10. Soundtrack to You and I… #2
She nodded against my chest. I kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter. I wished every sibling had the bond we shared. She annoyed me like no other, but I wouldn’t trade her. “And do you promise to give me a niece and four nephews?”
I playfully pushed her away from me and we shared a laugh. “You run the hell out man.”
Valen and I completed about twenty percent of the room. Somehow, she’d made a cart for things for the office that was damn near three stacks and used my card for it. We ate the lunch Jersei sent and I’d knocked out half my list and was preparing to head to my last stop of the day.
“Do you know that nigga called me from a fake number asking for his ring back?”
I peered at her. “Would you like for him to disappear?”
“Vayce,” she put her hands on her hips. “Does death really solve everything?” Valen whispered.
“Ninety percent of the time, absolutely,” I answered in all seriousness. “So, is that a yes? Matter of fact. I got it.” I grabbed my phone only for her to snatch it, but my wheels were already turning.
“Bubby please. Devon and I are good. I took that ring to a store at Wright and Sage and put the money in my account. Fuck that nigga.” Her phone started to ring from her purse.
She tucked mine in her pocket then retrieved hers.
Valen gasped, doing a little dance and answered, code-switching. “Denver Estate Group.”
Her eyes wandered then landed on me. “This is she.” She covered the phone then mouthed, “ This them .”
I circled my desk then leaned against it watching her pace the room. I wanted to tell her to put it on speaker, but she was in full business mode. My hands clasped together.
“Are you serious?” Valen smiled, bucking her large eyes at me. “Wow. That is amazing news. Thank you. I am super excited for this project. Awesome. Will do. I will tell him. Bye.” She ended the call and smiled at me in silence. She knew how to get under my skin.
“V, what the fuc?—”
“We got it!” She squealed, jumping up and down. “I cannot believe this shit! Yes!”
And there it was. I clapped my hands twice, releasing a heavy breath. We’ve been working on this for longer than expected and now, we could put it behind us. I pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. I was hoping this would change everything.
“You did it. You the best at this shit when you wanna be,” I teased. “Thank you, V.”
“Yeah, whatever nigga. Congratulations. Now, thank me by taking me shopping. Thank youuu!”
1 Week Later
Addiction was real. One milliliter over the recommended dosage could cause someone to overdose.
Jersei injected some shit in me that felt like the opposite of poison but carried the same contagion, spreading through my veins like wildfire.
I’d taken too much, got injected with the fattest needle out of the bunch, and was still thumping at the next vein for the next hit of her.
I craved Jersei, fiending for her melon scent, her soft touch, and the feel of her skin against mine.
She could be laying on my chest and my soul still felt like I needed more.
Two months was all it took for her to make the most beautiful, unexpected landing and if this was how love felt, I would never be ashamed to admit that I am a fucking addict for Jersei Lane.
Valen was right and I couldn’t deny it, J surpassed a liking or adoration. I love this woman.
I held her hand tighter, cutting my eyes in her direction. “Fuck no.”
“So, you gone let me ride all the rides by myself?” She held her smoothie to my mouth allowing me to take a heavy sip. I finished mine on the way over, so I was fucking hers up. “Damn, super throat!”
“Get fucked up,” I squeezed her hand while she laughed.
“Yes, I am. I’m not getting on a rollercoaster, J.
Why would I get on some shit they pulled out a suitcase then packed it up like it’s some laundry?
What if they left a screw in the bag? Now my ass is fifty plus feet off the ground hanging upside down.
Fuck that. I’ll stay on the ground and take pictures of you and Zy. ”
Jersei laughed loud as hell. “Not you gone be the camera man. That’s so lame. But I feel like it’s the same with planes though. We put so much trust in them. You get on there and trust the pilot and that big ass caboose. At some point that shit probably came out of a suitcase too.”
It was my turn to laugh. “That don’t make no sense but I’ma let you have it.”
She put the straw to my lips for me to finish the smoothie before tossing it in a nearby garbage can.
J wrapped both her arms around one of mine and leaned her head against me.
We drove down to Richland Village, about thirty minutes north of Edgewynne.
They held the same aesthetics but there were more shopping options in Richland Village as well as one of my favorite places.
Jersei was out of training and was set to officially start work this upcoming week, so I wanted to do something special for her before our schedules got hectic.
We did bumper cars, ate, then went to the outlet mall.
I gave her my card and let her run wild.
I spent over an hour convincing her that I didn’t need anything in return, I simply wanted to spoil her.
It took me calling Valen for her to give in and I made sure she got anything she eyed and what I felt she’d looked good in.
My trunk and backseat were full of bags, but my favorite part was seeing the smile on her face.
“Today was so much fun. Thank you so much, handsome.”
“You’re welcome, mama. It’s not over yet though.” I kissed her forehead, looking up to see that we were getting close. “Ready for work?”
“Am I? I laid my clothes out for the week already. Ironed them too.” I chuckled. “I’m excited. I feel good about it. I can’t wait to see my first direct deposit from a workplace. Devon’s daddy used to write us paper checks.”
“I’m excited for you. The shit gone be good,” I looked down at her sandals noticing she was leaning sideways. “Your feet hurt?”
“A little. It’s m?—”
“You want my shoes or you wanna get on my back?”
She frowned. “If I get your shoes, what will you wear?”
“Which one, J?”
“Your back, your highness.”
I chortled and separated us. I lowered in front of her, looking over my shoulder. Her ass was standing there watching me. “C’mere. Get up here, baby. We still got a lil’ ways to go.”
Jersei giggled then climbed on my back, wrapping her arms around my neck. Once I knew she was secure, I spun us around a few times just to hear her laughs.
“You so childish!” She squealed, kissing the side of my face twice then rested her head on my shoulder. “Can I ask you something?”
“You know you can.”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but do you want…more kids?”
I sat with her question for a second. It wasn’t that I didn’t know the answer, but more of the thought of going through the heartache of the what ifs. By blood, I had one child but was bonded by two and I’d lost both.
“The short answer is yes. I don’t want to face the possibility of disappointment again so when that time comes, it will take a lot of prayer for me to not overthink the outcome.
It gotta be right this time around. I’ve always pictured myself as a father to my own and I can only pray that God grants that before I get out of here. ”
“He will,” Jersei whispered, stroking up and down my chest. “As you said, when the time comes, we will make sure we do our part. Almost always we have to step back and let Him do the rest.”
Her words landed like a warm hug. I kissed her arm. “You right, J.”
A few minutes passed before we made it to the end of the strip. In the summer, they’d see me once a week but today was my first time visiting in almost three months and I had a feeling it would be my favorite.
I placed J on her feet and looked into her curious eyes as she read over the tan lettering Side A & 33 rd that was etched on the door and overhead sign.
“Babe, you heard me when I said I’d never been to one,” she cheesed.
“I did,” I pulled her closer by the hips.
“I hear every word you speak and cling to every fucking one, J. I don’t miss a thing you do or say.
Not even when you fussing and talking shit or going on and on about one of them dumb ass shows you got me watching now.
I hear you.” I pecked her lips tenderly and when I pulled away, she released a small gasp.
“It feels good to be heard and not belittled. You see me right where I am and I can’t put into words how amazing it feels,” she kissed me again.
I licked my lips and held the door open for her. “Come on.”
I followed her inside, watching her ass jiggle in the jean shorts she wore. I couldn’t stop myself from smacking it. Jersei turned around and pointed giving me an aight now look.
The smell of the shop was always first to welcome me.
It reminded me of a library from the smell of paper mixed with a faint smell of wood.
There were two levels, with everything in alphabetical order.
Side A & 33 rd was stacked with different eras of music but the best part was while it was diverse, it was for us by us and that was why they would forever get my money.
“Vayce. What’s up, my nigga. You good?” The owner Terren approached me, exhaling smoke from her blunt. Her locs were in a high bun and she was dressed in neutral colors that matched the store aesthetic. “Long time no see.”
I dapped her. “What’s good T? You straight?”
“Everything good,” she looked at Jersei, sizing her up from head to toe. I almost thumped her ass. Terren’s brows raised. “Ahh, I see. The lady got you busy. I’m Terren, owner. Your name?”
Jersei’s friendly ass shook her hand. “Jersei. Nice to meet you. This shit is nice. I’ve been wanting to come since seeing his collection. I love seeing fellow niggas win. I’ma go look around.”
“Thank you.” She watched Jersei walk away.
“Eyes on me nigga,” I snarled.