Hustla (BOOK TWO)

Chapter 27

While Aaliyah was at the apartment, she decided to relax by taking a bubble bath with the candles lit while Jada was asleep. She had some 90's and early 2000's R&B music playing softly.

Aaliyah began singing softly to the music. "Ohh, loovee. Never knew what I was missing, but I knew once we start kissin. I f-"

"Ya know you always had a pretty nice little voice", Dre said.

Aaliyah jumped as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Don't scare me like that", she said.

"Sorry. I had just came by to check on y'all", he said.

"A call ahead of time or text would've been fine. Maybe it would save me from a heart attack", Aaliyah said.

"You know I gotta pop up", he said.

"I assure you that nothing is going on", Aaliyah said.

Dre didn't say anything.

Aaliyah looked at him as she relaxed her body against the tub again. "What?", she asked.

"Nothing", he said before licking his lips and looking to the side.

Aaliyah looked forward and closed her eyes. "I guess you want something", she asked.

"...Yea, but imma continue to keep my space and wait", Dre said.

"Okay", she replied.

Dre looked at the counter and saw Aaliyah's ring.

"You been wearing your ring?", he asked.

"Yes", Aaliyah replied. "I know...I shouldn't have made that decision for you. I just thought you were going to leave me so I wanted to save you your breath...unless you did want to"

"Of course I don't want to divorce or anything Aaliyah. I'm just angry right now", Dre said.

Aaliyah didn't say anything.

"You know I love you and I'm not letting you go no where but I just think that it's funny how we just keep going in circles in this relationship", Dre said.

"Okay. I kept something from you and I won't do that again and yesterday I lied but-"

"I ain't even worried about that anymore, because that was expected", Dre said.

"No..listen, I forgot something of jada's at Killa's house so I went to get it. He only found out where I was because he found me in his house", Aaliyah said. "Yesterday, right before you got shot"

"...how did you even get in?", Dre asked.

"I'm very observant", Aaliyah replied. "Especially when I was there that time when he 'kidnapped me'. I figured out the ends and outs and his security remembered my face"

"But he was home", Dre replied.

"Not at the time I came in", Aaliyah replied.

Dre didn't say anything for a moment, he just looked at the floor. "...so, you saw me?", he asked.

Aaliyah nods. "Dre, I'm honestly surprised you're still alive", Aaliyah said.

"...same... the one time I thought I was going to die was yesterday", he said.

"...did you find out who did it?", she asked before blowing out her candles.

"No. I have no clue who would've been behind this because I don't have beef with anybody up here", Dre said.

Aaliyah shook her head.

"Yet, you sitting in this apartment after I told you not to. It isn't safe", Dre said.

Aaliyah reach over to drain the water.

"So, you just going to ignore me?", Dre asked.

"No...I wasn't going to stay here. I'm leaving in the morning", she replied.

"Leaving where?", Dre asked.

"Atlanta", Aaliyah replied.

"...why you going there?",  Dre asked.

"It's a lot going on as you said and you want me to be safe so and give you some space...so I'm going down there for a few days", Aaliyah said before getting out of the tub.

Dre nods. "...I guess that's probably for the best", he said as he looked her up and down.

Aaliyah began to dry herself off then wrapped herself in the towel. "I was going to tell you tonight, so... yea", Aaliyah said as she started to walk out the bathroom but Dre stopped her touching her waist"

"What?", Aaliyah asked.

"I'm about to head out and since you about to leave, I don't think it wouldn't be any harm if I get a kiss right?", Dre asked.

Aaliyah smiled a little and hug him and began kissing him. Dre began kissing her back passionately.

Aaliyah pulled away a little and touched his chest. "I know that kiss", she said.

"Can't blame a nigga after what I just saw", Dre said.

Aaliyah chuckles.

Dre smiles as he looked at her. "I haven't seen that in a minute. I missed it", he said referring to her laugh.

Aaliyah bite her bottom lip as she smiled.

Dre picked Aaliyah up and began walking into the room. He laid Aaliyah on the bed and glanced at her phone because it lit up. Dre made a face and walked to her phone.

Aaliyah sat up and looked at him.

Dre saw that Killa called Aaliyah 3 times. Dre looked at Aaliyah and tossed her, her phone and didn't say anything.

"Rude much?", she asked as she picked her phone up from off the bed and looked at it then looked up at Dre. "What?"

"Call him back", Dre said. "Put it on speaker"

"...what is your problem?", Aaliyah asked.

"Nothing. Could I have a problem?", Dre asked.

Aaliyah rolled her eyes and called Killa back and put the phone on speaker.

"Hello", Killa answered.

"Everything alright?", Aaliyah asked.

"You heard from Dre?", Killa asked. "I can't get him on his phone"

Dre felt for his phone and realized he left it in the car.

"Yea. He's right here", Aaliyah replied.

Dre took the phone. "What's up?", Dre asked after he took the phone off speaker.

"Where you at man?", Killa asked. "You late dawg"

"I'm coming", Dre said. "I just had to do something first"

"Getting some make up pussy I suppose", Killa said.

Dre chuckled a little and shook his head. "I'm on the way bruh", Dre said before hanging up.

"Everything okay?", Aaliyah asked.

"Yea. But I'll be back, so wake up when I do", Dre said. "This shit ain't over"

Aaliyah smiled and shook her head.

"Damn. I can't never stay mad at yo ass", he said as he walked out the room.

Aaliyah giggles.

TO BE CONTINUED...