Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
How We Cope
Lorielle shook her head, trying to shake off the many shots she had, but it was no use. She was intoxicated. The heaviness of her eyes and the warm feeling coursing through her body told her so. A part of her brain said she should care, but another part said, fuck it.
She felt good, and riding shotgun with Benny in the driver's seat was the icing on the cake. She tried to hide the fact that she was staring at him, but as her eyes walked over him, it was hard to keep it a secret.
He had all the features she loved, from his wide nose to thick lips.
His top lip was darker than the bottom, but both still held a red hue.
He wore four stitch braids that were pulled into a bun at the back of his head.
His honey-colored skin was blemish-free and his dark, shadow beard was the perfect addition to his face.
She would give Benny the business if he wasn’t so young, her best friend’s brother, and looking for love. So, with all that in mind, she stayed the hell away from him when she could, but she had a feeling there was no escaping him tonight.
“I’m going to Elle’s house,” Jo called to her brother from the back seat.
“Why you not going home?” Benny asked.
“I don’t want to go home. Ain’t nothing there for me.” Jo sat up, wrapping her arm around Lorielle’s neck. “At least my girl care about me.”
“Always.” Lorielle patted her friend’s arm. “Can I see your phone?” she asked Benny. She would play a song for Jo. All her girl needed was a bit of mood music.
Benny looked over at her with his eyebrow raised, so she added, “I want to play a song.”
He passed her his phone, saying, “8-9-4-5-3-2.”
Her eyes widened when she realized he was giving her the code to unlock his phone. Instead of speaking on it and making it a big deal, she used it to open the phone. As she navigated through the apps, a text came through.
“You got a message.” She held it out to him, but he didn’t move.
“From who?” he asked, never taking his eyes off the road.
“Tara.” She had seen that much.
Tara was his girlfriend. They had broken up but got back together a few weeks ago. Jo despised the woman and so did she. Tara had a foul attitude toward them, so they steered clear of the woman so there wouldn’t be a problem. At thirty-five and thirty-three, she and Jo still got active when needed.
She laughed at the thought.
“Lorielle, I said read the message.”
When he called her name, it sent fire through her veins. It should be a crime to be so attracted to a man she couldn’t have.
“Oh, um… It says, we need to talk without arguing and bringing up the past.” She tried again to pass him the phone, but again, he declined.
“Find what you’re looking for,” he mumbled.
Interesting…
“You’re not going to respond?” she asked.
“Sounds like trouble,” Jo said. Lorielle could hear the teasing in her voice. She couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know why you took her back. Let me find out Trey is cheating—”
Usher’s “My Boo” played, cutting off Jo. She began to sing along.
Lorielle beamed. This was their song.
Benny sighed heavily before snatching his phone. “I should have known.”
He should have. They would randomly break out singing this song to each other at the oddest times. It was how they related and showed love to one another.
Lorielle jumped in with her friend. Jo held down Usher’s part, like always, and she had Alicia’s.
“See, I knew y’all were gay.” Benny frowned at them.
“You’re just jealous!” Jo was damn near in front with them, her seat belt long forgotten.
“Of what?” he asked, stealing glances at his sister. “I can have a best friend. Shit, I could take yours.” He winked at Lorielle.
She rolled her eyes. But on a night like tonight, he probably could steal her away.
Jo snorted. “My girl would never switch up. Right, Elle?”
“R-right.” That’s what her mouth said, but her body was saying something different. The smirk on Benny’s face let her know he knew it too. Now, she would never try to replace her girl, but maybe there was room in her heart for someone else.
Lorielle choked. She couldn’t believe she was thinking thoughts like that. She had vowed to be single for the rest of her life.
I got to get it together. Damn alcohol.
Jo patted her back. “You all right, girl?”
“Yeah, you good?” Benny stared at her with a frown. “What are you choking on?”
Concerning thoughts. But she wouldn’t be revealing that to them.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little choked up.”
“Let me hurry up and get y’all to the house. Y’all stressing me out.”
For the rest of the ride, music and light conversation carried them until they pulled into Lorielle’s driveway.
She had a cozy, newly renovated cottage home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths.
She was so proud of the house she had made a home.
It was exactly what she wanted from the simplistic brick exterior to the unique, yet modern interior.
“Stay right there. I’m grabbing Jo first, then I’ll help you out,” Benny directed.
Lorielle sat back with a goofy smile, doing what she was told.
One thing she loved about Benny, he was a true gentleman. She wasn’t at all surprised when he said he would help her.
He opened doors and let women enter first. Always kind and not just to her, everyone he encountered and that damn eye contact... When he wanted to, Benny could look into someone’s soul. It was scary but attractive at the same time.
Jo and Benny fussed as he collected her from the car. He held his sister in one arm, then pulled the door open for her with his other hand. She unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out on legs that felt unstable. She propped herself on the hood of the car to get herself together.
“You good?” he asked as he shut the door and locked it.
She felt a little dizzy, but she would be good after a minute. “Yes, I just need a second.”
“Man, come here.” He put his arm around her waist. A strong hand gripped her side, making it hard for her to breathe, and it wasn’t because of the tightness of his hold.
Trying to take her mind off the man holding her up, she felt around in her purse for her keys.
She found them once they made it to the door. “I’m only letting you unlock the door because my hands are full with the two of you.”
See, gentleman.
“I know. I know.”
When the door was unlocked, they all stumbled in.
“Whew! I have to take these shoes off!” Jo dropped to the floor right in front of the door. She began removing her heeled, thigh-high boots.
Lorielle watched Benny from the living room as he moved around her space.
He hadn’t been there since having work done on her kitchen and hall bathroom.
She wondered if he was impressed. He was damn near a millionaire if he wasn’t already.
His house was three times as big as hers, but there was no shame in her game.
She was well off and put in her house what she liked, not what cost the most.
“I’m impressed. It looks good. I was unsure when they started stripping out everything, but I can say they did an amazing job.”
“Thank you.”
He strolled over to her. “I’m proud of you, Elle.” He cuffed her exposed shoulder that her off-the-shoulder sweater left bare. His thumb lazily rubbed there, creating an intense feeling between her legs.
“Thank you.”
That’s all she could say. He was staring at her with those soul-searching brown eyes. It was like he could see everything she tried to keep away from him. Yet, she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
Lorielle usually had more control, but being inebriated had to have weakened her tolerance to his purposeful pursuit.
Suddenly feeling vulnerable, she took a step back, losing his tender touch.
“I’m going to put her in the bed,” Lorielle said, helping Jo from the floor.
“Okay, I’m going to hang for a second. Make sure y’all are good. That’s if you don’t mind?”
“It’s fine.”
When Lorielle made it into her room, she assisted Jo in removing her clothes. She found a big t-shirt, pulling it over her body. She helped Jo into bed, and when she was comfortable, Lorielle pulled the covers over her.
“All good?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Jo whimpered.
Lorielle frowned. “What is it?” She kneeled on the floor at her side. “It’s okay.” Lorielle brushed away her tears, but they kept coming. Jo had full-on water works going.
“Elle…” She sniffled. “You think he’s falling out of love with me?”
He was the whole reason for tonight. Her best friend wasn’t fooling her when she called earlier asking to go out. But knowing what she knew, Lorielle got dressed and went to live it up with her friend to distract her from the fact that he was moving different… even if it was for a good cause.
Trey Walker was very much in love with Jo.
So in love with her that he was using their annual family vacation as a disguise for a proposal and wedding.
Her best friend was about to get married in a week and she didn’t even know it.
Here she was questioning his love, and he loved her so much he was planning a wedding she would never forget.
It still didn’t stop Lorielle from feeling guilty and sad. Seeing Jo so torn up was heartbreaking. Her best friend was always lively, happy, and outgoing. To see her now with tears in her eyes was unbearable.
“No, he’s not falling out of love with you.” Lorielle used her thumb to wipe away more tears as she cupped her cheek. “No crying. I’m sure it’s work, and I know he’s stressing since he hasn’t been able to be with you like he wants. He’ll make it up to you. I know he will.”
“He better! No one makes a fool of Joann Denise Collins.”
“That’s right. Get some rest, Jo. Good night.”
Jo said good night, but she continued ranting about Trey knowing not to play with her.
Lorielle laughed as she moved out of the room, closing the door behind her. She stood there for a few minutes, and when she peeped back inside, Jo was snoring.