I led Jabari to the back of the house and showed him where to lay JaBria. She didn’t stir at all when he laid her down. We walked out of the room, shutting the door behind us. I didn’t want to disrupt her sleep, so I told Jabari to follow me as I led him back to my bedroom. It was close enough for us to hear JaBria, but there was a distance between us so that we wouldn’t wake her. Once Jabari stepped foot into my room, I folded my arms across my chest and stared at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Why are you here?”
“Because shit seemed weird as fuck after Kya left, and I wanted to make sure we talked about this shit. I’m picking up on you being a person who tries to mask their feelings, but you’re not tricking me. I know something is bothering you, so talk to me.”
I sighed. “Jabari, please.”
“Nah, don’tJabari, pleaseme. Let me know what’s going on, and I mean that shit.”
I knew he wasn’t going to stop badgering me, and eventually, I would have to tell him what was bothering me.
“I guess hearing some of the shit Kya said made me question all of this that we’ve got going on. I was so lost in a trance with you that I didn’t think to ask about her. On top of that, I have my brother in my ear preaching the same song and dance about focusing on my goals and leaving these niggas to the streets. It’s just a lot, and I needed time to process all those thoughts,” I admitted.
Jabari stared at me. “So, why didn’t you tell me all that? I feel like I’m a reasonable guy, and I can understand a lot of shit. You just got to talk to me.”
“I didn’t want to come off as doing too much by coming to you with this. We’re not even a legit couple?—”
“Yet,” he cut me off.
My eyebrow raised. “Yet?”
“Exactly what I said…yet. We ain’t a couple yet. But regardless of our status, you can come to me with things that are bothering you. We’re both adults. If we can’t have a simple conversation, then I don’t know what to tell you. Understand?”
I nodded.
“I should’ve told you more, but I was embarrassed. I won’t lie. Kya was a single parent, and I did her wrong by having all the responsibilities of JaBria fall on her. I should’ve manned up and done shit fifty-fifty. Still, I wasn’t out here just bullshitting around. I was growing my brand and building my cooking business. Then one day, Kya dropped JaBria off with me and never came back until today. Everything instantly changed for me.” Jabari rubbed the back of his head. “But I’m learning how to balance work and life. I got a little girl that needs her daddy.”
“I’m sorry that happened,” I stated, feeling sorry for JaBria in all of this.
He shrugged. “We’re adjusting. I view it as a blessing in disguise. I’m learning to be a father, which was something I never had.”
“I love that.” I smiled softly.
Jabari moved closer to me and placed a peck on my lips. “And as far as your brother, your life ain’t his. You can do whatever you want to do. I’m sure that nigga’s living his life. Live yours. Now, if he needs to meet me, then I’m okay with that. Set that shit up. Either way, I’m on you bad, and I ain’t coming off you. Trust.”
He kissed my lips. I was thankful for that because he had left me speechless. Jabari reassured me, and he finally opened up to me about what he was experiencing, also letting me know that I could come to him with my worries, even though I knew it would be hard for me.
“From now on, I need you to open your mouth and talk to me. We ain’t doing that handle shit on your own. Now...” Jabari removed his shirt and then his sweatpants. He then pulled my robe off me and let it slide down my body. “Get in bed and wrap those thick, short legs around me. You’re my nighttime routine now, and I didn’t know how I was going to get a good night’s rest without you.” He slapped my butt.
I yelped and then giggled, but I did as instructed and hopped into bed. Jabari followed behind him. He threw his arm around my waist and kissed my shoulder, snuggling closer.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Much better.”
The sun rose,and my internal clock woke up with it. I was scheduled to work today, but not until nine. I turned on my side, and Jabari was still asleep beside me. I smiled at how handsome he looked, even in his sleep. It was still early, so I knew he wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. I quietly got up from the bed, grabbed my robe, and headed to check on JaBria. I peeped my head into the room, and she was still sound asleep. She was sprawled all over the bed, and the covers were damn near on the floor. I softly shut the door and headed to my bathroom to shower and start getting ready for work.
Once I got the shower temperature to how I like it, I stepped inside. The hot water against my skin felt amazing until theshower door opened out of nowhere, causing the cool air to pierce my skin. I yelped.
“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Jabari said.
I looked him up and down and noticed he was naked. I bit my lip as my eyes zoned in on his harden wood.
“Are you getting in?” I asked.
“Damn right, I am.”
