by Dela
I nudged her shoulder. “Jessie.”
Nothing but moans. Oh how I wished they were moans of pleasure. I watched her sleep peacefully for a minute until my imagination took me away and I was spooning her naked, my arms wrapped tightly around her bare chest. Ah, seriously, another hard on?
I nudged her harder this time to make sure she woke. “Jessie, I’m leaving.”
She woke up startled, undeniably wiping drool from her mouth. She’ll probably be embarrassed about that later. “Is the movie over?”
“No. But I have to work early tomorrow.” I stood. She followed me to the door, barely awake.
“I’m sorry I fell asleep. It was a long day today.”
I stopped in the doorjamb. “What’d you do?”
“Apartment shopping.”
There went my good night. “Did you find anything?”
“I did.” She yawned. “The lease will be available September 1st.”
“That’s in one week!” I tried to keep the worry out of my voice.
“I know, that’s why I’ve been so tired. I’ve been on the phone all day with movers. Did you know that it will cost me at least a thousand dollars to move? I don’t even have that much stuff.”
“Colby won’t pay for it?”
“He doesn’t know. I can’t ask him for his money. I’m fine, Kendal. Really.”
It was a no brainer, a whim I knew I had to take regardless of my busy schedule at work. “I’ll do it. I’ll move you.”
“What? But what about work? It would take at least a day to load and then two days to drive.”
“Please don’t worry about how I handle my work. I’ll do it.”
“I don’t know . . . I need to run this by Colby first.”
“Of course, but I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll rent the U-Haul.”
“Kendal, that’s too much.”
“Jessie, I want to.”
A tender smile rose on those kissable lips. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you?”
I chuckled, walking away into the dark. “Don’t thank me until we get there in one piece.”
“Okay, I’ll text you later then and let you know what Colby says.”
“Sure, whatever.”
Chapter Twelve
Jessie
The next morning, the buzz on my phone woke me. I picked it up with my focus still unclear.
You awake yet?
I sighed with a morning smile as I rolled onto my side. My tired fingers traced over the small buttons happily as I remembered my night yesterday.
Good morning, hon.
As I waited for his response I smeared my face onto my pillow to help clear up my vision.
Mmm. I like hon but I prefer baby.
What? My eyes auto focused at once and zoomed with a held-back breath to the name up top. Kendal! Oh great. Clear things up, Jessie.
Sorry! I sent that to the wrong person.
The seconds it took him to respond ticked excruciating slowly, and I bit my fingernails nervously all the while. But then the dot-dot-dot stopped and went away and no response came. Great, now I upset him. I didn’t want to text him again and make it seem it was okay to text me whenever he wanted, so I left it alone. But then, when I got back home later that day with cardboard boxes, I found myself wondering why he was texting in the first place. I picked up the phone curiously, stared at it contemplating, then set it back down.
I went back to packing. I was taking frames off the walls when my stomach grumbled. I slipped on a sweater and headed down the street to pick up Thai food from my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
“Hey hon, did I ever tell you how excited I was for you to move down here?” Colby said. He’d called me on my way back.
I stared at the cracks in the sidewalk and smiled regrettably. My thoughts were pure, only they were on the wrong person. I winced. “I know. I can’t wait.”
“Before I talk dirty, I want to tell you I found you a job at an elementary school not far from your place. We’ll check it out when you get here.”
“That’s awesome, hon.”
“So, what are you doing?”
“Walking. I just picked up some food and I’m almost home.”
“Jess, why do you do that? I don’t like you walking alone at night. Start walking faster.”
I did. Even after my accident it was a habit of mine to wander at night as if it were mid-day, but when Colby brought me back to reality, I always listened and grew fearful. I was now nearly running.
“Okay, just turning the corner. Taking keys out. Opening door. In and locked. Okay, I’m good.”
His voice cut out with silent pauses. “Yo . . . serious . . . eed to sto . . . that,”
“I know, you’re right.”
“Austin’s calling, can you hold on?”
“Sure.”
I unloaded the food, spread it out on a plate, and was shoving my mouth with its spiciness when my phone beeped. Incoming call from Kendal.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Sorry I didn’t text you earlier today. I got busy at work.”
“Oh, it’s okay.” See Jessie, no biggie. I reminded myself to talk in a calm manner and not like an excited schoolgirl. “I know you’re busy,” I said coolly, and not like I was talking to someone who is featured on Forbes on occasion.
“I would like to continue that conversation though.” There was a sensual tone in his rasp that carried through my receiver and laid chills all over my body. Okay, no more coolness. Just heat. Pure heat.
“I thought it was over before it even began. Your text woke me up and I couldn’t see who was texting me. I thought you were Colby.”
“Right . . .” He paused. “We’re going to need to change the tone your phone makes when I text or call you then.”
I laughed. “I’m pretty sure that’s just ridiculous.”
“If you lend me your phone I can have it done in a matter of minutes.”
His phone began cutting out, too. “Hold on, Gizelle is calling me.”
When he clicked over I went back to Colby’s line.
“Jessie?” The urgency sounded he had been repeating my name.
“I’m here.”
“Austin and Gizelle are flying out Friday to visit Kendal. I’m going to come too so I can help you pack and then I’ll drive the U-Haul back with you.”
Did his response just prick my conscience? I felt disappointed, though I wasn’t sure why. He was my boyfriend and I wanted to spend time with him—I was moving to Portland to be with him for Heaven’s sake—but something old and ancient that had been rooted in me seven years ago shook me to no end.
“Jessie?”
“I’m here. Let me tell Kendal then. Hold on.”
“Is he on the other line?”
I felt like a turtle the way my head ducked shamefully. “Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll wait. Make it quick.” He sighed, exhausted, slightly paranoid.
I pressed one button, just one tiny button that had me more excited than my twenty-first birthday. “Kendal?”
“Hey. Gizelle and Austin are coming on Friday.”
“I know. Colby is, too.”
“Great.” His voice was sticky with jealousy that sent my elated heart to the moon.
“He’s still on the line, I better go.”
“That’s okay. We’ll continue our conversation later.”
“Oh I almost forgot. You don’t need to worry about taking time off work now. Colby is going to drive back to Portland with me.”
There was a long pause.
“Kendal?”
“Okay. Well let me know if you need me.”
“I will . . . and don’t think you can call me whenever you want now that you’ve done it once.”
Nice, Jessie, a sly way to sneak in what needed to be said.
He laughed ignorantly, and it wiped my attempt to keep rules between us off the radar. “Good night, Jessie.”
I hung up and flipped back ov
er to Colby.
“Colby?”
“Gizelle and Austin want to do dinner together Friday night. We all fly in at four.”
“Want me to pick you up?”
“No, I’ll catch a ride with their driver.” He yawned. “Is Kendal still on the other line?”
“No.”
“You should tell him to bring a date for Friday.”
“He’s coming?”
“Yes. Gizelle wants her brother to be there, too. Is that a problem?”
“No. I’m sure Gizelle will let him know.”
“Maybe. But I want you to tell him yourself. I think he’s got a liking for you. Maybe he’ll back off if you tell him to find a date.” There was an awkward chuckle as he ruffled the muddy waters I’d been treading since Kendal walked back into my life.
“Of course. In the meantime, I’ll have everything packed and ready to be moved into the truck on Saturday.”
Another yawn. “Love you, hon. Don’t stay up too late tonight.”
“Bed already? What about your dirty talk?”
“It’s past its time. I’m tired now.”
“Okay, get some rest. Talk to you tomorrow.”
The next morning before the sun had risen I stepped outside in my running gear. Kendal was leaning against his parked car across the street, dressed in an expensive suit and tie. A dangerous grin danced across his face when our eyes locked. I debated taking another step closer.
“I won’t bite, I promise,” he said.
“What are you doing here so early?”
“Hey, you told me I couldn’t call you anymore last night. I had to see you, and well, I was restless.”
My pointer finger began lifting to argue but he blocked its path quickly with his palm and pushed my hand down. He took a step closer. “Stop fighting it.”
My eyelids were heavy, fighting the urge to flutter. I breathed in deep. Oh gosh, he smelled good. He was mint and evergreen and man.
I began to mumble nonsense when he laughed. “I have an early meeting. But really, no phone calls? Actually, let me think about this. I think I like this better. It forces me to see you. Yes, much better than a phone call.”
My stomach and organs and everything that existed inside my skin were now flying because my fluttering eyelids were carrying them away. I spoke weakly. “What are you doing here, Kendal?”
He looked down to his feet and scratched his head and then looked back up through his dark, curly lashes. “I don’t really know. I never know with you. I just woke up this morning and as I got ready for work I thought I needed to take a whim and drive by your place. When I pulled up and saw the lights I figured you’d be leaving your house soon so I waited. It’s really refreshing actually.”
“Whims are fine, but don’t waste them on me. Okay?”
“Well, Vixen, I can’t really do that.”
“Why not?”
“None of this is planned.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Are you all packed?”
“Mostly. I’ll be ready by Saturday.”
He glanced behind my shoulder toward my place.
“I can handle it.” I assured.
He looked away unsure. “So I guess we’re going out Friday together.”
“Yeah, you should probably find a date.”
“Which won’t be hard to do.”
“Ew. I have to go. See you Friday.” I started running away when he hollered after me.
“There’s only one person I want to go with. And you know who that is.”
“Bye, Kendal,” I yelled.
Friday evening came painfully quickly. My back ached from hauling heavy boxes to the front door. The seconds passed as hours as I secretly waited for Kendal to stop by again. He didn’t. Colby got in a few hours ago and we were readying ourselves for our group date, which I openly opposed to since Colby and I were to be loading everything into a truck and driving to Oregon tomorrow. I just wanted to sleep. And I had no desire to be around Kendal when either of us was with someone else. It felt wrong.
“You look nice. Almost ready?” Colby asked, stopping behind me. He slid his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder as he stared at the mirror in front of us.
“Promise we won’t stay out too late? I’m exhausted.”
“I think that’s reasonable. We better get going though. The limo will be here soon.”
I slipped on my last stud earing and smoothed my black skirt down my thighs. I was grateful it was dark, to conceal my tired eyes. I knew Gizelle would look stunning and I didn’t want to look like a tired old hag. I combed my fingers through my fallen hair, pouted my freshly coated red lips, and followed him out the door.
The white limo sat outside, the door ajar with Kendal’s profile in view. He was talking to the group inside, barely turning his head as we approached. I avoided his gaze at all costs, accidentally steering my view to his date. She was blonde, rail thin, and her skirt was too short. I wondered what hips were holding her skirt up as I slid in when Kendal brushed my arm.
“Hi Jessie, you look nice.”
“Thanks, you too.” I turned to Gizelle. Her hair was pinned up with a few pieces falling down the side of her forehead. She was wearing a deep plum lipstick, dark and dreadfully perfect. “You look amazing Gizelle.”
Before she could answer, Kendal burst out. “Jessie, this is my date, Tamara. Tamara, this is Jessie.”
I didn’t care of course, but I couldn’t help but look her straight in the eyes. They were too far apart. Pretty, but still, I thought she looked like a leopard. “Nice to meet you, Jessie,” she said. I’m sure she was nice, but I just couldn’t.
“You too.” I glanced to Colby. “I’m starving.”
Just as Colby opened his mouth Kendal blurted to his date. “Jessie and Colby can’t stay out late. They’re driving to Oregon tomorrow. Jessie’s moving there.”
It sounded strange, his short, matter-of-fact sentences. It sounded very elementary. Tamara just nodded and smiled. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but if I were her I’d think he was nuts. He was with someone else. Why was he talking about me?
“Tamara,” Gizelle said, gracefully turning everyone’s attention, as she so commonly did. “How did you and Kendal meet?”
She giggled. “I’m one of the buyers for a Malibu boutique. We’ve worked together lots of times through our mutual transactions.”
“That’s nice,” she replied.
Mutual transactions? Please. With nothing to say, I resumed my crossed-leg position and listened to everyone else gab as the limo drove to the restaurant.
“Ooh, we’re almost there,” Austin chimed, looking out the long window.
Our driver was slowing down after ascending a large hill. We were in Hollywood now, just off Sycamore. He pulled into the driveway of a large, Asian-style building with white Christmas lights.
“Ya-ma-shir-o,” Colby read, squinting through the glasses he didn’t really need, except for at night. But he wasn’t driving, so who knew why he decided to wear them?
“It means Mountain Palace,” Kendal replied. “Do you like sushi, Tamara?”
“I do.”
Kendal smiled that perfect, stupid, charming smile and escorted her out of the limo. Colby trailed behind, not bothering to reach for my hand to help me out. Not because he was mean, but because he never did that. Kendal was much taller than Colby, probably by a foot. I liked Colby’s height. It didn’t hurt my neck when I leaned in to kiss him. Yep, I was just fine.
The building held its name rightly so. It was a cedar mansion with lacquered gold beams and bronze dragons, the city’s skyline bustling bright in the back. Inside was a courtyard centered in the middle featuring a large koi pond, while tables and chairs in the surrounding rooms overlooked it. The walls were covered with silk and tapestry and the air was filled with the dewy aroma of fresh fish and soy sauce.
The waiter was quick to take our drink orders and slipped behind the silk panels. Another waiter ca
me shortly after with a bowl full of edamame.
“So Jessie, are you ready for Oregon?” Gizelle asked once we sat down.
“I’m ready for a change,” I replied. Colby squeezed my hand as the swift waiter appeared and began carefully laying our drinks on the table.
“Here’s to change,” Kendal raised his clear goblet. We all clicked, Kendal sipping with a smile as he watched me.
“What you getting babe?” Colby interrupted.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Austin turned to Colby. “What time do you want us at the house to help load the truck?”
“Eight in the morning good? We want to be on the road by ten.”
From the corner of my eye I could see Kendal looking the other way, uninterested, sipping his drink.
“Thanks for the help Austin. I feel bad. You came here to relax, not help me move.”
“Jessie it’s no problem. I need to work out my biceps eventually.” He raised his right arm and squeezed.
“Yes, Jessie. Thank you. You’re doing us all a favor,” Gizelle laughed.
“Hey, I’m not getting that small am I?”
She nodded. “Babe, either I’m getting bigger or you’re getting smaller.”
“You’re right, Gizelle,” Colby chimed in. “Austin’s getting much smaller. A few more months and I’ll catch up to him!”
We all laughed except Kendal, who remained silent, his jaw muscle protruding.
After dinner, we strolled outside around the Japanese garden to view the city lights. There was a sudden breeze, and I rubbed my arms for warmth.
“Are you cold?” Kendal appeared at my side.
Colby was up ahead talking on his phone. It rang just as we exited the restaurant, and he was waving his hands around profusely like lawyers do.
“No I’m fine. Thanks though,” I replied, looking around for Tamara. “Where’s your date?”
“Bathroom.” He leaned in. “I think she wears too much makeup. Do you?”
