Still, Tariq believed with all his heart that Janelle loved him. Maybe not as much as he loved her, but enough to keep him satisfied. Tariq didn’t think he could survive without Janelle. He wasn’t strong enough.
Scratching his head, he tried to make sense of the relationship between Shane and Ms. Holmes, but he couldn’t figure it out. Shane had vehemently denied the rumors that Ms. Holmes had molested him. Tariq frowned at the thought. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the sweet woman doing what she was accused of.
Still, there was no denying that there was something weird going on with Shane and Ms. Holmes, Tariq thought, grimly recalling how disrespectful she’d allowed Shane to treat her back when she was their foster mother.
But it was safer to let sleeping dogs lie, so he decided not to pry into Shane’s business. Hell, he didn’t fully comprehend his relationship with his own wife, so how could he begin to understand what Shane and Ms. Holmes were doing? The one thing he did understand was his brother’s need to belong. Apparently, Ms. Holmes was a comfort to Shane.
“Why don’t you stay with me and Janelle tonight?” Tariq offered. “You probably shouldn’t stay in that apartment tonight. Um…too many memories in there,” he stammered. “I can help you get rid of her things tomorrow if you want.”
Shane shook his head. “No, I’m leaving all her stuff just like it is.”
Tariq didn’t argue with Shane; he didn’t want to provoke him into shedding more tears. Trying to come up with a way to take his brother’s mind off of his grief, Tariq said, “Yo, man. My job is hiring. You looking for a real gig?”
“Naw, I like pimpin’,” Shane said, and finally submitted to laughter. “Pimpin’ ain’t easy, the pay ain’t dependable…but I do aiight,” he bragged.
Tariq shook his head. He didn’t approve of the way Shane used women but he was relieved to see his brother finally smile. “Man, I’m only offering the job so you can get away from here for a while. You know…take your mind off everything. We have a job coming up in a couple of days—moving some stuff to South Carolina. My boss is looking for a few extra hands. We hardly see each other, I could use the company and you can get your rent without pimpin’ innocent women,” Tariq said, laughing.
Shane thought for a moment. “Do I have to fill out an application and shit?”
“No, I can get you in on this job on the strength that you’re my twin brother. I’m cool with the office manager. Her name’s Kapri; she can get you in.”
“Aw shit,” Shane teased. “Don’t tell me you’re creepin’ on Janelle?”
“Never.” Tariq said, appalled that Shane would even entertain such a thought.
“No, me and Kapri are real tight. She’s like the sister I never had.”
“Aiight, man. I’ll check out the job situation, but I’m staying at my own place tonight.”
“You sure you gon’ be all right?”
“Man, I ain’t no baby. I’m cool,” Shane said gruffly. “Let’s go, I’ll walk you to the bus stop.”
When the bus arrived, the brothers embraced. Tariq gave Shane a cautious look. He knew Shane was in emotional turmoil but he repressed the urge to beg his brother to spend the night with him and Janelle. He hated the thought of his grief-stricken brother returning to the apartment he shared with Ms. Holmes.
“Seriously, man. I’m aiight,” Shane said in response to Tariq’s worried expression. He shifted awkwardly and then added, “Look, I’m gonna take that trip to South Carolina just to spend some time with you. Aiight?”
As he stepped onto the bus, Tariq leaned out the door. Cupping a hand to the side of his mouth, he yelled out to Shane, “Don’t let me down, man.”
Shane whirled around. “I’m there, man. I gotchu!”
Unaccustomed to keeping morning hours, Shane overslept. Knowing Tariq would be disappointed if he didn’t show, he called his brother immediately. “I overslept, man. I’m not gonna be able to make it to your place by seven. I guess I’ll catch you on the next trip.”
“You can make it, Shane. You’re closer to Rose Moving Company than you are to my apartment.” Tariq gave Shane the address of his employer. “Take the bus over there and wait for me in the lobby. I’ll call Kapri and tell her to look out for you.”
“Aiight,” Shane said reluctantly. He was hoping to get out of the moving job. Moving furniture and shit sounded like something more suitable for a husky dude like Brick. Shane wasn’t cut out for hard labor. Pimpin’ was a pain but it bought weed and paid the rent. Damn, he was sorry he let Tariq talk him into this bullshit.
An hour later, Shane sauntered into the office of Rose Moving Company. A cute, peach-colored young woman sat behind the desk. She wore glasses, which didn’t distract from her good looks. In fact, the glasses added something—made Shane think of the meek type who’d whip off the glasses in the bedroom, yank the hair pin from her modest upswept hairdo, and transform into a sexual beast. Shane smiled at his inner vision.
“Good morning,” she said sweetly and smiled back. The woman’s warm smile didn’t surprise Shane; he was accustomed to good treatment from females. But he was surprised at the rate his heart was thumping.
She stood up and stuck out a dainty little French-manicured hand. “I’m Kapri. You must be Shane Batista.” The scent of citrus wafted from her. Unconsciously, Shane inhaled generously.
“Whassup, Kapri,” Shane said. With the sweet smell of citrus filling his nostrils, it was difficult for Shane to keep his voice steady. He felt an instant and powerful attraction to the pretty, petite young lady. He wrinkled his forehead in confusion.
“I feel like I know you,” Shane added, hoping Kapri wouldn’t think it was just a line. “Tariq talks about you all the time.”
“Tariq and I have a very special friendship. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Kapri was now beaming, which made her appear even more attractive. Her smile caused an even stronger tug at Shane’s heartstrings.
“Can I get you some coffee or tea?” he heard her say.
“Naw, I’m straight.”
“Orange juice…Pepsi?” she pressed with a tilt to her head.
“Yeah, some OJ might do it for me. Wake me up, know what I mean?”
Kapri stepped from behind the desk. “I’ll be right back.” She glanced at her watch. “Your brother should be here any minute.”
The front view was tight. Shane definitely liked what he saw. Kapri had a pretty face, wide brown eyes, and a perky set of boobs. She wore her hair in a conservative style that was pinned in place with a wide, plain barrette. Shane checked out Kapri’s back view as she bustled off down the hall. His eyes clung to the curves of her body; he nodded with approval. Her thick shapely legs were visible below her short pleated skirt. She had a nice ass and sexy hips. He couldn’t help envisioning his hands tightly gripping her round hips as he drove some pipe up in her. A low guttural moan escaped as his manhood began to swell.
Shane wanted to get to know Kapri better. A lot better. And Kapri can get this dick for free. Amused by the thought, Shane gave a little chuckle.
Tariq bopped in a few moments later. He broke into an ear-to-ear grin when he saw Shane. The brothers slapped hands.
“Yo, bro. Whassup with Kapri? Shorty’s got it goin’ on! You didn’t tell me she was all fine and shit.”
“Man, Kapri has plans and stuff; she’s not with all that dumb stuff you’re into. She’s into getting an education, working, and saving her money. Don’t mess with her, Shane,” Tariq cautioned. “Man, don’t even go there.”
“Why not? You trying to hit it?”
“Why you gotta be so crude all the time? Kapri’s my friend. She was my only friend after I lost you.”
Shane flinched.
“I love her like a sister. Man, leave her alone; I don’t want Kapri getting hurt. She deserves better.”
Shane’s face pinched up in indignation. “What? I’m not good enough for her?”
Tariq sighed. “That’s not what I’m saying and you
know it.”
Shane’s expression softened. “I’m not trying to hurt her; I just wanna…you know…hit it a couple times,” Shane said, laughing.
Tariq didn’t laugh. “I said she’s not like that.” Tariq’s face reddened; he was visibly upset.
“Man, I’m just playin’. Stop actin’ all serious all the time.” Shane shot Tariq a dazzling smile that persuaded Tariq to smile also.
“Good morning, Tariq!” Kapri said, carrying two containers of orange juice. She handed one to Shane, then immediately got down to business.
“Do you have identification, Shane?” she asked after she resumed her seat behind the desk. Her voice now sounded crisp and professional.
“Just Pennsylvania ID.”
“That’s fine. I need your Pennsylvania ID and your social security card.”
Shane shot Tariq an unpleasant look. “Man, you didn’t tell me I needed to bring no social security card.”
“You always need to bring your social security card when you’re seeking employment,” Kapri said, maintaining her professional voice.
“I’m not seeking employment,” Shane responded. “I’m just…you know…gonna travel with my brother. Help him out with his gig.”
“No, that’s not the way we do things here. I’ll need to file some paperwork—an employment application, a short questionnaire, and you’re going to have fill out a W-2 form.”
“Man, I’m not trying to get all deep into this employment bullshit.”
Tariq was appalled by his brother’s crudeness, but Kapri found it hilarious.
Laughing she asked, “Well, exactly how deep were you planning to get?”
Not realizing she was joking, Shane responded in a serious manner. “You know, I just wanna do this one job with my brother. I’m not trying to get hired for real. So look, just take my name and um…I don’t wanna give out all my personal information. You could be a cop for all I know.”
While Tariq looked mortified by his brother’s bad manners; Kapri seemed to be having fun. She chuckled as she slid Shane a blank piece of paper. “Write your address and social. I’ll fill out the application for you while Tariq shows you around. Do you think we have a spare uniform, Tariq? Your brother is so tall, I don’t know if we have anything that’ll fit him.”
“A uniform? Man, I ain’t wearing no monkey suit. What’s wrong with the clothes I have on?” Shane shot Tariq another accusatory look, frowned, and then blew out a rush of exasperated breath.
“You’re really difficult, aren’t you?” Kapri said. “I’ll tell you what. Can you meet me halfway on this?” she asked in a lowered tone.
“I’ll try,” Shane said, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
“Just wear one of the Rose Company shirts. You can keep on the jeans you’re wearing. I doubt if we have slacks long enough to fit you, anyway.”
After giving Shane a quick tour and briefing him on company policy, Tariq and three other men piled into a huge moving van decorated with a Rose logo. Shane pretended that he’d left something behind and made a quick pit stop back into the office.
“Yes?” Kapri said, looking up at Shane.
Shane didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. He assumed Kapri found him as desirable as most women did. Smiling, he held his thumb up to his ear and little finger pointed toward his mouth. “Can you jot that information down?”
He was right. Kapri blushed and without hesitation, she tore off a pink Post-It and wrote her full name and phone number in large script and handed it to Shane.
“I’m gonna call you while I’m on the road,” he informed her.
“And I’ll be waiting,” she said, with her eyelids lowered. Then she looked up and boldly added, “Don’t make me wait too long.”
Shane gave her a broad smile and tucked the Post-It in his shirt pocket. He patted his pocket. “I’m keeping you close to my heart. You’ll be hearing from me real soon.”
CHAPTER 35
The heavy lifting wasn’t the worst part of the trip. Realizing he’d left his phone charger at home was devastating. Shane made this discovery when his cell went dead right in the middle of a spicy conversation with Kapri while he was confined inside the moving van.
After what felt like hundreds of miles on the road, the crew selected a motel to stay the night. Shane, anxious to resume the conversation, immediately picked up the phone in his room and tried to call Kapri, but to his chagrin the phone system was outdated and the desk clerk had to place the call. When Shane asked the clerk to hit Kapri’s digits, the crotchety old clerk told him she couldn’t get through.
In Philly, Shane could find practically anything from socks to phone chargers at any hour of the night, but there were no late-night vendors hustling anything in the rural area where the moving crew was spending the night. Shane had no choice but to wait until morning to purchase another charger. There had to be a Verizon store somewhere in the hick Southern town.
The next morning, while Tariq and the rest of the crew were moving furniture, Shane hitched a ride to the nearest Radio Shack and bought a charger, brought it back to the home they were moving furniture into, and plugged it in.
When the charger’s red light turned green, Shane started pushing numbers.
“Are you working hard?” Kapri asked softly.
“Real hard,” Shane said and grunted theatrically. “This big-ass sofa is ’bout to break my back.” He grunted again as he stood against the wall, chilling on his cell while his brother and the other men worked like slaves.
“You must have a strong back,” Kapri said.
“I do, but um—we shouldn’t get into a conversation like this right now. Not while I’m at work. But I’d be glad to show you how strong my back is when I get back in town.”
She gave an embarrassed gasp. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Then Kapri laughed. “I meant…carrying a heavy sofa while holding and talking on your cell must require a lot of strength.”
“I’m wearing a headset,” he lied.
“Well, you must be extremely strong,” Kapri’s voice sounded whispery. “You’re not breathing hard; that sofa must be as light as a feather.”
Shane groaned sexily. “Did you hear that?”
“Uh huh.”
“That’s how I sound when I’m working hard.”
The sexual innuendos weren’t lost on either Shane or Kapri.
“Yo, Kapri. You gon’ let me take you out when I get back in town?” Did I really ask her that? Shane had never asked a girl out on a date, but he had to come at Kapri from a different angle. He figured she’d bang on him if he used his normal approach and said, Yo, Kapri. You gon’ let me hit it when I get back in town?
“Okay, that would be nice. What do you like to do for leisure, Shane?”
If he were truthful, Shane would have responded with I like to smoke weed, snort a little blow, shoot craps, I get a rush from periodically engaging in strong-arm robbery, but I’m really into big pimpin’—on the regular.
But Shane wasn’t an honest person, so he said the things he thought Kapri would like to hear. “I love basketball,” he said truthfully. Then he lied. “I like to take long walks in the park, especially when it rains.”
“Really!”
“Yeah. I don’t usually reveal this type of information. But, I’m really feelin’ you,” Shane said tenderly.
Kapri sighed as her breath caught.
“I also like to go bowling. I like all types of sports. Do you like bowling?”
“I’ve never gone bowling,” Kapri admitted wistfully and Shane knew he had her.
“Wanna learn?”
“What?”
“How to bowl.” Shane had bowled frequently during his stint at Barney Hills.
“Oh, okay,” Kapri agreed.
“Aiight. When I get back, I’m gonna teach you how to bowl.”
“Sounds good,” she softly murmured.
“Aiight. Hey, look. The fellas are calling me. Those weaklings can
’t lug shit without me. I gotta get back to work.” He paused. “Smooches, baby. I’ll hollah the next time I get a break.”
“’Bye, Shane,” Kapri said dreamily.
“Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” Felicia Bradley shouted so loudly, Shane had to pull the cell away from his ear.
“Damn, ma. Why you acting all hot and bothered? You miss big daddy?” he asked.
“Don’t disrespect me, Shane. We had an arrangement. I’ve been holding up my end. Didn’t I do everything I agreed to do regarding your mother’s memorial service?”
“Yo, I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but you didn’t pay one dime toward the cremation, I had to come outta pocket and because of that, I had to go out of town to make some money.”
“Doing what? Nothing illegal, I hope.”
“Naw, the work I did was legal like a muthafucker,” Shane said, laughing.
“Don’t be crude, Shane.”
“Yo, I’m being myself. Chill, ma. What’s the problem? You miss big daddy or what?”
Felicia hesitated and then sighed out a reluctant, “Yes.”
“That’s all you had to say. When you tryin’ to see me?”
“Now.”
“Right now?” He looked at the clock and frowned. “I just got in from doing a moving job. I have to shower and change.”
“You can do that in the motel room,” Felicia insisted.
“Aiight. Well, swing by and pick me up, I’m too tired to walk to our usual meeting place.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes sharp,” she said in a formal tone.
Shane was not in the mood for tussling around with the muscle-bound woman, but he could use the extra cash. The money he’d made on the move was needed to pay his rent and other obligations. If he expected to show Kapri a good time, he was going to need some extra dough.
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