Murphy Ch. 07

"This song is about Nandy!" Ruby said slurring a bit. "Just listen."

It was Cole rapping about some chick and to Nandy it didn't sound any different than any other rapper that mentioned a girl.

"Oh yeah that's definitely Nandy he's talking about," Jae cosigned.

"No its not, that's stupid." Nandy defended. She was strictly professional with Cole, even more so because of the debacle with the kiss. He wouldn't dare put her in a song.

"Candy, he just said the girl he's rapping about is Candy," Delvin said not being helpful.

Nandy gave him a death stare when she noticed Murphy suddenly listening intently. She sighed and stood to shut off the track.

Nandy paused at the radio then suddenly turned around, "I've got to fix this," she said more to herself, "where's my phone?" She asked suddenly.

"No," Jae said standing up and going to her cousin with her wine glass, "you're not going to worry about this tonight; you're going to drink your knee caps off and have a good time. Now, come on and show me that dance you said you learned at Murphy's."

As Nandy drank her wine Jae turned to Murphy asking for him to play a Brazilian song on his phone. He quickly did and Jae held Nandy forcing her stiff body to sway, "C'mon, move your body, Mamacita"

Nandy smiled, giving into Jae and showing her the two-step dance she'd learned.

Murphy laughed as they danced, or at least tried to dance. They were just drink enough to lose all coordination but sober enough to not give up. Nandy complained about having to dance "as the man" and Jae defense was that she was too short to dance as the man. Delvin couldn't help but feel as if he was seeing a new side to Jae, her crass playful side, he'd only glimpsed before.

The song came to an end and new slower one started, with a man singing softly in Portuguese. Jae announced that she was tired and plopped down next to Delvin. He then pulled her into his lap and she lay against his chest.

Now, will you dance with me? Nandy asked with a small smile. How could Murphy refuse, he was already missing her touch. He held her close slowly dancing the two steps she'd learned.

"I'm so impressed, even I was scared of you in that house," Murphy said softly.

Nandy chuckled, "Didn't know I was a fighter did you?"

"I just wanted to say that was sexy as fuck." He growled pulling her closer. Everything about Murphy made her burn. She leaned up kissing him on his chin before capturing his lips.

Everything fell away as she allowed herself to simply enjoy his warmth.

"Uh-uh, none of that." Jae said interrupting their kiss.

"and they choose the middle of the living room of all places," Devin commented making Jae giggle in his arms.

Nandy noticed Ruby had fallen asleep in the chair."Maybe we should call it a night,"



***

Murphy helped Nandy get Ruby in bed while Jae and Delvin helped themselves to the pullout in Nandy's home office. Unfortunately that left Nandy and Murphy the two couches in the living room. Nandy curled up on the love seat allowing Murphy to have the longer couch.

"I miss you," Nandy heard Murphy whisper in the darkness.

She giggled playfully, "I miss you too," she whispered back.

"Come here," He whispered.

"I won't fit," Nandy said around another bout of giggles.

"That's what he said," Murphy joked, "I'll make room,"

"Is that what she said?" Nandy said giggling again.

"That's it I'm coming over," The sound of shuffling followed.

"No, I'll come." She said.

They bumped into each other in the darkness and fell into each other's arms in a fit of chuckles and kisses.



***



"Ah, feels good to be home, I know you're happy." Cole said as his jet finally came to a full stop.

"Yeah, I'm still angry with you," Nandy said not bothering to look up from her tablet.

"I really can't say I'm sorry about that when you inspire me. I thought you'd like the song."

Nandy sighed, "All you did was give me more work. People are drawing conclusions already and we're supposed to be making this go away, remember."

Cole gave her that charming smile that still somehow made her stomach flutter, "I don't want it to go away"

"I work for you, it has to go away" she reminded.

"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself of that." He said. That rankled Nandy but she decided that no response was better than anything she could say.

He leaned closer when he realized no answer was coming. "I can give you so much, anything you want. I can make you so happy."

The sincerity in his voice caught Nandy off guard. Up until now Cole had struck her as too forward and too persistent. She never thought that his attentions could derive from actual feelings for her.

She stopped and looked into his face "Cole, I am happy. Murphy makes me happy."

Cole gave her an exasperated look before turning away, "Well, I hope he appreciates what he has, or what you're giving up for him."

Nandy rolled her eyes, even when he was sincere he was still cocky. She had had to deal with his ego and advances for the past three days as they attended a music festival that he was performing at. There were quite a few press events that Cole insisted that Nandy be there for. All she wanted to do was curl up with Murphy and do a little more than curling up.



***



Murphy had spent the whole day preparing for Nandy's return, cleaning his apartment and even cooking a meal. He was a bundle of nerves, he planned to tell Nandy that he was irrevocably in love with her and even though it was past due he wanted to pursue something more serous with her.

There was a knock at the door and adrenaline spiked inside him. He quickly made his way to the door and swung it open with a huge grin. His grin quickly faded when he saw that it was Raphy and three of his cousins.

"What are you guys doing here?" Murph asked, not hiding his disappointment.

"Get some clothes on, bitch, we're going out" his cousin Gustave said leaning against the door frame.

"Fuck no, I have plans," Murphy should have known it wasn't Nandy, he'd given her a key the night they'd picked up Ruby and her children, in case she needed space or to come see him whenever she wanted.

"Aww, come with us" Raphy said sweetly as Gustave pushed his way in.

"I have plans," Murphy repeated

"Familia acima de tudo," Gustave said, "just ditch out and hang with us."

Murphy was shaking his head before his cousin even finished. "Sorry Cuz, I really can't and I don't want to. Y'all can go now." It took another three minutes of refusing before his cousins decided to leave.

Raphy was the last to the door and softly closed it behind his cousins.

"I just wanted to apologize for the other night." She said softly.

"It wasn't your fault, it was mine. You just reminded me do much of Nandy."

"I hope that's a compliment she said closing the distance between them.

Murphy smiled wryly, "Why wouldn't it be?"

"No reason, I just don't want to see you hurt." Raphy said stepping closer. I can't pretend I don't think about you and how your hands would feel on me."

Murphy sucked in a breath as his mind flooded with images of him gripping her soft body. This was wrong he thought, but he couldn't think of an appropriate response.

He must have looked conflicted because she laughed, "I'm sorry about that, I know you're with Nandy. Well, are you? Her relationship status: it's complicated."

Murphy still couldn't respond or react for that matter. He should make her leave he should end this now but he couldn't move. The determined sexual desire in her eyes froze him in his place. His curiosity with what she'd say next kept him quiet. He stood there as a statue as Raphy lusty smile grew bigger.

"At any rate, if I were with you, there would be no complications. You'd never leave my bed." She stepped closer, "I'd fuck you every which way but loose." And closer, "you'd pull my hair and make me scream your name," and closer, "then I'd hop on top and make you scream mine."

She was barely an inch away; Murphy could smell her sweet perfume and the slight spice of danger. "It was just a thought," she said barely over a breath, "but damn if I don't wish it was more"

"Nandy," was all he could manage

"...Is somewhere else..." She sneered resting her hand on his chest and pressing her hips against him. "...with Cole..." her lips were feather soft on his, "...fucking his brains out."

With that she kissed him, sucking his lip into her mouth to nibble on. Her hand slipped into his pants and palmed him. This was so wrong, he had to stop.



***



"Where are you taking me?" Nandy asked.

"To ya boy house like you said." Cole answered a playful smile on his lips.

"Stop playing," Nandy said finding his smile infectious, "you passed the exit."

"I'm taking the long way," He said shrugging.

"Cole if you take me to that launch party I'mma be so pissed."

"Its just a gathering at my house to listen to the mix tape before it drops?" He said.

Cole had decided to drive himself from the airport and offered Nandy a ride. She took it. Riding around in a flashy sports car with a successful rapper and entrepreneur sounded way better than a fifty dollar cab ride.

"No thanks, you'll probably all get drunk and try to fuck your hangers-on while I'll just watch and wish I was with Murphy."

"Don't call them hanger-ons they're just regular chicks who are fans. If they're willing then you know I'm willing,"

Nandy scoffed, "Bet you are, I just want to curl up with some video games.and a big Brazilian man."

"What do you see in him?" Cole asked his gaze intent on the road.

"It's not so much what I see, its how he makes me feel. I feel a kindred spirit in him."

Cole left that floating in the air as he pulled up to the apartment building.

"Call me when you change your mind," He said as she hopped out.

"Hold your breath...now"

Cole chuckled, "you're so cold,"

***



Nandy was so excited to get to Murphy she couldn't bear to wait for the elevator. She ran up the stairs to his floor, digging out the key he'd given her.

She stuck the key in the door and was suddenly nervous. She patted her hair to make sure everything was in place, and then opened the door.

It smelled so good like Murphy and Sunday dinner. She didn't see or hear him so dropped her purse and shoes in the hall and followed her nose to the kitchen.

Suddenly her heart froze as she realized what she saw. Murphy was leaned back against the counter Ella's body plastered against him and her hand buried in his jeans.

Oh, it hurt like a knife in her chest. She wanted to be angry but all she felt was betrayal. Her eyes blurred as she turned away from the scene.

"Nandy," She heard Ella call, followed by Murphy's surprised echo. She couldn't bring herself to turn and look again. She had to leave before they see her cry.

It was too late Murphy had caught up to her, grabbing her hand to stop her.

"It's not what you think, please believe me," he pleaded.

Nandy kept her head down she didn't want to see his pleading green eyes or Ella's smug smile. She had to get the hell away she wouldn't let them see how this affected her. She quickly pried his hand off of hers grabbed her purse and close the door behind her. She walked down the hall picking up speed as it became harder to keep her sadness at bay.

By the time she entered the stairwell she couldn't hold out any longer. She saw Ella all over him again even when she closed her eyes. She leaned against the wall as her body was racked with sobs. She loved him so much but he wasn't hers. He didn't love her like she did. Some part of her knew it and it's only now that she must come face to face with that reality.

It was only made worse by the fact that it was Ella. She cried until the pain in her chest subsided. She needed to be farther away. She didn't want to go home, she'd only have to explain to Ruby what happened and relive the pain.

She just wanted to forget her pain and she knew of one person who could help her.

"Cole, are you far?"