by La Jill Hunt
“Nothin’.” The excitement was gone from Peyton’s voice, and she turned to walk away.
“Peyton, where are you going?” Sylvia called behind her.
“I need to go take Gypsy out,” Jordan jumped up and said.
Sylvia knew she was using the dog as an excuse to leave but didn’t say anything. She definitely wanted to hear what Jordan was about to tell her before Peyton walked in. As Jordan walked past Peyton, she noticed the slight frown on Peyton’s face.
“I didn’t know she was in here. What was that about?” Peyton asked.
“She just wanted to talk about last night and apologize, that’s all. We were just talking,” Sylvia said. “What did you want to tell me?”
“Oh, it’s not important.” Peyton shrugged.
“It was important enough for you to come running up in here. What is it?” Sylvia asked.
“Tank got invited to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game,” Peyton told her. “That’s all.”
“Wow, are you serious?” Sylvia asked. “That’s amazing. Wow.”
Peyton’s excitement returned. “I know, right? I’m so happy for him. He really deserves it, though.”
Even though Sylvia had never seen Tank play, she had seen his father on the basketball court several times when he played in college, and he was good. Being selected for the McDonald’s team meant that Tank was recognized as one of the nation’s top high school players.
“Well, I’m happy for him.”
“And guess what else?” Peyton grinned. Sylvia didn’t have a chance to guess before Peyton blurted out, “He asked me to go to his prom.”
Sylvia’s first thought was to remind Peyton that prom should’ve been the last thing that she and Tank should’ve been discussing considering the stunt she pulled the day before and his own disappearing act. But seeing the joy in her daughter’s face and remembering their conversation earlier, Sylvia smiled and said, “Well, that is exciting.”
Peyton nodded as she sat beside Sylvia and said, “I know I have a punishment coming, and a big one, Mom. But please don’t say no.”
“I didn’t say no, Peyton. I will say that I can’t give you permission to go to prom with a young man I haven’t met.” Sylvia gave her a knowing look. “You’re right. You are going to be punished.”
“Understood. So once I’m off punishment in twooooo...” Peyton raised an eyebrow and waited for Sylvia’s reaction. Sylvia pursed her lips and shook her head, so Peyton quickly changed what she was about to say. “Threeeee weeks, I can invite him over?”
“Ma’am, you are pressing your luck here. I would quit while I was ahead,” Sylvia said. “I wouldn’t make plans for that to happen within the next month.”
“But it can happen, right? That’s safe to say?” Peyton leaned against Sylvia’s arm.
“I’ll consider it.” Sylvia sighed.
“Thank you, Mommy. I love you.” Peyton threw her arms around her neck and kissed her cheek.
“That’s not what you were saying last night and this morning,” Sylvia reminded her.
“Why you gotta bring up old stuff, Mom? Aunt Connie says, ‘In life, we must forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future,’” Peyton told her.
Sylvia frowned. “I hope you know that’s not an original quote, Peyton.”
“It’s not?” Peyton looked surprised.
“Honey, you’ll learn that most of Aunt Connie’s wisdom is plagiarized.” Sylvia smiled, then asked, “Wait, you said Tank invited you to his prom. What about your prom?”
Peyton stood up and said, “Oh, well, about that. He agreed to be my date two weeks ago.”
Sylvia’s mouth dropped open. “Peyton Janelle.”
“I was going to tell you, I promise. No more secrets.” Peyton crossed her heart.
“I hope not.”
The excited look on Peyton’s face faded into a frown, and she asked, “But what about Daddy? Are you going to tell him?”
“We’ll discuss it,” Sylvia told her. “But that’s not what you need to be concerned with right now. Because he and I will also be discussing your punishment.”
“I know, I know,” Peyton groaned. She gave her mother another hug and rushed out of the sitting room. “Oh, sorry, Daddy. My bad.”
“Uh, it’s okay, baby,” Garry said.
A few seconds later, Sylvia looked up to see him standing in the area between the bedroom and the area where she was sitting, looking as if he was unsure if he should come in.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“What?” Sylvia asked.
“Peyton. She rushed out of here smiling and referred to me as Daddy instead of Dad. Not the usual mood of someone in as much trouble as she’s in.” He leaned against the wall.
“She knows she’s being punished for her actions. She’s excited because Tank asked her to prom.” Sylvia picked up her laptop and went back to working on the proposal she’d been trying to finish all day. She hoped Garry would sense that she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him and go somewhere else.
“Whoa? What? I hope you said no.”
Sylvia glanced up. “Why would I say that?”
“Because that’s absolutely crazy, Syl, that’s why. We can’t let her.”
Sylvia felt the same anger from earlier that morning quickly return. Once again, Garry found it necessary to intervene and decide what could or couldn’t happen. Frustrated, she slammed her laptop on the table and stood up, taking Garry by surprise.
“Shut up, Garry. Just shut the hell up,” she yelled.
“Syl.”
“Stop calling me that. Don’t ‘Syl’ me. I’m so tired of this, of you. Our daughter found it necessary to sneak and have my sister take her to a damn basketball game because she was afraid to tell us the guy she likes was playing in it. A nice guy, not some thug on the street. And Jordan is walking around here damn near about to have a panic attack because you’re making calls about restraining orders. Something else you’re planning to do without discussing it with me. It’s like you feel like you have total control of everyone and everything around here. I don’t even feel like your wife. I’m damn sure not your equal,” Sylvia said to him as she stood. “At least that’s not how I’m treated.”
“Sylvia, that’s not true,” Garry said. “All I was saying—”
“Fuck you, Garry. I don’t care what you were saying. I’m tired of listening to what you say. You never ask. You just say.” She continued walking toward him. “If Peyton wants to date Tank, then good for her. I’m all for it.”
“Will you just listen to what—”
“No, I’m not listening to shit you have to say right now. I’m tired of listening, Garry,” Sylvia snapped. “No, I’m tired of listening when you want me to listen. See, when it comes to certain situations, you have so much to say, but when it came to Jordan and Randi and now Sherrod, you didn’t say nothing. So until you find it necessary to talk and have me listen to everything, I ain’t listening to shit.”
They stood face-to-face. Garry just stared. He didn’t speak, and he didn’t move. It was one of the rare times Sylvia had seen him speechless. He was breathing so hard that she could see the rise and fall of his chest. He was looking at her as if she were a stranger, and she wondered if he had somehow mentally blacked out. She’d read an article once about a man who’d been arguing with his wife and he blacked out and killed her with his bare hands. Garry had never put his hands on her except in a loving, affectionate manner. But just in case that was all about to change, Sylvia took a step back.
Finally, Garry spoke. “Well,” he said, “I was only saying the idea of Peyton going to prom was a bad idea because your sister is his father’s mistress, and we all have history.”
He turned and walked out of the room. Sylvia closed her eyes and realized the reality of what he’d said. She’s been so caught up in Peyton’s excitement that she hadn’t considered the obvious. And despite not wanting to, she had
to admit that Garry may have been right.
Chapter 7
Janelle
By the time Janelle arrived at Brutti’s, the restaurant where she was meeting Natalie, she needed more than a mimosa. She needed a drink, and a strong one. Her unexpected phone call with Sherrod ended with her agreeing to his coming to her house later to talk about something that now she wasn’t so sure was a good idea.
“Hey, girl. You look cute,” Natalie, who had arrived at the restaurant before Janelle, said as they greeted one another with a hug.
“Thanks. You do too. How long is the wait?” Janelle asked, noticing that even though it was past two o’clock, the time that brunch ended, the dining room was still packed.
“Actually, the hostess said it won’t be that long because people are leaving,” Natalie told her. “How was church?”
“It was good. Can we wait at the bar?”
“I’m sure we can. Let me let her know,” Natalie said before walking over to where the server was standing.
“Let me get a Cîroc and cranberry, please,” Janelle ordered a few minutes later as they took their seats at the bar.
“Wow, I thought you were exaggerating when you said you needed a drink. You need a drink drink,” Natalie teased. “I’ll take a pineapple martini.”
“Coming right up,” the bartender told them.
“Where is Nivea? Is she coming?” Janelle asked.
“I don’t know where she is. I’ve been trying to reach her since you called this morning, but she hasn’t responded to my calls or texts. I told you she’s probably boo’d up somewhere.”
“With who, though?” Janelle asked. As far as she knew, her friend wasn’t seeing anyone.
“I don’t know. The only person she’s really been mentioning is that dude Sherrod she ran into, but last time she spoke about him, she said he wasn’t really responding to her too tough. But you know how she is. We won’t know for sure until all of a sudden, her relationship status changes on social media, and he shows up on her arm at some event we all happen to be at.”
Janelle was both bothered and relieved at the same time. On the one hand, it bothered her that she was seeing the guy her friend may or may not be interested in. On the other, she was glad to hear that Sherrod wasn’t responding to her. As if her life weren’t already complicated enough with her friendship with Titus, the situation with Sherrod was proving to be just as difficult for a lot of reasons.
“You’re right,” Janelle said as she took a long sip of the drink the bartender placed in front of her.
“Now tell me what’s got you so stressed today. Is it Aunt Connie?” Natalie asked.
“No, it’s not Aunt Connie.”
“Is Sylvia trying to make you wear an ugly bridesmaid’s dress?”
“No. I wish that were the case. I’m not even sure if there’s going to be a vow renewal anymore.”
“What? Why? I thought she and Garry were working things out. Is it because of Jordan? I figured that was a little too much for Sylvia to deal with at one time.” Natalie shook her head. “It’s sad, because I really like her and Garry. They’re such a strong couple.”
“Time will tell.” Janelle sighed.
“Well, on a positive note, I’m glad it’s Syl who’s got you drinking instead of Titus, because that’s who I thought you were going to be venting about.” Natalie laughed. Janelle gave her a guilty look, and Natalie shook her head. “Nellie, please don’t tell me it ‘just happened’ again.”
“No, nothing like that. I promise. Well, something did happen, but not that,” Janelle said, finishing her drink.
“Well, what is it?” Natalie asked.
“We’re gonna need more drinks.” Just as she was about to order another round, the server walked over.
“Ladies, your table is waiting.”
They paid the bar tab, and as they were heading over to their table, Natalie pointed. “Hey, isn’t that Jarvis?”
Janelle turned to see Jarvis walking on the opposite side of the restaurant toward the door. “Yep, that’s him.”
She wasn’t surprised that he was there. He was actually the one who first brought her to Brutti’s, because it was one of his favorite brunch spots. Janelle hadn’t seen nor talked to him since her birthday weekend, mainly because she’d been enjoying spending time with Sherrod. Truth was, until she spotted him, she hadn’t noticed that they hadn’t spoken.
“Jarvis!” Natalie called out.
“What are you doing?” Janelle hissed.
“I’m just speaking to the man, that’s all. What’s wrong?”
Janelle saw Jarvis turn to see who had called his name. When he saw them, he paused for a few seconds before finally waving.
“What if he’s on a date?”
“I don’t care. I can speak to her too.” Natalie laughed as they arrived at the table and sat down. “And you shouldn’t care either. Aren’t you the one always saying that you and he are just cool?”
“We are, and you’re right. We are just cool. But that don’t mean I wanna speak to him while he’s on a date.”
“Well, you can relax, because I don’t think he has one.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he’s walking over here and there’s no one with him.”
Before Janelle could turn around and confirm what Natalie said, Jarvis was standing right next to their table.
“Good afternoon, ladies. How y’all doing?” He smiled.
“We’re good.” Janelle said, “How are you, Jarvis?”
“I’m well. It’s good to see you two. It’s been a minute.” He made sure to direct his comment to Janelle.
“It has, hasn’t it?” Janelle smiled at him dressed in a Nike hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, standing so close that she could smell his cologne. There was no denying that he was one of the best-looking men she’d ever dated, and there’d been a few in her lifetime. But despite Jarvis having all the qualities most women sought in men, there was something understated about him that automatically let her know that there would never be more between them than enjoyable dates and great sex. As much as she liked that, recently she’d wondered if that was enough.
Jarvis looked at her as if he was waiting for her to give some kind of additional information, and when she didn’t, he looked over at Natalie. “Well, you two enjoy yourselves. I’m about to get outta here and get home so I can catch this game. It was good seeing you.”
“You too, Jarvis.” Natalie nodded.
“Bye.” Janelle waved. And just as quickly as he appeared at their table, he turned and vanished.
“What the hell was that?” Natalie frowned.
“I don’t know. I thought it was me, but you sensed that too, huh?”
“Normally he would’ve pulled up a chair, talked shit for a minute, and at least bought us a drink,” Natalie pointed out. “Are y’all beefing?”
“No, not at all.” Janelle shook her head. “Like he said, it’s just been a minute since we’ve talked, that’s all.”
“Any particular reason why?”
Janelle looked over at Natalie. They’d been friends for years, almost as long as she’d been friends with Nivea. But the truth was Nivea and Natalie had been friends for much longer. She wasn’t sure what Natalie would have to say if she told her she’d gone out with Sherrod, even if nothing really happened. And considering that at that moment she wasn’t too sure if she and Sherrod would even be a sure thing, there was no point in even mentioning it.
“Nope.” Janelle shrugged.
“Well, I would just like to point out once again that Jarvis is one fine-ass brother.” Natalie sighed, repeating the same thing she’d said over and over since Janelle and Jarvis had met.
“Once again, point taken,” Janelle said as she picked up the menu.
The waitress came over and took their food and drink orders, and Natalie didn’t waste any time reminding Janelle of what they were supposed to be discussing.
“What happened
but didn’t happen between you and Titus?”
Janelle leaned her head back in a dramatic fashion. “Oh God, Nat, you’re not going to believe this.”
Natalie’s mouth remained open as Janelle told her about everything that had taken place over the course of the past two days, including the fight at the game, but leaving out the fact that Sherrod was the guy Garry was fighting.
“You lie!” Natalie gasped when Janelle told her about Tricia showing up at Sylvia’s house looking for Tank. The waitress, who was placing their food on the table at that moment, thought she’d done something wrong.
“I swear to God. Sylvia called me in a panic. So I called Titus,” Janelle told her, picking at her plate full of French toast and bacon.
“And what did he say? Was he scared? I betcha he was nervous as shit.”
“He was cool as a cucumber and said he’d take care of it.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. I swear, it was like Syl and I were the nervous ones,” Janelle told her. “Titus always acts like that, though. Nothing shakes him. He’s the most nonchalant man in the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him upset, and we’ve been friends for almost eighteen years.”
“I feel you, but all of that might change if his son starts dating your niece. That’s a little too close for comfort for all of y’all,” Natalie pointed out.
“I doubt if that will happen. You know how Garry is. Trust me, he’s going to shut that down before it even starts. I definitely ain’t worried.” Janelle laughed. Her cell phone chimed, alerting her that she had a text.
“Damn, I see why you needed a stiff drink. Hell, I need one after hearing all of this.”
“I told you. And I didn’t even mention that while his mother was at Sylvia’s looking for Tank, when Aunt Connie and I got to church, there he was. So I had to call Titus again,” Janelle said, taking her phone out and reading the message.
“Yeah, I’m def gonna need something stronger than these mimosas,” Natalie said. “Nellie, you okay?”
“Yeah,” Janelle said. “It’s Nivea.”
“Where the hell is she? What did she say?”
“She says she’s coming over later because we need to talk.”