Chapter 11
A few days passed since Tamika ruined a perfect date that Avalon and I were on, and I hadn’t spoken to Avalon since I’d dropped her off at home.
The only correspondence we had was about the event, and that was through email.
The event was only a few days away, and I knew I would see her then, but I wanted to talk to her beforehand.
I didn’t want us to go into the day with bad energy between us.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t answered my calls or text messages.
I knew my feelings for her were real because I had been in mine since.
Any other woman, I would have dropped her off and probably not have even talked to her again.
Nobody’s feelings ever mattered to me except Avalon’s.
My day had been off since I’d opened my eyes this morning.
I walked for longer than usual, trying to clear my head and figure out what to do about Avalon, but I hadn’t come to a conclusion.
I went to work with an attitude, so I ended up staying in my office.
I only went in to work because I thought that would take my mind off Avalon for a little while, but that wasn’t the case.
I didn’t even sleep that well the night before.
The one time I tried to take someone seriously, an outsider messed it up for me.
I wanted to blame Tamika, but it was also partially my fault for thinking that I could do this relationship shit.
I immediately shook that thought off as soon as it entered my mind, because I knew I could do it.
Tamika was just bitter, and that was on her.
“Why you in here looking like someone stepped on your favorite sneakers?”
I looked up when I heard Jacoby enter my office. He didn’t tell me he was coming by, so I was surprised to see him.
He sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk.
I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell him or not, because he wouldn’t understand.
“Because Tamika might have ruined my shit with Avalon, and I don’t like the way I feel about it.” I decided to tell him because he was my best friend, and I didn’t keep things from him.
“What did she do?”
I ran down the shit Tamika pulled and how Avalon reacted to it afterward.
“I mean, she wasn’t wrong. When’s the last time you took a chick seriously?” He laughed, but I didn’t see shit funny. “You ain’t relationship material, Koda, and that’s okay.” He shook his head. “I know why you tried, but that shit ain’t you.”
I looked at him, and my jaw clenched. We never had any problems, but the shit he said made me want to reevaluate the friendship.
“That’s how you really feel?”
Jacoby shrugged. “My bad, K. I can see it’s really bothering you. You feeling her like that?”
“I am.”
“I knew there was a lover boy in there somewhere,” he joked. “I don’t have any advice for you because I don’t know shit about relationships. I hope it works out for you, though.”
He tried to clean it up, but it was too late.
I didn’t know why I let his questions and comments bother me, but they did.
It also made me think that he was right.
That didn’t mean I was about to go do some dumb shit, especially with not knowing where Avalon stood, but I wasn’t sure anymore.
Instead of overthinking it, I decided to just change the subject.
“Thanks. Why are you here?”
“Damn, I can’t stop by?”
“You could, but I know you. It’s a reason why you popped up on me in the middle of the week.”
He rubbed his hands together and smirked. I already knew he was about to say some mess that would further piss me off.
“I just wanted to see my boy.” The side of his mouth quirked upward. “I also came to see that fine-ass chef in the restaurant. Is she here today?”
“That ain’t your business. I’m not about to have you messing around with her. She’s the best chef around here, and I don’t need you breaking her heart and have her taking it out on my business.”
“Man.” He dragged the word out. “I wouldn’t do you like that. I’m not trying to marry her or nothing. I just want to see if she’s down for a little fun.”
Malia was too good of a person and worker for me to get her caught up with him.
“I don’t think she gets down like that, and even if she does, I wouldn’t put you on. If something would ever happen between y’all, it would have to be because you saw her somewhere other than in here. I’m telling you now, if it does happen, keep that shit out of my hotel.”
“I know how you are about this hotel, so I got you. I’ll just have to find her in the streets one day.”
I could only nod. I prayed he never approached her, but I also felt like one day, he would meet his match, and Malia might be just that person. Regardless, I didn’t want any parts of it.
Jacoby and I chopped it up for a while longer. It was family night, so I got my work done for the day, then headed to my parents’ house.
I couldn’t shake off the fact that I still hadn’t heard from Avalon, and the conversation I had with Jacoby.
I wanted to be with her, but maybe I wasn’t cut out for a relationship like Jacoby implied.
It was crazy for those thoughts to cross my mind because they hadn’t since I told Avalon I wanted to be with her.
It had been on my mind the whole time I ate dinner with my family.
I thought playing with my niece would cheer me up, but even that didn’t help for long.
The minute she wanted to go to my sister, the thought of Avalon creeped into my mind again.
My brother and Mycah talked about their wedding, and I was in my feelings.
I wanted Avalon to be my date, but I wasn’t sure if there was a chance of that happening.
“Koda, you’ve been looking sad since you got here. Is everything okay?” my mom asked as she placed a fresh apple pie on the table. She even had vanilla ice cream to go with it.
“I just have a lot on my mind,” I told her.
Everyone looked at me like they were waiting for me to tell them what was going on, but I didn’t elaborate.
“Is it about the event?” my father asked.
“No. The planning for that is pretty much complete. It’s bigger than that.”
“Well, what’s going on?” my mom asked as she passed around the dessert plates.
I told them everything, from the situation with Avalon and Tamika to the conversation with Jacoby.
I shared with them exactly how I felt about it all.
Our family was close, and Mycah was now included in that, so I wasn’t ashamed to tell them my real feelings.
I knew my family would never judge me, and they would give me the best advice.
“It’s just that I never had to worry about someone’s feelings before. I don’t know if I’m in over my head or what,” I told them, then put a piece of pie and ice cream in my mouth.
“Nah, Bro, you aren’t. You’re scared because you really care, and you let Jacoby get into your head. You know he’s had it rough, and he’s not trying to change that. You know how to treat women because we’ve had a great example of it our whole lives.” He glanced at my father.
My brother was cool with Jacoby, but he had said that he was a bad influence in my life over the years. He never stressed it because he knew I wouldn’t do anything I didn’t want to do, but he’d told me plenty of times not to let Jacoby’s life and thoughts be mine.
“Kairo’s right. And you must have been doing something right if Avalon gave you a chance. You just have to show her how serious you are about her,” Karma added.
“Your brother and sister are right, Son,” my father said.
“If you know that you have been treating her right, and you are sure about being with her, then you have to show her that. You can’t let someone else’s opinion get into your head.
Things will work out for you, but you’re probably going to have to put in some effort. ”
“I like her,” my mother added with a giggle.
“She seems like she doesn’t play around, and that’s the type of woman you need.
Them little hussies let you run all over them, and they don’t care as long as they get some of your time.
” She used air quotes when she said time.
“I told you it was time for you to settle down, and I’m glad you are finally trying.
I’m sure she’ll come around, but don’t rush her.
And as your sister and father said, you are going to have to work for it.
Be intentional about everything you say and do when it comes to her. ”
I took in everything they said. I already had an idea of something I wanted to give her as a thank you for planning the anniversary party, but I felt like I needed to do more.
She wasn’t the type of woman who needed gifts or worried about me spending money on her, but I wanted to show her that I paid attention to her.
During one of our conversations, she mentioned how gifts were one of her love languages.
I just hoped she liked it and would give me the opportunity to have a real conversation with her.
“Thanks, y’all. I really appreciate y’all for listening and not judging me. Also, for having faith in me that I could do this.” I really loved my family and the safe space they provided for us, starting with my parents.
“Of course, Son. We would never judge you, and we will always have faith in the things you want to do. You’ve never been the one that didn’t do what you wanted, and now shouldn’t be any different. Jacoby will find someone at some point that will make him want to settle down,” my father said.
“That’s the same thing I said.”
“And I can’t wait to see the day,” Karma added, causing everyone to laugh.
The rest of the night was spent with us talking and playing games. It was always a good time with my family, and I hoped one day Avalon would be able to join us.