Chapter 6 – Jordan
I make my way to the café, though I want nothing more than to turn back the way I came and go get Bianca. Maybe invite her to join me.
But, as I climb the steps to the café and walk inside, I remember Paul said it was important for all of us to be here. And, by all of us, I assume he just means the core group of us. Myself, Alex and the girls. Which means I couldn’t have brought Bianca along or gone back even if I wanted to. And I really, really wanted to.
I stalk over to the table they’re all sitting at. It’s one of the few in front of the big picture window. Snow still clings to its corners and expensive heart decorations adorn the eaves. I shake my head at the tackiness—our very own Hallmark card. With the way Jane and Mariah are cuddled up to their men, the scene in front of me looks straight out of a Valentine’s Day made-for-TV special.
I’m determined to break up that vibe, so I sit down loudly. Sloppily. I put my elbows on the table, though I know someone’s mother is bound to have an issue with it.
“Okay, so I’m here,” I grumble. Instead of with Bianca. Instead of protecting her in case that dude decides to come back and harass her. I nibble on my fingernail. “What’s the big news you just had to have everyone join you for lunch to share, Paul?” Even before these words are all the way out of my mouth, I’m thinking about Bianca again. About the dip shit who harassed her, and how close his room is to hers.
I should’ve asked her if she wanted to move. I should’ve asked her if she wanted me to go to the front desk for her, see if they could arrange something. But nooo. Brunch is so much more important than anything like that.
Paul, rather than answer my question, begins cuddling with Mariah more. Kissing her anywhere and everywhere he can get away with in a family-friendly place like this.
“Out with it, yo,” I snap, “I’ve got better things to do than play twenty questions with you.” Like do whatever Bianca wants me to do. Whatever she orders me to do.
In my head, even as I’m giving a laser glance to the menu, particularly the snack items, I imagine kneeling before her. Submitting myself before her naked body and eating whatever she orders me to eat—preferably her pussy.
A pussy with a thick and wild bush that matches the curtains: a deep blue-black with a lot of natural waves.
I imagine her body shifting, wriggling under my attention. Her skin, while darker than mine and showing some signs of maturity is smooth. Addictive. Finely aged, like wine.
Her eyes, green and bright, call down to me like those of a goddess.
Mindlessly, I order some cola-braised pork nachos, extra cheese, fried onion pieces, and jalapenos, though that's not what I'm hungry for. I wish I was snacking on you, Bianca. You’d be way better for me.
Finally, Paul gives us the news. “Mariah and I are moving in together,” he says excitedly after all of our orders are placed with the waitress. Mariah squeals, as does Jane.
“Congratulations, lady.” Jane squeals again and stands to hug her best friend even though there is a table between them. The whole restaurant turns around to watch the commotion. “Moving in together. That’s such a big milestone,” she adds, sitting back down and interlacing her fingers with Alex’s.
“Wow, Paul. That’s awesome, bro,” Alex says. He looks to Mariah. “You make sure my brother doesn’t stress himself out too much, Mariah.”
Mariah blushes, saying she will.
Jane chimes in, “And you make sure Mariah spends as much time with you as she does on her studies.” She waggles her finger as if she’s become the unofficial mother to them both.
Paul says he’ll be more than happy to provide Mariah with a little distraction.
And then everyone’s attention is on me. I smile. “Congratulations, man.” I'm genuinely happy for him. But this makes me feel sad, too. Left behind. Like I’m not just unlucky with women, but that I’m gonna get left out of these big milestones. These relationship status changes and I hate it. I put on another smile though I can already feel it fading. “I’m glad you two have each other. It’s gonna be nice for you both to not be so lonely and everything.”
I clear my throat after that, not liking the weakness or the want I hear there.
Thankfully, no one seems to notice and turns their attention away from me to better things. Mostly the weddings they need to plan. The honeymoons after, and then the babies.
I tune it all out, wishing I didn’t have to sit here for the next half hour pretending to enjoy my nachos, or the company of my friends when Bianca’s back in my head again.
To be honest, even as I sit there looking out of the window, I realize she hasn’t left my thoughts since we met. She has just been moved to the background for a minute. But now that I have no one to talk to, and no one needing to talk to me, she’s front and center.
Naked, and burying my mouth in her mound. “If you’re hungry, Jordan, eat,” I imagine her saying as she clutches my hair in her fingers, “eat me all up.”