by D. Camille
“Jordan said to give you fifteen minutes and then come see if you two had hurt one another,” she explained.
Trent stood and walked to his wife. “You know I wouldn’t do anything to her.”
Callie smiled up at him. “I know baby.”
He lowered his head and kissed her softly while placing his hand on her tiny belly. “We’re going to have a long talk when we get back upstairs.”
“I know baby.”
Chloe joined them with a soft smile. “Thank you Callie. It’s good to know that my brothers don’t want to kill me.” She shrugged. “Well, Sean never wanted to.”
Trent raised a brow. “Don’t be so sure.”
Chloe frowned at him. “We all have to work together, so I’m willing to try.”
“What about Ma?” Trent asked.
“What about Daddy?” she countered.
Callie looked between the two and waited. When neither budged, she said, “Why don’t you two take it one day at a time?”
Finally, the two agreed and Chloe was out of the door with Trent and Callie following her to the elevator.
“I’ll see you later Trent.”
“Be good Chloe,” Trent told her. “And don’t give my agent any trouble. You’ve already ran Kyle away.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
When the doors closed, Trent looked down at Callie. “Ohhh, sexy girl you are in so much trouble.”
“It wasn’t me,” she said smiling.
“Where’s my mother?” he asked.
“Upstairs with the girls,” Callie informed him. “She didn’t want to find you two fighting.”
“We didn’t fight,” he explained. “We started to, but then we stopped.”
Callie smiled. “Are you glad you talked to her?”
“I don’t think it did any damage, so that’s good,” he admitted.
Callie touched his face. “With Justin coming back, we’re going to all need level heads.”
Trent agreed and took her hand. “Let’s go upstairs so I can tell Ma that we survived.”
“She wants you two back together,” Callie told him.
“We’ll see how that goes…”
*******
After talking about his family this morning with Lotus, Kent decided to check up on his sister, Keisha. He hadn’t heard anything about her from his mother, so he knew she was probably up to something. Arriving at the apartment that he paid for, he knocked on the door and took a step back when a dude answered the door.
“What up boss?” the guy asked.
Kent took a breath as his green eyes narrowed. “Who da fuck are you?”
“Tone,” he answered with an edge in his voice and Kent’s eyes widened before he pushed his way into the apartment. “Keisha!” Kent called for his sister.
“Look man, you can’t just barge up in here!” Tone protested starting to reach for Kent.
In a flash Kent had his weapon out. “Back the fuck up before I blow your got damn brains out!”
Keisha came running into the room from the bathroom. “Kent! Stop! What are you doing?”
“Who is this answering the damn door like he live here?” Kent demanded.
Tone stood with his hands up against the door. “Keke said I could crash here for a minute.”
Kent looked at him. “Well Keke is a got damn lie and you need to get your shit and bounce before you run into some shit that you wasn’t expecting.”
Tone looked to Keisha in confusion. “This is my brother,” she explained. “You should get your stuff.”
He stood looking at her before Kent snapped, “Dude, get the fuck out!”
Kent watched as the guy grabbed a few items and headed out of the door. Putting his weapon away, he turned to Keisha.
“So you just let dudes lay up in the spot where I pay the fucking bills?” he questioned.
“He needed a place to stay,” she offered. “He’s a friend of Ty’s.”
Kent looked at her. “The dude in jail, Ty?”
“You’re letting friends of a damn convict stay here with you?”
“Just because somebody went to jail, Kent, doesn’t mean they’re a bad person.” Keisha told him. “Our daddy went to jail.”
“So you want to be like Momma? A bunch of kids with they Daddy’s in jail?”
“Don’t talk about Momma like that!” she yelled.
“You need to wake the fuck up Keisha!” Kent yelled. “This is your life! I’m trying to do everything I can for you.”
“I didn’t ask you to do any of this!”
He nodded. “Okay bet, you have until the end of the month to move out. You won’t move into Momma’s house and this will be the last semester of me paying your tuition.”
“Let broke ass Ty help you, if his ass ever gets out,” Kent finished.
Kent walked to the door. “Don’t go crying to Momma, this is your shit.”
Steaming, he walked to his car. Keisha was spoiled and ungrateful, plain and simple. He’d had enough of her shit and wasn’t going to enable her anymore, no matter how much his mother asked him. Enough was enough.
He arrived at work and headed to his office. Carla was standing in the hall and saw his angry face. Smiling, she quickly followed him.
Kent was at his desk when he heard a slight knock. Turning, he looked and saw Carla standing in the doorway. “How can I help you Carla?”
She came inside quietly closing the door behind her. “You okay? You seem upset about something.”
“I’m cool. Thanks,” he said dismissively.
Taking a seat, she stared at him. “I’m a good listener.”
Kent pinned her with a gaze. “Okay, then listen to this…I’m cool. Thanks.”
Carla stood and stared down at him. “Tell her don’t fuck up.”
Kent wondered if he was going to have to file charges on her crazy ass before long. He watched as she left the office and turned to his work. Numbers could calm him down right now. Kent hadn’t been your above-average student, in fact, he’d graduated late from high school. When he’d found his passion for numbers and money at college, his whole world had changed. Numbers never lied, and he found peace in their absoluteness.
Kent had found that the world was filled with untruths and disappointments during his young life and numbers had filled that void. Lotus was like numbers to him also, she lived free from restriction or limitation; she was not limited in any way. Her freedom helped him to breathe and also be free from restriction.
People always wanted to put Kent into a box. They couldn’t handle his outspokenness and passion, but Lotus handled both…very well. She allowed him to be the man he was without trying to change him into someone he wasn’t.
The hours flew past until it was time for him to pick up Lotus from work. Kent stood in the lobby waiting for her and smiled when she emerged and walked into his arms.
“Have you been waiting long?” she asked after kissing him briefly.
“Nah, not really.” Kent began escorting her to the door.
“Do they have any updates on my car?” she asked.
He frowned. “There’s nothing wrong with your car.”
Lotus stopped. “Then why aren’t I driving it?”
“You don’t like me driving you around?” He smiled.
She frowned. “Kent, why the hell didn’t you tell me there was nothing wrong with my car?”
He sighed. “Lotus, please don’t trip. I’ve had a rough day already with one woman.”
Lotus lifted a brow. “Come again?”
“Can we go to the car, please?” he asked.
“Yeah, we better before I knock the hell out of you in this damn hospital.”
In silence, Kent escorted her and opened the door. Lotus rolled her eyes at him as she climbed inside. She watched as he walked around the car, rubbing his forehead. When he settled inside, she waited until he’d started the car and began driving before she turned to him.
“Now what the hell are you talking a
bout?” she demanded.
His phone rang inside the car and they both glanced at the screen which read: Momma.
“I need to take this,” he told her and she nodded.
“Hey Momma,” he said aloud.
“Kent, what did you do to Keisha? She’s here crying her eyes out,” his mother said through the speakers.
Lotus watched his face become angry. “I told her to grow up.”
“She says you put her out of her apartment?” his mother cried and Lotus’ eyes widened.
“Yeah, I did.” He confirmed. “She’s spoiled and ungrateful and I’m not doing another thing for her.”
Lotus continued to listen and decided to remain silent. She could tell that Kent was very angry at his sister right now.
“Did she tell you?” Kent demanded.
“Tell me what?”
“That she had some dude living with her in the apartment that I pay for!” he yelled.
Lotus took in a breath.
“I put him out and then her,” he finished.
“Kent, what is she going to do? You’re not going to pay for her school either?” his mother asked.
He frowned harder. “Hell nah!”
“Kent!” Both Lotus and his mother said simultaneously.
He turned to her and shook his head. “Until Keisha gets her attitude in check, I’m done with her,” he announced. “I don’t owe her anything.”
“If she wants to date dudes in jail and let them crash at her place, go right ahead. Not on my dime…end of discussion.”
“Why don’t you come over tonight for dinner and let’s work this out?” his mother offered.
He shook his head. “No, Lotus is leaving town soon and I’m focused on being with her.”
“Kent, you don’t…” Lotus began.
“Tell Keisha, until she’s ready to apologize and make some changes, I don’t want to hear from her.” He maneuvered the car. “I’ll see you later.”
Kent waited until his mother ended the call then disconnected.
“What happened?” Lotus asked softly touching his rigid arm.
“I went to check on her and she had some dude living there. She’s so damn inconsiderate. I pay all the bills and dude is just sitting up there like he’s on the damn lease.”
“What did you do?” Lotus asked hesitantly.
He looked at her. “I. Put. His. Ass. Out.” He repeated slowly. “Then I told her, she had to go too.”
“Where is she going to go?”
“Not my problem. Not to my Momma’s house though because I will put her ass out of there too.”
Lotus rubbed his arm. “What’s going on with her?”
“She has this thing for thugs. A damn Daddy complex,” he huffed.
“Relax baby, before you kill both of us.” Lotus told him referring to his driving.
Kent automatically slowed down. “I’m sorry. She makes me so damn mad. She was always the problem child.”
“You should drop me off at my car, then go to see your mother and sister.” Lotus told him.
“I’m driving you until you leave for LA, so let’s just ice that.”
Lotus frowned. “Uh, let’s not ice it.” She folded her arms. “I’m not your sister, so don’t get it twisted.”
Kent paused at her tone and looked at her. “Okay little Momma. I got you.”
She unfolded her arms. “Thank you.”
Lotus looked out of the window as they pulled up to her favorite ice cream parlor a short time later.
She turned to him, “Why are we here?”
He smiled at her. “I stopped to get you some ice cream to cool you off.”
On his way out of the car, she called, “Make sure you get some for you too!”
Kent winked at her and laughed. When he returned, he handed her a cup of her favorite flavor. Inside the air conditioned car, they opened their treats.
Lotus took a spoonful and moaned. She snuck a look at him then smiled. “Thank you Kent. I’m sorry I snapped at you. I do appreciate you playing chauffeur.”
Kent paused removing the top of his cup. “I’m sorry Lotus. I should have told you about your car.”
“Can I drive you around until you leave?” he asked.
She laughed softly. “I don’t know why you want to do that, but I guess so.”
“You know why…” he said softly, tasting a spoon full of his ice cream. “Because you’re my number one.”
Lotus ate another spoonful then looked at him. “Is there supposed to be something special about the number one?”
“It’s very special. The number one can only be divided by itself and is the only number that cannot be divided by any other,” he told her and she looked confused.
“And according to a mathematical law, called Benford’s law, it states that in lists of data the number one occurs with a probability of thirty percent, which is much greater than expected,” he finished in a scholarly tone.
Lotus lowered her spoon then looked out of the windows. “Where did Kent go?” she asked turning back to him.
He laughed. “I’m right here, baby.”
“Did you make that up?”
“Nah, I just love numbers.” He smiled at her.
Lotus went back to her ice cream and said to herself, “And I just love you…”
Chapter 16
A few days later, Kent was again driving Lotus, this time to the airport. He had remained silent on the drive as he felt that if he began to speak, he’d just erupt in emotion. The last time he’d felt this way is when he’d accompanied Trent to the bus station on his quest to find his brothers. At that time, he hadn’t known if he’d ever see his best friend again.
Although, Kent knew that he would definitely see Lotus again, he wondered if she would still feel the same way about him. Would her going out to LA change things between them? Would she see things differently?
“Kent,” she called softly.
“Yes,” he answered tightly.
“What’s wrong?”
Kent felt his heart speed up. “I’m straight.”
He felt her warm hand on his arm. “You’re supposed to be honest with me remember?”
Kent remained silent as they reached their destination. He helped her out of the car and grabbed her luggage. Slowly, they walked to the area that housed the private planes. Kent stopped her and pulled her to the side before they got to where Sean and Kyle were waiting.
Lotus looked up at him. “You still want to bring me home?”
“As soon as I can.”
She bit her lip. “Stay out of those strip clubs,” she whispered holding in her tears.
“I don’t give a damn about a strip club, I want you here in Atlanta with me.”
“It’s crazy how much I’m going to miss you,” she told him as a tear fell.
Kent caught it in his hand. “Don’t do that, because I’ll fight Sean and Kyle to take you back home.”
“I don’t want you fighting them,”
He lifted her face to his. “I’m going to miss you Lotus. When you get to LA, don’t forget me.”
“I see you every night and I’ll never stop seeing you,” she promised. “Plus I have a big ass 8 x 10 in my bag. I saw you put it in there.”
“I thought I did that on the low,” he told her.
Lotus shook her head. “Kiss me now before I start crying.”
Kent granted her request and kissed her slowly until neither could breathe. He held her tightly in his arms, feeling her heart beat against his chest.
Lotus pulled away and stared at him. “Please be safe.” She gathered her luggage and started towards Sean and Kyle as Kent stood rooted to the spot.
Suddenly, she stopped and turned back to him. Kent’s heart beat faster as she approached. Lotus threw her arms around him again and kissed his jaw. “I love you...”
The words were a whisper of air floating past his ear before she turned and hurried back to her bags. Lotus began walking the rest of the
distance before a running Kent caught her from behind. Her luggage fell to the floor as she was taken into his arms. She wasn’t allowed a breath before his mouth was on hers.
Sean looked at Kyle, who asked, “Do you think she’ll make it to the plane?”
“We may have to get some security for him,” Sean responded.
Lotus held onto Kent tightly, not wanting to release him. Her words that she’d been unable to contain now hung in the air between them. When his green eyes sought hers, she put a hand to his lips.
“If you tell me, I want to hear it when I see you again…” she whispered. “Otherwise, I’d help you fight Sean and Kyle to stay here.”
Kent reluctantly released her and helped with her luggage. Lotus smiled at him before she turned and walked to meet the waiting men.
Sean connected eyes with Kent and gave him a head nod before Kent turned and walked out of the airport wondering how he was going to live with the emptiness inside of him.
He stepped outside and donned dark sunglasses before heading to his car. Inside, he allowed the air to begin to cool his skin from Lotus’ touch. He took the expensive watch off from his wrist. Slowly he pressed the buttons and watched the numbers as he set an alarm.
Kent put the watch back on and looked at it. When that alarm went off, Lotus would be back in his arms. No matter what he had to do or who he had to do it to….
******
With his mind focused, Kent arrived at his job for a scheduled team meeting. Retrieving his case notes, he headed to the meeting room. He was greeted by two other brokers as he took a seat.
“Where’s Carla?” somebody asked.
Kent remained absorbed in his notes since he neither knew nor cared about Carla’s whereabouts. Kent was still looking over his numbers and thinking about Lotus, when he heard, “Whoa!”
His eyes looked up and saw a woman who looked just like the woman he’d put on a plane a few hours ago. He blinked and she smiled at him with deep dimples. Her hair was a halo around her head of kinky coils. The dress she wore was bright African print and the extra high heels on her feet made her appear taller.
She took the seat across from him. “Hi Kent.”
One thing registered immediately in Kent’s mind. This chick is for real crazy. He studied how she’d copied Lotus’ look all the way down to the earrings and bracelets she wore.