7. Brittish Abernathy #2
I blushed and nodded, instructing Nyle to go sit at the table.
Since it was already set, all I had to do was plate our food.
Once I set my wineglass down, I went to wash my hands and fixed our plates.
I’d been in the mood for some good soul food, so I made fried chicken, yams, macaroni and cheese, fried cabbage, and homemade cornbread.
Knowing AJ would be mad if I didn’t take him a plate, I put him one to the side to take to him tomorrow and went to join Nyle.
When I placed his plate in front of him, he rubbed his hands together while intently studying everything.
He waited for me to sit down, before holding his hand out and bowing his head.
After grace was said, Nyle wasted no time digging into his plate.
I did the same, going straight for the yams and macaroni.
“Mmm.” I moaned and did a little dance in my seat. “I’ve been wanting this so bad. It reminds me of my great aunt’s cooking.”
“This is good as hell, Brittish. Why you ain’t tell me you could throw down like this?”
“I can do a little something when I’m in the mood. I’m always busy, so I usually throw something together that can get us through for a few days, but I had time today.”
“I’m glad you included me because I needed this. I haven’t eaten much today since I’ve been on the go, so you just blessed my soul.”
Nyle and I shared a laugh before silence fell over us. It might have been a little weird of me, but I watched him eat, taking in the way his jaw moved with each bite. When his plate was clean, Nyle sat back and rubbed his stomach. I snickered, happy to know I could satisfy him in more than one way.
He broke the silence, saying something that completely shattered my heart.
“I ask for permission to touch because I know what it’s like to be touched without permission.”
My fork hit my plate as I peered over at him. He massaged his beard and gazed at me with those pretty brown eyes that were swirling with emotion. I wiped my mouth, got up, and went to sit in the seat next to him. Softly, Nyle shook his head.
“Don’t do that.”
I frowned and slightly jerked my head back. “Do what?”
“Feel sorry for me. I’ve healed. It took years, but by the grace of God and my therapist, I did.”
“It’s just . . . That wasn’t what I expected to hear. I’m glad you’re healed, Nyle. I’m glad you’re still standing strong. You don’t look like what you’ve been through.”
“Thank you, Pretty Lady. It was years ago, starting at the age of seven and ending at the age of eleven.” He leaned forward with his forearms resting on the table and his hands clasped together.
“I’ve never shared this with anyone outside of my family, but you make me feel safe enough to share it with you. ”
My eyes stung as I blinked back tears. “That worked on me.”
“I figured it would.” Nyle smirked. “I’m serious, though.
You give me something I haven’t felt with a woman, and it’s been like this since our first night together.
” He paused, and I noticed his jaw clenching.
There was a far-off look in his eyes as he continued.
“Renee used to allow men to sexually abuse me when I was a kid, for money.
It was three of my baseball coaches, men who were supposed to be big in the community but were actually sick in the head.
She used my God-given talent against me, saying she allowed them to do what they did to me to get me ahead in baseball.
“I didn’t need her help. I’d put in the work and knew my abilities were what would put me ahead, but I couldn’t say or do anything, not when I didn’t fully understand until I hit about nine.
By then, I’d desensitized myself to the abuse.
I started becoming a shell of myself and started losing my love for baseball.
Hell, I started losing my love for life, but whatever prayers Nannie was saying for me kept me going.
“No one knew about it until I turned eleven and had a mental breakdown. I was so damn exhausted, Brittish. Every day I woke up, I dreaded life because I knew what was going to happen. It didn’t matter if we were in the offseason or not; Renee found a way for me to get ‘training’ from the coaches.
Nannie thought Renee was trying. She thought she was actually invested in us because she played the game so good.
While her main focus was me, she acted invested in Brielle and Naheem’s interest too. Shit was so fucked up, man.”
I didn’t realize I was crying until my hands felt damp.
Nyle’s story was heartbreaking. As a mother, it pissed me off.
Never, and I mean never, in my life had I thought of inflicting any type of harm to AJ.
The thought alone made me sick to my stomach, so for Renee to allow others to do so to Nyle was enraging.
My leg bounced underneath the table. I’d never despised someone I’d never even laid eyes on, but if I ever crossed paths with Renee, I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t beat her ass off the strength of being a mother.
Nyle reached over and thumbed away my tears. “Don’t cry for me Brittish.”
“It’s hard not to, Nyle. I mean, I can’t imagine allowing anything like that to happen to AJ.
I’m so, so sorry that your mother failed you.
I’m sorry she didn’t protect you. I’m sorry.
Being a mother, hearing that shit hurts me so damn bad.
I just want to go get AJ and hug him.” I leaned my head back and tried to get my emotions together. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“I know I didn’t, but look at me now. I’m doing good in life.
I’m not dwelling on it. Instead, I’m using it to pour into boys who remind me of me.
Boys who love the game just as much as I did.
Boys who have parents to back them up and the ones who don’t.
God led me to start giving back in high school, and it’s been up ever since. ”
“And I love that for you. Watching you coach, I see it in you. I see how much it means to you and how you truly care about the boys and what you do. Knowing the reason behind it all makes it so much more special.” Lowering my chin to look at Nyle, I scooted closer to him, grabbed his hand, and placed it on my face.
“You don’t need permission to touch me, Nyle. You can do so freely.”
Nyle’s face softened, and I could’ve sworn I saw relief flash over his eyes.
His hand slid down to my chin where he cupped it and pulled me to him.
I savored the taste of wine on his lips.
The passion and emotion behind our kiss caused butterflies to erupt in my stomach while the hairs on my body rose.
Sweet pecks ended the kiss as Nyle pulled back and rested his forehead on mine.
“Thank you, Brittish.”
“You don’t have to thank me. That’s what friends are for.”
I loudly cackled when Nyle snapped his head back and glared at me with lowered brows.
With a sway of his head, Nyle expressed, “I’m not with that friend shit anymore. I mean, we’ll always be friends because that’s a key element in a relationship, but I want more with you. You can’t tell me you don’t feel the same.”
“I do. I just like messing with you. I like where this is going, Nyle. It feels good.”
“And so do you.”
Nyle winked at me, and I could’ve cum right then and there.
He lifted his hand toward me but lowered it just as fast. I gave him a look, silently ensuring him it was fine, and I’m so glad I did.
Nyle gripped my neck and gave it a light squeeze while simultaneously trailing his thumb over my bottom lip.
His eyes were low as they scanned my body, stopping on my protruding nipples.
“You know, I’ve been yearning to feel you again, Brittish. When can I do that again?”
With haste, I replied, “Now.”