Two
Emory
I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Bree since leaving Vegas a few weeks ago. I’d agreed to that stupid ass “what happens here stays here” shit she was on but after experiencing something as transcendent as being submerged in her warm, gushy pussy I also knew there was no way in hell I’d be able to leave our encounter at just a one-time thing. Unfortunately for me, work had kept me on go for the last few weeks as right before me and my team were due to launch a project we had worked on for months at this point, somehow the code was corrupted and we had been working overtime to figure out the root cause before launch. I’d been living, breathing, eating, and sleeping work for the past few weeks, but we finally got the shit figured out and were able to launch the product on time.
Thank God.
Now I had the time to focus on getting Bree to fuck with the kid past our little Vegas rendezvous.
I was presented with the perfect opportunity when Floyd called, asking me to pick Lily up from dance class because he and Eb had a meeting with Amaryllis’s travel basketball coach that required both of them to be present. The class wasn’t over until six, but I had my overeager ass at the studio twenty minutes before then, wanting to observe Bree in her element.
And I was not disappointed.
For the most part, while I was there, she worked with the small group of teens, helping them perfect the piece she had taught them, but right before class ended, she ran through the whole routine before allowing them to follow in her wake in small groups. As Bree danced, I was transported back to Vegas seeing the way she let the music drive the movements of her body, almost as if it were a puppeteer and she was on its strings. I was unfamiliar with the song, but there was a tinge of melancholy to the music that she also somehow managed to display through her motions. It was downright mesmerizing, so much in fact that I was still in my head, seeing her contort her body in different ways when I heard a loud squeal of, “Uncle Emmmmmm!”
I looked up just in time to see Lily running in my direction with a huge grin on her face. I swept her into a hug, squeezing tightly. “’Sup, Munchie.”
“I didn’t know you were coming to get me. Oooh, can we get donuts on the way home?”
I laughed, shaking my head at it not taking long before she lived up to the nickname I’d given her. Baby girl loved a snack almost as much as I did, so she knew the answer to the question before it even left her mouth.
“If you get dressed quick enough that we can squeeze it in before your mama gets home, you got it.”
“Okay,” she chirped, taking off at a clip.
“Aht, I know you aren’t running like a madwoman in my studio. Slow down, Lily,” a sultry voice crooned and I saw Bree standing just beyond the classroom door, giving my niece a serious stare.
She slowed instantly, instead walking with purpose as she moved forward and said, “Sorry, Miss Bree.”
I was on the move too, eager to get all in Bree’s space. I could tell she was trying to play it cool, eventually bringing her gaze my way once I was close enough to touch, pasting on a polite smile as she said, “Emory. Hello.”
I stepped closer, lowering my head and murmuring into her ear, “Awfully formal for somebody I’ve licked from the rooter to the tooter and back again, Bree.”
Her head snapped away from me and she whipped it back and forth, making sure no one overheard my comment before she stared back at me with narrowed eyes. “Emory, I don’t think that’s appropri?—”
I wasn’t tryna hear whatever else she had to say as I lowered my hands to her waist and pulled her into me. She softened briefly, sighing into my chest before she suddenly went rigid and tried to step back but I kept a hold of her wrists, not letting her get too far.
“Ay Bree, you good?” a male voice called out behind me.
I turned to see some nigga dressed like an extra from You Got Served mugging me as he moved closer to the classroom.
“I’m good, DJ.”
“Yeah, she good, fam,” I echoed, making Bree shoot me an annoyed look before reversing my hold, her delicate hand now circling one of my wrists as she pulled me toward an office. Once we were inside, with the door closed behind us, I was all on Bree once again, hands anchored at her waist, head about to descend so I could take her mouth when she swerved and stepped back from me.
“Emory, I thought we had an agreement. Vegas was… Vegas,” she said, gnawing on her lower lip. “I’m not really in the space to be on…whatever you’re trying to be on right now.”
I shook my head, brows wrinkled as I frowned. “Nah, that doesn’t work for me.”
“So what… you’re going to force yourself on me?”
That stopped me short. I was a lot of things, but a nigga primed for assault was not one of them. My thoughts must’ve shown on my face because Bree was speaking up again, quickly.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Emory. Oh God. I’m sorry. For real. I… Vegas was amazing,” she said wistfully. “ Really amazing . But here, in the real world, I don’t… let’s just say that I’m not exactly in the space for whatever you’re trying to do.”
“You haven’t even let me explain what I’m tryna do.”
“You haven’t exactly tried, instead just came in here putting ya paws all on me,” Bree countered, resting a hand on one hip and cocking it.
I chuckled, rubbing my chin before raising both hands in acquiescence. “Aight, you got that,” I said, then tapped my right hand over my heart a couple times. “That was on me. I just… shit, like you said to me in Vegas—you know exactly how you look.” That garnered me a quick smirk and the reddening of her cheeks. “I got caught up. And truthfully, I had hoped to roll up on you before now, but work had me tied up. But check it, I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since Vegas, Bree. Are you going to stand here and tell me you haven’t thought of me once since then?”
I watched the truth flutter through her eyes before she lied with a subtle shake of her head. Stepping closer to her, I slowly ran a single finger from her exposed navel up to the center of her throat before expanding my fingers and gently grasping her neck as I lowered my face toward hers. Her breathing hitched as her eyes and head lowered of their own volition and she released a soft moan. Tilting her head up so we were making eye contact, I spoke right against her lips as I said, “Lie to me again, beautiful.”
“Emory, please,” she breathed.
I placed a fleeting kiss on her lips, then deepened it, letting my tongue tangle with hers briefly before stepping back, putting both hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her. Bree slowly reopened her eyes, chest heaving with her breaths.
“One date. That’s all I’m asking for. To see if Vegas was a fluke. Can you give me that, Bree?”
She swallowed once…hard before exhaling. “Fine, one date. That’s it, that’s all.”
“Famous last words, baby,” I said with a chuckle before turning on a heel and heading out of the office. A few moments later, I met up with Munch in the lobby, getting ready to exit when I heard Bree call my name out behind me. I turned to see her with a brow raised in question and my only response was, “Soon. I’ll be in touch”, before Lily and I left the dance studio to head to one of my favorite bakeries in the area.
“Uncle Em, I didn’t know that you knew Miss Bree. She is everything . I wanna own my own studio just like her one day. Did you know she danced with the Joffrey Ballet? Goals.”
“I did not know she did, but that’s pretty cool, Munch. So you’re pretty into this dance thing, huh?” I asked, drawing a side eye from Lily before she responded.
“Dance thing? Tuh, dance is my life , Uncle Em. And it’s gonna take me places, just watch,” she said with a determined lilt in her voice.
“I believe you, Munchie. Now… how many donuts do you think you can take down before we pull up to y’all’s house.”
“At least two,” she said with a sneaky grin as I pulled up in front of the bakery. Sweet Thang Patisserie was a spot I found myself in a little too often. It wasn’t far from my office and on those days where I needed a sugar-fueled pick me up, this was where I could be found. It was so bad that the staff knew me by name. When we walked in, I was surprised to see the owner and two kids behind the counter, his teenage son and an adorable little girl perched in his arms.
“Whassup, Dame?” I greeted, briefly slapping hands with him. “You know why I’m here.”
He laughed, then instructed his son, “Box him up a half dozen of the cronuts, PJ.”
“My man,” I responded, all of us laughing at my antics. “You want anything else, Munch?” I asked, turning to my niece. She quickly shook her head.
“No evidence left behind, right, Uncle Em?”
I chuckled and nodded. “Right, Munchie.”
We left the bakery with her tearing into the box with the donuts as soon as we got into the car. As I pulled in front of Eb and Flo’s place, they were pulling up too. Thankfully, Munch had crushed her sweets so I wouldn’t have to hear my sister’s mouth about ruining her dinner.
“You stayin’ for dinner?” Eb asked as I met them on the sidewalk.
I shook my head. “Nah, but I need a favor from you. Slide me Bree’s contact.”
“Em, I thought you said?—”
“Sis. It’s cool. Promise. Just send me the damn contact.”
“I’mma make sure it’s okay with Bree. Girl code.”
“Damn, what happened to bros before hoes?” I quipped, earning a hard glare from my sister. “It’s a damn joke, fam. Lighten up.”
“Yeah alright. Bree ain’t a hoe.”
“I know that, Eb. Just send the number, aight? Love you,” I said before pulling her into a brief embrace and heading to my car.
Over an hour had passed since I’d gotten home and I still hadn’t gotten a text from Eb with Bree’s info. I was chillin’ in my living room, halfway paying attention to the TV in front of me, wondering what the hell was taking her so long to send a simple text. Just as I was about to call and harass Eb, my phone dinged with an incoming text.
3125551212: Your sister is a real one. A girl’s girl if you will.
A real fucking traitor, I thought as I read the text, instantly knowing the unsaved number belonged to Bree. After saving the contact and noticing that FaceTime was an available option, I quickly hit the camera icon to initiate a call. It rang a couple times before connecting and Bree’s gorgeous face, rocking a pair of black, oversized, square-framed glasses filled my screen. But before I could open my mouth to greet her, her eyes widened dramatically and she said, “Oh God no!” before disconnecting the call, causing me to chuckle.
3125551212: Why would you FaceTime me? Instead of texting back???
Me: why did you hang up? I’m calling back. Answer for real this time.
Initiating a call again, it rang longer this time before I finally heard the sound that indicated that our video chat was connecting.
Bree’s face was not in the frame, but I heard her sigh before asking, “Are you always this persistent?” I could hear the exasperation in her tone but ignored it.
“Can I see your beautiful face before I answer that?” I replied instead.
Slowly, the phone shifted so she was back in view with an amused moue as her expression.
“Better?” she asked sarcastically.
“Absolutely, I like those,” I responded, motioning toward my own face to indicate her eyewear. “Got a brotha having dirty librarian fantasies and shit.”
“Okay, I’m hanging up,” Bree groaned while laughing.
“I’m fucking with you, beautiful. Don’t do me like that.”
“Whatever, Emory. Can you get on with it?”
“You trying so hard to act like you don’t wanna fuck with ya boy. Shit’s crazy to me. Ay…I wanna ask you something. And just to let you know, I’m about to get all up in your business, but I need to know this info so I know how to proceed with you.”
“Ask away,” she replied, one side of her mouth lifted into a smirk.
“Are you going to answer?”
“That’s the question you wanted to ask.”
“Stop fuckin’ around, Bree. Real shit.”
“Ask the question and see, Emory.”
“In your studio, you said something about not being in the space for me to pursue you. What did you mean by that?”
“Oh you really meant it when you said you were about to get all up in my business, huh?” Bree quipped.
“And you really gon’ keep dodging my attempts to figure you out, huh?”
“Touché,” she responded with a grin. “I just…” She trailed off, letting out a little sigh. “Since taking over the studio almost full-time, men and relationships haven’t been a top priority for me. And in the past…”
I piped up, interrupting her right there. “Ay, lemme stop you real quick before you bring up another nigga to tell me why you and me won’t work. They weren’t me, so that’s a nonstarter. Besides, I know you feel this shit, Bree. The energy between us is some shit I’ve never felt that instantly with someone before and I’d be a fool not to explore it.”
“You’re telling me you’re not used to women opening their legs for you on demand?” she volleyed back, a mischievous grin curving her lips.
“I’m not saying that at all. However, I am saying none of them have moved me to the point where the time spent with them was on a running loop in my mind for weeks after. That one night wasn’t enough for me, Bree. And judging by the look in your eyes right now, it wasn’t enough for you either. So instead of continuing to deny us both what could be, why don’t you just give in and say yes,” I said.
“Yes to what?”
“To the possibilities,” I responded smoothly, garnering an eye roll and chuckle from Bree.
“You and that slick mouthpiece,” she said ruefully.
“You know better than most just how slick it can be,” I shot back.
She blushed at those words before catching herself and rolling her eyes again. “Anyway, so when are you trying to schedule this date? My time is kinda limited as we’re gearing up for this show next month.”
“So let me know when you’re free.”
She chewed her lower lip before responding, “Sundays are usually best. It’s my rest day and I typically don’t allow anyone to bug me then, but I guess I can make an exception for you.”
“Bet. Shoot me your address and I’ll be by to pick you up on Sunday.”
“I can meet?—”
I cut her off yet again. “I’m sure you can do whatever you put that pretty little mind to, however, my mother raised a gentleman. So, as I said, shoot me the addy and I’ll see you Sunday, Bree.”
“Are you at least gonna tell me what we’re doing? So I can know how to dress?”
“Baby, you could show up in a burlap sack and still look amazing,” I said.
“There you go again with that slick mouth.”
“You like what I do with this mothafucka though. Casual dress is fine.”
Her skin showed the way my commentary hit, reddening once again. “Well, if that’s all you needed…”
“It’s not all but it’s enough for now. I’mma catch you on Sunday though, Bree.”
“See you Sunday, Emory,” she murmured before disconnecting the call.
I had less than two days to figure out what the hell we would be doing, but I wasn’t stressed. A meal was always a sure bet, but I knew I wanted her in my presence for longer than the couple hours eating and talking would take, so I had to come up with another activity to keep her engaged while I had the time.
I got up from the couch and headed toward my kitchen, intent on figuring out what we’d get into on Sunday and finishing off the last cronut I had left over from Sweet Thang. Once my eyes lit on that familiar lavender box, I instantly knew what Bree and I would do on Sunday. During our conversation at dinner in Vegas she’d mentioned that in her spare time she loved doing crafty shit, like crocheting and needlepoint. I didn’t know much about that, but I did know there was a rug tufting joint that had just opened down the street from Sweet Thang about six months ago. I pulled out my phone to see if they were open on Sundays and peeped that they had a class that started at two in the afternoon. I signed us up for that, then made reservations at a bistro not too far from there that my sister and her friends loved for noon on Sunday. Having settled that, I finished off my donut and headed back toward my room.
* * *