6. Brielle
A few weeks later
JAMES:
Good evening, my love. Our reservation is set for seven o’clock. Would you prefer I pull up on you, or you pull up on me? Either way, I’m driving us to the spot.
I laughed at his message. James wasn’t the best texter, but it was because of his tiresome schedule.
He’d text me when he had free time, and that wasn’t very often.
He was vocal about days when he couldn’t text or talk for long.
It reassured me he cared about my communication style.
If I could, I’d have him on FaceTime all day, but it wasn’t realistic for the type of work he did.
Plus, one thing I’d learned about James was that he loved to take naps.
He could sleep anywhere as long as his back was supported. It was cute.
ME:
I’ll pull up on you with my spend the night bag.
JAMES:
Say no more. Are there things you need me to stock the house with to make your stay more comfortable?
ME:
Awwwww. You’re literally the most considerate man I’ve ever met. My daddy ain’t even this damn considerate and I was his first child. But, um…. I think as long as you’ve got snacks, cozy blankets, and hoodies for me to steal, we should be good.
JAMES:
I’m not even gon’ hold you, baby. You not gon need no clothes while you over here.
My squeal would have shattered glass at the octave it hit.
James was damn near insatiable. We’d fooled around on the phone twice.
Each time he’d talk me through a nut, the more the tension built between us.
I couldn’t wait to feel him inside of me for the first time.
I couldn’t wait to see just how good he was at getting the nut out of me in person.
Once I finished packing my purple spend the night duffel bag, I set it by the front door and went over to the desk.
I opened the pink journal and grabbed the blue gel pen. I opened it to a fresh page after flipping through five months of journal entries. With a deep breath, I let the pen glide to bring my thoughts to the pages of the journal.
Hey bestie.
I miss you more than words can express. I miss your laugh. I miss your advice. I miss your presence. I miss your phone calls. I just really really really miss you, girl. I wish you were here to ease my nerves about James.
We met the day you died. For a little while, I blamed him. Had I not been with him by the food trucks, we may have been able to run before you caught a stray.
My hands shook as my eyes burned with tears. This was the first time I’d vocalized a feeling I’d tried to suppress for months. It was an irrational thought, but the thought still made me have reservations.
Anyway, tonight is our first date. Should I tell him about these feelings? Should I release the fear and go for it? You know my track record with men. They build up a good game and I still end up lonely after we fuck. I feel like James is different, but the doubt is still there.
I wish you could give me a sign he’s supposed to be my person. One time is a coincidence, but twice is a sign… Right?
I’ll be back in a couple of days to fill you in on all the tea of the date. I love you, Jana. So much.
With love, your Jewel.
“You have a beautiful home,” I commented when James let me in through the front door. The two-car garage was spacious, and the driveway was paved in bricks. The home was two stories with four bedrooms. Two of them were guest rooms. He had a designated game room and his bedroom.
“Thank you. I’ll give you a more thorough tour later. I’ll put your bag in my room, and we can head out.”
“Sounds good.”
He grabbed the purple duffel and walked up the stairs to his room.
While I waited, I admired the decor of the room.
The black and white aesthetic fit his personality.
The large TV mounted on the living room wall was enhanced with surround sound speakers and there was a reclining sectional.
I loved how comfortable James’s home looked.
I could tell he prioritized his comfort more than style. It fit him.
“Ready?” James asked when he returned from upstairs.
“Yes.”
It didn’t take long for us to climb into his large SUV and get on the road. He had his music playing low on the speakers while we talked.
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?” I asked.
“Married. A couple of kids running around. Retired and spending my life being a family man. How about you?”
He glanced at me before he placed his hand on my thigh. I wrapped my hands around his arm and basked in the warmth of his touch.
“I see myself married, thriving in my career, and living each day in my purpose.”
“Do you see yourself making content still?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t think so. I hope within the next couple of years, I will have a team who does all the work while I’m more hands off.”
He nodded. “I can see that happening for you.”
“How many kids do you want?”
“However many God sees fit to bless me with. I grew up in a small and closely knit family. My sister has a kid, but I think I want at least two or three.”
“Whew. I was an only child, and I don’t have any friends with kids or siblings with kids either.
I don’t really have any experience with family shit.
Me and my parents barely talk. I kind of just go with the flow of life.
I know I’d be able to tap into my maternal skills when the time comes.
I’ve always been a kind and caring spirit, so it shouldn’t be too much of an adjustment.
I said all of that to say, one or two is ideal for me, but I also don’t mind seeing what God has in store for me. ”
He listened intently. We ended up talking about a lot of deep topics.
Kids, marriage, family, friends, life, and more.
It was nice to pick James’s brain and see where his morals and principles were.
A lot of mean hated to engage in serious conversations.
So many people were in surface level situations with no real substance or depth.
Everything was one dimensional. With James, it was multifaceted.
The ride seemed to fly by because we were engaged in such an exhilarating conversation.
When we pulled up to the restaurant, the valet greeted us.
It was a high-end establishment. The Michelin star type with ten courses.
The kind that appealed to all the senses.
“Reservation for Hill.” James spoke with the hostess.
“Right this way, sir.” The woman escorted us to a table in the center of the restaurant under a large, shiny chandelier.
“What can I get you guys started with? We have red wine, champagne, or other spirits. We also have some fine mocktail alternatives.”
I opened the menu and looked over the options. The prices on the menu made me choke on air.
“Can we get a few minutes to look over the menu?” James asked.
The hostess nodded. “Your server will be with you shortly.”
She disappeared and left us to look over the menu.
“Have you been here before?” I asked.
“Nope. It came highly recommended by my coworkers though. Are you not feeling the menu?”
I shrugged. “Honestly? Not at all. This isn’t my vibe. They’re charging an arm and a leg for the presentation of the smallest portions known to man.”
“Would you like to go somewhere else? I know a couple of alternatives where we can have some fun, get full, and enjoy each other’s company.”
“Yes, please.”
“I got you. Let’s go.”
After pulling out three crisp hundred-dollar bills, he stood up and helped me out of my chair. We walked hand in hand back out the door and retrieved his car from the valet.
“I’ll pay at the next spot,” I offered.
He raised an eyebrow. “Why would you do that?”
“You spent who knows how much to secure the reservation and then dropped another three hundred dollars. I don’t mind paying for the next event to help ease the financial burden.”
“There are no financial burdens. Money ain’t ever been and never will be an issue for those I love.”
My heart nearly beat out of my chest. James loved me. We’d only been talking for a few weeks officially. I know he told me he loved hard and fast, but this was a new milestone for us.
When we finally got into his car, he put an address in his GPS and made his way down 45. Like the first time, we talked more. We talked about our likes and dislikes. We talked about our favorite things, pet peeves, and more.
“Is this a safe space?” I asked.
“Always.”
“I don’t like sweet potato pie, yams, or cabbage.”
He gasped dramatically. “So what the hell do you eat during thanksgiving?”
I laughed. “Macaroni, Hawaiian rolls, and turkey wings. I’ll load my plate up full of macaroni. I don’t really enjoy dressing.”
“My mama and sister will probably talk about you if they see your Thanksgiving plate with only three things on it.”
I laughed. “At least you’re honest. I have very picky taste buds. I might be big, but I don’t eat everything.”
“I can respect it.”
We talked more about food, drinks, and sweets. It was cute to see his lips turn down into a deep frown when I told him I couldn’t stand banana pudding with real bananas in it.
When we made it to the second destination, I smiled. A drive-in movie. He’d ordered nachos and chicken wings. We also ordered a large popcorn, but I was sure neither of us would have the room for it.
“I figured we’d have more fun with an action movie than a comedy or horror movie,” he stated as he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned the seat back slightly.
“I prefer watching action or thrillers when I’m out and about. Horror and comedy are hit or miss for me.”
“I agree.”
The opening credits played as we dug into our meals. The nachos were the perfect amount of cheesy. The wings had the right amount of crunch and juiciness. We ate in a comfortable silence as the movie held our attention. It was serene.
“I got some wipes in the back seat. I’ll grab them before I throw away our trash.”
I nodded and stuffed my containers in the bag.
He leaned back and grabbed the pack of wipes and we both took time to wipe our hands, faces, and the surrounding area.
We tossed the used wipes into the bag when we were satisfied.
He exited the car and headed to the trash cans located a few yards away.
I pulled out my phone to text the group chat.
ME:
This may be the best date I’ve ever been on. I’m having so much fun.
LYNAE:
What are y’all doing?
ME:
Girl, he got me at a drive-in movie. We were at that fancy spot in downtown CC that takes like four months to get a reservation, but the food wasn’t worth the price point. We got full off nachos and wings and are having a blast watching that new action movie with that fine actor.
LYNAE:
IKTR! I can’t wait to officially meet this man when y’all put a title to it.
TAVA:
Hello! He got my girl living. I love this for you, pookie.
ME:
Thanks babes! I’ll keep y’all updated. I love y’all!
LYNAE:
Love you too stinka
TAVA:
Love you!
“Did I miss anything exciting?” James asked when he climbed back into the car.
“Not really. More filler scenes to build suspense on if the girl is dead or not.”
“Cool.” He placed his hand on my thigh and rubbed the exposed skin with his thumb. My focus on the movie had gone right out the window. The warmth of his touch had my body quaking. My body was hotter than fish grease, and I wanted him badly .
“Hey, move your hand,” I warned.
“Why? What’s wrong?” he asked with amusement in his voice.
“Ain’t shit funny about the puddle in my panties. You know you drive me crazy, and I’m trying my hardest to keep my sanity.”
“You need me to take the edge off?” he asked. His eyes were low with arousal. His voice dropped several octaves.
We shouldn’t.
“Yes.”
“Lean your seat back and take your panties off.”
I slid my panties down to my ankles and spread my legs slowly. The scent of my arousal filled the air.
“It’s finna get hot in here,” James commented. He cracked the windows slightly to add some ventilation to the car. Even with the AC on high, I knew we’d have the windows fogging up if we didn’t bring in some fresh air.
He leaned across the center and slid his hand up my thigh. His fingers found my bead, and they greeted each other like long-lost friends. The pleasure made me gasp as I clung to his arm as my eyes closed shut.
His large fingers played in my pussy with precision.
“Ooo, fuck, baby.”
“Mmm hmm. She responds perfectly to me. You know what that means?”
“Hmm?”
“This pussy is mine.”
“Yes, all yours.”
He pumped his fingers inside of me, playing in the juices as I dug my teeth into my bottom lip. The skin was raw as I neared my climax.
“I’m about to cum.”
“Make a mess. The seats can get cleaned later.”
“F-fuck!” He pumped his fingers until my juices covered his fingers. Our eyes locked as he lifted his hand up to taste me on his fingers. I grinned. “You’re so nasty.”
“And you taste so fuckin’ good.”
“Oh my goodness. We missed a lot of the movie.”
“Fuck that movie. Let’s go back to my place and make one of our own.”
“Oop. Do you want to prop the camera up for real?”
“Absolutely. If you’re cool with it.”
“C’mon.”