I parked my car outside Colonial Comics and slipped down the visor to fix my hair and makeup in the mirror. When I finished I reached for a pair of Jackie Kennedy sunglasses I had hanging firom my rearview mirror. The makeup helped, but I needed to hide the black eye Derrick had given me. There was no way I was gonna go inside Dylan’s store looking like something the cat dragged home, even if that was how I felt.
Besides, I was excited about seeing Dylan again. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to look my best. It had been almost a month since I’d seen him, and I’d actually thought about him pretty often. Most of the time it was when I was lying in my bed horny as hell from reading a Mary Morrison or Zane novel. Between those books and my memories of Dylan’s magic tongue, I’d had quite a few frustrating nights in the past month. I even broke down and picked up the phone a few times to invite him over for a booty call. But that was as far as I ever got. I’d think of Derrick and chicken out before I even dialed. Still, I couldn’t help wondering what he was doing and who he was doing it with. Lots of times those thoughts led to wishes that he was doing it with me.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when a car door slammed. I watched a minivan pulling out of the parking lot. Well, it’s now or never, I thought as I stepped out of my car.
I was nervous as hell. I hadn’t had this many butterflies since my crush on Maurice Hood in high school. My butterflies started doing flips when I walked in and saw Dylan sitting behind the counter, engrossed in a comic book. He was so handsome with his strong African features and smooth dark-chocolate skin. Until that night with Dylan, I’d never found myself attracted to dark-skinned men. Now I caught myself taking second and third looks whenever an ebony brother walked by. I hated to admit to myself that Dylan had done that to me with just one night.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you carry Brotherman comics?” I smiled when I saw his eyes light up.
“Jasmine!” He smiled with excitement, but his smile disappeared within seconds and his voice became testy, almost cold. “It’s been a long time. I take it you’ve come for those Brotherman comics?” He reached under the counter and pulled out a plastic bag. “I got ’em right here.”
“I didn’t come for any comic books, Dylan. I came to see you.” I used my most sincere tone.
“Oh, so I guess you finally changed your mind about us being friends, huh?”
“I never said I didn’t wanna be your friend I protested.
“Come on, Jasmine. You didn’t have to. Rebecca told me everything I needed to know. I know you don’t like me.”
“I never told Becky anything like that, Dylan.”
He sucked his teeth. “Whatever.”
“I swear to God I didn’t tell Becky I didn’t like you… I just mentioned that I didn’t think we should see each other again.”
“That’s an understatement. The day after I called you, your number became unlisted. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that you didn’t wanna talk to me.”
I tried to look innocent, but he wasn’t goin’ for it. It hurt to see him shake his head with another frown. I know I should’ve expected it, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with his accusation or his sarcasm.
“Look, Dylan, you’re actin’ like I purposely dissed you.”
“Didn’t you?” he said rather frankly.
I inhaled deeply. “Okay, okay. Maybe I did, but can’t we let bygones be bygones? I didn’t come here to fight. I came to see a friend.”
“A friend? I tried to be your friend before.”
“I know. And I really did want us to be friends. I was just scared. That’s all.” I stepped closer to him, though the counter still separated our bodies. I was grateful for that, ’cause I really felt like throwing my arms around him.
“Scared of what?”
“You. I’m scared of you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. I’m scared to death what happened at Joe’s is gonna happen again.” It actually felt good to be honest to him and myself about that.
“Haven’t we already been through this?” He looked frustrated. “I told you, I got caught up in the moment.”
“So did I. That’s the problem.”
“Look, Jasmine, I’m dating someone, okay? I’m just looking for a friend. Someone I can talk to. So if you can’t handle that, just tell me, ah’ight…” Talk about the shoe on the other foot! I barely heard a word he said after ‘I’m dating someone,’ because a wave of jealousy hit. As unreasonable as I was being, I wanted to scream at him. How could he be seeing someone? It had only been a few weeks since we’d seen each other. This had been a bad idea. I’d just gotten there, but now I was ready to leave. I should have stayed home and cried myself to sleep.
“Jazz?”
“What?” I snapped. He didn’t deserve it, but I was still pissed.
“What’s up with your boyfriend? You two still together?”
I felt like a fool. The whole purpose of me coming to Dylan’s store was so that I could talk to him about Derrick. Now here I was getting jealous of some other woman. What was wrong with me? I had to get my shit together. Besides, it was probably for the best that he was seeing someone. It would help keep both of us in check. If I could get my jealousy under control, maybe I did still have a friend.
“Derrick? He’s the reason I stopped by to talk to you. Do you think we could get outta here and talk? I really need a good listener.”
“Sure. Why don’t we get something to eat?”
I gratefully agreed, and he headed into the office to get his jacket. He came back out with a smile, followed by a nerdy-lookin’ white guy who took Dylan’s place behind the counter. I was relieved as Dylan put his arm around my shoulder and guided me to the door. I sure felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride whenever I was around this guy, but at the moment I was so happy to have him by my side.
11
I’d just punched the time clock and walked outside to smoke a cigarette when I heard a familiar voice calling me. It was my first week back at Wal-Mart after being out on maternity leave for six weeks, and it was my afternoon break. I’d been up all night with the baby, and to be honest I did not wanna be there. And I knew things were about to get worse when I heard that voice.
“Yo, Shorty. What’s up? I need to talk to you.”
I crushed the cigarette under my feet and turned to see Malek leaning against his car, a blunt hanging from his mouth. I really thought that after the incident at my house on Christmas Day he wouldn’t be showing his sorry face. I guess I was wrong.
I tried to pretend like he wasn’t there, but he wasn’t having lit. He got up off the car and headed toward me.
“Yo! What’s up? You tryin‘a play me or somethin’? I know you heard me.”
He was right. I had heard him, and the second I did I should’ve taken my ass back in the store, but I was afraid he was gonna follow me inside and make a scene. Malek was known for showing out in public. So I just stood there with my arms folded, eyeing him from head to toe. Would you believe after all the shit he’d put me through, I still found his ass attractive? I hadn’t really noticed his looks at the house that day ‘cause I was too busy tryin’ to get rid of his ass before Travis lost his mind. But now I had time to get a good look at him and reminisce as he approached. I had to admit he was still cute, in a thuggish kind of way. Especially with those cornrows he was wearing in his hair. They made him look like Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks, and Latrell was fine as hell. I had to bite my lip just to remind myself I was supposed to hate him.