Love Is Overdue

by Natalie Myrie

  I laughed. “It’s still early.” I dismissed it, even thought I was also anxious to see him. “He’s working.”

  So instead we decided to go check out the band that had taken to the main-stage – a reggae hip-hop duo was performing. I couldn’t help noticing all the male eyes that kept falling all over the two of us, and I shuddered at the thought. We were getting it from all sides – the skinny sister with the tight, little booty, and the plus-sized white girl wearing a sexy strapless, not leaving a whole lot to the imagination.

  People-watching in these crowds – as it had been that night at the Commodore – was always fascinating to me. The Rastamen usually always had white girls draped on their arms – big or small, it didn’t matter. And they usually always turned and checked me out as I passed. But one of them caught my eye right away as he was standing off in a group with a few other brothers talking.

  Tasha caught me looking as she pulled her eyes off the stage. “Whoa...who is that? Is that...?”

  I gave her a look, raising my eyebrows. “Yup.” I knew who she meant. “That’s Ivan. Ben’s brother.”

  As it had the first time I saw him in the mall, it blew me away how much those two looked alike. This time Ivan’s locks were hanging loose, and I noticed they were longer than Ben’s – the longest ones nearly hung to his waist...thick ropes that were so well-maintained. You could tell he took amazing care of that hair. And that body -just like Ben, so tall and athletic with those broad shoulders and lean torso. He was dressed simply in a red sleeveless t-shirt that showed off his toned arms, a pair of green cargo shorts and a pair of low-top Nikes - some dark shades masking his eyes.

  “Shit.” Tasha let her breath out. “Those are some fine genes runnin’ through that family. Okay, he’s looking over here.”

  I stole another glance, and sure enough, Ivan was looking in our direction, but then again, with those shades it was hard to tell for sure.

  “Okay, stop looking,” I ordered Tasha, turning back to the main-stage.

  “You think he recognizes you?” Tasha teased me, obviously enjoying the drama.

  “I have no idea,” I admitted. “But you better hope he doesn’t mistake you for Tony.”

  Tasha laughed, and I couldn’t help a little giggle myself, at the thought.

  “Damn. He won’t stop looking. He’s staring right at you, Gabby.” Tasha could obviously not stop looking either.

  I took another moment and then couldn’t help but steal another glance. When I did I noticed Levi, Ben’s delinquent little nephew/dish washer standing next to Ivan. Ivan was saying something and then I noticed Levi glance over in my direction.

  I quickly turned back to Tasha. “Yeah, I think you’re right. They’re talking about us.”

  “Us?” Tasha laughed. “I wish...they talkin’ about you. Who’s that little punk-ass kid he’s with?”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s his son.”

  “What?” Tasha’s eyes went wide. “He must be old as fuck to have a kid that age – but that body is banging...real good genes, Gabby. You should have a baby with that man.”

  I knocked her arm but couldn’t help laughing. “What do you mean, ‘old as fuck’? He’s like...thirty-four or five or something – max.”

  “Who, Ben?”

  “No, his brother. He’s only a couple years older than Ben, from what I could tell.”

  The crowd was cheering for the hip hop act that had just finished their set. The emcee grabbed the mic then, introducing the next act and as the music started up again, I took another glance over to where Ivan and Levi had been standing. Levi was gone but Ivan was still there with his two friends and when I looked he caught my eye again.

  I quickly turned back to Tasha. “Let’s take a walk...”

  “Sure, I think I just saw Lisa and Tonya over by the hill.”

  And she started off in that direction, which also happened to be directly in Ivan’s path. I had no choice but to follow her. So as we made our way through the crowds, I tried my best to avert my eyes, but of course, as we passed Ivan and his two friends and he looked right at me, I had no choice but to give him a forced smile of recognition.

  And that was all he needed.

  “W’happen ladies?” He addressed both of us, in that same smooth sexy tone his brother used so often.

  To me, it was the kind of comment that required only a quick hello as we kept walking but Tasha thought otherwise. She stopped walking and grinned right at him. “Whassup, brother...” Oh fuck. She was flirting.

  Ivan smiled at that. “It’s cool.” His eyes darted back and forth between the two of us. “So how tings? Y’enjoying da show?” He nodded at the stage.

  “It’s all right, you know.” Tasha didn’t skip a beat. “You taking the stage next?”

  Ivan laughed at that. “Nah...this is my stage.”

  Interesting comment, I thought. I guess it meant he was used to a lot of attention.

  “Makes sense.” Tasha smiled. She must have read my mind.

  Ivan’s eyes were on me again. “I know you from somewhere.”

  He just had to say it. I forced another smile. “I know...it was that unfortunate incident at the mall.” As if I had to remind him.

  He nodded slowly. “Yeah, yeah...that’s it.” He pretended to remember. “You need to keep dat boy on a tighter leash.”

  I didn’t know how to read that comment. Was that supposed to be a joke?

  “Ohhhh...is this the guy that...?” Tasha decided to play along. “At the mall? When Tony got all up in that couple’s business?” She looked back at Ivan. “That was you?”

  Ivan nodded. “That was me.”

  “Oh. Wow. Okay.” Tasha looked to be forming her next words. “Well, just so you know, that boy is my brother, and I don’t appreciate you talking about him like he’s a fucking dog.”

  Oh fuck. I wanted to bolt. But of course, once again, I was frozen solid. The two guys Ivan was with looked over as well.

  Ivan’s eyes went wide. I could see it even through the shades. He looked like he was about to say something, but quickly changed his mind – and just sucked his teeth.

  Unfortunately, Tasha wasn’t through. “He thought you were her boyfriend! I mean...shit. He was just looking out for his girl.”

  From the look on his face, I knew Ivan was all up into this now. “Oh okay...who is he?”

  “What?” Tasha was confused.

  I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.

  “Your boyfriend.” Ivan was looking at me now.

  Tasha laughed. “Now you’re trippin’...”

  I was still just shaking my head, wondering how the hell I kept getting myself into these confrontations.

  “I thought we covered that last time.” I finally spoke.

  Ivan nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know, am just checking.” He finally dropped the act. “So you my brother’s new girlfriend… What’s your name?”

  I panicked for a moment but recovered myself as best I could, forcing another smile as I held my hand out. “Gabriela.”

  He uncrossed his arms slowly and took my hand. “It’s a pleasure….I’m Ivan.”

  “Lisa! Girl, over here!” Tasha was calling out, and before I knew it she had taken off and was meeting up with her two girlfriends about ten feet away.

  I turned back to Ivan quickly, about to excuse myself, but he decided to speak first, after following my eyes back over to Tasha again as she left. “You have some interesting friends.”

  Fuck, he sounded just like Ben, but the accent was a bit thicker.

  “My brother meet those two yet?” he wanted to know.

  I nodded quickly. “They get along great.” Defense-mode.

  That made him laugh, though.

  “Boo!”

  I nearly jumped myself when we were suddenly interrupted by a tiny little girl, no higher than Ivan’s waist, as she came up from behind and wrapped her little arms around his leg, giggling the whole time.

  “Did I scare y
ou?” she asked then, sweetly.

  Ivan turned and looked down, just as I noticed that it was not just any little girl, but Sophie, Ben’s daughter, looking more adorable than ever, in a pair of jean shorts and a yellow tank top, a matching yellow-flowered head band holding back her massive mop of tight black curls.

  Ivan laughed and then reached down and scooped her up as she squealed again. “Nah, you can’t scare me...impossible,” he teased her, giving her a little kiss on top of her head. “What ya doin’ here? You all alone?”

  She giggled again as Ivan set her back onto her feet. “No, silly...I’m only six,” she said, as if that explained it all. She was looking at me then. “Those are pretty.” She pointed. “My mommy won’t let me pierce my ears, not until I turn ten.” She looked back at her uncle. “Where’s Angie?”

  The twenty-thousand-dollar question, I thought to myself.

  “Not here yet, she comin’ later,” Ivan said simply. “So if you not alone, where your people dem?” He started looking around, but there was no need because a beautiful black-haired woman with a deep olive complexion and Hispanic features came up behind Sophie then, stroking her hair back, fanning herself with some festival flyers. She looked at least seven months pregnant.

  “Well hello, Uncle Ivan,” she teased, giving him a little nudge.

  Ivan gave her a quick up and down and smiled. “Hey there beautiful...you lookin’...big.” He was focusing on her belly. “Damn...”

  I really needed to get the hell out of there.

  Sophie’s mother knocked Ivan’s arm again at that comment, giving him a playful glare.

  “I thought you said we could go look for Daddy,” Sophie interrupted suddenly.

  Tasha had made her way back over to me then, her two Jamaican girlfriends in tow, giving me a quizzical look, so I found my out.

  “It was nice meeting you,” I said quickly, turning back to Ivan, finally getting Maria’s attention as well.

  He nodded. “Likewise.” I was happy he had enough sense not to bring Ben’s name up in our present company.

  Ω

  We finally made our way over to the food truck strip about a half hour later. Ben had told me he would be pretty much tied up completely until at least four o’clock, when his sous chef and another line cook were planning on relieving him.

  The line-ups were crazy, especially near the exit where The Rock’s trailer was set up, along with a bunch of standing grills. I spotted Ben at the grill station, working furiously alongside a few of his staff. They had a portable stereo set up which was blasting some Buju Banton, and it seemed to be keeping those waiting in line happy – some sisters were already dubbing it up right next to the grills, trying to get Ben’s attention.

  Fuck, Ben looked so sexy. He was wearing nothing but a pair of dark cargo shorts, his Rasta belt and ganja belt-buckle and a white muscle shirt, that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. His locks were knotted loosely and he had on a killer pair of Adidas gazelles. Sometimes when I looked at him in a crowd, I still couldn’t believe I actually had sex with this man...

  Tasha eased herself up in front of the little make-shift gate that was set up blocking the grill station. “We hungry!” she called out to Ben. “Feed us!”

  One of the girls she had cut in front of gave her a dirty look but the other two just laughed.

  Ben turned around, wiping his brow off with a towel he had flung around his neck... I couldn’t imagine grilling in this heat. He was sweating and it looked sexy as hell.

  “Whassup, Tasha...” He smiled at her. “If you hungry, line-up start back there.” He motioned with his eyes.

  “That’s right, Ben, you tell her!” one of the sisters still winding her booty, called out.

  Tasha sucked her teeth at him.

  Ben laughed and then looked over at me. “Gimme a coupla minutes, okay?”

  So the two of us hung around for another ten minutes or so as Ben finished up giving instructions to a few other staff who were taking over for him. I noticed him wiping his hands on the towel as he headed over to the gate, motioning me over with his eyes.

  “I need ya help with something,” he said simply, nodding at the gate. “Can you hop this thing?”

  My eyes went wide. “Hell no!” I said in all seriousness.

  Ben laughed. “All right, lemme see what I can do...” He moved over to the last peg of the gate that was stuck into the ground and pulled up, giving me just enough space to duck through between it and the chain-link fence that bordered the festival grounds.

  “What you need me to do?” I was curious as he led me behind the food truck to their washing station – a few buckets, two big basins and a garden hose attached to a water line.

  “Guard me,” he said simply, as he pulled his shirt up over his head and knelt down next to a big black duffel bag, rummaging through the contents.

  “Damn. You getting naked?” I teased him. “You really think we got enough privacy back here for...you know...”

  But Ben just sucked his teeth at me as he stood back up. “You funny.” He came towards me carrying a fresh t-shirt, a bath towel, and some body wash.

  I burst out laughing. “You gotta be kidding me, Ben.”

  “Hold this,” he instructed, laughing along with me.

  Ben grabbed the water hose and, leaning forward, he grabbed the knot holding his dreads back and released, dousing himself completely from the waist up. I jumped back, letting out a bit of a shriek, as the water sprayed back and drenched me from the knees down.

  He cut the water suddenly and reached his hand back so I passed him the body wash and started laughing all over again as I watched him lather up – his hands, arms, armpits, chest and face – then just rinse himself all over again. He had amazing aim. He only managed to get a light sprinkling of water droplets on his shorts.

  When he cut the water again I decided to be proactive and I walked up next to him and draped the towel around his neck for him before he stood up, spraying me again as he flung his soaking wet dreads back over his shoulders.

  “Shit, baby.” He let his breath out as he began towel-drying that gorgeous torso of his. “That felt good. How do I smell?”

  I laughed and took a step forward. He did a quick little peek around to see if anyone could see us and then just pulled me close, pressing my face against his damp chest and then lifting his arm, teasing me.

  I knocked him lightly as he laughed. “That’s okay, I got something for that,” he assured me, stepping back over to his duffel bag and pulling out his underarm deodorant, applying some quickly, as I kept laughing.

  “You nuts,” I told him, handing him his shirt. “What about below the waist?”

  “Ha.” He knelt down, packing up his duffel bag again, his clean shirt still draped over his shoulder. “That part ain’t dirty baby, trust me.”

  “We got company, Benny...” A voice called out from the food truck and just like that, Sophie and Maria appeared from the side of the trailer.

  “Daddy!” Sophie ran up and flung herself onto Ben’s back before he had a chance to stand up.

  “Hey princess...you nearly knock me over,” Ben said, reaching his arm around to pry her vice-grip off him gently, as he stood up slowly.

  “Why you not wearing a shirt?” she demanded.

  “Because,” Ben started, as he pulled a sleeveless white t-shirt – sporting the Jamaican flag – up over his head, “I been cooking and sweatin’ and gettin’ all stinky...had to change.”

  Sophie giggled as he tousled her curly mop of hair.

  “Whassup, Maria,” He addressed Sophie’s mother finally, who had already been giving me a more than curious look over, most likely recognizing me from our previous meeting.

  “Not too much,” she answered casually, still fanning herself with those flyers. “Your father been waitin’ on you...said to send you to the top of the hill, they got some chairs and some blankets set up in the shade.”

  Sophie marched right up to me. “C
an I see your earrings again?” she asked sweetly.

  “Sure. Here you go.” I smiled and pulled one out and handed it to her to examine.

  Ben and Maria looked over at the exchange.

  Then Maria glanced back over at Ben, waited, and then turned to me. “I’m Maria,” she said then, extending her hand.

  “Hi.” I tried to conceal my nerves as I shook her hand. “Gabriela.”

  “Sorry, my bad,” Ben apologized quickly for his lack of manners. “This is Sophie’s mom, Sophie’s mom, this is Gabriela.”

  Maria gave Ben a look. “Yeah, we got it. So when you good till?” She changed the subject. “I don’t know how much longer I’m a last in this heat.”

  “Don’t worry ‘bout it – we good to go,” Ben said simply. “I bring her home tomorrow, too, I don’t mind.”

  Sophie was still busying herself with my earring.

  Maria glanced back over at me again, hesitating. “Nah, it’s good, just bring her home once you finish up here, don’t matter if it’s late. Sophie, come here and give your mama a kiss – and be good for your daddy.”

  Sophie ran over to her mother then and Maria leaned over to kiss her head. “And make sure you go give that nice lady back her earring,” she instructed her gently.

  Sophie came bouncing back over to me then. “Thank you,” she said, handing it back to me.

  And with that Maria disappeared around the side of the truck.

  “Daddy! Daddy! Can we get some ice cream?” Sophie was jumping up and down.

  “Yeah, right away, baby, come here a second.” Ben scooped her up and brought her over to me. “You see this pretty lady with the flashy earrings?”

  I smiled, as Sophie nestled her head onto Ben’s shoulder and looked at me.

  “This is Gabriela, and she’s my friend, so you need a be a good girl and listen and behave yaself today, all right? For both of us.”

  “Okay Daddy! Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream!”

  Chapter Twelve

  The three of us set out. Tasha was nowhere in sight, but I’d knew she’d text me if she really needed me. I suddenly noticed a whole different kind of attention from men and women alike as we made our way through the crowds. I knew that Ben knew a lot of people, but in this crowd, he seemed like some kind of celebrity. Someone seemed to stop us every ten paces to say hello, and it made it nearly impossible for me to talk to him, so instead I decided to make small talk with Sophie – talking Barbie’s, hair, clothes – everything girly under the sun. She definitely was a princess, in all aspects.