Boyfriend for Christmas: A Love Story

by J. Nichole

  Since being here, he’s called a few times over the months, but hasn’t volunteered to come for a visit. It won’t be long before he stops calling too. Taking a long sip of my Sangria, I signal the bartender to fill’er up.

  Two drinks in and I’m feeling friendly, and scrolling through my phone is not doing it for me tonight.

  * * *

  Kai: At Bar Baxter if you want to join me.

  * * *

  Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. I could use the company though.

  “Is this seat taken?” I hear Noah’s voice behind me and I smile, shaking my head before tapping the barstool beside me.

  He asks the bartender for a Hennessy and Coke before asking me how long I’ve been sitting at the bar alone. “This is my third Sangria,” I say with a crooked smile.

  “Oh.” He eyes me. “Baxter isn’t as live as it was in high school, right?” I don’t remember Baxter being all that exciting in high school, actually. But we always had something going on. Typical teen shit. Back then just kicking it in someone’s room was fun for us.

  “But was it live in high school though?” I side-eye him as he laughs.

  With his hand over his heart he says, “From what I recall we had a great time in high school.” He smirks before adding, “Definitely more fun than I’ve had in recent years.”

  I haven’t heard much about Noah since graduating. In high school I knew every detail about him. Then again, his girlfriend Shiloh, was my best friend. We all went our separate ways after high school, Shiloh and Noah broke up after that summer. Shiloh and I don’t talk often but I’d still consider her my best friend. If she wasn’t married trying to make babies I would have called her to be at this bar with me right now.

  “What have you been doing all these years?” I ask, scooting my empty wine glass away from me. Three is my limit.

  He adjusts in his seat. “I finished my MBA at Albany State.” I reach my hand up and give him a high five. “Then moved back here and started working at Baxter Community Bank.” He looks around us at the bar as if it’s some sort of secret. “Now I’m the bank manager.”

  “Noah, you better do the damn thing then.” I laugh. “Who knew you were walking around with all those smarts?” In high school he was a jock, playing on our championship basketball team.

  “Shit. In high school I was barely skating by in classes. When I went to college I had to get it together.” Noah asks about my life after high school and I give him all the details of my life back in Virginia then what brought me back to Baxter. “Damn, I’m sorry to hear about Eva’s husband.” He leans over the bar and looks at me before saying, “You know I had a crush on your sister in high school.”

  Crush on my sister? Eva is a few years older than us, she had already graduated from high school before we ever stepped foot in Baxter High. With my arms crossed over my chest I say, “You did?”

  He put his hand up in defense. “Before I ever ran into you two.” I don’t even ask how he would have known anything about Eva. I remember Noah having an older brother, and it’s likely he and Eva were in high school together. “I see Shiloh every now and then. Y’all still cool?” He grabs the bartender when he walks by, asking me if I’d like an appetizer. The last thing I ate was the pretzel in the mall and I can use something to help soak up this liquor before it hits me with a headache later.

  “We are still cool,” I say after the bartender takes our order. “We’ve hung out a few times since I’ve been home.” When the appetizers arrive in front of us Noah looks at my plate before taking a bite of his food. “You look like you want some of this.” He raises his eyebrows.

  Noah

  Wanting some of that is an understatement, but I don’t think she’s offering more than the nachos on her plate. And the nachos on her plate won’t do anything for the tent that’s pitched in my pants. I adjust in my seat before saying, “I think these wings are good enough. Thanks.”

  Back in high school, Kai was around often. Shiloh’s parents wouldn’t let us hang out alone. We hung out in big groups, at the mall, the movies, sometimes at her house. No matter where we were, Kai was always there. A few times I would bring one of my teammates along to keep her occupied, but most of the time she’d be a quiet third wheel.

  “Your boyfriend wasn’t upset about you moving back home?” Yeah, it was a trite question. But I didn’t want to wait around to find out she had a man, one who wouldn’t appreciate me getting close to his lady.

  That smile, the one that made me recognize her today at the mall, was wide across her face. Back in school she was short and a little chubby. But now, that baby fat has fallen into all the right places. I look down at her thighs, in the same snug jeans she had on earlier, and readjust in my seat. “He was upset, actually.” I inhale the spice from my wings and reach for my Henny and Coke to help suppress my coughing. She reaches up to pat my back. “You alright?”

  Nodding my head as I clear my throat I say, “Yeah, that wing was a little spicy.” She smirks at me and I know she knows I’m bullshitting. “What’s his name?”

  “What’s his name?” she asks with her arm now across her chest. Then her eyes grow wide as she realizes I’m asking about her boyfriend. Cute that I made her forget him that quickly. Maybe it’s not that serious. “Oh, his name is Taylor.”

  Taylor. Not that I have anything against our beautiful, black women dating outside their race, but I would have never guessed Kai, of all women, would be dating a white dude. She’d clown any of my teammates who smiled too hard at a white girl in high school. “He’s black,” she says as though she read my mind.

  “Oh. Good.” Not good, not good at all. “Hopefully, he understands now why you needed to move back.” If not, it’ll certainly be his loss and my gain. I eye Kai’s nearly empty plate and wine glass. Not wanting the evening to end I offer to buy her another drink and she shakes her head.

  “We broke up.” I look up at her and although it’s better for me if she’s single, the look on her face makes me want to check his ass for hurting her. As a teen, Kai and Shiloh were ride or die for each other. Naturally, Kai kept me in check about her girl. When dudes tried to have a shot with Kai, but didn’t come correct, I made sure they didn’t waste her time. That feeling to protect her came back easily.

  “You alright?” I ask quietly.

  She sighs, wiping her mouth with a napkin, bringing attention to her lips—lips I wouldn’t mind kissing. “I’m good.”

  I lean on the bar and say, “If not, you know I’ll fly up to Virginia and whoop his ass for you.” She laughs and I feel a tightening beyond my pants. That laugh coupled with that smile, it’ll get me every time. When the bartender drops the check in front of us I grab it and shake my head at her when she tries to place her cash on the bar. “Do you have plans tomorrow?”

  Her nose scrunches up. “I have the honor of entertaining a seven-year-old, all day, for the next few days.”

  “If you have the evenings free I’d like to take you to some of Baxter’s other fine establishments.” I laugh before adding, “We have a few decent places around here.”

  She rolls her eyes before saying, “Sounds like a plan to me.” She stands from her seat and I let her lead the way, making sure she makes it to her car safely. She thanks me for joining her. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says before leaning in to give me a hug.

  Holding the embrace until she releases, I say, “See you tomorrow Kai Roberts.” She returns my stare with another smile.

  Chapter 3

  Noah

  Boris throws the ball against the backboard before saying, “Guess what I heard.” People say that women gossip too much, but my dude Boris beats them all. If there is anything going on in Baxter, Boris knows all about it. We’ve been friends since grade school, bonding over our time on the court together.

  “What’d you hear?” I grab the ball and run it to the other side of the court. Boris and I meet at the gym a couple of nights a week. Tonight, I don’t have time to
chop it up with him as much as I usually do. Tonight, I plan to sneak out of here to take Kai over to the new seafood restaurant.

  “You remember Shiloh’s homegirl, the one you used to drag me out to occupy while you and Shiloh played mouth to mouth in the back of the theater?” I grab the ball and stand in the middle of the court. “Kai, right?”

  I’m sure whoever told him she was back told him her name, and if he could remember those double dates we had back in the day, then he doesn’t need me to confirm her name. But to hurry this conversation along, I nod my head.

  “Too bad your ol’ girl is married now, or we could replay those days.” He raises his eyebrows. “This time maybe she’ll give me some play.” He rubs his hands together.

  I could just sit here and listen to him talk about Kai. Or I could let him know that she’s still out of reach for him. Time’s ticking either way, and with his big mouth I don’t need him spreading rumors about me and Kai before I have a chance to convince her to give me a chance. “And what about your girl?” That was enough to get him focused on his own business. He laughs and I tell him I’m headed out early.

  “Damn, well throw me that ball. I need to run up the court a few more times.” He rubs his stomach. “Had too much to eat for lunch today.” After throwing him the ball I grab my gym bag from the bleachers and instead of hitting a quick gym shower, I run out to my car. I want to be fresh for tonight.

  On the way to my house I drive past Baxter High, and laugh when I realize I’m chasing after a chick I’ve known most of my life. Thinking of that girl, I grab my phone and shoot her a text.

  * * *

  Noah: Still on for tonight?

  * * *

  When she responds quickly, I imagine she’s in need of more adult time. I can relate. My nephews, probably the same age as her niece, are fun to have around, but wear me all the way out. And that’s just after a couple of hours. I could only imagine what it would be like to have them all day long. I shake my head at the thought. Nick better never, ever, think to call on me to watch those two knuckleheads for a full day.

  My gym bag is dropped at the door before I climb out of my J’s. I look at the mess in front of the door and consider cleaning it up before hopping in the shower. Just in case Kai wants to come over after dinner. Then I decide against it walking into my bedroom to start the shower.

  I’m sure Kai can be more open to any advances I throw her way, but I don’t want to push my luck. In high school, I don’t ever remember hearing about her even kissing a dude. Not like they didn’t try, but she shot them down.

  Grabbing my keys and wallet, I scoot my sneakers and gym bag into the hall closet, just in case, before heading out the door. When I arrive at the address Kai sent me, I look around the house then back at the address. Her childhood home. I take a deep breath and hope that neither of her parents open the door.

  My hand hovers over the front door before I inhale and knock. When the door opens and I see Mrs. Roberts, I exhale. At least it’s not her dad. “Hello, Mrs. Roberts,” I say smiling, wondering if she’ll be like Kai and not remember who I am.

  She adjusts her eyeglasses on her nose and says, “Noah?”

  I’m surprised her memory is better than her daughter’s. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Come on in here. Kai is just about ready.” She leads me into the living room. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, how have you been?”

  I respond and shift back and forth on my heels while we wait for Kai to come from the back of the house. “How’ve you been, Mrs. Roberts?”

  “Oh, I can’t complain, Noah. Both of my babies are in Baxter making me proud.” I smile at her knowing my mom was just as excited when Nick and I moved back home.

  “Mama, I’ll see you later tonight. Call me if you need anything,” Kai says as she approaches us. “Ready?” She looks at me before walking towards the front door.

  “How’s it being back at your parents’ house?” I open Kai’s door as she climbs into my car.

  She bites her lip, again reminding me how bad I want to do the same. “It’s better than when I was a kid, but it’s not forever.” She tells me about the different apartments she’s visited since being back home. She describes her challenge with finding a place that’s both affordable, not really old, and close to Baxter Elementary where she teaches.

  “Maybe after dinner I could show you my place,” I offer, hoping I could help in her quest to find a place. I happen to be a couple of miles from Baxter Elementary, and my place is both decent looking and priced. When she shrugs I say, “Bet, to my place after dinner.”

  Kai

  “I remember when y’all won this,” I say holding Noah’s championship basketball trophy. When he offered to show me his apartment, it seemed honest enough. After all, Noah has always looked out for me.

  “Yeah that last game was close though. We almost didn’t pull it out.” I remember Shiloh being in the bleachers watching through her fingers as the clock ran down. “Here,” he directs me to the couch. “You can sit.” He looks at me before saying, “Unless you need to be in by curfew.” I roll my eyes at him. Moving back to Georgia and in with my parents has been an adjustment. Fortunately, they didn’t treat me like they did when I would come home for college over the summer. Then, they did try to impose a curfew, made me report in to them when I was out and about.

  “Watch it now, Noah,” I say, crossing my arms across my chest.

  “I’m just messing with you. What you are sacrificing to help your sister is commendable.” He grabs the remote from his coffee table and flips through the channels before he asks, “My bad, I forgot to ask if you wanted something to drink.” I kept it light at the restaurant. Back in Virginia I probably would enjoy drinks every day of the week, but I don’t want to make a habit of that here.

  “I’ll take a glass of water, thanks.” Noah walks in front of me, his ass firm in his black slacks. “Your style has changed over the years,” I speak loudly so he’ll hear me from the kitchen. “Guess that’s the bank manager in you.”

  He hands me a glass of water and sits beside me, this time closer than the last time. “I couldn’t rock jeans and jerseys forever.” He slouches on the couch and leaves me with little room to move. “Believe me, if I could I would though.” We both laugh and talk about the different styles we had throughout elementary and high school. “But the FUBU fits are probably best left in the past.” He eyes my dress and says, “And those bedazzled jeans y’all wore too.”

  “What? Those things were cute,” I lie. Shiloh and I spent countless hours bedazzling anything in sight, including our jeans, shirts, and backpacks. “I think I even had a pair of bedazzled shoes.”

  “I’ll admit, I could watch you walk by with a pair of those bedazzled jeans today.” My head snaps around when I realize he’s throwing a compliment, or so I think. “You should dig through your closet at home and find a pair for our next date.” Next date? Whoa. I thought we were just catching up, I don’t know if I would have considered this a date.

  “Why that look on your face?” he asks. Guess my thoughts are apparent. “You said, ‘next date,’” I say, looking for his thoughts across his face. But when I notice his smile I’m convinced we are not on the same page.

  “Do you not consider this a date?” He grabs the remote turning down the volume.

  “Noah,” I struggle to find a way to tell him how his relationship with my best friend in high school would put him off limits. “Shiloh…” I finally say.

  “Shiloh?” He throws his head back laughing. I throw my hands up when he finally stops laughing and looks at me. “You can’t be serious. We dated in high school. And she’s married.” His voice pitches.

  He’s right. Shiloh is married, but there’s a friend code, and that doesn’t have an expiration date on it. Once hers, always hers. I’d feel weird being with a dude she was once with, even if it was years ago.

  Putting a hand on my thigh he reminds me, “You know, we were young. The
furthest we went was a heated kiss.” I know this already, because I know who took her virginity. And it wasn’t Noah. That went to her college boyfriend.

  Even if all they did was kiss, they shared time and space. I’d feel super awkward having them both around each other if we were to go out in a group. Like, if it does work out. I bite the side of my mouth. Say we got married, the Matron of Honor in my wedding would have kissed my husband. How strange would that be? Nope. Don’t think I can do it.

  “I can’t believe you still do that,” Noah says staring at me. “Shoot, I can’t believe I remember you doing that.” I look at him with my eyebrows bunched together. “Overthinking,” he says softly. “Back in high school, when we’d try to get you to do something you obviously didn’t want to do.” He points at my mouth. “You’d do that.”

  I release my mouth and my head jerks backwards. While standing I tell Noah, “I should get going.” Walking to the door, I turn around moving my hand over my mouth. “Forgot I didn’t drive here.” Noah laughs and grabs his keys.

  “Back to your parents’ house?” Noah asks. Instead of going to my parents’ house I decide to call it a night at Eva’s. It’ll help me avoid my early morning wake up to be over there before Eva leaves for work.

  “Could you drop me at Eva’s?” I direct him to Eva’s house and outside I thank him for the evening, but don’t make any promises for any future dates.