In The Spur of Heath (The Spur Series Book 1) (22 page)

We entered the airport, checked in, passed through security and eventually made our way to the waiting area at our gate. Finally, we were called to board. My heart did so many leaps. I was giddy with joy.

Heath and I boarded the plane and collapsed into our seats. I let out a puff of air. My emotions very apparent on my face. Nervous?” He asked me, taking notice.

“Happy, and yeah a little nervous. We are going to party like there is no tomorrow.” I grinned, reclining my head on the headrest. “I could taste the doubles already.” I trailed off and rolled my head over to the side, looking out the window. Into the darkness outside. Dazzling sparkles of light canvassing far beyond what my eyes could reach.

Ding!
The flight attendant came over the intercom – breaking me from my trance – welcoming us to American Airlines, giving us the details of our flight – we were set to land in Jamaica first, then Trinidad – and warning us to fasten our seatbelts as they were preparing for take-off.
Phew! The excitement had my stomach swirling with butterflies. Can’t wait!
I bit down on my lip hard and turned my attention to Heath. He reclined his head and closed his eyes, slowly exhaling as he waited for the take-off. I once again affixed my attention to the outside of the plane and felt his coarse fingers slipping into mine.

The plane accelerated down the runway and soon began to lift into the air, reaching up to the dark sky, all could be seen were brilliant lights of all shades spread across the land. It was breath taking.
Wow!
The look of twinkling stars, dazzling as the plane zoomed past it all.

Soon enough, land was nowhere in sight and all I could see was blackness. Deep, dark blue choppy waters below us and possibly ships. I loved flying, even though it was a bit scary, it was incredible. I then decided to close my eyes, my fingers still laced with Heath’s, and drift off into a sea of dreams as the plane continued on its trusted journey.

Unknown to me, our plane had finally landed in Trinidad. I was fast asleep, trying to recuperate from the hangover.  “Reese.” My eyes flickered open to see Heath over me with a bottled water in his hand. “Thank you.” I breathed, feeling much better than I did earlier. I drank down the water and organised to clear out of the plane. It was a little after seven in the morning when we arrived.

After we filtered out of the plane and reclaimed our luggage, made it down to the Arrival Hall inside of the Piarco International Airport and looked around, canvassing the very busy area.  After my eyes darted across from one person to the next, I finally spotted my cousin, Salimah and her fiancé, Adrien.

Salimah and I were mistaken for sisters a lot, and to be honest, in a sense, we were. We looked very much alike, except she was taller, had black shorter hair and dark eyes. “Reese!” She called out elatedly.

“Sal!” I yelled. “O.M.G.” I ran up to her and hugged her as tight as I could, leaving Heath with the responsibility of the luggage. “Adrien.” I hugged him as well. He was as tall as Salimah and was of East Indian descent; brown skin, brown eyes and straight hair that he always had in a spiked hairstyle. “I missed you guys.”

We all grew up together, best of friends. When Sal and I were sixteen, just out of high school, Adrien invited us to live with him. His parents had given him one of their houses in one of the best neighbourhoods. Then he and Sal decided to get together. Was a little weird at first, but it grew on me – they were cute together.

“Oh shit, how rude of me. Sal you know Heath. Heath, Sal and her fiancé, Adrien.” I introduced them and they shook hands. Heath and Sal were already informally acquainted through skype.

“Hoss, ya sounding like a real yankee.” Adrien laughed.

“Shut it, Adri.” I shoved him playfully.

I took my luggage from Heath and we followed Sal and Adrien out to the canopy. Adrien left us to get the car. When he returned, we loaded our luggage into the trunk and then got in the backseat of the car.
Finally! Back home!

“Was the plan?” Sal asked, turning towards us from the front passenger seat.

“Doubles, dude, doubles!” I cried and they laughed. “It’s a must.”

We pulled out from the Airport parking lot, now in route to Chaguanas, the central borough of Trinidad. We came out from Caroni – a road that connects to the highway – and headed down the highway.

Heath admired the abundant supply of beautiful green ‘bush’ and businesses that lined the highway.

“God, I love the greenery.” Heath said as he looked out the window.

We passed a few walkovers, and soon enough, we came to the exit ramp to enter Chaguanas on the left. Soca and Dancehall music was blasting on the roadside everywhere we turned. “Wow.” Heath was in awe.

We finally made it on to the main road where pedestrians hustled and bustled on the pavements and even on the roads. Street vendors were at the side of the road begging for sales and a few boys here and there were pushing a huge sound system around advertising the CDs that they were selling. Heath looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. “I call them box boys.” I joked. As we cruised down the road, we came up to Centre City Mall and pulled into its massive parking garage.

“Wow, it’s so vibrant.” Heath smiled, looking highly amused. We walked out of the Mall’s parking lot and back onto the main road, past the neighbouring gas station where a few Doubles vendors were situated. “So, explain to me again, what’s a Double.”

“Doublesssss… and it’s our local street food, inspired by our East Indian culture. It’s like two fried flat breads with curried chick peas in the middle and a variety of yummy sauces and chutneys. You would love it, and if you don’t, you are not the man for me.” I poked him.

We all walked up to the Doubles man. He was serving others and then he turned to me. “Two doubles, everything, slight. Having here.”  He shook his head and then handed us both of our doubles in less than ten seconds. “Whoa, he’s fast.” Heath looked stunned, taking his from the vendor.

“Yeah, most of them are.” I said as I grabbed onto my Bara (fried flat bread), scooped up the channa (curried chick peas) and stuffed piece into my mouth.

“So what exactly did you order? I couldn’t understand a word of that

“Oh. Um… I told him I wanted two doubles with every sauce and chutney and slight pepper. And I wanna eat it here.”

“Hmmm, fascinating.”

“Yes, and now we eat with our hands, like this.” He observed as I continued to eat with my hands. He then followed suit, taking his first bite, his face lighting up in sheer satisfaction. He love it. No questions asked.

“Wow, that’s bloody fantastic, mate.” He elated. His face turned red and he began to hiss. “Wow, that’s spicy.” He coughed, his eyes welling with tears.

“Shit. I’m sorry. I forgot you have never really had hot pepper sauce.”

“It’s okay. It’s good.” He hissed.

His facial expression and his words were just a comical combination. He looked like he was about to die, but he couldn’t stop raving about how good it was. The other customers were looking at him like he was a strange being. I guess it’s because he was Caucasian – one, and two – he had an Australian accent. Caucasian people were not really common in that side of Trinidad, they were more frequent in the East-West and North sides – so people had a tendency to stare. And as tall and beautiful as Heath was – it was no surprise he would grab attention.

“I know right.” I responded, completely ignoring our audience.

After Heath and I had our fill on doubles, we returned to the parking garage and got back into the car with Sal and Adrien.

We made our way to Adrien’s house in Lange Park, one of the nicest residential neighbourhoods in Chaguanas, and the most expensive too. I used to live there before I left for California. My room was still intact so I had nothing to worry about.

We pulled up into the carport of the house. The front yard was pretty spacious, with a huge mango tree set out on the front. The house was a decent-sized three bedroom flat. Heath and I jumped out of the backseat and pulled our luggage out of the trunk as Salimah and Adrien walked up to the porch. I pulled up the handle of the suitcase and wheeled it into the house.

The living room was just as I remembered it; that same old tan coloured three-piece sofa set, that scratched up coffee table and 42 inch Samsung Smart TV and smelt like Old Spice. My bedroom door was right beside the TV. I led Heath inside.

It was dark due to my very heavy dark curtains – something I thrived on. I flipped the switch near the door and the light flickered on illuminating my small but cosy room. My ex’s perfume still lingering and very strong. My bed stood smackdab in the middle. To the far right stood my study desk along with a small stereo setup, and on the opposite end of the room was my wardrobe.
Yep! Small but cosy
. When I turned my head to the right, I took notice of my old Linkin’ Park poster.
Oh the nostalgia.
Memories of my hardcore rock days flooded my mind.  “It feels good to be back.” I muttered, glancing back at Heath. He seemed completely absorbed in it all. As if fully processing everything in front of him. I wheeled my luggage toward my wardrobe and sat on my bed. It was cold. “So, what you think so far?” I cocked my head to the side, my eyes following Heath as he made his way beside me.

“I’m glad I came.” He looked at me with a faint smile on his lips. “Thank you for this, Pieces.”

“And… you haven’t seen a thing yet.” I gloated.

“So…what’s the first order of business?” Heath asked, removing his jacket and tossing it aside.

“I was thinking we could go to the Avenue!” I jumped up.

“What’s the Avenue?”

“It’s where we Trinis go to lime, in town. On the entire strip of road, on the Avenue, there are clubs, lounges, bars and food places one right after the other so there’s like never a dull moment, and they don’t close ‘til like after four in the morning.”

“Interesting.”

“Yes, and then after we party our asses off, we will take a trip to Maracas and cool off. Eat some bake and shark. You would love it.”

“You’ve got me sold, Pieces. I should call my dad and let him know I arrived safely, okay.”

“Okay.” I replied and watched him as he left the room. I hooked up my stereo and began playing
Yeah Whatever by Splender
– the ultimate throwback of all throwbacks – I pumped up the volume. I then went into the living room and sauntered through the corridor.

There were two doors on either side of the corridor – one was Adrien’s room and the other was Sal’s, but I think one was now an office. At the end of the corridor was the kitchen and dining room and two doors. One led to the bathroom, while the other was the backdoor.

I pushed open the backdoor, stepping out into cool crisp air. The backyard was even bigger than the front. The washing machine and dryer were sitting side by side against the wall near a concrete laundry tub. I walked up to the Swing Chair and sat on it.

Sal and Adrien appeared at the backdoor and walked up to me. “Well, Reese is officially back.” Sal said with a smirk and folded arms.

“Yeah, yuh sure right, ‘cuz nobody else here does play that shit music.” Adrien laughed and sat on one of the Patio chairs. Salimah followed suit.

“Ugh, shut it Adri. Alyuh doh be on my music, okay!” I grinned.

Jake and Kin were inside their hotel room lying down on a King sized bed. They were wrapped in thick white sheets. His arms around her as she caressed his body. “Can’t believe we finally back in Jamaica.” She said as she snuggled her head on his chest. The warm sunshine coming through the blinds of the window kissed their skin.

“I know. This is a vacation very well deserved and needed, for both of us.” He looked down at her lovingly, his fingertips brushing against her chocolate coloured shoulders. And her long locks hanging off the bed.

“Thank for this, Jacob.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” He looked down at her again and kissed the top of her forehead.

“Or.” She sprung up. “Did you arrange de plane to Trinidad like I asked? Remember Charmaine wah see me befo’ we head back to LA.”

“Yeah Kin, I did. Of course. Leaving tonight. We’ll be back on the morning of the Thanksgiving.”

“Ah. Nice. Ah love yuh, Jacob.”

“Love you, too.” He looked into her eyes and kissed her. His eyes so full of love. She then laid her head on his chest and his smile disappeared, his once warm eyes now cold and dead. The loving emotions now portrayed disappeared with a flick of a switch.

Kai and Joey were seated on a mocha-coloured three-piece sectional at Joey’s Jamaican residence. Joey was leaning over the large glass coffee table, rolling some weed, dressed in three-quarter jeans and a white Tee. Kai had his feet propped on the coffee table with his head buried in a book, he was clad in brown ¾ cargo pants and a white vest.

A 90 inch LED TV mounted on the wall was staring back at them. Behind the sectional stood a dining table, and glass walls leading to the backyard where the pool was, overlooking a green mountainous view.

“First time in Jamaica?” Joey asked as he licked the sides of the paper holding the weed.

“Yes, and how fucking cool is it that we could smoke that shit like we’re in Amsterdam.” Kai’s eyes lit up. He laid the book he was reading beside him and leaned in towards Joey.

“No bruh, we could smoke this shit like we’re in Jamaica!” Joey smiled deviously and lit up his joint. Kai’s face became vacant, as he stared off into the distance. He had been distracted lately. “Man, you alright?” Joey asked sucking on his joint, breaking Kai from his thoughts.

“Uh, yeah, man. It’s just…” He trailed off.

“Just what?” Joey asked, puffing out smoke and passing the joint to Kai.

“This girl I met.”

“Oh no! You’ve been pussy whipped.” Joey laughed hysterically.

“No man, no. Nothing like that. We hardly even kissed. It’s just…”

“That is some sad shit. You hardly kissed the girl and she’s on your mind? Sad.”

“Shut up, Joe. She’s a Trini, too.” Kai stated dreamily as he puffed on the joint.

“What is it with you and Jake? Ya’ll love off on de Caribbean gyal dem.” Joey teased in a faux-Caribbean accent.

“Ah, fuck you.” Kai laughed and reclined into the sectional, taking yet another pull.

“Yo, my brother – it’s a roll on, not a hold on. Could you pass back that shit?” Joey stretched his arm out to Kai, taking the joint from him. “So…you ready for organised crime?” Joey asked raising his eyebrows playfully.

“Man, as long as it gets that psychotic bitch out of our lives permanently – I’m down!”

“Yeah, Kin and I go way back, man. Something ain’t right with her. She’s jealous and possessive. And when she got the power of the drug world at her finger tips, she became a nuisance.”

Kai pushed himself off the sofa and walked out to the backyard. Scrolling through Instagram, looking at the pictures of him and me at Mimi’s party. Jake’s face then popped up as his phone rang. He answered it.

Joey had an arm spread across the backrest of his sofa as he flicked through the TV stations. Feeling unimpressed, he tossed the remote to the side and passed his hand over his bald head. He then craned his neck at Kai who came running to him. “What’s wrong with you?” Joey asked.

“Get your things ready, we’re heading to Trinidad tonight.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Jake just called, he and Kin are going Trinidad… tonight, and he booked our tickets.”

“Won’t Kin make us?”

“I said the same thing, but he insisted we just lay low and let him handle the rest.”

“What is he up to?” Joey shook his head. “And the plan?”

“We’ll be back early Sunday morning to put things in place.” Kai assured him.

“Alright…let’s do it then.”

After I took a shower, changed into my nightwear and towel dried my hair, I walked out into the living room. Sal was lying on the three-seater sofa with her feet propped on top of Adrien. They looked up at me. “Where’s Heath?” I asked them and their eyes darted towards the corridor. “Backyard I think.” Sal responded. “By the way, it have food there.”

“What you cook?” I asked heading toward the corridor.

“Curry.” She shouted out to me as I walked through the corridor. I walked into the small kitchen. A 20 inch four-burner stove stood in one corner, near the empty sink. I walked up to the sink and got a glass from the wares rack. I then made my way over to the fridge and poured myself some cold water.  I drank it down, washed my glass and headed out to the backyard.

It was dark out, the stars filled up the sky and the outdoor light illuminated the yard. Heath was on the chair swing, moving to and fro as he looked out over the landscape. He craned his neck back at me as I approached him.

“Hey.” He smiled.

“Are you okay?” I asked, sensing something was wrong.

“No, I’m fine, I really am. Just happy.” He shrugged and extended his arm out to me. I slid next to him and he wrapped his arm around me, kissing on my forehead as he did.

“You sure?” I looked up at him and he looked down with a faint smile.

“Positive.”

We sat there in silence. Rocking to and fro as a cool calm wind blew, the sound of chirping crickets and the neighbours laughing and talking. It was peaceful. The night was beautiful and my mind started drifting onto the memories I had suppressed – that of Jake. The guilt consuming me as Heath embraced me.
I don’t deserve your love.

“Heath.” I broke the beautiful silence.

“Pieces?”

“What made you love me?” I asked. Wanting to know. Wanting to ease my insecurities. Wanting to feel something beyond my heartache over lost love. I wanted to gain something new that would destroy the lingering ‘Jake’ feelings. He looked down at me as if trying to understand the question.

“What would made you ask a thing like that?” He asked having finally found the words.

“I’d like to know really. It’s just…I’ve loved you for so long and you never got any inclination of those feelings before Jake, so I’d really like to know what changed.”

“It’s not that I had no inclination of it. I loved you in my own way. I don’t know how to explain it, but seeing you with Cavanaugh…it’s like a light bulb went off. The smoke screen cleared and I was jealous and insanely overprotective.”

“Why though?” I asked in a whisper. “I mean…like… why me?”

“I realise you have a tendency to sell yourself short.” He looked at me apprehensively. He just said the same thing Jake had told me once.
Do I really sell myself short?
I have never really noticed. I pursed my lips and looked up at him with doe eyes. He exhaled and then stared off into the distance. “Honestly,” he began, slipping his fingers into mine, “the way you make me feel…the ease and comfort. I could talk to you about anything and I know I would always get your honest opinion. I respect that so much. The beauty in your honesty. Your humour – God life would be dull without you.” He faced me. “The way you don’t hold back on the mean things you want to say – the sass I love.” He smiled and I broke out into a giggle, tears slowly pooling in my eyes. “The way your face lights up when you talk about your passions. The way you are so determined and yet sometimes so clueless about how awesome you are. The way you stare off into the distance when you’re possibly talking to yourself, overanalysing situations as usual.” He bent his head, silently laughing.

“Shut up.” I shoved him playfully. We then locked gazes, our smiles fading.

“You’re beautiful.” He paused. “And I could go on and on all night long about all the beautiful little things that make me love you and it still wouldn’t do any justice. I love you, Reese. Because you’re you and it’s simple as that.”

I was in total shock. I had no words. Not like I could find the right ones. I’ve never heard him talk like this before – not about anyone. My heart doubled and the tears spilled. I hate that I betrayed him, and I hate that I had feelings for Jake because this – this was real. What Heath and I had was amazing. A bond. A friendship. A love. True love. It wasn’t shallow or sexualized, it was genuine. A friendship that blossomed. I had it, yet, I didn’t know how to appreciate it. I hated myself for even entertaining Jake in my mind.

“I love you, too, Heath.” I responded, having finally found the words. And with that, silence ensued and we embraced each other, staring off into the night sky. Just enjoying the beautiful silence of each other’s company.

Jake held onto Kin’s hand as they wheeled their small trolley through the crowded arrival hall at the Piarco International Airport. Kin pulled off her sunglasses off her eyes and scanned the sea of people greeting their loved ones. She then spotted the thick, short woman with caramel skin and long curly hair. “Charmaine!” Kin called out to her.

“Kin.” The woman replied in her Trini accent as she waved to her.

Kin’s face lit up and she ran towards her, arms wide open. “Cham, girl it’s been long.” She said as she hugged her.

“Wah’ going on girl. Long-time no see fuh true. I miss ya.”

“Miss ya too, gyal.” Jake strolled up to them leisurely with hooded eyes. “Oh, you remember Jake, right?”

“Yes of course. You found him then, that’s good.” Charmaine smiled at him. “Well I glad yuh make it. Lewwe go one time before traffic start to back up.”

Kai was leaning against a column under the canopy outside of the airport just as Jake passed with Kin and Charmaine. He ducked his head to the side in attempts to hide from Kin as they made their way to the parking lot. Jake spotted him and gave him a small reassuring nod as he passed. When Jake and Kin were out of sight, Joey came through the automatic entrance doors, attempting to light the cigarette in his mouth as he strolled up to Kai. The lights from the ceiling glistening on his bald head.

“Was that Jake and Kin I just saw?” Joey asked letting out a puff of smoke.

“Yep, let’s move.” Kai replied taking his sunglasses and beanie off of his head, his copper brown hair falling into his face.

I woke up the next day, the sun bright on my face and Heath’s arm resting limply on me. His head hanging off the sides of the bed and his feet hanging across the other side.
OMG! Dude was the worst to sleep with.
I lifted his arm and squeezed out from under it. I cracked my neck, gently massaging out the kinks. Despite the discomfort, I felt invigorated.
OMG! Is that bhaigan choka I smell?
The delicious scent of roasted eggplant with burnt garlic and onions.
Ahh! Oh how I missed my local foodies.

I looked over at Heath’s splayed body as he tossed and turned and smiled. I then walked out into the living room and headed down the corridor. I entered the kitchen to see Salimah swelling sada roti on the baking stone and a bowl of Bhaigan Choka in the centre of the dining table. “Aye Reese.”

“Wow, I must be in the twilight zone.” I wiped my eyes clean.

“What you mean?” She asked as she placed a cooked roti on a small kitchen towel.

“Because you’ve become domesticated. It’s unreal.” I laughed.

“Oh shut ya ass, Reese.” She giggled. “Where’s ya boy?”

“Asleep. He never sleeps late. He must really like it here.” I smirked. “I coming back.” I said and headed to the bathroom.

I splashed water on my face and looked up at my reflection on the smudged mirror that stood over the sink. I then brushed my teeth. After I cleaned up myself, I walked back to my bedroom. Heath was up, yawning and stretching away. He turned to me when I entered the room.

“What time is it?” He asked pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Like 10a.m.” I responded.

“Whoa. Time zones huh.” Awe transformed his face.

“It messes you up. When I first moved to Dillcaster, I was up all freaking night despite the fact that I had orientation the next day.”

“You poor thing.” He quipped and returned with a half-smile.

“Breakfast is ready when you are.” I added before leaving him to sort himself out.

He watched as my back turned and disappeared. He balled up his fists and placed them to his sides as he remained seated at the edge of the bed, looking down at the sprawling luggage. The corners of his mouth quirked up.

After Heath freshened up himself, he joined us at the table. “What is that?” He asked, taking a seat beside us. “Smells delicious.”