Chapter 15
Jade
Almost a week later …
Overthinking was my specialty, but when I woke up this morning, I was done doing it.
I told myself that my second store would be opening this month and nothing would stop it.
So I geared up and went to work, taking over the kitchen table and working on the event.
I had allowed this so-called stalker to dampen my spirit long enough, now I needed to get back to what was me, and most of all, what made me who I was.
The entire morning, I had spoken with various venues and service providers for everything I’d need.
I wanted this grand opening to be only half as big as the store and all that I had put into it.
“Even though there is nowhere for me to put breakfast down, that shit is sexy as fuck.” Oden’s voice made me turn around.
“What is?”
“You in here with these thick ass glasses wearing shorts you know I have no problem helping you out of.” He winked.
I giggled. “Nasty ass.”
“Not nasty at all, just stating facts. Come on over here and eat.” He found a place on the counter next to the fridge and set the cartons down.
“Um, let me just move all of this.” I began to collect my papers.
“Nah, you are good. Come here.” He moved the papers I had next to the cartons into a different space, which let me know what was up.
I stood there and looked at him before I moved toward him. Once I was within reach, he picked me up and put me in the empty space. He then held a hashbrown close to my lips for me to take a bite. I accepted, watching him then dip the plastic fork into the open white carton.
“This is good.”
“I know. It’s from a lil spot next to Aja’s school.”
I nodded, then glanced around his kitchen. It was truly filled with all of my shit. I felt bad for taking over his place like this, but the only way I could work effectively was by laying things out all over so I could see everything.
“I’m sorry for taking over your space. After all of this is over I’m gonna start looking for a place. I just hav?—”
A forkful of grits was at my mouth before I could finish speaking. “What if I want you to stay?”
I accepted the grits into my mouth and just looked at him. Once I finished chewing, a smile indented itself into my features. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because you know how I feel about you.”
I nodded. “But don’t you think it’s too soon? Don’t you think we should date from separate places, before we do the liv?—”
“The other day, when we were at my brother’s house and you were holding my nephew, I couldn’t help but picture you holding our child and smiling down at him like that. I don’t give a fuck about dating or any of that, Jade. I want a future with you as close to me as possible.”
I had noticed him staring back at his brother’s house, but shrugged it off. I guess I wasn’t overthinking then. “So you’re asking me to live with you, like for real?”
He laughed. “No, I’m asking you to move in with me and Aja, even though she only lowkey fucks with us when she gets tired of Kinga’s kids.”
I cackled so hard because that was so true.
Seconds later another forkful of grits was at my lips. “So, is that a yes or are we going to debate for a while longer then take this shit in the back before I go out to the house to grab some things?”
I accepted the food into my mouth, eyes locked on him. I had lunch plans with Karim today after I left the shop.
“That a yes or a no, love?”
“Damn, can I chew my grits? Impatient ass man.”
He shook his head, taking a bit of the sausage and holding it out for me. “Who chews grits, babe? You just swallow them and keep it moving.”
I took a bite of the sausage patty, holding my laughter back. “Um, no. You’re supposed to chew them, but I’m not about to get into this with you right now.”
“Don’t. Now tell me yes, before I tell myself yes and have your things in my living room by Thursday.”
“Three days, Oden?” I smirked, finding myself extremely attracted to his pushier moments.
“You know what, fuck it. I already just told myself yes. Hurry up and finish eating so you can handle this before I have to leave.” He then held the fork out for me to now eat a bit of eggs.
I cackled so hard that he had to pull the forkful of eggs back.
“How you just going to decide that fast?” The eggs were back in front of me and I accepted them immediately.
“I’m done,” I assured between chewing the bland ass eggs.
Oden had me so spoiled that nobody’s food tasted as good as his, like literally nobody.
“Good. And I told you I would.” He moved through the kitchen, throwing away the remainder of the food before he turned to me. “It wasn’t as good as I remember.”
“It was good though, but not your cooking. Before you leave, I’d really like an omelet, you know, to make up for the bullying you’ve done since you walked through the door.”
He laughed. “I got you.” Seconds later he had me in his arms and we were headed in the direction of what I guessed would be our bedroom. As soon as we entered, he tossed me on the bed.
I lay there, legs wide open, watching him from between them as he pulled his shirt off his body. From the way he was sculpted, you’d think he worked out vigorously in some fancy gym. That wasn’t the case at all, he just hauled logs and chopped wood. Shit, that was so sexy.
“Come up out them shorts, love,” he demanded, his voice never elevating above a deep rasp.
I smiled hard, biting into my bottom lip and doing exactly what he asked. Who was I to disobey and deprive him of all the pleasure he intended to bestow?
When I finally made it to the store, my body was thoroughly exhausted.
Not only had the chef eaten me to oblivion, but he then fucked me into a sleep coma that had me dreaming I’d brought my ass to work when in fact I was still in bed.
Now I was so tired that I regretted getting up, but needed to handle business before going to eat with Karim.
Shit, I was so hungry, literally starving, and I had been since earlier even though Oden was true to his word and made my omelet before he left.
Lately all I thought about was food and I blamed that on Oden.
He had singlehandedly turned me into a foodie.
I went from going to bed for the night off a cereal bar and tea to going to sleep off lobster bisque, salmon tacos, and fucking lemon glazed lambchops.
Yeah, I ate for real these days which meant I needed to start taking advantage of his gym downstairs before I looked like it.
For the most part I moved back and forth between putting fixtures and things where I wanted them.
Ava had done well in making sure things were delivered on time and labeled so I knew what was what.
She’d be here about an hour after I left to finish what I started.
She handled all that I didn’t and did a great job.
“Hey Jade, I’m about to run to the café up front and grab something to drink, do you want anything?” Jewels asked. She was one of my employees who would be coming from the other store to this one when it opened.
“Uh, yeah. Can you get me a mango tea with a splash of lemonade? I’ve been so damn dehydrated.”
“Okay, I got you. I’ll be quick.”
I nodded.
I was looking through a massive box behind the counter, putting together a fixture, when I heard someone clear their throat. When I looked up my eyes landed on a face I didn’t want to see while anxiety coursed through my entire being. What was he doing here?
“Hey Jade, I haven’t heard from you in a while.” Ant’s face housed a smile that made my skin crawl. Now that I looked at him, he did seem extremely unbalanced.
“Um, what are you doing here?” I looked around, sure not to take my eyes off him for too long.
“Just thought I’d stop by. I haven’t seen you lately and your wi?—”
“You shouldn’t be here.” I moved over a little, keeping my hand on the metal rod I had been holding for one of the fixtures.
“I shouldn’t be here,” he repeated, confused, looking at me like I was speaking a language other than English.
“No, you shouldn’t.”
He crossed his arms, then laughed dryly.
“Why not? You just disappeared and haven’t answered any of my calls.
I miss talking to you.” His entire being was off, from the odd slant of his glasses to the wrinkled undershirt below his plaid button up.
For the first time since I first laid eyes on him, I saw how beady his eyes were.
Not only that, but they were also hollow.
“You’re fucking stalking me. I know it’s you doing all of this calling.”
Shock covered his features. His jaw literally dropped. The way he looked had me thinking he was about to deny it, but his words were nowhere near denial.
“Stalking you? I was protecting you. Everything I have ever done was to make sure you are protected from the bullshit you let into your life. So fucking gullible!” His eyes began to jump back and forth like a pinball in a machine.
“Leave, Ant.”
“No!” His voice elevated and he shook his head violently. “After everything, this is what you think you want? You keep letting these ungodly people around you and now you think you can push me to the curb. I’ve watched you for months, so I know what’s best for you, even though you don’t.”
“You need to leave.” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frightened, but I couldn’t show fear at this moment. Instead, I tightened my grip on the rod.
“I’ve come here to get you. I can’t spend another day without you. I shouldn’t have to. I have your best interest at heart.” I could see in his eyes he was getting ready to move in my direction, so I gripped the rod like it was a baseball bat.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Yes you ar?—”
“No, the fuck she isn’t. As a matter of fact, I done sat here and asked myself a million times how I could get your body up outta this crowded ass mall if I splattered your shit all over this store.” Karim’s voice let me know she was here.