He sighed. “Jade.”
“What? I’m right. You would have busted a U-turn on the damn highway and come back here, never mind the fact that you had your own business to tend to. I was fine. Karim handled it, and trust me, I would have worn his ass out with the metal rod in my hands.”
I could tell he didn’t mean to, but he chortled. “Jade, you are my business. So the fact that I would’ve been here as soon asyou called means I’m handling my shit right. I’m handling you right.”
“But, Oden…”
“But Oden what?” he asked, face holding all the tension in the world.
“Nothing. You’re right.” I conceded, because he was right. I should have called him, but I didn’t because I was all in my head.
He looked shocked. “No fight, just I was right, huh? You feeling alright, love?” His hand was on my forehead in seconds.
I laughed and moved his hand. “Shut up, but I mean I could go for something to eat if you’re cooking.”
He nodded, eyes narrowing as he studied me. “You feel better from earlier?”
“Damn, somebody gave you a play by play, huh?” I looked up from him and my eyes landed on my brother. He didn’t know I was looking at him because whoever was on the phone had all of his attention.
My chin was turned from my brother back to Oden. “What made you throw up earlier?”
I shrugged. “Could be a plethora of things.” I was not willing to talk about a possible baby in the room with my brother who had been damn near telling me I was pregnant every time we talked.
“Like what?”
“Can we talk about it, later please?” I said lowly.
He didn’t get the chance to agree or disagree because Reminisce was speaking and rounding the couch before he could.
“Ol’ girl said he didn’t come in today. She said he was supposed to but called and said he wouldn’t make it. I gave her my number to let me know when he comes in. I’ll let you know when she does.”
Oden nodded. “Aight.”
Reminisce left a little while later after giving me a lecture about being bullheaded. From the moment Oden closed the door, his eyes were on me. They were itching for me to talk. “Later is now, love.”
“There are a variety of reasons I could have thrown up earlier. I know you told me not to, but I warmed my omelet up this morning.”
He looked disgusted because I had put a microwave in his microwave-less kitchen the third week of being here and he hated it. “I’ma throw that thing away, watch.”
I chuckled at his response. “Then it could have been the fact that seeing ol’ boy made me feel so ill that I couldn’t hold it. People can make you physically sick with just the sight of them.”
He nodded, understanding where I was coming from. “True.”
“Then lastly, it could be because I haven’t seen my cycle in a minute. With everything going on, it could have been that plus the fact that I’ve always been an irregular girlie. Though I’m on birth control, I kinda sort of haven’t seen them either… well shit, I’ve never been good at taking them when I’m supposed to. My excuse is I wasn’t having sex.”
That last possible reason had him pushing off the storm-colored door, moving in my direction with quickness. His hand was at my abdomen before the words could escape his lips. “You could be carrying my child?”
“Possibly, but it could be one of the other two reasons.”
“Then let’s be sure. Ain’t that Whole Foodsover here open late?” He looked so serious, like he was about to tell me he’d run over there and get it.
“Oden, they don’t carry pregnancy tests.” I just looked at him, trying to gauge his reaction or response, but he didn’t have much of one. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or disappointed. I didn’t know why that bothered me so much.
“Somebody does. C’mon, we boutta go grab that.” He was now on his feet, moving toward the door.
“Are you mad at me?” I found myself asking, hanging on to an answer I had yet to receive.
He turned around and rushed me once again, his emotions in his eyes. “No, I’m not mad at you, Jade. How could I be? You’re nine times out of ten carrying my child, our child.”
