FOURTEEN #2
The two women shared a laugh. Nina wasn't counting down the hours until she had to get back to work. It felt good to be out and about, enjoying the afternoon with a dear friend. As she grew older, it was the little things that felt like the greatest luxury of it all.
η
Jio sat behind the wheel longer than he intended.
The engine idled quietly and it seemed like his thoughts were in a battle against who could be the loudest. His spirit or his flesh?
Behind his seat hung his garment bag that swayed gently every time it seemed like the air conditioner hit at a certain angle.
Inside was a navy Tom Ford suit that he’d just picked up from the tailor that morning after having the sleeves shortened.
His haircut was fresh. His beard had been lined with precision.
Beside him in the passenger seat was a floral arrangement, white peonies to be exact, for his main lady.
The smell filled his truck and overpowered the weed he’d been smoking.
Everything about the upcoming night had been planned to a T.
They were going to get appetizers at a Spanish tapa bar to hold them over during the play, and after he’d arranged for the Chef at his club VIBES to prepare a special dinner for them and Ephrem to enjoy in the VIP suite.
For the most part, he’d done the best he could to make sure nothing stood in the way of making the night beyond perfect for his baby.
He’d cleared his calendar, moved obligations, and canceled plays all for one night.
But in his line of business, some shit was always bound to pop off.
His phone vibrated against the center console. He let it go to voicemail but it rang again and again. He didn’t move to look at the screen because he already knew who it was. He’d been ignoring the calls all damn day. After the seventh one, he finally picked up.
“What?”
The voice on the other end was calm. “You still coming?”
Jio pinched the bridge of his nose. “I told you I had somewhere to be.”
“This can’t wait. How many times do I have to tell you that?” the voice hissed into the phone.
“You said you wanted answers.”
“I do, but bro you’re going to have to wait.”
Jio looked through the windshield at nothing.
“There won’t be a tomorrow.”
His jaw tightened. “Tonight isn’t good for me. I got something to handle.” He tried his luck.
Another long pause passed before the voice spoke again. “I’m doing you a favor by even making this call and you know that.”
Jio sat forward as if he could see him. “What do you have to tell me that’s so important, huh?”
“I’m not discussing it over the phone.”
“You called me.”
“Yeah because I owe you that much.”
The detective lowered his voice. “You been looking in the wrong direction.”
Jio frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You keep watching the men standing in front of you.”
His voice dropped even lower.
“Start looking behind you.”
A chill settled over Jio’s shoulders. “What the fuck are you trying to say?” He wanted this nigga to stop beating around the bush. He didn’t have time for mind games.
The detective exhaled. “If you want to know who’s been moving around your without your knowledge,” he paused. “Meet me in one hour.”
The detective continued. “I got hard evidence.”
“I need names. No bullshit.” His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
“Pull up on me. You gon flip when you see this shit.”
Now he wasn’t breathing at all.
Jio looked over at the flowers sitting in the passenger seat. “I have obligations….” His word meant everything to him, especially when it came to his baby.
“Hey, I’m not about to beg you to stay out of jail.”
The line went dead.
Jio stared at the phone before dropping it into the cupholder.
“Fuck man FUCK!” He punched the steering wheel over until blood dripped from his knuckles.
He leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
Jio hated the timing of it all and more than that, he hated whatever decisions he would have to make once he found out who was betraying him. Jio hated disloyal niggas.
If the detective was telling the truth, tonight’s meeting could identify people operating close enough to eventually reach everyone Jio cared about. His brothers, sisters, cousins, shit, his auntie and mama too. Most importantly, Nina.
He looked over his shoulder at the garment bag and the flowers.
Everything he’d planned for tonight slowly unraveled inside his mind.
For the first time ever, street shit wasn’t a priority for him.
He wanted to spend the night doing some cultural shit that his shorty and his unofficial best friend were excited about.
This was a normal Friday night to them, but for Jio, he would be stepping into her world.
Jio was looking forward to hearing Ephrem critique every actor that stepped on stage.
He wanted to see his baby light up when they performed her favorite songs and shit.
He anticipated how impressed she was gonna be after she saw the special menu that he and the Chef put together.
Jio had to get out of the truck eventually. He knew Nina well enough to know that she was already getting dressed.
He climbed out of the truck with his suit and her flowers, that suddenly felt a lot heavier than they did twenty minutes ago. The closer he made it to the elevators that led to the penthouse, his steps slowed. He knew disappointment was going to be waiting for him on the other side of the door.
When he crossed over the threshold, soft jazz floated through the crib. Nina was on her grown woman shit tonight. He loved it when she was on this wave.
“Baby?”
“I'm upstairs!”
He loosened his tie as he climbed the staircase.
The bedroom was empty and the closet light glowed beneath the partially opened door.
He found his baby in the bathroom sitting at the oversized marble vanity that he’d copped for her. She had one leg crossed over the other, carefully fastening a diamond earring. She was humming a different tune than what was playing downstairs.
The emerald green dress hugged her body perfectly.
Her makeup wasn’t finished yet.
One heel rested on the floor beside the vanity, the other still sat inside its box.
She caught his reflection in the mirror and blew him a kiss.
“There you are.”
His chest tightened at her beauty. He could stare at her forever.
She reached for her lipstick before meeting his eyes again through the mirror.
“You okay?”
He walked over without answering. He pulled the flowers from behind his back and placed them onto the vanity.
Nina was surprised. “These are beautiful, thank you baby.”
“For you, my Queen,” he said in his best European accent.
“I am SO excited for tonight! Ephrem has called me a hundred times. He’s been dressed since this morning.”
He forced a laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Nina studied him carefully and there was something off about him tonight. His jaws were locked and his shoulders wouldn’t loosen. His eyes were heavy but she knew he wasn’t about to cry.
“Tell me what’s wrong and don’t say it’s nothing.” she asked quietly.
Jio sighed. “I don’t think I’m gonna make the play.”
The room became impossibly still. Her glow went away, although her cheeks were still baking from concealer and finishing powder.
Nina looked from his face to the suit hanging in the garment bag he’d brought upstairs. He had a fresh haircut. He stopped to get flowers…. whatever was happening wasn’t up to him….
“Is it an emergency?” she questioned.
He nodded. “A major one.”
She walked over until she stood directly in front of him. “Go handle your business then.”
His eyes met hers. “I don’t want to though,” he admitted painfully.
“I know baby.” She hugged him at his waist.
“A nigga was looking forward to tonight,” he swore.
“I just know Ephrem is about to be talking shit.”
“He’s definitely going to do that.”
Jio kissed her forehead. “I hate letting you down.”
Nina reached up for a kiss.
“You never do,” she reassured him.
His brows pulled together as she shook her head gently. “You kept your promise.”
“What was that?”
“The one you made when we decided to start fresh.”
He looked at her.
“You told me you'd never lie to me again….”
She rested her hand against his chest. “And you’re not.”
It wasn’t that Nina stopped caring, but she’d finally learned the difference between concern and control. Most importantly, she trusted her man.
The weight he’d been carrying all the way upstairs finally eased enough for him to breathe.
“I’m sorry baby, you know I’m going to make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to.” She wasn’t tripping. He wrapped his arms around her and held her body longer than usual.
Neither of them had a clue that this wouldn’t be the last promise he struggled to keep.