All You'll Ever Need

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “You know, I’m a little shocked by your behavior,” Christina said, breaking into Jada’s thoughts. “Over the past month, you’ve complained about the less than glamourous dates that Zack has taken you on, yet you’re still interested in him. So how do you explain that?”

  Jada couldn’t explain her desire to be with him. Yet, she had determined early on that Zack was nothing like Dion. Zack had morals, compassion, and treated her special. Most importantly, he wasn’t married. However, after the third date with him, when he had taken her to a movie and then to a hotdog joint afterwards, she had vowed that that would be the last date with him. Then she couldn’t for the life of her understand why she’d agreed to go fishing with him three days later, only to return home smelling like a swamp. She had knocked over the fish bucket and water splashed on her. That should have been the last straw. Yet here she was, watching football, hoping to get a glimpse of him because she hadn’t seen him in a few days. The last time was over an early morning breakfast before she reported to work and he went to football practice.

  “I like him. I really like him,” Jada finally responded.

  “I like Zack too. He doesn’t seem as shallow as your other boy-toys. But why do you like him? He doesn’t fit your required characteristics, except for being cute and rich. He doesn’t take you to overpriced restaurants. He hasn’t bought you any expensive gifts unless you count the purple tools and drill,” she laughed, “and he doesn’t come across like a pompous jackass. So why are you even bothering with him?”

  “I’m not totally sure,” Jada mumbled. “I think it’s the way he makes me laugh and the way he makes me feel.” She sat up and turned to Christina. “I also appreciate how real he is. He clearly is not trying to impress me.” They both laughed. “He’s attentive. Not in a – he’s trying to get into my panties way, but in a he is truly trying to get to know me way. Not the shallow me,” she said sheepishly, “but the real me. The me who has feelings. The me who loves attention and the me who wants to be happy.”

  “So what are you going to do about Zack’s lack of dating savvy?” CJ removed the scrunchy from around her wrist and pulled her curly hair out of her face and up into a ponytail. “Maybe he’s just cheap.”

  Jada fell back against the sofa. “Nah I don’t think that’s it. He gives tons of money to charities. He lives in Indian Hill not too far from Gramma and Grampa, and he has a place near the stadium, as well as a home in California. Don’t get me started on all of the cars he owns. So, I don’t think he’s cheap. I think he just has a different idea of what fun is.”

  “Well, he must be doing something right if he has you sitting by the phone and watching football.” Jada rolled her eyes and didn’t bother responding. “Okay, but seriously, why do you think he can’t plan better dates?”

  “I don’t have a clue. Outside of coming right out and telling him that I hate all outdoor activities, that hotdogs make me gag, and that I’m looking to marry rich so that I can quit my construction job, I’m not sure what to do.”

  “Why don’t you show him?” Christina put her feet on the floor and sat up.

  Jada looked at her cousin sideways. “Show him what?”

  “Show him how you like to be treated. Insist that he get dressed up. You take him to a fine dining establishment, to the theater, and do all the other crap you like doing.” Her cousin stood and stretched her arms above her head, her short T-shirt rising up showing off light brown skin and flat abs. “If he doesn’t catch a hint then, you might want to cut your losses and move on to your next victim.”

  Jada smiled, ideas for an exciting evening running rampant through her mind. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but you might be on to something. I’ll plan a nice romantic evening for next weekend. Friday I’m working a half a day. After his team’s workout, he’s taking me 4-wheeling.”

  “Hmm, that sounds like fun. The last cruise I went on, I had planned to go 4-wheeling on one of the excursions, but the outing was canceled. Since then, I haven’t thought about going. Hopefully, you’ll have a good time.”

  “I hope so too. I have barely survived his dates. If he wants to keep me, he’s going to have to step up his game in regards to these dates.”

  “I’m sure he’ll catch on … eventually. In the meantime, I definitely think you’re going to have to teach him how you want to be treated.”

  The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it.” Christina walked out of the living room and down the short hall to the front door. Minutes later, she came back carrying a box the size of a boot box. “A delivery for Ms. Jada Jenkins from Mr. Zachary Anderson.” She waved a small envelope. “It looks like your man sent you a gift. Maybe he’s already caught a hint. The box is from Bloomingdales.”

  Jada jumped up from the sofa, excitement streaming through her veins. “Oh my goodness!” He’d sent her a case of Acqua Di Gioia, her favorite perfume a month ago and had been sending flowers for the last couple of weeks. “I can’t imagine what’s in this box, but I hope it’s the Marc Jacob’s boots that I mentioned to him when we went out to lunch last weekend.”

  “How would he know which ones to get?”

  Jada twisted her lips in a grin. “Well, while we were waiting for our food, I happen to have a magazine with the boots in it, and I might’ve shown them to him.”

  Christina shook her head and grinned. “Of course you did.”

  Jada grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer near the built-in bookshelf and hurried back to the sofa. Christina stood nearby.

  “Oh please, please, please be the Marc…” Her voice trailed off when she made it through the first box and pulled out a smaller boot box with Timberland printed across the top. “What the heck?” She opened the box and pulled out a pair of wheat color suede-like boots that resembled her steel-toe boots.

  Christina fell to her knees. Holding her stomach, she rolled around on the floor laughing. When her cousin pounded the floor with her hand, unable to catch her breath, Jada admitted it might’ve been a little funny, but it wasn’t that funny.

  Zack cannot be this clueless.

  When she finally calmed herself, her cousin swiped the back of her hand across her eyes to wipe the moisture from them. “As I’ve said before, I like Zack. If nothing else, he’s great comic relief.” Still on the floor, she sat with her back against the sofa and grabbed one of the Timberland boots, holding it out in front of her. “What does the card say?”

  Disappointed, Jada reluctantly pulled the notecard from the envelope.

  “Hey sweetheart, I can’t wait to see you in the morning. Thought you might need these for when we go 4-wheeling. I hope you like them. Until tomorrow. Zack.”

  “Well, at least he got the size right.”

  “Yeah, whatever. He just better hope I enjoy 4-wheeling. Otherwise, I’m done.”

  ***

  “That’s it!” Jada screamed, her arms flailing around, anger marring her muddy face. “Do not call me. Do not come by my job. Do not send me gi…gifts. Lose my damn number!” Her finger stabbed the air, punctuating each one of her words. “Look at my clothes! And my hair,” she sobbed.

  Stunned, Zack could only stare at her. They’d gone 4-wheeling, and things were going well until they hopped on one of the most challenging trails full of potholes and mud. How was he to know that she would lose control and hit a mud puddle? Besides, who wore a white jacket when they knew they were going 4-wheeling?

  “Don’t you think you’re over reacting?” Zack folded his arms across his chest. “They’re just clothes, Jada. Hell, I’ll be glad to replace the whole outfit.” A clump of mud from a few strands of wayward hair sticking out from under her helmet, fell to the ground. “And your hair can be washed.”

  “You don’t get it do you?” She slowly approached him, the vein in her forehead protruding, her jaw and fists clenched. Now he was the one who was taking slow steps back. Anger leaked from every pore in her body. “All you’ve been thinking about is yourself with t
hese stupid dates! We have gone hiking, fishing, hung out in your mechanic’s garage, played around in dirt and now this – driving through mud!” Her voice grew louder with each word. “What woman in her right mind would enjoy this?”

  “Well, damn, Jada!” He dropped his arms to his sides and yelled back. “You never, not once, said you didn’t like the activities I planned!” His arms flailed around; annoyance quickly turning into anger. “Hell, if you were having such a rotten time, why didn’t you say something? You had plenty of opportunities! How in the heck was I supposed to know that you weren’t enjoying yourself? I thought—”

  “You thought what?” She pointed her finger at him, barely missing his face. “That just because I work in construction that I don’t like the finer things in life? That I don’t like to get dressed up and go to the theater, a concert, or hell a five-star restaurant. While you were planning all of these activities, did you even think of me once? Did you ever ask yourself, I wonder what Jada would enjoy doing?”

  “Hold up. Wait!” Zack braced his index fingers against his temples, closed his eyes, and tried to wrap his brain around all that she was saying. Had he missed some signs? He opened his eyes and glared at her. “Let me make sure I have this right. You’re mad at me because I suggested that we do some outdoor activities. Mind you, this is after you told me you were a go-with-the-flow kind of girl who loves the outdoors. So now you’re telling me that that’s not the case? So what the hell was that conversation on the dance floor all about?”

  Silence fell between them, both their chests heaving. Jada wiped at the mud that covered her face, only making it worse.

  “It’s time I was honest with you, Zack.” She leaned against the truck. The hairs on the back of Zack’s neck stood at attention as trepidation rose through his body and lodged in his chest. Thoughts of Leslie and the way she had lied and used him immediately came to the forefront of his mind.

  Jada let out a loud breath and removed the helmet from her head, dropping it to the ground. She bent over slightly, hands perched on her thighs, her head hung low. Thinking that she was going to be sick, Zack inched toward her but stopped when she lifted her head.

  “I hate getting my hands dirty.” She pushed hair away from her face and shivered when she lowered her hand and saw more mud caked under her French manicure. “I don’t like animals, not even goldfish, and the day I volunteered at the farm was the first time I’d done any volunteering since girl’s scouts.” She glanced down at her clothes. Zack thought she was going to burst into tears.

  Why hadn’t she said something sooner? Most importantly, why had she lied about being an outdoorsy person?

  Facing the truck, Jada folded her arms against the vehicle and rested her forehead on her arms. Eventually, she peeked back at him. “I like you … God, I like you so much, Zack, but by now I thought you’d figure out the real me. Despite being a sheet metal worker, I’m a woman who enjoys … woman things. I get my hair and nails done at least once a week because I like to look good at all times. I only wear designer clothes, even to work, because I think it’s important to always look your best. I love my family more than anything in the world, and I enjoy working at the family business. But to be honest, I work there to support my shopping addiction.” She exhaled loudly, tears rolling down her face. “I’m clearly not the woman for you and I’m sorry for leading you to think that I am.”

  Zack studied her. Disappointment descended on him like a two-ton boulder. He had opened his heart to yet another woman only to have her lie to him too, and over something so trivial. Had she lied about her feelings for him? Was their time together, their laughs and conversations all a lie? He could deal with a lot of things, but even if he did love her, he couldn’t deal with a liar.

  “Zack, I’m so sorry. I should’ve been upfront with you from the beginning.”

  “Why weren’t you?”

  She hesitated. “Because—”

  “No. You know what? Don’t bother.” He shook his head and walked past her and opened the passenger side door, not caring that the interior was going to be full of mud. “Jada, I don’t like games and I can’t handle any more lies, especially not from you.” From someone, he could see spending the rest of his life with, from someone he had fallen in love with.

  “Zack please let me explain.”

  “I’ll take you home and you’ll never have to see me again.”

  Chapter Nine

  Five days later and Zack still hadn’t gotten Jada out of his system. He hadn’t called her, and she hadn’t called him. Not that he expected her to. His only regret, well his main regret, was not giving her the opportunity to tell him why she had lied in the first place.

  “You want another beer?” Craig, who was sitting on the bar stool next to him asked.

  “I’m good thanks.” Craig had invited him to have a drink at their favorite downtown bar and grill. For the past thirty minutes, they had been hanging out talking while Zack signed a few autographs for fans in between conversations.

  Craig sipped his rum and coke. “A few weeks ago, you were saying that Jada was the one. That she was special and filled a void in your life that you had been trying to fill for years. Now you find out she exaggerated the truth, and you’ve kicked her to the curb. Do you think that’s fair?”

  “Zack Anderson!” A man standing a few feet away called out. “Great game Sunday.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Can I get your autograph?”

  Zack absently signed the napkin that the guy handed him. He thought back on his and Jada’s various dates and the number of hours they had spent talking on the telephone. He’d gotten to know her. There were similarities between her and his ex, but unlike with Leslie, he had experienced Jada’s sweetness, kindness, and her compassion.

  Jada is the one. But I can’t get pass the lie.

  “Last one,” Zack said signing yet another napkin handed to him by a fan.

  “You seem to be handling all the attention you’ve been getting better than you used to.”

  “Some days are better than others.” There was a time when Craig and Donny refused to go out in public with him, especially during football season, thanks to the number of fans who approached Zack wanting to take a picture with him or get his autograph. “Okay, let’s get back to our conversation. Are you saying that I should overlook the fact that Jada lied? Who knows what else she lied about?” He lowered his voice as the bar area grew crowded. “If it were Toni, you’re saying that you would overlook the deceit.”

  Craig chuckled. “You do remember the hell Toni put me through don’t you?” They both laughed though there was a time when Toni and Craig’s issues weren’t a laughing matter. Toni was always getting herself into jams, some more serious than others. Yet, Craig never gave up on her. “Zack, I know you have trust issues, and your last relationship didn’t help, but Jada is not Leslie. Yes, she has expensive taste and wants to live a life of luxury, but she’s good people. She talks a tough game, but she wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone, especially not you. Do you love her?”

  Whew. Zack turned back to the bar, wrapping his hands around his cold bottle of beer. Do you love her? Yeah, he loved her.

  He lifted his head and stared into the mirror behind the bar. As if thinking about Jada conjured her up, she walked in with her cousins. He glanced over his shoulder, and his stomach knotted with desire.

  Damn, she looks good. The pink, form-fitting sweater showed off her perky breasts, and a wide black belt emphasized her slender waist. Zack’s gaze traveled lower. Seeing how the tight black jeans hugged her round butt and shapely thighs sent blood rushing from his head down to another part of his anatomy. Part of him wanted to go to her, but instead he admired her from afar, wishing he could hold her in his arms again.

  Toni broke away from the group and made a beeline for the bar, which is when Jada’s gaze met his. Her eyes grew large, and her mouth gaped open. They didn’t break eye contact until one of her cousins nudged her and po
inted to an empty booth.

  “Here’s my baby.” Craig stood and watched Toni’s approach.

  “Why do I feel like I’ve been set up?” Zack mumbled.

  Craig gripped Zack’s shoulder. “Because you have. Man, talk to her and see if you can’t make things right between you two.”

  “Hey, Baby.” Toni kissed Craig on the lips before turning her attention to Zack and shoved him in the arm. “The only reason I agreed to help with this little match-making scheme is because I think you’re good for my cousin. Hurt her,” her finger wagged in his face, “and you’ll have to deal with me.”

  Zack smiled, trying hard to hold back a laugh. Toni stood about two inches shorter than Jada and the thought of her pint-sized self, causing any real damage, was comical.

  Craig nodded his head toward the booth, where Jada and her cousins sat. “You need to make the first move. Talk to her. Admit to your role in all of this.”

  Zack turned back to the bar and finished off his beer. In all of his efforts to get to know Jada and spend time with a woman who claimed to enjoy the outdoors as much as him, he failed to acknowledge the other side of her. The more feminine side. The girly girl side that looked damn good in everything she wore and always smelled like a bouquet of roses. The side that turned him on with very little effort.

  Talk about selfish. Zack could kick himself. Jada had been such a trooper with the activities that he had planned. Yet, he hadn’t thought about doing some of the things that women enjoyed. Hadn’t even asked for her input as it related to their dates. He shook his head. Yeah, he needed to make this right and hoped it wasn’t too late.

  ***

  “Are you all right, Cuz?” Peyton put her arm around Jada’s shoulder. “You’ve been eyeing Zack since we sat down. Why don’t you just go over and say hi.”

  Jada shrugged Peyton’s arm away. “Were all of you in on this? Tricking me to come here so that I could run into him?” The moment her gaze met Zack’s, heat rose to her cheeks. Knowing that he was angry with her didn’t squash the lust pulsing through her veins at the sight of seeing him across the room. She had hurt him. The ache in her heart made her want to hightail it out of the bar. She would never forget the pain in his eyes when he dropped her off at home after their 4-wheeling adventure.