CHAPTER SIXTEEN Back to Jalen
Andre stayed with Damon for two weeks.During that time, Maya learned there were differentkinds of silence.There was the silence of an empty house.There was the silence between two people who still lovedeach other but no longer knew how to speak withoutreopening a wound.And there was Andre's silence - not punishment, notmanipulation, simply distance.He answered practical messages.Did you get the electric bill?
Yes.Your blueprints are still here. I'll get them Saturday.
Are you okay? I'm functioning.He did not say good morning.
He did not ask whetherMaya ate. He did not send the photographs of strangebuildings or crooked signs that used to make her laugh inthe middle of work.Maya felt the loss in a thousand ordinary places.
Jalen filled some of them.He did not push at first. He checked in.
He listened. Heoffered to bring food and accepted when Maya said no.
Hetexted after her presentations. He remembered she had abig pitch on Tuesday and sent, Go be the little CEO theycan't afford.By the second week, Maya was calling him withoutwaiting for him to call first.One Friday, he asked to see her.
"Just coffee," he said. "Public place. No pressure.
" Maya sat at her desk after everyone else had left andstared at the skyline through the office windows.
"I don't know.""That's okay."His lack of pressure worked on her more effectively thanpressure would have.
"Maybe Sunday," she said.They met at a cafe in West Hollywood.Jalen was already there when Maya arrived.
He stoodwhen he saw her, and for a moment neither of them knewwhether to hug.Jalen solved it by opening his arms slightly.Maya stepped into them.The embrace lasted one second too long.When she sat across from him, she saw the differencebetween remembering a man and actually being near him.Jalen was not a photograph from senior year.
He wasgrown, composed, successful, with a calmness she did notassociate with the boy who used to provoke argumentssimply to test whether she cared.
"You look tired," he said."Thank you. Very romantic.
"He smiled. "I mean you've been carrying a lot.
" "That's better."They talked for nearly two hours.Jalen told her about building his performance studiofrom a rented room inside someone else's gym.
He hadworked mornings at a rehabilitation clinic, trained privateclients at night, and saved until he could lease his ownspace.
He spoke with pride but not arrogance.Maya found herself admiring him.This was what she had wanted to know: who Jalenbecame when she was not looking.
"You really changed," she said.He leaned back.
"I had to.""Why?"His smile faded. "Because I kept losing good people andblaming them for leaving.
Eventually you realize if thesame story keeps ending the same way, maybe you're thecommon part.
"Maya looked at him."Did you go to therapy?
""For two years."That surprised her."You?
""You sound shocked.""The eighteen-year-old version of you would've ratherfought the therapist.""The eighteen-year-old version of me was an idiot.We've established that.
"Maya laughed.A shadow crossed Jalen's face.
"How's Andre?"Her smile disappeared."I don't know.
""You haven't talked?""Not really."Jalen nodded.
"He loves you.""I know.""Don't take that lightly.
"Maya studied him. "Why do you keep saying things thatmake me want to go back to him?
"Jalen looked down at his coffee."Because if you choose me, I need to know you chose me.Not that I caught you while you were hurting.
"Her heart moved toward him.It was exactly the right thing to say.Maya did not yet know that people can say the rightthings before they are tested by the responsibility of livingthem.