Chapter 2
Every year, before he had a family, my brother-in-law used to throw a “back to the season” get together.
It was the fellas and it featured good food, pretty women, strong drinks, expensive cigars, and light conversation.
Once my sister, Genesis, came into the picture, all of that dried right up.
CJ became an instant family man. It was like, add water and stir.
Something about Genesis changed and rearranged his priorities.
Now, instead of hosting a get-together for the fellas, CJ hosted a family vacation in the Caribbean.
Each year, he rented a private jet and flew all of us—the Uptons (his family) and the Coles (our family) to the island of Iredia.
He and Genesis owned a large home there that sat directly on the beach.
It was a little slice of paradise. I loved going there and I was even more thankful for the opportunity to get away now that my relationship with Adriana had fallen apart.
It was like being in another world—one where pressure, stress, break ups and heartache didn’t exist.
It was early morning by the time I awoke.
Jetlag had whupped my ass and I crashed shortly after arriving.
I barely even settled in the guest room that was mine for the next few days before going down for the count.
I rolled over in bed a couple of times, trying to see if I could recapture sleep, because I was still tired.
When that didn’t work, I turned over on my back and stared at the ceiling.
The thoughts running through my mind weren’t deep or disturbing, but that didn’t make them any less unwanted.
I wanted my brain to be quiet. I didn’t want to think about anything, but apparently, my brain wasn’t with that.
I got up, rummaged around in my oversized duffel bag, and found some clothes.
I brushed my teeth, washed my face, showered, and dressed.
By the time I’d stepped securely into my Nike slides, my stomach growled loud as hell.
I was definitely hungry. I’d fallen asleep before I was able to have dinner.
CJ and Genesis hired a chef for the days we would be at the house, but I didn’t think there was any way he or she would be at the house cooking at this time of morning.
Ironically enough, Genesis was a professional chef.
She was the owner of a company called Top Flight Unlimited that offered both catering and private chef services.
She was actually the preferred private chef for most of my teammates and a great number of professional athletes in the Chicagoland area.
But there was no way that CJ would expect his wife to cook for the masses on what was essentially a vacation.
Still, I needed to eat. I seriously considered shooting her a text.
If she was awake, I knew she would get up and fix me something.
She wouldn’t let her brother starve. I wasn’t that selfish though.
Not enough that I would pull her from sleep.
She had three toddlers. I knew sleep was a hot commodity in the Upton household.
Still, it was at the point where I was about to make my own turkey bacon and eggs sandwich.
I was hungry as hell. I needed to put something in my stomach.
The kitchen wasn’t empty when I finally made my way down there.
“Good morning. Thought I was the only early bird,” I said.
I was relieved when I saw the big, beautiful bounty of fruit almost running over the top of the sterling silver bowl in the middle of the large kitchen island. As I moved closer to the fruit bowl, I also moved closer to Ryann, who sat at the island playing around on her phone.
She spoke without moving her gaze from the screen. “Hey. Good morning. Nah, you’re not the only early bird. I couldn’t sleep. My brain is in overdrive.”
I grabbed a juicy looking peach and took a large bite. “Word. I feel you on that, mama.” I slowly chewed the fruit, savoring its light sweetness.
“Oh…” She finally looked at me, her brown eyes so soft that I already knew she was going to say something about my break up.
“Uhm, I meant to tell you that I was sorry about whatever happened between you and Adrianna. I liked you guys as a couple. I always thought she was a nice girl, even if the rumors say something else.”
I knew exactly what rumors she was referring to. After the break up, Adrianna had been spotted around social media on the arms of several different celebrities, including Tone Amsterdam.
When things didn’t progress between the two of them, he loaded a snippet of him dissing some “unknown” woman onto his socials.
Based on the content, it was obvious to me and probably to Adrianna that the song was about her.
The lyrics of the snippet and the postings of her on social media with several different men fed into the implication that she was being passed around.
I didn’t think it was true, but I also didn’t think she would cheat on me.
So, what did I know about Adrianna’s convictions and boundaries? Absolutely nothing.
Anyway, I shook my head and finished the piece of fruit in a second bite. Whatever Adrianna had going on in her personal life was her business and I wouldn’t speak on it. I walked around the island to toss the peach pit into the trash can.
“She is a nice girl.” Is what I chose to offer. “She’s just made some missteps.”
“If I lost your fine ass, I would probably make some missteps, too.” Ryann had muttered the words, but not softly. The volume actually made me wonder if she meant for me to hear her words.
I had to chuckle. “What?” I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. “What did you say?”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
“What did you say, Ryann? Did you say that you would make some missteps, too, if you lost my fine ass?”
“Damn.” She started to giggle. “I’m really wilding. I promise I meant to think that in my head, not say it out loud.”
“But the sentiment…”
Her milk chocolate brown eyes pinned me.
“Oh, the sentiment is the sentiment. I said what I said.” She sighed.
“You’re a catch, Brix. Everybody always says that the dating pool is disgusting.
They say there’s pee in the pool. I look at men like my brothers and you and I know that’s not always true.
I mean, I know from experience that you have to wade through a lot of fuck boys, but good guys do still exist. You’re a good guy, Brixton.
You treated Adrianna very well. I’m shocked as hell over how she played in your face. ”
“Thanks, Ryann.” I stole a glance down at my watch.
It was a little before six. “I’m feeling antsy.
This is around the time I’m usually getting ready to make moves to get my day going.
I’mma take a walk, try to get some of this energy off before breakfast.” I tossed the apple core into the trash can before moving my gaze to Ryann.
“You’re not doing anything, come keep me company. ”
“It’s still dark outside, sir. How are we supposed to see where we’re going?”
“Come on, girl. Look”—I pointed out of the kitchen window—“it’s not pitch black out there. The sun is starting to break through.”
Before she could even stand up from the bar stool, CJ entered the kitchen carrying his daughter, Giselle, on his hip. “Did y’all keep the party going from last night or is this a new party?”
“Good morning.” Ryann crossed the room. Once she was in front of CJ, she planted a kiss on Giselle’s cheek. “Good morning, Giselle my Belle.”
Giselle gave her a toothless grin and bounced in her father’s arms, so Ryann repeated the action.
“This is apparently a new party.” I answered his question. “I came down because I was hungry as hell and couldn’t sleep. Ryann was already down here.”
His eyes shot down to Ryann, who was still entertaining a gurgling, giggling Giselle. “You cool, Sis?”
The rise and fall of her shoulders was so slight I would’ve missed it if I hadn’t been staring at her. “I’m cool.”
That felt like a lie.
CJ must’ve thought so, too. His eyes stayed on her face, even though she wouldn’t give him eye contact.
My voice broke into the silence that had settled over the kitchen. “Yo, I was gonna take a walk, a jog … something. I need to get off some of this energy.”
“Yeah, gotta start getting ready to get back at it. The season’ll be here before we know it.
It’s like, by the time you finally manage to decompress, it’s time to get back on the grind again.
” His gaze finally moved away from Ryann to me.
He fished his phone out of the pocket of the loose-fitting joggers he wore.
“Let me hit the alarm system so you can get out. Just text me when you get back. I’ll make sure you get back in. ”
I nodded. “What time is breakfast? I’m hungrier than a motherfucker.” I walked over to him, took the baby from his arms, and gave my niece a quick kiss on her chubby cheek before returning her to him.
“Chef’ll be here at seven. Breakfast by eight.”
I nodded before turning to walk away.
“Wait up, Brix!” Ryann dropped one more kiss on our niece’s jaw. “Let me grab my shoes.”
His eyebrows went in toward each other as he gave a slight frown. “Is this part of your new exercise routine? Working out before sunrise?”
“Only when my heart is broken and I don’t know what else to do with myself. When sitting still gives my brain too much time to think and I feel like I’m gonna drown in the … nothingness of my life,” she responded, leaving both CJ and me speechless.