A Love Like This (Book 1) (45 page)

Nickie’s
 
eyes widen as she reads the note, “I’ve heard this name before. A woman at Keisha’s shop mentioned the name Callaway.”

“Really, what did she say,”
 
Pookie
 
asks casually as he drives through Beverly Hills.
 
 
 
Nickie
 
looks out at the tree lined streets as they drive down Rodeo Drive towards the freeway.

“It didn
’t make sense
really so we just dismissed it as inane gossip.”

“I like gossip.
 
Tell me what she said.”

Nickie
 
hesitates for a moment.
 
She looks down at the note. “Did you email this person?
 
What is it that links you together?”

“I have no intention of contacting some random woman just because she left a note under my door. Why are you dancing around the subject?
 
Tell me what the woman said.”

Nickie’s
 
eyes are glued to the letter.
 
“I asked
Momma
about it but daddy interrupted us before she could tell me anything.”

“You’re starting to scare me.
 
You asked Dana about what?
 
What did the woman say?”
 
 
Pookie
 
says uneasily.
 

Nickie
 
takes a deep breath and says in a voice just above a whisper. “Daddy has a son.”

____

I’ve heard of buyer’s remorse.
 
In my world it always seemed like something that only affected weak people, people who couldn’t control themselves.
 
Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be sitting on my bed surrounded by this many
shopping bags.
 
The money I spent today could have fed a small village for a year.
 
I’m riddled with guilt but I haven’t bee
n able to look away from the pee
k
-toe
Gucci
 
bootees
 
I’m wearing since I bought them.
 
There’s a soft knock at my door and Tucker walks in.
 
He smiles and shakes his head when he looks down at all the bags on my floor.
 
“Did you get everything you need?”

“I spent $28,376 dollars,” I say in a panic as he approaches my bed.
 
“I should take it all back right?
 
It’s too much isn’t it?”
 
I say feeling my breath catch in my throat.
 
I lower my head between my knees. “I’m going to take it all back,” I mumble.
 
I can hear Tucker laughing.
 
He sits on the bed next to me and rubs my back.
 

“Calm down baby.
 
You didn’t spend too much everything’s fine.”
 
I sit up and look at him.
 
It seems as if we haven’t been alone in weeks.
 
He loo
ks so sexy that all kinds of dirty
thoughts race through my mind.
 
“I love your hair,” He says running his fingers through my long tresses.

“I look like Keisha,” I say patting the thick main.
 
He places his thumb and forefinger under my chin and brings my face to his for a kiss.
 
“Let’s spend the day together tomorrow, just the two of us.”

“I’d like that,” he says nuzzling my neck.

“I miss you,” I say sliding out of my shoes and straddling his lap.

“Me to,” He says kissing my neck then moving my sundress aside exposing my breasts.
 
Tucker rests his head on my bear chest and kisses my breasts.
 
I bury my
fingers in his hair and bite my bottom lip to muffle the moan.
 
I make space between us and reach down to stroke the growing bulge in his pants.

“I want you so badly,” He says breathlessly as I unfasten the top button on his jeans. I ignore the knock at the door.
 
I’ve temporarily forgotten where I am.
 
When my bedroom door swings open and Tucker stands up so quickly that I slide to the floor I just sit there stunned for a few seconds.

“What are y’all doing in here,” Mike asks peeking around the door with a big smile.
 
I shove my boobs back into my dress and Tucker turns to button his pants before scooping me off the floor.

“What is it Mike,” I ask annoyed.

“Don’t get mad at me because you can’t get you’re freak on.
 
Leila’s dad wants to know why that big dude is waiting in front of his house.”

“Yeah I’d like to know the answer to that as well.
 
Why did you think I’d need an armed guard?
 
I’ve lived out here my whole life.”
 
Tucker looks down at his shoes as if he’s searching for an answer.

Mike speaks up, “He probably knew how much shit you’d be bringing home and he didn’t want you to get jacked.”
 
Tucker wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me.
 

“I need to get dressed,” He says changing the subject.
 
Your dad wants to take us somewhere.”

“You’re leaving right now?”

“Yeah, I’ll see you later tonight.”

I cross my arms over my chest, “I’m happy about the new bro-mance
 
you’ve developed with my father but today’s my birthday.”

“I know baby.
 
I’m sorry.
 
I’ll make it up to you I promise,” He says before kissing my forehead and following Mike out of the room.
 
I’m sad and a little bit hurt that we haven’t spent any time together today.
 
I loved shopping but I’d rather be with him.

I try to push my disappointment aside and begin the painstaking task of cleaning my room and getting dressed.
 
I shower then change into a soft pink, tight fitting, knee length dress with an asymmetric neckline.
 
I slip into my very first pair of
 
Manolo
 
Blahniks
 
and they nearly make me forget that half of my family has abandoned me on my birthday.
 
I have no idea where my mother has disappeared to.
 
 
Nickie
 
left me at Bloomingdales and
 
Pookie
 
hasn’t even called to wish me happy birthday.
 
I grab my purse and leave the room with my shoulders slumped.
 
The house is empty again which accelerates my spiral into self pity.
 
I step out onto the porch and look up and down the street.
 
Mr. Clayton is looking out his upstairs window watching everything that happens on the street.
 
He snaps the curtain closed when he realizes I’ve spotted him.
 
Charles the gun
 
tote’n
 
chauffer has gone off duty and is supposed to be replaced with a new driver soon.
 
Keisha and Sarah were supposed to change clothes then meet me back here over an hour ago.
 
I slump over and lock the front door then amble down the walk way.
 
Mr. Clayton is back in the window.
 
He’s focused on a car parked a few houses down.
 
There’s a young woman sitting behind the wheel looking right at me.
 
She looks familiar so I approach the car slowly to get a better look.
 
I stop in my tracks when I recognize her.
 
She offers a little wave before stepping out of the car and walking towards me.

“What are you doing here?” I say as I approach the place where she’s standing.
 
She looks uncertain which is understandable since our last meeting was less than amicable.

“I’m sorry I don’t mean to bother you on your birthday.
 
Mike invited me.
 
He sent me a text message with your address an
d he was supposed to meet me he
r
e
but he hasn’t shown up.”

“Tucker and Mike left with my dad.
 
My sisters, mother and everyone seem to be MIA.
 
I guess I’ll just find a way to entertain myself,” I say kicking at rocks on the sidewalk.
 
A black SUV with dark tented windows pulls up in front of my house.
 
The driver steps out and my cell phone rings with a call from the dispatch office.
 
 
I answer and confirm that the driver has arrived.
 
 
“Well that’s my car.
 
I guess I’ll head off alone all alone on my 21
st
 
birthday,” I say hoping she’ll take the hint and offer to join me.

“Alright see
 
ya,” Shauna says with a devilish smile.

“Really you would let me spend my birthday alone after I’ve been shunned by my whole family,” I say turning away dramatically.
 

“I’m kidding of course I’ll come with you but I’m sure they haven’t shunned you.
 
They’re probably all out buying gifts.”
 
She walks over to her rental car grabs her purse and locks the car doors.
 
Shauna is wearing a long flowing white sun dress with an umpire waste and a short sleeved fuchsia cardigan.
 

“You look pretty,” I say as we walk towards the town car.
 

“Thanks so do you,” She says.
 
“Hey I want to apologize for the way I acted when we first met.
 
I was out of line,” she says looking me in the eye.

“I understand that you were protecting your brother.
 
Let’s just go hang out and forget about it.”

“Sounds good,” She says.
 
“Just one question,” She says stopping a few feet away from the car.
 
“Why the hell does your driver have a gun?”

“My driver has a gun because your bro
ther is insane.”
 
She seems to a
ccept
this as a logical response.
 
The drivers name is Deon and he is as big as a Mac truck.
 

“Hello Mrs. Bradley,” He says before opening the car door.
 
“I’ve been instructed to take you to the Montage Beverly Hills this evening.”

“Where exactly did these instructions come from?”

“The instructions came from Mr. Tucker Bradley.”

“Really he ditches me for my daddy then expects me to come running.
 
I don’t think so.”

“Take us to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles on East Broadway please.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?
 
Your family is probably somewhere waiting for you.”

“They’ll all be fine,” I say sinking into the seat.

“Okay Roscoe’s it is.”
 
Shauna’s says.
 
We ride in silence for a few seconds until Shauna’s phone starts to chime.
 
She takes the phone out and turns away from me slightly before reading the message.
 
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hotel?”

“After waffles,” I say taking out my own phone to see if anyone’s remembered my birthday.
 
“Not even a call from my grandma Bess,” I say.
 
She’s never missed my birthday.
 
Of course she thinks I’m eternally four years old.
 
She gives me pink fluffy pajamas every year.”
 

Shauna smiles, “I think that’s a commonality with all grandmothers.
 
My grandmother still sends Tucker and me matching Christmas sweaters every year.”

“I can’t wait to see that,” I say laughing. “He has them all hidden in the closet at the guest house.
 
He’ll never let you see them.”