“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He leaned a hip against the counter. “I’m waiting to see what you have to say. I don’t know if you’re gonna tel me someone’s been shot, you broke up with Vance again or you’ve decided to single-handedly plan a march on Washington due to the lack of AIDS medications available to developing countries. I gotta be prepared for anything.” I grinned at him and popped open the beer. Then I handed it to him and leaned a hip against the counter myself.
“I’m going to tel you that I’m off the streets.” His body moved, only slightly, but it stil moved. It got tense then it relaxed in such a way that his relief could be read in every line.
“Good,” he said quietly.
I had to admit, I felt guilt at this. Nick’s reaction wasn’t an overwhelming reaction but it said it al .
I decided to move on to a different subject before I could figure out an anatomical y possible way to kick myself in the backside. “I’m also going to tel you that Vance is moving some clothes to my house.”
Without hesitation he said, “Good.”
It was my turn to stare. I thought for certain I’d get a lecture that we were going too fast.
“Don’t you think we’re going too fast?” I asked.
“Vance the reason you’re off the streets?”
“Part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“You.”
His body moved again in the same way then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, what I saw made that velvet shroud wrap closer, my pug snuggled in and licked my face.
Before I could struggle with this too, Nick started talking.
“I like Vance. I like that, since he came into your life, you got girlfriends throwin’ you parties and folks showin’ up at your house to watch footbal . I like lookin’ out the front window seein’ guys I don’t know, but I know I can trust, knockin’ on your door. I like knowin’ you aren’t alone over there with just Boo and Stevie Wonder for company. No, I don’t think you’re movin’ too fast. What happened to your family hadn’t happened, I’d have married Reba within months of knowin’
her. When you know it’s right, you just know. I got a feelin’
Vance knows it’s right. I’m glad that you figured it out. I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle, if we were walkin’
towards Vance, even if you told me it was happening tomorrow.”
I couldn’t help it, one night off the job and I was already losing hold on my head crackin’ mamma jamma. Therefore at his words I burst into tears.
I felt as his arms came around me, I shoved my face in his neck and I heard Auntie Reba’s voice in my ear.
Home.
My tears turned to sobs and now I was emotional y struggling with the fact that I was a big sissy.
A knock came at the door.
“Yeah?” Nick cal ed.
I heard it open and I lifted my what I was sure was red, wet and scary face away from Nick and saw Vance standing there watching us.
Shit.
“I’l come back,” Vance murmured.
“Think you best take over here,” Nick answered, gently moving me towards Vance.
“I’m okay,” I wiped my tears with my fingers but made one of those sil y, girlie, sobby hiccoughs.
Vance came forward and his arms went around me. At the feel of them, I started crying again, and harder, so I shoved my face in his neck.
“What happened?” Vance asked Nick.
“I don’t know. Do you ever know? She’s a girl,” Nick answered.
My body went solid and I pul ed my head out of Vance’s neck. “I’m not a girl!” I shouted at Nick. “I’m a head crackin’
mamma jamma!”
“Sure you are,” Nick soothed but I could swear he sounded a little bit like he was laughing.
I narrowed teary eyes at him. “I am!”
Vance total y ignored me but kept his arms around me.
“We’re goin’ to Lincoln’s for dinner. You’re welcome,” Vance told Nick.
“Nah, game on tonight,” Nick answered.
“Another time,” Vance said.
“Sure, sounds good, haven’t been there in awhile.”
“Not much has changed.”
“Best part about it.”
“Hel o!” I shouted, pul ing out of Vance’s arms and pointing to myself with both hands. “Having total emotional breakdown! Anyone? Anyone?”
Nick started out-and-out laughing. Vance just grinned at me.
“You done?” Vance asked me.
I rol ed my eyes.
Whatever.
I’d finish my total emotional breakdown later when I was alone, possibly while listening to Stevie Wonder singing “Al in Love Is Fair” which was the best time to have them.
“I’m hungry,” I grumbled, wiping my face with my hands.
Then I cal ed, “Boo!”
Boo trotted in, tail straight in the air, equal y oblivious to my emotional turmoil.
I scooped him up, glared at Nick, swung my glare to Vance, walked out of Nick’s and went to my side.
I was in the bathroom cleaning up my face and repairing makeup damage when I heard Vance return. Then I heard a rustling bag.