Page 21 of Prophet
We all laughed.
Ma shook her head. “Well, I’m done with you, Cowboy. I’ll let your woman take care of you now.”
I paused and my smile slipped. What did that mean? I never had a man to take care of before now.
Ma could see my confusion. “You just treat him like a little boy who got a scraped knee. Pamper him some and then he’ll sleep like a baby.” She turned and started cleaning up the table.
Cinnamon nodded at me.
I still wasn’t sure what she meant...pamper him?
“Thanks for everything Ma,” Prophet said.
She waved her hands at him. “Ya’ll’s family. That means you get the best and the worst from me.”
Just then, Jarret came into the kitchen and said, “And the best from Bea makes the worst worth it.”
Looking over at him, Ma actually flushed pink. “See? That Walker charm, it is a dangerous thing.”
We all laughed at this.
“Now git!” Ma shooed her hands at us. “I got things ta tend to.”
We all made our way out, except for Jarret.
Cinnamon gave me a nod. “If you need me I’ll be here, Jewel.”
I patted her arm. “Thanks. Before this is all over, I might just take you up on that.”
She smiled and went down the hall.
Prophet looked down at me. “I hope you get it now?”
I nodded. “Some of it, but that scared me. I just felt so shocked.”
Taking my hand, he led me up the stairs. “I would apologize but...I was on the edge of really losing it. So that’s all I can say.”
I noticed his limp and that he was holding his free arm up a bit like it pained him. I bit my lip, as I figured I’d better let the subject drop.
He led me past his door to mine.
I stopped and looked up at him. “I’m supposed to pamper you.”
“That’s cute, it really is.” He shook his head. “But I’m fine, Jewel. We…” He shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “I don’t think you should be pampering me.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And why not?”
“We were supposed to be dating, ya know? Not...you being in my room.”
I dropped my arms in surprise. “I wasn’t—I mean I…” I caught what he meant, we both had sort of a vow about abstinence. Being alone together in his room would tempt that vow maybe?
“I know you didn’t mean that.” He reached over and gently cupped my cheek. “But even as tired as I am... you, me, alone with a bed in the room?”
I shrugged. “Well, that's not a problem.”
“It is for me,” he admitted. “I don’t want to scare you or anything.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
