Let Me tell you a Story

Lovers&Friends

"100." Harold said as Ava finished her last set of crunches.

She lay on her back as he looked at her.

"You used to swim right?" He asked as she nodded.

"Yea, why?" She asked

"How long can you hold your breath?" He asked and she stared.

"A long time." She admitted.

It used to be 3 minutes but lately she had been able to double that.

"Use it to your advantage." He said as she nodded.

"We're done." He said sticking his hand out and helping her up.

He was very fit still running as if he was 20 years young.

"So you know your doin well?" He said and she nodded.

"Yea, so what's next?" She asked and he looked at her.

"Exactly what's next?" He asked her and she stared.

"Whatever you can teach me-" She started and he shook her head.

"You bout as good as me. What I mean is, is this where you want to settle down?" He asked and she shrugged.

"I mean I don't know." She admitted.

"My advice if there as bad as you say I'd say another name change and goin further. Maybe a year or two our of the country." Harold suggested.

People always told him he was over dramatic but something told him he needed to be.

"I know you'll need a lil more saved but 6 months in the makin you need a plan. a new name and I have a guy who can help you." He passed her a card.

"He can get you an ID, records, social and all that just give him my name and call him from a burner phone." he directed and Ava nodded.

"So why do you bring this up all of a sudden she said grabbing her towel and water bottle that were nearby.

"Well, you my last girl." He said and she turned to him.

"I really like Maxine and I figured a 3-month cruise and proposal." He said and Ava smiled.

She knew that the two had something going on. He returned to work and only confirmed it since he stopped by all the time. Ava had to admit the couple were cute and honestly, she was happy for them.

"But before then I want to make sure you're all situated kiddo." He said and she smiled

" I will be. I'll start putting all my ducks in a row." She said taking another drink of water and he smiled.

She reminded him of his daughter and that's why he wanted to give her all the advice and help he could.

Harold noticed her run-ins with Key's other women and wasn't sure if she was dating him. whatever it was he figured she deserved better and as much as she saw Key one way Harold knew there was more to him. He just wasn't sure what about him made him not trustworthy.

He had done a simple background and he looked like just like every other guy out there who worked at the factory.

"So what's up with this Key kid?" He asked and Ava rolled her eyes.

"Our mail keeps gettin mixed up. I get Casanova or Keyshuns mail. Both of them get my mail. I mean I thought I could be friends but no." She said with a laugh.

"His baby momma showed up and I may have an incident. I was embarrassed." She admitted sure that Maxine told him.

"Then his girlfriend- She started and he cut her off.

"He has a girlfriend and baby momma?" Harold asked shocked and Ava laughed.

"Yes. I don't think she likes me much either so I just told him to keep his distance." She said and smiled.

"I'm not into him anyway." She chuckled thinking of Cas.

It had been a few weeks but she missed him.

There were still random small talks. Of course, he called her but honestly Ava felt like they could sit and talk all day but they never did. Things with Cas were different. He didn't love bomb her but the same aggression he showed when mad came off in the bedroom. That was the same with his soft spot for her.

Harold laughed looking at her.

"There is a guy right?" He asked and she gave a light shrug.

"Well be careful and don't let him be the reason you stay." Harold warned.

Ava gave him a look and he knew it too well as he chuckled. at her noticing his over-protectiveness.

"Maybe if it looks as good as that smile you have plaster from thinking about him, hell go wit you. A new life with a beautiful, smart woman." He said and she smiled.

"Me runnin away with a man?" She laughed rubbing her arms.

"Runnin away for real love." He said looking at her.

He could see the difference from when she had first arrived. Ava smiled more. She was open to listening to more than just him and apparently, she was socializing. Harold wasn't one to tell people to move but he knew something he didn't want her to worry about.

The street's new empire was growing.

What was once a few corner boys turned into blocks and eventually the city would be run by a familiar face, Matthew's.

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"Say that s**t again." Cas said arrogantly as Ava laughed.

"Okay so now I take it back." Ava said to him.

"Na lemme hear it." He laughed and Ava turned to a knock at her door.

"Who that?" He asked and she chuckled.

"Ion I was finna say hold on so I can check." She said.

"Better not be no nigga." He said and she rolled her eyes.

"Only nigga it could be is you knocking at my door at some 7 at night." She looked to see a man standing with flowers.

"Hold on." She lowered her phone and opened her door.

"I think you have the wrong house." She said and the man parted the two bouquets in each hand with a smile.

"You get on my nerves." Ava laughed pulling Cas inside.

"Yo ass really did miss me." He laughed because she actually clung to him.

it was like this when they slept together and that's why he didn't want to leave.

"When did you get back?" She asked.

"Just now." He said as they sat the flowers down together.

"Where do you go?" She asked and he shot her a look before grabbing at her waist.

"I missed you too." He said kissing her and Ava kissed him back.

"I still wanna kno." She asked as he kissed his neck.

"You a vibe killer." He said and they both laughed as she stepped back towards her couch.

"Cas I'm fa real-" She started and he kissed her.

"When You fall in love wit me." He looked her in her eyes.

"What? Why" Ava asked he grabbed her chin.

"You tha type once you love you won't ever leave. I can see a forever wit you in this plain Jane ass house." He said and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm playin yo s**t not plain but fa real a regular life. Me doing some regular ol shit." He grabbed her face.

"Maybe I was the nigga you was supposed to meet." He said looking at her.

"You told me what happened. I know there's more to it and whenever you want to tell me you can but if not Ion care. I wanna have days where you come runnin at me when I'm cone home to you." He said and Ava grabbed him kissing him.

Cas's words were like butter.

Ava found herself holding onto him and Cas knew it was a green light as her hand went under his shirt.

"Ava-" He started but she cut him off pulling off his shirt and then hers.

Cas held Ava's legs as the two kissed each other passionately.

As he moved in closer he spread her legs wider and held her ankles.

"Lean back." He said she complied already knowing what was in his mind.

He leaned face to face with her p***y print before he started to firmly lick on her and she moaned.

Ava longed for his touch as she looked at his sweet tongue and instead of waiting pulled her shorts and underwear to the side and watched him take her into his mouth with a gasp.

Ava felt like she was his as she melted in his mouth with loud moans.

"Cas Baby I missed you." She said looking at him and it only seemed to cheer him on.

His tongue went harder.

Her hands held onto the couch then the back of his head the moment he started fingering her she gripped him and Cas knew he had her exactly where he wanted her.

As Ava held his head her finger ran over the scar on the back of his head.

"Let a nigga breathe." He laughed loosening her grip as he pulled back.

"Daddy missed you too." He said licking his lips before leaning her down and kissing her again as he pulled down his pants and she eagerly held her legs up waiting on him.

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It was 6 in the morning and Cas traced his finger on her shoulder.

"I love you. not on no sucker s**t but I do." Cas said as Ava looked up at him.

They lay in her bed naked holding each other.

"I work for my godfather. He always kinda looked out for me and in return, I been helpin him out." He admitted.

"But this next job my last and I'm be comin for you." He said and Ava looked into his eyes believing it.

"Then what?" She asked.

"We can be happy. we can be each other's happy ending." He looked at her.

She knew he joked but could tell he meant what he was saying.

"What if I'm not here when you get back?" She asked and he sucked his teeth.

"Girl we been fuckin around we go out. So you tryna run from yo nigga?" He said making her laugh.

"Cas I'm fa real." She said sitting up and he looked at the scar on her side.

the unlucky 7.

"What's up? somethin' happened?" He asked knowing already about Trisha showing up but didn't know if things had happened in his absences.

"I don't think I'm goin to be here another year." She turned to him.

"When you get everythin handled would you leave wit me? like, go anywhere." She asked and he laughed her off but could see she was being serious so he stopped.

"Anywhere you wanna go we can go jus lemme get some s**t straight-" He said and she cut him off.

"We don't need money." She said and he looked at her.

"Nigga who is we?" He laughed and she rolled her eyes.

"Just so I got enough to take care of us, we can go anywhere hell China if you want." He said and she smiled.

"I can sell my house. I have enough-" Ava started and he nodded pecking her lips.

"Jus gimme a few weeks and ima have s**t figured out." He said and she nodded back as he interlocked her hands with his.

"So finish tellin me why you have a metal plate in your head." Ava said laying back down and prompting him to do the same.

She lay next to her but he pulled her to his chest as he rubbed her back.

"When I was little me and my brother was bad as shit." He laughed and she turned.

"You have a brother?" She asked and he nodded.

"I had a brother." He corrected her.

"Well, we were bout 3 almost 4. My momma would always bring us to my God dad's cause he had all boys. You know play date s**t. Anyway, he had this big ass dog my brother loved to f**k wit." He chuckled.

"Me and my brother damn near identical and what my lil ass failed to realize that dog was waitin to get my brother back but that mufucka got me." He sucked his teeth.

"Oh my god." Ava looked at him.

"Yeah bit through my skull so I had s big as metal plate put in." He said and she looked at him.

His head looked fine but she could feel the difference each time she held his head.

"What's the dent?" She asked running her hand across his head once more.

"I got shot in the head too." He said casually before grabbing her hand and kissing her wrists before rolling her over and climbing back in between her legs.

Small changes in previous chapters. The reveal was Cas had a plate in his head. Hence the back story here. How are we feeling so far? Cas and Ava for the win or do you think Key is capable of a 180 with true good intentions?