Chapter 20
I missed Denishia like crazy. I’d been out here a week, and I was lonely as fuck. Although we’d talked every day, that was nothing compared to being in her presence with my arms wrapped around her. Knowing that I’d gotten the starring role in the Broadway play had put me on a high I thought I couldn’t come down from. However, the minute I told her by phone yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to celebrate all over her beautiful body.
I’d been somewhat of a recluse while here. If I wasn’t working or meeting with people, I was in my room. My agent had asked me to extend my stay because there was a movie role she was trying to negotiate for me. It wasn’t the lead role, but it was close. The role was the best friend of the lead. So, the role would definitely be as memorable as I could make it. She was supposed to let me know today if I would get to read for it.
As I waited for my breakfast, I grabbed my phone to FaceTime Denishia. It was only eight here, but I knew she was wide awake. I was an hour ahead of her since I was here in New York, but she was usually awake at six when she planned to go to the floral shop. While it rang, I thought about all the shit that came to a head while I was gone. The police had tracked her sister down rather quickly. I supposed it wasn’t hard since she was sitting outside Denishia’s house.
In my opinion, I believed she wanted to be caught. Why would she have been sitting there if she didn’t? After all the details Denishia gave me about why she did what she did, I still didn’t feel an ounce of empathy. None of that shit had a thing to do with Denishia. She should have taken that out on their father while he was alive. For all we knew, she probably did. Sometimes, people’s behaviors couldn’t be explained in a way where it made sense.
I could understand her jealousy because of Denishia’s success being shoved down her throat for years, but I didn’t understand her hatred for Denishia or Ms. Patsy. His actions were his actions. He was the culprit for all her anger, hurt, and feelings of inadequacy, and her mother was just as guilty for leaving her with him. However, I was grateful Denishia didn’t want to talk to her after the things she said in the interrogation room. It would have only tormented her later. That would have meant that Sabrina had accomplished what she set out to do, which was put Denishia in as much mental turmoil as she was in.
Denishia didn’t answer the FaceTime call, so she was probably busy. Shortly after I ended the call, she sent a text. Hey, baby. I’m extremely busy. I’m a little behind because I forgot to get Ford’s purple magnolias. He normally gets them earlier, but he’d changed the schedule because they were on vacation. I’ll call you as soon as I get a break.
That was weird. If she had time to text all that, she could have just answered the call and said what all she messaged. I supposed I was just wanting to see her face that badly. My agent had three more days to make something happen before I hopped a flight to Houston. I had to get back to Beaumont to see Denishia. This shit here was for the birds.
I knew for sure I would be going to Beaumont next month, no matter what I had going on. Denishia’s birthday was coming up. We’d missed Valentine’s Day because of her mother’s sudden demise and all the bullshit. I had only gotten flowers for her. I needed a do-over. Her birthday would be special and memorable. She deserved that and more.
The knock at the door halted my thoughts. Before I could check to see who was at the door, I heard a woman’s voice say, “Room service.”
Still, I looked through the peephole. You couldn’t be too careful these days. When I saw the Hispanic lady holding the tray of food, I opened the door, preparing to take cash from my pocket for her tip. However, when I looked up and saw Denishia, I nearly lost my shit.
“Oh fuck! Denishia! Damn, girl.”
I pulled her to me, forgetting all about my food. I was about to let the door close right in the lady’s face. The aroma caught my attention, bringing me back to the task at hand. I grabbed the tray from her and handed her a ten-dollar-bill then allowed the door to close. Practically dropping the tray to the table, I went right back to Denishia.
“That’s why you didn’t want to FaceTime me.”
She giggled as I pulled her close and leaned over to kiss her neck and suck on her earlobe. My dick was hard as a steel bat, ready to swing and knock her shit out the damn park.
“Ezekiel, I missed you so much. I don’t know how I’ve been able to function for the past week. I have to thank Jerzey for keeping me occupied. She’s been coming during the evenings to help me and Grandma.”
“How’s Jamia doing?” I asked.
“She’s good. She’s at home, dying to come back to work. I need her to rest though. I told her I may let her come back next week. I worked my ass off yesterday, being sure all the bouquets were done for today and the rest of the weekend. I leave to go back home Sunday evening.”
“You just don’t know how you’ve given me air. My balloon was deflating fast without you. Just that week or so at your place has me spoiled as fuck. I’m glad Jamia is still doing well. Did Jerzey ever talk to her sister?”
She pulled away from me and smiled slightly. “Yeah. She had me sit in on it. Some of the things they said are still bothering me. The things they went through as kids is heartbreaking. Seeing and hearing their tearful expressions was hard. Despite all that, I believe Jerzey was able to get everything out in the open to Mekayla and express exactly how it all affected her. It’s why she isn’t in a relationship. She doesn’t want one because of the trauma from her childhood. She feels like she can’t fully trust men. I feel so sorry for both of them.”
“Wow. Do they have a relationship with their parents?”
“They have the same mother but not the same father. They have a relationship with their mom, although the relationship between her and Jerzey is somewhat strained. She talks to her dad occasionally, but they aren’t as close as a father and daughter should be because he spent a lot of time in and out of prison.”
“Damn. I’m glad she’s mending though. Some progress is better than no progress. Any word yet on a trial date for Sabrina?”
I was sure to call her by name because the last time I called Sabrina her sister, she came unglued. She said that woman wasn’t her sister, no matter what the fuck DNA said. I was sure to not slip up and do that shit again.
“Yeah. That shit is set on my birthday, next month.”
“I know you fucking lying. You couldn’t get them to change it?”
“Nope… Well, I didn’t try. I just want her locked up for what she put my mama and Jamia through.”
I frowned slightly. “Your mom? They found proof that she talked to your mama?”
“Somewhat. There was video footage of her leaving my mom’s apartment the day before she died. I just wished Mama would have told me about it. We may could have put a stop to her ass and got Mama seen by a doctor. What Will had done had served as a distraction for what was really going on. She knew that I would think he was behind everything because of his behavior that day.”
I slowly shook my head. “Well, we will have to go out on the town tonight. Have you ever been to New York?”
“Yeah, but it was years ago. I’m sure things have changed a bit.”
“Possibly. I’m so happy you’re here, baby.”
“I’m glad I’m here too. I couldn’t leave all the burden of travel strictly on you. When I can get away, I’ll go meet you wherever you are. The past month or so that I’ve been in contact with you and the past couple of weeks we’ve been in a relationship have been the most exciting time of my life, despite everything that was going on. I don’t know how I would have made it through all of that without you. Will… that nigga.”
I chuckled as she cut her eyes. She could never finish her sentence when she said his name. I swore I wanted to laugh every time she did that. She acted like she didn’t love that trifling ass nigga at one time. Whenever she said his name, she either rolled her eyes or made the sound like she was kissing her teeth. “Baby, I done told you. There is only one Ezekiel Wheeler, ’cause it ain’t no blueprint. My parents raised me right, and I experienced a lot along the way. I’m just happy I found you.”
“Naw, nigga, naw. Your aunt found me. You need to buy her a nice gift, thanking her for sending you my way.”
“Shiiiid, I know that’s fucking right,” I said as I pulled her close again. “So what’chu wanna do first?”
“You don’t want to eat your breakfast?”
“Why the fuck would I want that dry ass toast, grits, and ham, when I got shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and poached eggs right in front of me?”
“Why poached?” she asked with her lip turned up like she didn’t eat that shit.
“’Cause that shit run out of you just like the yoke run out of that egg when you punch it open.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. After kissing my lips, she began pulling off my shirt. “I’m not going to make the same mistake I did last time. If you say fuck that breakfast, I say fuck it, too, and come fuck me instead.”
I quickly pulled off my shorts then stripped her of her clothes. “My fucking pleasure, Denishia.”