Living For Tomorrow

Chapter 6 • Dangerous

Nuriel's POV

The way D'Angelo studied me from the seat across from on the private jet was sickening. The underlying smile behind his eyes showed me, his words from early– only his testimony. Was I truly foolish or did I deserve this, break from the emotional turmoil I was putting myself through with TJai; how would I long would I be gone, would Kyle understand I wanted more than just a platonic relationship? Maybe it was the alcohol: truly it wasn't because I'd become sober ever since stepping foot on to the expensive plane, but deep down I felt this was needed.

All I'd ever know was Tanajai Stewart and it was time I learned more of the world, "what's holding your tongue over there?"

Startled from my thoughts I looked at D'Angelo and smiled as he watched me with hooded eyes, "is it crazy I agreed to just randomly jump countries with a stranger? I mean you're nice and all but, D'Ang–" cut off mid-sentence D'Angelo stood and placed a finger over my rambling mouth.

"Nuri, honest to the highest above, you got nothing to worry about. I'm a man of my word and if you want to stop we can, right now but, if you're serious about giving me a chance I just want it to be fair. Like I said I won't place any advancements on you unless you grant me that access. We, however, can travel anywhere in the world and get to know each other unbiased. So before this plane takes off I'm going to ask you this once again, do you wanna do this?"

Looking into the most intriguing pair of brown eyes I'd come to witness, I found myself nodding before the word 'yes' left my lips. "I didn't even tell Treasure and Cassie I was leaving, shit I didn't know until now. Dee I wanna leave."

Smiling as he was now seated next me I grabbed his hand as the pilot entered the cockpit, "Ahh sir, it is my pleasure to be flying for you this early morning. May I ask where we'd be headed so that we may begin protocol."

Looking at me questioningly, D'Angelo made it clear that I was in control of this vacation, this was all on me. "I don't have my passport, can we start off in the US somewhere? I've always wanted to visit New York, you lived there recently maybe we could start there and that would give me time for Tres or Cassie to send me my passport."

"You heard her Takou, New York." Smiling at the pilot as stewardess began to board the early flight, I leaned back into my seat as I reclined the chair resting my feet high. "Excuse me Ashley, would you bring up some quilts and pillows please." D'Angelo must've asked a flight attendant as she walked out of sight after a polite yes.

Taking in more of my surroundings, the jet was completely beautiful, the leathers were a cream off grayish color. The walls were cream and behind the four sections of chairs, was a large table, it's use unknown to me. The carpet was plush and looked as if anyone barely walked upon it. The windows were tiny cut out circles that sat evenly place amongst the plane inner panels.

I knew what money was, TJai made sure I'd never come face the struggle of being broke ever again, but this was a different type of money. This was wealth, things you'd leave for your children and their children. This was what TJai and Seyvn were supposed to be building for Mahkayla, not worrying over I. Maybe TJai needed this vacation more than I did, so that he'd be able to see. It wasn't us growing up anymore, but his own flesh and blood. Tanajai was a parent and had someone besides me to look after now.

Soon I was resting under one of the softest quilts known to man and watching television on one of the many iPads D'Angelo owned. It was all surreal, one minute I'm at home wallowing in self pity and the next I'm on the private jet with an incredibly fine man asking for a fair chance at me to win my heart.

.

Waking up to a gently push on the shoulder, my pillow started to shift causing me to stir in my sleep. The flight must've been at least 8 hours long and that was long enough for my phone to accumulate over 30 missed calls. Mostly from Treasure and Cassie, but when I saw Tjai's name my heart fluttered like I was caught. He wouldn't be upset if he found out I was away on vacation for a few months with his teammate, would he?

Choosing to ignore my phone I opened my eyes more to find D'Angelo who stood above me with a cup of coffee in his hand, "hey good afternoon. We landed here about fifteen minutes ago, so that makes it about 10 pm. We can run to a grocery store and get some stuff for my apartment and chill there for the night and tomorrow we could go site seeing if that's cool."

Taking the coffee he held out for my reach, I greedily took a big gulp. "Sure that sounds cool but, I have nothing to wear. I kinda hadn't thought of it when I was intoxicated and just suddenly decided to leave my home state." Laughing a bit as the hard headache hit me full force I tried to keep from groaning. That was part of the repercussions I endured from my heavy drinking of last night.

D'Angelo held his hand out once more to reveal two little blue pills that looked like Advil's that I also took in greedily. "Look I have everything covered. This whole thing was my idea so I plan on taking care of you. Just as long as your comfortable I plan on being the best host to my capabilities. Trust me I got you."

Getting out the plane, we walked down the runway with flashing lights catching me off guard. Paparazzi. I knew immediately to keep my head down as a crowd of hungry journalists searched for media craved exploitation. Dee just gave my hand a light squeeze as we made way for one of his cars that sat out in front of the airport with his driver waiting.

'D'Angelo is this your new fuckbuddy?', 'do you plan on keeping her around for long?', 'can we expect any pregnancy photoshoots soon?', 'are you the dad, is she the reason you requested to be sent back to California?'– the questioning went on until we were able to safely enter the car but it didn't stop the pictures or bright flash from happening.

"I'm used to the cameras and questions with TJai but, why were they on you so heavy. It's like the we're waiting on us. How'd they even know we'd be here." The intense interrogation was uncomfortable to say the least and with my outfit from last night party, I'm sure the pictures they'd manage to take were pretty self explanatory.

I was a random party girl looking for the next big thing. I could see it in the blogs now. Turning my phone off as the thoughts chased my mind I shook my head, it was too late to turn back now.

"This sort thing happens when a star athlete keeps out of trouble and wins. You're kind of the first person I've stepped out in public with in a minute. And not to make is seem any kind of way but, look at you, you're not a subtle piece of eye candy either. I'll call my publicist to make sure the rest of our trip goes smooth."

Laughing at his phone D'Angelo showed me this photo of us together getting off the plane hand-in-hand as my hair blew in the turbulence of the cut off engines of the plane. Dee was a step below me and my face still looked fresh. 'NBA ALL STAR D'Angleo Russell spotted with gorgeous mysterious woman back in New York' I didn't start on the article as I become too engrossed in the picture. It was magical to an extent, to see myself and a man as handsome as Dee on the cover of a blog site as if I were Beyoncé and he Jay-Z. It made me wonder on what else I was missing out on.

Smiling I took a screenshot of the picture and gave him his phone back. "Send that to me."

.

After leaving Walmart and collecting some hygienic products I was able to clean myself and prepare for tomorrow. D'Angelo and I were cuddled up watching Happy Feet as my phone chimed again with all the older notifications popping up along with the newest ones.

There were a few messages in a group text with Cassie and Treasure, then each of one them separately had texted me a million times. Kyle had sent a couple messages but, surprisingly none had been from TJai till now.

Stay with him... hope he was worth it 📵 dumb bitch smh - 1:23 am

(Tip #6. The future waits for no one. Don't throw away your happiness for the sake of someone who never asked for it. - Nuriel Zymack)