12
I wasn’t looking forward to pretending we were one big happy family or acting like my parents’ marriage was something to celebrate, but it was what it was. I’d cooked up all this food, even made a German chocolate cake as an added bonus that morning, and I wasn’t going to let it all go to waste. I’d just do what I always did, paste on a smile and pretend I was happy to be there. I’d pretend we were the damn Huxtables to make my mom happy. She deserved to be happy.
Staring at the foil pans crowding my kitchen counter, I sighed and tried to erase the images of Ryan Boyé’s intense stare from my mind along with the intense pleasure he gave my body. I didn’t get what Nicky had said at first, but there was definitely a distinct difference between pleasing one’s self, and being touched in that way by a man, especially a man as magnetic and beautiful as Ryan. Just the realization that it was his hand touching me had nearly driven me insane. The men of my past had touched me before, but not like that.
Not like that.
I fell into one of my kitchen chairs, fanned myself with my hand, and thought about how hard it had been to reject him, but it was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? Of course it was. We wouldn’t work out. We couldn’t, could we? He seemed nice and everything, but there was that I-only-fall-for-assholes thing. Plus, he was only in town temporarily, and besides, I was supposed to be having fun, not even thinking about relationships. But the way I felt about him, the way he made me feel, a relationship would happen, because once we got together, I already knew I wouldn’t be able to let him go. There was no way I would.
My doorbell rang, quickly pulling me from thoughts of Ryan, and when I answered the door, a huge smile sprung onto my face. “Damon!”
He grinned, leaning over to hug me. “Hey, Angie!”
He followed me into my apartment, and we both sat down. Damon Davis had basically grown up with me and Nicky. He and Nicky were classmates and best friends, and he hung around our house so much, he became like a little brother to me. He was so sweet and shy, I first thought he might’ve been gay, but it didn’t take long for me to see that he had a crush on Nicky. I’m not sure if she ever realized it, though. Back then, he was lanky and awkward, but the person before me was muscular, tall, and had matured into a strikingly handsome man. Ten years had passed since I’d last seen him, and boy had they done him good!
“What a nice surprise! I haven’t seen you in…forever!”
He nodded as he scooted to the edge of my accent chair, rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. “Yeah, not since I went off to the Navy.”
“You still in service?”
He shook his head. “Nah, been out for a couple of years now. Been living in South Korea, teaching English.”
“Wow! I remember how into Asian culture you always were.”
“Yeah, I love living over there.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You married yet, or are you still waiting on my sister?”
He chuckled. “I’m actually living with a girl from here in the states. She’s a YouTuber like you. Ever heard of Missy Mae?”
“Yeah! I catch her videos from time to time. She’s so cute and funny.”
“She is. She’s how I found out about your videos. She was watching one and I was like, ‘Hey, that’s my big sister!’ And then I had to explain that we’re not really related.”
“But you’re still my brother.”
“Yeah…”
“Man, you caught me just as I was getting ready to head to my parents’ house. It’s their anniversary and guess who’s providing the food?”
“I know it’s you, because if I recall correctly, you were always the best cook in the house, hands down!”
I laughed. “Yeah. I’ve got a ton of food to load into my car.”
“Let me help.”
“Okay. Hey, you should drop by tonight. I know my mom would love to see you. We’re pretty much just having holiday food.”
“Man! I just might do that!”
“And bring Missy with you.”
“Oh, she didn’t come with me. I decided to come visit for a few days but she wasn’t prepared to join me. My mom’s been nagging me about not coming home often enough.”
“Yeah, moms are good for that.”
I hung my dress for the night up in the backseat and closed the door just as Damon shut my trunk. As he walked around the car and drew me into a hug, I heard someone pull into Ryan’s driveway.
I squeezed my play brother tightly before stretching up to kiss his cheek. “See you tonight, lil’ brother?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Hey, don’t tell Nicky. I wanna surprise her.”
He might’ve been living with Missy Mae, but he still had it bad for my baby sister.
I climbed into my car, and as I waited for Damon to back out, watched Ryan ascend the steps to his apartment, yank his mail from his mailbox, snatch his door open, and slam it behind him.
I had thought he was a little upset by my rejection. Now I was sure of it. But there was nothing I could do about it since I was expected to play my role in the Strickland Happy Family live production.
Who the fuck was that nigga she was hugging?!
It wasn’t Urkel. This dude actually looked like he possessed an ounce of swag. But who was he? Was he the reason she rejected me? I couldn’t believe this shit! Here I was, offering her me. Me! Women loved me, couldn’t resist my ass. Hell, I could walk into Coda right that minute and pull any woman I wanted. So what was her deal? I didn’t do anything to her but give her a huge-ass orgasm. And from what I felt, she needed it. Shit, I just couldn’t figure her out.
Damn-it!
My phone buzzed, and of course it was KC.
“Hello!”
“Shit, what’s wrong with your ass?”
I tossed my mail onto the coffee table and threw my keys on the floor. “Man, this chick is driving me fucking nuts!”
“Your landlord?”
“Yeah!”
“What’d she do?”
“She won’t go out with me, says because I’m renting this place from her, I’m business and she doesn’t mix business with her social life. You believe that bullshit?”
“Uh, bruh, didn’t you basically say the same thing?”
“Not to her!”
“Okay, okay, but peep this, you thought it. So did she. She just happened to come on out and say it.”
I sat down and rubbed my forehead. “What am I supposed to do, man? I can’t stop thinking about her. And I know she’s feeling me. I know it.”
“Tell her how you feel. Plead your case with her.”
“I ain’t begging her to go out with me, KC. You know that’s not my style. I ain’t never had to beg a woman for shit in my whole life.”
“Who said anything about begging? I said, tell her how you feel. Talk to her. Be real with her. Damn, that’s really a foreign concept to you, isn’t it?”
“How can I do that if she won’t go out with me?”
“Shit, man, you live right next door to her. You don’t have to go out with her to talk to her. Be friendly, take her some coffee, ask if you can sit down and talk to her for a minute. Am I really having to explain this to your grown ass right now?”
I sighed. “Okay, I’ll try that. Thanks, man. Sorry for yelling in the phone and stuff.”
“No problem. You really like her, huh?”
“Yeah, I really think I do.”
KC chuckled into the phone.
“What’s funny?”
“You! After all these years, you finally met someone who makes you lose your cool. That must be some kind of woman. Damn, I wanna meet her.”
“Man, whatever.”