Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson, Chiquita Dennie [top 10 non fiction books of all time txt] 📗
- Author: Chiquita Dennie
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Book online «Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson, Chiquita Dennie [top 10 non fiction books of all time txt] 📗». Author Chiquita Dennie
I told her goodbye and left to find Emery. Dialing her number back to back, I finally get a location on her at her grandparents’ home. Stepping out of the car, I look around the quiet neighborhood with cars lined up and down the block. I stop to tell my driver I’ll be in about fifteen minutes.
Walking up to the door, I knock and wait for someone to answer. An older gentleman wearing blue jean overalls and a white t-shirt with car oil stains and a toothpick in his mouth opens the door.
“Which one?”
“I’m sorry which...”
“Are you here for Angela, Jordan or my Emery? Because either way, I got a shotgun I have no problem using if you came to cause trouble.”
Surprised by his statement, I raise my hand in an innocent gesture that I come in peace.
“I work with Emery and wanted to see if I could speak with her.
“She’s not here right now young man. She took her grandmother to the store.” He backed away from the door and motioned for me to come inside and offered me a seat on the couch.
“Do you know how long she’s going to be out?” I sought out as he walked out of the living room and came back with two beers and passed me one. I usually don’t drink during the afternoon but not wanting to be rude, I grabbed the Budweiser bottle and took a sip.
“How long?” He asked me after placing his bottle down on the table.
“Excuse me sir,” Bewildered by his question, I leaned back into the couch and waited for his response.
“How long have you been in love with my Emery?”
Choking on his question, I spit the contents of my beer out on my suit and the arm of the couch. He starts laughing, and I apologize while trying to pull my handkerchief out to clean up my mess.
“She got you bad I see. Just like my wife Lynn, a hardheaded, stubborn woman. I chased her down for an entire six months before she finally went out on a date with me.”
“We just started seeing each other. No one’s at that stage yet.”
“Huh...I’ll let you believe that. But I can tell you that Emery’s still working through her heartbreak from Anthony. So be patient, and in time she’ll come around.”
Nodding in agreement, I checked the time on my watch and noticed it’s getting late. Getting up to leave, I stop at the sound of the front door closing.
“Hey, Pops I have the ice cream you wanted. Don’t tell your wife. You know how she gets when sweets come into...”
Emery was walking inside and almost drops the bag of groceries from the shock of me being in her family’s home.
“Hey sweet... I mean Emery...”
“What are you doing here? The deal finalized earlier, and Dominique is running your account. If she’s not working out, then I’ll assign someone else to you.” She walks off and takes the groceries in the kitchen.I follow behind her after her grandfather gestures for me to follow her.
“You and I both know that’s not why I’m here. We need to talk.” I invade her space, and she steps away from me.Turning toward me, she crosses her arms over her chest and furrows her brows in anger.
“It was just sex, Jackson. Get over it, we both know you have a book full of women you can call up. I’m too grown for games and too busy to deal with back and forth drama that comes with your lifestyle.”
Stepping closer she puts her hands up to stop me. Feeling defeated, I run my hand across the back of my neck from the sharp pain starting to build into a migraine at the aggravation of Emery fighting what we could have.
“I hope you change your mind. I do care for you, Sweetness.”
“Don’t call me that,” Emery snapped back in reply.
Smirking at her annoyance, I closed the distance between us. Kissing her forehead, I lingered on her peach flowery smell until noticing her grandfather still drinking his beer in the living room. Walking over I shook his hand before saying goodbye and walking out the door.
One Week Later
Chapter 13 Brent
I WAS PLAYING A ROUND of three on three basketball with Damon, Jackson, and a few coworkers. I needed to leave the house before I strangled Angela. Ever since I told her about moving in with me, she’s been dodging my calls, and whenever I stopped by her place, she wasn't there.
Jumping up and blocking the ball out of Damon’s hand I reached out and stole it while crossing over to hit a three-pointer. Missing an easy shot like that has us down by four points and my skills called into question.
“I see Angela’s pissed you off again. What did she do this time?” Damon snapped me out of my daze with a pat on the back.
“I asked her to move in with me.”
“Really or did you just tell her you’re moving in with me and you have no choice but to do as I say.” He picked the ball up and dribbled the ball back and forth then passed it to Jackson as he shot a layup.
“Does it matter? She’s my girl, and we’ve been together for over five years. I’m getting older, and I want a wife and kids. She knew this about me,” he replied after picking up the ball again and calling timeout.
“You mean on and off over five years, right?” He cocked his head to the side and wagged his eyes up and down.
“You can’t be talking, aren’t you trying to get a date with Jordan and she keeps avoiding your calls?”
He shrugged and walked off to pick up his bottled water. After he passed the other guys one, we sat on the bench and watched other families in the park playing and other groups doing fitness classes in hot eighty-degree weather.
“What’s her story man? I like Jordan; she’s quiet and sassy at the same time, funny, a challenge and of course beautiful. Seeing how she’s raising her son alone is showing me she doesn’t hide away when it gets tough. Damon asked and scratched his head after pouring water over his head to cool off.
“That’s her story to tell man. Just remember to be gentle with her. She’s a cool girl and DJ’s her heart. If you want to get in with Jordan, you need DJ on your side.” I informed him and picked up my keys and bag ready to leave out and find Angela.
“Cut her off man; women aren’t worth the aggravation,” Jackson sighed out in a harsh breath.
Damon, Stephen, and Camden cackled at Jackson’s expense. Everyone at work knew his dilemma with Emery. I told him plenty of times to leave her alone. Emery’s one of my best friends, but Anthony did a number on her heart by cheating with her best friend and getting her pregnant. All the guys followed behind, and we dapped and shook hands to leave toward our respective cars. Checking my phone, I see a missed call from Angela.
Tired of chasing after her, I block her number and drive off. Twenty minutes later pulling up to my house, I head inside to change clothes and not relishing being alone for the night I call up an old girlfriend to see if she’s up for dinner and a movie.
...
An hour later Lauren and I park at Sybil’s restaurant for dinner. I reminded myself to ignore my feelings for Angela tonight and relax with Lauren, knowing she’s second choice isn’t fair, but I needed to let the past go.
I placed my hand on her lower back to guide her in front of me. The hostess approaches us.
“Hello, how many in your party?”
“Two please.” I smile down at Lauren, and she smiles back at me.
We follow behind the hostess and sit at a table in the middle of the room.
“Your waiter will be with you soon,” The hostess stated and left to go to the front.
“So, what made you decide to call me again Brent? That last time we talked you were dating that loud mouth girl that does hair for a living,” Lauren stated as she set her purse down and relaxed in her chair.
After taking a sip of my water and fiddling with the menu, I decided to be honest.
“Angela and I have had an on-off relationship. Currently off at the moment—”
“Says who?” Angela says and set her hands flat on the table leaning into my face with a pissed off look on her face.
Seeing Lauren flinch at her intrusion, I look between both women trying to think of a way out of this with Lauren not getting hurt or Angela ending up in jail from fighting.
“Lauren, can you give me a minute? I need to talk with Angela for a second.”
“Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of Lucy.”
“My name is Lauren.”
Angela rolled her eyes and picked up Lauren’s menu getting ready to place an order.
“Lucy, Lauren, either way, he won’t need to remember, right Brent?” Angela gripped the arm of the chair as she narrowed her eyes at Lauren.
Feeling rage rolling through my body at Angela embarrassing me, I stand up to take control of the situation. Excusing myself from Lauren, I lead Angela outside to the front of the restaurant, while looking back through the window at Lauren feeling a hint of guilt at the interruption.
“You made your decision when you didn’t move in, and you’ve dodged all my calls and avoided me. Angela, you want to be single. So, have a good life.”
“Brent, baby wait. I’m sorry, give me a little time. You know we’ve been doing good for the past five years. Why change it now?”
“Because I want to have a family, and you knew this about me!” I yelled as I shook with fury at her dismissing my feelings.
“I’m not ready for that!” She shrieked and buried her face in her hands.
“Then I have no choice, I have to move on and find somebody that wants the same things that I want. We’ve been down this road for five years Angela, I love you, but I need to put myself first this time.” Seeing her flinch at my words, I lean over to kiss her lips one last time before walking back in to finish my date with Lauren.
Sitting back down, Lauren looks over at me perplexed by the situation that just happened. I took her hand and placed a kiss on it for reassurance. She seemed to relax, and we continued with our conversation.
“Sorry about that, she
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