“I had a great time today. Your family is awesome and I love how close you guys are.” He held me against his chest as he rubbed my thighs.
“Yeah, I haven’t had this much fun in years. I am pooped.” I yawned at that.
“Well, I’m surprised you even lasted this long with all that booty shakin you had going on.” He pointed out.
“So you were watching me?” I teased
“I couldn’t help it. It was like hypnotism. I couldn’t look away. Shit. I wasn’t the only one either. Do you have any idea what you do to all of us beez?” Of course he caught the joke.
I laughed and moved against him suggestively, feeling his arousal growing against me. “You’re so silly.”
“Would you, by chance happen to have any honey? If so could I have a drop? Perhaps a taste?” He whispered.
“I’ve got your honey…” That was an invitation.
“Then give it to me.” John accepted.
He leaned down to kiss me gently on my lips. Yes, I missed this. I had become so reliant on this man’s affection in such a short time. forty-eight hours away from him felt like a month. I curled my fingers in his hair and pulled him deeper into my kiss. As tired as I was, I wasn’t too tired for this.
20 FRAGILE
Brunch was served out on the patio by the pool. Nobody was waking up to eat breakfast let alone make it. Aunt V was so thrilled to have us all at the house that she put on a full spread. The smell of classic Jamaican cuisine lured me out of my slumber and I left John asleep to join her in the kitchen. She was making each of our favorite dishes. Ackee and salt fish for me, callalou for Jackie and Porridge for Drew. She also had started a traditional breakfast for our other guests. I stepped in and took over the pancakes and omelets.
“You have outdone yourself aunt V. I may never go home after all this. I haven’t had cooking like this in so long.” I flipped a pancake as she added cinnamon and nutmeg to the porridge.
“I’m so happy to have visitors to cook for. I love this house, but Jacks is only here maybe once or twice a week if at all since she rented the place in the city. Now that you’re here she hardly makes it over on the weekends.”
“Well, I can fix that. We’ll just spend weekends here. I feel like I’m at a resort. No way can you tell me that all that brick and smog is just twenty minutes away.” I tasted her porridge for good measure. Yummy!
“Child please, that man of yours is not going to let you stay away all weekend.” She was right. I just glared at her anyway.
“Don’t give me that look, because I see the way you look at him. I never saw you look at the stupid boy Evan like that.” She scowled when she said his name.
“No. I never felt this with Evan either. Do you know he had the nerve to send me an email? Bout he will be up here soon and hopes I give him the chance to apologize.”
I couldn’t see her face since I was working another pancake, but I could imagine her expression.
“Shame! Mek him Gwan!” Her accent came out when she was disgusted.
“I didn’t even reply. Can you say, not interested?” I really wasn’t.
“Well, I wouldn’t expect you to be but I am glad to hear that. You’ve never been that type…” She stopped abruptly.
“Like my mother.” I knew what she meant. She sighed.
“Well, you’re not. I just want you to know that.” She rubbed my cheek as she said that.
As if on cue Drew and Jackie came bounding in the room. They were both so loud. Drew went straight to the porridge and Jackie was back to fondle me some more.
“Woman! Where did you get all this from? I’ll gladly pay you on Tuesday for some booty today!” I smacked her with the spatula I had just finished using.
Just as she was trying to come back for seconds, John walked in Blackberry in hand. He and Drew exchanged some random man greeting and he came over and kissed me good morning.
“Good morning Sweet-Face.” I momentarily forgot we weren’t alone and glanced up to see my aunt gawking, and Drew and Jackie pretending to gag. John just laughed.
“Baby, seriously. You’ve got to come up with a new name. I forbid you to use that one again.” He demanded.
“Yeah, Baby girl. Any man who sharks people out of money the way JB does cannot be called Sweet anything” Drew chimed in.
“I’m not a shark D; I’m just serious about my cash.” John was being converted.
“That’s what I’m saying. We’re going to set up a racket. JB’s gonna get the money and then I’m going to triple it in investments.” Drew almost sounded serious. All the women in the kitchen just looked confused and shook our heads.
After brunch we all lounged out by the pool. John had to leave to take care of some business and was waiting on the car service so that I could have his truck at my disposal. He received nothing but approval from my family. He was feeding me strawberries while I lay out on a lounge chair trying to dry off from my swim when I saw Jackie walk out with someone and for a split second I thought my life was over. I had already choked on my snack before I saw that it was Edward, but at first glance he looked like Julian.
I can’t believe she didn’t warn me!
“What happened?” John asked in confusion
“Stupid seed!” I cleared my throat as I regained my composure.
I looked over at my aunt who was trying desperately to hide her irritation. Donna and Alex where just leaving, but she shot me a quick WTF glance.
Introductions were made and he came over to me to say hello. I sat up to greet him.
“Hey Jade. It’s good to see you again finally. You’re a hard woman to catch up with.” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and exchanged handshakes with John.
“Hi Edward. This is John. John, Edward. He is one of the owners of La Carra.” John nodded in acknowledgment.
“Good to meet you Edward. I know Jade has brilliant plans for your business and she has the Midas touch so I’m sure she will be successful.” He was too calm. Friendly John was nowhere to be found. Edward regarded him thoughtfully before he replied.
“Yes, I have heard of her magical talents. I too hope to be able to see these great plans for my business. We should set something up this week.” He was just like his nephew.
OMG!
Just as they were about to walk the ten paces for their duel, John’s phone alerted him that his car was waiting.
“Edward, good luck with your business. I have some of my own to attend to. Baby.” That was my cue to walk him out.
He said his farewells to my family and we walked through the house in silence. He opened the front door and I followed him outside.
“What the fuck was that?” He barked. He was pissed.
“Excuse me?” I didn’t appreciate his tone
“Maybe I should rephrase. What was that about? Your magical talents?” He was past pissed.
“John that is Julian’s uncle. I’ve met him briefly, twice. He is Jackie’s friend really; I don’t even know why he was so hostile.” This was ridiculous.
“Who is Julian?” He asked incredulously.
“The Dark Knight.” I hated the moniker at that precise moment.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t do this shit.” He ran a hand thru his hair and pulled down his shades.
“Don’t do that John. Don’t shut me out. Why do I feel like I’m constantly explaining myself for other people’s actions?” I grabbed his arm as he turned to walk away.
“Jade, it’s the way you react that bothers me. Maybe if you didn’t look like you were just caught with the canary…”
“The canary?” I couldn’t help but be amused.
“Yeah, you know. The cat gets caught-”
“Um, I know of the saying I’m just trying to figure out why you’re saying it to me and comparing me to a crazy cat that eats yellow birds?” I’m a pro at confrontation diffusion.
Apparently my strategy worked because John couldn’t hide his amusement.
&nb
sp; “No, don’t try to make me laugh.” He was going down.
“Don’t try to make you laugh? I expected far more than cats and canaries from you JB esquire.” We both laughed and he grabbed my hand and put it up to his heart.
“Fragile.”
One word never held so much meaning. I didn’t know what to say so I just hugged him. He held me and kissed me goodbye.
21 CLASSIC!
I went to the kitchen to get a drink and collect myself. How was I letting someone who wasn’t even here affect my life?
Fucking Ghost!
“You know, crazy people tend to talk to themselves.” Drew walked up and took the drink out of my hand as if I had just made it for him. I just shook my head.
“I’m gonna kill Jackie. How could she not give me a heads up about Edward?” I was riled up.
“Who is Edward?”
“He is freaking Julian’s Uncle.” I sputtered
“Who is freaking Julian?” Drew was not following.
I gave him a shamefaced look and long sigh.
He looked at me like a brother who was enjoying his sister finally being the one in a mess.
“Don’t do that.” I snipped.
“Do what?” He asked.
“Don’t judge me.” I used his other favorite line on him and he laughed.
“Damn, Baby girl. I need details before I can do that. You know the rules.”
So I told him about my very brief whirlwind relationship with Julian. In typical Drew fashion he let out a long whistle after I was done.
“Yo, you don’t do anything small do you? I mean you really didn’t do anything because you met this guy first, and JB is JB so I don’t blame you for that, but you do have to check yourself.”
“I don’t even realize I need to be checked until random shit like this happens.” I defended.
“Well, that’s what I mean. Get yourself in check. Either confront this shit or put it in a box and burn it. JB is not going to have it. Alpha male to the highest power and smart enough to check himself.” He advised.
“Confront what?” I knew I shouldn’t get upset, but I couldn’t help it.
“That! All of that right there. Snapped.com. Get a grip!” Just as he was giving me the fake Mike Tyson right hook, Jackie walked in looking like she caught the canary. Drew stood between us like a bodyguard.
“I was wondering where you two were. Are you ever coming back outside?” She grabbed my drink from Drew.
“Don’t give me that. Are you serious right now?” The wrong words and I was going to blow.
“Jade! I didn’t know he was coming. He called me and asked what I was doing, and then he called an hour later saying he was here.” She sounded convincing.
“He called to see if you could work and then showed up? How did he get here without directions?” I was not following.
Jackie just looked at me and Drew with a guilty grin.
Oh!
“You’re seeing Edward? Jesus take the wheel!” I was a little slow at times.
Drew laughed so hard his platinum shades fell off of his head.
“Man, you can’t pay to see shit like this. This is classic. Priceless, even! If I don’t do anything else for the rest of the week my trip is already worth it.” He mused.
“Why the hell did he have to behave that way with John? I could kill someone right now. Him or you!” I felt like I was in the pig face episode of the Twilight Zone.
“Well, he wants to talk to you, so you can ask him that.” Jackie handed the empty cup to me and walked back outside.
Classic.
Going back outside provided a great internal struggle for me. After both Drew and Jackie had left me in the kitchen while I made myself a drink I would actually get to enjoy, I decided that I needed to face Edward and whatever he had to say to me. I ventured outside to take a seat at the patio table. Edward was sitting with Jackie who was obviously entranced by him. I understood that look.
“I doubted you would ever make another appearance.” Edward teased.
Jackie’s look implored me to be civil.
“Well, Edward, I have learned a thing or two about disappearing, but that’s not in my repertoire of successful magic tricks.” I wasn’t going to play nice.
“Good, than I feel even more confident in your ability to succeed with La Carra, since you are aware of your limitations. Some people don’t seem to know their limits.” He shot back.
Jackie decided she was not interested in staying for the rest of our chat and excused herself to join Drew in the pool.
I wish I could escape too.
I sat in expectant silence as I nursed my much needed rum and coke until Edward broke the silence.
“I apologize if I caused and conflict between you and your friend. I suppose it was unfair to act on the behalf of my nephew given the circumstances.” He admitted.
“I’m glad you said that considering I’m not sure what the circumstances are.” I still hadn’t found ‘nice’ yet. Edward regarded my response and then sat back in his chair.
“We should start over Jade. I don’t think that we have any issue and I can see that my role as messenger is not going to be well received. I really have wanted to touch base with you regarding your plans for the boutique and wanted to give you the space to decide when the time was right. So I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting you to be here with anyone when I got here, and I lost sight of my actual goal of seeing you today.” He explained.
As much as I wanted to stay in attack mode, I agreed with him.
“You’re right, we do not have any problems and I accept your apology. I knew that sooner than later I needed to move forward with our business plans, but what I would like to know is what other agenda you may have been operating under.” I wasn’t going to go back to playing pretend.
Since he was here, and he did fire the warning flare, we were going to address the not so obvious. Edward sighed.
“You have to understand that the last time I saw my nephew he was disregarding his own safety to be with you. Whatever is or was between you was so strong, and he should have let you be, he wouldn’t rest unless he could be with you. Even though that meant a risk to him.” His riddles were going to force me to have a second drink.
“Risk? I wasn’t aware that either one of us, especially myself, were in danger. Edward, the only thing that is clear to me is that I don’t know anything. The last time I saw him he was telling me that he was leaving, but couldn’t tell me who, what, when, where or why. Before that, he told me he loved me and was begging me to give us a chance, and then the man who couldn’t spend more than a few hours at a time with me before some kind of business issue came up left said business and hasn’t been seen for months. Not by me at least.” I had been waiting to let that all out, but not necessarily on Edward.
“Right, and in those few months you have already formed such a close connection with someone else. That doesn’t lend itself to an impression of loyalty now, does it?” Low blow.
“I know you are trying to make a point, but what I have with John wasn’t built on a foundation of raging hormones. Julian was too busy to establish anything with me outside of the time we spent intimately, and even though I can admit I think about him every day, all I have are those thoughts. Unfortunately, his memory gets reduced to a few nights of dancing and physical pleasure and the connection I felt gets harder to justify. Loyalty and abandonment do not go hand in hand in my book.” There was no way for him to know how deep a chord he struck. I pulled down my shades in an attempt to hide the emotions that were raging inside of me, threatening to unleash.
“Obviously there is no denying the unusual nature of this situation and being on the side of having the advantage of understanding doesn’t put one in the position to understand what it must feel to you. Everything I said was in relay and I don’t want to see you hurting and I know Jackie wouldn’t forgive me if I did anymore damage. I hope you are not offended.” He looked at me for forgiveness, but
I was still stinging from his insult, or Julian’s.
Whatever.
I had nothing. I was done with this conversation and Julian. How dare he send me hate mail by way of his Uncle, from God knows where? Jackie came back to the table knowing me well enough to know that putting my sunglasses on was not a good sign.
“OK, it’s Sunday, enough with the serious stuff.” She joked.
She shook her wet hair all over Edward like a wet dog in an attempt to lighten the situation. I loved my cousin but sometimes I just wanted to choke the shit outta her. She springs this crap on me, and then decides it’s time to lighten up. That was the difference between us. Jackie wasn’t used to dealing with heavy shit and I was used to having the weight of the world on my shoulders. She couldn’t understand that she had been sheltered and protected from the things I had no choice but to experience, and didn’t understand why I chose to ignore certain things until I had to deal with them. I had a long list.
“Edward, I can meet with you this week. Give me a call at work and let me know when you’re available.” I got up to excuse myself from the table.
“You’re not leaving are you Jade?” Edward was either dense or really good at make believe. I put on a lips only smile as I pushed my chair back in.
“Hey J, you ready to hit it? I know you have stuff to take care of.” At least Drew had my back.
“Yep. I definitely have some things to do.” I didn’t even care if I sounded believable. Jackie looked disappointed but finally had the sense to shut up. I walked into the house to say good bye to my aunt and get my things.
22 MAYBE IT ISN'T ME?
We drove back to Manhattan in virtual silence. I let John’s play list fill the void. My brother knew I would talk when I was ready. I may take longer than the average person to get over a situation, but when I was done I was done. I was in the red zone at V's house. Now I was more irritated than anything else.
“You gonna be alright, Hulk?” Drew was bored. I looked at him and laughed.
“This shit isn’t funny. Do you know he had the nerve to insinuate that I was a slut and call me disloyal? Then tried to smooth it over with the ‘I’m just the messenger’ b/s.” I shook my head.
Jaded Hearts (The Jaded Hearts Club) Page 15
