Harmony
When you gonna come see me?
I stare at Carisse’s message while I leave out of school. I’ve been putting this shit off for hours, but I know I gotta reply. I’ve been dodging her calls and texts long enough; I just don’t wanna hear that cryin’ bullshit at all hours of the day. I'm also nervous but excited about linking her cuz I know her brother’s gonna be there. I ain't tryna bait up the situation with him but if seeing him is anything like the last time, I know shit is gonna be fireworks.
I been moody for days. I can't even fuck no one. I been tryin’, but it's like, now my mind knows Jaheim exists, it don't want me fuckin’ wit’ anyone else. Seeing how Ella is over Davonyé is telling me that this shit ain't gonna go away either.
I'm free now? Just finished classes, I reply.
I walk through the parking lot and hear my phone vibrate.
Come over. The address is...
I get inside my Escalade and stare at my phone. My heart is already goin’ crazy.
Lawd…
I park in front of a small apartment block in Old Montreal and look up at the grey stone building. As much as I wanna go in there, I'm also scared to. What's he gonna say? Will he feel the same as me? I remember the look he gave me when we first met.
That shit was intense.
I take the lift to the third floor and then make my way to door twelve. I take a deep breath before I knock.
Carisse opens the door smiling. “Hey.” She’s wearing a red and blue headscarf and isn’t wearing any makeup either, but she looks good.
“Hey.” I step inside and she closes the door behind me. “How's things?”
She shrugs as she walks past me. “Same.”
“You heard from him?” Don’t get me wrong, I know how this mate shit works – Davonyé won’t be interested in her whatsoever – but I’m still lookin’ out for my cousin.
“Nah. Not a thing. I'm thinkin’ of goin’ down to his work. I need answers. That nigga thinks he can make a fool outta me.”
I roll my eyes behind her. “You need to focus on yourself and school.”
I look around but can't see or hear her brother. She leads us into the living area and sits in the corner of the L shaped sofa. I sit at the end to face her.
“I been studying from home.” She motions to her schoolbooks on the small coffee table. “I ain't failing school for him.”
“Good. Life still goes on, Carr.”
She sighs as she hugs a fluffy beige pillow against her chest. “I miss him, Harm’. I'm in love with him. I can't just switch my feelings off.”
“I know... but you can't start stalkin’ that boy, either.
“I ain't. I been gettin’ my shit together. I’ve got my driving test next week. Jaheim got me a cancellation.”
Good. She needs to leave Davonyé alone, though, cuz she’ll end up gettin’ herself physically hurt. I know Ariella is calm and shit, but that’s still her mate and she will become defensive over him if tested. “That's good. And when you coming back to school?”
“I ain't sure. Probably next week.” She smiles. “Why? You miss me?”
Ugh… “Course. We always hang.”
“I know. I'll be back soon. So, what you been up to?”
I shrug. “Not much. School.” Tryna fuck, but not being able to get turned by anything except thoughts of your fine ass brother…
“And have you heard anything? You seen him with anyone?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Just with the boys, like usual.”
She goes quiet for a moment. “If he was fuckin’ with your cousin, would you tell me?”
I sigh cuz she's pissing me off now. “He ain't messing with her, and no, if they were messing around, I wouldn't tell you. That's my cousin, Carisse, and I don't really wanna talk about it, or get involved with yours and Davonyé’s breakup either. I'm your friend, but Ariella is family. I ain't gonna listen to anyone badmouth her.”
“Hey, I know, aight? I just got this feeling...”
I give her a look.
“Aight, aight. I won't talk about it. You hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“I'll cook.”
***
Carisse talks about anything and everything—except her brother—while we sit at the table to eat the tacos she's made. I look at the time; it’s a quarter to ten. Maybe this is a fail.
Her phone rings and she answers. “Hey... Yeah, tacos... Aight...” She hangs up. “My brother had to go back to Ontario yesterday. He's almost back now. He's cool, though. Don't worry about him.”
Finally, an in. “You don't really look alike.” I know it’s an offhanded comment, but I don’t wanna be looking interested in her brother right now.
“He's adopted.” She shrugs, as if it’s nothing. “My mom was best friends with his mom. She died in a car accident with his dad when he was eight. Mom had been trying for a baby with my dad for a while at the time and they ended up adopting him just before she fell pregnant with me. Dad fucked off before I was born, though, so it’s always just been the three of us.”
That explains that... Jaheim’s twenty-eight? So he ain't no kid… “That's fucked up. That must’ve been hard on him.”
“Yeah. Especially cuz it was literally a freak accident, too, and the car they were driving was brand new. He's amazing, though, and really protective over me.”
“That’s good.” I sip my water. He’s sounding better by the minute…
“Yeah. I just wish he didn't work so much cuz I barely see him. I was surprised he came down here when I told him what happened.”
“What does he do?”
“He owns his own Real Estate company. He started it with his parents’ life insurance money. He's crazy successful, but you'd never know. He's so modest with it.”
“Well, shit, that's a good thing. Least he ain’t gonna attract a bunch of money-hungry thots for you to run off.”
She laughs at that and then pushes her plate away. “I've never once seen him with a girl, let alone a girlfriend.” She lowers her voice. “I don't think that's his type.”
I frown. “Not his type?”
Her eyes widen. “I think he's gay.”
I almost choke on my drink. “What?”
“Yeah. It don’t bother me or nothin’ like that.”
I try to keep my shit together so look down at my plate, but I feel like my heart is about to shatter. Fuck, me! Gay?
Breathe, Harmony. You know this bitch is crazy… Maybe she’s just tryin’ to warn you off.
“Maybe he's just driven with his work,” I suggest, looking back up. “Or maybe he just fucks on the low.”
She gives me a look. “Maybe, but he's a good-lookin’ guy and I ain’t ever seen him with anyone.”
She’s gotta be fuckin’ wit’ me.
We hear the door open a little while later, but my thoughts are still running wild. Gay? Are you fucking serious? Surely I ain't been mated to a fuckin’ gay brother?
Carisse looks up at her brother as he comes into the kitchen. I hear keys drop on the counter, and I smell him, but I keep my eyes on her. I'm feeling nervous as fuck, especially after what she said earlier. What if he's my mate, but I'm not his?
Can that even happen?
“What you two girls been doin’ then?” he asks, his voice igniting something deep inside me.
“Just chillin,” Carisse answers him. “Harm’, don't act all shy around my brother. He's good witchu being here.”
“I'm not.” Lawd, I sound pissed off.
I look at the back of him as he walks past us to the stove to make himself a plate. I take a quick look at him in his suit and then catch sight of the side of his face. His hair is dishevelled like he’s been running his fingers through it repeatedly, and his caramel skin is still as gorgeous as I remember. His profile is masculine as hell, and that jawline is solid.
Shit, please don't be gay, cuz you is fine as fuckin’ hell…
He turns his gaze to me, and I feel the air rush out of my lungs again.
“Harmony,” he says, his hazel eyes narrowing.
My stomach tightens. “Nice to meet you again, Jaheim.”
Carisse says something about needing the bathroom, but I can’t take my eyes away from her brother’s; they’re literally pinning me to my chair.
The corner of his mouth twitches, like he’s trying not to smile. “It is,” he says, in a way that tells me he means somethin’ else.
I feel my face blazing; he's making me nervous, and I never am. I look down at my empty plate. Say something… “How you finding Montreal?”
“It's getting better.”
His voice is so sexy. I swear there’s a twang in it from somewhere. Maybe Caribbean? I nod as I look back up, but his eyes are still on me and we just stare at each other in silence.
What the fuck is happening?
I pull my eyes away from him when Carisse comes back to clear her plate. “If you're finished, come in the living room. I’m just gonna call Mom,” she says, leaving again.
I stand and pick my plate up. My hands are shaking. Shit, I really need to get a damn grip. I manage to rinse my plate without dropping it, then take a deep breath before I turn to face Jaheim. He’s still next to the stove, and he's still looking at me.
“How long you staying for?”
I frown. “Sorry?”
“When you goin’ home, Harmony?”
Damn, I love how he says my name. “I dunno.” I sound like I’ve just finished a marathon. “Soon.”
He steps closer and purposely takes the plate from me so that his hand touches mine. That buzz is there again, and my chest suddenly tightens.
He whispers something but I can’t hear it over the sound of my heart beating in my ears. I’m fallin’ the fuck apart.
“She’ll fall asleep soon. Don’t go home yet.”
“Okay…” Shit, he wants to get me on my own?
He loosens his tie and I watch like I’m in a trance. I can feel myself getting aroused, too, but not just a little bit, I mean like full on desperately aroused.
“Harm!” I hear Carisse shout, forcing some sense into me.
“I’m coming!” I turn around and feel like I can breathe again.
“Don’t fall asleep,” I hear Jaheim say, just as I leave the room.