by Desirée
“Well, Olivia told me Shiloh spared his life because of some girl?” I questioned, wanting to know more.
“Yeah, whoever the chick was, he knew her. That’s all I know about it. I honestly don’t even like talking about that shit. I hate that I was even there in the first place.”
“Defending your sister’s honor,” I reminded him, but he shook his head.
“Not like that though, Taylor.” He sighed. “I’m far from a killer, and you know I’ll only fight if I have to defend me and mine, but that shit? Fucking with the grandma and the kids? Trell wanting to fuck with the girl? I mean, that ain’t my life. Never was, and never will be.”
“Amen,” I agreed with a small smile, looking at Trent.
He grew quiet as we drove in peace through the lit streets of Buckhead, seeing the tall buildings, people walking on the sidewalk, restaurants live with chatter and noise on a Tuesday night. It was definitely one of the posher areas of Atlanta. For those reading this who have no idea about Atlanta, just think Lenox Square Mall. Everyone knows about that place at least. If not . . . shit, look it up.
When we arrived at our destination, he had a valet park his car. I watched him quickly change from the letterman’s jacket to a matching black blazer, buttoning it closed as he checked himself. He was nervous for some reason. I couldn’t figure out why, though. I walked over to him, grabbing his hands to keep him from fussing over himself.
“You good, pretty boy?” I teased, adjusting his tie as he looked down at me, smiling.
“Nothing on my face, right?” he asked, trying to touch his face.
I smacked his hand away as I looked him over. “You’re fine, Trenton Michael. Let me see your teeth,” I said, and he smiled. I nodded, letting him check mine before laughing to ourselves. We were too much for each other, clearly.
“You ready? I’m not going to embarrass you. I’ll make you look good if you do the same for me,” I told him as we walked toward the door.
“I got you, Big Tay,” he said, and I playfully punched him in the shoulders before entering the huge building.
The moment we stepped inside the ballroom where a live orchestra was playing, we saw everyone standing in their finest attire, dressed to impress. He was greeted by some of his professors from school.
“Trent, can’t wait to hear this speech of yours,” an older man said as they shook hands.
“You won’t be disappointed, sir. I can promise you that.” His hand slipped to my lower back with ease.
A speech? Really?
“Let me introduce you to my date for the night, Taylor Rowan,” he said, and I smiled, shaking the man’s hand as he looked me over.
“Oh, well, you look lovely as all get out. How did you manage to get caught up with this kid here?” he teased.
“To be honest, sir? I have no idea,” I said, and we all laughed, playing our part.
That night was almost too perfect to count. The food was amazing, but I barely ate because I had a thing about eating in front of people. Trent’s speech about this charity in front of hundreds of people was brilliant, almost to the point where I knew he didn’t write that shit. I, of course, collected business cards and handed out some. I was definitely ready to put my business degree to use in any field—as long as I was making money.
The live orchestra had a soloist that was featured, and the moment I saw who it was, I nearly screamed. Elijah’s girlfriend stood in front of everyone, playing the fuck out of that violin. Even Trent didn’t know about it, but she was dubbed one of the top violinists in the country. Who would have thought? Standing there in her long red gown, she stood out against the orchestra members, who were dressed in black. She was playing straight from memory with no sheet music.
By the end of the night, I had met Trent’s frat brothers, who were teasing him about not bringing this Jade girl because she wouldn’t fit in. I met new sorority sisters of my own, and I even got a chance to stop by and chat with Jordyn, who looked shocked to see me.
“Why didn’t you tell Elijah to come?” I asked as we walked to the table to grab a drink.
All eyes were on her because she was literally stunning in her dress, hair pulled back in a high ponytail that swung when she walked, and her gray eyes shining. She was gorgeous. Whoever did her makeup needed to be awarded, because she looked like a pure model. Unlike Olivia, she didn’t carry herself like she was beautiful. She barely recognized it, but the eyes on her were definite.
“He wouldn’t come to something like this.” She shrugged. “I’m constantly asked to play for events and weddings, but Elijah coming? I don’t know if he would know how to act.”
“I think he would love to see you play,” I said, watching Trent walk over, smiling at me before looking at Jordyn.
“Aye, I wish my brother could have seen you play,” he said as she gave him a short, brief smile before walking off suddenly. He dropped his head with a small laugh.
“What did you do to her, Trent?” I pressed with a laugh.
“Told her about herself one day, and she hasn’t messed with me since. I told Elijah to tell her I apologize, but she—” He stopped, shrugging. “I don’t know, but you got my whole frat asking about you.”
“I bet!” I laughed, looking at his brothers, seeing they were all grouped together, taking pictures.
“Oh!” he let out, looking around quickly before waving someone over. “My mama came too. She wanted to see you.”
“Oh, where is Ms. Ava at?” I asked excitedly, seeing a short, dark-skinned woman walk over in a long, black dress. She had those signature low-lid eyes, few wrinkles, and a smile that was identical to all of her kids. Elijah, Olivia, and Shiloh pretty much could never be denied by her, but Trent looked like his daddy with those hazel eyes. She made sure she kept youthful. Ms. Ava barely looked like she was over fifty.
Meeting her halfway, I immediately wrapped my arms around my second mama. She had practically raised me alongside my own.
“How are you doing, baby girl?” she asked, patting my edges down. Of course she would.
“I’ve been doing good, hanging with your character of a son,” I teased, and she smiled sneakily at Trent.
“I see.” She smiled before playfully cupping his chin in a motherly fashion. “I’m so proud of my baby.”
“Mama, come on now,” he said, moving her hand as I laughed.
“He gets embarrassed, but he has to know I’m proud of him. Stayed out of prison, stuck with his studies, and now is going to graduate and go off to be a lawyer. I can’t believe I’m getting a lawyer in the family,” she cooed, eyes watering up. He dropped his head in utter embarrassment before pulling her close for a hug. “You make me so proud, Trenton. You know that?”
“I know, Mama,” he cooed, kissing her cheek. “But you can’t be crying like this, now. I got people watching me.”
“Boy, shut up,” she quipped, playfully pushing him back. “I’m glad one of the boys actually made something of themselves. Elijah was too busy running behind Shiloh’s ass that he got caught up in the same foolishness. Should have been following you,” she continued, expressing her favoritism toward Trent. I knew Shiloh hadn’t spoken to her in years for some unknown reason, and Elijah definitely had a love/hate relationship with her, but Trent would always be her favorite, while Olivia was a daddy’s girl.
“I don’t know why Olivia wasn’t here for this. I know Elijah is busy with his music thing with the boys, but Olivia could have made it.”
As we all spoke, remembering the old days when we were kids, Jordyn walked over with her violin case in hand and coat on, like she was ready to go.
“Hey, I just wanted to stop and say bye,” she said quickly, and we hugged.
“You’re leaving so soon?” I asked, peeping Trent whisper something in his mom’s ear. Ohhh, shit, here we go.
Let me tell y’all something about Ms. Ava. She did not play when it came to her kids. Trent was her obvious favorite, of course, but let her find out about
a girlfriend of one of the boys. She was quick to slice through them with ease and not think twice about it. She was very protective over them.
“Really?” she said, eyes wide as she looked Jordyn up and down. “So, you’re dating Elijah? My son?” she started.
Here we go.
Jordyn’s eyes lit up as she looked at the woman, mouth slightly open. “I wouldn’t say dating—”
“Sleeping with my son? Sound better for you?” she asked, and I nearly choked on my spit, watching Trent smirk from behind his mama. “My question to you is, why? You seem like a nice young girl that’s too good for him.”
Jordyn cocked her head back.
Oh, shit.
“What exactly does that mean?” Jordyn asked, setting her violin case down. “I never understand when someone says you’re too good for another person.”
“Oh, okay, since we want to get smart with ya elders, I’ll bring myself down to your level then,” Ms. Ava said with her neck rolling.
Biiitch! She’s about to go the fuck in!
“Why are you fucking around with my no-good son? Clearly you—and take this as a compliment if you want—but you have something going for yourself. It’s only a matter of time before he gets arrested and gets locked up for good, knowing his stupid behind. So, with all this money he’s making with his music, clearly you must be in it for something other than attraction.”
Jordyn smiled politely as she picked up her violin case. “I’m going to tell you like I told Trent. Your son is the only person that likes me for me. Take away the makeup, take away the fancy name brand clothes and looks, and nobody paid any attention to me. No one looked twice at me. I’m so used to being called ugly, lame, annoying, and a nerd that I almost started to believe that, until I met your son,” she said as my mouth dropped. “So, me being too good for your son, who you obviously have no faith in as a mother, is false. Regardless of how you feel about your own child, I would like to say you did a fantastic job raising him, yet I can’t say the same about this one standing behind you, who blatantly disrespected me by telling me had he known I was pretty all along, he would have tried to talk to me,” she let out.
I gasped. Shit, that sounded like something Trent would say. Why the fuck was I gasping?
“And with all due respect, I’m not dating your son. I told him I was in love with him, and unfortunately, he didn’t feel the same way, so . . .” She shrugged. “Have a fantastic night,” she said, flipping that ponytail off her shoulders as she walked off.
Clap back like hell! I looked at Ms. Ava, who stared at her, watching her, before turning to look at Trent.
“What did I do?” He laughed with his hands up.
She just turned her attention back to Jordyn, who was shaking hands and hugging people as she made her way out.
“You good, Ms. Ava?” I asked, wondering what was going through her mind. She just smiled at me, low eyes, looking freakishly like Elijah with that complexion and those features.
“I like her. Bring her by the house this weekend so I can talk to her privately,” was all she said before looking at Trent. “You too. Bring this Jade girl by the house so I can meet her.”
“How you know about—”
“Men gossip worse than women, boo boo.” With a wave of her hand, she walked off to mingle in the crowd, thinking she was cute.
I looked at Trent’s face, laughing my ass off. That’s what he gets.
When we got in the car, it was all laughs all the way back to my place. Jordyn had slick went the fuck off on his mama without two thoughts about it, like it was nothing. So, you know we had to call Elijah, putting his ass on speaker.
“Hello?” he answered in a groggy voice, sounding like he was asleep.
“Bruh! Jordyn met yo’ mama,” Trent said as I laughed. “And that shit did not go well at all.”
“I heard. She called me and told me what happened.” He sighed, coughing. “What did Mama say?”
“She likes her,” I chimed in, hearing Elijah laugh.
“Jordyn be snapping, though. Don’t let that nerdy-ass look fool you, nigga. She’s protective as fuck over me,” he let out. “I know Mama be bashing me when she get in front of her golden boy.”
“Nigga, shut up,” Trent, aka Golden Boy, retorted.
“But she play nice when she got her hand out for some money, though. I ain’t tripping, though.” He sighed.
“How can you not love her back? Jordyn told her that she was in love with you but you didn’t feel the same way!” I shrieked.
“I don’t.”
“Nigga, you lying!” I laughed. “That shit is going to catch up with you, Elijah, if you don’t tell her how you feel. All it takes is one dude to sweep her off her feet.”
“It ain’t happening.”
“Mama wants to meet Jade too. Wants both of them to come over this weekend so she can talk to them.”
“Man, what the fuck?” Elijah snapped. “Why she give a fuck who I’m dealing with all of a sudden? I’m not bringing Jordyn over there, especially if you bringing yo’ bitch.”
“Now, what’s yo’ problem with his girlfriend?” I let out, wondering how these two even were related half the time.
“I don’t have a problem with her,” Elijah said simply. “If Jordyn ain’t fucking with her, neither am I.”
“But you don’t love her,” I mumbled with a shake of my head. Men.
Once we made it back to my place after fooling around on the phone with his brother, Trent, ever the kind gentleman, walked me to my door. We stood in the cold night, with him towering over me and my hand on the knob, ready to push it open.
“Well, I had a nice time.” I sighed with a content smile. “Hopefully, I can put some of these business cards to use,” I said, waving my clutch.
“Yeah, me too. Your feet didn’t get tired, I see,” he said, looking down at my heels.
“Bruh, my feet are in pain and probably swollen from being on them all damn day and night.” I laughed. “Oh, best believe I’m going to make you rub them one day.”
“I got you,” he said, cheesing as we stood awkwardly, staring at each other.
“Well, good night,” I said, pushing the door open.
Feeling his hand grab my arm, I stopped to look at him, seeing he was trying to say something but couldn’t figure out how. “What?”
“I really don’t want to go back to my girl tonight,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
I rolled my eyes. “Nigga, you look like Elijah with that face right now,” I said, and he laughed. “What do you mean you not trying to go back to her tonight? What are you telling me?”
“Let me spend the night with you,” he stated, clear as ice with his words.
I licked my lips slowly, and he watched the movement with his eyes before slowly leaning forward to kiss me. For a second, our mouths didn’t move, until I gripped the back of his neck to bring him closer. His hands came to my waist. Right there in the open night, we were making out in front of my door.
“One last time, Trent, and then no more. I’m serious,” I breathed against his mouth.
“I’ma make it count then,” he replied, picking me up in one easy move before carrying me inside.
Fuck!
* * *
Now, you all know as well as I know that it wasn’t the last time we had sex. The next night, he came over after work and waited up for me, bringing food, a couple of bootleg DVDs, and a case of beer. We were laid up on the couch, eating and watching the worst bootleg movie I’d ever seen. It didn’t matter, though, because we were more in tune with each other than the movie. He lay shirtless and pantless on the opposite side of the couch, with me lying on the other end. Our legs were intertwined. All I had on was a basic-ass yellow shirt. No panties, no bra, nothing. My hair was wild and all over the place in a huge ’fro.
“Aye,” Trent said, slurping up his noodles as he grinned at me. It had to be going on 9 o’clock, and Olivia was nowhere to be seen. She was probably still c
rashing at one of the other brothers’ houses.
“What, big head?” I cheesed, and he playfully kicked me, causing me to laugh.
“You ever thought this would happen to us?”
I smiled, thinking to myself before shaking my head. I’d been damn near obsessed with Trent since I could remember, but never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen between us.
“What about your girlfriend, though? She has to know something is up if you not spending the night with her,” I let out.
He rolled his eyes. “Why you gotta bring her up now, Tay?”
“I’m just saying!” I laughed with a shrug, putting my plate down. “You ain’t shit, nigga, for cheating on her. Might as well break up with her and just be with me. Shit,” I mumbled, watching him smirk.
“Everyone likes you better than her. I can’t even bring Jade around my brothers without some shit being started.” He sighed. “None of my friends rock with her, and she don’t even try to make that shit better. Don’t even like being seen with her no more.”
“Well, what do she look like? What’s she like?” I asked curiously as I cut the TV off. Fuck-ass movie.
I watched Trent put his plate down, rubbing his head as he thought about it, almost as if he forgot what his girlfriend looked like. Elijah had told me he didn’t like her, and Olivia said she automatically hated her because of how she talked to him and how they met.
“She’s . . .” he started, looking up as he thought about it. “Dark skin with blond dreads.”
“What?” I spat out with a laugh as I looked at him, eyes wide. “You? Dreads? Girls?”
“I know, Tay,” he said, shaking his head. “I hate that shit. Hair looks fucking disgusting at times. I tell her she would look better with it cut off, but she not trying to hear that.”
“Damn.” I laughed, playfully touching my own hair. I automatically knew I was cuter than her. I had the education, the Greek behind me, and looks. Side chick: one. Main ho: zero.
“She got tattoos all over her body, piercings, and she got a mouth that just—” He stopped as he stared at his hands in deep thought before smiling to himself.
I felt my heart stop in that moment, just seeing him smile off a basic memory of her. I didn’t like that.