Games (14 page)

Jason’s eyes moved from her face to the silver on her wrist. “Is that a new bracelet?”

“Huh?” Shay wasn’t prepared for his question.

“The bracelet on your wrist, is it new?”

Shay’s eyes looked away from him and focused on the television. “What made you ask that question?”

“I don’t recall seeing you wear it before, that’s all.”

Shay took the defensive approach. “And I’m sure I have seen all of your personal items, right?”

“Well, no,” he admitted.

Shay knew she’d wiggled out of this one. “Then don’t assume something is new, just because you haven’t seen it before.”

Jason held up his hand and shrugged in defeat. “It’s nice, where did you get it from?”

Instead of answering his question, she got up and went into the kitchen to make hot chocolate. When she returned with two steaming mugs Jason didn’t question her again about that, but did go on an expedition into her past.

“Have you dated before?” he asked after sipping the hot warm liquid.

“Why are you always digging into my past?”

Jason sighed. “LaShay, if you would open up to me, I wouldn’t have to dig.”

He was right. Every time Jason asked her a question, she’d clam up or answer his question with one of her own.

“I’m sorry; I have been unfair to you,” Shay acknowledged. “I dated in college, but it was nothing serious.”

“So, I’m not competing with the memory of an old love for your affections?” he asked then slowly sipped the chocolate.

Shay often wondered if Jason was psychic. He always seemed to hit the nail on the head when it came to her past. She looked deep into his eyes, debating if she should tell him about Brian. She decided against it.

“The guys I dated at school didn’t hold my interest. Our relationships were more like that of old buddies.” That was true. She and Brian did not attend the same college.

Jason set his mug on the coaster and leaned closer to Shay. “LaShay, have you ever been passionately kissed before?”

Her mind immediately went back to the first and last kiss she and Brian shared. Both times and every time in between were remarkable. Remembering the warmth of Brian’s touch, a soft moan attempted to escape from her lips. “Why?” 

Again, Jason assumed she was being evasive to hide her inexperience and said as much. “I want to show you what passion feels like.”

It surprised her how much the thought of someone other than Brian kissing her upset her. Shay’s defensiveness snatched any hope Jason had of getting a kiss underneath the mistletoe.

“Look, Jason,” she snapped, pushing him away. “If you want to keep dating me, you’d do well to remember that my passion is reserved for my future husband.” An image of Brian flashed before her. “If you keep pressuring me, I guarantee you that man won’t be you.”

Jason quickly moved out of her space. “La
Shay, I’m not trying to pressure you. I just really like you a lot. I like to express my feelings and when you’re ready, you’ll return them.”

Shay started to tell him she couldn’t imagine ever being affectionate with him, but the sincerity in his eyes wouldn’t allow her to break his heart, at least not on Christmas Eve.

“Maybe one day,” was Shay’s response before going into the kitchen for more hot chocolate.

Shay walked through
Harvard Square enjoying the colorful blossoms of spring. Of the four seasons, spring was her favorite. For her, blossoming flowers and trees always promised something new and exciting, a new beginning. That was exactly what she was hoping for: something new. She could hardly wait until September, when she’d complete the fast-paced teaching program. The program was tedious, but she’d managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA since arriving at Harvard and was very proud of herself for rising to the challenge. Today, excitement over her trip home next weekend and the anticipation of spending much-needed time with Brian caused her to step with the rhythm of her humming.

They’d been talking on a weekly basis since Christmas. She still hadn’t shared the depths of her heart, but at least she got to hear his voice every week and that helped fill the void. It was almost like old times; they talked about everything, except what really needed to be discussed: their non-existent relationship. And of course, she never mentioned Jason.  In her mind, she didn’t need to, because she’d decided to break things off with Jason when she returned from
California. Jason was a nice guy, but he wasn’t what she wanted. Jason had proven to be a man of great determination and honor. Someday he’d make someone a good companion, but not her.

The enthralling aroma of hot cinnamon rolls from the corner bakery crammed her mind with more thoughts of Brian. Suddenly she felt like cooking again. Brian loved to eat her homemade cinnamon rolls right out of the oven. She continued down the brick walk, pas
t the Italian ice shop and remembered sharing ice cream with Brian every day they were in Arizona.
“
I bet he’d love mango Italian ice,” she said audibly. And so it was, every store she passed, she had thoughts of what Brian would like and what she wanted him to try.  Forty-five minutes later, frustrated with thinking about him, Shay pulled out her cell phone and punched in his number.

***

Brian turned the engine off and looked over at
Shannon. “Do you want anything?” he asked.

“Just a tall vanilla cream. Thank you,” she answered politely.

Shannon smiled as she watched Brian disappear inside Starbucks. Everything was working according to her plan. She’d kept her word to Brian and had attended church every Sunday for the last four months. She’d gotten used to the songs that the Praise & Worship team and the choir sang to the point sometimes she would stand and sing along with them.  She especially enjoyed listening to Julia sing, but she didn’t understand why Pastor Pennington always wore an expression of love and respect for Julia, and she likewise for him. Every Sunday before Pastor Pennington took his seat next to her, he always kissed her. And sometimes he would hold her hand while the deacons received the offering or as the choir sang. When one of them administered prayer to the congregation, the other was always present. From where Shannon sat, it looked as though they were protecting each other. Shannon had never seen such an open display of real affection between two people.  In the household she’d grown up in that never happened.  She still took notes on the sermon every Sunday, but she also took notes on Julia Pennington.

Shannon
observed everything about her. How she talked and how she walked. She took note of how she sat with her legs crossed at the ankles and how her skirts were always long enough that she never needed a lap scarf.  It amazed her that although Julia never showed cleavage and her clothing never hugged her hips tightly, she possessed a natural sensuality and sexuality that was foreign to Shannon.

Every Sunday Shannon made
a point of speaking to Julia, to see what she could glean from her. So far she had gleaned enough to know how to convince Brian to pick her up every Wednesday for Bible Study and Sunday morning for church. Soon she’d have enough to convince him to shop for a ring.

Shannon
’s thoughts were interrupted by Brian’s cell phone that lay on the console. Normally she didn’t answer his phone, but she couldn’t resist when she saw Shay’s name on the caller ID. She pressed the green answer call button after checking to make sure Brian wasn’t coming.

“Hello,” she said in her most sexy and seductive voice.

“I’m sorry, I have the wrong number.” Shay was about to disconnect when Shannon spoke up.

“If you’re trying to reach Brian Pennington, this is the right number.”

The response seemed to confuse Shay. “Um…is…um… May I speak to Brian please?”

“I’m sorry
, but he’s um…Let’s just say he’s busy right now. Is there a message I can give him when we’re done?” Shannon breathed heavily between sentences.

Shay’s voice escalated. “Who are you?”

A devilish grin spread across Shannon’s face; she’d succeeded in ruffling Shay’s feathers. “I’m Shannon, Brian’s significant other. And you are?”

Shay’s earlier adoration for Brian turned into hot anger. “Don’t worry about who I am!
You’re not that significant, if I’ve never heard of you.” Then she ended the call.

***

Shay was still angry when she returned to her apartment. She paced from the living room to the kitchen to the bedroom and back again
, talking out loud and yelling at the furniture.

“I can’t believe he had the nerve to let some woman answer his phone! And what on earth was he doing that he couldn’t take
my
call? Is that why he calls me on the weekend, because he’s with her during the week? So you want to play games, mister? I’ll show you how to play.”

She stomped over to the nightstand, picked up the cordless telephone and punched the numbers without thinking rationally.

“Hello,” the sleepy voice answered.

“Hi, Jason. How would you like to spend a couple days in
California with me next weekend, my treat? My cousin is recording his CD at my parents’ church on Saturday night.”

“Are you asking me to meet your parents?”

She could tell he was smiling, but Shay was not in the mood to stroke his ego. “I’m asking you if you want to go to my cousin’s live recording, and yes you’ll meet my mother and stepfather and the rest of my family. Do you want to go or not?”

“I’d love to. When do we leave?”

“Friday morning and we’ll return Sunday evening.”

“
LaShay, thank you for inviting me. I really mean that. I’ve been working hard to impress you and now it’s paying off. If you think enough of me to introduce me to your family, your feelings must be growing.”

“I’ll see you later.” Shay replaced the headset back on its holster. She looked at the picture of Brian on her dresser. “Let’s see how you like it when you get served.”

Brian checked himself one last time in the full-length mirror on his bedroom door. He’d chosen the black silk casual pants with
the matching button-down shirt, because Shay liked him in black. Earlier that morning he’d gone to the barbershop and had his head freshly shaved and his newly acquired goatee trimmed. After splashing on both his and Shay’s favorite cologne, he checked his watch. If he didn’t leave now he’d be late picking Shay up at the airport. He still needed to stop at the florist and pick up red roses.

***

Shay literally shook as the plane made its final decent into
Oakland.

“Calm down, the plane is not going to crash land.” Jason must have assumed she worried about the landing. That was the furthest thing from her mind. In less than thirty minutes she’d be face
-to-face with Brian, her love. Originally Reggie had agreed to pick her up, but called to say he was sending Brian at the last minute. Shay was certain the alteration was planned. She hadn’t seen Brian in eight months and after the incident with Shannon, she’d stopped answering his calls. However mad, the closer she got to Oakland, the stronger her desire to see him grew. Her palms sweat. Her mouth went dry and a lump lodged in her throat. “Will someone please tell this pilot to hurry up?” she mumbled.

She wondered if he would like the changes she’d made to her appearance. While in
Massachusetts, she’d decided to let her hair grow. Her once-shoulder-length hair was now three-inches down her back. At the hair salon three days ago, she’d made the decision to lighten her brown hair. It was now honey blonde. Jason didn’t care for the color change, but she didn’t care what he thought. She loved it. Due to her busy schedule, she didn’t prepare home-cooked meals too often. That meant she ate out a lot and consumed more calories than normal and it showed in her hips. If she didn’t start cutting back soon, her size-ten clothing would be too small by the time summer rolled around.  

Ten minutes later the plan landed. Shay went to the restroom while Jason located the baggage claim area.

***

Brian’s six-foot-four-inch frame made it easy for him to search through the flood of travelers approaching the baggage claim area. He spotted her the moment she stepped out of the restroom. “Shay!” he called out in a loud voice.

She stopped mid-stride and slowly turned around.  The grin on his face nearly showed all thirty-two teeth.

Her mouth hung open and her legs weakened as she watched him take quick long strides toward her. He looked better than she remembered. His upper body was broader and his new goatee made him that much more handsome to her and that baldhead. Oh, how she loved that baldhead!

When Brian reached her, he gathered her into his strong arms and held her tightly. Without hesitation, she received his embrace by wrapping her arms around his neck.

“My Shay, I’ve missed you,” he whispered repeatedly in her ear while holding her against his chest.

She deeply inhaled his scent. He smelled so good. He felt very good. She couldn’t resist any longer, she stroked his baldhead and moaned. “I’ve missed you so much.”