Worth the Wait

chapter 23


Instead of going to Atlanta on Friday, Jared waited until that night to pull out his cell and call Malcolm. He’d used work as an excuse to get out of helping with last minute preparations and arrive later, but as the day wore on and he thought about smiling in the faces of his mom and Mr. Carter, he couldn’t bring himself to go.

If Tasha were coming, it would be different. In the six weeks since Charleston she’d become a fixture in his life. After a day of training, putting out fires for his business, and working deals with Cassandra, it was nice to come home and have someone there to talk to. She’d push him to talk whenever he tried to change the subject. No one else did that. She’d listen and offer advice without being pushy or opinionated. He’d never had that before.

Her consistent refusal to come to his mother’s party impressed and irritated him. When other women would jump at the chance to meet his family, she’d insisted it would give the wrong impression. He didn’t care what his family thought. He wanted her in his life. At what capacity he wasn’t sure. Every time he thought about the dreaded L word, he broke out in a sweat. He’d choked the night before when he should have admitted that he cared too. How could he possibly admit to something stronger?

Malcolm’s voice mail picked up. “Hey, Malcolm, it looks like I need to leave town and … ” His message was cut off by the beep from call waiting. Malcolm was calling him back. He switched calls. “I was just leaving you a message.”

“My bad, man, I was getting settled here with Mr. Carter and didn’t pick up in time. Are you in Atlanta yet?”

Jared frowned. “Mr. Carter. What are you doing with him?”

“Kenyatta went to see a movie with Mom, so Mr. Carter and I decided to get a drink. I was hoping you were calling to let me know you were here and could join us.”

“Even if I were in town I wouldn’t join you for drinks,” Jared said.

“Excuse me for a second, Mr. Carter,” Malcolm said. There was shuffling in the background before the murmurs of bar conversations disappeared. When Malcolm spoke again he didn’t try to hide his hostility. “Jared, it’s time for you to stop acting like a kid and accept the fact that Mom’s moving on. I’m not thrilled about it, but I want her to be happy. Why can’t you do the same?”

“Because I don’t care if she’s happy, especially if it’s with someone like Mr. Carter. That man’s no good and I don’t want anything to do with him.”

“What’s wrong with you, man? Why are you being so hateful? It’s our mom.”

“You don’t want to know.”

“How about you stop telling me what I do and don’t want to know. I’m a grown man, and I don’t need my little brother trying to think for me. So you either start talking or your ass better be here tomorrow for the party.”

Jared looked up and shook his head. “Look, Malcolm, I had some stuff come up and I need to go — ”

“I don’t care what came up. Your ass better be here tomorrow or I’m gonna personally kick the shit out of it when I get back in town.” Malcolm paused and Jared could picture his brother trying to calm himself down. “If you don’t want to do it for Mom, then do it for me. I need my brother beside me.”

“Look, man, I’ll see what I can do, all right?” Jared said before ending the call. It wasn’t the answer Malcolm would want, and sure enough, his phone rang almost instantly. Jared turned off his phone. He rubbed his eyes and pushed aside the guilt for letting Malcolm down. He didn’t doubt his brother would come straight to his house after leaving Atlanta just to kick his ass.

A fight with Malcolm was preferable to going to the party. Sure the party would be tough for Malcolm, but he’d have Kenyatta by his side. Tasha wouldn’t be there to make it easier for him.

He’d texted and called all day, but her phone went straight to voice mail. He’d even called her office and was somewhat mollified when they told him she was in meetings all day. But she would have had some breaks to check her phone and call him. He looked at his watch: ten on the dot. Her date with the doctor should be coming to an end.

He wasn’t worried about one date with the good doctor. She’d said herself she was falling for him. What concerned him more was thinking she’d keep up this silent treatment as a way to end what they had.

What should be a simple confession would get her to Atlanta with him. It would keep her from looking at another man ever again. But it would require putting his feelings out there. How could he — self declared playboy and denouncer of long-term commitment — tell her he was just as caught up in what they had as she? How could he explain how much he wanted her in his life, but ask her to leave out the marriage and kids part?

Jared snapped his fingers. He didn’t have to tell her. He could leave the long drawn out discussion about their future for another day. Right now, all she needed was to know he wasn’t interested in anyone except her. It should be enough to calm her fears, kill any thoughts she had about the good doctor, and get her to Atlanta. Yeah, but that’s messed up when you know what she wants, his conscience intervened. He shook the thought out of his head. He pushed away from his desk and grabbed his keys. Right now he had to get to Tasha’s before he chickened out.