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“Well, we hung out the whole week but the night before I was leaving, out of the blue she started crying.” I looked down at the sink, her face that night still as clear as the present, as my chest tightened all over again. “I mean, we were just holding each other in my bed at my parents’ house, but I said something about how it sucked to leave the next day. The next thing I know she’s sobbing, and when I tried to console her, she jumped off the bed and said it wasn’t working.”
Jason’s face contorted. “Damn, but why? What else did she say?”
I shrugged, looking back up at him. “Well, I told her to calm down, andnowI know that’s just a dumb thing to say to a woman.” Jason nodded, so I continued. “But she threw her arms up and said it was too hard, we never talked and only seeing each other every four months for a few days wasn’t fair to either of us.” I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, trying to force the lump back down. “Anyway, she calmed down a little, and we talked for like two hours, but eventually she stood up and said we were growing in different directions, and she wouldn’t try to hold me back from living my life. Then she kissed me and left.”
Jason ran his fingers through his hair over and over then blew a breath through puffed cheeks. “Man, that’s rough. And doesn’t sound like her. Then what?”
“Exactly. I almost thought maybe she met someone, but then I knew that was crazy.” I shook my head. “Plus, I would have found out. I had only been gone a few months at the time and still had friends at my old school and some buddies that had girlfriends at Spelman. They would have told me. But that was just my insecurity. She wasn’t like that.”
“True. I wonder why she freaked out?” Jason asked, brows furrowed. “But that was it? She left, you flew home, and no contact?”
I planted my palms on the counter and shook my head. “Well, I went home the next day, my parents were beside themselves because she was going to go to the airport with us, so I had to explain what happened. They always loved her like a daughter, ya know.” He nodded at my explanation. “Once I got back and settled, I tried to call her a few times but each time she sent me to voicemail. After a week, I left a message that I loved her and I wish I knew what to do, but the ball was in her court.
Jason sighed, rested his elbows on the counter, and drew his clasped hands to his mouth. “I don’t get it.” He shook his head. “But wow. I can’t believe she just–ended it. You guys were the poster kids of a happy couple.”
I stood back up and grabbed the bag I had been trying to empty, pulling contents from it to add to the cupboard. “That’s what I thought. I only originally planned to be gone for two years. After everything, I figured we could do it even though it was hard. But I dunno man.”
“Well, give her time. Maybe it’s just a shock to see you after all this time. Jaz is the coolest lady I know.”
“I guess I expected it to go differently. I thought…well never mind.”
“What’s up man? Tell me. You thought what?”
I sighed and balled up the bag in my hand. “I guess I thought she’d be happy to see me and run and jump in my arms.”
Jason smirked. “Man, you can’t expect her to pick up where you left off after all this time. It’s been what, six years?”
“Eight.”
He straightened up and rested his palms on the counter. “Even worse. But still, did you think you could show up out of the blue and jump into things without missing a beat? Do you want to still be with her?”
I hadn’t even considered what I really wanted or expected outside of the image of her flinging herself toward me when she saw me, which didn’t go remotely how I envisioned it. “I don’t know. I guess it was kind of presumptuous to move back without telling anyone.”
“Even so, I’m glad you’re home, man. Whatever it is, you’ll figure it out and she’ll come around. It’s Jaz.”
“Hope you’re right brother. And thanks for everything. At leastyou’reglad to see me.”
Chapter 5
Jaz
I spent the day pacing the apartment and making sure not to leave so I didn’t accidentally run into my new neighbor.Mike. Mike was my new neighbor.
How is this even possible?
It was bad enough to bump into him at the club once. Now, he’s literally feet away from where I live. Living here. Not just here, buthere, same building! I tried taking a shower, watching TV, reading. I even went back over the emails from the hospital’s intern department so many times that I nearly memorized it. I slammed the laptop shut.
This was fine. I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman. I’m about to be a doctor. There is no reason for me to lose my cool. I’m Jaz. Easy breezy, super chill, whatever. That was all a long time ago. All in the past. This. Was. Fine.
Glancing at the time on my phone, it was nearly time for Onyx to be home. We would go out as planned, celebrate me a little, then come home. I was so used to wearing jeans and tanks at the bar that I decided a nice maxi dress would be fun and light. Plus, it was hot and sticky outside like a typical Georgia summer. Fall couldn’t come fast enough.
I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup when Onyx got in. “Sis, I’m home!”
“In the bathroom. Just about ready but no rush. Where we going?” I called out before popping my lips together to smooth the clear gloss.
Her muffled reply carried across the living room. “I thought hibachi would be fun. We can get some Sake, share a sushi roll, and get some yummy rice! Haven’t been over there in a while.”
I nodded. The food was excellent, and I loved sushi. I didn’t get to go often because they were only open for dinner, and I usually was working. Jason tried to get me to take nights off, but I didn’t have anything better to do usually besides hang out with my sister anyway and the money was good. I had a hard time sitting still. “Sounds good. If that’s the case though, you may want to hustle, or it’ll be a pain getting seated on a Saturday night.”
