#JackAndAhlia

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - Day 3 - UNDERSTOOD

“Quit checking your fucking phone!” Jordan snarled as she watched her husband try to hide his phone behind his back. “JACK! Put that damn phone down and help me!”

It was noon, on Sunday. Jordan had already gone to the gym, drank 48oz of water, applied a hydrating facial mask, set up her clothes for bundle service, and contacted the housekeeper to arrange the patio for game night. The late September forecast said “tonight would showcase clear skies and a warm breeze, perfect for entertaining on the patio.”

Jack, quickly stuffed his phone into the pocket of his grey Nike Tech fleece joggers. He rolled his eyes at his wife while picking up a box of autumn decorations: fake leaves, a fancy wreath sprayed with glitter and adorned with a J & J welcome sign, and various fancy ceramic pumpkins. Jordan requested that all the summer decorations be put away so she could arrange the fall decorations. The house was already smelling like cinnamon and looking like the Kirkland’s fall department exploded in the living room.

Jordan lived for decorating her home. She thrived on the perfect pairing of a cute knick-knack next the modern sleekness of her design concept. She’d spend hours on Pinterest looking at photos of perfect living rooms, exquisite dining areas, and relaxing bedrooms. Every week, since they purchased their five bedroom, 4.5 bath, 4500 square foot space, Jordan was obsessed with making it feel like HOME.

Jack, on the other hand, was just happy to see her happy. He didn’t want to buy such a large space, but he knew Jordan yearned to fill it with family and fun. When the couple started dating, Jordan would often talk about her family home in Connecticut. She talked about her mom and dad and how they loved to entertain. Her parents would host fancy dinner parties with their friends. Jordan would often have sleepovers with groups of giggling girls from her private school. Jordan had an almost picture-perfect life until her mother passed away.

That’s when everything changed. Her father would never find love again and buried himself into his work. He was a law professor at the University of Connecticut and pushing to be the dean. He never stopped adoring his precious baby girl, but Jordan could see that twinkle of love was no longer in his eyes. Her dad didn’t host parties, he didn’t invite friends over, and he didn’t decorate for the holiday (like her mom would do). Knowing this, Jack endured endless trips to craft stores and droning conversations about three-wick candles. He owed her that much.

Growing up, Jack’s life wasn’t as perfect. Actually it was the kind of life that shouldn’t have produced a successful person like Jack. Jackson Dequan Sevier was born to a pair of 15 year old teenagers. His mom named him Jackson because she loved Michael Jackson and Dequan was his father’s name. The teenaged lovers were hardly equipped to take care of a baby boy, so Jack bounced from Grandma to Auntie to older cousin to finally ending up living with his great uncle. The family wanted Jack’s mom to finish high-school and attend college so they decided that she should go away to boarding school to focus.

Jack’s father was a super smart teen who lived on the other side of town. His parents didn’t believe their precious son would get some, “hood rat pregnant” and vowed to keep the pair apart. When Jack’s mom went to boarding school, Jack’s father was never allowed to visit his toddler son. Soon, little Jack seemed to be a distant memory to the teen. The two wouldn’t reconnect until Jack graduated from high school. Jack was 17 and his dad was 32.

Living with his great-uncle, wasn’t the best scenario for a little boy. Jack’s uncle was a hustler and taught jack the ways of gettin’ by. Jack’s uncle could sell ice cream to an Eskimo on the coldest winter day, but that ice cream was probably stolen. For everything he wasn’t, Jack’s uncle made sure the little boy was taken care of. He made sure Jack got to school on time, stayed clean and fed, and got good grades.

As Jack became a teenager, his uncle often warned him to, “keep yo’ dick in yo pants and stay away from these pretty little hoes! Don’t be like yo’ stupid-ass daddy! If you knock a chick up, you sticking yo ass around or you better push her down a flight of stairs if ya’ can’t!” He’d chuckle and walk off to the next hood hustler heist, leaving Jack with a box of kraft mac & cheese and the remote control. Jack was often lonely during those days until he met Ahlia at the community center

Jack walked the big box back to the patio, dropped it down, and reached for his phone. There was no message from Ahlia. He knew she wouldn’t text him back. He knew they probably wouldn’t speak for weeks. This was their routine. Someone would go too far, someone would hug a little too long, someone would start reminiscing about the old times, and they’d end up engulfed in an episode of dangerous desire mixed with regretful remorse. Jack’s mind drifted as he remembered Ahlia’s softness, her big brown eyes looking down at him as he tasted her, the soft moans she let out as she pulsed on his tongue.

He felt a slight bulge beginning to grow just as he heard Jordan’s footsteps. She was coming to check on those damn glitter pumpkins! He slipped the phone back in his pocket and glanced over his shoulder seeing his wife standing in the doorway, “You need me to pick up anymore boxes?”

Her green eyes caught a glimmer of the noontime sun, she peered at him, “No, no more boxes. What I NEED is for you to stop fucking whatever intern your fucking … AGAIN, and to stop confiding in your lil best friend about it! Get your SHIT together Jack! And stop using, damn Ahlia, as your scapegoat! Get a damn therapist!”

Jordan turned in her heels at once leaving Jack with his semi-soft bulge, a box of autumn pumpkins, and no text from Ahlia.

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - DAY 11 - HONEST

“If you could just give me the names and the emails of the guests you want to come to the wedding, I can do everything else.” Jordan stood over Jack while he was sitting on the couch playing a video game. The couple was deep into wedding planning, or rather Jordan was deep into wedding planning. Jack was deep into avoiding. He knew this time would come, but he did not want to accept it.

“Babe, I gave you the names of my frat brothers, their dates & wives, Ahlia and her parents AND their spouses, my uncle Rob and his new wife, and my grandparents. We good.” He shrugged his shoulders like Kanye at the MTV music awards and continued to avoid her green-eyed stare. Jack knew Jordan was looking for the names and addresses of his birth parents. This was a topic he avoided with such swift precision that the CIA couldn’t even track him.

“Jackson Daquan. You can’t have JUST twenty people at your wedding, sitting on your side of the church and I have over 100 people on my side.”

“Then it seems like someone needs to cut her list. Wedding getting too damn expensive anyway.” He knew that last part was gonna get him into a lot of trouble. Truthfully, between the two of them, they had more than enough money to throw a lavish wedding with 300 people. Jack just hated when someone wanted to know more about his past. He’d been with Jordan for almost a year and still hadn’t introduced his fiancé to his mother. She talked to his father briefly when she mistakenly answered Jack’s cell while he was sleeping. But their conversation was nothing to write home about. She didn’t even think Jack told his parents he was getting married.

One time, in an attempt to get to know more about her future husband’s past, Jordan invited Ahlia out for lunch. She figured, since Ahlia was the one to get Jack to move to the city, she knew the secrets. Ahlia was just as tight-lipped as her best friend. Pretty much giving Jordan the word-for-word description of Jack’s life: His parents were teenagers when he was born. His dad had money. His mom was smart. The dad was asked to stay away from Jack. His mom was sent to boarding school. Jacked was shuffled from house to house so he wouldn’t go into foster care. He ended up living with his Uncle until he went to college. The end. But Jordan wasn’t happy with that. How was she expected to marry a man who was ashamed of his past? How was she supposed to trust someone who couldn’t trust her with his pain?

“FINE! FINE! You wanna be this person today, be that! I’m just trying to love you Jack. Don’t push me away like this.” She sat down next to him. He acted like she wasn’t there, signaling that he no longer wanted to have this conversation. He told her plenty of times that he didn’t talk to his parents and that was that. Jack stared at the start screen to his video game. Jordan sat for a couple seconds more. Jack said nothing. She started to collect her things hoping he’d ask her to stay. He didn’t, so she left without saying goodbye.

Jack felt awful being like this to his fiancé, but he could not bear the pain of bringing his parents back into his life. One day she’d understand that his parents were toxic, not fit to love someone that only wanted their love in return. Often, he thought about telling her the things he knew about his parents. But, Jordan was so pure and so innocent. She didn’t need the knowledge of that type of turmoil in her brain. He dealt with his demons on his own. Sometimes calling on Ahlia to lead him through the darkness.

As he was sitting on the couch, regretting his negative attitude, the phone rang. He looked at the screen, speak of the devil. It was his father, Dequan. Of course, it was time for his monthly phone call. He called Jack, once a month since Jack was in grad school. When Jack moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse, he lived in the dorms for the first two years. But the lure of the Atlanta nightlife made him want to move off campus. He was tired of the university’s archaic rules and regulations, especially when it came to overnight guests.

At the time, Jack and his father were pretty cool. Jack would visit his father on the weekends if his father wasn’t flying out of town for work. The first six months in ATL were everything Jack wanted. He saw his dad all the time, his father gave him an allowance, he was killing his grades, and even doing a bit of party promoting. That’s why his late-night shindigs didn’t sit well with the campus administrators.  Jack played it cool not wanting to make too many waves with the university officials. After all, his father donated big bucks (no whammies) to the school. Eventually, Jack asked to live with his father. His father was more than happy to oblige.

Jack’s father, Dequan, was as polished as a new penny, never a hair out of place or a shoe un-shined. Tall and muscular, the two looked more like siblings than father and son. Dequan worked in finance too, starting with an internship as a bank teller and eventually moving through the ranks. He was the division coordinator for Colonial Bank Southeast with a fat salary that proved his knowledge and reputation in the banking world.

Jack thought about answering the phone. He thought about letting the incident go and inviting his father to the wedding. No. His heart couldn’t take it. Jack let the phone go to voicemail. He’d tell Jordan all about his parents soon, but not today. Jack continued to sit on the couch, the techno music of the video game played on a loop as it waited for Jack to push the start button. Jack let his mind wander back to that crazy night in Atlanta.

Jack had been dating a lovely little light-skinned girl from Clark-Atlanta. He had been living with his father for some time now. The couple went to Jack’s room to smoke a quick joint and have some fun before heading out for the night. Jack’s father never got married, but entertained plenty of women around the city. Jack was surprised his father didn’t have reputation, but handsome men tend to get away with a lot more than one might think. After a quick session ‘rub it down and smack it hard’ Jack’s girlfriend asked to get something to drink. Jack told her to hit up the kitchen and bring him something back too.

It took an abnormally long time for the young co-ed to return to Jack’s room. He threw on a pair of sweatpants to see what was keeping her. Jack was surprised to see his father standing over the petite young lady. He was looking at her sternly and almost spitting the words into her face. Jack stood off to the side trying to figure out the scene. He saw his father grab the girl’s arm tightly as she pulled away.

“I’m sorry Mr. D, I didn’t know. I really didn’t know he was your son.” Jack looked at the scene with confusion. He would get to the bottom of this. He went back to his room

The young lady returned with two large cups of apple juice. She acted like nothing had happened. Jack just stared at her, “Took you long enough.”

“Oh, your dad was out in the living room. He scared me. Y’all look just alike.” She took a big gulp of her juice hoping that Jack would stop the questions.

“He scared you, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I overheard your conversation. For real. How do you know my father?”

“I don’t know him. I just met him in the kitchen.”

“Don’t lie.” He wanted to knock the juice out of her hand, but didn’t want to have a cascade of stickiness all over his sheets. He turned his body to face her again, “How do you know him? Don’t lie!”

She could see the anger in Jack’s face and she already knew what Jack’s father was capable of. She sighed heavily. “He’s my manager.”

Jack looked confused, “You work at the bank?”

“Not exactly. But I work for your dad. He’s kinda like . . .” Her voice got so quiet Jack had to lean in to hear her speak, “. . . kinda like a pimp.”

At this point a parade of pandas could have done a two-step through Jack’s bedroom and he wouldn’t have been more surprised. This information was more than a little bit, “A pimp. Wait are you a fucking prostitute? I been boning a prostitute?!”

“NO. Not like that. I’m like an escort. I only go on two, maybe three dates a month and I don’t have to have sex with anyone. I just needed money to pay for school. My girl gave me your dad’s number. I met him at the bank, he told me I was pretty. Told me to meet him at this restaurant in Little 5 points and sent me on my first date. I made like $700 that night.”

“But my dad is one of the best in the business of finance. I just . . .” Jack was dumbfounded. He knew his father had money and connections in Atlanta but now he figured out why.

After the conversation with Lil Miss Clark-Atlanta, Jack never saw her again but went on to find out his dad wasn’t a good guy after all. He used his position of power to bring gullible girls into the sex work business. There were all types of powerful people using Mr. D’s ‘services’ and he leveraged that information, with his knowledge of finance and currency, to keep one foot in banking and one foot in the streets.

There was no way that Jack wanted that element at his wedding. He knew he would tell Jordan eventually, but she couldn’t know right now. He decided to call Ahlia to get her opinion. He felt himself slipping into darkness, and needed her bright light to pull him through.

[fabglance1]

#xd30 - Day 4 - RAIN

Jack and Ahlia were sitting in the car. They were in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart facing the entrance of the busy store. Jack thought it would be fun for them to play their favorite game, “What About That Guy?” A game that can easily be described as ‘people watching’. By the second or third person, Jack and Ahlia would have tears in their eyes from the hilarity of their own stories. They were both good story tellers.

Tonight, Ahlia wasn’t laughing. She was barely looking at the people walking by. She was barely looking at Jack, although she could feel him peering at her from the driver’s side. She was sipping on her strawberry milk shake from Friendly’s, twirling the red straw in her hands. The fake crystals on her airbrushed acrylic nails cast tiny star-like reflections on the dashboard. She could hear Jack talking, attempting to make her laugh, but she was too deep in her head to respond. She let out an audible sigh.

Jack stopped talking. Playing with the zipper on his oversized Mecca jacket, he gazed out the window looking at the lights from a passing plane in the sky. Soon enough he’d be on a plane too, heading to Atlanta to attend Morehouse university on a full ride scholarship. Jack managed to get a 3.8 grade point average, scored very high on the SAT, and played basketball well enough to have recruiters coming to his games. He had his selection of schools, but thought attending his father’s alma mater would somehow bridge the gap in their relationship. Jack’s father lived in Atlanta and was ready to be in his son’s life. Jack was petrified. The least his father could do was write that sparkling recommendation letter and donate $10,000 to the HBCU. His ‘father’ had been absent since Jack was two years old.

Ahlia tried to sip the sweet milkshake, barely able to swallow the cold creamy confection. Strawberry Milkshakes used to be her favorite. Little cramps rippled through her abdomen, every so often, making her feel nauseated. The effects of the hydrocodone pill were making their arrival and she could feel a sleepy heaviness start to take over her body. She needed to go home to lay down, but she wasn’t ready to leave Jack. The too-friendly doctor at the clinic said she’d feel almost flu-like, for a couple of days, while her hormones straightened themselves out.

She hoped that she’d feel better sooner, rather than later, because she had to be ready for her graduation party. Her entire family would arrive to celebrate their pride & joy. Ahlia was the first person to go to college and on a full ride too. She decided to attend Fordham University, in New York City, to study Psychology. She wanted to be a therapist. Today’s episode would surely be something she’d use to treat her future patients. Her stomach cramped again and she let out a breath.

Jack didn’t know what to do so he pushed the button on the six-CD changer finding their favorite CD, Emotional by Carl Thomas. He skipped through to 'Summer Rain’ and let the lyrics play through:

I don’t mind if it rains forever Let it rain, rain, let it rain I said I don’t mind if it rains forever Let it rain, rain, let it rain …

This was the cd that got them in trouble in the first place. Ahlia remembered that Jack was so excited that Carl Thomas’ album had dropped. He was addicted to all things Bad Boy, as evidenced by his Puff Daddy inspired s-curl. He raved that “Puff finally produced some quality R&B and this dude was gonna be better than R. Kelly!” He was so excited. So Ahlia knew they’d spend the afternoon listening to Carl Thomas and attempting to study, while they let episodes of COPS play on mute.

However, this afternoon was different. When Ahlia arrived to Jack’s house he’d just gotten in a big argument with his uncle. Uncle Rob had been mad about Jack’s father coming back into the picture. He called Jack a fool for trusting some “rich nigga in a Mercedes, giving you music video promises.” Uncle Rob was hurt, feeling like Jack didn’t appreciate everything his uncle sacrificed to take care of the young boy. But Jack wanted to be around, at least, one of his parents. He accepted his father’s offer with no hesitation, still very appreciative of everything his uncle had done for him. But how much emotion could a 17-year-old boy present?

Storming outside, rain She keeps me home Quiet conversation makes me warm …

Ahlia sat at the desk in Jack’s room while Jack lay on the bed. His, already 6'2" frame, made the twin mattress look like kindergarten cot. She felt happy and sad for her friend. She knew how much Jack loved his uncle and how much he wanted to love his parents. Jack often asked Ahlia how it felt to have both parents at home, how did it feel to know they “really love you?” She’d often shrug. She didn’t know how to describe a feeling that seemed so normal to her. She could tell her friend was in pain because his usually very tidy room was littered with old candy wrappers, sneakers out of their boxes, and his clothes weren’t even hung up. She decided to start cleaning his room for him, hoping that would make him feel better.

“Is this Carl Thomas too? This song about the rain?” She asked, as she picked up a pair of Jordan’s and put the sneakers on a shelf.

“Yeah, its SMOOTH right? This is some grown-up music. This song is bangin!”

“Yeah, this is real nice. Ugh! You are making me a bad boy fan!” She faked a whine, knowing this was his favorite thing to talk about. She saw him sit up in the bed. She knew he was coming out of his funk.

“Man, listen! You KNOW you love Bad Boy! Without Puff where would music be right now? Bad Boy been holding it down since '92! Come on!”

“Jackie, we were 10 years old in 1992! Stop acting like you Funkmaster Flex or something!” She bent over laughing at her own joke

“Whatever!” Jack huffed as he reached for a bag of Cheetos sitting next his tiny bed.

In a sing-song voice Ahlia said, “Man! Give me some of them Cheetos!”

“Come get them! I ain’t yo slave! Shoot, you came in here with a strawberry milkshake and ain’t offer a nigga a sip! Why should I offer some of my Cheetos!” Jack chuckled, slamming a handful of cheesy snack in his mouth, yellow dust coating his fingers

Ahlia rolled her eyes, and cocked her head to the left. She knew this was Jack’s attempt to get her to come over to the bed. She walked over willingly, stopping to stand in front of him. She put her hand out, close to the family sized bag but not reaching in. This was the only time she could be taller than her friend as he sat on the bed looking up at her. She couldn’t help but to giggle, she loved him so much. She continued to stand as he put a Cheeto dusted finger in the loop of her jeans. He pulled her closer to him. She acted like she didn’t want to come.

So go ahead and make it rain You bring the sunshine back again So go ahead and make it rain Your tender touches wash away my rain …

She bent down and kissed his full lips. She could taste the salt from the snack as she went in for another. The hair from her ponytail tickled his cheek and he laughed. She laughed too. Her friend was happy again, for a while. Ahlia sat on the bed next to Jack. She took off her hoodie, to reveal a spaghetti-strapped tank top. Her perky breasts sitting high as she didn’t have to wear a bra in those days. She lay back and Jack lay on her chest.

“Man, am I wrong for this. Is my dad trying to play me? I shouldn’t move to Atlanta?”

“Dude! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Even if your dad is a dick, you still get to go to Morehouse. MOREHOUSE, my nigga! And it’s already payed for. Uncle Rob will get over it. You know he loves you.”

Jack knew Ahlia was right, but he still didn’t want his uncle to feel betrayed. He could smell the scent of Ahlia’s Victoria’s Secret body spray, she smelled like pears. It was his favorite. He began to kiss her neck. She caressed his strong back as he put his hand under her shirt, playing with her breasts. Ahlia knew where this was going. Just two months ago the friends had begun having sex almost regularly when Uncle Ron would go visit his lady friend. Ahlia’s parents never questioned her because Jack was like a second son to them and their daughter’s best friend.

“You got a condom this time?” Ahlia asked.

Jack paused, “No. I’ll just pull-out like I always do.” He continued to kiss her neck as he tugged on the zipper of her jeans. They hadn’t had an accident yet, even though Ahlia kept warning Jack to get condoms. He slipped his hand in-between her thick thighs. At that point it was a wrap, Ahlia was already caught up. She loved him so much. 

Sometimes I swear I hear her call my name To wash away the pain My summer rain …

Ahlia finally stopped baby-sipping the milkshake. She looked at Jack in the driver’s seat. She wanted to cry. He looked like he wanted to cry too. They both knew they had done the best thing for their lives. Two very smart kids on the way to college shouldn’t have a baby. Two very smart kids who made a bad decision. Two very smart kids who had full scholarships shouldn’t have a baby. Two very smart kids took the money from their after-school jobs and made a very smart decision. He squeezed her hand. They both stared out the window blankly. They wouldn’t have sex again, for a very long time. Carl continued to sing …

So go ahead and make it rain

You bring the sunshine back again …

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - day 2 - SUNDAY MORNING

CHAPTER 2

Ahlia rolled over slightly as the sun came into the room. She felt a familiar body next to her. It was Corey, her boyfriend. Corey raised his arm, ever so slightly, and Ahlia nuzzled herself into his nook. She loved that Corey always had a hint of motor oil smell mixed with his musky manly fragrance. She pushed her nose into his rib cage while mumbling, “Good morning sweets.” He grunted, “morning.” And squeezed the softness of her hip ever so slightly. Ahlia nuzzled some more.

Ahlia loved mornings like this. She didn’t have to get up to answer emails about The Foundation and Corey didn’t have to run off to the auto shop to deal with crazy customers. It was Sunday and Sunday was perfect.

She let her hand graze his soft yet muscular frame. Corey used to play football in college. He almost made it to the NFL but the crash of a helmet into the side of his knee killed those dreams. The muscles were still there, but a love for triple cheese quesadillas and Mexican beer, gave him a layer of life over his once, rock hard frame. Ahlia’s hand moved south, Corey perked up. The couple spent another hour in bed enjoying each others softness, smells, and moans. Sunday mornings were the best.

“Are we still doing game night, tonight, with Jordan and Jack?” Corey asked as he swung his long legs to the left side of the bed, “I know that’s your homeboy, but his wife is HELLA boring! I hope they invite some more people this time. Fun people! Not those corny lawyers that Jordan works with..” Corey laughed a little as he walked toward the bathroom.

“I guess,” Ahlia answered. But as soon as she heard Jack’s name, a flush came across her body. Her mind returned back to the last night at the networking event when Jack cornered her. She knew Jack wanted answers and knew Jack wanted a plan. But, Ahlia wasn’t ready to face the facts. To hear Jack confess his ‘love’ for her had sent her mind spinning. Was Jack really ready to ‘risk it all’ … this time?

Ahlia started making the bed as she heard Corey turn on the shower. After making the bed she walked across the room to check her phone. On Sunday mornings, Corey and Ahlia agreed to stay off of their phones: no answering texts, no facebook, twitter, or instagram. But she knew that she’d have a message from Jack and sure enough, there was a green bubble with the letter 'J’ in the center. She opened the message knowing that Corey was taking one of his famously long Sunday showers. Usually, she’d join him, but today it didn’t feel quite right.

Jack’s message was time stamped at 2:28am. She hesitated in opening, knowing it wasn’t a funny meme or a message about The Foundation or even a message asking about Game Night. Pressing her finger on the icon her screen brightened, loading the world’s longest text message:

“sorry. Sorry for questioning you yesterday, especially at the event. That was stupid! especially while Jordan was so close. But when I saw u I couldn’t help myself. U looked so good. I still remember how you smell … and how u taste. Sorry again. I shouldn’t text that but I won’t erase it either. Anyway. u were right. We can’t do that again. Ever. We have too much to lose. Jordan would be crushed and I’m sure Corey would kill me in my sleep. That nigga is crazy! Sorry. It was my fault. I pushed u. After all those years of us … anyway I’m sorry. U are happy with Corey and I am happy with Jordan. U are my best friend. Let’s keep it that way . Even tho u are the best I ever had. Sorry.”

Ahlia took a screenshot then deleted the text. Why did she want to cry? She knew that Jack was right, but her heart felt broken. Jack was her best friend. She never wanted to lose her best friend. They’d been through so much. Jack would always be her first and there was something about that nostalgia that she couldn’t shake. But, she loved Corey, there was know doubt.

She heard Corey turn off the shower as she swallowed back the knot in her throat; she would not cry. He opened the door an a poof of steam billowed into their bedroom. Corey looked luscious as the beads of water rolled down his forehead. He popped his head out and smiled, seeing the freshly made bed and his pretty girlfriend.

She smiled back and said, “Naw, we won’t be going to Jordan and Jack’s game night.”

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - day 1 - 'YOU CAN NOT'

CHAPTER 1

“Everyone will HATE US! We’d have to move! What would we do for work? How could we function? Everything we have built would tumble!” Ahlia whisper-screamed while standing in the crowded room. Her soft brown arms crossed tightly across her chest as her eyes darted from Jack’s face, to Jack’s wife’s gorgeous hair, to her own reflection gazing back at her from the marbled mirror at the bar.

The three were attending one of the those monthly, ‘fancy black people’ networking events.  The ones that fancy, young, up and coming, entrepreneur-type, black people attended. Attendees tended to pass out business cards that no one read, drink terrible white wine, and chat about who was building the biggest house in the newest ‘Lego Land’ looking subdivision in the city. Usually, Jack’s wife never attended these things. But Jack, Jack was ALWAYS in the mix. His job was to find these fancy-types and take their money. Jack was a fanatical financial whiz-kid. Jack was known for making something out of nothing. His charm, education, good looks, and suave stylings were highly sought after by these types.

Jack’s wife, on the other hand, she was the SOMETHING that Jack could never create. Jack’s wife, Jordan, was a beast in the courtroom - somewhat like her namesake was on the those 1990’s NBA courts. Wanting a boy, her dad was dead set on the name ‘Jordan’. So much so he had the crib in her nursery painted Chicago Bull’s red because he KNEW they’d have a boy. But, a little chocolate princess was born with the quietest cry the nurses had ever heard. One would never think that her calm, almost timid, personality would flip on its head once she put on her trendy wide frame glasses and stood in a court room.

When Jack first saw Jordan, his heart skipped. He knew he had to have her. Jack chased Jordan for six months before she agreed to go on a date and after three dates she knew that would be the man she’s marry. Jordan was tall, fit, and breathtakingly beautiful. Her green eyes sparkled even in a dark room and her chocolate skin, smooth from serums and “a gallon of water a day” (she’d quip to friends), was so gorgeous people often asked her if she was a model. But Jordan was never one to care about her looks. She loved three things: her father, her husband, and the law.

Jack on the other hand loved ‘things’ too. He loved his pretty wife, he loved making money, and he was in love with Ahlia. Ahlia and Jack were best friends. They grew up together. They met each other at the local community center when they were 10 years old. Ahlia was a chunky little girl who grew up to be a curvy young woman. As a young girl, Ahlia wore thick glasses, her shorts were always one-size too small, and her mom made sure that Ahlia’s very thick hair stayed in two very tight, very thick ponytail balls that sat precariously upon her head. They boys at the community center would often point and laugh calling her “Fat Mickey Mouse” until one day Jack told them to quit.

On that day Ahlia fell in love with Jack. Jack found a new best friend. They’d leave the community center every night, walking home together, talking about hip-hop, cartoons, and teen gossip. Jack would always make sure that Ahlia got to her house safely before continuing his walk to his own. Jack was Ahlia’s first kiss. Ahlia was Jack’s first confidant.  At the age of 15 the two were known to be a pair; where ever was one, the other wasn’t far behind. People often asked were they a couple. Jack would say that Ahlia was his best friend and nothing more. Ahlia would follow suit, knowing her heart broke every time she repeated the words.

At the networking event, Jack’s 6'5" frame was hovering over Ahlia. The pair had smuggled themselves in a corner. The smell from Jack’s Burberry cologne was dancing in Ahlia’s nose as jack whisper-screamed how much he loved her.

“Ahlia, you can’t tell me you don’t feel this passion,” he said as his eyes darted across the room to check where his wife was standing. Jordan was trapped talking to the Smith brothers, known for their corny jokes and even worse business sense. “Last week was not just a mistake, it was what was supposed to happen for the last 10 years! You can’t tell me that you don’t want me. I won’t accept it”

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - Day 6 - ‘GOOD’

She looked down at her hand, a flawless cushion cut diamond sat perched on her ring finger. She still couldn’t believe it. They night they’d had, the way he proposed, all those flowers, and the fact that she got him by being a good girl. Jordan and Jack were celibate during their entire courtship. It was so hard for her not to fall to the temptation, but now it was all worth it when she looked at the rock on her hand. She was ready to grow a family with the love of her life.

  “Let me see it! Let me see that ring girl!” Jordan’s best friend Kia was already squealing from across the restaurant. Right behind her was Tasha, Jordan’s favorite cousin. The three girls grew up together. They were Jordan’s door to the real world when her dad wouldn’t let her do fun stuff.

  After Jordan’s Mom died, her father didn’t know what to do with the little girl. The thought of raising a girl child all by himself was too scary for him to comprehend. So, he headed to church. Jordan grew up under the watchful eye of the women of Greater Harvest Church of God in Christ. She often thought they cared so much because they were trying to date her dad. But he never entertained one woman in that church. He was a devoted volunteer, member of the deacon board, and did pro-bono work when someone’s son got in trouble.

  Jordan was often told how pretty she was with her green eyes and chocolate skin. But, she was inadvertently taught that compliments from boys were bad. The devil was in those little mannish boys and only fast-tailed girls entertained their games. If he wasn’t almost like Jesus, he’d never do her any good. She was taught to wear her skirts long, keep her silky hair pulled back, and never open her legs until marriage.

  And Jordan believed it. She prided herself on holding on to her virginity through high school, college, and Law school. She always made sure to keep herself busy by going to the gym, volunteering in the community, and pursuing her education. Jordan graduated with honors and won numerous awards. Walking in her father’s footsteps she practiced law with the best of intentions. She prided herself on being honest with her clients and helping them even if she didn’t see a win.

  Kia and Tasha always made sure that Jordan wasn’t so heavenly minded that she was no earthly good. In high-school the pair persuaded Jordan to stop dressing like the Clark Sisters and more like TLC. In college, the girls knew that Jordan wasn’t having sex, but made sure she knew about birth control. By the end of Law School Jordan had found her balance. No longer a member of the COGIC girls of America, she didn’t feel guilty wearing a pair of pants, going on a cruise to Jamaica, or having a sip of wine every so often.

  But sex, sex was something she would not budge on. By the age of 29, Jordan was still holding up the standard. She’d only seen a real-life penis two times in her life: once with her high school boyfriend an again with her college beau. Jordan dated often, because of her good looks and cool demeanor, but didn’t stay in relationships long due to her no-sex rule.

  “Not even ORAL!” Jack said, looking at the gorgeous girl sitting on his couch. “You’re trying to tell me; you’ve never had a guy put his lips on your … lips!? You are almost 30!”

  It was their third date and Jack had invited Jordan to his downtown apartment. With floor to ceiling windows, hard wood floors, and kitchen fit for a celebrity chef, bringing a woman back to his house was a sure way get her naked. And he wanted to see Jordan naked! He remembered watching her walk into the gym just weeks earlier.  

  That day he spotted the slender yet toned lawyer chat with the gym owner, put her hair in a ponytail, change her sneakers, and start her workout. He didn’t mean to stare, but she was just so smooth and her smile so radiant. He’d never seen a woman come to that gym and generally enjoy being there. She worked out for exactly an hour, picked up her bag and left. The next day Jack spotted her again, same routine, different color work-out gear. He didn’t understand how he never saw her previously, but now he saw her almost daily.

  By the end of the next week he got up the nerve to ask her on a date. She smiled, but declined. Looking at Jack she knew he’d be no good. He was just too attractive. Standing at 6'5", slim basketball build, wearing the newest Air Max running shoes, she knew he was out of her league. His pecan-colored skin looked so smooth as he asked her questions about her life. She still gave him her number, thinking he’d be a good friend. He called daily and they talked a lot.

  Jack was new in the city. He experienced a horrible break-up and his best friend persuaded him to come to her town. Jack took a job at an investment firm, moving away from all the heartbreaks of living in Atlanta. It was nice to be back in the same place as his best friend and entertaining a beautiful young lady.

  “So what you’re saying is, if I choose to date you, we ain’t having sex?” Jordan nodded her head, “for how long? 90 days or something?”

  “Until I get married. Maybe I’ll marry you, maybe not. But it’s what I believe and its what God wants for my life.” She stood firm on her decision, although her knees were shaking. After just three dates, she had really fallen for Jack. He was funny, smart, and just the right amount of nasty to keep her emails to Tasha and Kia entertaining. If she was gonna give her virginity to someone, she wanted it to be someone like Jack, married of course.

  Jack sat next to her, she could feel the heat from his body. She could smell the faint scent of cologne. She watched him search her to see if she was full of BS or truly genuine. This was the part she hated. She’d been here before. All the men she dated would act like they could be celibate, but then they’d break. She’d been cheated on more times than she had fingers and hoped this one wouldn’t do the same.

  “Alright. I believe you. I guess I’m gonna be dating a green-eyed virgin. You are really like a unicorn, you know that?”

  “Just, please tell me if you can’t take it. Don’t cheat on me. Don’t lie to me. Just leave if you can’t take it.” She batted her long eyelashes and looked jack straight in his face. Jack suddenly felt nervous. He hadn’t had a woman hold him accountable in a long time. He hadn’t had a woman be so straight forward. Jordan, although quiet and chill, withheld the demeanor of an earthquake. You didn’t know when she was going to break, but you better be prepared when she did.

  The next five months were blissful. Jack had never experienced the type of affection that Jordan gave him. What they didn’t do in the bedroom she more than made up for in other places. The girl could cook, she had amazing style, she knew all the right people, and they liked the same movies. She wasn’t an extrovert like Jack (who never met a stranger), but her unspoiled honesty and considerate attention excited him. She had a small circle of friends, a couple of great colleagues, and frequented her church about three Sundays a month. She was regimented and often talked about how her routine kept her true to herself and closer to God.

  She even got Jack to start coming to church with her. She told him if he’d just listen to the word of God and not be so focused on the actions of men, he’d understand why her religion was so important to her. Jack started to see God through Jordan’s eyes and loved her even more for it. He wasn’t at church when the doors opened, but he did play basketball with the men’s ministry and found some fraternity brothers who attended just as often as he did. Jordan was right, focusing on something other than sexual conquest helped their relationship get stronger. He knew this was the woman he wanted to marry.

  When Jack told Ahlia he wanted to marry Jordan, she was pleased. She liked Jordan, and was happy to see her best friend happy.  She was also glad to have her friend back in town. Ahlia and Jack hadn’t lived in the same city since their high school days. After, Jack went to Morehouse and Ahlia went to Fordham, they found very little time to kick it. During her junior year, Ahlia went to a Study Abroad program which allowed her to study in Cambodia for two years while finishing her undergrad degree and starting her Master’s program. The two would communicate through email and a random phone calls, but the romantic feelings they shared as teens seemed to disappear. Jack asked Ahlia to come help him pick out the ring, and Ahlia went.

  On the night of the proposal, Jack rented a gorgeous hotel suite, he purchased 150 white long stem roses, several dozen candles that smelled of rose oil, vanilla, and jasmine, along with plates of all Jordan’s favorite desserts. He arranged everything in the room. He left a hand-written letter at her office telling him to meet him at the hotel wearing the dress accompanied in the letter. That night he told her that she changed his life and he wanted her to be his wife. She kindly accepted snapping photos of her giant ring and informing her friends. She, so, wanted to have sex with him that night, but didn’t. Instead, she let him see her naked for the first time telling him to promise not to touch. He obliged.

  The next morning, Jack texted Ahlia the great news. Ahlia looked at the photos of Jordan’s excited face and Jack amazing smile. She replied that she was, “sooooooo happy for them!” and that she, “couldn’t wait for the big day!” Putting the phone down she had a sudden pain in her chest. Were these old feelings coming back? Of course, not! She was SO over Jack. That was puppy love, they were adults now. He’s marry Jordan and they’d have an amazing life. She’d find her true love and do the same.

She texted Jordan and Jack in a group message saying, “If you need any help with the wedding, let me know. Love you guys! You’re lil sis!”

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - Day 12 - HAPPY

It was Friday night and Corey was ready to go see the newest horror movie in the theaters. He’d texted Ahlia three times through the day to make sure she purchased the tickets and was ready to get her scare on. Corey secured the garage and headed home. He knew he’d beat Ahlia to the house, and was happy about it. She’d been in a mood lately and he didn’t know what was wrong. It would be nice to head home and kick back for an hour or two without having to navigate her feelings.

He knew something was going on with her, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He knew the 15th Street Playground was a hard project that she’d been navigating for more than a year. But, throughout their relationship, he saw Ahlia create community opportunities that he never thought would be possible. She, not only had a knack for helping the least of people, but showing those people who to keep and create better for themselves was her specialty. Before Ahlia, he dated selfish women who cared about material things and looks. He loved Ahlia because she was different.

Driving home he continued to think about his love and how he could help her feel better. She was definitely in a weird mood. Maybe they’d skip the movies and just go out on the town. He started thinking about restaurants in the city that they hadn’t tried yet. He did remember her saying something about going to this new Greek spot. Or maybe, he’d make a reservation somewhere fancy, a place that would make them have to wear fancy clothes. Yeah, that’s it. It didn’t have to be a special occasion, he just wanted her to know that she was appreciated. Plus, he loved to see her when she dressed up, that body, so right!

Corey decided to drop by the florist on the east side, they were the only black owned floral shop in town, and he loved to support black owned establishments. He was at florist so often they knew him by name and greeted him like a hero. He was the one to convince Ahlia and her bougie friends to start using this place instead of being cheap and going with the other people in the city. That was Corey’s way. He called people to task on their BS, then made sure to follow-up with the facts. No need to attack someone’s character without offering them the help they needed to be better. The bougie blacks didn’t support black people (or people of color), he told them they were lame and wrong, and would continuously give them options to fix their bias.

Driving to Quarter Floral, he realized he was right by the jewelry shop. He’d been cruising this shop for a minute thinking about getting his girl a ring. He was ready to get married, but was hesitant to ask Ahlia because she’d always been weird about marriage. Her parents didn’t make it any better, with mom being on husband number three and her dad on wife number two, they only talked to each other when Ahlia was involved. Ahlia’s mom was still very bitter towards her ex-husband, and made it no secret.

Corey grew up the youngest of four siblings, his dad was in prison for more than 10 years due to selling weed. However, his childhood was pretty epic. His mother was a TRUE ‘ride or die’ chick. She waited for their dad to get out of jail, never cheated once, raised four kids, got a college degree, and managed to keep everyone out of trouble. She’d take the kids up to the prison once a month to see their father. She’d bring report cards, gifts the kids made, and lots of positive energy to their visits. She often told her kids that, “You never give up on the love of your life, even if they mess up. Everyone has a journey.”

When his dad came home, he vowed to treat his wife like a queen because she treated him like a king even when he felt worthless. He started a successful landscaping business and now hires felons who can’t get employment. From watching his parents, Corey knew, that if you worked hard, set goals, and tried to help people, life would work out for you.

Thinking about his parents and walking into the jewelry store, Corey Knew what he was going to do.  He was gonna get a ring. It was time. No more allowing Ahlia’s fear to run the relationship. It was time for them to move to the next level.

“Back again Mr. Lowell?” the friendly jeweler greeted Corey, “I hope you’re here to get something bigger than a pair of earrings.”

“Hey Mr. Stephens, I think it’s time!” Mr. Stephens smiled then slapped Corey on the shoulder. His smile was so big that it made his wide eyes appear to be closed, “Well, let’s walk over to the special side of the store!”

The two walked over to the engagement ring section. Corey saw rings large and small. Rings that sparkled under the display lights. Rings that were celebrity big. Rings that looked like promises of rings to come. Rings for that guy who didn’t have much, but a whole lot of love. And then, the ring: An asscher cut, nearly colorless, 2 carat diamond ring, with an additional carat of channel set emerald cut diamonds on the band. It was modern, yet unique, and he knew Ahlia would love it.

Mr. Stephens gleamed with delight as he polished the ring for Corey. He asked Corey if he had a plan for the proposal. Corey told him that he was just going to wing it. They fell in love on a whim and he felt like the time was right for him to propose. Mr. Stephens hugged Corey as if Corey was his own son. Corey felt like a super hero, he felt like everything was about to be SO right in his world. He couldn’t wait to get home and start preparing his surprise.

When he walked in the house, just like he thought, Ahlia wasn’t home yet. He texted her to see when she was due to arrive and she answered that she’d be home before 8pm, “My meeting is running so long!”, she texted. Corey replied, “No problem”, added a smiley face emoji and started getting ready. He decided not to go out, but to call Postmates and order in. He cleaned the house a bit, put the flowers in the vase, and took a shower.

Deciding what to wear, he wandered to Ahlia’s closet to pull an outfit for her too. He wanted her to come home, get a long bath, and put on something comfortable. He decided to pull out a beautiful silk kimono-style robe that she barely wore and a silky pajama short set. He figured they’d have a pajama party, at home, while eating take-out. When the time was right, and their stomachs were full, he’d ask her to marry him. As he was looking for the mate to Ahlia’s pajama ensemble, a small box tumbled from the shelf.

At first Corey paid no attention; it looked like one of the 100’s of boxes of beauty products that Ahlia’s liked to order online after watching too many of those YouTube girls do makeup. He picked up the box to return it to its place, reading the label he was stunned. It was an opened pregnancy test.

Could it be? Like, that’s why she’d been so cranky and moody! He’d been so busy at the garage; he didn’t even think to look at the period tracker to see if she’d missed a cycle. Wow, If the love of his life was pregnant, then he KNEW the time was right to propose. Corey sat on the bed just thinking about how happy he would be if Ahlia was indeed, pregnant. He could barely contain his excitement as he got ready for what he hoped would be the BEST night of his life.

[fabglance1]

Cover art concept for my new book, Jack and Ahlia

I’m creating a work of fiction that explores the complicated relationship of Jack and Ahlia. Jack and Ahlia are best friends, sometimes lovers, business partners, and a complicated pair who may just destroy each other due to their personal fears and dark secrets.

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - Day 8 - FLOAT

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Finally! It was Christmas and Ahlia was on vacation. Headed back to her hometown, the bubbly 19-year-old was ready to see her parents, her favorite cousins, her doggy ‘Midnight’, and most importantly Jackson. Her mission was to eat as much as her momma’s home cooking, watch all the football games with her dad, and go to all the kick-backs with her friends. This trip was special because Ahlia would be going to Cambodia to study abroad for the rest of the year.

As she was waiting at the train station, she watched the people walk by. She started playing the game her and Jack used to play when they were in high school. Making up stories about the rushing passengers distracted her from realizing how late it had gotten. She told her parents that her train would be in the city by 5:00pm. She also told them she would take a cab to the house, but they insisted on coming to pick her up. She continued to wait.

Another 20 minutes passed by with no word from the family. Ahlia was getting anxious and she was tired from traveling. All she wanted was to get home so she could take a hot shower and get a quick nap before heading out to see friends. She headed over to the pay phone to call her dad. Surely they hadn’t forgotten about their daughter. She dialed the familiar seven-digit number to her parent’s house, let it ring, no answer. How was it possible that, in a house full of people, no one was available to take her call? She tried again, this time calling the line that went straight to her dad’s garage – still, no answer. Ahlia started to get nervous.

Her mom being late, yeah, that was possible. But, her dad being late was almost improbable. She thought to call her Aunt Maize. Aunt Maize would get a message to her mom ASAP. As she was about to dial her aunt’s  number she saw a familiar car drive into the pick-up area. She squinted her eyes to get a better look -  it was JACK!

“JACKIE! Is that you??” She slammed the phone on the receiver, lifted her duffle bag, and stutter stepped over to the curb.

“Yo! I’m so happy you are outside! I really didn’t want to get a ticket because I was NOT trying to park and look for you.”

“Look for me? Why are you looking for me?”

“Your mom called me earlier, she told me you were coming in at 5. She asked me to come pick you up.”  Ahlia was looking at him with confusion in her eyes, he realized she had NO idea what was going on. “Nothing’s wrong, per se, it’s just that your dad and mom had a little bit of an emergency. She wants me to come pick you up and take you to your Aunt’s house.”

“Take me to my aunt’s house? Why? We are supposed to be having dinner at OUR house?

“Listen, Ms. Johnson told me to come pick you up and that’s the only instruction I got. You know I don’t mess with your momma like that!” Jack laughed a little while reaching down to pick up Ahlia’s duffle bag. “Dang girl, you smuggling BRICKS of cocaine in here?”

“Naw. I mean, I’m gonna be home for like three weeks. I had to make it count.” She waited for Jack to open the car door.

When they started riding, Jack turned on the radio. The DJ was playing a hip-hop mix. The two started bobbing their heads, as Method Man and Mary J Blige sang, “Your all, I need, to get by …”

  “YOOO! This song used to be the JAM!” Ahlia sang out as the bassline dropped. She was so hype to be riding in her city with her best friend. It was like old times again. The pleasure of familiarity filled her body. She was reminded how much she missed her friend and their adventures in Baby Blue, Jack’s old Honda Civic.

Jack felt good too. He was kinda nervous to see Ahlia during this Christmas break. After their night in the Wal-mart parking lot, the pair weren’t as close as they used to be. The both agreed to stop having sex, and to take their ‘relationship’ back to friend status. By the end of senior year Ahlia was dating a guy from the track team, and Jack was engulfed in getting ready for his move to Atlanta. During their time away, the two called each other often and sent emails. Ahlia had feelings for Jack and he the same, but school and work and life put a wall between them. Being home for Christmas would be good for the friends.

“Even when the skies were gray

You would rub me on my back and say, baby it’ll be okay”

  Instinctively, Jack drove to Ahlia’s parent’s house, instead of taking he to her Aunt’s house. The two were so caught up in conversation and listening to old-school hip-hop that he forgot to jump on the interstate. Driving through the familiar subdivision, the pair were greeted with a very unfamiliar sight. There were clothes and furniture on the yard of Ahlia’s family home. When Jack rolled into the drive way to turn the car around, Ahlia’s mom came out the house carrying a box of trophies and yelling, “AND you can take ALL this stuff to that’s WHORE’S house with you!”

Ahlia was stunned. She’d never seen her mother look so enraged. Ahlia and Jack watched as Mr. Johnson slowy walked from the garage to the porch. He calmly picked up the box of trophies. He used it as storage for the rest of his clothes that had been scattered on the ground like the lost dreams of man with many regrets. Ahlia immediately jumped out the car.

“YO! What is going on!” She was almost screaming, but didn’t want to make more of a scene than was being made already. At once Mr. Johnson noticed his daughter standing at the end of the drive way. They locked eyes, and at that moment it was as if the answer was downloaded into her existence. Her mom was throwing her dad out, a week before Christmas.

“Baby girl, we didn’t mean for you to find out this way!” The lanky man walked toward his daughter, his curly hair was freshly cut, she saw her face on his older body. Often, everyone said that Ahlia was the splitting image of her dad, only with her mother’s amazing curves and thick hair.

“Daddy. What?”

“I’ll let your mom explain. I really didn’t want you to find out this way. Your mom and me are getting a divorce. We haven’t been happy for years. I just …” Her dad’s words trailed off as Ahlia thought of Christmas without him around. Her mom came out the house with another box of trinkets. She dropped them on the steps with no intention of caution or care. She exhaled hard as she saw her daughter.

“OH NO Ahlia! You were supposed to go to Aunt Maize!” Her mom exclaimed.

“We totally forgot and came to the house by habit,” She turned around and pointed at Jack still sitting in the car. Jack was frozen. Mr. and Mrs Johnson were his favorite couple. They were tighter than the Cliff and Claire Huxtable. How in the world did they end up having a Waiting to Exhale moment one week before Christmas?

“Well, you’re 19, no need to sugar coat it. Your dad cheated on me. Cheated on the family. I found out. And I KNOW I won’t be living with no ADULTERER in my house, especially on Jesus birthday!” She was yelling at this point, throwing her words at Mr. Johnson like daggers. Ahlia was caught in the crossfire, her ears ringing and her mind buzzing from confusion. They weren’t happy? How?

Ahlia turned around immediately, her face hot, big tears falling down her cheeks. Jack saw her coming for the car and jumped out. He ran to the passenger side, knowing the only thing he could do was get her into the car and away from this scene. Ahlia jumped in the car and put on her seatbelt. The tears were staining her jacket as she looked at the yard in front of her house. Clothes were everywhere. Her dad was leaning against his BMW with his shoulders slumped while the couple watched Jack’s Honda Civic back out of the driveway.

Ahlia’s mom attempted to flag the car down, but knew her daughter needed time to process. Mrs. Johnson didn’t have time to help Ahlia deal with this situation, not today.  She was determined to get all traces of Mr. Johnson out of that house. She let her daughter drive away, with the intention of calling later for a family meeting.

“Shorty, I’m there for you anytime you need me

For real girl, it’s me in your world, believe me”

Jack decided not to take Ahlia to her Aunt’s house. They drove to another favorite spot in the city, the entrance to the Riverbend. He turned the car off, leaving the headlights on. It was already dark as midnight and there were no lights in the parking area. They could hear the rushing water but couldn’t see it. When they were kids, the two would come here to do homework, watch the sunset, and sometimes just chill with no agenda. They sat in silence for the longest 15 minutes.

Jack remembered he had just rolled a blunt before Mrs. Johnson called him to pick up Ahlia from the train station. He’d started smoking weed while attending college. Jack had some stress of his own he needed to deal with, but this wasn’t the time to talk about it. Without hesitation, he lit the blunt, inhaling on one end to pull the flame. The familiar smoked filled his lungs, he could taste the slight cherry taste of the tobacco mixed with husky musk of the marijuana. Immediately, he was calmed, he passed the blunt to Ahlia.

“I don’t smoke.” She said, as Jack held the little torch in his hand.

“Well, I think today is a good day to start.” He laughed a little and gestured for Ahlia to take the blunt. She hesitated, then took it, ashes falling on the arm rest. “So put it to your lips, and inhale a bit. It’s gonna burn, you might cough. But then, in about 10 minutes, you gonna feel smooth.”

 She trusted him, knowing she needed something to take her mind off of her family turmoil, “Oh my god, it burns so bad! When you start smoking?”

“Man, last spring, freshman year. It’s HARD in ATL.” He laid his head on the headrest. Ahlia tried to give the blunt back to Jack, “Naw, pull on it one more time.”

This time Ahlia inhaled hard, letting the smoke sting her throat and fill her lungs. Her eyes watered a little as she started to feel like she was floating. Jack was watching as Ahlia leaned her head back. He was focused on her face, examining her eyes, the curve of her nose, her full lips, and her long neck. She was wearing a small gold chain and the sparkle caught his attention. The car was filling with smoke. The two let it engulf them as the music played low. Ahlia was calm now.

“This is nice. I feel nice.” She giggled a bit, which made Jack laugh, “I missed you Jackie. I missed us. You’re my bestie.” She leaned over, putting her head on his shoulder. Jack could smell the floral scent of whatever black girl hair product she’d used on her hair. He pulled her close and held her hand. They continued to pass the blunt until it was nothing but a tiny nub. Ahlia was amazingly high, the thoughts of her parents’ divorce tucked away for tomorrow.

Jacked kissed Ahlia’s forehead as he let the high take him away. Every time his lips touched her head, Ahlia could feel a shudder of excitement, mixed with nervous energy float through her body.

“What you trying to do tonight? Where you trying to go? You want me to take you to your Aunt’s house?’ he asked, while rubbing her hand.

“Naw, right now, this is where I want to be. So, wherever you go. I’m going there.” Jack turned on the car deciding to take her to his house. She already had her bags with her, no need to go anywhere else.

Ahlia would stay with Jack and Uncle Rob for the rest of her winter break, popping in to see her family daily, but too broken to stay at the empty-ish house. On that night, her and Jack had sex and continued to do so for the rest of her stay. Often, it was mixed with weed and Ahlia’s sadness but she needed something familiar to help her navigate this unfamiliar territory. When they were young, her family had always been there for Jack, this time Jack’s family was here for her and it felt good. Ahlia didn’t care to think about how she’d feel when it was time to go back to school and travel for internship. Right now, she was happy to be with her friend, who had somehow become the only thing she wanted to hold on to.

“You’re all that I need, I’ll be there for you If you keep it real with me, I’ll keep it real witchu.”

[fabglance1]

#XD30 - Day 7 - TWO

Jack looked down at his phone, it’d had been three weeks since he’d heard from Ahlia. He knew it was right for them to take some time apart but he thought his text had made everything ok. They slipped up, they had sex, he apologized, and life was back to normal. This was the first-time Jack had sex with another woman while he was married. He made himself believe he wasn’t REALLY cheating when he was receiving texts from interns, thinking about Instagram models while having sex with his wife, and those couple of times he got a blow-job from his client in Miami. To Jack, sex equaled intercourse, and intercourse crossed the line.

 Jordan felt faint coming back from her lunch meeting. The Smith Brothers had coerced her to have lunch and listen to their restaurant proposal. Although the identical twin brothers were two of the most annoying men on the social scene, they were loaded and loved dropping their money into new business ventures. They failed a couple of times, but this time, Jordan felt like the duo was on to an amazing idea. After a lavish lunch at Corsica, a rooftop restaurant in midtown, the two presented an idea that an idiot would pass up. They asked Jordan to be on the board of directors and read some of the contracts. She happily signed on; later she’d persuade Jack to add his financial expertise to the mix. But now, she wanted to go to her sprawling office and lay down for a few minutes.

 Ahlia held her cell phone in her hand, holding on to it like it was a life preserver and she was drowning. As a matter of fact, she was drowning. Maybe it was the stress of closing on the 15th Street Playground project, maybe it was the fact that she was serving on two community planning committees, or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen her period in seven weeks. She was surprised Corey hadn’t reminded her of mother nature’s absence, he kept up with her cycle more than she did. Ahlia tended to get have horrible cycles. Corey loved her so much and made sure to have all her favorite things available when it arrived: Sour Skittles, Hot Cheetos, Starbucks lattes and caeser salad from Olive Garden. He was good for that; he was always so thoughtful.

What was supposed to be a 15-minute nap turned into an hour-long siesta. Jordan’s assistant buzzed her line slightly scaring her. The assistant was leaving for the day and warning Jordan that she was leaving a set of files in the out-box. Jordan picked up the file, brought it back to the office, and set down again. She was totally exhausted and didn’t know why. Then a thought crossed her mind, ‘could she be pregnant?’ Couldn’t be! She and Jack had been trying for the last two years, but with his low sperm count and her fibroid filled uterus, the couple’s chances of pregnancy was slim-to-none. They had sex often, but never used birth control. There was no need. So, pregnancy was completing off the table.

 Ahlia sat on the couch, holding the test in her hand. Two lines. Two blue lines. The lines were clear as day. Ahlia was pregnant. She needed to text Jack. She needed to hide it from Corey. She needed to figure out what she was going to do. How.

 Jordan decided to go home. She usually stayed late to go over upcoming cases. She loved being in the office when no one else was there. But an impending headache was forcing her to go home. She didn’t mind. Jack would be coming home late today too. She’d have the house to herself. They’d been in a bad place for a couple of months, no need to talk to him when she felt like a pile of poop.

 Coming up to the subdivision, she passed by the neighborhood drug store. She felt like her cycle was coming on and needed to pick up some supplies and snacks. She’d go home, put on her sweatpants, and indulge in some goodies. She rarely ate junk food, but allowed for a bag of chocolate covered almonds once a month. She walked down the feminine aisle, passing by the pregnancy tests. She thought to pick up one, stopped and looked at the display. Maybe?

 Jack’s phone buzzed, he looked down at it. A photo flashed on the screen. Jacks eyes widened. Really. He didn’t respond to the message. He got up, walked around his office and stood at the window. Maybe this would fix everything. Maybe. He heard his phone buzz again, another photo. It was Jordan. She was smiling like the night he proposed and holding a pregnancy test. Two blue line. Two blue lines.

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#XD30 - DAY 5 - SAVAGE

CHAPTER 5 – SAVAGE

 Corey caught up with the Mercedes G-Wagon, yelling, “Aye man, you left your phone!” The truck slowed down.

 “Thanks dude.” Jack answered as he received the phone from Corey’s hand, “and thanks, again, for getting my car looking smooth! Your team is the only one I trust to keep the G-Wagon looking fresh off the lot! I’ll make sure to let all my frat brothers know about your services. I gotta get you some business so you can get my lil’ sis that FAT engagement ring.” Jack smiled wide.

 Corey nodded, gave Jack fist pound, and Jack drove away bumping the new Drake song. Corey walked back to the building shaking his head. He only tolerated Jack because he was Ahlia’s best friend, her big brother. But this recent exchange confirmed Corey’s thoughts about Jack. That nigga was dirty, pure and simple.

 Moments ago, Corey had noticed that Jack left his phone in the lobby, Corey picked it up. What dumb dude would leave his phone, and unlocked, during these times? The phone buzzed in his hand and he instinctually looked at it. Yup, two pictures sitting on the screen. Some girl, two poses, and she didn’t look older than 22. She was a pretty lil’ light-skinned thang, busting it wide open for the camera. That surely, wasn’t Jack’s wife; Jordan was way too classy to send nudes while bending over in a dirty bedroom.

 Back in the day, Corey would have asked Jack if the young lady had a sister. Now, he was a changed man. Before meeting and falling in love with Ahlia, Corey was KNOWN to never love or trust these hoes. In the past, Corey didn’t believe in monogamy. ‘Hit it and quit it’ was his motto. He’d often say, “The best way to get over an old hoe was to get with a new one!” But Ahlia changed all that.

 Corey met Ahlia at fundraiser for a local youth organization. His company, Corey’s Custom Car Service, was a title sponsor for a Back-to-School rally. Corey might have been a dog, but he believed the children were the future and made sure to donate as often as he could. That year, he was so proud that his company had made enough profit to start giving back to the community. Ahlia, was a chairperson for the organization and head of the planning committee for the event. When she called Corey to her office, to sign some sponsorship paperwork, he didn’t know his life would change.

 An appointment that was supposed to only last 30 minutes, ended with drinks at the local Happy Hour spot, followed by an intense make-out session against the door of Corey’s classic Chevrolet Camaro SS. Corey didn’t know if it was Ahlia’s kind eyes, mind blowing curves, or care for the community that made him want to know everything about her. But when he got home, he started deleting all the ‘hoes’ from his phone. He called Ahlia every morning for two weeks asking her to go out with him. When she accepted, he planned an actual date, wanting to impress the pretty and smart chairperson. Within the month, he said he loved her and didn’t care if she said it back, but she did. She moved in with him a couple weeks later.

 Corey’s Custom Car Service was a concierge service that catered to high-end import cars. The tall, fit-ish, former NCAA Division I superstar, with an ivory smile and well-groomed beard looked like no one’s auto mechanic. After a horrible hit during his time on the  field, Corey’s NFL dreams disappeared. The college sophomore, who was once labeled as the ‘Future of Football’ had become a second thought when his ACL was torn and foot crushed. He would never recover his speed nor his agility. Another person would have crumbled under those circumstances but not Corey. Always the hard worker he healed and moved forward. The handsome and bright student decided to put all his efforts into his earning his degree in Business Administration. He’d lost his athletic scholarship due to his injury, but, randomly, gained a modeling contract after being scouted on Myspace by an LA talent agency. He graduated with a nearly 4.0 grade point average, $110,000 in the bank, and an exclusive modeling contract.

 Corey rode the model wave for a while after graduating from college. Being as good-looking as he was, it wasn’t hard for him to pull a fine girl . . . and her sister. He’d often fly out to different destinations with his photos ending up in magazines and calendars. When he’d return, he always had a story about some model he smashed or some chick he met at the airport who would give him head in the bathroom. Corey never had a relationship before Ahlia, but maintained two or three ‘situationships’ to keep his phone buzzing.

 During a photoshoot with KING magazine, he posed with Melyssa Ford and a classic F-100 truck. The beautifully refurbished vehicle was much more interesting than the video vixen’s conversation. For the remainder of the shoot, Corey intently listened to the car’s owner talk about the process of restoring vintage vehicles to their former glory. Corey identified because felt like he was a refurbished vehicle after healing from such a hard injury.

 With the help of a friend, he restored his first car and realized how therapeutic the process was. A year later he sunk his savings into his friend’s failing auto garage. He used his business savvy to turn the shady business into one of the best auto restorers and maintenance shops in the city. The athlete, turned model, turn mechanic and restoration dealer had found his calling. With his work ethic, he knew he would take this business to the next level. He never thought that having a lady by his side would be the key to his success.

 That’s why, when Jack, flippantly suggested he’d get his ‘frat brothers’ to support Corey’s business, Corey just chuckled. That nigga would never know that Corey was due to turn his first million-dollar sale by the end of the year. Ahlia’s engagement ring was already purchased and thoughts of a house were in his head. Jack was one of those dudes that thought he had it all figured out, but Corey always had a plan.

 He thought about telling Ahlia about her ‘big brother’ having some girl ‘turned out’ on his phone, but he wasn’t one to get into someone’s business. As dull has Jack’s wife was, Jack might have needed some stimulation. Maybe he wasn’t cheating. Shoot, how many sexy single moms offered to pay for their car services with a hand-job or a back shot? Corey always declined, making sure to keep his old savage tendencies in check. But he knew how desperate some women could be. He decided to keep Jack’s secret from Ahlia . . . until he might need it. You just never know when you gotta pull out the evidence on a smooth-talking nigga who swears he has his life together.

 Later that day, Corey was sitting in the living room of the apartment he and Ahlia shared. He was drinking a cold beer while lounging in a pair of basketball shorts and am old LSU t-shirt. Ahlia came home right as Corey decided to order some take-out.

 “Hey baby!” She breezed sitting her bag down on the table.

“You want Thai food or Mexican?” He asked, watching Ahlia take off her coat and pull her curly hair into one of those sloppy buns.

“Mexican is fine with me. I could go for some Perez Grilled fajitas!”

“Bet! How was your day today?”

“Fine. We are closing the planning on the new playground down of 15th street! It’s gonna be nice. A whole area dedicated to kids with disability issues!”

Corey could hear the excitement in his girl’s voice, she lived for helping the community and been working on this special needs park for a year. He walked over to her, putting his hands around her waist and pulling her close, “I’m so proud of you baby!” He kissed her on the forehead, patted her ample backside, and walked back to the kitchen. “Oh yeah, your homeboy came to the shop today!”

“Who?” Ahlia paused knowing Corey was talking about Jack.

“Jack. Man, he gonna have us polish the paint off that G-Wagon if he keeps coming back so frequently!” Corey laughed to himself. “He asked why we didn’t come to game night. I thought you had called him?”

Ahlia was paralyzed, her heart pounding, “I sent him a text, he must’ve forgot. Did he say anything else?” Ahlia knew Jack would never confess a thing to Corey, but she also knew he only came to the shop because she hadn’t returned his calls. He was manipulating the situation and she hated him for it.

“Naw, he didn’t say anything. Just being his regular cornball self.” Corey continued to laugh while walking back to the couch. Ahlia walked over to him positioning herself on his lap. Ahlia couldn’t believe she had to keep a secret from her amazing boyfriend. She inhaled deeply as the thought of losing Corey crossed her mind.

“How about a little fun before the food comes?” She asked, hoping that the feeling of Corey’s body pressed against her own, would take away the guilt she was feeling. Corey was quick to oblige, immediately lifting Ahlia’s legs and pulling her into a straddle position. Started her rub her body. Ahlia tried to let her mind wander but flashbacks of Jack would cross her brain. This wasn’t working, but she had to fake it until the guilty feelings went away.

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The style of #JackAndAhlia: What about Corey? by fabglance featuring timberland mens boots

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The Style of #JackAndAhlia - Jack by fabglance featuring Burberry