Beauty Beheld, page 18
“You left your jacket at the bar.” He hung it on the back of my chair. “Sorry about all that. That was my varsity basketball team. We were catching up and reminiscing. You okay?”
I smiled up at him. “Yes, I’m good. No worries, bae. It’s a reunion. That’s why you’re here.”
I felt four little holes burning into the side of my head, but I refused to balk under the scrutiny of those women. I never even looked up to gauge their reactions as Ox took a seat.
“Is this cool, or you want something else?”
I gazed down at the plate of hummus, veggies, and pita chips. “This is perfect, bae. Thanks. I don’t want to ruin my appetite for dinner. You’re not having anything?”
“Naw, I’m cool.” He took a slow sip from his cocktail.
“So, I see there were a few sistas who attended your school,” I said, subtly motioning my head toward the bar, where Kennedi had just rejoined Jazmine. My peripheral game was mean.
Ox nodded without looking in their direction either. “Yeah, it was Kennedi, Jazmine, a younger dude named Chaz, another younger guy named Antonio, me, and Preston. That was pretty much it.”
I nodded. “Same. I can count on both hands and a couple of toes how many of us were in the entire school.”
“Yeah, I definitely would have liked to have seen more diversity. It was a nice cohesive vibe, though. Staff and faculty were adamant about making it an inclusive atmosphere. Besides, the Black student body was close-knit and worked hard to make sure we always had a voice and a platform. We started the Black Student Union my sophomore year, which is still thriving today. They’re much larger now and have invited alumni—including a few NBA and NFL players and Fortune 500 execs—to return and speak and network over the years. I’ve also spoken to them a couple of times with some of the other founding members since graduating.”
I thoughtfully bit into a carrot and nodded, but inside I was burning with pride for my man. “Damn, bae, that’s so dope.”
He studied me for a moment, then broke into a smile. “So, when are you going to ask me?”
“Ask you what?”
“Something’s been off since I came over here. I’m guessing you’re wondering if I’ve ever been involved with either of the sistas you just referred to.”
My arm hairs stood at attention. Was I that obvious? I thought I was playing it cool, but he clearly saw right through me. I shrugged. “I figured if that was the case and you felt it was vital information, you would let me know on your own.”
He shrugged as well. “Naw, I didn’t have a girlfriend in high school. Chicks were too much of a distraction for me. I was too busy playing ball and trying to get an academic scholarship to attend school out of state.”
I nodded. “Okay, MVP. Didn’t know you were a star athlete.”
“And a debater and a mathlete.”
My eyes bugged. “Come again?”
“Yeah, I was into everything—robotics, sports, student council. Had a lot going on.”
I guess he really was a beast, as Jazmine had so eloquently put it.
“Let me find out my sexy babe was, in fact, a sexy little nerd.” I did a shoulder shimmy.
He rolled his eyes as a slow smile crept onto his lips, highlighting that cute little dimple.
“What? Black men who are confident in showcasing their intelligence are an aphrodisiac like no other for me.”
“I’ve seen everyone I was hoping to, so we can head out in a few.”
“Cool. So, Preston and Mia are meeting us at your parents’, then?”
Ox’s smile slipped, and he cleared his throat before taking a long drink from his cocktail. I saw that eye twitch again. After a few tense moments passed, I was about to ask if I’d unknowingly said something wrong.
His voice was strained when he replied, “Nah, babe, we’ll just see them at dinner.”
His reaction triggered a few more questions, along with a bit of uneasiness. Did their mom dislike Mia? I wanted to press Ox further so I could know what I was about to walk into because I was already nervous as hell about whether his mom would like me. The last thing I needed was to walk into another Friday night “framily” dinner type of situation and be ambushed with family drama like what had happened at Daniel’s house. But I realized I had struck a sore spot somehow. Not at all used to hitting a brick wall with him, I eased up and reached across the table for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze instead. I was confident he would tell me about it whenever he was ready.
That was how I’d failed to notice we had unwanted company.
“Hey, good people!”
I jumped when her squeaky voice invaded our space.
“I don’t mean to interrupt. Just wanted to stop by and say hey.”
I looked up at those doe eyes again and fought off the impulse to knock those shiny new veneers down her throat.
Ox seemed slightly relieved by our eager little intrusion. “Hey, Jazmine. How’s it going?” He stood up to give her a quick hug.
“I’m doing well, Lenny. I had the pleasure of meeting Patience at the bar earlier. She’s lovely. How’d you guys meet?”
So, since I shut her down at the bar earlier, her puppeteer was sending her over to get the scoop. I studied her frozen smile and smirked, not saying a word.
Ox sat down and finally spoke up, but I could tell he was a bit put off by her forwardness as well. “We met on a business trip.”
“Oh . . . that’s nice. Well, you look cute together.”
Uh-huh. Bitch over here trying to save face. You know I heard every word of your friend’s thirsty little plot. And yes, this here bitch stays on her “A-game.”
“Thanks,” Ox said, squeezing my hand and eying me with that same look that sends me spiraling. He better cut that shit out before I canceled the whole night and dragged his ass right upstairs.
“Well, like I said, I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Will you guys be at Soul Roll?”
“Yeah, we’ll be there. Should be like old times.”
There they go with that “old times” shit again, I thought. Then an image of my awkward ass wobbling on roller skates flashed in my mind. I bet those heifas were nice with the skates. But I’d be damned if they were about to finesse my man on the floor without me on some New-New and Star from ATL type shit. Over my dead damn body. I’d have to figure this situation out.
“Babe, we should get going,” Ox said, standing up suddenly. He must have read my facial expression, my vibe, or my “energy,” as he liked to put it. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I grabbed my purse and jacket and stood.
He turned to Doe Eyes. “Jazmine, we’ll be having a private dinner, so we’ll catch you and Kennedi a little later.”
Something flashed in her eyes, but it was so quick that I couldn’t pinpoint it. Then she smiled and nodded, turning on her heel and prancing away without another word.
I felt Ox’s arm snake around my waist, resting on top of my ass as we headed out of the room. He waved to his former classmates with one hand and gave my rump a firm pat with the other. I couldn’t help but giggle. No backward glance was necessary. I knew I was the envy of every woman in that room.
When we entered his parents’ luxury apartment building, it felt like we’d just walked into another hotel. The elaborate, expansive lobby was gorgeous. The closer we got to the elevator, the more my stomach flipped. When the doors opened, a young couple stepped out, arguing passionately and paying us no never mind. I stopped dead in my tracks.
“What’s wrong?” Ox asked.
I turned to him and placed a hand on his chest. “Hey, I saw a Whole Foods not too far from here. Do you mind if we grab a bottle of wine or fresh flowers or something else your mom may like right quick? I’d hate to meet her empty-handed.”
His brow furrowed for a moment before his face melted, giving way to a warm grin. “You’re nervous to meet Moms, aren’t you?”
“What? No! I just want to be polite. When it comes to most mamas, first impressions are critical. I just want this to be right.”
“Well, my mom isn’t like that. But we can head over there if you want. It’s just a three-minute walk.”
We clasped hands as we turned to leave, buying me a few more minutes of peace. As we stepped back out onto the street, a gust of warm wind greeted us. We set out on our path, enjoying the day’s final rays of sunlight.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, I said, “So, you said your dad is out of town on business this weekend, right? I hate that I’m going to miss meeting him.”
Ox nodded, then squeezed my hand, checking for traffic before we crossed the street. “Yeah, he spends a lot of time on the road. Neither of them was home much when I was younger, but my mom’s retired now.”
“What did they do?”
“My mom owned a hair salon and a couple of small beauty supply stores. Halo’s a sales manager at Marriott. So, they could afford to send me to private schools, but between both of their busy schedules . . .”
“You were a latchkey kid. Yeah, I know all about that life. More than I’d like to.”
He nodded, keeping his gaze straight ahead. “Spent a lot of time after school at friends’ houses and plenty of summers with relatives.”
“So, who came to all of your games and tournaments?”
“They alternated. I have an uncle here in Brooklyn who’s a truck driver. So, he made them whenever he was in town. Once my mother made enough money with the salon to hire more employees at her stores and retire, she started coming to a lot more of my games and spending more time at home. That was when I hit my junior year. We’ve been extremely close ever since. My father stopped making them altogether once I made varsity.”
I waited for a beat, and when he didn’t offer anything further, I asked, “How’s your relationship with your dad?”
He cleared his throat and stepped aside as I entered the grocery store ahead of him. It was busy inside, and I got a bit distracted by all of the hustle and bustle. I scanned the perimeter for signs directing me to the wine aisle.
“You may want to get her flowers instead. She has expensive taste in wine.”
“Well, I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love blackberry merlot or a good prosecco with pear juice. But I’ll take your word for it.” I headed for the floral department and picked out a bouquet of bold gerbera daisies and white roses.
“Nice pick. She’ll love these.” Ox leaned over my shoulder, and I brought the bouquet up to his nose for a quick sniff.
After a second thought, I stopped by the wine section. I grabbed a bottle of rosé when I couldn’t find my merlot. I looked down when I felt my phone vibrate. I didn’t recognize the phone number, but it was from a 216 area code. Something told me to grab it.
“Hello,” I said, stepping into the self-checkout line with Ox.
“Hi, Patience. It’s Mrs. Francois.”
What in the entire hell? “Hold, please.” I muted the call before turning to Ox. “Bae, I need to take this call. Can you check out, and I’ll meet back up with you in a moment?”
He frowned, reading my expression. “Sure. Everything good?”
I nodded. “Yeah, this shouldn’t take long.”
“No problem. Meet me out front when you’re done.”
I headed toward the bathroom before resuming the call. “What can I do for you, Lovelie?”
She paused and cleared her throat. I know she was used to me referring to her as Mrs. Francois, but that was a salutation of respect. And the game done changed.
“It sounds like I’ve caught you while you’re out, so I’ll be brief. I’m reaching out regarding Daniel. Ever since the two of you parted ways, he just hasn’t been himself. He’s been picking up far too many shifts at the hospital, and he hasn’t been getting enough sleep or studying time. I’m afraid he may not pass the APRN exam if he continues at this rate.” She paused. “Patience, are you still there?”
Yes, trying to figure out what the hell all this has to do with me. “Yes, I am.”
“I now understand that I wasn’t always supportive of your relationship. But one thing I never doubted was your loyalty and devotion to Daniel. You’ve always kept him on a balanced routine, and now he’s really struggling to keep it all together. Princessa and I have tried to offer our support, but he’s not accepting help from either of us.”
Another pause. It sounded like she was putting me on speakerphone.
“I’m asking if you can reach out to Daniel as a friend to help him get himself back on track. It would be greatly impactful for him to hear from you right now.”
I had initially tried to pursue a relationship with Lovelie to fill a stable mother-figure role that was void in my life. At first, her approval meant everything to me. I thought that if I changed the way I dressed, walked, or talked, she would accept me. I was a lot younger then. Over the years, she showed me that no matter what I did, she refused to see me as anything other than another tool for manipulating her son. As long as she kept the insults coming and refused to accept me, the wedge would prevent us from taking the next step in our relationship. But I jumped off of that toxic merry-go-round and wasn’t interested joining her for another ride. She no longer had me to manipulate and harass on end, and now she needed me. Lovelie was trying to shove her bunions into my stilettos. The shoe of being Daniel’s primary cheerleader, supporter, and caretaker was now on the other foot. And she was finally able to see just how critical I was to Daniel’s success. I’d be lying if I doubted enjoying this moment.
“Thanks for reaching out, Lovelie. I’ll be sure to keep Daniel in my prayers. But my answer is no.”
I heard her sharp gasp, followed by her muffled voice stating, “She said no.” A few seconds later, she said, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said I won’t be reaching out to Daniel today or any other day. If I were to do that, it wouldn’t provide anything more than a Band-Aid on a deep mother wound. What Daniel has always needed is stitches, and those can only come from you. I’m sure you’ve called me out of genuine care for your son. But instead of putting the task of addressing his brokenness on me, use that energy to accept and embrace your son with unconditional love. He may not have made all the decisions in his life that you wanted, but he deserves your love and support nonetheless. And most importantly, your respect for whatever his life choices may be. That’s what will help him the most right now.”
“Amen, sis!” I heard Princessa yell in the background.
“Best of luck with everything,” I said, then ended the call.
I studied my reflection in the mirror. Up until that moment, my stomach was doing flip-flops about meeting Ox’s mother. I was concerned that she may judge me or misunderstand me the way Lovelie had. But I realized she would be meeting an entirely different woman. I knew what I brought to the table, and I was prepared to show up as my authentic self. And that would have to be good enough for her. I washed my hands, refreshed my lipstick, and walked out.
I joined Ox outside, and we headed back to his parents’ apartment. “See, just a fifteen-minute detour. We’ll be back at the apartment soon.”
Ox shrugged. “Our dinner reservation isn’t for another hour, so we have plenty of time.”
“Thanks for working extra time into our itinerary. You know I’m always throwing us off schedule.”
“No problem. How are you enjoying yourself so far?”
“Brooklyn is beautiful. How long have your parents lived in their apartment building?”
“Not very long. They’re hipsters at heart, so it didn’t surprise me when they sold the house right after I graduated high school and opted for apartment living. It fits their lifestyle a lot better. I think this is their third apartment in the past decade.”
“Have they been down to visit you in Atlanta yet?”
“Not yet. I’ll get them down there before the end of the summer.”
We returned to the lobby and took the elevator. Ox leaned over and pressed the sixth-floor button. I smoothed my dress and slid my hands over my hair.
“You look stunning.”
“Thanks, bae. I can’t wait to meet your mom.”
“I’ve already told her all about you. She can’t wait to meet you, either.”
“Yeah, I bet she’s been waiting for this a long time. Your first real girlfriend. This is going to be interesting.”
“Please stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Parting and puckering your lips like that. You do it when you’re overthinking, and that shit turns me on.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize—”
Before I could finish my sentence, his lips were on mine. His oncoming weight pinned us against the wall for the second time that evening. I reached down, gripping the handrail to steady myself. His hot breath spasmed as his sweet tongue massaged my lower lip. I reached up and palmed his head, hungrily sucking his full lips as the gentle push of our ascension exploited the tingling sensation between my thighs. Still gripping the wine and flowers, he slid his free hand up my dress. A low grunt slipped from his lips as he fingered my thong’s dainty lace. He stroked the fabric lightly, causing me to purr as he pulled away and stared at me. I couldn’t read his eyes.
Then with a raspy voice, he said, “I should stop this elevator.”
“Don’t you dare, Lennox Davenport,” I shrieked.
He walked over to the control board, and I glanced down to see my joystick standing at full mast.
“You’re being so unfair. I’m meeting your mother in a few seconds.”
He pulled the stop button. “You don’t have to. We can just tell her I wasn’t feeling well . . . head back to the hotel.”
I balked as he reached into his pants and began massaging himself.
My eyes scanned the small space for a camera.
12
