a/n: because B was like “uhhh excuse me girl….where are you?” Hey Girl!
I’d been calling and texting Dani and to no avail, I couldn’t get in contact with her. Now being that we just got back on good terms, I was a little worried. I tried not to think too much into it and tried not to panic, but I mean what if she was still upset and this was some sort of punishment she was pulling on me. She hadn’t told me of any meetings today either. I was starting to worry a little. I guess this is how she felt when I didn’t answer her. The only thing I could think to do next was to call Monique.
“Hello,” she answered in a sleepy voice. It was after 3pm though so I was confused.
“You sleep? I thought you’d be studying.”
“Ugh. I was taking a study break. And by break I mean a nap. What do you want Larry? You fuck up again?” She got straight to it. I was still getting used to her bluntness.
“No!” I responded quickly. “I mean. I don’t think so. I’ve been calling her all day and she hasn’t answered nor responded to my texts.”
She sighed and I heard shuffling on her end. “Well let’s see. It’s the week of the anniversary of our moms passing.”
I panicked and felt bad for not remembering this. “Oh god. How are you feeling?”
“Besides the stress of finals, I’m fine Larry, but D on the other hand. She tends to get really emo around this time and kind of shuts everyone and everything out. It used to piss me off but now I just let her be. More than likely she’s at the cemetery. I’d tell you to go too, but-.”
“I want to,” I rushed out cutting her off. “I just wanna make sure she’s good.”
“Well isn’t that sweet. The only thing is, I couldn’t tell you how to get there once you get to the cemetery. It just turns into on big maze,” she paused for a little. “How bout this. Come over and I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Dude. Bring your ass. I’m only gonna say it once.”
I chuckled a little bit. “Alright. I’ll be there soon Mo.”
When I pulled up she was walking out with her backpack on. “Damn is your truck big enough?”
“I need it for my catering, so yea it’s big enough,” I said looking back at my suburban.
She rolled her eyes. “Come on,” she said getting into her small Mercedes truck.
I rounded the car and got in with my bag. “Should I have gotten flowers or something? I feel like I should’ve brought something. I mean I brought-.”
“Larry. Chillax. Please and thank you. Your presence will be fine I’m telling you.”
From then on I sat back and enjoyed the ride, actually dozing off since I’d just come straight from work. Monique tapped me to wake me up showing that we were pulling up behind Dani’s car. I could see Dani laying on a blanket next to her mother’s grave. “Where are we?”
“Rose Hills Park Cemtery,” Monique responded before getting out.
I grabbed my bag hurriedly and got out. Walking up to Dani, I took my phone out and dropped a pin so I could know how to get back here if I ever needed to. Dani sat up quickly hearing us come towards her. She had on dark shades and was dressed rather casual in a t-shirt, leggings and Nike free runs.
“Hey sis,” Monique said leaning down to hug her before spreading her own blanket. Dani looked over to me and I froze. I didn’t know what to say or do as she was in a fragile state. She looked up at me giving me a small smile.
“Hey Dani,” I smiled back. She patted the spot next to her and I quickly took off my bag and sat next to her. Once I sat down comfortably, I turned to pull her into my embrace and felt her relax into me after releasing a long sigh. I kissed the top of her head as I held her and looked over to Mo who had cracked open her books and put in headphones, completely tuning us out. We sat in silence for a while until I took a chance and broke it. “I was worried about you.”
She tensed and pulled away from me sniffling. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and looked at me. “I’m sorry. I just get in this mood around this time. I should’ve warned you, but I guess Mo did,” she chuckled a little wiping at the tear escaping from her glasses. Taking off her glasses, I cupped her face and wiped at her tears with the pads of my thumbs. I already know my face was laced with worry. “I’m ok Larry. I really am.”
I didn’t know what to do at this moment besides kiss her, so I did. I planted one of the most gentle kisses I could onto her lips. “I’m sorry that I can’t fully understand how you feel. I can only imagine what it’s like not to have my mom, and even imagining it makes me sad.” I pulled her back into my embrace and she held on to me even tighter.
“Even after all these years, you’d think it wouldn’t hurt me so much still.”
“It’s ok. This isn’t something you just get over, overnight. It’s gonna take time. And you take as much time as you need to heal, don’t try to rush it.”
“I know, but,” she sighed. “I don’t know. It just makes me feel weak.”
“Danielle stop.” I moved her so I could look down into her eyes. “You aren’t weak. At all. I don’t want to hear you say that again.”
“Nope. Crying doesn’t make you weak. It’s healing. It’s part of life. You’re releasing the pain. You won’t always cry, you’ll always feel some sort of sadness and emotion but you won’t always cry. Who knows, you make wake up tomorrow and smile at all the good memories you had with your mom and not a tear will fall. Just live baby, don’t try to change anything.”
She gave me a weak smile and buried her face into my chest. “Can we go back to my place?”
I mindlessly rubbed her back and looked over to Monique who was still in her own world. “Is she gonna be ok here by herself?”
She sat up to look over at her sister. “Yea. She comes out here all the time and does this,” she said as she started to get up and stretch.
Remembering I had a bag with me I grabbed it. “I uh. I almost forgot. I brought you pudding,” I said holding it up as she smiled a genuine smile.
“I was wondering what was in there. I hope it’s still ok to eat by the time we get to my house.”
“The bag is insulated. Don’t worry about that.”
We said bye to Mo and headed to Dani’s car. “Could you drive?” She looked up at me nervously. I mean I was shocked she asked me this, and I’m sure it showed. “It’s just that since I’ve been crying, my eyes hurt and I have a slight headache too.”
“Yea. I don’t mind,” I stammered out. She handed me the keys and I unlocked the car before opening the door for her. After she was in the car, I put my bag and the blanket in the backseat and rounded the car to driver side to head to her house. On the way back to her place, she ended up falling asleep since we hit traffic. The whole time, she was holding on to my hand and I relished in it. I almost hated having to wake her to tell her that we were back at her place, but the calm smile she gave me was a soothing one. She was ok. I don’t know what this girl was doing to me, but I think I liked it, a lot.
A few days had went by and I’d sometimes go by or just call to check on her. But today I decided, because of how gas prices are going up like crazy, to take the train then uber to her place from the station. Once I got there, Mo let me in and I went straight to the kitchen. Today I decided to cook Jamaican curry shrimp. Had to get away from the creole food for a day.
“Ummm. Hey uh Larry,” Mo called cautiously.
I looked up at her curiously, sensing a favor about to roll off of her tongue. “Uh oh. What’s going on Mo?”
“Weeellll. You know how I graduate next Friday right. And I know this is a little last minute, but I’m having a little get together afterwards and just wanted to know if you could possibly, maybe, if you love me enough, cater it?” She ended by giving me the most puss in boot look she could muster up causing me to laugh.
“Oh my gosh! Thank you. Thank you!” She screamed and hugged me.
“Couple questions though,” I sat down the spoon I was mixing with and wiped my hands. “What do you want to eat? And how many people?”
“Ah. See that’s what I don’t know. I was hoping you’d help me on the food choices part. Nothing to extravagant though. It can all be finger foods. And as far as how many people,” she trailed off covering her mouth slightly. “75-100 people,” she mumbled out.
My eyes widened. “Monique! That’s not a small get together.”
She sighed. “I know. But it’s last minute. But of course I’m gonna pay you! And I’m sure Dani will pay you, in a different way of course,” she laughed making me shake my head and roll my eyes. I started moving around the kitchen checking on the rice I had cooking as well as the curry the shrimp was cooking in. “Laarrrrry,” she whined.
I turned to face her and let out a huff. “I’ll do it. You’re lucky I like you-”
“You love me! Ok maybe you just like me and love my sister, but either way. Thank you!”
“I hope you know I’m not cheap,” I side eyed her playfully.
“I mean, with the way your food tastes why would you be cheap? I might fuck around and overpay you,” she laughed.
“Hey I’m not opposed to that,” I laughed.
“Oh my god you’re a lifesaver I swear!” She hugged me again. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” I hugged back.
“So are you sharing this? Or is this just for you and D?” She looked around at the pots.
I laughed. “Sadly I don’t know how to cook for only two people, so there’s more than enough to share.” I began plating food for myself and Dani.
“See. You’re over here casually cooking and your presentation is like you’re about to serve the president. This is why I need you!”
“Oh my gosh,” I chuckled pulling out two ginger brews from the fridge.
“You even brought ginger brews! Oooooh can we keep you here forever?!” She shrieked and ran to the fridge. “I mean not we, Dani already has you, but I’ll slide you some money under the table if you wanna cook for me on the side,” she said opening her brew.
“What? Oh my gosh,” I laughed. “Enjoy the food Monique,” I said as I carried the tray of food past her and ascended the stairs to Dani.
I knocked on her door, well used my foot to hit it. “Who is it?” She sang in response.
“Room service!” I responded.
I heard her laugh before the door opened. I was greeted by her smile. She seemed to be in a much better mood than early in the week and I was glad. “God that smells good,” she inhaled stepping to the side allowing me into her room. Dressed in pajama type shorts and a tank top, I watched her quickly climbed back on to her bed grabbing the remote to her Apple TV. She straightened out the comforter so I, along with the food, could rest comfortably on her bed.
“Have you been in here all day?” I noticed she was watching game of thrones.
She looked at me like a kid who just got caught doing something they weren’t supposed to be doing. “Nooooooo,” she said with with feigned innocence. She tried to grab a plate, but I shifted away so she couldn’t. It made her pout and me laugh. I looked at her silently repeating my question. “Ok yes. I’ve been binge watching this damn show. It’s so good! And plus I figured since HBO is now a client of mine, I should probably watch more of their shows.”
“Whoa that’s big. Congrats babe,” I smiled at her. She blushed under my stare as she grabbed the fork from her plate. When she finally looked up at me, I leaned in to peck her lips, feeling her relax.
“Thank you,” she smiled sweetly before forking food into her mouth. “Mmm my god,” she groaned. “This is so good.” Her mouth was full of food as she spoke. “I’m probably going to want more.” Her eyes widened at the site of the ginger brews. “And you brought ginger brew?! What you know about Jamaican food?”
“I’m offended. Creole ain’t all I know!”
“Mo asked me to cater her grad party next week,” I blurted out. I heard Dani scoff next to me.
“I knew she would. And then sell the lie saying it was small, when she’s actually expecting 100 people to be in this backyard.” She sighed and shook her head. “Gotta love my little sister,” she said taking a gulp of ginger brew. “She’s going to pay you though, especially since its last minute and the amount of people too.”
“I wasn’t going to do it for free.”
“Good!” She grabbed her remote to push play on the current episode she was watching but paused. “Oh and by the way, you’ll be with me in Vegas from tomorrow until Monday morning. Already talked to Denise about it,” she smirked.
I was stunned to confusion. “Oh? Oh ok. Can I ask what for?”
“Well since I was the main marketing consultant for this fight, they’re giving me a lot of perks. Too much for just little ol me,” she grinned. “And it just so happens Mo is hosting the after party for Floyd. So quite a lot is going on.”
“Well then. I should’ve brought more clothes-.”
She put her hand to my lips. “Nope. That’s taken care of.”
I looked at her confused. “I can’t. No I don’t feel comfortable with you doing that. Come on Dani,” I groaned.
She shook her head and laughed. “I didn’t say I bought anything. I did the marketing for this fight. Floyd and his money team loved it and me soooo they are taking care of any and everything I ask for, including clothes for whomever I bring along because they are the money team and can just drop money like its nothing. So,” she ran a finger down my chest, following it with her eyes. “Like I said, everything is taken care of.” She ended her statement pecking me on my lips.
“No,” I grabbed her pinning her under me making her yelp in surprise. “Not everything is taken care of, yet.”
I sat in my office the next morning organizing everything that would be tackled upon my return to the office Monday morning. I mostly have a day with HBO’s marketing team. I was already used by directv and HBO loved what I did with this weekend’s fight, so they contacted me and now we will be meeting on Monday. I was waiting for the car to come get Larry and I from here. He had got me up early this morning to take the train with him since I said I’ve always wanted to, but never got up early enough to do so. And since I had already talked to Denise about him not being there until Monday morning, he opted on coming to my office with me. He just sat and watched me move around my office, answer calls and emails, and any other thing I did.
I was dressed down today, well kind of. I had on jeans and a nice tshirt, but still wore heels and walked in them as if they were the most comfortable pair of sneakers.
“Hey Danielle, Floyd is on line one for you,” Marie said through the intercom.
“Thanks!” I clicked the button on my office phone. “Mr. Mayweather! How may I help you?”
He laughed through the speaker. “Uh excuse me Ms. Danielle,” he mocked me. “What’s this I hear about you bringing a guy with you to Vegas. You supposed to be my girl!”
I looked at Larry’s amused facial expression as he perked up listening to this. “Oh? Is that so. And when did we make that agreement?”
“When I decided I wanted you for my marketing.”
“Yea I didn’t hear we in that statement, meaning only you thought that was happening,” I laughed. “What do you want Floyd? I’m pretty sure I’m gonna see you when I get there.”
“Does he make you happy? I just wanna know.” He disregarded my asking of what he actually wanted.
“Yes,” I looked up at Larry as he eyed me. “Yes. He does. Very happy actually,” I grinned like a little girl.
“Alright good. Just making sure I ain’t gotta fight nobody else this weekend. Is it the one guy from your Instagram? The chef?”
I looked at my phone in disbelief as if he could see my face. “Are you stalking my page?!” Larry shared the same shocked expression.
“I mean I’ve heard about him. Heard he’s pretty good in the kitchen.” Larry’s eyes looked like they were about to come out of his sockets. He started pointing to himself and mouthing saying ‘he heard about me???’
It took everything in me not to giggle on the phone. “Oh really?”
“Yea. You think he’d want to cook or cater something before the fight? He could probably get up with my chef, or shit just take over the staff for the day.” I looked up at Larry who was bouncing in his seat. We had a silent conversation, mostly with facial expressions and hand movements, which settled in me telling him to breathe and that he’d do it.
“I’m sure he’d love that!”
“Alright. Well let me know when you get here. The car should be coming soon to take yall to the airport so yall can get on one of my jets. I know your man is in your office, probably heard this conversation too,” he laughed.
“Boy get off my phone,” I laughed.
“Alright! I’ll see yall soon!” And with that we hung up.
“Oh my gosh!” Larry shot up and rushed me damn near tackling me to the floor. “Sorry. But oh my. He said he heard about me! Me?! I need to sit back down. This is. Oh my gosh. And of course I’m gonna do it. Who in their right mind would turn this down?!”
I cackled at his excitement. “Larry, baby. Breathe. Yes this is real life,” I laughed. “This is pretty exciting though. I’m happy for you babe!” I pecked his lips.
“I need another kiss. I need to calm my nerves, you know since I’m so excited and what not. Can you do that again?” He grinned at me and I obliged. “Wait another one. I’m not quite calm yet.” He pecked my lips again. “Ok one more. Nope. I. Need. More.” He kissed me in between every word and I felt his hands beginning to roam.
“Boy!” I laughed grabbing at his hands.
“This is crazy though. Thank you,” he said nuzzling his head into my neck.
“Why are you thanking me? You did this. I had no part in this besides bringing you with me. Your cooking got you this babe. This is all you,” I kissed his lips again, but before we could go crazy, we were interrupted by Marie’s voice telling us the car was here.
We headed outside to be greeted by a driver waiting beside a rolls Royce. I shook my head and laughed. “He just has to show out,” I muttered to myself as we got closer to the car. The driver opened the door allowing me to step in before Larry. When Larry sat down next to me in the back seat I watched as his eyes roamed the inside of the car. His leg bounced nervously. I touched his leg to calm him down, but it made him flinch. “Relax Larry.”
“It’s just a lot,” he chuckled.
“It’s the leader of the money team we’re talking about. And if he wants to spend it, let him. And let us enjoy,” I said smirking. I hoped he wasn’t thinking that this is what impressed me or made me want Floyd. “Larry,” I called cautiously causing his head to snap in my direction. “Don’t. Um. I don’t want you over there thinking this is how I always travel or require to travel. And I don’t want you thinking that this is what gets me hot and ready,” his laughter cut me off.
“Sorry. Can you use something else besides hot and ready. You’re not a little Caesars pizza,” he laughed.
“Oh gosh,” I rolled my eyes. “I was being serious, punk,” I said shoving him.
“No, but I’m not thinking that,” he stared at me with all seriousness. “Now if he would’ve had some chef or something like that in here. Then I’d be a little worried,” he laughed making me join in. “But how do you like to travel when you do?”
“Well. I mostly just like to be in first class and have my own room. That’s about it. But clients will do the most to try to win you over before you even give them a finished outline, let alone agree to do the job. They just try to win me over. It’s actually quite amusing. But Floyd is probably the most outlandish of them all,” I shook my head and looked out the window. “And don’t mind his antics. He has a bit of a Napoleon complex,” I laughed. “It’s all jokes between he and I. I’ve known him for years and he knows I’ll never want him.”
I heard Larry laugh bringing my attention back to him. “Because you want me?” He asked with a cocky grin as his eyebrow ticked.
I looked away and shrugged. “Eh. I guess you could say that.”
I heard him gasp and before I could do anything he yanked me into his lap causing me to yelp. “Last night you weren’t guessing anything,” he muttered into my ear just before nibbling on it. I felt my insides stir in preparation to be served on a platter just for Larry.
The driver pulled up the airport, right on the runway by the jet. Once out of the car we walked over to the jet and were greeted by the staff as we boarded. Larry sat next to me after we put stowed our bags. “You know. I don’t like private jets.” He looked at me confused with an eyebrow raised. “They’re just so small. I mean they’re nice, don’t get me wrong, but it’s so tiny. I feel like more than three people on this thing would make it go down.”
“Really?” He laughed at me. “If anything, you should be more scared of the bigger planes. Not only do they hold a large amount of people, but they hold all there luggage and more.”
“You have a point there,” I laughed.
“Plus this is a what? An hour long flight at the max. You blink and we’ll be there. Nothing to be nervous about,” he said grabbing my hand. I started blinking really fast making him laugh. “You goof,” he said pecking my lips. “Where’s Mo?”
“Look at you all buddy buddy calling her Mo,” I teased as he rolled his eyes. “She’s already there. Her and David left this morning.”
We were instructed to buckle up and sit back as we prepared for take off. After about 45 minutes we were hopping off of the jet and getting into yet another rolls Royce which made me laugh again. I could only imagine what the hotel would be like.
We got in the car and headed to the MGM grand hotel. When we tried to check in at the front desk, we were escorted to a different part of the hotel. We had been given a stay in the SkyLofts for the next few days and nights. We walked in and both mine and Larry’s reactions echoed each other. “Well shit!” I said.
“This is like my whole damn apartment perched at the top of the hotel. And we can see all of Vegas.” Larry started walking around the loft stopping at a small table with a box, card and envelope on it.
“What’s that?” I asked walking over to him. He shrugged and handed the card to me. It was from Floyd. He stood behind me, with his head nuzzled into my neck looking at the note as I read it out loud.
Thanks again for all your work on this fight. Hope you enjoy this. As promised, everything is on me. Just open up the envelope and have fun. And since you with your boo, get something for him too. That’s what that little box is for.
I grabbed the envelope and opened it. My eyes bugged out seeing all the hundreds that were stacked in there. Flipping it over I saw that it said “$100K” written on it.
“Shit!” Larry said behind me. “Well what’s in the box?”
“Oh of course you wanna know what’s in there,” I laughed as I grabbed it. Once I opened it I saw a gift card to Agent Provocateur.
“Yes! Let’s go there now!”