Page 22 of You Make Me Feel

Everything inside of me wanted to punch Jarod in his mouth. How he spoke to Kinisha had my hands itching to grab him and choke the shit out of him. Had there been enough room on the pew Kinisha had sat on, I would have sat right next to her and mugged the hell out of him. I had a decent working relationship with his father, and he didn’t seem to be the type to breed such a nigga. His mother was sweet as pie. She played the piano for the women’s choir on fifth Sundays. While I knew I couldn’t judge a book by its cover, I just couldn’t fathom which one of them had passed down the traits he exhibited a little while ago.

When church was over, I gave Kinisha one last glance and was about to head to my vehicle. However, her eyes met mine, and she called me over to her. I frowned slightly, trying to figure out what she was setting me up for. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized she wanted to introduce her coworker to her family. I walked over, and she extended her hand to me.Hmm.I grabbed it, and she said, “Kiana and Lazarus, this is Oliver. We work together now, and although he says he doesn’t do female friends, I’d like to think that we’re friends anyway.”

She giggled, and I twisted my lips to the side as Lazarus extended his hand. “I feel you, bruh. I told Kiana the same thing not long after we met.”

I nodded. “I must be in good company then.”

He chuckled as I turned my attention to her very pregnant sister. I smiled softly and gave her hand a gentle shake. “Nice to meet you.”

She smiled big and glanced at Kinisha. I didn’t know what that was about, but I turned to Kinisha and said, “I’ll talk to you later.”

She smiled slightly and nodded as I squeezed her hand, then released her. As I was walking away, she said, “Oliver.”

I turned back to her to see she was walking toward me. “What’s up?”

“Umm . . .” She turned back to look at her sister, then back to me. “My family wanted me to invite you to Sunday dinner.”

“Your family or you?”

“My family.”

“I already have other plans. Maybe some other time.”

She nodded. I didn’t want to be there if she wasn’t inviting me. I knew I would be there in a friend capacity. I only wanted to be around her family if I was her man. I already had to be her “friend” at work. I wasn’t feeling that shit. When I got to my car and saw Jarod standing there, a deep frown made its way to my face. He stepped away from my vehicle when I unlocked the doors.

“Oliver, I trust you will keep the conversation you overheard to yourself.”

“I’m not Kinisha. Unfortunately, Iwilldisrespect the Lord’s house and ask for forgiveness later. So your best bet is to get the fuck on.”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “No need to get all defensive.”

“Naw. It was no need to speak to that woman like that. She approached you respectfully and should have been given that same respect in return. I don’t have shit for a nigga that can speak to a woman disrespectfully. I hope she blasts your ho ass.”

I opened the door to my car, and my pointed glare dared him to say another word. Kinisha wasn’t mine, but at this moment, it sure felt like she was. After cranking my engine, I headed to Anise’s house. Those turkey wings were the last things on my mind now. I just wanted to hold Kinisha in my arms. I didn’t know what the fuck she was thinking, messing around with a nigga like him, but what was done was done.

If she chose to move on from it, I would be there if she decided to move on with me. Obviously, she wouldn’t be moving on with him, especially not after his father announced his engagement in church today. I damn near swallowed my fucking tongue when that man said that. That poor woman didn’t have a clue what she was getting herself into. I could only pray that she figured it out before it was too late. That was the most drama I’d ever witnessed going down in church. While I’d heard of shit like that, I was caught way off guard today.

When I got to Anise’s house, my cell phone chimed with a text. I had a feeling it was from Kinisha. I grabbed my phone to confirm that it was. I can’t disappoint my family. I don’t know what to do. I wasn’t ready. The condom broke, and the morning-after pill didn’t work. I feel like such a fool.

An idea hit me, but I didn’t know how she would accept it. So, I responded with something that would give me more clarity. Why would your family be disappointed? You’re a grown woman.

My parents are old-fashioned. Sleeping around isn’t something they would agree with. For their daughter, who they taught well, to be bringing a baby into this world without a husband is bad. However, bringing a baby into this world without a boyfriend is even worse. If they knew he didn’t even want to be involved in our child’s life, it could make them totally disown me. I saw it when they did it to my sister for something way less serious. This would prove to them that I was just fucking to be fucking. It’s eating me alive that I have to tell them this.

I momentarily thought about my plan of action, trying to figure out if I could do what had come to mind. I realized I could, but the real question would be whethershecould do it. I knew how I felt. I sent her a text. Can we talk in person later? Around four or so?

Yeah. Call me, and we can meet up, or you can come to my place.

Okay.

I stepped out of my car to head inside Anise’s house, and I could hear loud laughter coming from inside and noticed more cars than usual. I slightly rolled my eyes to prepare for her and Shannon’s foolery and whoever else was there. I wasn’t a big fan of eating dinner with people I didn’t know, but it was either that or missing out on those turkey wings.I’d be damned.Nothing was gonna keep me from those wings.

I knocked on the door since I noticed Anise’s boyfriend’s car in the driveway. I only walked in when she was alone and expecting me or if it was just her and Shannon. When Robert opened the door for me, he gave me a head nod, and I did the same. I believed he knew that I could feel the fuckery within him. Our vibe was totally off. I heard a familiar voice as he stepped aside to let me in.

I frowned slightly as I went inside to see Devin and his wife. When he saw me, he stood. “Man, what you doing here?” he asked as he shook my hand.

“Anise is my cousin. What are you doing here?”

“Shannon is my sister-in-law. She and Sidney are sisters, and she’s also married to my brother.”

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