What Goes Around

by Denene Millner

  “She got an extra shot of courage juice, all right,” Brooke insisted. “She got that special Marcus juice—thinks she can just say anything to you because she’s picking up your sister’s sloppy seconds.”

  “Yeah, you better get Syd on the case and let her know she needs to tell her ex to take control, because he’s making everybody look really messy right now.”

  Lauren, barely paying attention to the advice, turned her head in the opposite direction from where Jermaine was standing, praying with every step that the angels made her invisible to Jermaine and rendered him mute so he didn’t, have mercy, call her name out in front of folks. She dropped her head down so far, her chin almost touched her chest. And then she messed up and snuck a peek.

  Their eyes met.

  He was smiling.

  Lauren kept walking—just looked the other way.

  “So you gonna tell your sister what’s up, Lauren?” Kayo asked. “Because this madness has got to stop.”

  Distracted, Lauren didn’t answer her at first. “Um, yeah, I guess,” Lauren said. “But you know, I don’t really try to get all up in Sydney’s biz—I got enough headaches.”

  “I know that’s right,” Brooke agreed, using her key-ring remote to unlock her candy-apple red BMW 325i. “Let somebody else deal with the sloppiness. You need to focus on keeping your job as captain, because I will not be answering to anybody’s Meghan and Caroline. I swear, geriatric patients in the ICU got more moves than those two. I’m trying to get a little Ludacris in my life.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m doing what I can,” Lauren said, finally arriving at the driver’s side of her Saab. She unlocked the door and tossed her bags in the front seat, all with her back to the direction in which Jermaine was sitting. She couldn’t get the key in the ignition fast enough and almost slammed her own leg in the car door.

  “All right, then,” Kayo said over the din of Lauren’s engine. “You in a rush or something? Why don’t you come with us to Maddy’s for a strawberry energy shake?”

  “Um, I just gotta get home,” Lauren rushed. Just then, her iPhone rang. Jermaine. “My, um, mom’s got something for me to do, and Mr. Peters gave me enough homework to get me into Harvard. I swear, I don’t know how I’m going to get to it all,” she said, putting her car in gear. “Okay, smooches, ladies. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “But we didn’t talk about the fund-raiser,” Kayo said as Lauren screeched out of her parking space.

  “I’ll hit you on the MySpace,” she said, pulling away, her left hand on the wheel, her right on her phone.

  “Hello?” she said, answering her phone as she pulled to the corner of the street. She caught the light. Damn.

  “Yo, what’s the rush?” Jermaine asked, his deep voice rumbling more quietly than usual.

  “What? What are you talking about? Who is this?” Lauren asked, feigning ignorance.

  “Who you think it is? It’s the guy who spent the last half hour in the parking lot waiting for you.”

  “Jermaine?” Lauren asked, trying to sound surprised.

  “Yes, it’s Jermaine.”

  “What’s up, love?” Lauren said cheerily.

  “What’s up? You tell me,” he said. “Why’d you walk away?”

  “What are you talking about?” Lauren said, staring at the light as if her sheer willpower would make the darn thing change from red to green.

  “I was outside. You saw me. You kept walking, got in your car, and left,” he said, the anger in his voice now fully apparent. “Why’d you walk away?”

  “Jermaine, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just got out of dance practice and I was with my girls, talking. Why would I walk past you? You came all this way to see me?” she asked, trying to sound seductive. “Aw, I miss you!”

  “Well, why don’t you come back and hang out with me? We can go grab a bite to eat, maybe go—”

  “Um, sweetie, I can’t,” Lauren said, still watching the light. Finally, it changed. Lauren gunned the gas. “I got my girls in the car. I have to drive them home and then get back to my house to do some homework and stuff. As much as I’d love to…”

  Jermaine watched Lauren’s car pull past the parking lot—past his car. Clearly, she was the only one in it.

  “Nah, nah, it’s okay. I should have called first,” Jermaine said, walking slowly around the car to the driver’s side. “You’re a busy girl.”

  “Sometimes, I guess,” she said. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Don’t be mad, okay?”

  “I’ll be all right,” he said. “Maybe another time. I’ll holla.”

  Jermaine pushed the END button on his Treo and threw his phone on the passenger seat. The phone landed hard on the bouquet of hot-pink roses lying on the dark brown leather, damaging their delicate petals. Jermaine stared out over the steering wheel, his eyes landing on the huge black letters on the side of the building: THE DUKE HOUSE.

  This was Altimus’s house, and he wasn’t welcome.

  11

  SYDNEY

  “Okay, you have officially converted me,” Sydney laughed as the closing credits started to roll across the huge flat-screen TV in front of the couple. “South Park is the funniest cartoon ever!”

  “Hey, I told you, Syd,” Jason said with a sly smile as he grabbed the television control and lowered the volume slightly. “Gimme a chance and I’ll have you rocking bamboo earrings and fluorescent-colored Nike dunks, too!”

  Sydney immediately made loud retching sounds and covered her mouth as if she was going to vomit. “Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick,” she protested with a giggle.

  “What?” Jason questioned in feigned surprised. “Like you don’t have a lifetime supply of Rocawear baby T-shirts to match in your closet? Stop playin’!”

  “Humph, not even on a dare,” Sydney replied with a sarcastic roll of the eyes. “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were confusing me with my BET-crazed sister, Mr. Danden!” Sydney playfully pouted and turned away from her boyfriend to look out the huge bay windows into her spacious back patio.

  “Aww, come here,” Jason coaxed sweetly as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and leaned in to lightly kiss her on the back of her neck. As his warm lips gently pressed into the soft spot behind Sydney’s left ear, he slowly ran his fingers up and down her arms.

  “No, just forget it.” Sydney continued her charade although she could feel her resolve weakening with each kiss. “Obviously, I’m not the one you want,” she said as she played with the frayed edging on her rose-colored Tracy Reese cinch-waist jacket.

  “Not only are you the right one,” Jason whispered in her ear as he gently turned Sydney around to face him. “You’re the only one I want.” He stared deeply into Sydney’s eyes as he stroked her face.

  Sydney smiled shyly as she looked at him. Any and all concerns about his bizzaro behavior were wiped from her mind. She relaxed under his touch. “I’m glad,” she finally responded.

  “You are so beautiful. Do you know that?” Jason questioned huskily. “I love the curls of your hair, the way your eyes light up when you smile, the softness of your touch when we’re holding hands…I swear, just looking at you walk into a room turns me on.”

  Sydney playfully punched Jason’s arm. “Uh, hello, T.M.I! You’re gonna make me self-conscious! I’ll never be able to walk in a room without thinking you’re getting a hard-on!” she teased.

  Jason laughed at his own blunder. “Oops, def too much information, huh?” he admitted as he sat back bashfully on the plush, moss-colored couch.

  “Definitely,” Sydney said as she leaned over and kissed Jason gently on the lips. “But it’s okay, because I think you’re pretty cute yourself, Mr. Danden,” she whispered softly, mere inches from his face. She could taste the trace of cinnamon on her lips from Jason’s stick of Big Red gum. She leaned in again, and this time they exchanged a more passionate kiss. Sydney could feel Jason slowly massaging circles on her scalp. Tingles ran up and down her body lik
e electricity. Sydney was always amazed at how much better Jason kissed than Marcus. When they finally pulled away, she involuntarily smiled.

  “Whatchu smiling about,” he asked in an exaggerated 70s accent.

  “You make me really happy,” Sydney smiled contentedly. She rested her head on his shoulder and nuzzled the crook of his neck. The smell of his Creed Green Irish Tweed cologne filled her nose. Sydney hugged him tightly from the side.

  “Is that so?” Jason asked with one eyebrow cocked.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Sydney teased. “I tried my best to fight it, but alas, it seems that I have a new boyfriend who makes me really happy.”

  “Hmmm, I see. Although to be perfectly honest, that doesn’t seem like such a horrible thing, Ms. Duke. In fact, some might actually call it a beautiful struggle.”

  “Uh, okay, Talib, is that what you’d call it?” Sydney laughed at the look of surprise on Jason’s face because she’d caught on to his backpack hip-hop reference to rapper Talib Kweli’s album title. “Bet you didn’t think I knew that one, huh?”

  “You never cease to amaze me,” Jason said with a huge smile.

  “A well-trained woman always retains some mystery,” Sydney chided with a raised eyebrow of her own.

  “I see. Well, you’re not the only one with something up the sleeve tonight,” Jason said forebodingly.

  Sydney immediately straightened up. “Oh, yeah, is that so? And just what are you hiding from me, Jason Danden?”

  Jason smiled and stood up. He walked over to the black-and-purple Billionaire Boys Club hoodie he’d taken off earlier and started digging in the pockets. He turned and looked at Sydney over his shoulder with a mischievous smile.

  “What? What is it?” Sydney asked, becoming increasingly excited. She sat on the edge of the couch in anticipation of Jason’s surprise.

  When he finally stopped digging around, Jason turned and faced Sydney with his left hand behind his back. “Relax, Syd, you gotta learn how to enjoy the suspense,” he teased as he headed back over to the couch.

  “If you don’t show me…” Sydney jumped up from her seat and grabbed at his hand. Jason easily eluded her reach. She stomped her right foot in a mock temper tantrum. “Jason Danden, if you don’t stop being mean to me, I’m going to call my daddy,” she threatened playfully.

  “Well, dang, when you give a brother an ultimatum like that…” Jason feigned fright and finally pulled his hand around for her to see. “And this whole time I thought you liked me…”

  “Omigod,” was the only word Sydney could utter as her mouth dropped open at the sight of a coveted red Cartier box. She froze in place.

  “Wow, are you shell-shocked already? ’Cause you haven’t even seen what’s inside yet,” Jason responded. He slowly opened the box to reveal an 18-karat pink-gold LOVE bracelet.

  “Jason,” Sydney started slowly as she stared at the beautiful and extremely significant piece of jewelry. “I don’t know what to say,” she continued at an obvious loss for words.

  “Just keep saying that I make you happy,” Jason answered as he removed the bracelet and held it out to Sydney. “I know I’ve been a little harsh with you about the whole Marcus thing. And this is not to say sorry, but rather to show you that it really only happens because I care about you. I wouldn’t get upset about your clothes or the way he was looking if I didn’t care about you.”

  Sydney twisted the diamond stud in her right ear. For some reason, hearing Jason’s explanation only kicked up Sydney’s uncomfortable memories of Mary’s speech. “But this bracelet,” Jason continued, completely unaware of the slight twitch in Sydney’s left eye, “is a symbol of our unity. Once it’s locked on, the only way you can take it off is with the tiny screwdriver that I’ll wear on my chain next to my cross.” He pulled out his chain with the tiny golden screwdriver attached from under his long-sleeve white T-shirt to show her. Sydney forced a smile. Jason locked the bracelet on her left wrist with a soft snap. “It’s my way of saying that nothing—or no one—is ever going to come between us,” he concluded seriously.

  “Wow, thank you, Jason,” Sydney said softly as she fingered the perfectly fitting bracelet. “I absolutely love it.”

  Jason leaned in to kiss Sydney. “I’m glad,” he said as he held her tightly. Sydney could hear his heart beating in her ear as she leaned against his chiseled chest.

  Sydney pulled away slowly to look up at his face. “No, this is a really big deal. I’m totally surprised.”

  “Yeah, I know at first it seems like a lot,” Jason replied. “But I expect a lot from you. And since nothing in life is really free…”

  Sydney paused as she considered his words. For a second, it almost seemed like he was justifying his behavior with the expensive bracelet. Trying to shake the queasiness in her stomach, Sydney forced herself to focus on the awesome present and the amazing moment they were sharing. She stood up on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Jason’s neck, and planted a lingering kiss on his lips. “Say no more,” she said, looking into his dark brown eyes. Jason just smiled.

  “Don’t forget to send me a text message when you get home,” Sydney reminded Jason as she walked him to the Dukes’ front door. As she swung her hand, she could feel the weight of the bracelet.

  “I won’t,” Jason replied as they reached the foyer. He stopped and turned back to give her a tight hug. “I’m really glad you like your gift,” he said softly as he raised her hand so that he could look at it once more before leaving.

  “I do, I really do,” Sydney responded truthfully.

  “Good, because I meant every word of what I said earlier—nothing or no one is going to come between us,” Jason responded.

  Still feeling conflicted by the intensity of his words, Sydney remained silent as she slowly pulled away.

  “I’ll talk to you later, babe,” Jason said, opening the front door. Then he walked out and hurried toward his truck. He gave her one last wave before jumping in, starting the engine, and driving off into the night. Sydney sighed softly as she closed the door. She looked down at the bracelet and shook her head. “What am I going to do with him,” she mumbled under her breath. Caught up in a daze, she turned and headed up the stairs to her bedroom.

  “May I have a word with you, please,” Altimus’s deep voice suddenly rumbled from behind. Sydney was so frightened she almost tripped up the stairs.

  “Omigod, Altimus, I didn’t even know you were still down here,” Sydney said when she regained her balance. “You scared the heck out of me!”

  “My apologies,” Altimus replied simply as he looked at Sydney expectantly. She immediately turned around and headed back downstairs. “I assure you, this won’t take long,” he said as he turned away. Completely clueless, Sydney followed silently behind her stepfather to his office. He held the door for her to walk in before him. Sydney could feel his eyes burning holes in her back as she took a seat in the chair facing his desk.

  “So, what’s going on,” Sydney asked hesitantly when Altimus finally took his seat behind the desk facing her.

  “Well, like I told you, your mother and I have been monitoring you and Lauren to see if you girls finally grasped what it means to be part of the Duke family,” Altimus began slowly. Sydney mentally reviewed the events of the past two weeks and, to the best of her knowledge, she hadn’t done anything too, too terrible. “And I’m pleased to say, you girls have not disappointed us,” Altimus continued. Even though Sydney felt the tension in her back decrease slightly, she knew better than to completely relax.

  “Okay,” she replied as she pulled the lapels of her jacket closer across her chest. “So what does that mean?”

  “It means that, as promised, I’m going to give you the money to bail your father out of jail,” Altimus said with a smug grin. He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for her reaction.

  For the second time that night, Sydney’s jaw dropped. “You’re going to what?” she asked, certain that her mi
nd was playing a cruel and unusual trick on her.

  “You heard me correctly. I’m going to give you whatever funds you need to bail your father out of jail,” Altimus repeated. He so obviously loved every minute of Sydney’s confusion.

  “But—but, why? I don’t understand…Why would you help my father?”

  “Because I’m a man of my word,” Altimus replied simply. “I told you and your sister that if you guys held up your end of the bargain, this is what would happen,” he said with finality.

  Sydney could feel her heart racing. Never in a million years had she expected Altimus to really bail Dice out of prison and definitely not so soon. Almost immediately, she could feel her adrenaline start to rush. “How much is his bail? When will he be free?” Her questions all rushed together.

  Altimus shrugged. “I have no idea. I guess that will depend on when you get all the information together,” he said.

  “Excuse me?” Sydney asked.

  “Well, you’re the new Nancy Drew, right? And needless to say, neither your mother nor or I are stepping a foot near anybody’s jail. So whenever you figure out how much money you need and get back to me, it’s yours.”

  Is this some type of test? she wondered, searching Altimus’s eyes for the deception. “But I don’t—” she began to counter.

  “Sure you do,” Altimus cut her off sharply. “The same way you found yourself all up in my business, I know you can figure this out.” Altimus stood up and looked at her. “Although I have to say, I’m looking forward to hearing how Dice feels about his lil’ Ladybug bailing him out with my money,” he snickered.

  A chill ran through Sydney’s body. She knew the offer was a setup. Not only did she have absolutely no clue how to bail her father out, but if and when she figured it out, she would still have to explain where she got the money. Tormented, Sydney shook her head slowly. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she mumbled.

  “Well, when you figure it out, let me know,” Altimus replied. “With that said, you and I are finished for now.” Sydney sat dumbfounded as her stepfather passed by and exited the room. As the door closed behind him, Sydney hung her head in frustration.