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Chapter 12
Friday
Islowly opened myeyes to the bright sun shining through the large windows and rolled over to the empty space next to me. I looked around the bedroom for Bakari. The past three mornings, he slept later than me, and I would have breakfast already ordered and waiting whenever he finally woke up. I checked my phone, and it was a little after seven. Kendra had also texted last night.
Get from under that man and tell me how it’s going. Still waiting for a pic.
LOL. You stay crazy. I’ll send you one today. It’s going well. Having a fantastic time. Learned a lot about myself. Tell you more when I get home on Sunday. And we have to plan your trip home. Can’t wait to see you.
I placed my phone back on the bedside table. Crazy how I was really learning more about myself by being with Bakari. Maybe “learn” was the wrong word choice. I was finally able to admit some hard truths about myself. I then heard his voice from the patio, breaking the silence.
“I’m heading back on Sunday, Aaron. I can’t just change my plans because you happen to choose Jamaica for vacation, too.” Bakari, only wearing boxer briefs, gripped the railing looking out into the ocean. “I don’t have an attitude...just stating a fact.”
I pushed up against the headboard watching him, curious about the tension. The muscles in his back were clenched, his ass tighter than usual. “I talk to Ma more than you realize. I already told Ma that I’ll probably be in DC if I decide to apply for a contract job with the Pentagon in a couple of months. I’ll see you then.” He paused. “Is that Kameron calling for you? You better listen to her and get off the phone. Don’t make her late...maybe she can’t wait, so you might as well hang up because I already told you my plans.”
I noted his voice seemed wistful and softer when he mentioned Kameron.
“Yeah, okay...we’ll hang out the next time you’re in Atlanta if I haven’t made it to DC by September. Later.” He continued staring at the horizon after clicking off the cell. His shoulders suddenly slumped, and I became even more curious about the phone call that affected him. It had to be family this early in the morning. Probably his brother since he did say DC and talked about his mother.
Wrapping myself in a bedsheet, I padded to the patio. I moved behind Bakari, opened the sheet, and covered us in soft cotton fabric. I pressed my breasts against his back and wrapped my arms around his waist. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied too quickly.
“Nothing but honesty, remember?”
“I am being honest.”
I rested the side of my head on his smooth skin. “We’ve been kicking it every day, and we go our separate ways in two days. You made me own up to some truths since we’ve been here. Now it’s your turn. Whoever you were just talking to gets under your skin, and I’m guessing whoever this Aaron is is clueless to your true feelings about him.”
Bakari laughed sardonically. “Even if he really knew, he wouldn’t care. Aaron rarely lets life get to him, and definitely not his little brother.”
“Aw, the brother that fits your last name. Sibling rivalry?”
He shrugged. “We’ve rarely competed against each other. We’re too different, and he’s five years older.”
“Then why the irritation? It sounds like he wants to see you.”
“He does that out of duty since he’s the oldest son. He’s the type that does things because it looks like the right thing to do.” Bitterness resided in his tone.
“So, you don’t think his interest in you is genuine?”
Bakari glanced down at me before returning his attention to the beach. “I suppose he loves me because we’re brothers, but he’s too caught up in himself for me to believe he really cares what goes on in my world. On the surface, Aaron’s the best guy you’ll ever meet. Friendly, charming, smart, and funny may even help you in your time of need. Sun seems to shine on him no matter where he goes. Yet he can be selfish, bordering on meanness, that he disregards you if you don’t fit what he believes you should fit. It’s hard for him to be open or understanding if he doesn’t understand what the fuck others go through.” He opened my arms and moved from my embrace. "Don't want to talk about him anymore.”
“Who’s Kameron?” My gut told me to ask.
He scowled. “Told you I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Kameron is a ‘he’? Thoughtweweren’t talking about your brother.”
“Kameron is Aaron’s wife.” He stalked back into the bedroom, and the tension became even more palpable as I followed behind him. “Don’t want to talk about her either.”
I moved to get in front of him to block his path. “This whole experience was your idea, remember? I wanted sex, and you asked for uninhibition and honesty too. It can’t be one-sided. I spill my guts to you, open myself up sexually in ways I’ve never done, but when it gets tough, you clam up.”
“It’s different, okay?” He looked down at me, his soulful eyes overwhelmed with an aching sadness. “You’re not ready for my honesty.”
I gripped his forearms. “Speaking your truth is healthy. Isn’t that what you’ve been encouraging me to do this week?”
“Call me a hypocrite then.”
