Chapter 8
By the time I made it home, my anger had turned to sadness.
My mood had switched that fast after thinking about how I had acted toward Jabari, but my emotions had gotten the best of me.
Instead of saying thank you and apologizing, he pointed the finger at Gloria.
I needed to call Gloria and apologize for my behavior, but I wouldn’t apologize for what I said to Jabari.
However, before I did that, I needed a glass of wine.
I walked to my kitchen and poured the wine. I reached for my phone, and in the midst of calling, Jabari’s number appeared. I hesitated. He probably was calling to curse me out, but if he thought that, he had another thing coming.
“Hello?” I answered in a voice laced with attitude.
“Amina?”
“Jabari.”
He chuckled. “I see you’re still upset.”
I sucked my teeth. “Of course, I’m upset!
You were rude as hell, not to mention you left your sick mother with your sweet but busy child.
You didn’t even try to answer your phone when she called.
You swear it’s a restaurant, but the way you’re moving, you would think you were working for the mafia or some shit. ”
I was fuming, and I couldn’t control my inner thoughts. The calmness in his voice pissed me off.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“Motherfuc—”
“Okay, okay. Let me stop.” He chuckled.
“I don’t find shit funny right now, Jabari.”
“You’re right. I was trying to lighten the mood. I actually called you to apologize, but you threw me off when you picked up the phone with an attitude, then went on to curse me out. I knew I had pissed you off, but I didn’t think to that extreme.”
I removed the phone from my ear and placed it on speakerphone.
“Yes, I’m still mad. That’s your mama, and you don’t act like that to your mama.”
“I know, and my mama explained how my acting that way would be sensitive to you. I didn’t mean to trigger you, and I apologize for that. I also want to apologize for the way I acted and for having you here taking care of my responsibilities. I didn’t realize how much time had gotten away from me.”
I could now tell that Jabari was sincere, and he had taken the time to think about what had transpired.
“Amina, are you still there?”
I didn’t realize how quiet I had gone.
“I’m still here.”
“Thank you for telling JaBria to clean up after herself. But most importantly, thank you for rushing over here to them.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ahh, my heart is relieved,” he stated. “I thought I was going to fight tooth and nail to get an acceptance from you.”
“Just because I said you’re welcome doesn’t mean I’m not still salty. You really had me twisted. I didn’t deserve the attitude, nor did your mother.”
“And you’re right, which is why I’m reaching out to make things right. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Clearly.”
Despite being a loving person, I was a grudge holder.
There were cases where I hadn’t talked to people in years.
Then there were other people whose apologies I accepted but hadn’t fully forgiven yet.
It was something I was aware of, and my siblings gave me slack about it, but I couldn’t shake the trait.
The line went awkwardly quiet again before Jabari spoke up.
“Um... if you weren’t too busy in the next few days, I was wondering if you would allow me to take you out to dinner. You know, to make sure my apology hit home. I wouldn’t feel right knowing that I put a foul taste in your mouth about me.”
“There is no foul taste. Actually, I find your self-awareness impressive. You put your pride aside and took accountability. However, once I’ve been handled a certain way by a person, it’s hard for me to be around them.”
“Thank you. Mama raised me to look at things from everyone’s point of view. I can right my wrongs, but I can’t have you still feeling some type of way about me.”
“I don’t hate you, but I know how to handle you now.”
“Today was busy with the restaurant and stuff. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s beautiful that you have a career and are a successful entrepreneur, but family comes first in my eyes, and I would’ve never acted that way toward them.”
He sighed. “It’s the stress of being an entrepreneur. I’m just a businessman, learning how to juggle family in the mix of all that.”
“So, what do you say? Let me take you out to dinner to show you I’m not this jackass that I accidentally painted myself to be.”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I hear you, but I’m not sure about dinner. Let me think about it. How about that?”
I could tell Jabari was smiling when he answered from the perkiness in his tone. “Okay, bet. I’ll take that. I hope to hear from you soon.”
“One can only hope.”
He laughed. “I feel you. Oh, by the way, I really like the look outside of the scrubs. I mean, you’re beautiful in your scrubs, but the relaxed, messy bun in your hair made me do a double take in a good way.”
My core warmed up. Jabari calling me beautiful was not on my list of things to do today, but I wouldn’t lie. It felt good knowing he saw me as a beautiful person.
“Thank you for the compliment. I’ll call you if I’m up for dinner or whatever.”
“That’s cool. I’ll take that. Have a great rest of your day, Amina.”
The way he said my name sent chills up and down my spine.
“You too, Jabari.”
I quickly hung up the phone and let out the breath I was holding.
I needed advice. Jabari was doing something to me in different ways.
On one hand, he had me irritated by his behavior, but then he had me feeling things in my soul.
I immediately picked up the phone and called Danita, confused about how to address these emotions.
She answered the phone on the third ring.
“Sister, what’s going on?”
I could hear music in the background. I looked at the clock and knew she was out at happy hour. I cursed myself, realizing I had interrupted her evening.
“Never mind, call me back when you leave the bar!” I shouted.
“Hold on, I’m walking outside.”
I could hear her shuffling and the sound of music decreasing as she made her way outside.
“I’m back. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just needed to call and ask for advice, but if you’re busy?—”
“Girl, stop. What’s going on?”
I explained to Danita everything that happened from when Gloria called me to the end of the call with Jabari a few minutes ago.
“I just don’t know what to do.”
“Amina, I’ve told you about that grudge-holding shit, yet you continue to do it. Let that hurt go, boo. He made a mistake. Emotions were high, but he apologized. Move on from it.”
“So, go on the date is what you’re saying?”
“That’s exactly what the hell I’m sayin’, but also, let that nigga sweat a bit. Don’t get off my phone and go calling him back right away. I promise he’ll want you just a bit more.”
“Danita...” I sighed.
“Trust me, sis. That nigga called and apologized, and that’s like finding a four-leaf clover in today’s society.
He’s feeling you, and from the way you talk, I’m thinking you’re feeling his ass too.
Let him know you got the upper hand in all this.
He may run a business, but you’re about to show him who really runs shit. ”
I laughed. “Danita, relax.”
“I’m just saying. But for real, take the offer on the date and get to know him. I’m sure you’ll find that Gloria raised a good man.”
I sighed. “Alright, I’m going to take your advice. But if this shit backfires, I swear, Danita, I’m becoming a nun.”
“And I’ll become one with you. Now, set a reminder so you know to hit him up.”
“Alright, thanks for the advice. Get back to your happy hour and be safe.”
“You’re welcome! I love you.”
“Love you more.”
We ended the call, and I did just as Danita instructed. I set a reminder in my phone to call Jabari and confirm the date.