Sweet Love

by Lolah Lace

  Jason rubbed the red heart with the letter V inside the heart.

  “This was the last tattoo I got. I got it on my mum, I mean my mother’s birthday. She’s been dead for a very long time. Recently, I was being a really bad person. She’d be very disappointed. She raised me up to be a better person. I thought that if I inked her heart somewhere I could see it all the time it would remind me to be a good boy.”

  I felt like shit way deep down in my gut. I only knew very little about Jason. I never really pried. This story was a lot to take in. It made me think about my mother and how I couldn’t live life without her smile, her laugh, and her wisdom.

  Jason was very still and looking down at his heart tattoo. He wasn’t moving and it even looked like he wasn’t breathing. I’d really stuck my foot in it.

  When he finally looked up at me there were tears in his eyes. If he blinked they might fall out but he wasn’t blinking. His face was stoic, still and hurt.

  Shit! Shit! Shit! I didn’t mean anything. I was just playing around. I should’ve shut my big mouth. Here he was only twenty years old without a mother. He looked so gloomy. It was like he wasn’t even inside his body.

  It took three steps to be right in front of him.

  “Oh God, Jason, I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry? You didn’t kill her.”

  What the fuck? Did someone kill her? Huh? “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m not upset.”

  “Would a hug make you feel better?”

  “I think so.” He rubbed the wetness from his eyes and raised his arms out to me.

  I inched forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me in tightly and I smiled to myself. He snuggled into my chest while I was standing there in between his open legs. He found a way to put his face in my breasts. This kid was doing the most. I wasn’t going to stop him. I was really being rude and it backfired.

  We were fused like this for some time until I felt his huge hands on my ass.

  “Jason, what are you doing?” I muttered.

  “Smelling your tits.” He mumbled into my shirt. “Do you put perfume on your tits? They smell so fucking good.”

  “No, Jason, that’s just soap.”

  He rubbed his nose over my covered nipple. This hug was over. I reached behind me and removed his grubby paws from my ass cheeks. I leaned back and broke the connection.

  “That was great.” He was grinning.

  “Do you feel better now?”

  “Yes, of course. I’m over the moon.”

  “The way you talk is so odd.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m a strange fellow but cute.”

  “Yes, strange but cute.” I agreed. “I’m going to get my laptop.”

  “Good idea. I’m going to design my next tattoo. I think I’m going to draw a black kitty cat pole dancing on a peppermint candy cane.”

  I scowled in his direction. “You do that.”

  This young man made this tedious job more exciting. I left mister-man alone to go upstairs for my laptop.

  The entire day was quiet until the summer camps let out for the day. A harem of teenage girls came in to buy candy and ogle my hunky and mischievous employee. Some of these girls were of age and true to fashion Jason never took them seriously. He never gave out his number to anyone. Not even the girls that looked like they were legal and undiscovered supermodels. Clearly, he wasn’t gay. Did he really want an entire summer without dating anyone? He was invited to pool parties and other young people events and he always lied and said he was busy.

  He handled getting a lot of attention like a champ. He wasn’t irritated by it and it didn’t change how he acted. He was always inviting, cordial and a pretty good salesman.

  I looked up from my computer every time the bells on the door chimed. I looked down when I saw it was another young girl. This time I didn’t have to look down and tune things out.

  Nelson Deener was walking into Sweet Treats. Seeing him out in the light of day made me think that maybe I could see us together. It would only be for a brief limited time. There was no way I was moving to Galena for good. I was sure he wouldn’t uproot his life for me if we hit it off. I could hang out with him for my remaining weeks and see what happens.

  Maybe I could have a real sexual encounter. I could barely remember my last one. Sleeping with Nelson was so long ago. I couldn’t even remember the size of his penis. If I had sex with Nelson it wouldn’t be adding a number to the amount of men I slept with. This was a good thing. I wanted to keep my number low because I had a few too many dicks in college.

  Mr. Denner was here for me and it felt nice. It was a sign that he was interested. He still looked good for his age despite the extra pounds around his waistline. He looked better in the face. Men had the tendency of doing that. It was cruel that they got better looking when the complete opposite happened for women. I had enough melanin to get me through for a few more years but gravity was going to snatch me up eventually.

  “Hey.” I smiled when he approached me. I scurried around the counter to give him a welcoming hug.

  “Katrina, the place looks nice.” Nelson’s eyes explored the shelves and bins of the store.

  “Thanks.”

  “I haven’t been in here in years.”

  “You haven’t brought your kids by for some sweet treats?”

  “They usually just get on their bikes and ride into town on their own. You know the older they get the more they don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

  “That’s so true.” I chuckled. I could see Jason hovering around behind Nelson pretending to look inside the candy jars. He lifted the libs and played around with the silver candy scooper. “What brings you to Sweet Treats?”

  “I just wanted to come by and visit. I had such a good time at dinner. We didn’t even have enough time to catch up on everything.”

  “I know. It’s been so long.”

  “I was so happy to see you I forgot to get your number. I need it to ask you on a real date. We have so much more to talk about. I know a little town gossip too.”

  “I’m not in contact with anyone from high school. I want to hear everything.”

  “Word, okay then.”

  “Did you just say word?” I giggled.

  “Yep. Maybe in a few days, we can have dinner.”

  “At Log Cabin?” I offered a location.

  “You remembered. That’s my favorite place.”

  “How could I forget? You got a job there senior year.”

  “Oh, you remember that.”

  “Yes, of course. I gained ten pounds from all the free food when you worked there.”

  “It was my job to make sure my girl was nourished.”

  “I could barely fit any of my clothes when I went away to college.”

  “Don’t hold that against me now.”

  “I’m not.” I grabbed my cell phone from underneath the register. I hit a few buttons. “Just put your number in.” I handed my cell phone over to Nelson. I watched as he tapped his number in. He gave me my phone back and I made sure to save his number. “I can give you a call tomorrow and we can figure something out for the end of the week.”

  “Yeah, yeah. That’s great.” Nelson smiled and his smooth skin spread in all the right places. He was more attractive now than when he was as a teenager. He had a little something-something.

  "Now we can afford to eat there." I joked.

  “Maybe you can afford it but I got greedy kids to feed.”

  I giggled. “Right, wait until they go to college. You’ll be in the poor house.”

  “True dat. I’m not going to hold you up. I was just dropping by. I have to pick up one of my kids from some summer extracurricular activity. Is it wrong to steer them away from college.”

  “Yes, it is.” I laughed.

  “Thought so. Stay dry. I hear it’s supposed to start raining soon. Hit me up.”

  “I will.”

  We both m
oved in at the same time to give each other another a hug. I watched Nelson leave the store and walk down the street.

  I walked back behind the counter and sat in the high chair.

  “Gross.” Jason’s voice came from across the room.

  “What’s gross?”

  “You, falling all over Denzel Washington.”

  Nelson was a decent looking man but he was no Denzel.

  I pursed my lips. “Ah, it’s not in my nature to fall over any man.”

  “That guy, he was one of your exes?”

  “Yes.” I shook my head.

  “From high school?”

  “Yes, Nelson is my first real boyfriend.”

  “Real, meaning?” He raised his thick dark eyebrow at me.

  “My first.” I squinted, tilted and head and gave him a hard stare.

  Jason’s face twisted. “You gave him— your virginity. Did he have hair back then?”

  “Yes, he had hair way back in the day.”

  “I don’t like him.”

  “I don’t think he cares.”

  “Why was he here?”

  “He came in to ask me out. Weren’t you eavesdropping?”

  “Out where? On a date?”

  “Yes, on a date. People my age go on dates. We don’t just hang out at the mall.”

  “I don’t like him.” He pouted. He was really pouting.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you’re not going to be dating him.”

  “If you go out with him I’m quite sure I would be jealous. That guy is not in your league. He’s clearly a wanker.”

  “Oh, Jason sometimes you say some really weird shit.” Did he just call Nelson a wanker?

  “You say that all the time. I’m making a concerted effort to be less weird.”

  “Weird is not what I mean. You just don’t talk like a regular young person. I edit books and you have a broad vocabulary. You say things like concerted. My son is fifteen and I’m sure he doesn’t even know what that word means. When I say weird I don’t really mean it. I mean advanced. You know a lot of stuff for a twenty-year-old guy.”

  “I’m not sure, but this all sort of seems like a compliment and also I way to change the subject. I don’t want you to go out with old man Nelson. What kind of name is Nelson? I mean there’s only one Nelson and that’s Mandela. Giving your child that name it just seems rude. He will never be able to live up to that name.”

  “I’m sure it’s a family name. Instead of worrying about my dating life, you should try to find you a suitable girlfriend before summer is over. Some of the girls that come in here are very pretty.”

  “Most girls my age are self-obsessed have low self-esteem and severe daddy issues. Like you pointed out, I’m a bit advanced. The conversations with girls my age will be superficial and boring.”

  “You don’t know that. All women aren’t the same.”

  “Why would you date this guy Nelson if you’re going back home in two months?”

  “Because as a real adult person, I can do whatever I want to do.”

  I walked out of the room. I intended to walk away but I didn’t know how else to handle the situation. I feared that Jason would challenge me and I wouldn’t even have the right words to spar with him. He was too smart for his own good. It’s not like I could take off a belt a spank his legs.

  Chapter 9

  KATRINA

  The entire day passed without any incident. I kept the mop handy because customers were walking in with wet feet. Some would come in for a few seconds when the rain was coming down in buckets. Jason was being his normal jovial self with the customers. He was just acting bizarrely with me. He had engaged all the customers in small talk, even the ones that didn’t buy anything, the ones taking refuge from the rain. He ran the store with me being in the backdrop. He wasn’t saying much more to me then was required. He was giving me his polite version of the cold shoulder. Maybe I was reading it all wrong but I think he was sulking about Nelson. It was cute but he would get over it. I was divorced and no man could ever tell me what to do.

  We both cleaned the store before closing. When it was time to lock the door I wanted to address the boundaries. My nerves wouldn’t let me. The fact that I was obsessing about a little kiss, some groping, and a little flirtatious banter seemed ridiculous. Jason’s nonchalance was about to drive me crazy. There was no way I was going to let this young man get into my head.

  It had been raining off and on all day. The streets were wet and there was no way I could let Jason drive home at night in the rain. If something happened to him it would be my fault. I would want to fight any parent that would let my kid ride a bike in the dark, in the rain when they had a car. Jason didn’t live far and it would be nothing for me to throw his bike in the back of my car and drive him home.

  “I’m going to head out now.” He finally said something to me.

  “No.”

  “Do you have something more for me to do?”

  Jason ran his hand through his hair and it was sexy the way his bicep bulged with the motion. But I wasn’t going to let that distract me from my Good Samaritan task.

  “No, it’s pouring outside. I can’t let you ride your bike all the way home in the rain.”

  “I get to sleep over.” His eyes grew large.

  “What?” Where did he get the notion from the words I said?

  “You’re not offering me a sleepover?”

  “No, of course not. You wish.”

  “Yes, I do wish.”

  Silence. I couldn’t come up with anything witty. His responses were always the opposite of what I thought they would be.

  “I’m offering to give you a ride home.”

  “Oh, okay.” He shrugged like he was disappointed.

  I swear this young man is too damn much. I laughed inside. Did tall, muscular, Bieber really think he was spending the night? He was more like a new school Jordan Knight. Lord these young folks nowadays.

  “You can put your bike in the trunk. I really can’t let you go riding off in the dark while it’s raining. Someone could hit you or you could catch a cold.” Jason was smiling at me. “Why are you smiling?”

  “You’re acting like a mother.”

  “I am a mother.”

  “It’s adorable.”

  “Jesus Jason. Just put your bike in my fucking trunk.” He’s got me out here cussin’. Lord. “I’m sure you know where the key to my car is. You know everything else.” I threw up my hands in exasperation.

  He chuckled. “Your doors are unlocked. I don’t need a key.”

  I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help it.

  “Just do it. I’m going to get my jacket.” I left him standing in the store and I went upstairs to get my purse and my raincoat. I probably wouldn’t get wet but it was better to be with it than without it.

  I hustled up my things and locked the back door. I tossed my hood up on my head. I quickly jogged across the yard to the garage. When I entered the garage Jason was leaning on the passenger door looking down at his cell phone screen.

  “What are you doing Snap-Chatting or Tik-Toking?”

  “I’m currently not on social media.”

  “Not at all?”

  “Nope.”

  “Everyone has a Facebook page.” I pushed my hood back off my head.

  “I don’t have any social media apps on my mobile.” Jason handed his cell phone over to me. The screen was unlocked and there were only a few apps. There were the ones that came on the iPhone. None were social media apps. He had a jeopardy game. I thought that was odd considering his age but Jason wasn’t your average twenty-year-old man. He was charming, smart, witty, funny and well-spoken. He would be perfect for my daughter but I wasn’t sure she was attracted to White guys. I had a feeling she would probably end up with a college-educated Black man that belonged to a fraternity.

  Jason was just starting out. He still had a chance to go to college and get a degree. He could teach music. He seemed to enjoy playing the guitar.
He had a fabulous voice. I was no expert but he seemed to be rather good at music. He played the guitar on his breaks and he knew so many songs without sheet music. I was beyond impressed.

  I handed his cell back to him. “You ready to go?”

  “Yes, Kat, I’m always ready to go.”

  “I’m glad you decided to start back talking to me.” I cut my eyes at him. He grinned.

  I hit the button to open the automatic garage door. Jason got in the passenger seat and I got in the driver’s seat. I placed my seatbelt on and glared over at him until he did the same. I pulled out into the alleyway. I waited for the garage door to go back down. I flicked my windshield wipers on and I pulled my car out onto Main Street.

  “I think I know where you live but don’t let me get turned around.” That wasn’t honest. I knew exactly how to get to his place. I drove by to make sure it was a real address with a real house on the property.

  “I will let you know if you’re driving off course. Try to keep us out of the river.”

  “You really think you’re a funny guy.”

  “I do believe I’m quite comical.”

  “Why don’t you take the guitar with you?”

  “I have a guitar at my uncle’s place.”

  “Have you thought about going to college to study music?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I know you know how good you are.”

  “You think I’m good?”

  “Don’t play.” I eyed him curiously. “You’re better than good. You have all that music in your head. You could be a music teacher.”

  I could feel his eyes on me but I was going to keep my eyes in the wet dark road.

  “I don’t have the time to go to University.”

  “Come on Jason. You’re not busy. You work at a candy store. I know you want to be more than a cashier.”

  “I’m okay with the life I have right now.”

  “But you have to plan for your future.”

  He chuckled. “Do you get on your kids about this kind of stuff?”

  "I don't have to get on my daughter. She's really ambitious. She wants to be a lawyer and she's smart enough to pass the bar when the time comes. My son wants to be a filmmaker so he has it in his mind that he's going to Colombia College in Chicago. I'm okay with it to some degree. I don't want him to be in the entertainment industry but if he seriously wants to pursue it I'm not going to discourage him."