Chapter 13
Jade
My phone was ringing yet again, from the same private number.
This time I couldn’t block it because my stalker had gotten smart.
It was no longer an unknown number I could block.
Instead, they called me private over and over again for an hour, stopped, then started back again.
I had yet to tell Oden because he not only had to get Aja to school, but he also had to get to the restaurant and get ready for his night to cook.
I didn’t want to be a distraction even though he assured me daily I could never be one.
“So, you love that big nigga, huh?” I looked up from my laptop and my eyes landed on my brother. Reminisce was forever pulling up on somebody.
I laughed. “Very much, why?”
“No reason. I just had to ask. I saw it in your eyes last night.”
I nodded, smiling hard as fuck. “Why do you seem like you’re here to deliver bad news?”
He shook his head. “Nah, not at all. You like it, I love it. If he’s good to you and I don’t have to pop one in him, we’re straight.” He then offered a tight lipped smile before sliding into the booth in front of him.
I nodded then shut my laptop. Something told me I wasn’t getting any more work done.
“Order me one of those mint teas for the migraines; my shit is a solid seven this morning.” He massaged his temples, reaching for the cord attached to the blinds and closing the ones right next to our table. The sun wasn’t beaming, but it was out this morning.
I gave him a once over, then nodded. Reminisce had chronic migraines which often took him out of commission for days at a time because he couldn’t stand light or sounds around him. Seconds later I had my hand extended, waiting for Sia the barista to come over.
“What’s up, Jade? What can I get you?” She smiled politely, approaching our table with that chipper personality. She was a polite young girl who had been working here since I first started coming. She had been much younger then, but now she was well on her way into young adulthood.
“Can I get a warmed peppermint-lemon balm tea with white agave and squeezed lime instead of lemon?”
She nodded. “Coming right up.”
“So, how come you haven’t told me that motherfucker broke into your apartment and fucked up your shit? Not only that but your car too?”
“Because there is nothing you can do about it.”
He laughed. “It’s a lot I can do, sis. A lot out of the parameters of doing.” His laugh was almost as sinister as the smirk that followed. “It’s cool though. I just talked to your man, that shit will be handled ASAP.”
“You just talked to my man? What?” I was confused because what did he mean by he had just talked to my man.
I hadn’t spoken to my man since this morning before he left.
Besides a few check-in messages, he and I hadn’t spoken.
So what the hell was he talking to my brother about?
Did he know who was stalking me? Shit, was it Ant? Why the hell hadn’t he told me?
I shook off my momentary irritation. “What did you two talk about?”
“You. He doesn’t want you worrying about this shit. That’s a good dude. Most niggas would’ve let your brothers handle it.”
“Handle what, Reminisce? You’re speaking in circles.”
His handsome face balled up as his focus left me and landed on Sia moving toward our table with the to-go cup of tea. She set it in front of Reminisce and told me to let her know if I needed anything else.
“Nothing for you to worry about. I’ve already said too much.” He then leaned his head forward and looked in my mug. “You pregnant?”
I was about to talk shit, but his question had my mouth popping shut with a quickness.
“You are?” He tilted his head to the side, peering intently at me before he slowly sipped from the steeping tea.
“Um no, I’m not. Why would you ask that?”
“Because you’re drinking tea instead of your regular espresso shots. You about to make me an uncle too?” He set the cup down, eyes glossing the small, earth toned café before finding me again.
“I’ve been taking in too much caffeine lately. Had heart palpitations the other day. I figured I’d give my system a little break and only have minimal caffeine from my tea if you must know.”
He pointed. “I told you to slow down on that stuff. It has y’all out here like straight up crackheads.”
Of course I waved him off. “Whatever.”
Reminisce and I talked for a while longer before I decided to pop up on my man who hadn’t told me anything about my so-called stalker, but had spoken to my brother.
My ride to him wasn’t long as I beat lunchtime traffic and snagged a park in his lot instead of the one a few blocks away.
That was partly because today he didn’t open until four.
So nine times out of ten, he was prepping for that opening.
I grabbed my purse and hopped out of the car, walking in. As soon as I entered, I was greeted at the door by Lois. She had a pleasant smile on her face and immediately looped her arm into mine, leading me through the main hall.
“I didn’t get the chance to say this before, but I’m glad he found you or you found him.
Either way he’s happiest with you. I’ve never been one to speak ill of the absent, but she tried to change him and she had no problem weighing down his shoulders in ways that could break even the strongest. You accept him for who he is and inspire him to be better.
Thank you for that because I haven’t seen this version of him in years.
” She seemingly had tears in her eyes, which made me put my free hand on her arm in a firm, comforting way.
Before I could respond, we entered the double doors, taking us into the kitchen. There I was met with just him. He was prepping for the night with Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful” playing softly through the speakers.
He didn’t look up until he heard the door close behind Lois as she left just him and me in there. Someone said something in her headset and she rushed out to check it, tossing she’d be back over her shoulder.
“You’re extremely handsome when you’re in here being a chef, Chef.” I licked my lips at the sight. He was wearing a white chef button down, black pants, and had the nerve to have the damn hat on. Lord he was sexy and he knew it based on the grin he delivered my way.
He nodded. “You don’t look too bad yourself, even though I told you that skirt would get you in some trouble around me.”
I glanced down at the denim skirt that went to my ankles but had a slit all the way up to my thighs. I really liked this skirt, because it was sexy. “Good thing I wasn’t around you for most of the day.”
He chortled. “But you around me now and I’m way ahead of the curve on this. It’s nothing for me to get you fed, so you can slide in there and feed me.”
“Cute, and very tempting, but no. I came by to ask why you have yet to tell me who my stalker is, but you have spoken to my brother. Or maybe brothers, since I still don’t know.” I moved from by the door into his space.
“Because you don’t need to carry it.”
“Says who?” I moved toward him, loving the sight of him doing what he loved. He had resumed cutting the salmon.
“Your man. The nigga making sure your headstrong ass is straight at all points.”
I couldn’t hide my smile. He and my brothers kept calling me headstrong; I didn’t see it. Then again, maybe they were right. I didn’t see the need to call them about every situation in my life. Shit, I hadn’t even told my brothers about the vandalizing of my condo and car.
“At all points?” I tilted my head to the side, now leaned against the other side of the counter behind him.
“All of them. I ain’t no street nigga, but to handle mine and make sure you and my daughter are good, I don’t have to be.”
I bit into my bottom lip, swooning at his words. “Understood.”
“Good, now did you bring your fine ass through here to question me or because you missed me?”
“A little bit of both. Is that okay?”
Once again, he was grinning. “Depends on if you intend to ride the rest of this night out with me. Kinga is picking up Aja, and I’ma pick her up when we leave here, cause now she acts like she can’t spend a night at her uncle’s spot.”
I laughed. “She loves being with you.”
“Yeah, whatever. Are you going to ride this out or no?”
I spoke just before my phone started ringing.
“Um, as long as I can take over your office and you make sure to bring me a plate of whatever you’re cooking.
” When I glanced down, I was already ready to be irritated but saw it was Ava.
Immediately, relief washed over my being.
“I need to take this. Do we have a deal?”
“Yeah, I’ll be in there to mess with you in a few.”
I answered the phone, moving toward his office. “Yes, Ava?”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. I had to walk your little incontinent ass dog. Every time I look up, he has to pee.” She laughed.
I immediately felt sad, missing my baby.
When we were at Oden’s house, he spent most of his time under Aja, then as soon as we came back to the city he was back with Ava.
I missed being in my own spot with my baby.
My place was perfect because though he spent so much time with Ava, she always dropped him off back home for me to come home to.
“I’m sorry he kind of fell into your lap. Once this grand opening is over, I’ll be looking for a more stable and suitable living arr?—”
“Um no, he’s fine. That’s my little hungry bestie. Take your time. But anyways, I need you to check your email. There are some pieces from Sahara’s new line I feel you may want to stock.”