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“Nope. I’m just as surprised as you are.”
Jasmine and Eddie follow suit in offering their congratulations. When they say congratulations simultaneously, they give each other a sly grin.
Wayne and I make eye contact, wondering what’s up with Jasmine and Eddie. The rest of the night is more than the distraction I need from my life. Instead of thinking about being accosted this morning or internally missing my parents, my mind is boggled over my sister starting some sort of love triangle with Eddie and Jeremiah. What adds to this suspicion is that Eddie doesn’t leave her side most of the night, and I alreadyknow she has Jeremiah completely smitten.This cannot end well.
An hour into the gathering, Marjorie and Louise sit at the dining table sipping hot tea. Wayne and Eddie are in the setting room, talking about sports. Jasmine is sitting on the loveseat next to Eddie, so I take this opportunity to pull her out of his face and into the den to talk.
“What’s going on with you and Eddie?” I ask.
“Nothing’s going on with us. Why would you ask that?” she asks, staring at the entryway as if waiting for Eddie to appear.
“Let’s start with the fact that you’ve been stuck to him like glue tonight. You can’t even take your eyes off of him.”
She turns and glares at me. “I have not been stuck to him like glue.”
“Yes, you have, and you’re blushing. Oh, my God. You like him.” It feels odd that she has a thing for Eddie. We’ve been like one big family for the past four years.
“Stop it, Leslie. He’s like family,” she restates what I’m thinking.
I shake my head, not falling for her explanation. What I’ve witnessed tonight is different than their normal interactions. And she’s blushing. “We don’t blush when someone mentions our family members, Jas.”
“It’s nothing. He asked me about the mess this morning when I got here tonight. Wayne told him you were at the Breakfast Spoon to meet me when it went down. He asked me about it, we started talking, and the conversation flowed from there. That’s it.”
My mind flashes back to her removing crumbs from his beard. “You guys have been around each other for years, and you’ve never hung onto each other’s words like you have tonight. You were rubbing the man’s beard, for Christ's sake.”
Jasmine rolls her eyes heavenward. “You’re putting too much thought into it, Les. Loosen up and go take some pics with Wayne in your matching clothes.”
Eddie passes by the den’s entry and heads toward the kitchen. Jasmine stands up and says, “I’ll be right back.” She sashays in the same direction as Eddie, practically on his heels.
My sister really knows how to pick them!
I return to the sitting room and find Wayne sitting on the sofa. He glances up at me and smiles. I slide onto the sofa beside him. He wraps an arm around me as I sink into his side. The scent of his alpha cologne fills my nostrils as I take a deep breath, inhaling his essence.
“Check it out,” I say as I nod to where Jasmine follows Eddie to the kitchen. "They're up to something."
He gives me a knowing look. “You bet they are.”
Chapter Twenty-One
WAYNE
One Week Later – Finals
The gossip blogs, fan comments, and invasive reporters that stalk my life are pushed to the back of my mind. All that matters is the rock and what I do with it today. How we perform will determine if the Saints make it to the Super Bowl.
It’s another home game, so I called Eddie on my way to the stadium and asked him to meet me in the locker room. He made it in minutes after I did.
Eddie leans against the locker beside mine, decked out in a Saint’s jersey, wearing his old number and a pair of blue joggers. “Good luck, bro,” he says, patting me on the back.
“Thanks, man. It’s do-or-die time; we have to kick butt today. And everyone knows that if the Raiders get the upper hand early, they’re stingy for the rest of the game. They don’t give up anything in the second half.”
He waves his hand and kisses his teeth. “Don’t worry about it. I have no doubt you’ll bring home the win. Just watch out for number fifteen. He’s known for his QB sacs. Stay light on your feet and far away from his ass if you know what’s good for you.”
“You bet,” I reply. “I told you I’ve been studying number fifteen’s moves all week, so I know I have to keep him off me.”
“You can do this, little brother. Show 'em who's boss!” He looks at me with something akin to adoration, and I can see his pride beaming through. He had experienced a decent football career of his own, but he never managed to make it as far as I have now in the playoffs. He gives my back a pat and offers a reassuring smile. “Call me after the game?”
“Thanks for believing in me, big bro. And yeah… we need to talk about a few things after tonight.”
