Imagined Love (32 page)

“Aw, that’s cold,” he said. “And this knowledge of men’s cologne . . . oh let me guess, Landon, right?”

Jade went into yet another story about Landon, that time about his obsession with cologne, seemingly unaware of the edge in Pierce’s voice.

The play Jade had been dying to see extended its tour another week and she called Pierce at the store immediately to ask if he’d be available to go on Thursday night. He was thrilled at the chance to go with her after all and made arrangements for Alejandra to babysit Dane. Jade worked late a few nights during the week to prepare for the rehearsal dinner and wedding that weekend. She wanted to enjoy her date with Pierce and not have to worry about work. Unfortunately they had something more serious to be concerned about.

“Hey, babe, how are . . . what’s wrong?” Jade asked when Pierce opened the door for her. He was upset.

“I’m so sorry, babe, but Dane is really sick. All of a sudden he started throwing up and he’s got a fever. Oh, he’s in my room,” Pierce said when Jade walked in back to check on Dane.

She sat beside him on the bed and brushed away a handful of curls to see his face. Jade laid her cheek next to his and could feel the heat radiating from his body. When Pierce told her he was taking Dane to the emergency room she said she was going too.

“Oh no, babe, I was thinking you and Hawn could go ahead to the play so you don’t have to miss it again. I know how badly you wanted to see it.”

Jade looked at him like he was crazy then turned her attention back to Dane. “Daddy must have a fever too if he thinks I’m leaving my guys like this. Come on, baby, let’s go to the doctor so they can help you feel better, okay?”

When Alejandra arrived Jade gave her the tickets and told her to take Roland and have a good time. Then she got in the backseat of Pierce’s Chevelle with a bucket and wipes just in case Dane needed to throw up again. As usual, the emergency room was packed and it was nearly impossible to find parking. Jade told Pierce to take Dane inside to get registered while she found somewhere to park. Ten minutes later, in her little black dress and four-inch heels, she joined them in the waiting room. An hour and a half passed before they were finally called to the back for Dane to be seen.

Diagnosed with the stomach flu, the doctor recommended Dane get a shot to stop the vomiting so he could rest. As soon as Pierce agreed the boy went wild! He screamed and flailed begging his dad not to do it. Pierce tried to be patient with Dane knowing how much he hated needles but began getting frustrated and decided to hold his son down like the nurse suggested. That only made things worse and Jade asked if she could just talk to Dane for a minute. She laid her face next to his and whispered in his ear until he calmed down. A few minutes later he stared at Jade’s smiling face and held her hands tightly while the nurse administered the shot.

“See, that’s wasn’t so bad, was it?” she said, kissing his face. “I knew you were my brave little man. I’m so proud of you.” Jade kissed his little hands.

“Mommies always have the touch,” the nurse commented.

Pierce was surprised at how Jade was able to deal with Dane but extremely grateful. More than anything, he was in love. He kept staring at her in the rearview mirror watching the tender way she ran her fingers through Dane’s hair and made him feel safe and secure. Pierce loved Jade and didn’t know how he’d made it without her.

The following Saturday Pierce’s stepfather Miguel and Luisa planned to have all their grandsons come over for camping in the backyard. The boys loved sleeping in the big tent and making hotdogs and s’mores over the fire. Having Dane with his family gave Pierce the opportunity to be with Jade at the wedding. He was prepared to work but it turned out to be more like a date. There were only

seventy-five guests and the venue was responsible for nearly everything so that left Jade with time to enjoy having Pierce with her. It also granted Landon the chance to leave after an hour to have some quality time with Gabrielle.

“What’s wrong?” Jade asked when she noticed Pierce staring at her.

“I love to watch you eat. It’s so sensual,” he moaned after she put a bite of wedding cake in her mouth. “I’ve never wanted to be a fork so bad in my life.”

Jade laughed. Then she grew self-conscious with him watching her and couldn’t bring herself to finish eating the cake. “Pierce, stop,” she laughed, when he continued staring at her. “Dude, quit playing.”

After the reception Pierce and Jade decided to go back to her apartment. Things started off innocently enough with them watching TV and talking. It was an accidental brush against each other that led to one of those incredible kisses that led to Pierce’s hands under Jade’s blouse, lifting her up on the kitchen countertop! Just as quickly as they started, however, they stopped.

“I’m sorry,” Pierce panted, removing his hand from her breasts. “I probably should go, huh?”

Jade stared at him as she caressed his face. “Yeah,” she said, reluctantly. As badly as she wanted him, something didn’t feel right about making love that night. “I’m sorry,” Jade kissed his cheek as he helped her down. “I just . . .”

“I know,” Pierce said, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Look at us in here acting like two horny ass teenagers. But I like knowing you’ll get buck wild with me when the time comes,” he laughed and tapped the countertop. “Well, let me get going. I need to go home and ice my back.”

“Why, what’s wrong with you back?”

“You had your legs wrapped around me so tight that you almost broke it! I was like damn this girl is strong!”

“Alright, get out!” Jade laughed loudly, as she pushed him towards the living room. “You got jokes now, right? But I wasn’t the one moaning, ‘ooh Jade, ooh baby’!”

They both doubled over with laughter. Then once they were able to compose themselves, Jade walked Pierce to the door.

“So we’re still on for tomorrow? Grabbing breasts doesn’t get a brotha kicked to the curb, does it?”

“Nah, I guess I can let it slide this time,” she smiled.

“Good. Well, I guess you better go ahead and kiss me now so I can go.”

“Kiss you? You kiss me!”

“Why you always gotta be difficult? How come you can’t just say yes Pierce and do what I say? Huh?” He smiled then kissed her gently. “I’ll call you, okay?”

“Okay . . . and thank you for tonight.”

“No problem. I’ll grab your breasts whenever you want.”

“Get out of here, ole crazy self,” Jade laughed and gave him a quick kiss.

Ten minutes later, as had become their nightly ritual, Pierce called her and they talked until the wee hours of the morning.

The next day at around noon Pierce was back at Jade’s place to get her for their double date with Jamel and Tamara. The Addisons were excited to finally meet the man they’d heard so much about as well as have some time away from their three kids.

“Damnnnn!” Tamara shrieked when Pierce walked in. “He is gorgeous! No wonder you been walking around on clouds since you met him. What’s up, Captain America?” she smiled then shook his hand. “Shoot, I would’ve hopped up on the counter too!”

“Would you shut up?” Jade gasped, as she pushed her friend. “Hi, honey. This is Tamara who apparently likes repeating things told to her in private in front of everybody. And this is her husband Jamel Addison. This is Pierce Jamison.”

“Hey, what’s up, man? It’s nice to meet you,” Jamel said, shaking hands with Pierce. “And don’t pay my wife any mind. She’s not well.”

They all laughed then headed out for pizza. It took ten minutes to leave the parking lot because Jamel fell in love with Pierce’s car. It was a 1970, charcoal gray Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 with black leather interior and silver rims.

“Damn, dude, do you need a condom?” Tamara asked in response to the sensual way Jamel was rubbing the car. “You out here acting hard up like you didn’t just get some before we left the house. Get your ass in the car and quit embarrassing me,” she laughed, playfully pushing him into the backseat.

Pierce laughed too as he did the entire drive to the restaurant. He really liked Jamel and Tamara and felt as though he’d known them for years. And it was quite clear how much they both loved and respected Jade. Tamara adored her and made it plain that she’d have no qualms about jacking Pierce up if he hurt her.

“He’s the one, Jade,” she announced after grilling him over lunch.

“I agree,” Jamel added. “You hit the jackpot, didn’t you? He’s tall and handsome with a store full of food! You must be in heaven,” he teased.

They all laughed and continued to make jokes about how much Jade ate. She’d eaten a medium pepperoni pizza with extra cheese by herself and was already talking about the buttered popcorn she was going to get at the movie theater. Pierce could go broke trying to feed her!

“What are you doing?” Pierce frowned when Jade grabbed the check. “It’s my treat. I’ve got it,” he said, trying to take it out of her hand.

“It’s okay, I’ll get it. You always pay.”

“Girl, give me this thing. What did I tell you about being difficult? Just say yes Pierce like I said. I’ll be right back,” he said then headed to the cash register.

When they arrived at the movie theater Pierce walked around to open the door for Jade and helped her out of the car.

“Aw, you’re such a gentle . . .” Jade took off running towards the box office to buy their tickets before he did.

“Get her man!” Jamel called, after Pierce jetted behind her.

Pierce was surprised by how fast Jade was and had to run full speed to catch her. He grabbed the back of her shirt to slow her down then wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her in the air. Jade screamed and laughed like a little girl when Pierce tossed her over his shoulder like it was nothing.

“Yes, let me get four tickets for Dead Presidents, please,” Pierce said as though it were perfectly normal to have a woman draped over his shoulder.

“Oh my goodness,” Jade laughed as he put her down, “look at them!”

Pierce let out a roar at the sight of Jamel and Tamara. Apparently they were inspired by the playfulness of the lovebirds and decided to join in the fun. Tamara, who outweighed her husband by fifty pounds, straddled his back while they stumbled towards them.

“We’re almost there, baby,” he panted moments away from being smashed into the ground. “I got you.”

After the movie, ice cream, and a go-cart race, Pierce drove back to Jade’s apartment. Everybody had other plans for the evening so their double date had to come to an end. Jamel and Pierce were still talking about cars when Tamara pulled Jade aside to talk.

“Now this is how it’s supposed to be. He the one, beauty queen, I just know it,” Tamara declared with tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you, girl. Captain America is the one we’ve been praying for.”

“Why do you keep calling him that?”

“Girl, look at him all tall with that broad, muscular chest and little waist. Can’t you just picture him in a tight blue leotard and some red boots? Shoot, I bet if you give him a chance he’ll earn that star on his chest! I don’t know how you can resist him, beauty queen. I would’ve gave it up that first day and everyday after that.” They both laughed.

“Okay, little mama, we need to go,” Jamel said.

“See you soon, Captain America,” Tamara smiled then gave him a big hug. “Okay, beauty queen, call me later. And remember what I told you . . . show him.”

“Bye, ole crazy woman. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Jade said as she hugged Jamel and Tamara goodbye then watched them drive away.

“So what are you supposed to show me?” Pierce asked.

“My inner hoe,” she giggled. “By the way, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t think Tamara was going to talk about the countertop incident in front of you. I was so embarrassed and didn’t want you to think I had given her blow by blow details

about it. She asked if my inner hoe had emerged yet and I told her it almost did on my kitchen counter and I left it at that. I’m so sorry. I hope you weren’t too embarrassed by it.”

“There’s no need to apologize. You can talk to your friends about whatever you want. I trust you know how much to divulge and to whom. Plus you already warned me Tamara’s liable to say anything so I wasn’t surprised or embarrassed. So are you ready?”

Jade was confused by his question. He knew she had made plans to have dinner with Landon and Gabrielle and he was going to his mother’s for their Sunday dinner. That was the reason they chose to have an early date with Jamel and Tamara. It soon became clear Pierce was trying to convince her to come with him. Jade had joined his family for a few of their get-togethers and they loved having her there. Pierce gave the sad, puppy dog eyes and even used Dane and how happy he’d be to see her as a way to make Jade change her plans.

“Oh, babe, I can’t,” she sighed. “Even though we work together everyday, Landon and I haven’t hung out in a while. And Gabrielle is off so it’s the perfect day to have dinner and spend some quality time together. Besides, I don’t wanna become a nuisance at your mom’s house. I know she said come by anytime but she may not have meant it every time. “Aw, don’t do me like that,” Jade said when Pierce continued with the pitiful, pouty faces. “Come on, dude, you know that would be foul to cancel on them after they’ve been cooking all day and preparing for me to come over.”

“Okay I’ll tell you what. Let’s go inside and call them. For all we know they could be enjoying each other right now and need some quality time alone. You could be doing them a favor. Please, can we just try? If they’re waiting for you then I’ll leave and try to explain to my poor little son why his favorite girl didn’t want to see him today. But if they’re busy then you can come with me.”

The guilt trip led them inside to call Landon. Pierce stood behind Jade and wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she dialed the number. He kissed her cheek and rocked from side to side silently praying Landon and Gabrielle were otherwise engaged.

“Hey, baby girl, you on your way? You won’t believe the incredible perch I found for us. I’ll fry it when . . .”

“I’ll call you later,” Pierce whispered and kissed her cheek.