New Title 1 (39 page)

Jordin stared at the the beginning words to the story that had taken her career from lukewarm to scorching hot. Her short story on 'Restricted Love: What happens when the unthinkable is unavoidable?', had rocket launched her popularity in the literary world to new heights. People wanted more of her and Julez's story... they wanted the book, they wanted the series.

“
How much is Essence talking?”

“
Up to two dollars a word,” Jordin responded with a smile. She looked up at Julez as he came into the room, zipping up his leather and grabbing his car keys off the living room table. “Where you going homie?”

Julez smiled lightly at her cute disappointment. He leaned down and stroked her hair, the other he used to rest his hand on her stomach.

“
I gotta run down to the office real quick, I forgot these permits that I need to look over tonight. I'll be right back.”

Jordin pouted and reached her arms up and Julez took the cue, he pulled her up into a big hug.

“
Aw don't be like that, J. You know I won't take but a minute. There and back, aight? ...And I'll even bring you back some pie from Mr. Tod's.”

Jordin pursed her lips and fought her growing smile.

“
Bribe the fat pregnant girl with food, huh? Alright,” she said punching him lightly on the arm while they shared a laugh. “But you should really hire someone to do all of that, Julez. You work too much.”

“
Well, I do it for you,” he said kissing her on the cheek. He started for the door after shooting her a wink, and then he turned around and doubled back to her. “And you,” he added, leaning down and kissing her belly quickly. Jordin giggled as he made his way back to the door.

“
Hey, sweet potato! ...And I want my own.” He shook his head at her, laughing as he headed out.

“
Love you!” She screamed out to him.

“
Love you, too!” She heard him yell out from the other side of the just closed door. She smiled to herself so happy that she had him as she began counting down the minutes of his return.

Jordin looked around at their recently just furnished five bedroom home that rested on the outskirts of Westfield, NJ. She loved her house so much and Julez had made sure that she had any and everything that she could ever want for it. All she had to do was sit back and wait the next five weeks for their little bundle of joy to arrive.

She thought of Julez going to the office at this time of night and a fleeting thought of Kira entered her mind. Even though Kira had spoken to her since Jordin and Julez had been together, and Kira admitted that her and Julez had never been an item, and she even congratulated Jordin on their baby, Jordin still didn't trust her. She trusted Julez though, so that was all that mattered in the end.

Jordin decided to go upstairs and read for a little while until Julez came back. However, on her way to her spiral staircase, a faint stench tickled her nose.

“
Aw, Julezzz. I told you to take that garbage out. Yuk!”

She started to leave it for him, but Jordin was a neat freak and she was big on smells. She decided to drag it out herself, it would make up for the walking exercise she skipped that day. Reaching the bag she began pulling it to the front door. Thank god it wasn't heavy.

I wonder if Mr. Tod's can make me a jumbo pie. I bet if Julez paid him enough, he could make a pie bigger than my stomach.
Jordin giggled at her pregnant thoughts as she neared the curb on her quiet and dark street, still dragging the bag. The cold weather chilled her bones as she sped up at bit but she was stopped short at the sight before her.

“
Wow, look at you, J.”

Jordin couldn't think. All she could do was stand there in silence with her eyes squinted in anger.

“
So what, you don't got no words for me? After everything we been through? It's like that?”

Jordin remained silent before her thoughts began pouring out of her mouth. She couldn't help but say...

“
What do you want?”

Slim jerked his head back in amusement as he took her in, all of her. He had spoken to Noelle, who still seemed bitter about the whole ordeal, and she had told him that Jordin was pregnant by Julez and they were together now. But he knew he wouldn't believe it until he saw it. And now, here it was right in front of his face.

“
Damn J, you cold. I just wanted to see you. Stop by and shit, say hello...congratulations,” he said with a grin although Jordin remained stone. She crossed her arms across her chest.

“
Alright, that's it? Thanks. Bye.” Jordin turned, ready to get back inside and call Julez.

“
Thanks, bye. That's all? Jordin, please...”

“
Slim, cut the bullshit! What do you want?” She asked, turning around and snapping.

Slim sighed and then he nodded, figuring he would be truthful.

“
Alright, damn. Listen ma, I just wanna... I mean...I kinda wanna talk to you. It's kinda important. I just need a few minutes, that's it J.” He sounded sincere but Jordin was still trying to figure out his angle. He stared at her like a lost puppy dog and then shrugged. “Can I come inside?”

“
No,” she shot back instantly. “You can't come in my house. Julez will be back soon.”

She looked at him and couldn't believe that this was once the man that she loved. They had been together for so long and she would have done anything for him. And now...now this is where they were.

“
Well, it's kinda cold out here,” he started.

“
I don't have time for this shit.” Jordin began making her way back inside again but Slim jogged behind her and grabbed her arm lightly.

“
Okay, okay J. I get it. We can talk out here. Just...just hear me out.”

Jordin faced him and held herself against the cold, it was bitter out there.

“
You want my coat?” Slim asked, noticing her body shivering.

“
I'm good,” she shot back, still holding herself. “What's up?” She was ready for him to say what he had to and get the hell on.

“
Look, I just want to say...about that day at the hotel...”

“
It's nothing,” she told him, truly over it.

Slim shook his head, not believing this new Jordin.

“
But it is...I went and saw your mother. She didn't want me to tell you, but she was real sick-”

“
My
mother?” Jordin asked, shocked. Her mother hadn't told her anything. “You went to Cherry Hill?” Her parents hated Slim.

He nodded and Jordin stared at him. His dark skin went good with the night, he was still handsome but he was shit. She was over him. And she couldn't believe that Noelle would jeopardize a god of a man like Julez for the half of one before her. She shook her head at him.

“
Well, what do you mean she was sick? She didn't tell me anything. What did she say?”

Jordin's lips were trembling from the cold.

“
That's what I'm trying to tell you.” He noticed her shaking and went to rub her arms warm, but she flinched from him. It broke his heart. “Look, you're cold. Just let me step in for a minute. Then we can talk.”

“
No.”

He chuckled at her stubbornness.

“
Well at least let's sit in the car. It's right here.” A black Mercedes was parked right in front of her door.

“
No, just tell me what my mother said.”

“
Jordin!” He said, getting frustrated. “Come on, get in the car. It's cold, and you're pregnant... I know you hate me but I still care about you. I don't want you getting sick. So just come out the cold for a minute. You can leave the door opened if it's that serious.”

Jordin's mind raced. She wanted to know what the hell was going on with her mother. Why did she talk to Slim of all people and not tell her? And what was this sick shit? It was brutally cold out there and she'd be damned if he came inside.

“
Alright... Five minutes, Slim.”

She reluctantly followed him to his car and as he put the heat on full blast, Jordin got in, rubbing her hands together and putting them up to the vents.

“
What kind of sick was my mother? Like a cold?”

Slim stared at her for a while before answering. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her growing stomach.

“
Nah...”

Jordin's heart began to race, feeling like he was holding something back.

“
Well, like what? What did she say, Slim?”

He just continued to gaze at her and finally he uttered, “So you love that nigga Julez?”

Jordin cut her eyes at him like he had some nerve. She sucked her teeth before responding.

“
Look Slim, that's none of your business, okay? You need to tell me what you have to say so we can both go about our way. But for the record...yes. I love him very, very much.”

The words stung Slim, they were more brutal than the temperature. He stared at the woman he once had wrapped around his finger. He chuckled in disbelief before he rebutted.

“
That's cool. But you know that shit aint gonna last, right J? He won't love you like I loved you, ma. Believe that. You was just on some rebound shit for him.”

“
What the hell is your problem? Listen, what happened with my mother? Fuck whatever you talking about!” Jordin held her stomach in distress and sat upright, tired of his game. She opened the passenger door.

“
Did you even really go see my mother, Slim? Or you just wanna come and try to rain on my parade...fuck up my happiness?” He didn't answer and the look on his face told Jordin that he was full of shit.

“
Fuck you, Slim. You stay the fuck away from me and my home.” Jordin stepped her right foot out of the car ready to make this fool eat her dust, go inside, and call Julez. Slim grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving.

“
Wait,” he started, sounding wounded. “Can I just have a hug?”

Jordin jerked her head back and frowned.

“
A hug? Nigga please!” She went to get up but Slim's strong hand held her down.

“
Jordin!” Jordin turned to him with fire in her eyes.

“
Let me go!”
Boom!

The loud shot rang out and echoed from the car and into the night.

It took an extremely long moment for Jordin to realize what had happened.

“
I love you Jordin,” Slim whispered as he watched Jordin struggle to hold onto her bleeding chest. His hand was still on his smoking gun. Jordin's mouth filled with blood that began to pour out and fall onto her round belly. She couldn't talk, she couldn't scream, all she could do was gargle and choke on her own blood and stare at Slim with teary, pleading eyes. Even after all of the harm he had done to her, he had shot her as well. But he didn't care. She would die before she lived with that nigga Julez and gave him the baby she couldn't give Slim. He reached over and pushed the opened door out wider with little emotion, and then he gently shoved a weak and dying Jordin out of the car and onto the cold sidewalk. She tried to hold onto the door, tried to grasp onto anything, but he pushed her hand away coldly and then closed the door.

Feeling like he had done what he came to do, he started up his car and drove off into the night, leaving Jordin bleeding to death in front of her very own home, alone and terrified.

Call it fate, call it destiny, call it pure coincidence but something didn't sit right with Julez as he drove through the Jersey streets in his new Porsche Cayenne. Jordin wasn't answering and it didn't sit well with him. And as if the gods were all working together, just as he tried his home for the third time, Kira called and told him that she had taken the permits home to look over and for him to relax. “If you want I can swing them by your house in the morning, but I think I have it under control Julez.” He figured he would let her handle that and proceeded to head back home. He had already doubled by Mr. Tod's and saw the lights off, a clear indication that they were closed. He knew that would disappoint Jordin but for some reason, him not being able to reach her was more on his brain than the pie.