Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Since they were still clean, given I hadn't worn them very long, I dressed in my work clothes once more, not wanting to show up to Jamal’s place in my sweats. I bid James farewell and headed out to my car.
I still had a little time before Jamal would be home from work, so I stopped at a florist on my way to buy him a bouquet of beautiful red roses and white lilies. And even though it was close to dinner time, I wanted to treat him, so I made one more stop at a coffee shop to pick up his favorite drink.
As I drove across town, the scenery slowly but surely changed. Brownstones and high rises gave way to apartment buildings which showed their age through peeling paint and cracked foundations. Many businesses had bars across their windows, and a few had even been boarded up.
If these were the things that had given Jamal pause in inviting me over, I didn’t understand it. I’d been all over the city and seen every part of it. Some areas were different from others, but it didn’t mean anything. I could never think less of him or anyone because of where they came from.
I pulled up to the curb in front of an apartment building which looked very different from my own. It showed its age in the cracks along the faded bricks, and the crumbling cinder blocks of the stoop.
Seated on the steps were a group of guys who looked to be around Jamal’s age. I wondered if they were friends. I smiled to myself, thinking how nice it would be to have buddies nearby.
I stepped out of my car and gathered Jamal’s gifts before giving the group of men a bright smile. I wanted to make a good first impression. Several of them stood up, and I was excited to meet them.
“Are you lost?” One of the men asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“No, I’m good, but thank you. I’m here to see Jamal.”
“The fuck did you just say?” Now all of the men were on their feet, and walking towards me.
“I, uh…Jamal…Billings…does he not live here?” I was sure I had the address right, but maybe I typed it into my GPS wrong. I took a step backwards towards my car, but the men were all gathered before me.
The tallest in the group was now standing directly in front of me, leaning down so that he was looking dead in my eyes with a menacing gaze. “Tell me why someone like you,” he paused to poke his finger into my chest, making me take another step back, “Is looking for Jamal.”
“I…well, I…” My brain spun as my tongue stuttered, trying to figure out the situation. I’d done something to offend these men, and I held no chance against them. I wasn’t ashamed of my intentions, but I was afraid to speak them out loud.
“And why do you have this shit?” He plucked a rose from the bouquet and tossed it to the ground before stomping on it. I knew instinctively the flower wasn’t the only thing he wanted to hurt.
“Answer him,” another man insisted, his voice booming in my ear. I peeked towards the sound and found another threatening gaze trained on me.
“I…” I didn’t know what to do. My brain told me to drop everything and run, but my feet wouldn’t move. I was frozen with fear and confusion. The group closed in on me and I swallowed hard and tensed, bracing for what was to come.
“What’s going on?” A familiar voice rang out and I finally felt as if I could breathe again. Jamal. He could explain everything. He would help.
The group broke enough for me to see through them. Any comfort I’d gained fled from my body when my eyes landed on Jamal. He stood on the sidewalk, dressed casually, holding hands with a beautiful woman. She had a killer curvy figure, braids that fell past her shoulders, and was holding tight to my man.
“That’s what I’m trying to fucking figure out,” the tall man spat. “This guy says he’s looking for you, and I want to know why.”
Jamal peered around the man to look at me, and for the first time since we’d met, I couldn’t read his expression. It was completely blank. It was as if he was staring at a stranger; not someone he loved or cared about.
“Delivery guy,” he finally answered coldly, before turning to the pretty woman on his arm and giving her the smile that I thought was only reserved for me. “I got them for you.”
“Aw, baby,” she cooed, before lifting up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You’re the best.” She let go of Jamal’s hand and sauntered up to me, reaching out for the gifts.