“I knew you’d trip about your parents so it’s all in my name, and that can be changed the moment you’re ready. The paperwork is in the glove compartment along with a signed affidavit that you’re an authorized user of the vehicle. Here.” He handed me the keys from his pocket.
Even the fob was elegant. Holy mother of Joseph! I have a BMW! I couldn’t fathom it all. Similar to the laptop, I couldn’t muster the proper response.
I reached up and threw my arms around his broad shoulders. “Thanks, Stent, for thinking about my safety.” His hands splayed on my back. While still clasped I murmured, “You’re starting to make things weird for us. I’m starting to feel kept like a girlfriend or something, buddy.” I pulled back, extended up on my toes, and patted his head like a kid.
“Shit,” he scoffed. “Heaven forbid I try holding you to an antiquated societal title like that,” he whispered so low that I almost didn’t catch it.
A small grin cracked my bewildered face. Then a revelation dropped in my head.
“Hey, is my birthday the reason why you okayed Tynisha giving me a drink a couple of days ago? You were ready to bruise poor Alton.”
He shook his head. “You’re now a day away from your 21st birthday. I didn’t want to be responsible for your under aged drinking back then.”
“Ummmm…news flash,” I sang from the corner of my mouth, my smile one-sided. “I was still under aged when I arrived here. You’re responsible!” I jeered.
Stenton’s face didn’t break a smile. He was back to being a sourpuss.
“Okay! Really, dude, what’s your deal?”
His eyes rolled behind me in the distance and his chin slightly tooted, fortifying himself. “I don’t want you to l-leave.” He exhaled harshly. “I’m not ready to split. I think about you all the damn time and when I’m with you all the other bullshit seems to ebb away.” Another deep sigh. “Zo, I haven’t seen my mother in almost a year. It’s not easy watching her kill herself with those fucking drugs, but bringing you with me made it...feel tolerable.” His eyes turned pleading. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with you.” He ducked his head. “I’ve never been with a woman so young in comparison to my age, but I feel like I’m fucking addicted to you. I know you have your ducks all neatly aligned and I don’t want to interrupt that—” Stenton squeezed his eyes closed. This was hard for him. When they opened he regarded me severely this time. “I don’t know how the season’s going to end. Just promise me you’ll make time to go away with me once it’s over. I don’t care what you have to tell your parents, just promise me at least a week, okay?”
His pain stricken face tore at my soul. I reached up and kissed him hard and thoroughly. It took him no time to join me. I wanted to cure his angst. To blanket him with the security he obviously wasn’t provided in life. I loved him that much. I pulled back first and gave a solemn nod.
“I’ll be ready for you,” I whispered breathlessly.
The ride back to Jersey was filled with so many questions, the biggest being what were Stenton and I doing together. I had no idea. I’d only known that I had never felt the exhilaration that I did with him. He was full of surprises…and confused the heck out of me with his mood swings, like that night I left him.
The next morning, I was awakened by a call from the lobby letting me know I had a delivery. Stenton had a half a dozen floral arrangements delivered to campus. I couldn’t fit them all in my room so I ended up giving out half of the ginormous bouquets to friends. I followed his updates on Facebook where Stenton would often post things related to our conversations.
He’d call and text regularly, never skipping a day and always keeping up with the happenings of my classes. He was amazing, even when being annoying.
Stenton: What are you up to?
Me: At a pastor’s anniversary banquet with my mom.
Stenton: Stiff?
Me: Completely.
Stenton: Send me a pic.
I put the phone as low as I could near the table, issued a kissy face, and clicked.
Me: Cheese
Stenton: Damn Zo you got your tits out?!?!
Me: LMBO! My mom hates it. Good thing my dad didn’t come.
Stenton: Fuck! You’re about to make ME come!