Page 14 of The Love of Priest

Jadey smacked her plump lips. "Who gives a damn?"

"I do. Just think about it. When I was eighteen and getting my back blown out, he was fourteen and just learning how it felt to masturbate," Britain explained with a vigorous shake of her head.

Jadey couldn't contain the cackle that escaped her lips. "Alright, Brit. You win." She laid off pressuring her friend to give her brother a chance.

"I do want to ask you something, though," Britain eased out before taking another slow sip of her champagne. She really wasn't enjoying the drink, but she kept it for her convenience to blend in with the rest of the shoppers.

Jadey examined a pair of thigh-high boots before she nodded her head. "What is it?"

"Do you know Priest?" Britain asked Jadey. "Like personally?" Jadey had to know of Priest, he was included in her wedding. Britain just wanted to know the relationship he had with everyone she knew.

"Priest?" Jadey looked over her shoulder with one of her perfectly arched brows hiked up. "Yeah, that's Kaymen's best friend. I don't know much of him besides him being fine as hell," Jadey chuckled. "Kaymen took me out to this dinner a few months back, and Priest was hosting it. He seems like a nice, down to earth guy, but the press is cutting into his ass like he's some devil spawn, which is ironic since his name is Priest." Jadey shrugged her shoulders.

"The press really has it out for him. But why? It can’t be that bad. Is it?" Britain raised a brow.

In slight shock, Jadey turned to face Britain. "Girl, you work forThe New York Times, and you mean to tell me you have no idea who this man is?" Jadey screwed her face up.

Britain let out a light laugh. "I don't work forThe Times. I sell my pieces toThe Times. Big difference," Britain corrected. Everyone always confused her freelance journalism work as big-time, money-making journalism work. The pieces she sold toThe New York Timesbarely kept her afloat when it came to her bills, which was why she juggled the task of working at her mother's chiropractor office through most of the week. Balancing those two jobs kept her comfortable and happy. One was something she enjoyed, while the other kept her paid and got her checks signed by her mother.

"So, you haven't seen or read one article about Priest?" Jadey, who had no connection to the newspaper, made sure to tune in whenever they were front paging Priest. Most of the time, she just looked at the picture they chose for the article to secretly gawk at him, but other times, she actually read what the article had to offer.

Britain shook her head, causing Jadey's mouth to grow slightly agape. "Honey, he's the talk of New York right now." Britain watched her as she extracted her phone from her classic LV tote. Jadey was on the verge of pulling up each and every story pertaining to Priest, but Britain stopped her.

"No." Britain shook her head. "I don't want to read them. He agreed to give me his story." Jadey was familiar with Britain's line of work when it came to “Humans Of New York.” She preferred to hear stories from complete strangers. This left her begging to want to hear more and find value within the story. Britain knew if she dove in and read up on Priest, it would ruin her interest in his story.

Jadey's eyes widened slightly. "Well, are you gonna publish it?"

Britain shrugged her shoulders as she continued surveying the pieces within the boutique. "I don't know, Jadey. I haven't even gotten his story yet."

"Well, when you do get it, make sure you admire the fuck out of him for me," Jadey laughed. Priest was just something different. He wasn't too loud, nor was he too flashy. He let it be known he had it, but he was humble with it. That was any woman's dream.

Britain laughed along with Jadey before they collided for a playful high five. "I definitely will."

Later that day, Britain made use of Priest's contact and sent him a quick message.

Britain:I’m not sure if my dad played me with the contact info. Is this Priest?

It didn't take him long to respond.

Priest:If it’s Britain, then yeah, it is Priest.

After confirming it was Priest she was texting, Britain went straight to the point about his story.

Britain:Ready to tell me your story?

Seconds later, he hit her back with a double text.

Priest:Meet me at Eleven Madison Park @ 8 tmrw.

Don’t be late.

She was alarmed by the fact that Priest invited her out to such a high-class restaurant like Eleven Madison Park. She had never visited the restaurant, but she knew they served exquisite cuisine.

Exiting the message thread, Britain navigated to her online banking app. She checked the balances of her savings and checking accounts, smiling at the $2,000 deposit her mother had made to her just that morning.

"Well, I guess I can afford a slither or food at Eleven," Britain chuckled to herself before ultimately locking her phone.

ChapterSeven

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