She tried to stall. “Reggie, you’ve been married to my mother too long.”
“Are you saying that because I went straight to the point?”
“Exactly,” Shay answered and continued looking through her drawers.
When she didn’t say anything else, Reggie continued to say what was on his mind. “Shay, I hope you don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way or that I’m being partial because Brian’s my son. I love the both of you and I want you to be happy.”
“Reggie, I know you love me and I trust you. Now tell me what’s on your mind.” She faked a smile, knowing she didn’t have a choice in the matter.
“Shay, I remember the night you told me you love Brian. Is that still the case?”
A genuine smile creased her face as she ran her index finger over the silver heart. She couldn’t deny it if she wanted to. “Yes, Reggie, I love your son like crazy. Truth is I’ve always loved him.”
“Then why have you been dating Jason for six months? The two of you are like oil and water. And why on earth did you bring him here?”
Shay didn’t have a mature answer for him. She lowered her head. “I am—was only spending time with Jason because I couldn’t be with Brian. I plan to break things off with him as soon as I get back.”
“But why did you bring him here?” he asked again.
Shay sighed. “Because I thought Brian was seeing Shannon.”
“What gave you that impression?”
Reggie listened to Shay replay the telephone incident for him. “I can see how you might have come to that conclusion, but the way you handled it was all wrong. You should have discussed it with Brian before dragging Jason across the country to make Brian jealous. Then, once you got here, you gave all of your attention to Brian. Please tell me, what were you thinking when you made Brian’s plate and then held his hand while sitting right next to Jason? And don’t think your mother and I didn’t see the two of you slip out onto the patio.”
Shay shrugged her shoulders. “When I left Massachusetts, the only thing on my mind was getting even with Brian. Once I saw him, all I wanted to do was be with him.”
“Then why don’t you tell him that?” Reggie asked. It was all simple to him.
Shay turned her back to him. “I can’t right now.”
Reggie stood to his feet. “Shay, the only thing you and Brian lack is communication. I’m not talking about your usual bickering or wisecracks, but real communication. The two of you need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk. If you don’t do that soon, you’re going to miss out on something really special.” Reggie placed his hand on her shoulder. “Your mother and I didn’t experience real love until we were both over forty, but you and Brian can enjoy fulfillment much sooner. Shay, tell him how you feel. The two of you aren’t as far apart as you think, but you’ll never know if you don’t talk to him openly and honestly.”
She turned around. “I know, but I need to settle things with Jason first.”
“That’s fair, but don’t take too long and please no more games, like this weekend.
Do you know how hard I prayed nothing violent would happen between Brian and Jason?”
Shay smiled. “I thought you enjoyed the game.”
“What gave you that idea?”
Shay raised an eyebrow. “The way you kept Jason out of the way, so I could watch the performance with Brian.”
It was Reggie’s turn to shrug his shoulders. “Someone had to keep him company after you deserted him.”
“And you just so happened to be the one to save the day.”
Reggie grinned. “I’m always here to help.”
When he left the room a couple of minutes later, Shay felt good. She had an inner peace that things would work out, but now as she counted the hotels that lined Hegenberger Road she worried because Brian didn’t say good-bye to her.
After receiving her boarding pass, Shay left Jason and went to the restroom. She had just finished drying her hands when her cell phone rang. She immediately smiled after reading the caller ID. It was Brian.
“I thought you forgot about me.”
“I could never forget about you,” Brian responded.
“Then why didn’t you say good-bye to me before I left church?”
She heard him exhale into the phone. “Because I didn’t want to see you leave with another man. I told you, I can’t handle seeing you with any man besides me. I’m not ready for that, not now, not ever.”
Tears welled in Shay’s eyes. At that very moment she wanted to hold him and tell him that he was the only man for her. “It won’t happen again,” she said, her voice just above a whisper.
“So you did get the message,” he mused, in what she perceived an effort to control his emotions.
“Loud and clear.”
There was a brief pause, before he continued. “Shay, we need to talk about us.”
“I agree.”
“I don’t think you understand. We need to really talk about us,” Brian clarified.
“I do understand, Brian, and as soon as I tie up a loose end, we will.”
“Does this loose end have locks?” Brian sounded hopeful.
“Yes.”
Brian gave a sigh of relief. “Do what you have to do, but what I need to say to you, I want to say in person. I was thinking about coming out to Massachusetts after I break for the summer, near your birthday. Is that enough time?”
“It’s more than enough time.”
“I’ll see you then, but before we disconnect, I’d like to say a word of prayer.”
That surprised Shay. “You want to pray for me?”
“Why does that surprise you? It shouldn’t, I always pray for you. You’re always close to my heart”
She listened as he asked God to protect and help her. By the time he finished, tears rolled down her cheeks and gathered at her fingertips. The fact that he cared enough to pray for her deepened her love for him. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“I’ll see you near or on your birthday.”
“I can’t wait. Brian,” she called into the phone.
“Yes, beautiful.”
“Make sure your head is shaved. I love stroking your baldhead,” she flirted.
“Anything for you.”
When Shay joined Jason at the boarding gate, she was all smiles. July couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 37
Shay finished unpacking and started the water for a hot bubble bath. For the first time since coming to Cambridge, she felt totally relaxed and free. She attributed her new serenity to the commitment she’d made in her spiritual life and her last conversation with Brian. She could tell by his tone that what he wanted to tell her was probably the same thing she wanted to tell him. And she didn’t mind waiting two months to hear and say those three words. There was a lot of work she needed to do on herself before committing to Brian.
She had just poured the second capful of bubble bath into the hot water when the phone rang. She quickly ran and grabbed the cordless receiver from her nightstand. “Hello.”
“Girl, I need to give you a Platinum Players Card for that stunt you pulled this weekend!”
“You know you were wrong for that!” It was her cousins Taylor and Leah on a three-way call.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shay downplayed her childish behavior.
“I told you to handle your business, not commit suicide,” Taylor teased. “Making Brian’s plate right in front of Jason? You are crazy.”
“But before that, you had the nerve to ship Jason off to Reggie and practically sit on Brian’s lap,” Leah exaggerated.
“That is not what happened and you know it,” Shay defended.
“I wanted to bow down and call you Queen Shay, when you sat between Jason and Brian and with all boldness held my boy’s hand underneath the table!” Taylor hollered.
“I couldn’t enjoy my food. I didn’t know if I should eat or remove my earrings,” Leah added.
>
“What are you talking about?” Shay turned the water off.
“Girl, stop playing. You know you wanted to beat Shannon down,” Leah answered. “And if she would have raised her hand to you, you know we would’ve jumped in,” Taylor added. “We would have torn the place up.”
Shay laughed at her cousins.
“Justin and Craig removed their jackets when Jason walked back to the table and stood over Brian and asked him where he got his plate from,” Leah exaggerated. “We were all praying neither Jason nor Shannon would notice what y’all were doing underneath that table,” Leah screamed.
“We were only holding hands like always.”
“You were trying to get yourself killed, or make Brian catch a case,” Taylor corrected.
Shay conceded. “It was tacky.”
“Correction, it was very tacky,” Leah said. “What did your mother say?”
“Nothing,” Shay answered.
“That doesn’t sound like Auntie Julia,” Taylor noted.
“She didn’t say anything because she was too angry. However, if looks could kill, I’d be dead. All weekend, I felt like a dead woman walking.”
“You were. Brian didn’t know if he should strangle you or kiss you. Did you know he brought red roses to the airport for you, but threw them away when he saw Jason?” Leah asked.
“Really? How do you know?” Shay was surprised.
“Sure did. Your mother told us,” Taylor answered for Leah.
“That won’t happen again, I’m breaking up with Jason.”
“Are you finally going to have that talk with my boy?” Taylor questioned.
“Yes. He’s coming here for my birthday.”
“Girl, you had better start praying right now, so you’ll have enough prayers stored up to keep you from jumping his bones. You know when you’re alone with him intercessory prayer will be the last thing on your mind,” Leah teased.
“I don’t think nothing will happen, now that I’ve made up my mind. I will not have sex again until I’m married,” Shay firmly stated.
Taylor grew serious. “Do you regret it, you know, having sex with Brian?”
Shay took her time and analyzed the question. “Yes and no.”
“Explain,” Leah asked.
“Yes, I regret that I was not married and I do feel guilty about that. I felt guilty the
second after I did it, however, I enjoyed it. I don’t regret that my first time was with Brian. No, I love him and I can’t imagine my first or one-hundredth time with anyone else.”
“He’s right, he does own you,” Taylor teased.
“Forget you,” Shay snapped.
“Trust me, cousin, the feeling’s mutual. A harem could parade in front of Brian and he wouldn’t touch one of them. He’s saving himself for Queen Shay. ”
“Do you really think so?”
Leah smacked her lips. “Shay, why are you at Harvard if you insist on being stupid? You have to know that Brian is in love with you.”
Shay reflected on the night they first had sex. He told her he loved her, but she knew better than to hold someone accountable for the words spoken at their sexual peak. He could actually love her, but as a friend and not as his woman. She’d have to wait until July to know for sure. “You’re right, Leah, what Brian and I have is special.”
“When are you going to break up with Jason?” Taylor wanted to know.
“Tomorrow.”
“You move fast once you make up your mind. How do you think he’s going to handle it?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Be careful, girl, you’re a long way from home,” Leah warned. “And he looks kind of shady to me.”
“I know, but he’s harmless.” Shay told her cousins good night and climbed into the tub under a blanket of fragrant bubbles. As her stiff muscles relaxed, Taylor’s question replayed in her mind. She really didn’t know what to expect from Jason. He didn’t speak to her on the plane ride home, but he did say good night before her cab pulled away. After her late class tomorrow she planned to meet him at Chevys and break the news to him.
Her thoughts switched to Brian. Leah was right; she had a lot of work ahead of her if she was going to be strong enough to control her desire for Brian once it was just the two of them. He would most definitely have to stay at a hotel and absolutely no swimming.
No sooner had she pulled the drain plug, the cordless telephone sounded again. By the time she stepped from the tub and wrapped a towel around her, it was the seventh ring. She didn’t look at the caller ID.
“Hello,” she answered breathlessly.
“What took you so long to answer the phone?”
“Hi, Brian, I wasn’t expecting a call from you tonight.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?”
“What are you doing?” he asked again.
Shay squeezed the towel tighter around her. She didn’t think it was a good idea to give Brian a mental picture of her dripping wet in her birthday suit. “Right now I’m talking on the phone to you.”
“Are you alone?” Brian asked impatiently.
“What kind of question is that?” Shay raised her voice as if she were insulted.
“The kind that needs to be answered,” Brian pushed. “Stop stalling.”
Shay understood now. “You think Jason’s here, don’t you?”
“The thought did occur to me,” he admitted to jealousy.
“Brian, I told you I was going to resolve that situation.”
Brian’s sigh came through as static on the line. “I know what you said, but sometimes a person can speak louder when they’re quiet. Like how you remained quiet about Jason for six months.”
“You don’t trust me, do you?” After all they’d shared the idea that she didn’t have Brian’s trust never occurred to her.
“Shay, I trust you, but sometimes you drive me crazy. Case in point, the stunt you pulled this weekend.”
“If I drove you crazy before, you’re going to be insane by the time we end this call.”
“Shay, I don’t want to argue with you. I just—”
She interrupted him. “Brian, since you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you exactly what I’m doing and with whom I’m doing it with.”
“I hate when you act like this.”
Shay spoke as soft and seductive as possible. “Brian, when you called I was sitting inside of a hot, steamy, bubble bath thinking about you. This very second, I’m standing in my bedroom, dripping wet, wearing nothing but the skin I was born with and a towel.” She paused. “Am I driving you crazy yet?” Then she laughed in his ear.
It took Brian a minute to respond. “You were wrong for that. How am I supposed to go to sleep after that visual?”
“You wanted to know.”
“Next time just say it’s personal.”
“Next time trust what I tell you.” She was serious again.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“Apology accepted.” Shay giggled, but Brian bade her good night. “You’re dismissing me so fast?”
“Yeah. I need to take a shower, before I jump on a plane and fly to Massachusetts to dry you off,” he flirted then she heard the dial tone.
Shay set the phone on her nightstand and skipped back to the bathroom. Her life was definitely taking a turn for the better.
Chapter 38
Shay waited nervously inside the booth at Chevys for Jason. Ending relationships was new territory. The casual dates in high school and college didn’t reach this magnitude. She’d been practicing how to break up with Jason most of the day. She needed to be honest and straightforward, but she didn’t want to be brutal. This morning she prayed for the right words to soften the blow. She still liked Jason as a person and didn’t see why they couldn’t remain friends.
She’d just taken a bite of the warm tortilla chip dipped in the fresh salsa when Jason slid into the booth. She’d expected for him to be distant with her, l
ike he’d been in class a few hours ago, but he wasn’t. He actually smiled and reached for her hand.
“Hey, sweetheart.” He pushed his luck by kissing her hand.
“Hello, Jason,” she said and slowly withdrew her hand. She ignored the flicker of hurt she recognized in Jason’s dark-brown eyes.
“Have you ordered yet?”
“No, I was waiting for you.”
Jason raised his hand to signal for the waiter, but Shay stopped him. “Jason, we need to talk.”
Jason appeared to contemplate where this conversation was headed. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Us.”
Before he bit into his third chip, he asked, “What about us, LaShay?”
Shay swallowed hard. “Jason, this past weekend I made some major decisions about my life.”
“Decisions like what?”
Shay maintained eye contact. “I’m getting my spiritual life back in order. I have been away from God far too long. I’ve also decided to end our relationship, but I would like for us to remain friends.” She quickly took a sip of water.
Jason looked at her incredulously. “You want to end our relationship, so you can be closer to God? We haven’t done anything that’s ungodly. The only token you offer me is an occasional kiss on the lips and you’ve made it perfectly clear that we’re not going to have sex. How much more godly do you want?”
“It’s not just the sex issue, Jason. I told you in the beginning you weren’t really my type,” she explained.
“Then why have you been leading me on for six months? And why did you invite me to meet your family?”
Shay lowered her head and sighed. “Jason, I told you in the beginning that we would take it slow and see what develops. So far nothing has changed for me and last weekend helped me to come to this decision.”
Jason sat back and stared at her, then looked down at the silver heart around her wrist. “Is there someone else?”
“Huh?” She wasn’t prepared for that question.
“Is there someone else at home that helped you come to this decision?”
“Why do you ask that?” She wanted to be honest with him, but didn’t want to tell him about Brian.
“Because you were a different person in California.”
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