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“Jungle ain’t got a sensitive bone in his body.”
“I know him differently.”
Jericho went back to eating while I mentally prepared to see the man I loved.
CHAPTER5
JUNGLE
Icouldn’t get to that fucking apartment fast enough. It was like Chelsea had extended a lifeline to me. Not talking to her for the past couple of days was fucking with me more than I cared to admit. While I originally thought she was clingy, it seemed I was just as clingy… didn’t miss her until she was gone. Every moment we’d shared had flashed through my mind like a slideshow, wishing we could have another opportunity to create memories.
She was so fucking cool, and that was something I didn’t run into often… male or female. She wasn’t intimidated by me, so she didn’t kiss my ass or cower from an argument. I was a man that could kill a nigga and dispose of his body to where only God knew his whereabouts, but she didn’t even give a fuck.
I could be vulnerable with her and purge my heart while she massaged my fucking feet. That shit was unheard of. I didn’t even used to like putting lotion on my feet, because it made me feel too feminine. Fawn and Amiko still picked with me about that shit. I didn’t even know why I was fucking around with Kennedy when someone like Chelsea was waiting in the wings to give me everything I needed.
When I knocked on the door, it opened almost immediately. She stood there with a smile on her face, and I noticed Jericho had made it. I didn’t even care that he was sitting there. I picked her up and swung her around while she screamed with laughter. When I put her down, she kissed my lips. She did that often. Since it didn’t linger, I didn’t think Jericho would trip. I wanted that shit to linger though. I was so happy to see her, had we been alone, I probably would have given her whatever she wanted, including dick.
I walked over to him and slapped his hand then hugged Manman and kissed her cheek. Chelsea went to the kitchen and fixed me whatever the fuck she said it was called. I’d forgotten already. It smelled good though. “So you in the wedding Saturday?” Jericho asked as I sat at the table.
“Naw. Just DJ, Arrow, and Chad, I think.”
“Oh, okay. Well umm… we’re getting married next week.”
“I know you fucking lying. Sorry, Manman,” I said as I glanced over at her. “Nigga, you got me cursing in front of Mama! What’s the hurry?”
“Why waste time? We’ve already lost sixteen years. Plus, Whitney is pregnant.”
“Damn! Whitney, Riley, and Shavozz. All these damn kids,” I said as I glanced at C-Mar.
I knew that was a touchy subject for her right now. I chose to focus on the wedding. “Well congratulations. We gon’ have to go out and turn up the night before. Where you wanna go?”
“We can just kick it at Pour 09.”
I nodded repeatedly. They had a good vibe over there. “So what’s up? Knowledge been handled?”
“Not yet. It’s in the works though. He’s trying to make sure it’s seamless.”
I nodded, knowing he didn’t want to talk about that shit in front of Manman and Chelsea. When she set that bowl of food in front of me, I licked my lips. It was dark in color, like stew or gumbo, with what looked like dumplings in it. I didn’t bother asking questions. “Thanks, C-Mar.”
I bowed my head to bless it then immediately tasted it. It was different, but I could get used to it. It had a good flavor. “Hmm. This is pretty good.”
Chelsea smiled big. I glanced at her nails and noticed she’d taken them off. I’d been paying for her mani/pedis and for her to get her hair done. I noticed it was pulled up at the top of her head in a huge afro puff. Wednesdays were the days she normally did all that because she was off. I brought my gaze back to her eyes and asked, “You going to the salon tomorrow?”
She shook her head then looked away from me. After I finished eating, I knew I needed to talk to her privately. She was still feeling a way. I wouldn’t push her to do anything she didn’t want to do. I was just happy that she was allowing me to be in her space. Grabbing her hand, I squeezed it. She looked up at me, and I gave her a slight smile. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she turned away.
Her skin was glowing despite how depressed Vegas had said she looked. However, I also knew she was good at hiding her true feelings. I needed to ask her about that money without anybody listening in. I was more than sure they didn’t know about it. My stomach was churning as I thought of possibilities of where and how she’d gotten it.
“Can we go for a ride so we can talk?”
She glanced over at me as my phone chimed. She didn’t respond, so I grabbed my phone to see a message from Kennedy.Is it okay to get there Thursday? I’d love to spend time with you, Thursday night and Friday, just doing whatever. I have to leave Saturday night heading back. My mother is going to keep my daughter instead of her flying out with me. Also, have you decided whether I could go to the wedding with you or not?
I shoved my phone in my pocket as Chelsea stared at me. Manman and Jericho got up from the table, I supposed to give us privacy. However, I knew that as long as Jericho was here, he would hear our conversation. I didn’t put shit past his ass. For all I knew, this apartment was probably bugged.
Since Chelsea hadn’t answered my question, I asked again. “Can we?”
“Why can’t we talk here? Is the conversation going to change anything between us?”
“I just figured with the questions I wanted to ask you, you would want privacy. I mean, it makes me no never mind. I can ask you what I want to ask here.”
