Page 24 of Where Is the Love

“We’ve only had two customers today.”

I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip. “When do you think I should face the inevitable?”

He took in a deep breath and released it. He’d been an employee of mine since I opened the doors six years ago. There was a time when we were busting at the seams. When they opened a Castle Hill Fitness two years ago less than a mile away from us, it killed us. “I think you should face the music now while you’re still above water. Don’t go broke trying to preserve your pride. Reinvent yourself. You’re a businessman. You can change this facility into something else or offer something they don’t.”

He had a point. However, I’d have to sink my resources out here in Nome, because I knew my mama wouldn’t want to move. She’d be homeless in Nome before she lived in Austin or New York. “Okay. Let me think on it. I’ll send an email this weekend to all the employees.”

I ended the call and yelled, “Fuck!”

Everything seemed to be falling apart around me, and I didn’t know how I would come out of this situation. I could only hope Jessica would text back now. I needed to be distracted now more than ever.

CHAPTERNINE

JESSICA

Brixton had me in my feelings big time. I was so excited to get to him I’d rushed Tyeis and fussed about her taking so long all the way to Nome. When he didn’t want to spend time with me, I was so disappointed. However, as I watched him leave, I could tell that something was seriously wrong in his world. I wanted him to talk to me, but he had shut me out.

I supposed I wanted the benefits of being his without actually being his. I’d spent the night with Nate Thursday night and didn’t talk to Brix at all. Nate and I were intimate, but we didn’t have sex. We were both in our feelings about our parents. We talked for hours. We’d held each other all night and kissed some, but he never insinuated he wanted more than that, and neither did I. I still enjoyed being in his company and feeling his embrace.

I was glad that we didn’t have sex, because it was too soon after Brix. I needed to marinate in the afterglow his sex gave me. We had an intense sexual chemistry that I wasn’t ready to replace with another’s. I wanted to just marinate in the love I felt from him, only to get back and feel the opposite. I understood though, because I did the same damn thing. I held stuff in all the time. He’d just been different from me though. He was way more expressive than I was, so his behavior caught me off guard.

“Man, you quiet as hell. You still thinking about Brix?” Jakari asked as he walked in my mama’s house.

“Yeah.”

Tyeis had gone to the room to take a nap. We’d made plans to turn up with Decaurey, Nesha, and Jakari tonight. I’d hoped Brix would come after we had dinner, but I didn’t know if I would even see him again today. I kind of wanted to let him be. He’d sent a text saying he was cool and ready to be near me, but I needed him to make sure. I didn’t want to feel like I did at the diner again. I was somewhat embarrassed too.

I’d gassed his ass up to Tyeis about how perfect he was. I’d even told her that I thought he loved me and how he worshiped my body like it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Then when he got to the diner, I’d hopped up from the table in the middle of conversation to greet him. I expected him to pull me in his arms and kiss me long on the lips. When he barely wanted to touch me, my heart was crushed. Then I had to go back to the table with my heart on my sleeve.

I just knew Ty was gonna clown me, but she could clearly see the hurt on my face. She only rubbed my back and went back to running her mouth with Jakari. They behaved like they were long lost friends. They were interacting more than I was, even before Brix showed up.

“Jess, don’t tell him I told you, but Uncle WJ and I were talking about him a little while ago. His dad left him a shit load of debt, and I think he just found out about it today. They owe Mr. Jeffcoat like forty grand, and he done already spent quite a bit of money fixing up the place. They are in jeopardy of losing the property if he doesn’t come up with the money in thirty days.”

I stared at Jakari in disbelief. “Are you serious? What is he gonna do?”

“I don’t know. Uncle WJ called a meeting at six with the siblings, Aunt Chas, Philly, Nesha, and me. He wants to rescue him without taking him over. I don’t know how Brix will sustain himself after that though. There are ten years’ worth of back taxes on the place. That puts him over a hundred grand in debt. It’s not that we don’t have the money to bail him out, but there’s no sense in doing it if he’s gonna fall behind again.”

“Well, he has a gym in Austin. And if he’s selling cattle and whatnot, shouldn’t he be okay?”

Jakari shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Philly is checking into his background and financials as we speak so he can have something to present later.”

My heart sank at the news. No wonder Brix was so downtrodden earlier. I grabbed my phone and texted him.We can still go to dinner at about six... just me and you. Wherever you wanna go. If you want, you can come hang out with us after dinner also. I’d love for you to meet my friend, Tyeis.

“You can’t say anything to him about it, Jess. You gon’ have to tame that mouth.”

“Shut up, fool. I know I can’t say anything about it. It would kill him if he knew everyone knew. How did y’all find out?”

“Uncle WJ saw Mr. Jeffcoat’s brother leaving their house earlier today on his way to Aunt Tiff’s. He stopped him to ask what he was doing there. He told him he’d forgotten to leave a copy of the documents he’d brought by this morning for Ms. Lewis to sign.”

“Brix is extremely smart. There’s no way he knew about this. That was why he was so upset earlier. I may need to spend the rest of the evening with him and put off going out until later in the week.”

A text came through.I thought you were ghosting me. The time is fine. I’m not sure if I’ll want to go out later though. You cool with Pappadeaux?

Yeah. That’s fine. Can I pick you up?

Naw. I’ll pick you up, baby.

I took a deep breath. He gave me a term of endearment, and that put my nerves at ease somewhat. I brought my phone to my chest, feeling his pain through every word. “Jess, chill out. You gon’ do something to make him think you know. Don’t be tryna pay for dinner and shit.”