All That and a Bag of Chips (46 page)

“Nope! I haven't given him any kind of answer. I'm going to call Craig later. For some reason, I feel like he's given up on me. He'll be leaving for Japan in two weeks. This is still going to be hard, Chanelle.”

Chanelle said, “I can't even imagine. I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.”

Venice paused for a minute. “I don't have a clue, Chanelle.”

The rest of the ride was quiet as she said goodbye to Chanelle and exited the elevator.

When Venice reached her room, she saw that Monique wasn't back yet. She did have a couple of messages. One was from Monique—who said she'd be in tomorrow—the next message was from Jarvis and the last one was from Craig. Venice put her things away before returning any of the calls. She called Jarvis first to let him know that she'd made it back. He told her again that he loved
her and would talk to her later. Next, she called Craig and told him that she was back in town. She could tell by his tone that he already knew. It was something in his voice. She asked him how things were going in preparation for his trip to Japan. He told her things were going fine. He asked her if she was up to coming over. She told him she'd be over in about an hour. This was really it.

Venice showered, then dressed in one of her long skirts with a split up the back and a cute blouse to match. When she arrived, she found Craig's room somewhat cluttered. He had his suitcases scattered around the room and clothes stacked in several piles on the floor. She asked if he needed any help. He thanked her, but told her he pretty much had a system going.

He went on to ask how Joshua was doing and also about her family. She sat on the bed and filled him in on everybody. He stood in front of her and grabbed her hand and said, “I see you're still wearing the ring. I don't see a wedding band, so I guess you haven't got married yet.”

“No, I didn't.”

He sat down next to her. “I need a break. I've been at this for a couple of hours now.”

Venice looked around the room and said, “I can tell.”

She wrapped her arm around his arm and laid her head on his shoulder.

He said, “Venice, you don't have to say anything. Baby, I already know why you're here. To tell you the truth, I knew what you were going to do when I came up for Christmas. Don't stress yourself out over this.”

The tears started falling when he said that.

He put his arm around her and said, “I told you that I wasn't going to just let you walk away from me. What would it take for me to change your mind? Huh?”

Venice couldn't answer him.

He stood up and said, “You know I love you and I know you love me. I can't see how you could go through with it. So, when's the wedding?”

She walked across the floor and got a tissue to wipe her eyes.

She sat back and said, “I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. I haven't given him an answer.”

He had a relieved look on his face and said, “I still can't believe you're considering it. You're just going to act like we didn't exist?”

Venice continued to wipe her tears as she stood up again.

He stood up and angrily said, “Say something, Venice!”

“I don't know what to say, Craig! I do love you, but I've been in love with Jarvis for a long time. I'm emotionally connected to him. It's hard to explain.”

He took her hand into his and asked, “Is that the best you can come up with?” Venice looked up into his dark brown eyes. “I can't explain it any better than that, Craig. I've always been in love with him.”

Craig sat back down on the bed and calmly said, “I just can't let you go through with it. I've had an unbelievable time with you, Venice, and I can't dismiss us as easily as you can. You're a special lady and because I know you love me, I just can't let you go.”

He took the tissue from her and wiped her tears.

She said, “I should've never let you on my emotional roller-coaster in the first place. You've been great to me and you've being nothing less than wonderful for me.”

He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her into his lap. “Baby, you mean the world to me. You always have and always will.”

After he said that, she broke down hysterically on him. It took all he could not to shed a tear himself. As he held her tightly in his arms, she released all her emotions in loud sobs. It took several minutes, but finally she was able to calm down a little.

She stood up and said, “Let me get out of here. I've caused you enough problems already.”

She grabbed her jacket and hurried through the kitchen and into the garage. She opened the door just as his palm slammed it closed.

He grabbed her and pulled her to him. “Venice, I love you!”

At that moment, he lowered his lips to claim her mouth, feeding off her desire. Venice dropped her purse and jacket on the floor as they continued their passionate kisses.

He broke free and said, “Venice, I don't want you to go. Please stay so we can talk this through.”

She pushed away and went back into his bedroom in silence. Craig followed her and once he entered the room, Venice started unbuttoning her blouse.

He grinned and asked, “What are you doing!”

She stared back at him with a blank expression on her face.

He asked again, “Venice, what are you doing?”

She finally smiled at him as she continued to undress. He was frozen as he watched her do what he wanted to do to her. He took a couple of steps toward her and reached out to touch her nakedness. Her body responded as she slowly pulled him toward the bed and started undressing him. It was obvious, at least for the night, that he didn't give a damn about her engagement. He wanted her for himself and he wasn't about to give her up.

Craig began to do things to Venice that he had never done before while kissing her body from head to toe. Lacing his fingers with hers, he kissed her in places that drove her wild. He took his time delicately tasting her body. Venice trembled uncontrollably as she whispered for him not to stop. She stroked his head as he continued to kiss her.

Venice hollered and moaned to every touch of Craig's hands and lips. Venice welcomed him and moved her hips until he could no longer stand it. After rolling her over onto her stomach, he pushed himself into her so deep that it took her breath away. He held onto her hips tightly as he pleasured her with great force and intimacy. He turned her over on her back and kissed her harder on the mouth, drugging her with his taste. He penetrated her body again and again as she wrapped her legs around his trim waist. He rose above her grinding deeper as he moved around inside her hot body.

Venice screamed out, “Craig! Oh, baby! I love you!”

Venice screamed so loud, it seemed to echo throughout the house. Her body trembled as he worked her over thoroughly to her core.

He also moaned as he pleasured her calling out her name, “Venice! Baby!” Finally he looked her in her passion-filled eyes and let out a deep groan as she shuddered beneath him and he filled her with the essence of his love. Delirious and breathless, he pulled strands of her hair away from her angelic face.

Craig held Venice tightly in his arms and said, “I'll never let you go through with it. I love you and I wish I could take you to Japan with me.”

Venice didn't respond because she knew he was serious. She just
laid there enjoying his caresses and inhaling the scent of their love-making. She then kissed him, told him that she'd always love him, and said, “I'd better go.”

Craig again asked Venice to spend the night, but she declined. She got dressed while Craig sadly watched her with a crushed heart. Venice sat back down on the bed and jumped because she had sat on something hard. She reached under her and pulled out a small box.

“What's this?”

Craig took the box from her and said, “Sorry about that. It's my cuff links.”

He tossed the box in his suitcase and paced the floor as she continued to get dressed. He followed her into the garage and said, “Venice, please stay with me tonight. We need to talk.”

She turned to him and said, “Craig, I can't. I need some time to myself. I'm so sorry.”

They almost started up again as he held her against the car giving her deep, sensual kisses.

He said, “Baby, please, and I'm not a begging man.”

Again, she said, “I can't, Craig. I just can't. I have too much on my mind.”

He held her firmly by her shoulders and angrily said, “Venice, I'm not going to let you marry him. Do you hear me!”

Venice pushed away from him and started crying as she got inside the car. She said, “I have to go!”

He bent down into the window and kissed her again. “It's not so easy for me to let you walk away from me. I'm telling you now, it ain't over.” Venice gave him a concerned look. “I'll be here waiting for you, if you change your mind and want to come back over. Okay?”

She nodded as the garage door went up. He started to pull her from the car, but he didn't. He stood there and watched her possibly drive out of his life. He slowly walked back into his room and picked up the box of cuff links. When he opened it, he revealed, not cuff links, but the ring he'd planned on giving her on New Year's Eve. The difference was that Craig really did want to plan their wedding once she graduated. Sadly, Jarvis beat him to the punch. He stared at the ring for a while, then put it away in his dresser. Her scent still engulfed his room, his body, and his soul. At that very moment, he decided what he was going to do.

When Venice got about two blocks away, she felt her body begin to shiver uncontrollably. She had to pull over to the side of the road where she lost it emotionally. The scent of his maleness covered her body. She finally made it back to campus, showered, and crawled into bed, but she could still smell him. She laid in bed, in the dark, to think. She had a lot to consider and her head was pounding.

An hour or so later, Joshua called her to check on her. He asked her if she had talked with Craig. She explained to him that Craig expected her to break up with him but that he said he wasn't going to let her go. Venice was sounding very depressed and it disturbed him.

After talking for a little while longer she said, “Joshua, I'm not crazy. I do love them both.”

“I know, Niecy. You'll be all right. I'll check on you tomorrow.”

They said their goodnights to each other and hung up the phone.

T
he next several days, Venice did her best not to be alone with Craig. They often met in public and talked on the phone a lot. He constantly tried to get her to come over and spend the night with him, but she didn't think it would be a good idea. He told her it wasn't fair to avoid him.

He said, “Venice, believe it or not, I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest.”

Venice told him she was really sorry and wished there were a way that she could make it up to him. What he wanted, she couldn't provide right then. He wanted her to spend the night with him before he left for Japan. Venice told him it wouldn't be a good idea and he didn't like it, but he tried to accept. They did, however, continue to talk on a daily basis and Craig didn't want to give up on her.

Venice talked to Jarvis every day, but still wouldn't give him an answer; especially since Craig was going to be leaving later that night for Japan. Over the previous few days, he didn't put any more pressure on her and this really helped her cope. He asked her if she would drive him to the airport. Bernice had to work and it was going to be too sad for her to see him get on the plane. Venice was hesitant but finally agreed. Craig's plane wasn't leaving until eleven-thirty, but he wanted to get to the airport early to check in.

The ride to the airport was quiet and Venice was starting to get nervous. After Craig checked his bags, he still had an hour before takeoff. He asked her to join him in the restaurant to talk. They found a booth and ordered some appetizers. Venice wasn't very hungry. She just wanted to get through the sad moment, but Craig was noticeably cheerful. Venice assumed he was excited and nervous all
balled into one. He scooted closer to her, put his hand on her thigh, and said, “I guess this is it.”

Venice looked at Craig sadly and said, “I guess it is.”

“Sweetheart, it doesn't have to be.”

“For now, it has to be.”

He stroked her face with his hand and said, “I love you, Venice LaShawn Taylor.”

“I love you, too.”

Tears ran down her cheeks as he brushed his lips against hers. They fed off each other's emotions as they deepened the kiss. Her heart pounded in her chest as he pulled her even closer to his body.

She removed her swollen lips from his mouth and said, “I would love it if you stay in touch with me while you're in Japan.”

He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”

They talked for a while longer and before long, he received his boarding call. Venice held his hand tightly as she walked him toward the gate. When they got there, he held her tightly in his arms and hugged and kissed her senseless. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He told her not to open it until she got back to campus.

She said, “You shouldn't have bought me anything.”

“It's just a little something something.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again and told him, “Craig.…always baby. Whatever I decide, please don't hate me for what I've put you through.”

“I could never hate you and if he ever does anything to hurt you, I'll kick his ass.”

Venice smiled and said, “Thanks!”

“I'll call you when I land.”

“You'd better.”

She stood there and watched him walk down the hallway and possibly out of her life. Or was he?

When Venice got back to her room, she pulled the small box from her purse. After staring at it for a moment, wondering what could be inside, she finally opened it. She took a deep breath and opened the lid. Inside was a beautiful gold charm bracelet. Tears welled in her eyes as she read the included note: