by La Jill Hunt
“Yes. Now, what do you want?” Janelle glanced over at Sherrod, who was happily humming along to some ridiculous rap song on the radio and acting as if what he’d just said moments before wasn’t a big deal at all.
“I need to know if I can spend the night at your house next weekend. Please say yes!” Peyton pleaded.
“Why?” Janelle asked.
“I need a break from here, and I will explain it to you. But I’m begging you. It’s important.”
“We’ll see. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Janelle told her. Now that she knew it wasn’t an emergency, she wanted to cut their conversation short and get back to Sherrod.
“Wait,” Peyton said.
“What?” Janelle whispered. “I’m on a date, remember.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. But I’m gonna need for you to act like this is your idea and ask my mom,” Peyton told her.
Janelle knew her niece was up to something. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Aunt Nellie.”
“I didn’t say yes. I gotta go,” Janelle said.
“Wait, one more thing!” Peyton yelled.
“What? Hurry up,” Janelle hissed into the phone.
“Remember what Aunt Connie said. Be safe and make sure he wraps it up!”
Janelle hung the phone up without responding to her niece. They pulled into her driveway, and Sherrod turned the car off. When they were finishing up their meal, she had invited him back to her place for a glass of wine. Now, she wasn’t so sure that was a good idea.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she told him, looking over at him. He was staring at her and smiling, and she asked. “What?”
“I’m not getting you into any kind of trouble, am I?”
“Trouble? With who?” she asked, confused by his question.
“Your boo,” he responded.
“I told you I don’t have a boo. Jarvis is just my friend.” Janelle shook her head, thinking he had a nerve referring to Jarvis when he had just confessed that he’d deflowered her best friend.
“I wasn’t talking about Jarvis.”
“Then who are you talking about?” Janelle looked at him.
“Your other boo, the married one from the gym.”
Janelle’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Sherrod got out, opened her door, and she stared at him. For the second time that night, he had rendered her speechless: first, when he told her about being Nivea’s first, and now asking about Titus.
“That’s not my boo either,” Janelle finally said.
“Let me guess. That’s your friend too.”
“I’m not saying anything.” She shook her head. It was the first time another guy had ever asked her about Titus, and she didn’t know how to explain it.
Sherrod said, “Good. I wouldn’t believe you anyway.”
Sylvia
“I need to talk,” Janelle said. It was eight thirty on a Sunday morning, so Sylvia knew whatever it was had to be important. Her sister never liked getting up early.
“What’s wrong?” Sylvia asked.
“Can you please meet me at Starbucks?”
“I’m getting ready for church, Janelle. You should be too, as a matter of fact.”
“Can you meet me afterwards?” Janelle asked.
“Just come over to the house.”
“No, I can’t deal with Aunt Connie. Not today. I don’t have the energy or the patience.”
“Fine,” Sylvia said. She agreed to meet her sister in an hour at the Starbucks closest to the church.
“What’s wrong?” Garry rolled over and asked. He reached out and touched her thigh.
How he had ended up in their bed, she didn’t know, because she definitely didn’t tell him he could sleep there. However, she didn’t complain when she felt him climb beside her and put his arms around her body either.
“Janelle is having some sort of crisis. I am gonna go meet her.” She exhaled as she sat up.
“I thought we agreed we would be going to church today as a family,” Garry reminded her.
“We are. I will make sure everyone is up before I leave, and I can just meet you all there,” Sylvia told him. She hoped he was wise enough to realize that he was still not out of the dog house yet, and she was not gonna deal with his demanding nature. It was too soon. She told him, “We are still going to church as a family, just in two separate cars.”
“Is Aunt Connie going with you?” Garry asked.
“No, she’s not. Bring her with you.”
Sylvia got out of the bed and headed into the bathroom. She heard Garry groaning and couldn’t help giggling. The thought of Garry in the car with Aunt Connie and the girls was too funny, and she could only imagine the conversation they would be having.
When she arrived at Starbucks an hour later, Janelle was sitting at a table dressed in a sweat suit and a pair of sunglasses, picking at a chocolate croissant. Sylvia ordered a grande latte, something she could have had every day if Aunt Connie would let her use the Keurig.
“Rough night?” Sylvia asked as she sat across from her sister.
“That’s an understatement.” Janelle took her shades off.
“Well, you don’t look that hung over, so it couldn’t be that bad.”
“You’re not going to believe this.” Janelle sighed. “Last night, I went on the best date of my life.”
“With Jarvis?” Sylvia smiled.
“No.”
“Please don’t tell me you went on a date with Titus. If that’s what you brought me here to talk about, I’m leaving.” Sylvia reached for her purse, preparing to leave.
“No, not with him. I went with Sherrod.”
“Who is Sherrod?” Sylvia was confused. She knew Janelle had been dating Jarvis for the past few months and never heard her talk about anyone else.
Sylvia listened to her sister talk about the man she had recently met. He happened to not only be a handsome, caring pharmacist, but also the man who had taken her best friend’s virginity.
“Damn! I take it Nivea doesn’t know you went out with him?” Sylvia raised an eyebrow.
“No, she doesn’t know.” Janelle looked at Sylvia like she was crazy.
“Are you gonna tell her?”
“I can’t. I think she likes him.”
“If you think she likes him, why did you go out with him? What is wrong with you?” Sylvia stared and waited for Janelle’s answer.
“I went out with him because he took care of me while I was sick, and it was my birthday, and he asked me out. It was the least I could do. I thought we were going out as friends.”
“You know, Janelle, you and this term you keep casually using: friends? You really need to look it up in the dictionary. According to you, Titus is your friend, and so is Jarvis. Speaking of Jarvis, does he know about your date with your friend Sherrod?” Sylvia shook her head.
“No, he doesn’t. And even if he did, there was nothing there. He is the last person who should have anything to say. He is the one who said we are keeping it casual and free to see other people. I’m not worried about Jarvis,” Janelle replied.
“You were worried about him when you saw him out with his coworker the other week,” Sylvia reminded her.
“You are not helping me figure this out, Syl. What am I gonna do?”
Her sister seemed to really be in a state of confusion, and she wondered if there was something more that she wasn’t telling. She decided to ask her the burning question. “Did you sleep with Sherrod last night?”
“What? No!” Janelle snapped.
“Don’t get all defensive. That was a valid question.” Sylvia took a sip of her latte.
“No, I didn’t sleep with him. I swear.”
“Did you do anything with him?” Sylvia stared. “I know you, Janelle. I am sure you didn’t go back to your place and play Uno for the rest of the night. What did y’all do?”
“We drank the bottle of wine he gave me for my birthday,” Janelle said.
“And?”
“And we talked.”
“And?”
“And he kissed me,” Janelle admitted. “But it was on the cheek.”
“And?”
“And it was nice.”
“Don’t play with me, Janelle.”
“Fine, there was some touching. While we were talking, he gave me a foot rub.”
From the way she answered, Sylvia knew Janelle was telling the truth. She also knew that whoever this Sherrod guy was, Janelle like him. A lot.
“You have to talk to Nivea and tell her.”
“I can’t. She’s gonna be pissed. And nothing major happened. I swear,” Janelle said, “But she’s still gonna be mad.”
“You should have told her before last night. You should have told her when he brought the medicine to your house,” Sylvia pointed out.
“Why? I didn’t go after him behind her back,” Janelle told her.
“But you knew you were attracted to him, and he was attracted to you. And out of respect for the friendship that you all have, you should’ve just been honest and up front. You took the coward’s way out because you wanted to avoid confrontation.”
“She’s gonna be pissed.”
“And hurt. But it’s better that you come clean and tell her now before she finds out sixteen years from now that you and Sherrod have a fifteen-year-old daughter that she never knew about.” Sylvia sipped her coffee, which was now getting cold.
“This is not the same thing.” Janelle shook her head.
“It is. A lie is a lie. You’re already involved in one situation revolving around a lie, but I’m not gonna go there. Don’t make this a habit or a pattern. Be a grown woman and own your decisions. You met a nice guy and there was some chemistry. It happens all the time. She’s your best friend. She deserves to be told. From what you’ve told me, it seems that this Sherrod guy is feeling you just as much as you’re feeling him. Talk to her together.”
“Maybe that will be better.” Janelle nodded.
“If it’s any consolation, I’m glad you met someone who you seem to actually like for a change. Don’t get me wrong; I know you like Jarvis and he is a great guy, but I know you’re settling when it comes to him. From how you’re acting right now, you actually seem to be smitten with this Sherrod guy, and I’m happy for you. I hope you actually open yourself to the possibility of what may be love. You deserve to know what real love feels like.”
“I know what real love feels like.” Janelle laughed.
“Fine, what real love feels like and not with someone who’s unavailable because they’re already married or a commitment phobe.” Sylvia looked down at her watch and saw that it was time for her to go. She stood up and gave Janelle a hug. “I gotta go. You know I love you.”
“I love you too. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Talk to Nivea and call me later.”
“Oh, Syl,” Janelle said. “Can I get Peyton next weekend?”
“For what?”
“Some PJ Time,” Janelle said. “We haven’t had any in a while. I had fun hanging out with her yesterday.”
From the time Peyton could walk, her sister would always have what they affectionately called “PJ Time,” which was slumber parties in their pajamas just for Janelle and Peyton. It had been a while since they’d had one.
“You know she’s on punishment.”
“Not from me,” Janelle said. “Don’t even try it. Besides, I’m gonna need someone to eat ice cream with and watch chick flicks, because after I talk to Nivea, I won’t have a best friend.”
“Fine.” Sylvia gave in. She tossed her cup in the trash and headed to meet her family for worship.
* * *
Church service seemed to be exactly what Sylvia needed. It was as if the pastor were speaking directly to her and Garry as he preached on grace and forgiveness. Throughout his message, Aunt Connie, who happened to be seated to her left, kept nudging her and nodding her head in agreement so much that her neck had to be sore.
It had been a while since Sylvia had been to church, and she knew people had been talking about Garry’s “new daughter” who now lived with them; however, no one said anything out of the ordinary to any of them. Everyone acted like having Jordan there with them was as normal as the choir singing during offering time.
“Where is Jordan?” Sylvia asked Peyton when it was time to leave. The two girls had attended youth service, which was held in another part of the church, and they were supposed to meet in the vestibule of the building.
“I don’t know.” Peyton shrugged. She was there waiting by the door, but there was no sign of Jordan anywhere.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Garry grumbled. “Weren’t you together in youth church?”
“I was, then she left out. I saw her a little while ago talking to some dude,” Peyton told them.
“What dude? Where?” Garry’s voice escalated, and Sylvia touched his arm to calm him down because there were people now looking.
“Garry, I’ll go look for her,” Sylvia told him. “We’ll meet you at the car.”
“No, I’ll go look for her. Where did you see her?” Garry turned to Peyton.
“On the back side of the building in the hallway,” Peyton told him.
Garry grabbed her by the arm and said, “Come and show me where!”
“Ouch!” Peyton exclaimed as he pulled her along.
“Garry, you’re hurting her,” Sylvia told him. “Let her go.”
Garry wasn’t listening. He continued holding onto Peyton, and they went down the corridor of the church toward the back of the building. Sylvia’s heart began pounding as she rushed behind them. She was relieved that before they could get much farther, she saw Jordan heading toward them.
“Where were you?” he barked.
“I went to the bathroom.” Jordan looked at all of them like they were crazy. “It was crowded in there.”
“What man were you talking to?” Garry asked her.
“What are you talking about?” Jordan’s eyes widened, and her body stiffened.
“I know you were in the back hallway talking to a man! Who was it?”
Sylvia watched as Jordan’s eyes glanced at Peyton, who was standing beside her father.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The only person I was talking to was the usher who showed me where the bathroom was.”
“Lord, I been looking all over for y’all,” Aunt Connie walked up and told them.
“You’re lying,” Garry said to Jordan. “Let me find out he—”
“Find out what? And why do I have to lie? I went to the bathroom, and if someone said anything different, then maybe they are the ones lying! Instead of accusing me of doing something, maybe you should be worried about who was all hugged up and kissing in the church parking lot when they were supposed to be in youth service!” Jordan snapped.
Garry’s attention turned to Peyton, who now looked shocked.
“What is she talking about, Peyton?”
“She’s lying,” Peyton fired back.
Jordan looked at Peyton and said icily, “I don’t have to lie, but apparently you do.”
“I wasn’t kissing anyone,” Peyton cried.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Let’s just leave.” Garry walked away without saying another word. Sylvia stared at both girls and directed them toward the door.
“Mom—” Peyton said.
“I don’t want to hear another word, Peyton Janelle.” Sylvia glared at her.
Garry decided he needed some alone time, so everyone rode in the car with Sylvia. Aunt Connie tried making small talk, but even her going on and on about what she planned on making for the upcoming bake sale wasn’t enough to cut the tension. Just when Sylvia thought things were getting better with her marriage, it seemed that things between Jordan and Peyton were getting worse, and she didn’t know what to do.
Janelle
“Damn, I’ve been trying to reach you a
ll weekend,” Titus said. “How was your birthday?”
“It was great,” Janelle told him. “Hung out with my girls and my family.”
“Did you get my gift?” he asked her.
She was sitting in her car in the parking lot of the gym and was just about to go in when he had called her.
“What gift?” she asked him.
“Your cupcake.” He laughed. “It was chocolate, your favorite.”
“Yes, I got it.” She sighed.
“What’s wrong, Nellie?”
“Nothing. I just got a lot on my mind, I guess.”
“I really was hoping I could see you for your birthday, but Tarik had a semi-final game Saturday night, and I was caught up in that,” Titus told her. “You know how that goes.”
“I understand.”
“I’m glad you had a good time though, baby. Did Jamaal take you out?”
“His name is Jarvis, and no, we actually didn’t even go out this weekend,” Janelle told him. Jarvis had called her Sunday night asking her out, but she declined his offer. She was starting to realize that she was no longer a priority for him, which was apparent from his last-minute invites. She wasn’t upset or even disappointed.
“Really? That’s crazy. I thought things were going well for you guys. But if he didn’t take you out for your birthday, I know he’s no longer competition.” Titus laughed. “So, did y’all break up or something?”
“We weren’t really together,” Janelle answered. “We were just dating, that’s all.”
Suddenly, she looked up and saw Sherrod walking into the gym.
“Hey, look, I gotta call you back.” Janelle got out of her car, grabbed her gym bag, and went inside. She had thought about Sylvia’s suggestion about talking to Sherrod and telling Nivea together.
After changing her clothes, she walked into the workout area and found him on one of the elliptical machines. Instead of walking over to him, she decided to send him a simple text that said, I see you, to his phone. She then climbed onto her usual treadmill, hit the playlist on her iPhone, and got to work.
Twenty minutes later, she saw him smiling at his phone and looking for her. She pretended to be focused on running until he walked over and stood in front of her machine. She took out her ear buds.