Page 25 of Verse Two
I glanced at my mother. Her eyes were no longer narrowed, and there was a barely there smile on her lips. Reggie was still unreadable, but his next words gave me relief.
“Aight then. Long as you know who’s in charge if anything happens to baby girl, we’re straight,” he said, holding his hand out to Brixton again.
Brick shook it and smirked. “Yes, sir.” He then said, “I’ma get out of y’all’s way. I’ll see you soon, Doll.”
I couldn’t help the blush forming. “Okay.”
I walked him out and stole a quick kiss before rejoining my parents in the living room. Both their eyes were on me, and my mother patted the spot next to her on the sofa. As soon as I sat down, she got straight into it.
“All right, girl. Spill it.”
“What you wanna know, Ma?” I asked with a chuckle.
My mother scoffed. “Everything. So get to it.”
I laughed and proceeded to tell her all about the snowstorm that brought Brixton and me back together. Well, I didn’t tell hereverything, but by the time I was finished, she and Reggie understood that I was head over heels for Brixton Ellis.
The entire time I spoke, my mother listened attentively, and a smile spread slowly across her face.
“Girl, I ain’t ever seen you this gone over one of these nappy-headed ass boys. But this one is just as messed up over you, so it’s all good,” Reggie said with a smirk.
I looked at him with hopeful eyes.
“You think so?”
If someone other than myself felt that Brick was in this with me—someone I trusted implicitly—I was inclined to believe it with more surety than I currently possessed.
Pops nodded. “I know so, baby girl. I saw how he was lookin’ at ya, and I respect how he came and laid his cards on the table for your momma and me. He’s good in my book, . . . for now.”
“Mine too,” my momma said, grasping my hand and squeezing gently.
“He better comeall the waycorrect, though. When I met the love of my life, I married her, and I ain’t waste no time with it. If that’s who he says you are to him, he needs to do the same. Ain’t gon’ be no lil shackin’ up,” Reggie said, making me burst out laughing. I knew he meant it, though.
“I hear you, Pops.”
“Well, that’s settled.” My mother slapped the sofa and stood before extending a hand to me. I clasped her and stood also.
“Now, come into this kitchen and help me with dinner.”
I followed her with a smile. “As long as it’s beef stew.”
My mother kissed her teeth. “Girl, I wasn’t makin’ your spoiled butt nothin’ else on your first night home. Come on here.”
I opened my eyes and rolled them immediately. I had been having the best dream ever about Brick’s and my wedding, and consciousness kept me from getting to kiss my groom.
As my eyes adjusted to the bright light coming from the large window in front of me, though, I found my smile. I may not have been marrying him today, but I was still in his bed, waking up to the best view in Jai City.
What had started as a trip home to spend time with my parents quickly turned into an extended reunion with my guy. I had been in the city for three days, and most of that time had been spent with Brixton Ellis. I didn’t regret it at all, but I did need to spend time with my mom and Reggie. Although I still planned to be cuddled up next to him by the end of tonight, I was going to get dressed for the day and head to my mother’s house.
I slipped out of bed and padded across his hardwood floors. Because I slept in my birthday suit, I grabbed Brick’s hoodie from the bench at the foot of his bed and slipped it over my head. As I headed to his bathroom to take care of my hygiene, I glanced at the empty bed. I learned quickly that Brick was a super early riser, so I assumed he was in his office working already.
Once I completed my morning routine, I reentered his bedroom. Instead of going to find my man immediately, I stepped toward the floor-to-ceiling windows and observed the city.My city.As much as I loved New York, there really was no place like home.
I never thought I’d love a place as much as I loved Terry, but Jai City grew on me shortly after my mother and I moved here. It made me realize how much I enjoyed big city living and inspired me to go to college in the biggest city of them all.
Brixton’s penthouse gave him the perfect view of the city’s skyline, and I had made it a habit of admiring it every morning. Today, theYak MobileArenawas what caught my eye. It hadn’t been there the last time I was home, and the newness of it made it almost sparkle. Although it wasn’t the tallest building on the skyline, its sleek glass design and dome-shaped roof stood out amongst its fellow skyscrapers. It was a reflection of how much the city was developing.
Faizon Grey, the newestHeavyweight Champion of the World—who I had also gone to school with in Terry—recently defended his belt there. I had just read that Jai City was gettinga professional football team,and the arena would be their home. It was all exciting for the state of Chaney, and the buzz around it all had me thinking about making the move back here.
