What About Us: A Crazy Love Story (5 page)

She claims its over between her and the guy. But for some reason, I think that she just moved on to someone else. I pray that she gets her shit together. I don’t want her to end up like me.”

I know all about my mother’s infidelity. It was the cause of her and my dad separating. She has said on many occasions that if she could go back in time, she would do things differently.

“Well, let’s just pray that she has gotten it out of her system.”

“Jabari is at the door, Auntie Jazzy. I tried to let him in, but I couldn’t unlock the door.”

“Thanks anyway, Little Mama. See you later, Ma. Do you want for me to bring you anything back?”

“No thanks, Jazzy. I’ve got everything I need, right here. Ain’t that right, G-Ma’s baby?” She picks up Imanie and carries her on back into the living room.

I open the door for Jabari and his attire takes me by surprise. He has on a tailored black suit with a fuchsia tie to match and it’s hugging every inch of his body. I want to rip his clothes off, right here in my mother’s living room. Only, I have to control myself.

“Well, don’t you look handsome this evening Jabari. You two have a good evening.”

“Thanks a lot, Ms. Sims. I promise to make your daughter the happiest woman in the world tonight.”

“I already feel like the happiest woman in the world, Jabari. You make me feel like that, whenever we’re together.”

I kiss him and then he pulls me closer, to deepen the kiss.

“Girl, don’t start nothing up in here. You are looking damn good in this outfit, Baby. Turn around, so I can get a look at what my baby is working with.”

I do a complete 360° degree turn, so my Bae can see how good I am looking.

“I’ve got to be the luckiest nigga in Cleveland, to pull you. Let’s get going because we have reservations.”

“We have reservations? Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise, now let’s go woman before we’re late. I’ve got plans for us tonight.”

“See you later, Ma. I love you.”

I grab my clutch and then I begin walking towards the door.

“Bye Auntie Jazzy and Uncle Jabari.”

“I knew it was a reason that I like that kid. See you, Shawty Doo Wop.

“Bye Auntie’s Baby . . . Give me a big hug and a kiss. I’ll see you, when I get back from school.”

“Are we gonna go to Chuck E Cheese the next time that you come home, Auntie?”

“We sure will. I promise.”

I get my kiss and hug and then I’m out the door.

“I really don’t like surprises, Jabari. Can you at least tell me where we are going?” I ask, as he opens the passenger side door for me to get inside.

Once I am seated, he closes the door and hops in on the driver’s side.

“No can do, just sit back and relax. I promise . . . . Tonight will be a night that you won’t forget.”

He turns on the car and
Soul Sista
by Bilal is playing. This is one of my favorite Neo soul artists. I didn’t even tell him. This is why I love this man so much. We have so much in common, yet we’re so different.

***

We pull up to the dock at Intercity Yacht Club. I see a big pretty white boat with lights hanging on it. Hell, this had to be a yacht. I am so busy looking at the boat, that I don’t even notice when Jabari opens up my door for me.

“Are we about to get on this big boat, Jabari?” I ask, taking his hand as he helps me from the car.

“Yes, this is our boat. Look what I named it.”

He pointed to the side of the boat. In big cursive lettering it reads,
Everlasting Jazzlene.

“You named it after me! I can’t believe that you bought a boat.”

I am taking it all in, as we walk on the dock leading to the boat. He helps me on and then he leads me down three steps. My breath is taken away.

Jabari has white and red candles lit all over, with the mellow sounds of Jill Scott playing softly in the background. The table is already set and awaiting our arrival. My mouth is agape, from just looking around alone. Three men are standing off to the side, with big smiles on their faces.

“Good evening, Miss. I will be your captain. You can call me Henry.”

“Good evening, Henry.”

“Sir, I will begin sailing within the next five minutes. Will that be alright with you?”

“I’m ready when you’re ready. Thanks for asking.”

Henry goes up on the top deck.

Jabari pulls out my seat for me and I sit down. I am still looking around in awe. No man has ever done anything half as great for me in my life.

“Good evening, my name is Andre and I’m the chef for this evening. Mr. Chandler has already picked the menu for this evening. It will be served shortly. I just wanted to introduce myself, before I finished preparing your meal.”

He exits and heads to go and finish preparing our meal.

I’m Dar and I’ll be your server this evening. Would you like to start with drinks?”

“Yes, I would like a bottle of champagne. Thanks a lot.”

“Is everything alright, Jazzy? You haven’t said a word.”

“I’m just taking it all in, Bae. This is so romantic and sexy. I’ve never had anyone to do this much for me. I don’t know what to say.”

I literally have tears in my eyes. Jabari is making me feel so special.

“I want our last night together to be memorable. I love you so much, Jazzlene. I just wanted to show you a portion of how much tonight.”

“I love you too, Jabari. I never thought that I would fall for someone like you. You make me feel so special. I wish that tonight didn’t have to be our last night together.”

Dar, our server, brings us a bottle of Bellaire. I know this is an expensive bottle of champagne. He sits the bottle in a bucket filled with ice, after filling both of our glasses.

“Will that be all for now, Sir?”

Jabari answers yes, and then our server exits into the kitchen.

“It doesn’t have to be our last night together, Jazzy. I want for you to be mines forever. The first time that I laid my eyes on you, I felt a magnetic pull. I never thought that I would feel this way about anyone.

I’m not good at this romantic shit, Ma. But I wanna spend the rest of my life doing this type of shit for you. So that is why I wanna make you mine. Jazzlene, will you be mine? Will you marry me?”

Chapter Five

Jabari

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

- Nora Ephron

Jazzlene’s expression is unreadable. It seems as though time is standing still. Now I’m regretting this shit. Maybe she isn’t in love like I am. But she says it all of the time.

“Jazzy, did you hear me Baby?”

“Uh- yyy-yes I heard you, Jabari. I’m just surprised.”

“So is this a good surprise or bad surprise?”

I feel like a fool, right about now.

“It’s a good thing; unexpected, but good. Of course, I want to marry you, Jabari. I love you.”

“I would be excited, but I feel like it is a but coming.”

“It’s like this, Jabari; I love you with all of my heart, but I have a plan for my life. I have two more years of college to finish, before I can even think about being your wife.”

“Are you telling me that I have to wait two more years, before we can get married?”

“I’m telling you that if you love me, like you say you do, Jabari; then two years shouldn’t make or break our relationship. I will finish college Jabari and that is not negotiable.”

“I never thought that marrying me would have to stop you from getting your degree. I admire your drive and determination, Baby. I just want you to be my wife. I don’t want to go through life, without you as my better half.”

“I can’t imagine my life without you either, Jabari. And in two years when I graduate from Howard University, I would love to walk down the aisle and take your last name.”

She holds out her left ring finger, so that I can slide on the five carat Marquise cut Leo Diamond, which is surrounded by pink vvs stones.

“You have made me the happiest man in the world, Jazzlene. If only you would transfer back home to go to school.”

“You can’t be serious, Jabari? Howard University is the Harvard of HBCU’s. No school in the state of Ohio can compare. I’m sorry, but me transferring back home will not happen. Besides, I have a full scholarship. I would be a fool to let that go to come back home to Cleveland State.”

“I can pay your tuition to any school. So that scholarship doesn’t mean a thing. I was thinking that we could go to Cabo and have a quick and simple ceremony. That way, we can get started right away on our family!”

I am so excited, but that excitement comes to an end quickly, when I look at the expression on my baby’s face.

“What is wrong, Baby Girl?”

“It’s just that, I can tell you thought this all out and I feel bad for not agreeing with your plans. I can’t wait to start my life with you, Jabari. Any girl would be a fool to not want to be with you.

I just already have a plan for my life and getting married, even if it is to the love of my life, before finishing school is outta the question. I watch how my sister has lived with regret. She is a smart girl with a bright future ahead of herself and it all came to an end, when she got pregnant with my niece.

She got married, quit school, and had to put her plans on hold. I can tell that she resents her husband and child sometimes. I just don’t want to do that to you and our children.”

I release her hand and I think over everything she just said. I can see her point of view, but I still want to start our life right away. I secretly know that she deserves so much better than a hood nigga like me.

I’m not so sure that us being apart is such a good idea. It might give another nigga with better credentials enough time to slide right on in, especially with her being thousands of miles away. I’m willing to wait it out though, if that means I’ll be with her when it is all said and done.

“I love you, Jazzlene. If I have to wait, then I’ll do just that, Baby Girl.”

“I can’t believe that we are engaged, Jabari!” She says, as she jumps up from her seat to give me a hug.

“I knew the moment I saw you that you would be mine, forever.”

“You should move to DC, Baby or at least rent a place. You can stay with me for weeks and come home to handle business.”

“You know that I’ve got business to handle in Cleveland, Baby Girl. But I will let you find us a spot out there. Whatever you want, I’ve gotchu. Now let’s eat. I wanna go on the deck, so that we can enjoy the view of the sunset.”

“I love you so much, Jabari Chandler. I promise to be the queen that you deserve.”

“I know you will, Baby Girl. That is why I want you to be my wife.”

We finish our meal with good conversation and then we make our way up the stairs. I watch the gold and pink hued sky connect with the waves of Lake Erie.

“This is beautiful, Bae. I’ve never seen the sunset like this before.”

I walked behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. Then I kiss the nape of her neck.

“I’m gonna spend the rest of my life doing shit like this for you, Baby Girl.”

Jazzlene turns around and kisses my lips. This is our first kiss being engaged.

“We’ve gotta make love on this boat, Jabari,” she whispers in my ear.

I have to make sure that we won’t get interrupted. I ask the chef and the waiter to give us a moment alone. I know that the captain will be busy guiding the boat on Lake Erie waters.

When I get back, Jazzlene is completely naked with one leg propped up. She is strumming her pretty pussy, awaiting my return. I stand there and watch her work magic on herself for a moment.

I don’t even think she realizes that I am here. The ring I had just placed on her finger is now saturated in her yummy juices. I watch every drop drip from her neatly trimmed chocolate pussy. I have to wipe my mouth, because the sight of her making herself cum has me drooling.

“Are you gonna just stand there all night and watch, or are you gonna come over here and help me finish?”

It takes me three steps to make it to where she is and I am naked before I reach what is rightfully mine.

“Damn, that pussy looks sweet.”

“Why don’t you see if it tastes, as sweet as it looks?”

She places her sopping wet finger up to my mouth, so that I can taste her mango flavored nectar.

“I remove her fingers and then I immediately latch onto her swollen clit. I lick and suck on her engorged womanhood, until she can’t take it anymore. She cums a total of six times, and that is just from the amazing head that I bless her with.              

“That is the best you have ever done it, Jabari. What are you trying to do to me?” She asked me, as she catches her breath.

I never answer her question. I just turn her over, lean her forward, and then I enter her from behind.

“Yes, Jabari . . .  Please don’t stop!” She moans out in sheer ecstasy. I reach around and begin to rub on her clit, while still hitting her pussy from behind. We fuck all night on
Everlasting Jazzlene
. . . In every position imaginable.

We finally make it to shore, but Jazzy is completely spent.

“I just had the best night of my life, Jabari. I wish that it didn’t have to end.”

“Don’t worry, Baby Girl. We’ve got a lifetime to do this and more.”

“I can’t wait to tell Mama and Ja’nelle about this romantic night.”

The crazy thing is that even though I am madly in love with Jazzy; Ja’nelle still holds a place in my heart, as well. I have to break it off with her. Although her head is so amazing, that she should give private lessons.

I can’t forget about Lela’s crazy ass either. She is too far along now to get rid of our baby. And I have truthfully grown quite fond of the idea of having a little me running around. The way I see it, I have two years to tie up all of my loose ends and to finally tell Jazzlene about my son.

Pray fo’ a nigga!