hypotheticals. A silent ode for him to continue.
“Tori’s pregnant.” Stack said quietly. Elijah breathed out loudly.
“‘Lias you know better.” He reprimanded. This was the last thing that he expected. They both knew they weren’t doing that - at all. If it was going to happen then it’d happen right.
“I know,” his brother sighed. “Baby’s not going to make it.” He admitted.
“How you figure?” His attention fully on his Elias.
“We been reckless. Doing all types of stupid shit,” Elias followed up. “Fetus don’t even look right,”
Elijah sat quietly, unsure of what he needed to say. He usually made these things better, but even he was speechless this time.
He thought for a moment and knew what needed to be done. He pulled him into a hug and Elias stayed there for a minute. Just like they’d done many moons ago.
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Adrienne waited patiently for Aspen to come out from her place in her Mercedes.
“Aspeee!” She beamed once her best friend entered the car. They hugged before she was reprimanded.
“Bitch now when were you going to say that you were in Miami!!” She eyed waiting for her to spill.
“God forbid I wanted some sunshine.” Aspen laughed as they headed to brunch.
“Girl you not going to Miami without me, unless you with a man.” Adrienne clocked.
“That is not true!” Aspen thought about it. Maybe she had a point, but that was her first time being there… and it was with a man. Her man? Something like that.
“Are you back with DJ? Be honest.” Adrienne glanced over once they reached a red light.
“No!” Aspen was disgusted. The professional basketball player hadn’t even texted her recently. Maybe they both finally moved on.
“Mhmmm.” Adrienne stretched out disapprovingly.
Aspen waited until they were seated and their mimosas arrived before ripping the bandage off.
“Okay, you’ve waited long enough. Here’s your mystery guy.” She bit her lip as she slid her phone across the table.
Adrienne picked up the phone, eyes narrowing at the side profile photo Aspen had captured.
“For a second, I thought… wait, that looks like Stack Moore.” She laughed nervously, shaking her head. “But that’s crazy, Stack isn’t your type.”
She looked again, slower this time, her eyes tracing the sharp jawline and familiar features. A frown crept in.
“Either this drink is already hitting, or that’s Smoke Moore.”
Aspen laughed at her, the quiet thrill bubbling in her chest. “Yeah.”
Adrienne blinked, momentarily speechless. “Aspen… you’re dating Smoke Moore.”
“Yeah.” Aspen sighed, remembering that they weren’t on the best terms right now.
“Please spill,” Adrienne begged. “Is it heavy? It looks like it might be heavy.” She stated bluntly.
“Adrienne!!” Aspen laughed, mostly embarrassed at her question, but also realized that she didn’t know. It felt heavy though. From her memory of the indent she felt from her place in his lap.
“We haven’t had sex.” Aspen told her truthfully. Adrienne lowered her eyes.
“You trolling me?” She pointed.
“What? Girl no. We haven’t did it.” She put her hands up defensively.
“Oh Aspen…. He likes you.” She lifted her glass and drowned it. “I always knew you were going to get married first.”
Aspen laughed, “You are a mess,” she filled her in with a few more moments, holding onto the ones she deemed more intimate.
She reduced it to just casual but Adrienne knew her too well. “I’m happy as long as you’re happy. You needed this.”
“Aspen, DJ was a loser who just happened to be a millionaire. You needed this, a man. A real one girl.”
“You’re what??” Adrienne choked on her drink. “Are you seriously sabotaging yourself?”
“I’m just figuring something out that’s all,”
“No figuring something out.” She defended. “Now let’s eat. My stomach’s growling.”
♫ Now playing: Sabotage by Wale
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“Well since you’re one step away from being single again let’s go to The Spotx.”
“Don’t Adrienne me miss sabotage.”
The room looked like a boutique exploded — dresses draped over chairs, shoes lined up in messy rows. Aspen stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the sides of her black mini-dress. Her curls fell over her shoulders, makeup freshly done.
“You sure about this?” Aspen asked, glancing at Adrienne through the mirror.
Adrienne spun once in her sequined dress, smirking. “One hundred percent. We’ve both worked too damn much to sit at home again. Tonight we’re celebrating… nothing. And that’s the point.”
Aspen laughed softly, shaking her head. “You always make that sound so easy.”
“Because it is.” Adrienne plopped onto the bed, crossing her legs. “Come on, you’ve been hiding out like you’re in witness protection. I finally got you out, don’t ruin the vibe.”
Aspen gave her a look but didn’t argue. Adrienne already had her phone out, snapping a quick selfie of the two of them.
“Relax, we look good.” Adrienne typed quickly, adding a caption with drinking glass emojis before tagging Aspen’s handle.
She hadn’t realized that Adrienne had tagged her, so it was now sitting right on her page too.
The line snaked down the block, lights spilling from the open doors while the bass thumped hard enough to rattle the pavement. Cars crawled past, headlights washing over groups waiting to get inside.
Adrienne looped her arm through Aspen’s. “We look too good to stand in line. Watch.”
Aspen raised a brow but followed, heels clicking against the sidewalk. Adrienne waved at the bouncer like she’d known him for years, exchanging a quick hug before pulling Aspen through the velvet rope.
Aspen laughed. “Of course you know him.”
“Baby, I know everyone,” Adrienne said with a wink.
The place was packed, lights strobing across the dancefloor in bursts of neon. Aspen sipped from her drink, standing at the edge while Adrienne was already in the middle, hair flying as she moved to the beat.
Adrienne grabbed her wrist, tugging her forward. “No hiding. I didn’t drag you out for you to babysit a vodka soda.”
“I’m not hiding,” Aspen said, though she let herself be pulled closer.
“Prove it.” Adrienne spun, laughing as she caught Aspen’s shoulders and pulled her into the rhythm. The bass was relentless, impossible to resist. Aspen finally let go, swaying with the crowd, the corners of her lips tugging upward.
“There she is!” Adrienne shouted over the music. “That’s the Aspen I remember.”
Aspen laughed, flushed from heat and adrenaline. Adrienne held her phone up, recording a ten-second clip of them dancing. She posted it immediately, tagging Aspen in bold letters so it appeared on both their pages.
Aspen didn’t stop her this time. The buzz of the music, the lights, the moment — it felt good.
_________________________________
Smoke’s penthouse was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt heavy. He’d smoked an hour ago and yet his high felt gone.
Only a single lamp lit the living room, throwing shadows across the leather couch and glass table. The TV was on, muted, cycling through highlights from a game he hadn’t been really paying attention to.
Stack was with Tori per Smoke’s suggestion and he had no plans - per being ignored by Aspen. Who was.. Who didn’t have an official title.
Smoke sat slouched back, one arm draped over the couch, scrolling his phone without much focus. He didn’t beg. He wasn’t going to blow her phone up, but he just wanted to hear her voice. He didn’t care if she yelled or cried, but he’d grown to hate this silence between them.
He wasn’t expecting to see her.
The story popped up automatically — Adrienne’s flashing screen, music blaring in the background, neon lights streaking across the frame. At first, he almost skipped it. But then he saw the tag. Aspen’s name glowing on the screen.
She filled the camera for a moment, laughing, head tilted back, curls bouncing under the lights. That dress — short as hell, hugged every piece of her. Smoke sat up straight, the phone suddenly too close to his face.
His jaw flexed as he watched Adrienne pan the camera again. Aspen spinning once, the hem of her mini dress not lifting with the movement, thankfully.
Heat slammed through him, sharp and unwelcome.
Smoke exhaled through his nose, slow, deliberate. But his hand was already gripping the phone tighter. His chest tightened, tremor moving faster than it had all night.
For a moment he just stared at the screen, that slow burn of jealousy twisting deep. Why the fuck was the dress so short? Had he not made anything clear?
The muscles in his forearm flexed as he dropped the phone on the table with a heavy thud. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, running a hand over his face like it might cool him down.
Smoke pushed up to his feet, moving with sharp precision. Shoes. Keys. Wallet. He didn’t even think about it — didn’t have to. The decision had already been made. Even if he knew deep down it was a big one.
She wanted to play games? Fine.
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