Alayziah II: When Loving Him is Complicated Read Free Page B

looked behind me at Alayziah.
    “I ain’t finna chase that girl, mane. You know how I do. If she wanna keep it on a professional level so be it.”
    I smelled her before I saw her. Her scent was fruity. Swear the shit made me want to pick her up, throw her on one of these tables, and feast.
    “Al, what’s up? Why you won’t give my brother no play?” Kai asked.
    I looked behind me and Alayziah was making her way towards us. She gave Kai a half smile before she looked me up and down and bit her lip. Her eyes met mine briefly and she shook her head before turning her attention towards Kai.
    “Kailani, I’ve told you before that I just want to focus on school and work.”
    “Well… just tell me this…”
    I rolled my eyes and groaned as I tried to walk away but Kai grabbed me by my forearm.
    “Wait, Rell. Al, are you hungry?”
    I looked at Kai in confusion and so did Alayziah.
    “I could eat,” she mumbled.
    “Well, I know Rell could too because he couldn’t eat for staring at you, so why don’t you two go out and grab a bite to eat and talk about your CD, you know… since you both are so into y’all careers. Why not start tonight?”
    Bishop burst into laughter but stopped when Kai side-eyed him.
    “You crazy, mane. Leave these folks alone and let them do them,” he said, wrapping his arm around her neck. “Al, it was good meeting you. Hit me up tomorrow, nigga.” Bishop turned Kai around as she said goodbye and then started yelling at her for being messy and in other people’s business.
    Sighing heavily, I turned to face Alayziah as she looked everywhere but at me. Figuring she wasn’t going to make this any easier, I gave in and asked, “So… what you want to eat?”

Alayziah
     
    When we made it to IHOP, I just knew I saw Carmen through the glass window. I went outside and looked around for her while Rell was in the bathroom, but I couldn’t find her. Maybe I was seeing things. I shrugged it off and went back to the table, trying to mentally prepare myself to eat and talk to this nigga. The entire ride here I kept telling myself that this was strictly business, that nothing personal would come between us, and that what I felt for him at my set was strictly lust. Now, if he wanted to be on some fuck shit, we could do that, but there was just something about him that was telling me that I would be setting myself up for failure if I thought I could have sex with him and let that be the end of it. So, seeing as I’d sworn off love for the time being I had to be careful. Being with him was like an alcoholic being inside a liquor store.
    I watched as he walked back to our table and I couldn’t help but blush. His spirit was so commanding. As he walked everyone in the restaurant watched him, but the entire time his eyes were on me. Instead of sitting in front of me, he sat next to me. I scooted towards the window and he chuckled.
    “Why would you sit next to me?” I asked.
    “I figured it would be too intimate for me to be sitting across from you… you know… staring in your eyes and shit, so I figured this would be better.”
    I licked my lips unintentionally. “That was very thoughtful of you, Terrell, but I think this is worse.”
    “How is this worse, Ziah?”
    My heart immediately dropped. No one called me that but my papa.
    “Out of all the variations for my name why that?” I asked as the server made her way to our table.
    He shrugged. “Who else call you that?”
    “Just my dad.”
    He smiled.
    “You guys ready to order?” she asked.
    Rell looked at me as he ordered, “She’ll have… an order of strawberries and cream crepes, a stack of pancakes, and… do you eat pork?” he asked me. I smiled and nodded. “And, an order of bacon. I’ll have the breakfast sampler.”
    “I’ll have it right out. Anything else for you guys?”
    I looked at him and he smiled. “Did I forget something?” he asked. “I know, give her a cup of hot apple cider as well.”
    When she walked