Chapter 16
chapter sixteen
Brayden.
“Here you go, Pretty. Enjoy.” I handed over the styrofoam container holding a pulled pork sandwich and sides to a woman whose face I hadn’t seen before. I didn’t know every customer but most were familiar because of their repeat business. She wasn’t.
“I’m sure I will if your hands are the ones that prepared it.”
“I helped but it wasn’t all me. My cousin Nox is the one who deserves the credit.”
“Mm, well I’d rather give you the credit seeing as how your exemplary customer service skills are what will be bringing me back.” She smiled sweetly, eyeing every inch of me. I flashed a charming smile and leaned further out the window.
“I can respect that and I won’t let him know you’re not interested in his skills because his ego is very fragile.” I winked and her smile blossomed.
“And what about your ego…”
“His ego is just fine because his girlfriend reminds him on a regular basis about all his admirable qualities. It would be a shame if she had to switch up and start focusing that attention elsewhere, don’t you agree?”
My eyes moved to the door of the food truck where Caeli was standing with a dangerous smile on her face, one that threatened the safety of me and my customer.
“You must be the girlfriend?” the woman stated dryly, looking Caeli over.
“For now, yes, but you can try your luck again tomorrow. Who knows, I might decide he’s not worth the effort if someone like you has his attention.”
“Damn, she’s not playing with your ass. Bray, you better send your little friend on her merry little way,” Nox joked, stepping up next to me to place another order on the counter. His amused smile darted over to Caeli before he lifted his chin in acknowledgment then he was back to filling orders.
I remained in an intense stare with Caeli for a moment longer and by the time I looked down to grab the order number scribbled on the one Nox just dropped for me, my little friend had bowed out gracefully. She was already heading back to the office complex.
“Order thirty-eight.”
“That’s me.” Another woman pushed through the crowd and extended a hand.
“You have your receipt?”
She glanced at Caeli and held it into view. I grinned, knowing she wasn’t trying to piss off my girl. So after I verified her order, I handed off the container and flashed a smile. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks,” she rattled off and hurried out the way.
“Come up here.” I motioned to Caeli and she angled her head to the side in challenge so I added, “Please.”
I repeated the process of verifying orders and receipts to get our crowd down then handed over my attention to Caeli, hooking my finger into her belt loop and yanking her to me but her palms landed hard on my chest to create space.
“What’s up?”
“I don’t know, you tell me Mr. Loverman.”
I smiled and leaned in to kiss her but she jerked her head back. “You know none of that means anything, stop tripping, Caeli. It’s just a sales tactic.”
“Then find a new one. You don’t have to flirt to make sales.”
“I keep telling him that. My food sells itself,” Nox chimed in, not helping matters.
“I’m not flirting. I’m just being polite.”
When I pushed her hands away from my chest and leaned in to kiss her, this time she let me but added, “So if I decide to be polite to our customers, grinning in their faces when they need to verify their orders, you’ll be okay with that?”
“As long as they’re female customers.”
“Bruh…” Nox mumbled, moving past me to hand over another round of orders.
“My thoughts exactly. There will not be a double standard with us, Bray. If you get to flirt, so do I.”
Nah, fuck that.
“Okay, I see your point. I’ll keep it professional but if our sales decline you can be the one who explains to Nox that he has to cut down on his excessive spending habits.”
Neither Nox nor I were excessive with spending but I couldn’t help myself.
“Don’t put me in your bullshit. I already told you, my food sells itself.”
“I knew you were my favorite, Nox,” Caeli sang, peeking around me to get a better look at him.
“Easy, Lee. I’m not trying to have problems with your sister.”
She flashed him a smile. “Not that kind of favorite, but still my favorite.”
“And where does that leave me?”
“In the doghouse with your girlfriend if you don’t get your shit together.”
I grinned and kissed her once more. “I got you, can’t have that. So to what do I owe the honor of this surprise visit?”
“I wanted to let you know there was a change in plans. I’ve been so busy that my laundry is backed up. I have ten loads easy that I need to get done.”
“Ten is a little presumptuous. Half the time you’re with me, you’re naked.”
“Which is the problem. I’m with you a lot and that means my schedule is thrown off.”
I frowned at the agitation in her voice. We were a little over two months in and had been spending a lot of time together. I didn’t see it as a problem but apparently Caeli thought otherwise. “If you need to spend less time at my place…”
“Bray, no, that’s not what I’m getting at. I just need to get caught up on a few things.”
I relaxed, not realizing how much the thought of Caeli pulling away had me tense. “How about we chill at your house tonight? I can help you wash clothes and…”
“Absolutely not.” She frowned hard.
“You don’t need to help her wash clothes. You need to help me train Daquan so we can have more time away from the truck. Or better yet, I can train him, you find someone to fill orders after I get him trained or I’ll be the only one with more free time.”
Nox and I had been considering hiring people to give us a break. With it only being the two of us, Wednesday through Friday we were tied to the truck and the remainder of the week we were prepping and preparing to be tied to the truck. We loved the business but didn’t want to burn out and if we opened another location we would need qualified staff to run one or the other. He was training a guy named Daquan who had a few slip ups that landed him in jail but everyone deserved a new start. So far, Daquan was proving to be a decent guy who wanted a better life.
“I have prospects already. There’s not much training involved in taking orders,” I rattled off to Nox before turning my attention back to Caeli. “You don’t want me at your house?”
“Yes, you’re more than welcome but I don’t want you washing my clothes, that’s weird.”
I grinned. “How the fuck is that weird? We’re a couple.”
“Women don’t like the idea of men snooping through their unmentionables, Bray. She has a point. It is a little weird.”
Caeli and I both swung our heads to the door where Melanie was standing with a huge grin on her face.
“Mel, you didn’t tell me you were coming by.”
“I didn’t realize I was stopping by until I pulled up so I didn’t think to warn you. I had a meeting nearby and decided to come get lunch, I hope that’s okay.” Her eyes left me and bounced over to Caeli.
“You know it is,” I assured her before turning Caeli toward Mel and pulling her back into my chest, looping an arm loosely around her neck. “Mel, this is…”
“ Caeli . Finally I get to meet you. He’s been keeping you hidden away.” Melanie extended a hand which Caeli accepted after she tilted her head back and glanced up at me.
“Hi, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Oh really…” Melanie grinned and looked right at me. “Then we should talk so I can give you the real scoop on me and him…”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Caeli shifted away and dipped under my arm. When I reached for her to object, Melanie grabbed her hand and guided the two of them off the truck. “Don’t worry, Bray, I won’t share all of your secrets. Just the really good ones,” she yelled just as the two of them hit the sidewalk.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah fuck is right. I hope you’ve been telling the truth about the two of you being just friends, otherwise that’s going to go hella wrong.”
“I am telling the truth.”
“Then why do you look like you want to throw up?”
“Because my girlfriend is about to have a private conversation with my best friend who is a woman and knows all my shit. The good and bad. I’m not worried about her telling Caeli about anything between us because there isn’t anything to tell but where other women are concerned she knows too much.”
“Aw damn, Bray, she’s about to blow up your spot.”
“Yeah, maybe. Let me go…”
“Hell no, do you see that line? I need help. Whatever Mel breaks with your relationship, you can fix later. Right now we have orders and customers.”
I moved back to the service window and spotted Caeli and Melanie not far away. Caeli’s back was to me so I couldn’t see her expression, but Melanie was all smiles while she spoke animatedly.
Instead of stressing myself with the conversation the two were having, I fell into the groove of taking and filling orders for the next half hour while the two most important women in my life got acquainted. By the time the line was manageable, they both came back to the truck and Nox took over while I stepped onto the sidewalk to find out if I still had a girlfriend.
My past wasn’t horrible but there had been some not so great moments concerning women I’d dealt with that might have Caeli side eyeing me. Every man had his “I should have treated her better” list. I didn’t expect Melanie to share every detail of my past but she was the type to talk too much and say things that shouldn’t be exposed.
“Everything good over here?” I walked behind Caeli, planting a kiss on her neck. When she only angled her head back and smiled, I relaxed.
“Is there a reason things wouldn’t be good?” she asked.
“Not that I know of.” I shared a look with Melanie who offered a far too big smile.
“I told her about that one slip we had years ago and how it would never happen again and she seemed to be okay with our friendship ,so all is well.”
“Slip? What slip? We’ve never had a slip, Mel. What the hell did you tell her?”
“Relax, killer. Nothing, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stress you out.”
I lowered my eyes to Caeli who was still at ease and assured her Melanie was only joking. “There was never a slip between the two of us.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” I asked, just for clarity so I could look her in the eyes when she answered to be sure.
“Yes, Bray. She explained your friendship the same way you did and I believe her.”
“But you didn’t believe me?”
“I never said I didn’t believe you. I only said I wanted to meet her to see for myself.”
“It’s a woman thing, Bray. She needed to personally feel me out,” Melanie said. “And I’m glad she got the opportunity. I’m happy for you.” She turned to Caeli. “Both of you. It’s about time he met someone I didn’t have to pretend to like.”
“That bad?” Caeli smirked with her eyes moving back and forth between me and Melanie.
“Bad enough, so trust me, I’m rooting for the two of you.”
“That’s messed up, Mel.”
“Blame yourself, not me, friend. Your selection skills haven’t been the best.” She grinned. “Well before Caeli but I need to get going. I was only coming by to let you know it’s official. Jermaine moved out yesterday and he and I are finally done.”
“For how long?”
“For good this time. I know you don’t believe me but you’ll see. If I don’t expect more, he’ll never give me more.”
“So you’re not done then? Just trying to force his hand.”
“No, I’m done, Bray and meeting Caeli has only further confirmed that I made the right decision.”
“Me?” Caeli looked surprised.
“The smile on your face when you were talking about Bray, and the way he’s looking at you now, lets me know I’ve been existing and not truly being loved the way I deserve. I want that type of smile and I want the man I choose to be in my life to look at me the way Bray looks at you. If you can’t see it or feel it, Caeli, trust me it’s there. I can.”
Caeli tried hard as hell to hide her smile but it was there. I pulled Melanie into a hug. “I’m proud of you, Mel. And you’re right, you deserve it all.”
When I let her go, I dropped an arm around Caeli’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “You deserve to have a man who has you down bad the way she currently has me.”
“Oh wow, you’ve got it bad, Bray.” Melanie flashed a smile.
“I’ll take that because I’m man enough to admit I do have it bad but only for her.”
“Says the man who was just flirting with a customer under the guise of getting more sales.” Caeli lifted her chin and cut her eyes at me.
“And on that note, I’m going to head out. I’ve warned him enough times that all his flirting was going to backfire.” She turned to Caeli. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope we can all hang out soon. Maybe after I figure out my new routine as a single woman.”
“Definitely, I’m glad we got to meet.” Caeli dipped from under my arm and gave Melanie a quick hug. After Melanie was gone, Caeli stepped to me and slipped her arms around my waist. “I like her.”
“Good, and do you trust that we’re just friends?”
“I trust you , I don’t have to trust her or the parameters of your friendship based on her perspective. She doesn’t owe me anything but you do.”
I smiled slowly. “Then that’s good enough.”
“But, if I ever feel like things are not what they seem, then please be clear, you won’t have both of us in your life. Either she goes or I go.”
“That won’t be an issue. You got me a hundred and ten percent.”
“Same.” Our kiss sealed the deal as confirmation of the words we’d just spoken. Caeli was my future and I was hers, without question.
L ater that night, I found myself at Hemisphere having dinner and a few beers with my mentor and friend Thurston. He reached out like he did occasionally to make sure things were going well and I decided I needed to update him on the current state of my life. I also wanted to give Caeli some time to take care of the things she had been letting fall to the side, or at least give her a head start without me hovering.
“This is the first time you’ve been in a committed relationship in years, son. What happened to focusing on business?” Thurston smiled smugly behind his beer as he turned it up.
“I’m still focused on business,” I clarified. “I might even be more focused considering the potential I have for a future with Caeli. She motivates me and I want to make sure I can give her the life she deserves, you know, being a provider and a protector for my future wife.”
“ Wife …” He choked on the sip he’d just finished. “It’s a little soon for that, isn’t it? You’re what, a couple weeks in with this young lady?”
“A little over two months and didn’t you propose to your wife after only six days?”
His expression softened. “That’s different.”
“How?” I frowned and he shrugged.
“I’m old and things were different then. You millennials…”
I groaned. “Don’t start with that and you’re older, not old.”
“With the state of the world now and the way you guys navigate, I’m old, son.”
I chuckled. He had a point. Times were certainly different. “I’m not saying I’m going to marry her a week from now or even six months from now. I only know that I can see her as my wife. I can visualize us having a happy life with either the two of us or kids if that’s what she wants.”
“Do you want kids?”
“Yeah, I do but I want her more so if she doesn’t…”
“Oh hell. You really do like this young lady,” he murmured as if it pained him. I smiled amusedly.
“I more than like her. It’s not love yet, but it will be. I just don’t know if I’m equipped to be the type of husband she deserves.” I drummed my fingers on the table. As much as I knew I wanted a future with Caeli and as confident as I was that I could be happy with her, there was this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I would fuck things up.
“Why wouldn’t you be equipped, Brayden?” His introspective stare found its way to me.
“I just…” I raked a hand down my face and glanced off to the side briefly before my eyes met his again. “I wasn’t led by example. What I know, I learned on my own until you were a part of my life. And even with all the life advice you’ve given me, it’s still possible that I’m my father’s son.”
“No, you are not,” he stated firmly before asking, “Have you ever walked away from your responsibilities?”
“No.”
“Would you ever?”
“Never.”
He nodded. “You’re an independent soul, son. You challenge everything I tell you…”
“I don’t.”
He arched a brow and I smirked. “Okay, sometimes.”
“It’s a good thing. I don’t want you to take what I say and run with it. I can only give you my thoughts. Some I’ve learned from experience, but those lessons were my own. You have to take those lessons and make them work for you. I respect a man who uses his brain and is not led by others. That’s you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re an honorable man, Brayden. Your mother has given you every reason to detach from her life.”
I exhaled a sigh. “Don’t say I haven’t, because recently I did.”
He gave me a questionable look and I explained the situation of her popping up and the conflict with Caeli.
“Let me ask you this…” He lifted his beer, finished what was left, then spoke. “If May needed you for anything, if she were harmed or in a bind, would you show up for her and do everything in your power to make it right?”
I would. He knew that as well so I only nodded.
“Then there’s nothing wrong with disconnecting and limiting her access to you. Every man should have peace. You’re not running, you’re managing how you deal with her. I’ll say it again, you’re a good man, Brayden. You are perfectly capable of being a good husband. You think I had all the answers when I married my wife?”
“Shit, seems like it.” I chuckled lightly.
“I assure you I didn’t. We learn and grow, we learn from our mistakes, and we become better despite them. You will be okay.”
“I needed to hear that.”
“You and Lennox are just as much my sons as Jordan. God willing, I will always be here to make sure you have a sound voice to keep you on track.” He smiled. “Now tell me about this Caeli. She’s got to be a special woman if she has you thinking about weddings and kids.”
I began filling him in on my favorite subject, Caeli Webb, the woman who was quickly changing everything about me but in the best of ways.