My Way to You (Brothers in Law Book 1)

by Lyndell Williams

  “How about one of these?” Simon pointed at the screen.

  “Huh?” A row of movie thumbnails with people at varying stages of decay or screaming for their lives shined on the screen. “The one with the zombies.”

  “Yes.” He leaned and pecked her lips. “My kind of woman.” Simon sunk back into the sofa.

  “Simon?”

  “Mmm?” He kept his site on the blackening screen. Ominous music filtered the room.

  She bowed her head. “I think it may be a good idea to just keep—this—between the two of us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Twirling the fork between her tapered fingers, she watched the mound of spaghetti grow. “I mean, we’re just having fun, right? I think if people knew, it would get strange and uncomfortable. They would ask questions that I’m not prepared to answer, and I really don’t want to deal with everyone getting all intrusive.” She let go of the fork and rubbed her temple. “You saw what happened with the guy in the elevator. So, can’t we just keep it quiet, for now?”

  He maintained an even tone. “I think you’re right.” An austere stare contrasted the agreement. “It really isn’t anyone’s business but ours anyway.”

  Regina continued despite Simon’s deadpan expression. “Are you sure? I want you to be okay with it. I’m not ashamed of being seen with you.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Good.” Regina cuddled against him. “Now bring on the zombies.” She’d hoped the bubbly tone in her voice would bring down the barrier that suddenly formed between them, and was disappointed when it didn’t-—not completely.

  Chapter 9

  Basketball with Marcus

  Flopping on the couch, Simon tucked both his arms under his head and let out a large puff of air. Time was just creaking by. Regina only left the day before to visit her parents, and it was as if it had been ten years. Why he was pining like a teenager was unclear, but it was hard to ignore the desire coursing through his veins at the very thought of her.

  He swiped his thumb across the phone screen, passing all of the names of more easily-attainable bed mates, landing on the only person he wanted. Hey. What’re you doing? It wasn’t right. Their affair was less than a week old. Unlike other sexual escapades, where he’d be happy with a single night of ecstasy, He still craved the thrill that feeling and tasting her curves brought him. He wanted more Regina, but here he was—left with texting and looking at a tiny avatar.

  Regina: Hanging with my parents while they banter and make breakfast. You?

  Simon: Chillin’, thinking about the last places I kissed you. If I remember correctly it was—

  Regina: I remember.

  Simon chuckled and propped on an elbow. I’m also thinking about new places to put my lips.

  Regina: Are you now?

  Simon: Yes. My mind is getting very creative. Regina’s face flashed on the screen under her number. He let out a throaty laugh before answering. “Hello?”

  “Okay, Young. No more sexy texts.”

  He smiled. “You don’t like my texts?”

  “Not when I’m sitting across from my mom and dad. My mother asked me what could possibly be on the screen to make me smile that way, and who was sending it.”

  “So, you do like them? I can send more.”

  “You need a distraction.”

  “No, I need to sink my teeth into your—”

  “Simon.” He sensed the excitement under her warning tone. “Oh, thanks dad. It smells wonderful. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  The phone beeped in his ear. “Hold on a sec, Regina.” He took a deep breath as the name registered. “Hey, Marc.” He cleared his throat to try to get rid of the cracking in his voice. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing much, man. I was wondering if you’re up to some ball? I need another player.”

  Simon sprung from his seat, jammed his hand in the front pocket of his jeans and paced the floor. “Umm, yeah. I can go for a game.”

  “Thanks, man. How soon can you get here?”

  “Give me about an hour?”

  “An hour it is.”

  Simon let out a deep sigh and returned to Regina’s call. “That was Marc. He invited me to a game.” He bounded into the bedroom.

  “See,” Regina muffled and chewed, “there’s your distraction.”

  “I can think of a better one.”

  “I’m sure you could, but let’s put a pin in all of that, shall we?” Her light giggle was infectious. He chuckled as he grabbed a pair of sweats out of the drawer.

  “Okay. When do I get to pull it out?”

  “Tomorrow, and Simon. You won’t mention us to Marc, will you?”

  “Don’t worry,” he strained to control his tone, “I remember our agreement.”

  They said their goodbyes. Simon started to change his clothes. Besides the law, basketball was one of the main things he and Marcus had in common. They hit the court right after meeting, and were practically invincible together, each intuitively knowing what moves to make to win. A hard game of one-on-one was also the best time to relieve stress and talk about life. Simon yanked sweatpants over his shorts and zipped the hoodie over his sleeveless t-shirt. He was actually looking forward to racing up and down the court with his best friend and clearing his head.

  ***

  Gym bag in hand, he panted as he lightly jogged up the subway stairs and weaved through pedestrians on the street. Marcus was already dribbling between players. He did a wraparound on his opponent and made the ball swish into the basket with a lay in. Simon stood on the sideline and grinned when Marcus’s expected smack talk followed.

  He pounded a hand against the Boston College letters on his sweatshirt. “Yeah! Yeah! That’s what I am talkin’ ‘bout, son!” Marcus jogged triumphantly past the guy he scored on. “You youngins ain’t ready!”

  Simon raised his hand. “Yo, Marc!”

  “Simon!” Marcus waved him forward. “Just in time. We gotta show these scrubs a little som’thin’, som’thin’ ‘bout playin’ ball.” He slapped Simon on the arm. “This is my man Simon.” The men around them gave Simon various forms of side-eye.

  “He know how to play,” asked a large man, jerking his head towards Simon.

  Marcus slapped Simon on the shoulder. “He has some basic skills.” He looked at his friend. “You ready, man?”

  Simon crossed his arms holding the large man’s gaze. “Yeah.” The men dispersed from the friends.

  “I love when they look at you like that.” Marcus elbowed Simon. “They don’t know what’s comin’.”

  Simon twisted his mouth into a wry smile. “No, they don’t.” With no further resistance, the games began.

  ***

  The door to Marcus and Toni’s apartment swung open. The sweaty duo poured into the entryway. “Yo, man. That was dope.” Marcus dropped his ball and bag by the door. “I never get tired of the shocked faces when you play. Idiots forget that there are Asian players in the NBA. Put your bag there.” Marcus strode into the kitchen and pulled two beers out of the refrigerator.

  Simon let go of his bag and put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, man, but those guys were young. I almost didn’t make it.” He accepted a beer and took a swig.

  “Nah, you had ‘em. They couldn’t mess with your skills. After all,” Marcus playfully jabbed Simon in the stomach, “you learned from the best.”

  Toni glided into the room wearing slacks and a blouse. “Good game, I take it?” She approached Marcus, who was leaning back on the counter. She stood on her tip toes and greeted her husband with a kiss.

  “It was intense.” Marcus patted her bottom. “My man never disappoints.”

  “Nice to see you again, Simon.”

  Simon sensed something different in her tone. “Hi Toni.” She set her full mouth into a half smile and sized him up with a glint in her eyes.

  “Would you like to clean up a little?”

  “Yeah.” Simon slung his bag over his shoulder.

  �
��You know where the guest bathroom is.” Toni pointed a delicate finger towards the door. “Feel free to use any toiletries and linens.”

  “Thanks.” Simon followed the direction of her finger.

  “And you, my dear,” he heard her saying to Marcus, “can hit the shower.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Simon stepped outside the bathroom a while later and dropped his bag full of sweaty clothes on the floor next to Marcus’s. He heard muffled laughter coming from the master bedroom. Toni emerged, adjusting her blouse and pulling her fingers through her hair. “Umm. Marcus will be out in a few minutes,” she said with a shy smile, “Why don’t you have a seat?” She walked towards the fridge. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “Water, thank you.” Simon sat on the overstuffed leather-trimmed sofa. He put his phone on the coffee table and rested his elbows on each leg.

  Marcus strutted from the bedroom and into the living room with two beers and a satisfied grin. “Okay.” He plopped on the couch next to Simon. “Let’s see what’s on.”

  Simon shook his head and chortled. He knew what that meant. There was either a basketball game on or some other sport. Marcus didn’t do tv, the news being the only other exception. After a few clicks, the screen filled with players running back and forth on a court. The men reclined on the sofa, and it was as if they were transported back in time to their college apartment, except with better furniture and beer.

  “So.” Marcus threw his head back and took a large drink from the beer bottle. “I hear you guys finished the grant proposal?”

  “Yeah. My assistant is having it proofed. It should be ready when I get to work on Monday.”

  “Good.” The room fell silent save the squeaking sound of basketball sneakers streaming from the television. Simon slid further down. Hanging out with Marcus always gave him a chance to relax. He didn’t have to be on guard around his friend, which was always a relief. The two fixated on the players. Simon put the bottle to his lips. The cold brew tingled as it passed down his throat.

  “How was it working with Gina?” Marcus broke the silence. “I know how demanding she can be. I hope she didn’t ride you too hard.”

  Simon sprang straight. Air and liquid sputtered from his mouth. He braced his hands on his thighs and coughed uncontrollably. He turned to his friend. Marcus suspended his beer bottle just in front of his lips. Simon shifted in his seat as his friend scrutinized him, one eyebrow arched.

  “You okay, man?”

  Simon raised his hand. “I’m fine.” He sat back and rubbed his hands on his thighs, trying to appear relaxed despite his racing pulse. “No, she isn’t,” he cleared his throat, “riding me too hard. We work just fine together.” A warm feeling crept through his neck and face. “What’s the score?” He purposefully concentrated on the screen, avoiding Marcus’s gaze.

  “10 to 2.” The tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood at the steely tone in Marcus’s voice. He was one of the few people that could read Simon like a book, and things were going to get tense very fast if he couldn’t manage to not look guilty as sin. Marcus was traditional about his masculinity. He vested a lot of it on protecting and caring for the women in his life, which meant he would be very defensive of Regina and hard on any man circling around her.

  Simon tried to keep his foot from tapping on the floor. “Good, good.” His cell phone chimed on the coffee table and lit Regina’s name. He snatched the phone and glanced at Marcus. Did he see her name? Fortunately, Marcus was back to watching the game and emptying his beer bottle. The phone rang again. Simon shut it off.

  Toni approached with a platter full of crudité and cut fruit. “Are you staying for dinner, Simon?”

  “Huh?” He shoved the phone in the leg pocket of his cargo pants and rubbed the sweat from his forehead and palms.

  “Yes,” Marcus answered before Simon could, “he is.” Their gazes met. A plastered smile contradicted his piercing stare. “I owe him a meal after his performance on the court today.”

  Simon swallowed back the bile bubbling from his stomach and turned his attention to Toni. “Yeah, thanks, Toni.”

  “Good. I took an extra steak out when I overheard Marcus talking to you on the phone earlier. I figured you’d be hungry. When will the grill be ready, hun?”

  Marcus groaned as he rose. “I’m on it.” He glared down at Simon. “Come on, man.”

  He joined Marcus on the balcony. Marcus rubbed the top of the grill. “Let’s get this baby started.” It took a few tries, but the flames eventually sprang from the grill. Marcus backed away to stand next to him, admiring his accomplishment with primal satisfaction. “I guess the proposal will be ready for the review committee Monday?”

  “It should be. I can bring it by after work.”

  Marcus clapped his hand on the back of Simon’s neck. “Excellent, but that’s not necessary. The deadline isn’t for a few weeks, and we have an advisory board meeting next week. Why trudge all the way up here? You got other business?”

  “No.” Simon hunched his shoulders to his ears and looked at his shoes. Well, actually, yes. I’ll be taking care of a few things with your sister. Even in his head, Simon realized how creepy the idea of him and Regina dating will be to Marcus. “No other business. I’ll bring it to the next board meeting.”

  “Cool. Listen, man.” Marcus held Simon’s gaze. “You know, I may come off as overprotective about Gina, but that’s just me bein’ an older brother. It never turns off, no matter how old we get.”

  Simon nodded his head a little too vigorously. “Yeah, I get it. She’s your sister.” He fell off balance under Marcus’s shake.

  Marcus smiled and dug his fingers into Simon’s skin. “Yes, and I’m always ready to do whatever I have to do to make sure no one messes with her.”

  “Yeah, man. Definitely.”

  Marcus laughed and punched Simon’s arm. “I knew you would. Let me get those steaks on the grill,” he announced before disappearing into the apartment.

  Simon braced himself on the balcony and blew air into the Harlem landscape. Marcus’s warning reached him loud and clear. Hands off his baby sister. Except, it was too late. Simon’s hands and everything else had already been all over every inch of Regina’s voluptuous brown body, and he didn’t have any intention of keeping them to himself and ending their torrid lovemaking. The only reason he wasn’t in her bed at that moment was because she was way out on Long Island with her parents. Otherwise, he would be busy flouting his best friend’s veiled warning. Another night of passion with her is definitely worth the risk.

  Simon crossed his arms and kicked the top of his shoe at imaginary rocks on the ground. Look, idiot. Marcus has been a great friend, and you’re going destroy your friendship because you like rolling around in the sheets with Regina? He’s going to kick your ass for touching his sister. Marcus was capable of taking a man down in seconds. Although no slouch in the fighting department, the last thing Simon wanted was to brawl with his best friend. “What am I going to do?” He asked the sky.

  “About what?” Marcus appeared holding a plate full of raw meat.

  “Nothing. Just thinking about a case.”

  “You wanna run it by me?

  “Nah, thanks though, man. I really don’t want to talk shop right now.”

  “I can dig that.” Smoke billowed from the grill as Marcus laid the steaks on the grate. “I just checked out the score. Knicks down by 10.” He poked at the meat.

  “Of course, they are. I don’t know why you constantly hope they have a chance in hell of winning.”

  “Hey, what’s wrong with having faith in people?” Marcus stabbed at the meat sizzling on the hot grill. The two laughed and the tension evaporated.

  As fool hearty as it was, Simon decided that he couldn’t give up what he started with Regina or his friendship with Marcus. If things become more serious between us, I’ll let Marcus know about Regina and me. Preferably when he isn’t brandishing a pitchfork.

  Chapt
er 10

  Jamaica Station

  Simon scooped another spoon of food into his watering mouth. He felt his mother’s warm hand on his shoulder, and a sense of comfort enveloped him. It had been so long since he sat at her table, eating to his content. Although they lived in the same city, her home in Queens was a distant place to people living in and closer to Manhattan. She might as well live upstate or on Long Island. Consequently, visits were rare, but Simon decided to take the train ride. Besides, he had other people to meet.

  He flipped his buzzing cell phone, curling the corners of his mouth as he dropped the fork and read Regina’s text message.

  Regina: I am catching the 4:56 train, so I should be home about 8. Do you want to grab something to eat?

  Simon’s groin tingled. I most certainly do.

  Simon: Good. I’ll meet you at your place.

  Regina: I’m looking forward to it.

  “Who’s that?” Alice placed a tall glass of water on the table in front of her son and descended on the chair next to him.

  “Huh?” Simon slipped his phone into his pocket. “A friend I’m meeting for dinner tonight,” Simon rubbed his belly, “but I think this delicious meal just spoiled my appetite.” He enjoyed watching his mother’s shy grin spread. It was nice being in his childhood home with her. Things were hectic at work, and his personal life was getting crazy now that he was sleeping with his best friend’s little sister. This is the calm I needed.

  “I can pack some for you to bring home.” Alice balanced her fork in her delicate hand.

  “No, I’ve some errands to run, so I won’t be able to carry it around.”