Jazzy Girl

by C.L. Wells

  Jazz drooled on the floor.

  “Gross! Not ladylike at all.” Sherice sat the bowl down in front of Jazz and went for a paper towel.

  The paper towel roll sat next to the cactus. Sherice’s stomach soured. Why did she feel like she’d be missing out on something big by moving again? Barely more than a stranger, Canden challenged her sanity, made her want to try living the lie.

  Her clothes, disheveled wrinkled beyond measure, felt funky after sleeping in them. She changed into a pair of khaki Capris and an army green cotton-tee.

  She liked this town and she liked this house. This kitchen. The backyard for Jazz. Her car. She could make a few friends. Keep a safe distance. A life not-so-alone might be better than complete isolation. Most people in witness protection were criminals. Their hunters only found them and killed them when they’d become too comfortable, too trusting. Wanting companionship made a person human.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks again and it made her angry. She hadn’t cried once in the last two years but now, all of a sudden, she was boohooing at the drop of a hat.

  Sherice sat at her kitchen table and folded her hands in front of her. If she didn’t call her contact, she was certain she’d be facing something ugly, most likely her death. God had saved her in that container yard. Giovanni hadn’t run out of bullets. God performed a miracle just for her. Why? She hadn’t done anything exceptional in her life. She didn’t want to go to college when she graduated and it made her parents angry. They couldn’t fathom how their athletic, honor roll daughter didn’t aspire to do more. She’d decided to join the Air Force, but then she saw the listing in the local newspaper for the Atlanta Police Department and she’d felt like it was her chance to do something real. Well, it couldn’t get more real. She chased a young boy right into his death. God saved her but let him die. Only He knew why.

  Maybe this was why she never allowed herself to get her life back. Not only did she have to hide her identity, but the real her wasn’t worth knowing anyway. Her family died because of her choices and to love anyone else put them at risk. Who’d want to be put at risk for someone they would never truly know?

  Jazz panted at the back door.

  Sherice sighed.

  “Here I come.” Sherice pushed up off the table and stood. The weight of her sadness evident in her stance, her movements sluggish. She grabbed her phone and sunglasses. Might as well let Jazz play one more time. Once she made the call, she’d have to get a bag together. That’s all she would be allowed to take. Her life fit neatly into a single bag.

  A warm summer-like breeze greeted her when she slid the door open. A waft of barbecue floated in. Someone nearby was grilling something tasty. A squirrel darted up a tree at the sight of Jazz bounding into the yard. All of it only served to increase her forlornness.

  As she sat in her chair, she wondered what would happen if she quit running.

  I’d die.

  She could have, should have, died the day she ran into Giovanni though too.

  Why did you save me that day, Lord? I don’t have a grand purpose. Hiding here, I haven’t so much as helped a stranger with a jump for their dead battery. I’ve kept myself in a shell away from the entire world.

  Jazz ran to her and stood in front of her. The silly oversized puppy dog’s smile stretched across her face.

  “Okay, girl. I hear you loud and clear.”

  Sherice stood and Jazz waited.

  “Get the hose.” At the command, Jazz bounded like a huge bunny rabbit over to the hose. She’d known exactly where it was and it made Sherice laugh as she dragged herself over to the faucet to wait for Jazz to get in the pool.

  As soon as Jazz was in, Sherice turned the water on. Jazz maneuvered to sit on the hose but Sherice pulled it away from behind her. Jazz barked as the hose slid away over the side of the pool. Sherice laughed and sprayed Jazz with the water. Jazz shook wildly and Sherice put a thumb over the nozzle, shooting a steady stream at Jazz who bit and jumped into it like a wild girl.

  “Good exercise for you. Wherever we end up, I need to start taking you on runs again.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Startled, Sherice fumbled the hose at the sound of his voice. Jazz, sensing Sherice’s tension, stiffened and growled.

  “It’s okay, girl.” She held out the hose to Jazz who immediately relaxed. Taking the hose in her teeth, Jazz dragged it back to the pool.

  “You never stop spying, do you? You look ridiculous by the way. Kind of creepy.”

  The only visible part of Canden was his eyeball between the slats.

  “Well, I just need to make sure you’re not breaking any dog labor laws,” Canden said. “If I stand on the playset, can I talk to you?”

  “Just come over here.” Sherice sighed and questioned her sanity. Again.

  “Really?”

  “Really.” Placing her hands on her hips, her eyes studied the fence. “You’ll have to come over the top, though. There’s no gate.”

  “Seriously? Who doesn’t have a gate?”

  “Me. Are you coming over or not?”

  “Yep!”

  Sherice could hear him scoot something next to the fence. A second later his fingers gripped the top of the fence and he hoisted himself up and over, allowing his body to hang down with his stomach against the fence before letting go. It wasn’t much of a drop for him, but when he turned, sharp white teeth and pink gums greeted him. Jazz’s black lips were pulled back along with her ears and hair. Canden pressed his back to the fence, his eyes the size of donuts. Sherice laughed.

  “Not funny,” he said in a cautious tone. “Please do something before she eats me.”

  “Hold,” Sherice said. Jazz held her position.

  “Um, wrong command,” Canden said through his teeth. His body didn’t move. If he pressed against the fence any harder, he’d either push it down or become one with it.

  “I’m going to give her another command and I’m telling you now. . . don’t move.”

  “Do I look like I’m moving?”

  “Search,” Sherice commanded.

  Jazz approached Canden and sniffed him. Everywhere. When she finished, she resumed her snarl.

  “Calm, girl.” Jazz relaxed. Sherice walked over to her and pulled a treat from her pocket. “Good girl! Go play!”

  Jazz darted off at the command and went back to her swimming pool.

  Canden stood in horrific fascination, then exhaled.

  “Okay, that was awesome. Scared the ‘you know what’ out of me, though. Who trained her?”

  “I did.”

  “You?”

  “I wanted to show her off since you were so enamored already.” Sherice smiled at him. The fact he didn’t have anything on him also made her feel better but she didn’t bother to say it.

  “I’m not stupid. You don’t trust me and she was looking for . . . what was she looking for? Drugs?”

  “Among other things.” Sherice walked away. “You want to sit down? I can go get another chair?”

  Canden gave her an odd look.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing. And sure that’s fine. Thanks.”

  Sherice turned and slid open the door to the kitchen.

  “Wait!” Canden said. “Am I safe with her?”

  Sherice laughed.

  “Don’t worry. She won’t eat you unless I tell her to, or unless it’s obvious I can’t tell her to.”

  Sherice went in and came out with a chair and two diet cokes.

  Canden looked at the can.

  “Diet?”

  “It’s all I have. I can get you water.”

  “No. I can try this out.”

  They both popped their tops. Sherice took a sip and sat it down. Canden took a drink and scrunched his nose.

  “Not too bad. Doesn’t taste like the regular.”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of the point.”

  “Look, I want to apologize for how I acted earlier.”

  “Why?” S
herice asked. “You had every right to be offended.” In fact, she’d been relieved to see him react the way he did. It told her he wasn’t a plant. Had he been one of Giovanni’s guys, he would have said whatever was necessary to make things better as quickly as possible.

  “Then why haven’t you apologized to me?”

  Sherice looked at Canden’s astonished face and started giggling, but then it turned to a laugh. She couldn’t stop laughing. Until meeting him, her precious Jazz was the only living soul that could put a smile on her face.

  “You’re so wrong,” Canden said playfully and sat back in his chair. “Mean woman getting by on her looks.”

  Sherice put her hand on her stomach and sat back.

  “I have many other redeeming qualities you know.”

  “Fill me in,” Canden said.

  “I make great sandwiches. Are you hungry?”

  “Heck yeah.”

  “Okay, help me get Jazz cleaned up.”

  His eyebrows reached for the sky.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll properly introduce you two.”

  Nothing wrong with having one good day before we go. She ignored her heavy heart when it threatened to ruin her mood. When she left, she’d always wonder what might have been.

  After conducting a meet and greet between Canden and Jazz, they towel dried the big dog and went inside. Sherice pulled out all the sandwich fixings, and together, she and Canden fixed their plates. She had another diet coke. He opted for water. Canden nudged her with his elbow when he spotted the cactus at the far end of the counter.

  “You kept it,” he said, “that means you like me.”

  “I tolerate you,” she said. “There’s a difference.”

  “Ouch. The cactus really was the perfect choice.”

  She asked if he’d heard from his brother. He had. After they’d returned from breakfast his brother had called sounding hopeful. The trip was going well but Canden said he thought his brother had false hope. When the conversation turned to her, she spoke about her childhood. Other than keeping out a few location details, everything she told him was true. Her broken arm at seven when she and her friends tried to make a baby buggy into a race car. Her dad’s love for wrestling even though it was so fake! God bringing her turtle back to life when she was twelve. She thought he’d laugh at that, but he didn’t. Instead, he told her about a time when he was a child that he and his brother were swinging from the loft of their grandfather’s barn landing in a huge pile of hay. On his second swing, he landed right next to a Diamondback Rattlesnake, poised and ready to strike.

  “I still don’t know why he didn’t strike. I was right there, inches away and his maraca was turned on high. Sherice smiled at his reference to the snake’s rattler. After a minute or so, he simply slithered away.” My family tried to find him to kill him. They never did find him and I’m glad. I didn’t want him to die.”

  Sherice understood. Life was precious and shouldn’t be wasted. Too many people were willing to kill out of fear and greed.

  They finished eating and Sherice’s mind raced. She wasn’t ready for him to go but knew to make another offer might lead him on. Soon, she’d have to make that phone call.

  “You know?” Canden said. “At the risk of sounding too forward. I’m sick of hanging out by myself over there. Do you have any good movies? Or maybe you and Jazz could come over to my brother’s place and hang out with me. I’m good with either one.”

  Whatever lingering doubts Sherice might have had dissipated when he invited her AND her big scary beast over. If Canden had anything to hide, it likely wasn’t anything life-threatening.

  “I don’t have many movies, but I’ve got the Hunger Games series and I’ve got Netflix.” No point in buying a bunch of movies she might have to leave at a moment’s notice. She never asked what the program did with leftover belongings or asked why they didn’t pack stuff up and just ship it to her?

  She guessed it all to be too risky. Might leave a paper trail. . .

  “I haven’t seen the last movie to Hunger Games. Let’s watch that.”

  Sherice smiled at him.

  “Sounds good.”

  They carried their drinks into the living room and Jazz followed. In her mouth, she carried a stuffed black lab. Canden laughed.

  “Is that your toy?” he asked her.

  “My silly girl,” Sherice cooed at first then challenged her. “Give me that toy!” A playful growl came from Jazz when Sherice grabbed the toy and tugged. Jazz wasn’t about to let go. Instead, she lowered the front of her body to the elbows and wiggled her butt. When Sherice gave up, she held the toy between her paws.

  “I love dogs anyhow, but yours is amazing.”

  “She’s pretty special,” Sherice said as she turned on the TV and put in the movie.

  “So you taught her to do everything but give up the toy?”

  “Oh, she’d give it up if I commanded her, but there’s no reason to do that with her favorite toy. That’s hers and hers alone. She’s allowed to be sassy with it.”

  Canden’s eyes softened.

  “How long have you been training dogs?”

  “I’ve only trained Jazz.”

  “What?” Canden scooted a few inches away and turned to her. “I guess I just assumed after seeing you the other day. I thought maybe you trained service dogs or police dogs.” He scooted back and she smiled. “So what do you do for a living?”

  “I work from home,” she lied and pressed play on the control. He either understood she didn’t want to talk or was ready to watch the movie. He leaned back on the couch. When Sherice kicked off her sandals and rested her bare feet on the coffee table. Canden did the same except he left his socks on. She noted they were clean.

  “This is going to be good. Have you read the books?” Canden glanced over at her.

  Sherice shook her head.

  “Oh, you’ve got to read them.”

  “You’re such a girly man,” Sherice said instantly regretting it. When she liked someone, she constantly teased them. She’d forgotten that about herself. Bad habit.

  “Whatever, girlfriend.” Canden shook his index finger out at her.

  “Oh, please don’t ever use that voice again. You do realize that not all black females say that, right?” Laughter burst out of Sherice. “Okay, do it again.” At least he wasn’t easily offended.

  “Nope. Watch the movie. Are you one of those people who talk through the entire movie?”

  Sherice’s mouth fell open.

  “How’re you going to rep me in my own home?”

  “Rep?” Canden squinted and looked skyward.

  “Reprimand. Hello,” she said in playful sarcasm.

  “Ugh,” Canden said. “See, we’re missing it. Rewind, sista!”

  “Oh. No. You. Didn’t. Just call me sista. Are you out of your mind?”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  Sherice giggled but did start the movie over.

  “I’ll deal with you later. Now hush,” she told him. “I want to be able to hear this.”

  Canden shot her a look and his lips twisted. Sherice laughed and turned the volume up.

  Chapter 5

  Sherice opened her eyes and tried to blink away confusion. It was dark. After a couple of seconds her eyes began to adjust.

  Whoa!

  Nestled against Canden’s side with her free arm around his midsection, he was knocked out. His head back against the couch and his mouth slightly open. Not the sexiest form ever, but cute.

  How long had they been out? The TV was off. It had an internal timer.

  The last part of the movie she remembered was Peeta asking for a Nightlock pill. Sherice looked around for her phone and spotted it on an end table next to the couch. She reached for it but Canden’s heavy arm weighed her down. The only way to get it would be to leave the warm cocoon he’d created for her. Her mind and heart warred with each other.

  This isn’t helping anything. I should have made the call an
d left this morning.

  Sherice unfolded her legs and stretched. She was sore! More evidence she’d been in that position for quite a while. Little by little she inched away. Wrapping her fingers around Canden’s wrist, she pulled it up so she could scoot out.

  With a quick flick of the wrist, Canden now held her hand and yanked her back against him. Sherice gasped. When he tickled her side, she shrieked.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Canden said, his voice still sleepy.

  “I just . . .” Sherice began, but when she tilted her head back to look at Canden’s face, his expression halted her words. As he lowered his mouth to meet hers, she held her breath. Shocked to realize how bad she wanted him to kiss her. Their lips touched.

  “No!” She straightened and leaned away still under his wing.

  “Okay,” he said. Disappointment tinged his voice as he began to move his arm.

  “Not yet.”

  The corners of his mouth turned up. “What do you mean, not yet?”

  “I need to brush my teeth. I know I have morning breath, even though it’s not morning. His arm came around her waist like a hook. She tried to talk but couldn’t stop laughing through the torture. Canden had just learned a horrible secret about her. “I . . . need my phone.” Her laugh was uncontrollable and she wiggled to the floor. Finally, she escaped. “Ah, I can’t breathe!”

  “Who would have known being tickled is your kryptonite.”

  “You’re so wrong!” She directed a wide smile his way and hated herself for doing so. But she couldn’t wipe it off her face. Didn’t want to either. She could have been out of his grasp in flash, but she liked the playful banter. Besides, he’d probably freak out if she revealed her skills.

  “What time is it?” Canden asked.

  “That’s what I want to know.” Sherice scooped her phone up and pressed the home button. Jazz jumped up from where she’d been laying, stood in front of Sherice and panted.

  “All right, girl” Sherice said. “Wow! It nearly 9:30! We were out forever.”