Page 13 of Where Is the Love
I gently rubbed my hand up and down her back for a moment, until she left my arms’ confines to sit back next to me. She grabbed her plate and went back to eating, so I did the same. “Jess! You out here?”
I turned to look through the back window and windshield of my truck to see who was looking for her. Once I saw who it was, I turned back to Jess. “That’s your aunt Tiffany.”
“I know. I recognized her voice.”
“You aren’t going to answer?”
“Yeah.” She turned her head slightly and yelled back. “I’m over here, Aunt Tiff, on the back of the Dodge truck.”
I could hear Tiffany’s footsteps get closer as I took a bite of my barbeque chicken. When she got to the tailgate, she smiled. “I was worried about you. Hey, Brixton.”
“What’s up, Tiff?”
“Too much and nothing at the same time,” she said, then giggled. Turning her attention to Jessica, she asked, “You okay? I mean, I can see you’re being taken care of, but if you wanna talk later, you know I’m always available.”
“I know. Thanks, Aunt Tiff, but I’m good.”
Jessica glanced at me, and Tiffany smiled. “Okay. Well, see y’all later.”
When she walked away, Jessica stared up at me. I licked my lips as I stared back.Damn.I wanted her so bad, but I knew we needed to wait. I wanted to ask if she was going to meet Nate for his game, but I didn’t want to seem like I was all in her business. So, I steered the conversation in a slightly different direction. “How long will you be in town?”
“I leave Wednesday evening to go back to Houston. Then I fly to the Bahamas for a photo shoot. I’ll be there for a few days, then I’ll be back in Houston. I decided to go to Nate’s game.”
Since she brought it up, I didn’t have to ask. I knew I could have, but I didn’t want him on her mind. “So we better make good use of the time we have, right?”
She brought her hand to my cheek and gently stroked it but didn’t respond verbally. We had a connection. I could feel the magnetism whenever I looked into her eyes. I knew she could feel it too. She’d have to be heartless not to feel it. “I’m going to church with Mama, Daddy, Jacob, and CJ tomorrow. It’s supposed to be our family day. We’re going to dinner after church. Monday, I’m supposed to be spending time with Nesha, Jakari, and Decaurey.”
I nodded, wishing I could just kidnap her ass and hold her hostage. “And Tuesday?”
“Turn up Tuesday at Uncle Jasper’s, because it’s going up on a Tuesday.” She rolled her eyes. “His words, not mine. You’re more than welcome to come with me… that is if you don’t mind being around smoke. It’s gon’ be a lot of puff, puff, pass around that muthafucka. Wednesday, I’ll just be everywhere, trying to see everyone before I leave.”
I needed to definitely take advantage of our alone time. I wouldn’t get much of it. “Can you stay with me tonight? It seems this will be the only time I’ll get to have with you.”
“I’ll make time, Brix. Even if it’s just for that bomb ass breakfast.”
“See, now I feel used,” I said as she laughed.
“Hey! I need y’all inside for my announcement!”
We both rolled our eyes.Storm and his bullshit.Jessica huffed loudly. She smiled as she turned to me. “I will gladly stay with you tonight. I’ve missed you over the years. I’m going to soak up as much as I can of you. How will your mom feel about that?”
“Girl, my mama loves you. She always wanted us to hook up… be together. But we have the opportunity now. I’m not gonna rest until I’ve exhausted everything within me. I’m already yours, Jess. I just need you to eventually be mine, baby. Everything is in place. I’m just waiting on you and what you really want to be revealed. I’m not rushing you though. I’m just letting you know that I’m ready.”
She closed her eyes, and a lone tear escaped her. She quickly wiped it away and scooted to the tailgate and slid out, leaving me alone to grab our leftovers. I took a deep breath and got out, throwing our food away on my way back inside. I looked around but didn’t see her. I leaned against the wall as Storm went to the microphone. “Jenahra, bring yo’ ass out that kitchen. Everybody need to know you on board with this.”
As Mrs. Jenahra emerged and rolled her eyes, I noticed Jessica come out of the bathroom. She walked over to her stepfather and sat next to him. I’d pressured her without meaning to. She just wanted to be right now, and it probably seemed like I was trying to force her into more. I wasn’t doing that. I just wanted her to know where I stood. I supposed it seemed like I was pressuring her in a way since I knew she was already aware of my position. I’d told her Thursday night.
I just wanted her to trust me enough to lose all her inhibitions. Just lose her reservations with me. I would never let her down, and I knew she knew that. Her body was screaming for me to take care of her, but the fear in her heart seemed to be screaming louder right now. I knew she needed time to get over whatever it was she was fighting with. She just refused to talk about what her real fears were. I’d give her whatever she wanted without hesitation, but it didn’t matter if she didn’t trust me to do just what I said I would do.
“Now that all y’all got yo’ ass in a seat, I can make my announcement. Abney is in a whole shit storm coming this election season. I’m running against his ass. He trusted me to handle things while he was sick, but that was the wrong move, because now I know the inside shit y’all don’t have a clue about. I’m coming to set all that shit straight, and I need y’all to be with me on it. My headquarters will be at Jen and Chrissy’s Diner. They get the most traffic, and I need to convince as many voters as possible.”
Almost everyone in attendance was doing other shit. Hardly anybody was looking at him, and he noticed. He frowned. “As soon as I’m elected, I’m coming for all y’all asses. I’m gon’ abuse the fuck out of the power they give me. Remember that! If I don’t win, it’s gon’ be just as bad. Shit, with all my family’s vote, I should be a shoe in. Ain’t but four hundred muthafuckas out here.”
When Mrs. Henderson stood, everyone’s attention went to her. She walked up to the podium with Storm. He put his arm around her and gave her the mic. “Seven, I’m with you, but watch your language in front of these kids, baby.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I got pumped up. It’s their fault for ignoring me.”
Finally, another guy I knew from back in the day stood and said, “I got’chu, bruh.”