Chapter 9
I stared straight ahead, but I was all ears.
“Ma, what’s up?” Lamar responded. “I’m about to head to Chance.”
I’d tried not to jump to conclusions, but I was relieved to know it was his mother.
“Where are you?” she asked. “Are you close to the house?”
“I’m five minutes away.”
“Please go to the house. Thank you. See you when you get there.”
She disconnected the call before he had a chance to respond.
I looked over at him. There was no need to act like I hadn’t been listening to the conversation. “What do you think is going on?” I wondered.
He shook his head, and his thick brows furrowed. “I have no idea. Do you mind if I stop by my mom’s?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
We didn’t talk during the five-minute trip. Every time I snuck a glance at him, there was a mixture of confusion and concern etching his handsome face.
“I don’t know what I’m about to walk into,” he said as we pulled up to a beautiful white Cape Cod–style home. “But you’re more than welcome to come in. I’m going to see what she’s talking about and grab my stuff. I’ll just leave straight from Chance to get on the highway. It’s closer anyway.”
I suddenly realized I’d never put my thong back on.
I didn’t even know where it was.
“I’ll wait for you here,” I told him.
“I’ll be right back. If it takes more than five minutes, I’ll come back out to get you,” he assured me, squeezing my thigh affectionately.
He left the car running and the air-conditioning on as he jogged toward the house.
I rested against the headrest and sighed. Who is this man? I thought, replaying the events of the day. I bit my lip as the smile started to stretch across my face.
Lamar made me feel good. Lamar made me feel seen. And most importantly, Lamar made me forget.
I closed my eyes.
Seconds later, there was a knock at the window. My eyes flew open, and I saw an adorable brown-skinned woman with a flawless shoulder-length gray bob. I knew who she was immediately because she had Lamar’s eyes and eyebrows.
Smiling, I rolled down the window. “Hi,” I greeted her.
“Well, hello.” She stuck her hand out. “I’m Gwen Brooks, Lamar’s mother. Who are you?”
I shook her hand. “Hi, Mrs. Brooks. I’m Jazmyn Payne. I’m friends with Lamar.”
“I would hope so, since you’re sitting in his vehicle.” She let out a little laugh before she stepped back and gestured to me. “Cut the car off, and come on inside. I taught him better than this.” She shook her head and took a step back. “Come on.”
I’d been raised with some sense, so I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
I rolled the window up, pressed the button to stop the car, and followed Lamar’s mom up the driveway. She had a grocery bag and an expensive purse in one hand. The other held her keys that she jingled with each step.
“Your dreadlocks are beautiful, Jazmyn. Who’s your stylist?”
“Thank you! Her name is Oakley. Her shop is in Maryland.”
“If you’re ever looking for a local salon, check out Hot Comb.”
“Thank you for the suggestion. Did they do your bob? I love it!”
“Thank you! You are so sweet! Are you from around here?” she asked.
“I grew up in Chance.”
She gasped. “You did?!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, that just tickles me! It’s been a long time since Lamar brought home a friend—let alone a local friend.”
We walked through the front door, and I felt the same welcoming energy that Lamar and his mother possessed.
As if on cue, Lamar jogged down the stairs with two duffel bags. As soon as he spotted us, he had questions.
“Ma, what was so urgent?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Bill had no clue what was going on, and you made it seem like it was an emergency.”
“I never said the word ‘emergency,’” she clarified as she headed down the hall. “Follow me.”
Lamar and I exchanged smiles as she led us into the kitchen.
“I made you something, and I didn’t want you to forget it,” his mom stated, placing her grocery bag on the island.
She went to the refrigerator and pulled out an aluminum foil–covered loaf of some sort.
“A few days ago, you said you wanted a lemon pound cake, so after the early service of church, I came home and made you one.”
“I appreciate that, Ma.” He put down his duffel bags and went to hug his mother. “But don’t ever call me sounding panicked again. I thought something was wrong.”
“Something would’ve been wrong if I made this cake for you and you’d already hit the road.” She crossed her arms over her chest and then winked at me. “I met your Jazmyn.”
Your Jazmyn.
His eyes locked with mine, and a slow smile spread across his face. “I see that.” He shifted his gaze to his mother. “I was going to introduce you, but you went ahead and did that yourself.”
She laughed. “You left her in the car, so I had to do it myself. And while we’re talking about it, don’t leave her in the car again.”
“I won’t.” He grabbed his bags and hoisted them onto his shoulders. “I have to drop Jazz off and then get on the road. But thank you again for this.” He held up the foil-covered cake. “Love you.”
“I love you, too.” She shifted her gaze to me. “Oh!” Digging into her designer handbag, she searched for something. “I don’t have a card on me. But either way, don’t be a stranger, Jazmyn. It was lovely to meet you.”
She gave me a hug.
“It was lovely to meet you, too,” I told her.
The hug felt so motherly that I couldn’t help but think about my aunt. Guilt stabbed me as I realized I hadn’t checked on her for the last five hours.
We said our goodbyes and then Lamar drove to Chance.
The mood in the car was a little somber. If it weren’t for his right hand resting on my leg, it would’ve been like we were in two completely different worlds. We listened to music and were lost in our own thoughts. I knew why I was in my feelings, but I didn’t know why he was in his.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, turning the music down a little. “You’ve been quiet.”
He squeezed the meatiness of my thigh. “I’m sorry. I just got in my head a little bit.” He glanced over at me. “And it seemed like you needed a minute, too.”
I gawked at his profile. How did he know?
“You tell me what’s on your mind, and I’ll tell you what’s on mine,” he offered.
I covered his hand with mine, interlocking our fingers. “You first.”
With his eyes forward, he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel.
“When Ma called and said to come home now, I thought something had happened with my niece or nephew. When I talked to Bill upstairs, he randomly asked me when was the last time I’d talked to Angel.
” He shook his head. “And it’s been a minute, so … I was just thinking about that.”
“Is something going on with your niece or nephew? Why do you think your first thought was that something happened?”
“I don’t know.”
We contemplated in silence as he pulled up in front of my aunt’s house.
“Who’s Angel?” I asked.
He put the car in park. “Bill’s daughter, my stepsister.”
I caressed his hand. “I didn’t realize you had a stepsister.”
“Stepsister and stepbrother. Angel and Will.” Bringing my hand to his lips, he kissed it. “Don’t move.”
He opened the door and came to the other side to get me. He reached his hand out, and instinctively, I intertwined my fingers with his.
“Are you close with them?” I asked as we headed toward the house.
“We didn’t grow up together, but yeah. Angel and I are a couple years apart, and she lived at the house until last year.
Will had already joined the military when Ma and Bill got married.
But Angel was pregnant at home, and I was in high school, so we saw each other more.
We text every other week, but I haven’t talked to her on the phone in a few weeks. ”
We stood on Aunt Addison’s porch. I was on the top step, and he was two steps below, so we were eye to eye. I put my arms around his neck, and he wrapped his around my waist.
“Whenever I get that feeling like I need to reach out to someone, there’s usually a reason. Call her.”
His attention dropped to my mouth. “I will.”
“Good.” I placed a soft kiss against his lips. “Then you can start your week with a clear head.” I kissed him again.
He pulled back slightly. “Now tell me what was on your mind.” His hands ran up my back and then slowly worked their way back down, settling right above my ass. “I want to know.”
“Honestly…” Biting my lip, I looked away.
“I was just thinking about how when I’m with you, I don’t think about anything else going on.
I’m just able to be in the moment.” I met his gaze.
“I knew it when we met. I enjoyed it last week. But I didn’t realize how much I needed it until today. ” I gave him a peck. “So thank you.”
“Thank you.” He paused, taking me in. “And I meant what I said earlier. I like you. I want to spend more time with you.”
My cheeks flushed. “I’d like that.”
“But my schedule is about to be crazy, so I may not be able to talk to or see you as much. With Dubai, training camp, preseason, and then the regular season, it’s busy.”
Disappointment tugged at my heart, and I felt the sting of rejection.
I guess I don’t fit into his real life.
I knew he didn’t mean it like that, and I hated that my mind went there. But I couldn’t help feeling saddened that he was preemptively letting me know that he was too busy for me.
We’ve known each other for only a week. What did I expect?
I’d said I wanted a friend with benefits, and that’s what I’d gotten.
“I understand being busy,” I said finally.
He shook his head and pulled me closer. “Don’t do that,” he whispered, pressing his lips against mine.
“I meant everything I said earlier. I’m going to be traveling, and then there are phone restrictions in training camp, so I’ll be out of touch, but I’ll reach out whenever I can.
Every chance I can. And I’m going to figure out a way to see you as much as I can. ”