Page 48 of Where Is the Love

It had been three weeks since I’d seen or heard from Jess, and I refused to take this separation lying down. I had to fight for her. That was why I was on my way to Houston. I fucked up, but was what I did so unforgiveable? In my eyes, it wasn’t, but unfortunately, my eyes didn’t matter. The only eyes that mattered at this point were hers. I just hoped she could find it in her heart to forgive me for being an insensitive, proud jackass.

I’d been regrouping and trying to come up with a business proposal to present to a local bank. Although we’d discussed the stables, I knew it wouldn’t generate steady income at first. So Kenny and I had done some serious brainstorming, and he suggested that I just open a gym in Nome. He said people all around here went to Beaumont to workout. So we came up with the idea for a gym and a hike and bike trail. Of course, I wouldn’t charge for the hike and bike trail, but I could include it in the proposal.

Kenny had looked over everything for me, and Jasper’s wife, Chasity, had gone over the numbers. The Hendersons had stepped up for me in major ways. Whatever I could do to help them in the future would be a done deal, no questions asked. They’d stepped up for me in ways I couldn’t believe. Even when I went to the bank, Kenny and Jasper accompanied me. It was almost guaranteed I would get this loan from their presence alone. They’d even said they would cosign if I needed it.

I couldn’t believe they would step up for me that way. No one had ever done something of that magnitude for me. Hell, I didn’t know anyone thatcoulddo something like that for anybody! I was blessed, and I knew my connection to Jessica had something to do with that. Before I left, I talked to Kenny and told him that I was going to Houston and to wish me luck.

Since Decaurey had been talking to Tyeis, Jakari had gotten the entail from him about Jessica’s schedule. Tyeis had said that Jess had been on break for nearly two weeks. That was shocking to me, because she’d told me that she normally went to Nome when she had long breaks like that. I supposed since I was there and Nesha was married, she wasn’t in a hurry to get there.

I was about twenty minutes from her condo, and I was nervous as fuck. I didn’t know how she would react to me popping up on her. It would probably be like déjà vu for her, reminding her of Decklan. Kenny said that she and Decklan had talked a day or two before she left. He was the one who encouraged me to go to her. Although I’d said I would hunt her ass down if I had to, my reservations with the situation had crept in.

All the things I’d said about Decklan seemed to be true for me as well. I’d been texting and calling her every day, probably stressing her the fuck out. However, like him, I wouldn’t give up until she talked to me and told me to leave her the fuck alone. Otherwise, I would continue harassing her. Jessica was supposed to be mine. We were destined, and I could feel it. I knew she could too. I just had to prove to her that I wasn’t the man that verbally attacked her for something she had nothing to do with… not knowingly anyway.

When I got to her place and saw her car, my heart rate picked up a bit. I’d never been nervous about approaching a woman. Well, it wasn’t me approaching her that had me nervous. It was what her response would be that had me about to sweat. I didn’t want to continue life without her. She was the woman I needed more than anyone else. She was my soulmate. I had to fix this shit, even if it wasn’t an easy fix.

I got out and made my way to the door. The moisture in my beard caught me off guard. I needed to chill out. After ringing the doorbell, I took a step back to see if I saw any movement inside. It looked pretty dark. I rang it again then turned to look around, only to bump right into Jess. “You looking for me?” she asked seriously.

“Yeah, hey,” I said as I scanned her sweaty body clad in spandex. “I just got here,” I said.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off her sexy ass body. She nodded then reached in her fanny pack. “I’m assuming you want to talk. Let me take a shower first.”

“Okay.”

She opened the door and said, “Make yourself comfortable. Give me about thirty minutes.”

I nodded and watched her ass jiggle as she walked away.Damn.She was so fucking fine. I went to the couch and chilled out while she took a shower. She seemed so nonchalant, like my presence didn’t rock her world. I could tell she was just as nervous as I was. I could see her body tremble as she spoke. She was a sweaty mess, but that only made her sexier. Her stepdad was right on the money when he asked her to be a model for his boutique. Her humble beginnings had become a thing of the past. I saw her on a billboard for Ashley Stewart on my way here.

I played on my phone, trying not to stress too much about what I thought she might say. As I played on my phone, I saw I had an email from the bank. I quickly opened it to see I had gotten the loan! I was too excited. I digitally signed those papers she sent over so damn fast I could barely see straight. I texted Kenny immediately.

I got the loan! Thank you so much for all you’ve done to help me.

No problem. Congratulations. You made it to Houston yet?

Yes. I’m waiting for her to get cleaned up. She’d just gotten back from working out. I’m nervous as hell, but I didn’t come all the way out here to leave without her being in my life.

Man up and get what you went there for. I’m proud of you. It’s important to rectify your mistakes. I feel like she’s going to eventually let you do that. If she doesn’t give in this time, don’t give up. You’ll wear her down.

I smiled slightly as I read his last message. He was her family, so he knew her better than me. According to him, she was a mixture of her mother and her aunt Tiffany. She was hard on the outside, but once a person passed that hard shell, she was soft as cotton. I knew that to be true. I’d seen it that night she got high. When I heard a door close, I stood to see her coming down the hallway. She had on some tight shorts and a T-shirt and had her hair wrapped in a towel.

“You want anything to drink?” she asked as she went to the kitchen.

“No, I’m good. Thanks.”

“Mm hmm,” she said as I watched her pull a bottle of Patrón from the cabinet. She poured some in a small glass then made her way to the couch. Once she sat, I sat as well. “How are you, Jess?”

“I’m okay. How about you?”

“Missing you. I’m sorry for popping up on you. I just couldn’t go another day of you ignoring my texts and calls. I know that shit is on me, but I want to make things right between us.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you, Jess. You’re the woman that’s been in my soul for the past fifteen years. I need you.”

“A wise person once told me, if they don’t do right by you, maybe it’s because theydon’tlove you. So why should I believe you love me since you were so quick to accuse me of talking your business to my family? I guess you thought I was down there begging them to have mercy on the little poor boy.”

She’d thrown my words right back in my face, as I knew her petty ass would. “I’m not a wise person, Jess. If I were, I wouldn’t have talked to you crazy.”

“You fucking right about that shit. You lucky you got away with that.”

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