Ashley's Story: THE LAST CHAPTER (4 page)

Rio put his plate to the side then sat up in bed when he
heard a knock on the door. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was a
little after five in the morning so he wandered who could possibly be knocking
on his door that early in the morning.

What the fuck
? he mouthed.

Rio reached under his bed for his Smith and Wesson. With the
gun resting in his hand, he walked down the stairs with ease.

“Who is it?” he barked in his deep baritone.

Silence lingered for a while before a squeaky voice replied,
“It’s me, Royce.”

Rio tilted his head and arched his eyebrows with a confused
expression on his face. He looked out of the peephole before opening the door.
He cautiously stuck his head out of the door with his gun raised slightly then
looked from his left and then his right. When Rio was sure that Royce was
alone, he gave her his full attention and let her inside.

“What’s up?”

Rio licked his lips. “What you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you,” she confessed as her eyes traveled
down his bare torso before landing on the bulge in his pajama pants that hung
slightly off of his waist.

“Oh yeah? You didn’t even call or text me first. I hope you
don’t make a habit out of popping up over a nigga’s house without asking first.
What are you doing out this time of morning anyway?” he asked while eyeing the
skimpy dress she had on. Royce was a pretty girl she was the color of Hershey
chocolate with long box braids and cat like eyes. Her spirit seemed free and
that was one of the things that drew him to her.

“Me and my friend went out for drinks tonight.”

“I wanted to see you and decided to drop by since you didn’t
reply back to my messages the other day. I know how much you dislike people
popping up but I had to see you.”

“Come on in,” Rio said as he stepped to the side so Royce
could enter. “I just got in the house not too long ago myself. I was just about
to nod off.”

“I’m sorry,” Royce took Rio’s hand. She walked him over to
his couch to sit down. “My girl told me you and your boys were at King of
Diamonds the other night. Why didn’t you invite use to come with you? We
would’ve had a ball, Royce exclaimed. “You know I start to miss you when I’m
away from you to long she said confirming what he already suspected. She was
getting too attached.

 Royce pulled her dress up over her waist before sitting on
his lap to face him. Her hands moved up and down his chest, while licking and
kissing the angel tattoo on the side of his neck. .

“Whoa, ma! You’re moving too fast. Calm down,” he said while
grabbing her wrist so she would stop.

Rio looked in her eyes. He could see the hurt of rejection
and for a split second, it bothered him. “Just slow down a little. You’re being
a bit aggressive. Now take your ass upstairs,” he chuckled with a smile.

Royce kicked off her heels, walked a few steps, then pulled
her dress over her head. She tossed it to the floor then turned around and
looked at Rio.

He smirked and licked his lips. “You better hurry your ass
up the stairs. If I catch you before you make it to my room, you know I’m going
to fuck the shit out of you in the hallway.”

Rio turned off the living room light then took off jogging
after her.

“Oh my goodness,” she giggled before he tackled her onto the
bed.

He licked his lips while admiring her thick thighs, flat
stomach. “What did you have in mind since you wanted to see me so bad?”

“I had a couple of things in mind. The first thing I want to
do is taste you,” she smiled as she dropped to her knees.

Rio took a step back. He ran a hand through his beard,
anticipating the feel of her mouth. When her mouth wrapped around his dick he
closed his eyes and savored the warmth her mouth was providing. Despite his
need for sleep or the fact that she had popped up at his house unannounced, he
couldn’t wait to bend her over and bang her back out.

Rio didn’t believe in making love. All he cared about was
the nut he was about to bust. Making love was for the birds because it damn
sure wasn’t for him. It came with too many emotions like worrying about how the
other person felt. Not to mention the random phone calls throughout the day.
Nah, Rio wasn’t up to doing any of those things especially now, if ever. Royce
through her pussy back while grinding into him and bringing him out of his
thoughts. Rio jaws clenched, he was in a world full of bliss as he pounded her
pussy until daylight broke.

Who the hell is knocking at my door
? Ashley thought
to herself. It was only eight o’clock in the morning. Arching her eyebrows in disdain,
she continued to listen to the person beat on her door relentlessly. Ashley
wiped the crust out of her eyes then pulled herself out of bed. Obviously, the
person wasn’t going to go away. Wearing just a tank top and a pair of boy
shorts that barely covered her ass, she dragged her feet across the marble
floor.

“Who is it?” she yelled groggily while stiffening a yawn
from escaping her mouth.

 Looking through the peephole, Ashley opened the door. Rio
stood there with a smile on his face and a bag in his hand.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” he said genuinely.

Ashley shook her head as she mustered up a smile. “It’s
okay. Come on in.”

Rio stepped inside and Ashley closed the door behind him.

“You look nice today. I think this is the first time I’ve
seen you wearing a different color.”

Rio kept it simple in a white tee, jeans, Gucci shoes, and a
gold rosary around his neck. He stroked his beard, a habit she seen him do
often.

“This is simple shit, ma,” he replied with a smile from ear
to ear. Ashley returned his contagious smile.

“I’ll be right back.”

Ashley hurried to her bedroom to change into something more
appropriate and to take care of her hygiene. She quickly changed into a long
white maxi dress and pulled her hair into a slightly messy bun.

Rio eyed her backside lustfully before shaking his head with
a smirk on his face. He had to remember that they were only friends and he
wouldn’t dare cross that line. When Ashley came back into the kitchen, she
looked more awake than before.

“What are you doing up so early?” Ashley asked as she took a
sit at the kitchen island.

“Got in the house late and then I had unexpected company.
Where are your plates?” Ashley pointed to the cabinet the plates were in.

“Unexpected company, huh?”

“Couldn’t go to sleep after that so I watched some TV. When
she woke up, I gladly told her to leave.” Rio chuckled. “As much as I hate when
people pop up at my house unexpectedly, I just did the same thing to you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ashley smiled. “I don’t mind. I
could use the company.”

“Yeah, sure you can. I’ll be sure to text or call you next
time,” he replied as he picked up the container he had her food in.

“I know that’s Ms. Anne’s,” she said eyeing the omelet and
wheat toast he put on a plate for her.

“Don’t play me, ma; I does this,” Rio chuckled with a smile.

She looked at the delicious food and then back at him.
“Yeah, okay. You expect me to believe you?”

Rio shrugged his shoulders. “Whether you believe me or not
is up to you. But on the real, your boy does his thing in the kitchen.”

With a faint smile on her face, Ashley shook her head from
side to side. I believe you cooked it. By the way, this was sweet of you to
bring me breakfast. Ashley pulled her plate closer to her and picked up her
fork and took a bite.

“This is good, real good,” she stated while chewing her
food. She nodded her head with approval.

Rio leaned over the counter and enjoyed his breakfast as
well. “What’s on your agenda today?”

“I’m going to go pay a couple of bills then go to the store
to get some more sheets for my bed.

 Rio nodded. “Mark and the fellas are handling business. I
don’t have much to do today so why don’t you and I hangout?”

“Okay, I’m down. Let me take a quick shower and then we can
go,” Ashley replied as she stood up. “The dish washer is over there and the
remote is on the sofa. By the way, breakfast was awesome.”

He smiled as he put the dishes inside the dishwasher. “I’m
glad you liked it.”

***

The unknown woman sat in her brand new Benz outside of
Sally’s Beauty Supply. She was just about to go inside the store when she saw a
familiar face. She knew Ashley had gotten five years in prison. That was all
the hood could talk about. Seeing her had her feeling so many emotions. The
jealousy she once had for her had been buried until now. It infuriated her that
she still felt this way about Ashley, especially with all the years that
passed.

“What’s the matter my love? Finesse muttered from the
passenger seat. Attempting to block the sun from his face a Haitian printed
du-rag covered his face while he rested with his seat back as far as it would
go. He didn’t have to take the du-rag off of his face to know that his woman
was bothered by something. He could sense the change in her attitude. The perky
and talkative woman he’d fallen in love with was different within a matter of
seconds. Finesse snatched the du-rag from his face so he could get a better
look at the love of his life.

“What’s up?” he asked her while searching her face for
answers.

The woman was so caught off guard by Ashley’s presence that
if she were to speak the breath in her lungs would evaporate and she would pass
out from the shock of seeing Ashley. Finesse followed his lady’s eyes to a
small group of people talking, two chicks, and a dude that he and his brother
had beef with.

“Say something. What’s up? Finesse uttered his voice was
filled with so much concern and the urgency for the woman to snap out of the
daze she was in.

“Bae, remember when we first hooked up and I told you about
my past?” she asked.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, there’s someone from my past over there.” She pointed
in the direction of the group.

The woman leaned over in her seat and began whispering in
his ear as if they weren’t the only two people in the car. Finesse’s eyes
narrowed in slits of anger while he listened to the made up tale she gave him
of her past.

***

“Ashley?” Royce asked a little unsure.

Ashley spun around to see who called her name. A smile
spread across her face when she saw Royce.

“It’s good seeing you. It’s been what…two years?” Ashley asked.
.

“Yes, too long if you ask me,” Royce replied as she and
Ashley embraced each other.

Rio held Ashley’s bags in his hand with a confused look on
his face while he watched the two girls embrace in a friendly hug.

“Looks like Life’s being good to you,” Royce uttered as she
looked Ashley over.

“Yeah, I have no complaints. It’s been alright. Enough about
me; look at you.”

Royce smiled shyly. “Thanks. I’m just trying to do me. . I’m
so happy I ran into you. We need to catch up.”

Ashley nodded her head in agreement. “Hold up; let me
introduce you to my friend, Rio.”

Royce looked over at Rio. Her smile disappeared and was
replaced with a frown. Ashley noticed immediately as she looked from Rio and
then back at Royce.

“No introduction needed. I already know Rio. I know Rio
well. We were together last night, right Rio.”

“What’s up, Royce? What’s up with the frown and shit, ma?
I’m just as surprised as you are. I didn’t know you two knew each other so the
attitude you’re trying to give is not needed.

“You already know what it is ma there’s no need to act
surprised feel me.”

Royce crossed her arms over her chest with an attitude then
looked over at Rio like he was crazy.

“Yeah, I hear you talking I’m just a little surprised is all,”
Royce said as she pointed to him and Ashley. “I would’ve never imagined that
the two of you would’ve known each other. Being surprised is natural and so is
the attitude that I’m giving you,” Royce stated.

Rio bit his tongue to stop from cursing the girl out. He
understood that her feelings were hurt but he and Royce were only friends with
benefits, nothing more. With a scowl on her face, Royce rolled her eyes then
settled them back on Ashley.

“Anyway, Ashley, like I was saying, we need to catch up.”

Ashley nodded her head. “That’s cool with me.”

“Okay great! Take down my number.”

Ashley pulled her phone from her Hermes bag.

“I’ll meet you in the car,” Rio whispered into Ashley’s ear
before walking away.

Ashley put the number in her phone then put it back in her
purse.

“Call me. Maybe we can get into something tonight,” Royce
added with a smile.

“Yeah, I’ll call you sometime tonight,” Ashley informed her.
“Let Rio know I will be calling him sometime tonight as well so he better pick
up the phone.”

“I sure will,” Ashley giggled.

She turned around and walked in the direction of Rio’s black
Porsche Panamera. She raised her hand and wiggled her finger at Rio playfully
as she opened the door to get in the car.

 “Oooh boy, you’re in trouble. Royce is gon’ kick your ass.”

“Yeah okay, that girl just talking shit,” he replied as he
started up the car.

“She said you better answer the phone tonight when she
calls,” Ashley added while reaching over to open up Rio’s water so she could
take a swig from his water bottle.

“Yeah, I hear you Shorty was straight wilding,” he uttered
while taking the water from Ashley so he too could take a drink.

“You and her are fucking around, huh? Was she the unexpected
company you were talking about popping up at your place last night?”

“We do what we do,” Rio answered truthfully. “She knows
there are no ties between us so I’m really not sure why she just reacted the
way that she did. Royce knew what she was getting into when she started fucking
with me and yes she was the unexpected company.”

“Now you know how women can be. You may think it’s just
fucking but to her, it’s more than that. We’re emotional are feelings get
involved easier then dudes.”

“Women are difficult,” Rio replied.

“No we’re not. We just know what we want. It doesn’t take us
long to figure it out.”

Rio took his eyes off the road briefly and looked over at
Ashley with a crooked smile. “So basically you’re saying dudes are slow?”

She chuckled. “Hey, you said it not me.”

Rio slid his free hand inside his pants pocket to take out
his ringing cell phone. He put it on speaker.

“Yo, B, you need to get to Da Cage as soon as possible,”
Mark stated heatedly. “Some shit just popped off.”

“I’ll be there give me a few minutes to get to you.”

Rio ended the call. So many possibilities of what could be
wrong weighed heavily on his mind. He was so into his thoughts that he’d forgot
Ashley was with him. A minute or two passed before Ashley looked over at him.

What’s the matter?” Silence lingered without an answer. “Rio
what’s the matter?” she added once more before touching him gently on the arm.

“I’m good.” The lie rolled easily off his tongue. “I’m about
to drop you off at your spot.” Ashley nodded her head without saying anything.
Ten minutes later, he pulled up to her building.

“A’ight ma, I’ll call you later,” Rio promised.

Thoughts of the last time she saw Petey came to mind but she
shook them off.

“Okay. Please don’t forget.”

Hesitantly, she got out of the car and closed the door.
Ashley sighed deeply before saying a silent prayer for him as she watched him speed
down the street.