Chapter 8
“Why do I get stuck with Aldridge?” Anika asked while rearranging items on my desk.
“Because he’s a client of the agency and one of us has to service him.”
Her expression turned mischievous. “He wants you to serve him up that ass.”
“Shut up. That’s not what this is about.” I shuffled papers across my desk.
“Nessa, I know men. Aldridge isn’t over you. The fact that you can’t see that is alarming.”
“I know you believe everyone is in love with you, but I live in reality.”
“I don’t think everyone loves me, but I do think everyone should.”
“Just think of the commission we’ll get to share.” When I wanted my sister to do something I led with what was in it for her, and splitting a potential million-dollar commission was a huge incentive.
“Yeah, about that. If I’m showing him the homes, I should get the full commission.”
“Not after I did all the reconnaissance. Fifty-fifty that’s the deal.”
“So, I sell him a house and then what, you never see him again?”
“That’s the plan.”
“You have the worst plans. Aldridge is back in your life for a reason.”
“It’s more of a coincidence, a fluke.” I reached for my iced coffee which practically melted by the time I got back to the office because it was as hot as the devil’s balls out there.
“Lying to me is one thing, but lying to yourself is a whole other level of lunacy.”
No one was lying. Two weeks ago I wasn’t thinking about Aldridge Mosley. He was just one of my many exes. The only reason I quit was because it was clear my presence was making him uncomfortable. So I decided to put us both out of our misery.
My mother entered my office hidden by a bouquet of white roses. “Someone has an admirer.” She set the vase on my desk.
“Who are they from?” My eyes narrowed as I examined the arrangement suspiciously. I couldn’t think of one suitor, past or present, who’d be sending me such a beautiful bouquet.
“I don’t know, you’ll have to read the card.” Jemini was lying; she was always in our business. I can guarantee you she’d already read the card and pulled three or four stems to make herself a smaller corsage. Locating the card within the massive arrangement and opened it up.
I hate having to admit when I’m wrong, but this is one of those times.
AJM
My face often betrayed me, but this time I managed to look unfazed. “It’s from Aldridge.”
“I knew it.” Anika snapped her fingers.
Jemini fluttered closer. “What did the card say?”
“Stop acting like you haven’t already read it.
” The last thing I wanted to talk about was Aldridge because my mother would always choose his side.
You’d think she’d birthed him and not me the way she sanctioned everything he did.
Our front door chimed, indicating someone entering the office, and Jemini went to the lobby to respond.
I handed the card to Anika. “What do you think that means?”
“Sounds like he is looking to make amends.”
“It’s going to take a whole lot more than some flowers and a generic non-apology to fix things.”
Anika leaned in to smell the roses. “The flowers are a nice touch.”
“Hello, delivery for Danessa Irwin.” Standing just outside my office was a man with another massive bouquet.”
“I think there’s some type of mix-up. I already received a bouquet.” I pointed to the arrangement already taking up half my desk.
“Well this must be your lucky day,” he said, setting the flowers on the other side of my desk. Before he left my office, another arrangement of flowers arrived, and then another.
“I’m here for this type of carrying on.” Anika kicked her feet from her perch on my credenza. “Rich men apologize different. That’s why I’m always picking fights.” Three more bouquets were delivered, turning my office into a florist shop. “You’re going to have to let him have this round.”
“Because of a few flowers?”
“By my count, there are eleven vases in here. Ain’t nothing few about em.”
The final bouquet was delivered by the tallest delivery man I’d ever seen.
Even though his face was concealed by the blooms, it was easy to tell it was Aldridge.
In the split second it took for him to put the vase down on a side table, I swept my tongue over my teeth, smoothed my hair, and checked for eye boogers.
“I think that’s the last of them,” Aldridge said.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was in the neighborhood.”
“With dozens of roses?” Anika asked.
Aldridge gestured toward the exit. “Anika could you—”
“No, no I can’t.”
He looked at me hoping I’d back him up, but I didn’t bat an eye.
“Listen—”
“Aldridge is that you?” Just what we needed, Jemini stirring the pot.
“Ms. Irwin, how are you?”
“Jemini, you can still call me Jemini. And I’m not doing as good as you with your hundred-million-dollar contract.” She walked into Aldridge’s chest, offering a warm hug.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“When I heard you were moving to town, I knew it was only a matter of time before you and Nessa crossed paths again. You’re looking good, Aldridge.
” Jemini caressed his arm. I loved my mother, but rarely did I like her.
She was a habitual line stepper. Aldridge was off limits.
I’d already set a hard boundary around him years ago.
Danessa you can’t be implying your mother would try to fuck Aldridge?
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. She’d slept with my boyfriends in the past. Aldridge would never, but Jemini Irwin most certainly would.
“Mom could you—”
“What? Aldridge came all the way over here. The least you could do is apologize for not having his back.”
My face contorted with disgust. “I don’t have anything to apologize for.” Jemini was not a girl’s girl. Often taking a man’s side over her own daughters. That shit irked the fuck out of me.
“Actually, I’m here to offer apologies,” Aldridge said. Despite our differences, he would never allow my mom to throw me under the bus. He’d fall on his sword whether he was in the wrong or not.
“I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong. You know how Danessa can be.” My mother flashed a cold look in my direction. Mothers are their daughter’s first bullies.
“Mom,” Anika chimed in. “I think we should let Aldi and Danessa talk without an audience.” I gave Anika a silent thank you.
“I was just trying to help,” Jemini said. All she knew how to do was make things worse.
“They’re grown and don’t need us butting in.”
My mother grabbed one of the vases before leaving, and Aldridge closed the door behind her.
“Some things never change.” I attempted to excuse her behavior.
“You know your mother just wants the best for you.”
“In her opinion, the best always requires me to forgive some man who fucked up.”
“I’m still just some guy to you?”
Standing, I threw a stress ball in the shape of a rainbow at him which he caught in his hand. “You’re an asshole, Aldridge.”
“So, I’ve heard. I thought I was a lovable goof but now I realize it’s reading more assholeish. Asshole adjacent. Bordering lovable goof and asshole. Skirting the vicinity of assholary.”
I laughed in spite of myself and immediately regretted it. “You do know this was all part of my mother’s plan. She concealed your identity and hoped us seeing each other again would stir something up.”
“I’m not going to act like your mother’s plotting didn’t work. Being around you again got me thinking about what I missed out on.”
Neither my brain nor heart were prepared to have a conversation about missed opportunities and what could have been. I revisited that topic periodically and always settled on the same conclusion. If I hadn’t ended things with him … time, temptation, and travel would have done it for us. “Aldridge—”
“I’m talking about our friendship.”
I released the breath I was holding. My life was complicated enough without my ex-boyfriend pining for me. But just to be clear was he friend zoning me? Me!
“You were my best friend and then you were gone. I’ll admit the first few months …
shit the first few years without you were pretty bad.
There were so many times I just wanted to call and hear your voice or honestly, cuss you smooth the fuck out.
But as time passed, I accepted not hearing from you was probably better as long as you were happy, that’s really all that mattered.
So suddenly being confronted with the one person I secretly hoped to never see again was daunting. ”
My heart sank from my chest. “You never wanted to see me again?”
“No, Danessa. You hurt me … real bad.”
I moved closer. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Aldridge held up his hand silently asking me to stop. “I’m over it. I moved on years ago. But the thing I’ve never stopped wishing for was you as my friend. Did you know white roses signify new beginnings?”
He moved on? “No, I didn’t.” When did he move on?
“Yeah, white is linked with honor and reverence which is how I remember us.”
“So you got me hundreds of roses because you want to try to reestablish a friendship?” I should be relieved, but my heart dropped another two feet.
“Yeah, I’m in your city and we’ve both matured since college, and I was just hoping we could hit the reset button and be friends.”
I blinked sheepishly. I’ve never wanted to be Aldridge’s friend.
Don’t get me wrong, he was my best friend in college, but I loved him.
Not right now. I don’t love him right now.
But I still held a deep affection for this man.
Friends was a big ask. Friendship required no jealousy when he eventually met someone he liked better than me.
It also meant no messy dumb shit which us Irwin women were known for.
“You sent me some disturbing text messages.” I’d woken up on Sunday morning to a barrage of texts from Aldridge. They started out benign but with each unanswered text, Aldridge got more aggressive.
“Not my proudest moment. Much of it was said out of frustration.”
“Like the dig about my ears?”
“I love your ears. I think they accentuate your head. And without them poking out like that you wouldn’t have such keen hearing. In school we were in the back of the lecture hall and you caught every word.”
I smooshed him in the head. “I know you’re not talking about imperfections with that unibrow situation you have going on.”
“I get that waxed now.” He pointed to his brows.
“I’m practically an Adonis.” He was joking but there were no lies detected.
Aldridge was the type of brother who turned heads when he entered a room.
His skin was rich mahogany and always seemed to glow.
His voice was deep and when he spoke, the bass rattled my chest. His large hands could palm my ass guiding me over his dick when we fucked.
“Much improved.” I managed to squeak out.
“So can we shake on our rekindled friendship and to you being my realtor again?”
“We can be friends but I’m still not your realtor.”
“Come on, be serious. If I’m going to find a home, I need your expertise.”
“So now I’m an expert. I thought I was the worse realtor to ever—”
“Stop referring to the text messages.” He threw his hands up in frustration. “You wanna play hardball. Okay.” He huffed out a breath before pulling out his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“I didn’t want to do this, but you’ve left me no choice.” My face was a puzzle while Aldridge tapped on his phone screen. Luther Vandross’s “A House Is Not a Home” began to play. He swayed side to side and when Luther started singing so did he.
Aldridge was halfway through the song when my initial shock finally dissipated. “What’s happening?”
“It’s a concert with songs about home I personally curated for this occasion.
Because I need you … to help me find a home.
Up next is ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver.
” When the guitar strings from the next song started to play, Aldridge danced along like he was at a rap concert.
His movements were robust but weirdly enough, still matched the beat of the song.
I was certain no one had ever done the Dougie to a John Denver song.
“Do you have no shame?” I yelled, doing my best to hold back a laugh.
“When it comes to you, no.”
Grabbing his phone, I scrolled through the songs settling on “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges. When the melody started to play, Aldridge’s movements stalled, and his gaze meandered over my features. My hips swayed from side to side and he mimicked my motion.
“Can I?” He was asking for permission to touch me.
“Yes.” His hand gently landed on my waist, and I was now following his lead.
We swayed back and forth in a small circle.
Sneaking a peek at his face, I quickly dipped my head.
His eyes were intense and rather than decipher them, I preferred to lean in, resting my head on his chest. Friends. I could do this. I could be his friend.