She looked off to the side for a second, and when she looked back at me, I could tell she’d made a decision. “I’m not one to beg, . . . or even ask twice. So, if you gotta go, you gotta go.”
I helped her down from the island, surprised that her independent ass even let me. I kissed her lips. And again, she didn’t fight it. “I’ll see you around.”
“Whatever, nucca.”
I laughed as she walked me to the door. “Look,” I told her before I stepped over the threshold and out of her house. “I’m not tryin’ to reject you.”
She held up a hand to stop me. “I get what you’re doing. You’re doing what I can’t do, because the liquor and my coochie have me in a chokehold. You’re trying to be agentleman.” She said the word mockingly, but I could tell she wasn’t really upset.
“Yeah, that. And it’s new for me, so I’m tryin’ really hard not to fuck it up. I want a real shot at you, so I can’t fumble it on an intoxicated fuck that you might or might not regret later.” I kissed her soft-ass lips one more time. “Be easy, my baby.” Then I walked to my truck.
Chapter 12
Church
Despite all the tequila I downed on Saturday night, I still got up and dragged myself to church on Sunday. Skipping church would’ve invited too many questions from the Kingsley delegation, and I wasn’t trying to have them all in my business.
It shocked the hell out of me to walk into the sanctuary and see Jones sitting on the back pew. I stutter-stepped on my four-inch heels. “Jonah?”
He looked up from where he had been studying his phone. A slow grin spread across his face. Then he looked at me like he was still savoring the taste of my coochie. “What’s good, pretty mama?” He licked his lips. I looked away for a second to gather myself and my thoughts.
“Hey. You go here now?” I asked.
That made him laugh. “Nah. You know I don’t go here. Mrs. Ethel Starks has been invitin’ me to church since the Humanity for Community project started. I decided to come this morning.”
I twisted my lips to the side. “You just decided to come this morning?”
He tried his best to look innocent, but failed. “Yeah.”
I leaned close to him. “Did you come here to see me?”
“Nah. I saw you in my dreams all last night.”
The line was corny as hell, but I still couldn’t help muttering, “Same.” I stood up straight. “Well, since my whole family and your whole family go to this church, you really don’t have to sit alone. Come sit with us.”
He hesitated briefly. “You sure?”
“Come on.”
He followed me to the pew that our families inhabited. Though they were surprised, everybody greeted him kindly. We sat down next to each other. The choir sang, the announcements were given, and the pastor preached. Somewhere during the service, Jones’ hand found mine. He laced his fingers through mine, and I fought back a smile.
Alisha Kingsley didn’t raise her girls in church. She gave us a foundation, even taught us about the Lord, but we weren’t regular church attendees, not when my mom was raising four girls on her own and picking up extra work shifts any time she could. I didn’t go to church as a teenager. But the way Jones was sneaking to hold my hand and the fact that I had butterflies in my stomach, acting crazy wild, made me feel how it must’ve felt to have a young crush at church.
Later that day,when I arrived at my mother’s house for Sunday dinner, she, my sisters, and even Mrs. Strong met me on the front porch.
“What?” I questioned when they all came pouring out the front door, one after the other.
“Don’t be asking us,what,” Perkins said. I loved my eldest sister, but she was definitely the pushiest of the bunch. That was why she was also the last one I ever confided in. Although I wasclosest in age to Bailey, I preferred to confide in Collins, . . . or hell, my mama. Collins and my mom were the two who were the most helpful and least judgy.
My mom took my hand in hers, the same hand that Jones had been sneaking to hold. “You and Jones? What’s going on there?”
“I know you’re too smart to take up with the town slut, Churchy.” That was Perkins, of course, being herself.
“Not thetown slut.” Bailey giggled.
“People change, Perk.” Collins was logical. That was what made her a good businesswoman.
“Do they, Coll?”