60. Everly
The trip to South Texas had taken an eternity, my mind racing with a swirl of emotions. I could still hear Granny’s words echoing in my ears as I approached Real’s house. My heart pounded louder with each step I took toward his door. I stood on the porch, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the ground. I raised my hand to ring the bell but hesitated. What if he didn’t want to see me? What if I was making a huge mistake? I swallowed hard, shaking off my doubts. I was Everly Love Miller, and Montréal Idris Hamilton found me irresistible. Plus, after coming all this way, I had to do this.
I pushed the doorbell and waited, my hand over the camera. I didn’t want him seeing me and acting like he wasn’t here.
“Ay, who the fuck—” his irritated voice came through the speaker.
Even cursing me out, it was good to hear.
“Real, it’s me. E— Love. I wanted to see if we could talk,” I began.
There was a long moment of silence. Then…
“Ain’t you a lil’ too old to be playing on someone’s doorbell camera? I’m sorry, but you came at a bad time, shorty. Text me and maybe we can set something up in a couple of weeks,” he said coolly.
Hurt pierced through me, and I blinked rapidly, refusing to give in to the sudden tears that pooled in my eyes. Instead, I pressed on.
“I’m here to tell you how I feel.”
He laughed, a short harsh bark. “When I was interested in hearing that, you weren’t interested in telling me. You think that just because you show up after three months, everything’s gon’ be fine? You don’t get to just drop back into my life like this.”
“Oh, I’m not dropping in, love . I intend to stay,” I vowed.
I decided to let him have his attitude. It was expected. I’d give him what he wanted for a couple of days, but I’ll be damned if he got weeks. I took a deep breath and turned away from the door.
Fuck this. He was gon’ hear what I had to say before I left. He could sit with it before I came back in a couple of days.
“Real, I just need you to listen to me for a second. I’ve had a lot of time to think. I’ve missed you every single day since you left. I was so busy in my head that I couldn’t accept what was in my face. You showed me everything I didn’t know I still wanted. Made me feel things I didn’t think I could. You were inconvenient and irritating and blew my shit right up. And I love you for it. You said you wanted to keep me, Montréal. Well, I wanna be kept. See you later.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘bye?’”
“No, Montréal. I mean, ‘see you later.’ I’ll be back, and I’ma keep coming back until you’re ready to listen.”
Silence hung heavily in the air. Sighing, I knew I had done all that I could short of crashing out and finding a way to break into his house. As tempting as that was, I had to go, had to play this his way for now.
I had taken two steps away when he spoke again.
“What if I’m never ready to listen?” he challenged.
A slow smile curved my mouth.
“I’m a southern girl. Don’t you ever doubt the power of my persuasion.”
* * *
A family emergency had kept Taleah and Kelsey from celebrating on Labor Day, but they were making up for it now. They were co-hosting a cookout at Kelsey and Chill’s house. The backyard event was in full swing and had spilled into the front yard and down the street.
“People come when Chill is on the grill,” Chill had said with supreme confidence, and he wasn’t lying. A block party was brewing, laughter and the mouthwatering, smoky aroma of grilled food filling the air. Even though I was a little fucked up about Montréal Hamilton—he hadn’t responded to me all week and I only had a few days before I went back— I felt a better mood come over me as I chatted with Taleah . The atmosphere of joy was infectious. Taleah and Kelsey were always wonderful hosts, and today was no exception. The cousins knew how to work a party.
“Ev, you gotta try this potato salad,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “It’s my mama’s secret recipe. You gon’ love it!”
I looked at her skeptically. I considered myself a potato salad connoisseur. While my favorite was the slightly sweet Amish kind, I would even make—and eat—theGerman style. When someone asked, “Who made the potato salad?” at my family’s gatherings, they got pissed if the answer wasn’t Everly Love.
“I love you, Leah, but Mama better bring it,” I warned as I took the small plate she offered.
“Girl, don’t play with my mommy,” she responded, snapping her fingers. I scooped up a spoonful and sniffed it warily.
“Now, bitch, please!” Taleah popped, and we both cracked up.
Turned out, Mama’s potato salad was delicious, and I savored the creamy goodness as Taleah filled me in on her and Liam’s latest adventures. I appreciated my friend; talking to her allowed my mind to drift back to Real only about a hundred times instead of constantly. I was more anxious about his response than I wanted to admit. I thought I could tough it out—hell, I owed him after the way he’d tried. But it felt like I was trying to break into a fortress, and each rejection chipped away at my resolve. Karma was a cold-hearted bitch.
“Hey, you good?” Taleah asked, noticing my sudden silence.
“Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile. “About life, I guess.”
“About Mr. Hamilton?” she prodded.
I shrugged . Maybe.
“‘He’s a good man, Savannah. A good man,’” she teased.
“I know,” I murmured.
She squeezed my shoulder gently.
“He gon’ come around. You hurt his feelings and his pride. You know how they can be.”
I nodded. I did know how men could be; that wasn’t the surprise. No, what shocked me was that this time, I cared.
Before Taleah could pry further, Kelsey popped up, bringing a burst of energy. She was her usual bubbly self, full of ideas for games and ten playlists for the DJ. As the evening wore on, I found myself laughing and mingling, trying to shake off my thoughts of Real.At some point, I caught Marlon’s eye from across the yard. He was standing near the big grill where his brother was busy working, shooting me a playful grin. I lifted my water bottle in salute. He crooked a finger, telling me to come here.
“Hell, why not?” I muttered and walked over to him.
“Damn, mamas. You wearing the hell out of that dress. How you doing, beautiful?” he greeted.
“I’m well,” I said, accepting the one arm hug he wrapped me in.
He smelled wonderful. I was a scent person, loved colognes, but as I stood next to this gorgeous, scrumptious smelling man, I felt… nothing. I mean, I liked him, I thought he was attractive, but he wasn’t for me. Oh, no. I had to be stuck on a smart-mouthed, gangsta realtor or whatever he was.
“I was just telling Chill that I think he outdid himself with these burgers. Taste.”
He lifted the burger from his plate and held it close to my lips. It did look and smell decadent, but Marlon was clearly enjoying the opportunity to flirt. I mean, why the hell not? I stared up at him, a smile dancing around my lips. I leaned forward and took a small bite. The flavors exploded across my tongue, and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me. Marlon looked at Chill smugly.
“Told you we calling this one The Orgasm,” he said.
“Nigga…” Chill shook his head as I laughed.
I took another bite that might have been even better than the first. Closing my eyes, I chewed in ecstasy. The Orgasm, indeed.
“Let me fix you one, shorty,” Marlon offered.
I nodded, as I started to swallow.
“That’s the best thing for you to do before you be sucking your food through a straw the rest of your life,” a low voice rolled over me.
The food I was swallowing stuck in my throat, sending me into a fit of coughs. I twisted the top off my water bottle and hurriedly took a long swallow as I attempted to get my coughing under control.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked while trying to get my breathing under control.
“ Deathly serious, shorty,” Real said, staring coolly at me.
Marlon chuckled as he patted my back. “Threatening me at my brother’s crib is bold, even for one of the Hamiltons.”
“Told you he was invited,” Chill told his brother, his tone supremely unconcerned.
“So was she, and obviously, they weren’t invited together,” Marlon observed.
Real tilted his head and stared at the younger Childress brother. “That’s not your business. Nothing about her is your business. Stay safe by remembering that.”
“Montréal, that’s not even called for—” I began.
“It’s like you can’t help yourself. You were just talking about missing me, but you out here feeling out other sponsors, huh?”
I drew in a sharp breath as hurt overwhelmed me.
“Hold up, bruh. You ain’t gotta to talk to her like that!” Marlon spat, squeezing my shoulder.
“And you ain’t gotta keep touching her, but here we are,” Real said, shrugging.
Chill kissed his teeth. “This can't be the shorty you were tearing the city up about, not with you acting like that,” he chided.
“Like I said, she hasn’t done anything for you to be talking to her disrespectfully, nigga,” Marlon added.
Real had the decency to look almost ashamed... Almost.
I shook my head suddenly. “Marlon, it's okay. Chill, will you tell Taleah and Kelsey that I'm gone?”
I didn't wait for his answer. I took off for my car, barely resisting the urge to break out and run through the huge house and the perfectly manicured front lawn. I could hear people calling my name, but I was too embarrassed and angry to stop. Suddenly, my upper arm was grabbed, bringing my steps to an impromptu halt. I already knew who it was.
“Let me go, Montréal,” I hissed.
“Nah. I thought you wanted to talk so bad?”
I yanked out of his grasp and whirled around. “You ready to talk about what I said?”
He didn’t say a word, but his mouth drew into a tight line and his eyes dropped.
“Exactly. Bye, Real.”
He didn’t say anything, but I felt his eyes on me all the way to my car. I went straight back to the vacation rental, stripped, and jumped into the shower, telling myself the water would hide the tears. A long while later, after I moisturized and pulled on a cropped tee and yoga pants, I remembered that I was out of water.
“Damn,” I cursed before putting on my shoes and dropping my key fob and phone into my purse.
I had backed out of the garage and was near the end of the driveway when a dark-colored Benz pulled behind me. Frowning, I blew the horn, ready to get this unplanned trip over with. When the car didn’t move, I opened the door and climbed out of mine. Driven by irritation, I wasn’t thinking straight until the driver’s door of the Benz opened.
Oh, shit , I thought, but decided to stand my ground. Aaqil’s handsome face appearing above the car’s roof surprised me, but I recovered quickly. I rolled my eyes.
“Why are you here?” I demanded.
“Me?” he asked, rounding the car and walking up the driveway. “Unfortunately, belle , I am here to borrow you. A little kidnapping; I was hoping you would not make it too complicated.” His eyes roamed over me, and he sighed. “But I see, I hoped for too much.”