Harmony
We land back in Montréal just after nine on Monday morning, and I'm feeling hella sad.
I didn’t wanna come home.
I’ve had such an amazing time getting to know Jaheim, freakiness included. My pussy’s only a little sore, too, but that’s because we’ve fucked twice since.
And both times have been incredible.
My ass still hurts a little from the spanking I got Saturday night, but I love the constant reminder of the crazy we got into. He’s promised to take me to the one in Toronto next month, and I’ve already started to plan what I’m gonna do to him there.
Jaheim throws our bags in the back of his new Escalade and then we head towards his apartment. Dad text me yesterday with pictures of the house and the plan is to go over there this afternoon to make sure everything’s going okay.
“You good?”
I turn in my seat to face him. “I wish we’d stayed longer.”
“Me, too, but I’m taking you away again next weekend.”
Excitement ripples through me. “Where?”
“Barbados.” He gives me a quick glance. “I thought it would be nice to get some sun, sea, and sex.” He smiles at the road. “Mainly sex.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m there already.”
He smirks. “I thought you might like that.”
“You know me well.” And he really does. I rest a hand on his shoulder. “New York was amazing, though. Thank you for taking me.”
“It was my pleasure. We can go back anytime you want.”
“Good, cuz I had a really good time, Jaheim. And I'm not talking about Saturday night.”
“That's good to know, Princess. These past two weeks have been the best two weeks of my fucking life.”
I smile, but it’s tainted. I feel both happy and saddened by his words. He really has had the shittiest time. “I feel exactly the same. Just know that I intend to—” My phone rings and I expect to see mom or dad’s name when I retrieve it from my bag, but I blink when I see it’s Carisse.
“Hello?” I answer.
“You fucking bitch! What, so it's not enough for your whore cousin to steel my man but now you've gotta take my brother, too?”
My stomach knots. “Carr it ain't like that. You have no idea how much—”
“The fuck it ain't! Mom told me he's seeing you. How could you! You're a hoe, and my brother—”
My cell's ripped from my hand as the car swerves to a stop. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that, Carr, I mean it... I said don't... No, you listen. I warned you not to get involved with my personal life... No, you're my sister and I love you, but you have no right to decide—You're a liar!”
I jump. Fuck, he’s so angry... I hold his arm. “I don't care what she says,” I whisper. “It doesn’t matter.”
He ignores me. “What the fuck did you just say? …I'm coming home to settle this right fucking now.” He hangs up and I watch him, stunned.
What do I say? He's beyond furious.
He growls and turns the car around. “We’re going to Ontario.”
My heart feels like it’s stopped beating. “I’m coming with you?”
He gives me a quick glance. “Where else would you go?”
“Uh, I dunno. Not with you to murder your sister.”
His jaw ticks. “This ain't the time for jokes, Princess.”
“I wasn't joking.” Hell, I know all about mate protectiveness when it comes to wares. “She doesn't understand. I mean, I haven't exactly got the best reputation and she is your sister. She’s just looking out for you.”
“I don't give a fuck.” He spits out the words. “I let it slide when she spoke to you like that last time, but not now. She either accepts you or I don't want anything to do with her.”
I recoil. “Jaheim—”
“No,” he snaps.
“But you don't know what I was gonna say.”
He pulls over again before turning to face me. “How would you feel if Ariella spoke that way about me? What if she took what she knew about me, about my life, and she threw it in your face?”
She’d never do that. “She wouldn't.”
“But my point is, what if she did?”
My heart sinks. “I'd be hurt.”
“And…?”
I sigh. “I probably wouldn't want anything to do with her.”
“Exactly. I don't care who the fuck it is. No one is welcome in my life if they don't respect the woman I love. Period.”
My heart flutters but I feel awful. “But I don’t care.”
“Well I fucking do.”
I open my mouth to protest but his amber eyes flame and I decide against it. “Okay.”
“Good.” He pulls back into the flow of traffic. “I got shit to tie up there anyway.”
I stay silent.
***
The drive is long, and I fall asleep a few times on the way. My heart keeps racing out of control when I think about how heated shit might get between Jaheim and his sister. I know she’s just hurting, and really, it’s my fault because I told her what I was like with boys.
But if I’d have known her brother was my mate, I would’ve kept my mouth all the way shut.
We pull up outside a beautiful house in the outskirts of the city, just after eight. “Please try to stay calm, Boo.”
He just gives me a look in response.
These are not the circumstances I thought I'd be meeting Evette for the second time, and I'm not gonna lie and say I'm not shitting myself. Carisse has probably told Evette all about me. How I fuck around and how my cousin stole her man. I close my eyes briefly.
This is not gonna go well.
I shiver when we get out the car, but Jaheim gives me his jacket on the way up to the front door, even though I try to refuse it.
He knocks and I almost hyperventilate waiting for the door to open.
“Calm down,” he says, his voice steady.
I wish I could.
Evette appears, dressed in a nurse’s uniform, and I feel like I’ve just stepped into quicksand.
She frowns. “Jaheim? I thought you were in New York?”
“I was.”
We go inside, and I smile nervously at Evette while Jaheim closes the door.
“Harmony, how lovely to see you again.”
“You, too.” I guess Carr never told her…
Jaheim slips his hand in mine. “Where's Carr?”
She eyes him, realising something’s off. “In the living room.”
“Surprise surprise, she hasn't told you, has she?”
“Told me what?”
Carisse appears, and if looks could kill, I'd be dead. She looks good, though, dressed in tight-fitted jeans and a white tee. She’s had her hair done, too, and I actually feel happy that she’s not been up here moping around and feeling sorry for herself. “You got some nerve coming here.”
Maybe not.
“Carisse!” Evette admonishes her. “What is wrong with you?”
Jaheim's grip on my hand tightens and I shake it before he breaks it. “Don't talk to her.”
She scoffs. “Or what? She's clearly got you brainwashed. I'm sure it's good, but you're far from the only one who knows that.”
“So help me God, Carisse,” Jaheim warns.
Ugh… I knew this shit wouldn’t be good.
Evette looks embarrassed now. “You promised, Carisse. You said—”
“She’s a hoe, Mom—”
“Shut up!” Jaheim yells.
Evette gasps and I wish this quicksand would hurry up and swallow me.
Carisse looks shocked, too, but then she redirects her attention to me. “What have you done to him? You’ve even got him wearing those tacky ass lenses.”
“I said don't talk to her, Carisse! I warned you to stay out of my business, but you just can't help yourself. You think everything revolves around you, and it doesn't!”
She waves her hand at me. “You don't know what she's really like, Jah. She's a—”
“Enough!” Evette shouts. “What has gotten into you two?” she asks them both, but I feel as if that question’s been directed mostly at Jaheim.
“Tell her,” Jaheim seethes. “Tell her how you called Harmony and disrespected her down the phone.”
Evette rolls her eyes. “Carisse, you didn’t?”
“I just spoke to her.”
Jaheim laughs, but it’s eerie and makes me feel uncomfortable. “Unbelievable.”
Evette returns her attention to Jaheim. “I’m sure she never meant to offend her.”
“Sure. I’m sure calling her a hoe and her cousin a whore wasn’t meant to offend.”
“I never said that.”
I stare at her, literally speechless. This bitch should’ve gone to drama school.
“Mom, tell him. Tell him he shouldn’t be rushing into anything with her. Have you even had a girlfriend before?”
Evette looks at me and then back to him. “Sweetheart—”
“Oh, here we go. you’re taking Carisse’s side.” He doesn’t even sound surprised.
“No, no, I’m not, but she does have a—”
“Enough. If you two can't accept Harmony, then I don't want anything else to do with you. And I mean it.”
Now Evette is stunned into silence.
Carisse gapes. “Are you serious? You barely know her!”
“I know her better than you think.”
She scoffs. “You know about her more like,” she mutters. “Everyone knows what—”
Jaheim’s suddenly in her face, towering over her. “Finish that sentence. I dare you.”
“Jaheim!” Evette screams. “What is wrong with you!”
I finally snap out of my stupor and realise I need to do something before this shit gets out of hand. I reach for Jaheim's arm. “Don't, Boo. Please.”
Carisse stares at me.
“I'm sick of your daughter trying to run my life, Evette. She's alone and wants me to be, too, but I'm done being miserable. I'm done being on my own. You just can’t be happy for anyone other than yourself, can you? I know you told her I was gay, and I know you attacked her at the apartment.”
“No, I didn’t.”
This fucking bitch… “Caris—”
“Is that true?” Evette asks her.
“Jah, you weren't even there. Is that what she told you? That I attacked her?”
I recoil. Wow.
He leans back down to Carisse. “I'm done with you.”
“Me?”
He glares are her and she suddenly steps back, not saying a word.
Jaheim’s hand is shaking when he holds mine again, and I squeeze it in some kinda comfort as he turns us to leave.
“Jaheim,” Evette says in disbelief. “Please don't leave like this.”
He spins back around before he opens the door. “Why not? Your loyalties will always lie with Carisse. She's yours after all.”
She looks horrified. “How could you think that!”
“Because it's true. She has you so far wrapped around her finger that you can't see her lies from the truth. So now I'm making it easy for you. Don't contact me. We ain't family anymore.”
“Jaheim,” she gasps.
I feel physically sick. This shit’s just escalated to extremes.
She turns her focus to me. “Are you happy?”
“I never… I didn’t…”
“Leave her alone,” Jaheim practically growls, guiding me out the door. “One day, you'll realise just what your precious daughter is really like, and I pity you.”
We walk back towards the car, Evette shouting after Jaheim. I feel awful for how all this just played out. So awful, but I keep my mouth firmly shut.