Page 31 of A Cancer's Embrace
“I appreciate that.”
He handed me the food and then paused. “Are you sure we’re good? Did I say something? I didn’t expect Kya to show up over here. I swear I didn’t.”
“I told you already. I’m good. I just miss my bed.”
I placed a quick peck on his lips, hoping to let some of his curiosity settle.
“If you say so. Let me walk you to the car.”
I grabbed my belongings and headed to the door. Jabari stood waiting for me. We walked in silence toward my car. Just like any other day, Jabari opened the door for me. He placed the food on the back seat and then turned to face me.
“Call me if you change your mind. I’ll be up for a while.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to do that.”
Jabari stared at me for a while longer. I was nervous that he was about to ask me again what was wrong. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold back my true feelings.
“Let me know when you get home,” he stated.
“I will. Thanks for the food.”
“You’re welcome. Are you sure you’re good?”
I nodded my head, then pecked his cheek and smiled. “I’ll let you know when I’m home.”
I got in the driver’s seat, and he closed the door. I placed my car in drive and backed out while Jabari remained in the driveway, watching me drive away. Once I turned the corner and was out of the neighborhood, I let my emotions win. Tears flowed down my face. Everything had hit me all at once. I couldn’t believe I let myself fall into La La Land without thinking about everything else at stake. I should’ve asked Jabari about Kya in the beginning. I should’ve asked about his past life and whether there was anybody else out there thinking he was their boyfriend. However, I should’ve also made sure that this was something I needed to do at the time. Gio was right. I had goals, and I didn’t need to be distracted from them. Yet the carelessness in me didn’t want to care about that anymore. I wanted to enjoy whatever this was that I was doing.
Thirty minutes later, I had arrived home, and I still didn’t feel any better after crying the entire drive. I knew it was going to be a long night of tossing and turning because my thoughts were all over the place. I made it inside the house and placed my food in the fridge. I had little appetite, despite how wonderful everything smelled. I made my way to the bathroom and stripped out of my clothes, turning the shower on as hot as it could go. I jumped in, hoping that the pressure from the shower would release some of the tension I felt. No matter how hard I tried, my thoughts wouldn’t settle.
Finally, after spending twenty minutes in the shower, I climbed into my bed. Even though I told Jabari I missed my bed, I missed his more. Not because of the comfort level but because of how warm his body laid against mine or how I had the luxury of wrapping my legs in his. Our nighttime routine was everything I had wanted. I pulled out my Kindle, hoping it would help settle my racing mind. A good book always relaxed and helped me fall asleep. As soon as I clicked on the book to get lost in it, my phone rang. I reached for it off the nightstand, and Jabari’s name flashed across the screen.
“Hello?” I answered.
“I thought I told you to let me know when you made it home.” His tone sent chills down my back.
I could tell he was upset from the sternness in his voice.
“I’m sorry. It slipped my mind.”
He sighed. “What’s going on with you? I can tell something is wrong. Talk to me, Amina.”
“Jabari...”
“You know what? Come to the door.”
My eyes widened. “What do you mean, come to the door?”
“Just what I said. Get up and come open the door for JaBria and me.”
I quickly grabbed my robe and wrapped it around my body, racing toward the front door and snatching it open. Jabari stood there with his headphones in his ear, holding a sleeping JaBria.
“Jabari, what the hell are you doing here?”
“You ain’t gonna let us in?”
I quickly ushered him inside the house, shutting the door and locking it behind him.
“Follow me so that you can lay her down. I have a spare room.”
