Games (21 page)

Af
ter meeting the infamous Shay, Shannon realized the only way she was going to win Brian’s affection was to escalate her plan. That was the only way to get Shay to back off. After watching Shay ignore her boyfriend and cater to Brian, Shannon’s intuition told her Shay held the same feelings for Brian as he had for her.

Shannon
had been carefully calculating a plan for two days. Before leaving out, she checked her bedroom one last time. She laid the black satin and lace camisole on her bed and turned out the lights. Game time was over; tonight she would not be denied.

***

“Thanks for giving me a lift,”
Shannon said, after climbing into the RAV4.

He waited for her to fasten her seatbelt before pulling off. “No problem.”

The small SUV soon filled with a familiar fragrance. Brian sniffed. “Are you wearing a new perfume?”

Shannon
smiled. “Do you like it?”

On Shay I do
, he wanted to say, but instead Brian shrugged his shoulders and answered, “It’s familiar, that’s all.”

“Fond memories I hope.”
Shannon began to casually stroke Brian’s arm, but stopped when he gave her a warning stare. With her long acrylic nail she brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Nice song,” she said and bobbed her head to the CD the rest of the ride to True Worship.

During Bible
class, Brian sat in the front and took notes as usual. Since reconnecting with God, he’d acquired a thirst for the Word that could not be quenched. At times he wondered if the hunger was God’s way of calling him into the ministry. He placed that thought on the backburner, for now his desire was to learn more of the Word and how to incorporate it into his daily life. 

Shannon paid close attention to Pastor Reggie’s teaching on the book of Esther. For her it was confirmation of her next move. Her mind went into overdrive planning the event that was sure to change her life. If Esther could beautify herself to entice the king for a good cause, then so could she. Tonight she was going to seduce Brian and even if she didn’t get pregnant, she would make him think she was long enough for him to marry her. Brian, a noble man, would marry her even if he didn’t love her to keep his child from growing up without a father like he’d done.

Shannon’s irritation became noticeable after Bible class while Brian conversed with Pastor Reggie.

Julia noticed
Shannon’s fidgeting. “Shannon, is everything all right?”

“Yes, Pastor Julia. I’m just tired.”

“Maybe you should head on home,” Julia suggested.

“I’m trying to, but I have to wait for Brian. He’s my ride,”
Shannon answered matter-of-factly.

Reggie gave his son a disapproving look. “Brian
, maybe you should take Shannon home before it gets too late. Call me later.”

Brian knew he would get a speech from his father later so he ended the conversation and left.
Shannon followed close behind.

Brian pulled in front of
Shannon’s apartment building and waited for her to get out. 

She gave him an innocent smile. “Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem.” He never looked in her direction. He heard the latch open, and then he heard her scream.

“Oh, my ankle! My ankle!”

Brian turned the engine off and ran around to the passenger side. “What happened?”

Shannon
lay on the ground clutching her right ankle. “I tripped and twisted my ankle.”

Brian tried to touch her ankle, but she screamed, “Ouch!”

“Do you want me to take you to the emergency room?”

“No! I’ll be there all night. If you could carry me up to my apartment so I can put some ice on it, I’ll be fine.”

Brian had never been inside of her apartment and didn’t feel like it now, but he couldn’t leave her outside on the ground. He helped Shannon to her feet and carried her to her second-floor one-bedroom apartment. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulders. At the front door she resisted his attempt to set her on her feet by squeezing his biceps and squealing.

“
Shannon, how are you going to open the door if you won’t let me go?” Before Brian blinked Shannon produced a silver key.

“Could you open the door for me?” she whimpered and snuggled closer. “I don’t think I can walk.” 

Brian shook his head in disbelief at her sudden helplessness. Since he felt partially responsible for the fall for not assisting her out of the vehicle, he obliged. Balancing Shannon in one arm, he freed the other and unlocked the door. After kicking the door closed with his foot, Brian walked inside and sat Shannon down on the sofa.

“See you later.”

“Brian,” she whined. “Can you please get me some ice from the freezer? There’s a plastic bag in the top right drawer.” Shannon pointed toward the kitchen.

Brian didn’t say anything, but hurried into the kitchen and grabbed some ice. He looked at his watch; he wanted to get home in time to call Shay before midnight on the East Coast. He returned to the living room area to find
Shannon stretched out on the sofa.

“Here’s the ice. Good
night,” he said, then started for the door.

Shannon
threw her head back and moaned, “Brian, I don’t think I’ll be able to walk on my own until morning. Would you mind carrying me into my bedroom? Otherwise, I’ll have to crawl.” She winced in pain.

Brian stopped midstride at the request and slowly turned around. He didn’t
want to step foot into her bedroom, but she looked so helpless. Once again he obliged and quickly gathered her in his arms. That’s when he noticed her blouse was unbuttoned. She pointed toward the bedroom and arched her back, giving him a clear view of her cleavage.

Brian walked into her bedroom and nearly dropped her on the floor. The red
-and- black décor with unburned candles strategically placed around the room was a sure invitation to something he didn’t want to partake in. He hurried and laid her on her bed and turned to leave. Brian stopped in his tracks at her next request.

“Brian, would you please help me get undressed before you go?”

When Brian turned around, Shannon was leaning back against the pillows with the hem of her skirt up past her thighs. Her blouse practically hung off her shoulders. Her blonde locks fanned her shoulders.

“
Shannon, I can’t do that.”

Shannon
lowered her voice to a seductive tone. “Please, Brian, I just need a little help.” Her legs opened and closed to every syllable.

Brian closed his eyes and ran both hands over his baldhead. The cinnamon fragrance wafted from the candles and flooded his senses. At that moment, he understood his father’s warnings.

“Shannon, I can’t give you the kind of help you’re looking for.” His cell phone rang.

“But
, Brian, I just need you to assist me in removing my skirt and nylons, then you can leave.” She lowered her eyelids and pouted.

He looked at the
caller ID and held his hand up for Shannon to be quiet. “Hi, Mom.” Brian turned his back to Shannon and she pounded her fists on the bed.

“Hey
, baby, how are you doing?” Alysse asked.

“I’m fine
, Mama.”

“I know you’re fine,” she giggled, “I heard Shay was in town over the weekend.”

“Brian,” Shannon whined from behind.

“Hold on a minute, Mama
.”

Brian pressed the mute button on his phone. When he faced
Shannon again her blouse lay crumpled on the floor. “Look, Shannon, I’m sorry about your ankle, but I’m not going to help you undress. You’ll be fine until morning, if not, call one of your family members to help you.” Then he left.

Back inside the Rav4, Brian continued his conversation with his mother. “How’s Mark doing?”

“He’s fine, we’re going for our yearly checkups tomorrow.”

He activated the hands-free device and merged into traffic. “Mama, I’ve never known you to see a doctor regularly.”

“Well, it’s time for me to start. Back up,” she said as if suddenly remembering something. “Tell me how things are going with you and Shay.” Alysse was excited. “Are the two of you a couple yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it,” Brian answered honestly.

“What do you mean, you’re working on it? All you have to do is tell her how you feel. That’s not hard.”

“I’m flying out to
Massachusetts for her birthday. I’ll talk to her then.”

“Boy
, you have two speeds: slow and stop. You get that from your daddy’s side.”

Brian laughed at his mother. “Mom, I know you like Shay, but some things can’t be rushed. If it’s meant to be, Shay and I will be together when the time is right.”

“I hope the time is right before I lose my eyesight and my hearing.”

“Mama, you’ve always looked out for me, but this time I think you’re being selfish.”

His reference to her having grown up in the foster care system was common, but she asked anyway, “Boy, what are you talking about?”

“Mama, I know it’s important for you to have grandchildren and when the time is right, I will give you as many as Shay will allow.”

Alysse gasped. “So you have decided you want to marry her? I knew it! I tried to pry it out of your daddy, but he won’t tell me anything.”

Brian considered his mother’s question. In his heart, he’d always believed he would marry Shay, but this was the first time he verbally expressed his desire to anyone.

“I guess I have, but, Mama, please don’t tell anyone. Give me the chance to tell her myself.”

“Brian, you know I would never stick my nose into your business.” Alysse found her attempt to sound innocent comical and said as much.

“Of course you wouldn’t butt into your only child’s business,” Brian said sarcastically.

“How’s law school?”

Brian talked to his mother all the way home and even after he got settled.  He couldn’t remember when she sounded so relaxed and stress-free. Before he disconnected, he reminded her to call him after her checkup. He checked his watch once again. It was too late to phone Shay.

Shay listened intently to the professor’s lecture. Although she used a tape recorder, she still took handwritten notes, mainly to distract her from Jason’s cold stares.  She’d ended their relationship over two months ago, but he still treated her with resentment every time he glimpsed the silver heart around her wrist.  Every chance he got
, Jason would make nasty comments either to her or about her to anyone who would listen. She prayed Jason would eventually forget about her and concentrate on passing his final exams. She even hoped Rhonda would start spending time with him. Actually, the two had much in common.

She’d settled back into her spiritual routine. Every morning she prayed and read scripture and every
day Brian called and left a prayer on her voicemail while she was in class. She’d celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday the following Tuesday. Brian was scheduled to land at Logan International Airport tomorrow evening. Shay had the entire weekend planned right down to the minute, dividing the four-day trip between Boston and Cambridge. Her list of non-stop activities included visiting historical museums and sites, a dinner cruise, a stage play and a carnival.

She scheduled every activity in public places. Except for the time they’d spend driving, they would never be alone. They agreed that i
t wasn’t a good idea to have Brian in Shay’s apartment or for Shay to hang out in Brian’s hotel room. He would meet Shay in the hotel lobby for their daily excursions.

It was like old times. The two of them had grown closer since the CD recording. They talked on the phone three times a week and for the first time since they’d known each other, they didn’t argue about trivial matters.

Outside of school, most of their conversations were of a spiritual nature. She was impressed with how well he could explain scriptures and how dedicated he was to the Lord. Last month for his twenty-fourth birthday, she sent him a black leather study Bible with his name engraved in gold letters. On the dedication page she wrote:
To a wonderful man whom I will respect and cherish forever

“That’s sweet, thank you,” is what he told her. They both knew there was more to be said, but wanted to wait until they were face
-to-face.

As was her routine now, Shay checked her voicemail for Brian’s daily prayer on the drive back to her apartment. Today he didn’t leave one.  She was disappointed, but guessed he was too busy getting ready to come see her. She tried to push him to the back of her mind, but it proved futile. Something wasn’t right;
he always found time for her. After she dropped her books on the sofa and grabbed a root beer from the refrigerator, she called him.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

She could tell he had been crying. She set her bottle of root beer down on the table without a coaster. “Brian, what’s wrong?” Her voice filled with urgency.