"So we're holding hands with girls now?" I let out a deep breath not in the mood for this. I didn't get where I wanted with Aria tonight so that already blew me and Casey blowing up my phone just to do this was blowing me even more.

Casey was never the type to trip, but I should've known that shit would tip her off, even as innocent as it was because I never hold her hand in public or no shit like that and she always compared herself to girls she heard about me with, and I hated that shit.

I sighed, "you sound childish as fuck."

She laughed sarcastically, "I sound childish? You act like you can't even hold my hand but can hold the next bitch hand? And leaving Bar 180 on a fucking Saturday? They busiest night, fuck you Landon."

Jodie was beeping in on the other line, "hold on Jodie's calling me."

"Are you kidding me right now Landon?" She shouted with anger.

"Casey, gah'damn! We're clearly about to have a long drawn out conversation about some bullshit, he probably got one thing to say, hold on."

I clicked over before even allowing her to say something else, "Yo!" Jodie was laughing and talking to somebody in the background, "nigga, I heard your ass was showing love tonight! You was booed the fuck up with somebody!" People ran they mouth quick as hell, but I knew it was probably a female who hit his line about it.

I shook my head as I merged into another lane. "It wasn't even like that."

He laughed, "who was it? Cause I know it wasn't Casey."

"Aria." I let out with ease.

Jodie laughed, "stop fucking lying, ain't no way." I checked my blind spot as I switched lanes again, cars were driving slow as hell. "What the fuck I got to lie for?"

"I know damn well you ain't hit though. I bet her ass didn't even let you kiss her." I hated that he was right. "Man bye, I got Casey on the other line flipping out on me."

He laughed, "yeah, she ain't let you! I know that shit hurting your pride! But I'll let you get to your bitch!"

I didn't respond as I just simply clicked back over, "aye, I'm just going to head your way and we can talk about it when I get there."

"Yeah okay Landon." She spat out as she hung up the phone. I wasn't trippin' off her, I could get Casey like putty in my hands if we were face to face.

I pulled up to her place in no time and we talked about the shit, I easily let her know I was only holding her hand to navigate out the club and reminded her why I was out to begin with. I didn't give a fuck about Aria. It was a bet.

She calmed down, admitting that the whole situation slipped her mind but it just bothered her that I barely took her anywhere. So me being the gentleman I am, I told her we'd go to lunch or dinner tomorrow, an easy fix. It was crazy to think this would be our first date too. I'd been fucking with her for months. Either way it went, she was satisfied. So I slid up in them guts and then we both knocked.

**

The next morning I made my way out of Casey's early so I could head home and change. I called Aria once I got home so we could go get her car and I could go on with my day.

"Hello." she answered sounding groggily. I snickered, "Aria it's eight am wake your ass up."

She sucked her teeth as I heard the phone click in my ear. Did she just hang up on me? I called back as she answered with attitude, sleep all in her voice. "Landon we not even cool like that. Why are you calling me this damn early on a Sunday?"

I pulled out some Adidas joggers as I slid them on. "You want your car don't you?" I asked as she cussed lowly. I could hear her moving around like she was getting up, "yeah." She replied as I pulled out a black shirt and threw it on, "okay, well I'll be by to get you in about an hour." I wanted to eat and just chill for a minute. She yawned into the phone, "okay."

An hour later I was on my way to get Aria, I texted her once I arrived so she could come down, and for whatever reason she came down looking good as fuck. She had on a yellow sundress that complimented her dark brown complexion nicely and hit every curve of hers. Her hair was down with light curls on the end. Wasn't expecting her to come down looking like that with how she sounded on the phone. "Hey!" she spoke as she got in with her head in her phone, smile plastered on her face from whatever the message said.

I looked her over, licking my lips and raising one of my eyebrows. Not understanding why I couldn't get the same energy the person on her phone was getting. "Wassup." I responded as I pulled out her apartment complex, focusing on the road.

"What you got planned today?" I asked as I looked over at her again, there had to be a reason she was looking this good this early, she had something planned.

She locked her phone as she finally took the time to look my way. "Going out to eat, then will probably kick it with Kennedy later. Something light. You?"

I nodded my head, "about the same, eating and chillin." I turned up the music and the rest of the car ride as she was texting away. My thoughts were running wild as I trying to think of ways to pull her in and quickly. I wasted two weeks chasing her, so now I only had a month to fuck her.

We pulled up to the steakhouse and I parked my car. "Sit with me for a second." I demanded as I leaned back. She took her seatbelt off but made no efforts to get out the car letting me know she would.

I went in my center console pulling out the blunt I put in there before I left. I didn't smoke heavily, only did it every once in a while. "You smoke?" I asked. If she didn't I was going to wait and smoke it on my way back like I originally planned.

"Sometimes." She let out as she looked at the blunt in my hand. I lifted it up as to offer, she gave a small smile. "Sure." I lit it up as the car was silent except for the radio. We sat there passing it back and forth before I turned and looked at her, my high setting in. Her eyes were low, letting me know she was feeling the effect too.

"Why you playing with me?" I questioned as I studied her features. She laughed as she looked at me, her head still laying on the headrest.

"I'm not. You playing." She mumbled. "How I'm playing?" I questioned as she looked me dead in my eyes, leaning her head up to tilt it to the side.

"Because, how out of nowhere you so interested in me? I feel like that shit fluke." I licked my lips, "it's not though. We can't get no where if you always doubting me."

"Damn, I guess we ain't getting no where." She laughed out causing me to laugh too. "Damn, it's like that?" I questioned with a smile playing on my face.

"Landon, it's suspect as fuck. You a cool guy though, when you not on that cocky shit."

I laughed, "I'm not cocky, just confident. And what I got to do to prove to you I'm serious? I been chasing you for two weeks, I took you out. Something even you said I don't do. I'm sitting here still trying like damn Aria. Cut me some slack."

She just sat there looking at me, eyes low and her lips slightly parted. My attention automatically drawn to them. I brought my eyes back up to hers. She cracked a smile and rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.

I shook my head as she started to circle her finger around the cup holder. After about the fourth time she did it I grabbed her hand, intertwining my fingers into hers. She didn't pull away as I brought the back of her hand to my mouth, placing a light kiss on it. "I'm dead ass. I want to spend more time with you, get to know you."

"Okay." She replied as she looked at me. I gave her hand another kiss before leaning my head back on the headrest. We both sat there high, holding hands. Holding hands clearly was our thing, I laughed to myself at the though of it.

"I have to go," she said as she removed her hand from mine. "I have some errands to run."

"They can wait another minute." I assured her, "c'mere." She looked at me as I reached over placing my hand on the side of her neck and reaching my body over slightly as I pulled her face closer to mine. She laughed as we sat face to face, causing me to laugh when wasn't shit funny. I was blaming it on the high.

"Man what you laughing bout?" I asked as my eyes focused on her lips, "my neck ticklish." She admitted. In my mind that translated to sensitive which meant it was possibly one of her spots. "That right?" I asked lowly as I rubbed my thumb against her neck, our lips inches from touching each other.

"Yeah." She spoke lowly as well, that one word causing her lips to brush against one another. I connected our lips completely, part of me surprised that she let me. The other part rejoicing about it.

Her lips were soft as hell, I found myself deepening the kiss as she let me. Our tongues introduced themselves to one another as I felt my dick coming alive. She was a damn good kisser. I slowed down the kiss as she easily followed my rhythm before she pulled away.

"I'm trippin' and I have to go." She said again as she reached for the door handle. "And this don't mean shit Landon." She spoke as I laughed. She looked at me once more as she smiled and rolled her eyes.

I was going to win this bet. I had to.

**

I headed home and changed and then chopped it up with my boys before heading to get Casey.

"Where do you want to eat at?" I asked her as we were leaving her apartment complex. "Mm, I want some Italian" she said with a smile on her face. "Okay, Olive Garden?" I questioned, saying the first place that came to mind. She shook her head yes as we hopped in my car. I turned up the music, she grabbed my hand and we made our way to Olive Garden.

Once we got to Olive Garden the hostess sat us, we tried some wine samples and I ordered glasses of the wine that Casey liked most. We ate and talked about random shit until it was time to head out.

"Babe, let's catch a movie." Casey said as she was looking at herself in her compact mirror, as we were sliding out the booth to leave.

I stretched, not really in the mood but this was her day, "okay, search some movie times." I demanded as I checked the time.

She smiled, "you search some too! What kind of movie do you want to see?" she asked as she pulled out her phone to start googling movie times.

"It doesn't matter to me, whatever you want to see."

As we were heading out I saw Vinnie, we had a few classes together. We played ball together and even smoked together a few times. "Hold on, let me go speak," I said to Casey as I started walking his way. As I approached the table I was quickly taken aback when I saw Aria seated across from him. I couldn't even flex like that shit didn't bother me, cause it lowkey did. And it wasn't even the fact that she was out with him, cause I don't even really like her. But it was the fact I feel like he probably had to put in way less work.

I dapped him up as he placed his hand out to me.
"Wassup man?" he asked with a smile on his face, "who you out here with?"

"I'm actually heading out, I saw you so I wanted to come and speak, but I'm going to let you get to it. I see you." I pointed out as I looked at Aria. Our eyes connected and for a moment I was sure I saw a hint of fear but it was quickly wiped away as her eyes moved to what was beside me. I looked as Casey was now beside me. We were even, there wasn't shit either one of us could really say in this situation.

Casey spoke to them, as Vinnie introduced her to Aria, Aria gave her a sincere smile and compliment before I forced us away from the table.

That shit really blew me. And I knew technically I couldn't be mad but I was and most of it was a pride thing. This was the same nigga that I claimed her in front of and she was on a date with him out of all people.

Casey was talking about different movies and I was so zoned out I just randomly named one of the movies she said, so she would stop asking me. My mind was racing on how I would handle this situation, nine times out of ten she wasn't going to text me, and I didn't want to seem like no weak ass nigga by texting her. Cause in reality, I would just let the girl be or let her come back begging. I don't beg, but I was already acting out of character thus far cause I damn near had to beg Aria just to get her number. I shook my head thinking about it.

This girl was going to be the death of me. "Did you hear me?" Casey questioned pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked at her as I shook my head no. "What has you so zoned out? What are you thinking about?" She questioned.

"Nothing." I let out as I started the car, "what time it start?" I asked instead. "In thirty, so we need to get there."

"Alright." I let out as I headed to the movie theater we chose. "That was her wasn't it?" She asked. "Who?" I questioned as I stayed focus on the road.

"The bet." I looked over at her and then back at the road, "I know it was." She barked after I didn't say anything. "I remember what she looked like, I watched you walk off with her when you basically played my face for her." She stated with slight resentment.

"Chill out, it wasn't even like that."

"Then what was it like?" She questioned as I could feel her burning a hole in the side of my face. I wasn't about to do this with her. "Man chill, we having a good ass day. I thought we were passed that." I looked over at her as she rolled her eyes. She clearly still felt a way about it.

The rest of the ride was silent until I pulled up to the movie theater and parked, I looked at her and smiled as she tried not to. "Man, stop acting like that." I pulled her towards me as I kissed her. "Let's continue to enjoy our day, and go watch this lame ass movie you chose."

Her mouth dropped. "You chose this movie too. Don't do that."

I got out the car as she did too, I grabbed her hand as we walked up to the buy the tickets. The last thing my mind would be on was this movie. I had to figure out how I was going to keep Casey in check and fuck Aria at the same time.