Chapter Nineteen

“Do you know what I was thinking?” Quinn said.

Brandi and Quinn were sitting downstairs in the living room. The television was on, but they were ignoring it.

“What?”

“We should get the guys to take us out. I still haven’t worn the dress you made me. We could dress up and go to a nice restaurant.” A smile curved her lips as she thought about it. “Don’t forget the fair is in town. It’s set up in the large parking lot at the college.”

“I like both idea’s, but I’ve never been to the fair.”

“Why not?”

“I wasn’t allowed to go growing up. Then I got accepted to a college out of state. When I finally came back here, all I could think of was designing clothes and taking care of myself.”

“It’s settled we have to go to the fair.”

She spent the last four days taking it easy. The simple act of moving made her ache, but she was tired of sitting around. The thought of the Ferris Wheel made her smile and her stomach drop in anticipation. Funny since she hated heights.

“The fair it is.”

“Great, I already asked Mekhi. I hoped you would say yes.”

“I’ll ask Jabari when he gets back.” The guys had gone out. He said they needed to spend time as brothers, and she didn’t tell him she knew it was more than that. He was looking for the other person trying to kill her. She hoped it was just one person, but none of them knew.

Fie jumped on her lap and purred before he nuzzled her.

“I know; I'm taking it easy.”

“I wish I could talk to Tee like that. I can through my link with Mekhi. I get pictures from her. They are really clear when she wants food. One day, I saw a picture of a twenty-pound steak in my head. She believes that she should eat what Mekhi eats. I tried to interest her in salads, but she growled at me.”

Brandi clutched her side while she laughed. Tee decided to let her pet her. Now they were becoming friends. Fie and Tee were always together running around and getting into trouble.

“Fie gives me words. It’s strange but nice. I love how he protects me, and then he cuddles next to me and calls me mama.” She sniffed and tried not to act like he didn’t own her heart.

“What are the two prettiest females on the planet up to?” Jabari walked in followed by Mekhi.

“Just the planet?”

“If I tell you I’ve never seen a female as beautiful; your head will get big.” Jabari sat on the couch next to her. He pulled her into his lap giving her a hello kiss.

“Just remember it’s all about me.”

“I will. What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m tired of sleeping. I want to do something.”

“Like?”

“The fair is back. I always intended to go but never had the time. I want to go now.”

“It’s on your bucket list?”

“Piper and I were going to go this year until she had to go out of town. Have you tried her? She sent me another text that didn’t make sense.”

“I haven’t heard from her, but I was planning on giving her a call.”

She nodded her head on his chest. “If you hear from her let me know.”

“About this fair.”

“I need to take a quick shower and change my clothes. Quinn and Mekhi are coming with us.”

He looked up to find Slade looking at him.

“Nope, we’re all going to be there.”

“I can’t wait.” He stood and took her upstairs to get ready.

*~*~*~*

“What is this?”

“It’s a funnel cake supreme, only the best dessert on the face of the planet.”

She took a bite of the funnel cake, fresh strawberries, and vanilla ice cream. Her eyes rolled backward, and a moan came from her lips.

“That looks good.” His voice was raw with desire.

“You need to take a bite.” She took another bite, and he kissed her. The sweetness of the cake and the ice cream exploding in his mouth. The subtle flavor of fresh fruit danced over his tongue. It all mixed with a taste that was pure Brandi. He groaned and stopped short of begging for another taste.

She pulled her plate to her chest. “All mine,” she teased.

He stalked her forcing her backward until her knees hit the table. He set the plate down and kept coming until her upper body was laid across the table, and her legs dangled. He bent over her, his eyes blazing.

“Mine.” It came out with a roughness that touched her core making her want to buck up, so she could rub against him.

He took her mouth hard and fast. Her belly spasmed as her hands clutched his arms holding on. He was the stormy sea, and she was the boat that was being tossed against the waves. He pressed his hard cock against her, and she was almost lost. There was no way she could be saved. She would drown in everything that he was offering.

“Oh my god stop that.” An older woman began beating him across the back. “You hippy freaks should be ashamed of doing something like that in public.”

She felt her cheeks flame. “We were just kissing.”

“You call that kissing? He was trying to eat your face. If my poor departed Jed was here, he would school you on kissing.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sure you're right.” She sat up and tried to grab Jabari’s hand before the darkness in his eyes made it to his lips.

“Hey, that was hot. Do you need a third? She looks like way too much woman for you to handle on your own.” The sincere eyes of a guy in his twenties looked at her eating her up.

“We’re into couples, and you two are hot.”

Her mouth dropped open. “We um thank you. All of you but we have to go.”

He grabbed the plate and let her lead him away from the tables.

“We got propositioned.” Her eyes were bright, and she couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “That never happened before. Oh, and it seems I’m too much woman for you.”

He swatted at her behind and made her sit down.

“Let’s finish your dessert.”

“Where’s everyone at?”

“We’re going to meet them at the flying carpet.”

“I can’t wait.” She took a bite of her dessert then fed him a bite.

“You realize we have to get real food.”

She laughed; it was high and sweet. “What cotton candy and funnel cake isn’t real food?”

“Not even close.” He took the last bite and caught her close in another kiss sharing the dessert with her.

Brandi wrapped her hands around his neck and laid on his shoulder letting his warmth and strength seep into her body.

“Tired?”

“Nope. I want to ride the magic carpet.” She tugged him behind her. The fair was filled with college kids, and she couldn’t stop marveling at their energy. Had she been like that in college?

Parents were dragging around smaller children or hollering at them not to get too far ahead. The flat surface of the parking lot made it so much easier for her to walk. There were vendors lined up around the edges.

She stopped she didn’t remember seeing this one.

“I want to go see what they are selling.”

The cart was a royal blue it was so bright it had to be freshly painted. Hanging from it were gems on the end of thickly braided necklaces. They were for men. Where was the jewelry for women?

“Hi.”

She gave the kid a friendly smile. “Hi.” He looked to be about sixteen.

“Are you handling the booth for your parents?” She blushed wondering if she sounded like one of those idiots who thought youngsters couldn’t do anything.

Youngsters, she grinned like crazy over that word.

“If it makes you feel better.”

He was such a handsome boy; he made her want children. His eyes seemed to swirl with color. They had to be contacts. His hair had the ‘I don’t care’ thing going on. He was tall and well-built for a teen, probably spent a lot of time in the gym or doing extreme sports. And that smile. Good lord some woman would lose her shit over him one day.

“They make them better looking every day.” She slapped her hand over her mouth until she could control it. “Sorry, I don’t know what got into me.”

“Don’t worry,” he winked at her. “There are times I’m irresistible. You want a gem for your male friend?”

She had come for herself, but now she couldn’t imagine not buying Jabari a gift.

“I do.” She took her time looking at everything for sale. Finally, she settled on a long crystal in a hexagon shape.

“This one?” He picked up the clear one. She couldn’t keep her eyes off it. “You have excellent taste.”

He held it up, so it could catch the sun and reflect it back at her.

“How much?” The longer she looked at it, the more she wanted to see it around Jabari’s neck.

“It’s not for sale.” He palmed the crystal.

“What do you mean? It’s with the others.”

“This one is special. It can be bartered but not sold.”

Her mouth opened wide before she snapped it closed. Why should she be surprised? Ever since she met Jabari, nothing made sense.

“I don’t have anything to barter with.” She had a comfortable couch would he take that? It might be infested with alien insects. Nah, Jabari told her they destroyed everything in her apartment. She didn’t have a couch anymore. She had Fie, and she would never barter him away.

“What would you take for the necklace?”

“Your life.”

“No, hell no.” Jabari tried to move to say another word, but he couldn’t.

“Too late, I’m already dying.”

“Then what is there to hold onto? This way he will have something to remember you by.” She glanced at him but was oblivious to the fact that he was immobile.

“Deal.” She wanted to leave him with something more than pictures.

“Wrap your hand around the crystal.”

It felt like the life was drained from her body. She stumbled letting the crystal go. Jabari caught her.

“That was strange.”

“Amethyst, rare and beautiful.” The voice of the teen was deeper. The color of the crystal changed. It was alive and vibrant.

“She’s a keeper. What do you wish for? It must be more than your life or death. The wish must come from your soul.”

“I don’t know.” He told the vendor as he stared at Brandi.

“Truth is hard to find because we bury it so deep. Place this around your neck.”

The heavy braided chain was a choker on his thick neck. The crystal sat right at the base of his throat. She smiled it made her hotter for him.

“When you know what you want. Wrap your hand around the crystal and speak it. I’ll hear you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, take care.” He winked at her, and she blushed.

They walked off. “That was strange; his contacts were the best. I don’t think his parents are going to be happy he gave us that for free.” There was something about his eyes she couldn't shake.

She turned around wanting to get one more look at the teen. He was gone, and so was the booth. It was just another crazy day in her life.