Chapter 7 | Carter #2
She buried her head in my chest. “You weren’t supposed to ever know that.”
“Too late. You already know I noticed you four months ago.” I tilted back to see her face. “In this short period of time, you’ve become a part of me.”
Brooklyn’s smile faded. “And you’ve become a part of me.”
I held her to my chest and closed my eyes, treasuring this dance and this woman who seemed made for me.
Her voice echoed in the quiet hall. “It wasn’t at the station. No one has been in that room...fine, but I know your jacket isn’t there. Why is there a ‘do not enter’ sign on this room?”
I chuckled at the annoyance in her voice that I rarely heard because we were too enamored with one another.
I glanced around the room one last time, pleased with the strings of white lights that crisscrossed the vacant hospital room and the red linen-covered table covered with white and pink roses and a meal of lamb chops and potatoes that I prepared for a late dinner on Christmas Eve.
Brooklyn pushed open the door impatiently and yelped when she saw me standing beside the table, facing the door, waiting for her.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she held her arms to me.
I quickly hugged her to me. She sobbed on my chest, and I rubbed her back and consoled her, “I didn’t want to begin my Christmas day without you. ”
She sniffed and admired the room. “You did this?”
“Yeah. Got here about an hour ago. Cleared it with Denise yesterday to make sure there was a room for me to do this. How much time do you have?”
She checked her watch. “I can disappear for about twenty minutes.” Brooklyn kissed me. “Sorry, baby. I know you wanted tomorrow with me.”
“I will have tomorrow with you. This bed works. I’ll sleep until you get off and drive you home so we can nap, watch Charlie Brown, eat French toast, and open one gift. Then I’ll have you back here by nine. After that, I’m spending the rest of the day with the fam.”
Brooklyn wiggled her shoulders. “My Christmas tradition.”
“We have to add something else to make it uniquely ours.”
Brooklyn pushed down her scrubs before pushing me on the chair to straddle me. “Sex.”
“And that’s why I love you.” I gazed into her beautiful face, ready to accept whether she said it back now or later.
Her eyes sparkled as she ran her hand over my hair. “I’m so glad you said it first. Wanted to say it to you last night at the gala. Thought it might be too soon.”
“What? Because you still haven’t said it.” I slid my hands up her waist to the side of her breasts. My thumbs toyed with her rigid nipples. Her hips started rocking against me, begging for my dick. “What do you have to say to me?”
Instead of answering, Brooklyn unzipped me and, within seconds, slid down my erect manhood until our bodies connected.
She slowly kissed me as she rode me to the same rhythm of her tongue.
We continued to kiss while she took complete control of my body.
I kept my hands tangled in her hair that she still wore straightened, allowing her to physically tell me what she wasn’t quite ready to say aloud.
I stood outside the door of my former home, hoping that she and I could be peaceful as I held their Christmas gifts.
Mama, who never cared for Joi, remained at my house while I picked up Sekani.
Joi hated being ignored, and I hated arguing, which all it would’ve been if I answered.
She opened the door, wearing a slight frown.
“Merry Christmas.” I greeted. “Have gifts for you and Kani. Figured we can open them together before he comes with me.”
Her frown deepened. “You don’t have to buy me anymore gifts. We’re not together, remember?”
I sucked my teeth. “You’re still the mother of my son. If I showed up with gifts just for Sekani, you would be pissed. But hey, save me some money and thoughts about what to get you.”
Joi glared. “Whatever, Carter.”
Barely holding on to my exasperation, I asked calmly, “Are you going to let me in, or do you want Kani to get in the car? Doesn’t matter to me if this is the attitude you’re going to give me.”
She glanced behind her, stepped outside, and closed the door. I backed up to give us space, set the gifts on the ground beside us, and warned myself to hold my tongue no matter what she said.
Joi crossed her arms and blew out a large breath.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been calling you and texting you like that.
We’re not together for a reason. A decision I made first. You never post anyone, and when I saw that you posted her, a woman that I sensed you were attracted to, it brought back the good, sexy memories of us.
And I wanted you again. Even if we had hooked up for old times’ sake, we would eventually remember that we don’t work.
” She stubbed the toe of her fluffy slipper.
“I was feeling lonely because it’s the holidays, which are already rough for me. ”
“I know. I’m trying to keep the peace, which is why I didn’t answer or respond.”
Joi sighed, “Believe it or not, I’m trying to as well.
It’s why I’m taking myself out of the equation.
Kani is old enough for you to communicate with him directly.
I’ll make myself scarce when I know you’re coming here.
He’ll be driving soon, and then he can drive to see you.
You won’t have to come here too much longer.
” She looked back at the house. “I want to sell it anyway. Too many memories. Hard for me to move on when I still sleep in the same bed we shared. We can split the money once it’s sold. ”
“You can keep it. Use it to get you a nice, smaller place. You always thought it was too big for us,” I quietly replied.
“Whatever you need to be okay with us not being together, I’ll respect.
Whether you ever believe me, I didn’t cheat on you.
I never talked, flirted, or entertained another woman until we broke up.
I wanted forever, I really did. But I can see how I triggered you. ”
Her eyes glistened, and her lips curved slightly.
“One thing I will never complain about is how you took care of me and of us. It’s why I fell in love with you and why I stayed as long as I did.
I got some major issues to work out. Thought it was all you and realized it’s me.
Maybe therapy, or maybe it’s me starting fresh.
After Sekani graduates next year, I’m moving back to Texas.
Don’t want to take him away from you, his doctors, and his friends.
” She smiled wider. “Need to get back to me. Maybe go back to school. My people back there, and I need to be home. I was only here because this is where you are. L.A. not for me.”
“I feel that.” I shifted from one foot to the other. “So, do you want your gifts or not? Because I got you some nice shit.”
She laughed out loud. “Yeah, I want my gifts. I was being petty. Merry Christmas, Carter.”
“Merry Christmas.” I pulled her into my arms and embraced her. “Thank you for waiting to move until he graduates.”
She rested her head on my chest and inhaled deeply. “Mm...I miss these hugs the most.”
I chuckled to myself. I must really give good hugs.