I nodded. “Hell yeah; I thought I was going to have to pistol-whip your ass.”
He laughed hard at that. “Damn; pistol-whipped because of some bowls on the counter? That’s harsh.”
I giggled, glad for the lighthearted teasing between the two of us. Chris waved me off.
“Go ahead and do what you came here to do, I’m going to take care of this and listen out for Niecy and Byron to get here.”
With a nod, I spun on my heel and grabbed my phone from the counter.
“Okay, I’ll be upstairs.”
As I walked back through the home I had built picture-by-picture, trinket-by-trinket, I wondered if it was as crazy as it sounded that I was no longer upset about my divorce and even anticipating the things to come. Instinctively, my hand came up to cradle my belly, softly rubbing over my tank top. I smiled to myself as I climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Chapter Thirteen
Jermaine
When You Feel The Need to Flex On Them Boys
My phone buzzed just as the cryo-sleeve sounded the completion of its final cycle. It was just after eight in the morning, and I was indulging in some light physical therapy after returning home from an away game. I’d planned to do a round of cryo on each knee before heading over to see Nedra. It had been two days since I’d laid eyes on my goddess, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I missed her.
Besides the days when I had away games, I’d gotten used to seeing her every day. It took some convincing, but I finally got her to spend nights at my house. That little ass bed at her spot had me cramped up every time, but luckily, I only had to suffer in it two times after that first night. I unzipped the cryo-sleeve and stretched my left leg as I picked up my phone to see that I’d received a text from Fred.
Fred: Did you know your girl was moving today?
My brows met in confusion. I quickly typed out a response.
Me: What do you mean?
Fred: Nedra is moving out of her ex-husband’s house today.
Fred: Supposedly a last minute thing. I take it you ain’t know.
Hell naw, I ain’t know that shit. I didn’t have to say that because Fred already knew, or he wouldn’t have reached out to me. I also didn’t have to ask how he knew. Two months later, and there was still more going on between Fred and Ashton than a simple one night stand, that was for damn sure. The morning after that night at VR, I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable they were with each other. That shit was obvious to anyone paying attention, but I had yet to question Fred about it.
I wasn’t mad that Nedra hadn’t told me she was moving today. I could believe that it was last minute. When I left for California two days ago, Nedra had still been married. If she was moving out of the house today, then she must have finally gotten that call. Not only that, she never called me when I had away games, claiming that she didn’t want to be a distraction. I low-key thought that was some fuckboy shit that her ex had pulled on her, but I was working on her with that as well. She just didn’t understand that I would be there for her in situations like this—no matter what—because she hadn’t wrapped her mind around the fact that she was really mine. It was all good. Actions spoke louder than words. Today she was moving in with me.
Me: Good looking out, bruh. I’ll get at you later.
Fred: Already, bruh. Stay up.
I disconnected the cryo-sleeve and hopped out of the reclining chair, already dialing out on my phone. An hour later, Boobie and I were pulling up to a two-story home in a neighborhood filled with newer model homes. There was a car and a moving truck in the driveway, and the garage door was open. We parked on the street behind a silver Toyota truck and climbed out of the SUV. I rung the doorbell and shoved my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants.
A short, brown-skinned dude with a fade answered the door, and I watched as the question in his eyes was replaced instantly with recognition. His face stretched into a star-struck smile. If I hadn’t been sure this was Nedra’s ex old man, I would have offered him a handshake. He rubbed his hands over his head.
“Oh, shit! Hawk? Yooo, I’m a huge fan!”
I nodded. “Thanks, man.” I expected him to ask me what I was doing there, and I was ready to drop the bomb on his ass and watch that starry expression morph into something else. Would it be surprise? Anger? Jealousy? But instead of asking why a professional basketball player was standing at his door early on a random Friday morning, he continued talking.
“Man, I’ve followed your career since you were at UAPB. I went to an HBCU too. I still think you should have gone higher in the draft, but I’m just glad they brought you here. Man! No one is going to believe this shit. Can I get a picture with you man? I mean—”
“Jermaine?”
Ole dude turned around, and I looked behind him to see my future standing on the stairs holding a shoebox in her arms. Surprise was written all over her face as her eyes flickered from me to her, now ex-husband. He whipped his head back to me, eyes clouded in confusion. I didn’t say a word, just waited for Nedra to make a move.
As if she knew my intention, she finished coming down the stairs, dropping the box on the floor as she hit the bottom step and slid smoothly in front of her ex. She looked up at me.
“What are you doing here? When did you get back?”
I looked down at her, greedily taking in every detail of the face I hadn’t seen in a week. Her ever-present lipstick was dark gray today and matched the loose tank top and leggings she wore. Briefly, I wondered if this was a stain-free formula like the last one I’d had the pleasure of testing out. Her skin was clear and shiny like she’d had a facial this morning, but what caught and held my attention were her eyes; they were slightly red and puffy. Since I knew she didn’t smoke, that only meant one thing. That she had been crying for whatever reason caused me to be concerned; the thought that she cried behind this dude had me hot.
She didn’t need my anger right now, though, even though it wasn’t directed at her. This day was hard enough for her without me adding my unnecessary emotions to the mix. So, instead of mushing her little ass ex, who couldn’t be more than 5’10”, I smiled at her.
“I got in around two, and I brought some muscle to help with your boxes.”
The way her face lit up when I said that made my chest puff out. I’d never tire of seeing her glow like the goddess she was, man, I swear. Not only did her chocolate-brown eyes shine with gratitude, but I saw that thing that she had been trying to deny and shit; I felt like the big fucking man on campus.
Nedra surprised the hell out of me when she stepped forward, pushing up on her tiptoes, and wrapped her arms around my neck. My arms instantly wrapped around her waist, and I lifted her up as she pulled my head down, pressing her lips against mine in a sweet, albeit brief, kiss. While I never had a problem publicly showing affection to her, I didn’t think she would have done that in front of ole dude. That she did brought a smug smile to my face. She didn’t have to say a word; everything she felt in that moment transferred through that short connection we shared.
She released me, and I set her back down, glancing behind her to see ole dude barely keeping the anger off his face. I noticed his hands clenched into fists at his side but when he saw that I saw him, he forcibly relaxed his hands and his face. It happened within seconds and when Nedra turned around, he looked like a man trying not to observe a tender moment between lovers. Fake ass.
Nedra grabbed my hand. “Hawk, this is Chris. Chris, this is Hawk, and that’s Boobie.”
Chris looked behind me and nodded at Boobie. His ass was fangirling so hard, he probably ain’t even see nobody but me when he opened the door. It also didn’t escape my notice that she had introduced me to him as Hawk instead of Jermaine.
“Come on.” Nedra pulled me into the house, and Chris stepped to the side, almost tripping over the box she had abandoned when she saw me. Instead of going up the stairs, she kept straight. Chris closed the door behind Boobie, and I glanced back to see my cousi
n walk past him slowly.
“Aye, bruh. You still want that picture?” Boobie’s ass laughed heartily after he asked the question, but he didn’t stop to wait for the answer. I chuckled lowly. I didn’t want to rub it in his face; I’m sure it was embarrassing enough.
Nedra turned her head and eyed me. “What are you laughing at?”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it.”
She pursed her lips but then nodded. We stopped in the kitchen, and I looked around at the space. There were boxes everywhere.
“These are the heaviest boxes, not including the ones in the living room that hold the contents of my bookshelves. This is the perfect place to put those muscles to use. You can load all of the ones that have my name on them into the moving truck.”
Boobie bent to grab the box closest to him and left the kitchen. I looked at Nedra.
“Are these supposed to be going to Niecy’s house?” I didn’t plan on letting that happen.
She shook her head. “All of these boxes, except the ones containing food, are going to a storage unit.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that she would be bringing all of this to my house. I wanted to speak those words so badly, but I had to bite my tongue and mentally chastise myself. Timing was everything.
“Got it.”
Boobie and I worked to clear the kitchen and then moved to the living room for those boxes of books. Nedra had gone back upstairs but resurfaced every now and then to check on us. Old dude—Chris—didn’t show his face again, and that may have been for the best. I hadn’t forgotten about Nedra’s puffy eyes. What the fuck had he said to her to have her crying? I was trying not to stew on it but that anger fueled me. Between me and Boobie, the whole downstairs was packed into the truck in less than forty-five minutes.
I knew there were things upstairs that needed to be moved to the truck, but I hesitated on going up there for a minute. Nedra hadn’t come down in at least twenty minutes, and I needed to brace myself to see her with her ex. He might have been the one to divorce her, but I knew niggas. Seeing her move on with someone who was—without a doubt—an upgrade could bring out the bitch in a nigga. I needed to make sure I didn’t put my hands on this dude.
“Aye, bruh.”
I turned to see Boobie standing to my right with his arms folded across his chest. I raised a brow at him.
“The longer you stand here contemplating your next move, the more time he spends in her face.”
Shit. He was right. I was bullshitting. I took the steps three at a time, my long legs bringing me to the landing in no time. The sound of voices brought me down the hall to the first door. Just as I thought, ol’ dude was in her fucking face. Nedra was on the floor in front of a chest of drawers, legs folded underneath her while she filled a box beside her with items from a bottom drawer. Ol’ dude was standing behind her, no doubt getting his fill of the sight of her ass that was poking out deliciously behind her.
“I’m just saying; I can’t believe you went out and found a ballplayer, Nedra. I didn’t think that was your style.”
What did this bum ass nigga mean by “not her style”?
“I didn’t ‘go out and find’ anybody, Chris. Not that it’s any of your business, but I met him the same way that I met you.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Okay, Ned,” he spat sarcastically, “you’re telling me that my sister introduced you to the greatest basketball player of this decade? The man who has broken the records for scores, rebounds, and triple-doubles, all before the age of thirty; Ashton pulled him over to you and made introductions?”
I turned and met Boobies amused gaze with a nod. Shit, I was impressed. I guess dude really was a fan. And greatest basketball player of the decade? I was flattered as well. Ah, shit, I didn’t want to like this dude. Not caring if I was caught blatantly eavesdropping, I leaned against the doorjamb and settled in for the rest of their conversation.
Nedra folded the top of the box and looked up at her ex. “Yes, Chris. It was more like, Ashton pulled me over to him, but yes. She asked his friend, Fred, if he was cool then basically shoved me at him.”
I almost laughed at the comical way that ol’ dude’s jaw dropped. His hand clutched at his chest.
“Fred. As in, Fred Pierce, starting forward for the Clutch?”
Nedra shrugged as if she wasn’t sure of those details. “I don’t know; maybe?”
“My sister knows Fred Pierce and Hawk Hawkins?”
Nedra sighed, her voice stale as she drolled, “I guess.”
Ol’ dude sputtered. “But…why didn’t she ever introduce me? She knows I’m a huge Clutch fan!” His face was the picture of disbelief as he whined at the unfairness of it all.
Nedra stood up and brushed nonexistent lint off the back of her luscious ass before propping her fists on her hips. “When is she supposed to introduce you, Chris? You never call to check on her, and she’s your only sister! Seriously, though, you sound like a lil’ ass boy whining about not getting to meet Elmo at Sesame Street Live.”
Boobie elbowed me, and I snickered at that one. They both turned toward me and I straightened. My focus on Nedra, I asked, “You ready for us up here?”
She looked down at the box at her feet then pointed to the three boxes lined against the wall to the left of the door. “All of those are ready, plus the ones in the hallway.”
I felt movement behind me and glanced over my shoulder to see Boobie starting on the boxes that were stacked on one side of the narrow hallway.
I held Nedra’s gaze. “You good?”
She bucked her eyes at me. “I’m straight.”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “Of that, I’m absolutely sure.”
Despite her attempt, she couldn’t stop herself from grinning and shaking her head. I pushed off the door and picked up one of the boxes.
“Imma run these down to the truck.”
“I’ll help you!” Chris skirted around Nedra and damn near sprinted across the room to where I stood.
“Chris,” Nedra warned.
I stopped her. “He good.”
I got the feeling that he had something he wanted to get off his chest, and since I was a mature individual, I would give him the opportunity. Besides, if he was outside with me, he wasn’t in Nedra’s face, and that was best for everyone. I carried the box downstairs and came face-to-face with Boobie as I tried to enter the garage. When he saw who was behind me, he gave me a questioning look. I shrugged and he stepped aside to let us out of the house before following us to the truck.
Once we loaded the boxes into the back of the truck, I turned and folded my arms across my chest, waiting. Chris’ were going every which way but at me. I sighed. I guess I would have to initiate this thing.
I lifted my chin. “What’s up?”
He rubbed the back of his neck but finally met my eyes confidently. “I’ve known Nedra since we were kids and—”
I held up a hand, palm facing him. “Hold up; are you trying to warn me about her or something? Cause I can tell you right now that—”
“No, no, no! That’s not it at all, I swear. I just want to tell you that I’ve never seen her glowing like she’s been this past couple of months. I can see clearly that you’re the cause of her happiness, and I want to thank you for it.”
Well, damn. Dude had me all kinds of confused. I was ready for a fight and instead, I was being thanked.
“You don’t have to say anything; I just needed to say that.” He looked up at the window in the front of the house and smiled wryly. “As long as I’ve known Nedra, she’s never been good at accepting love and affection from people. I mean, besides my sister and Niecy, and her grandmother, of course. She’ll play it off with a joke or change the subject, but she never really believes it’s real. I don’t know why because—and I'm ashamed to say this but—I never asked. I just got used to her rejecting it, and I never tried to force the issue.
I know this is unconventional, but I’m telling
you this because that woman in there, you can’t let her get away. I told her that, as soon as I moved out of the way, she’d find the right one for her and now, here you are. Now, you have to make sure that you don’t let her run you off.”
I licked my lips, contemplating all of the information he’d just unpacked for me. The woman he’d described wasn’t at all the same woman that I spent most of my free time imagining my future with. “Is that what happened with you? She ran you off?”
He laughed. “Oh no, that’s not it. She was my college sweetheart from a relationship that I should have left in college. I let my family pressure me into making a decision that I knew I shouldn’t have made. She’s not my soulmate, and I’m not hers and for a long time, we were just going through the motions. We both deserved better than that, so I did what she didn’t have the courage to do. I pulled the plug.”
I nodded. I had to respect that. It took a real man to admit that he wasn’t the best candidate for a position. Especially when it came to a woman. And especially a woman as bad as Nedra. I stuck my hand out and shook his twice when he eagerly slapped it with his own.
“You alright, man.”
His eyes lit up. “Yo, thanks, man! I really appreciate that.”
Hooking my thumb toward the house, I said, “Let’s finish up these boxes.”
He agreed and thirty minutes later, the three of us—me, Boobie, and Chris—had emptied the house of all things Nedra. I don’t know what the house looked like before she had started removing her things, but I couldn’t tell anything was missing once we finished loading up the truck. Without many personal touches, I thought the house looked staged or more like a model home than a house people actually lived in. I guess that was what my goddess brought, “homey-ness”. She had asked for a few moments alone in the house, so the three of us stood outside on the sidewalk. I observed the moving truck that was backed into the driveway.
“Aye, Boobie.”
My cousin looked my way then over at the truck. He already knew what I was thinking. “Do you even have to ask?”
To Buy a Vow Page 20
