Temptation Island

Chapter 9: Ashanti

Now normally I liked to tell the truth or something close to it. But that night I wanted to live it up like there was no tomorrow. Originally, telling the bouncer that it was my birthday was just meant to get us in the club for free. I had no idea that it would get us treated like royalty for the night. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw the section made for us. I almost felt bad for lying, but when the man pointed at who was behind it all, I understood.

My girls and I drank, laughed, and danced our hearts out. It was like we were back at our first year of college. Back then we, for lack of a better phrase, were hot girls. If there was a party, we were there shaking what our mamas gave us. It was good to see that none of us had lost it. In the midst of it all, I was looking for a window of opportunity to sneak away, and when one wasn't presented, I decided to tap Melody on her arm. She turned to face me, smiling and out of breath. I couldn't help but laugh. Seeing them so happy did something to my heart.

"I'm going to be right back," I said into her ear.

"Uh-uh. You know we do the buddy system. Let me grab my purse. I'll come with you."

"No, I'll be all right. I swear. I'm just going to go tell the owner thanks for everything."

"Ohhh." Melody gave me a knowing look. "You wearing panties? If you are, come over here and take them off. Nobody's looking. I'll put them in my purse for you."

"Stop it!" I laughed and moved my arm away from her before she could drag me to some dark corner. "It's nothing like that. I just want to say thank you. I'll text you to let you know I'm safe. And plus, you know I don't wear panties, bitch."

I winked as I walked off and felt a sting as she slapped my bottom. I was smiling all the way to the elevator that went to the second level of the club. Once up there, I didn't exactly know where I was going, but I went in the direction of where I thought the section was. I figured I'd found it when I saw two tinted glass double doors and four muscular men standing outside of it. As I approached, I found myself fixing up my hair with my fingers.

"Can we help you?" one of the guards asked me when I got to the doors.

"Yes, I um, wanted to speak with the owner." The men chuckled and looked at each other like what I'd just asked was funny. "Is something wrong?"

"Nevada wasn't expecting any entertainment tonight," the same man spoke.

"Enter . . . what? I'm not a whore. Just please go and tell him I'm here to see him."

"Listen, woman, how about you go back downstairs and enjoy yourself like the other guests, huh?" He made like he was about to take a step toward me, but then the door behind them opened.

Standing there was the man who had waved down to us from his section and who the security guard had referred to as Nevada. However, I'd come to know him as Nev. His smile said it all when he saw me standing there, and I was sure mine was just as big.

"Ashanti," he finally said and opened his arms wide.

"Nevada."

I fell into his arms and allowed him to hold me for more than a few seconds. When we finally broke away from each other, the men standing around us looked bewildered. But I didn't care. There was a fire of joy lit inside of me at that moment that no one could put out.

"Come in and have a drink with me," he said, gesturing for me to follow him.

I did, but I made sure to flick off the guard who was giving me a hard time. It was childish, but the buzz I had made me not care. Once the door was shut behind me, I saw that his section was much larger than ours. In fact, he had his own bar and bartender up there. Nevada took me to a seat on the side away from all of his guests and sat beside me. His hands found mine, and he just looked at me in awe. He was still as handsome as the day I'd met him. Nevada was in his early forties but had the muscular body of a man half his age. Also, he drank his water and kept his hair dyed black, so if you didn't know his age, it would be hard to guess.

"So it's your birthday, huh? I thought that was in December," he said knowingly, and I burst out laughing so hard.

"It is in December, but the line outside was long, so I improvised," I told him with a shrug of one shoulder. "I was so shocked when I saw you waving at us I almost shit myself."

"I just couldn't believe my eyes when it was you standing there. I never thought that I'd see you again."

"Me either, but I think that was kind of the point," I told him shyly.

I had no idea why I was being shy. In another lifetime, Nevada and I might have ended up together. However, I'd ended up finding something I didn't know I needed on that vacation. Nevada and I lost touch after.

"The last time I saw you, you told me you were living in the States, right? When did you move to Bali?" I asked curiously.

"After you and I met actually. My mother has always been on my back about visiting our homeland, but it wasn't until you spoke so highly of it that I decided to make the trip. And well, I never left. I started a few businesses and have been doing quite well for myself."

"I see!" I said and ran my hands down the fine fabric of his suit jacket. "Wow. I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you. What about you? Are you still the best teacher in the universe?"

"You could say that." I smiled. "There have been a few changes in my life."

"You got remarried?"

"No, not yet."

"You're thinking about it?"

"Maybe. However, I must admit that I didn't know the toll my ex-husband left on me. I haven't been close to another man since."

"Such a shame. You are still the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."

"Don't butter me up. You know I won't tire of hearing that," I told him, and he laughed.

"How have you been, after the island? We didn't speak after."

"I think that was the point," I said with a small smile. "But to answer your question, things are just . . . different now."

"How so?"

"They just are."

There was a small silence between us. I didn't want to unveil to him that I was dying and ruin the mood. Plus, I didn't even know how I would say it. But lucky for me, I didn't have to. Suddenly Nevada gazed deeply into my eyes and spoke in a serious tone.

"I know it's been a while since we last saw each other or spoke, but seeing you standing there with your friends, it felt like seeing fireworks for the first time. I know it sounds crazy, but I don't want to lose you again. I'll open a club wherever you're at so we can see each other often. Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes," I repeated him and looked at the sincerity of his expression. I pulled my hands away and kissed him on his cheek. "How nice it must be to be so rich that you can plan your life with somebody so quickly. I just came up here to say hi and thank you. For everything."

"Wait, Ashanti. Are you seeing someone else?" His words held sadness, and all I could do was touch his face with my palm briefly.

"Goodbye, Nevada."

I stood up and walked away from him before he could try to talk me into staying. I'd done well to avoid his question. My love life was one I'd decided to keep to myself. Not even my girls knew about what I had going on. To my surprise, on my way out, I ran right into my friends, who were in the middle of a verbal altercation with the security.

"There she is!" Kelendria exclaimed and pointed at me.

"Oh, my God, Ashanti. You had us scared as hell! You said you were going to text me and tell me you were okay!" Kimberly exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. I forgot."

"You forgot? Girl, you almost got these big-ass men fucked up! We thought they'd done something to you when you didn't text or come back. Are you okay?"

Seeing my friends about to pounce on four men twice their sizes in my honor made me forget about my sad goodbye to Nevada. Melody had been in the middle of swinging her crossbody, and Kelendria still had one of her hands balled into a fist. I grinned at them and just shook my head.

"Well, as you guys can see, I'm alive and well. Let's go before they kick us out of here." I pushed them away from the doors and back toward the elevator.

If he isn't getting it from me, then who? . . .