Instead of taking me to my parents house, because I told him not to, we went back to A.B.'s apartment.
"You must really want to organize my library," he joked.
I gave a fake laugh as I walked inside his apartment behind him.
"We don't have to." A.B. put our food in the refrigerator. "We can..." He looked around his apartment. "Watch a movie--"
"Let's get your library room together," I demanded. I wasn't in the mood to watch a movie.
"I'm gonna charge my phone. I'll be back." A.B. informed me as I went to the library room.
When I opened the door to his library room, I covered my mouth. There's no way. The last time I saw this room, there were only a few books sitting around. This room looked like he just moved in. There were at least 10 boxes stacked about the floor. What on earth did I sign-up for?
"Jamie!" A.B. called me.
I shook my head as I walked out the library room. A.B. was walking out of his bedroom. He had some folded clothes in his hand. "Here's a T-shirt and joggers you can wear so you can move around and not be confined to that dress."
I took the clothes. "Do you have any work boots? That room looks a mess."
A.B. chuckled, "Thanks for helping."
I went to the guest bathroom to change. When I came out, I met A.B. in the library room. He was wearing a T-shirt and joggers, too. I watched him unstacked the boxes.
"What's in all these boxes?" I asked him.
A.B. stood up straight. "Some new books, a bookshelf, and my mom brought some of my stuff from when I was a kid."
"Aww, she didn't want to keep it?"
A.B. chuckled, "I've been asking her for this stuff since I graduated from college."
I asked, "Why can't your mom keep some of your childhood with her?"
"It's not even stuff she'll remember or know about. I don't want everything. She'll still has my awards like trophies and my pictures."
I shrugged as I opened a box near me. It was full of games. "Oohh! I haven't played board games in forever." I pulled out The Game of Life, Monopoly, Charades, Sorry; Twister. "We have to play this!"
A.B. examined the outside of the box. "That's definitely not my stuff."
"It has your name on the box." I pointed at his name Jace Bravos.
He shook his head. "My mom probablypacked thise by mistake." He opened another box and pulled out blankets.
"Nah, she played you," I smiled. "What were you supposed to get?"
"I had a collection of cards, gadgets that I made in Science Club, and I had two encyclopedia sets - one from the 60s and one from the 80s."
I stared at A.B in disbelief. Did it ever occur to me that A.B. was a nerd?
Am I a nerd? Is that why we initially connected? It wasn't like he was hiding it. I just assumed he was bad boy who turned his life around.
"This box has the book shelf in it. I'm gonna put it together. You can help or you can put the books that are laying around back on that book shelf." He pointed at the book shelf that covered one wall.
I grabbed the box full of board games and pulled it into the living room. Within a few minutes, I had all the board games out the box and arranged in alphabetical order against the wall. Upon completion, I went to the kitchen to grab two bottles of water. I went to the library room to see A.B. building the shelf in his closet.
I scratched my brow. "I thought that was going on this wall." I pointed behind myself.
A.B. said, "No. I bought it for the closet. That way I won't lose space in the room."
"Here's some water." I handed him a water bottle. "Let's take a 15 minute break."
A.B. chuckled, "It hasn't been 30 minutes since we started."
"I could've sworn it's been about an hour," I tried to convince him.
A.B. sat down on the floor. "Remind me not to use your clock."
I sat on the floor in front of him. "Have you ever been to jail?"
I know it's a random question, but it was on my mind.
He hesitated before answering, "Yes."
My eyes bucked, "For what? What did you get arrested for?"
"I thought you did a background check on me?" He inquired with a smirk.
"Monica did a background check on you."
A.B. drank his water. "Jamie, you are unpredictable."
I grinned, "And you are avoiding the question."
He glanced at me. "I went to jail to visit a friend. I've never been arrested."
I stopped smiling. I guess I should've worded that better. "Um...So a lot was said today. I hope I didn't leave a bad taste in your mouth."
"Not at all. If anything, I apologize for how I talked to you. I should've been more sensitive towards you and listened to you more when you would call me and tell me what was going on," A.B. finished.
"It's fine. I know you're dealing with a lot between your business, the music store, and your uncle. How everything's going by the way?"
A.B. answered, "Things are a lot better. Nyeira is a great leader and manager. The employees work hard. We've gained more customers. Even better, my uncle has regained feeling in his left hand and arm. He's making progress, and he's determined to walk again."
I clapped my hands. "That's so good. Can you take me to see him?"
"Of course, but aren't you spending tomorrow with your parents. You leave on Thursday, right?" He asked me.
I crossed my ankles. "I know what all I have to work on. I'll fly back to LA on Friday morning."
"What do you have to work on?"
"I was given choreography for my song 'Easy,' and it's far from easy."
"There's a gym on the first floor if you want to practice there," A.B. informed me.
I smiled, "Really? Like a dance studio?"
"They normally use it for cycling classes, and other workout classes. It's open 24-7, but I don't ever see anyone in there unless it's for a class on the weekends."
"Can we go?" I slowly stood up.
A.B. pointed at his book shelf. "I can do this another time. Let's go."
Just like A.B. said, there was the gym with all it's equipment. Two glass, double doors at the back were open and led to the studio.
I spoke, "This is exactly what I needed."
There were some chairs stacked in the back. A.B. went to grab two and sat them by the doors.
I began to stretch. "You can play the song," I told him.
A.B. took a seat. "Okay." He played my song.
"Are you dancing like Latin dance or something else?" A.B. asked me.
I replied, "Start the song over and watch."
Because A.B. was watching, I tried my best NOT to mess up, but my feet had other plans. "Can you start it from the beginning?"
A.B. walked toward me. "How about we try something different?"
I lightly laughed, "No, I'm going to get it right this time."
"This is the 8th time. Not that I'm counting, but you have to get through the whole song." A.B. stood in front of me. "It's the day of shooting your video. Pretend like your dressed for the scene, and I'm the director. If you mess up, play it off, and keep going."
I took a deep breath. "Okay."
"Ready?"
I shook my arms. "Okay. I'm ready." I posed.
A.B. started the song.
I began to dance. I don't why, but my eyes stayed on the floor until the end of the song.
"That was good."
"Really? Thank you."
"Do you want to take a break?" He asked me.
"I just need some water real quick." I jogged over to the chairs and picked up my water bottle. After a few sips, I went back to where A.B. stood.
He smiled at me, "Can I make a small request?"
I smacked my lips. "What do you want?" I pretended to be annoyed.
"Make eye contact with me -- the camera. I'm the camera."
"I thought you were the director," I teased him.
A.B. pointed at his eyes. "I'm watching you," he whispered.
Oh, he not playing.
"Ready?"
I cleared my throat. "I'm ready."
He started the music.
We were in there for almost two hours, but it didn't feel like it.
"Thank you so much, A.B." I hugged his arm as we waited for the elevator.
"It was easy. No pun intended." He hugged me back. "I can't wait to see the video."
We separated as the elevator doors opened. I walked in first. He got in behind me and pushed the button to his floor. He leaned against the rail, closing his eyes.
"Are you falling asleep on me?" I poked his stomach.
He opened his eyes and looked at me.
I laughed, "You don't want to watch a movie when we get back to your place?"
"You are full of energy now," he told me.
"Maybe, it's the song or the dancing or the day," I told him.
A.B. asked, "So Tuesdays are your energy days?"
"Technically, Wednesday as in past midnight.
"You mean it's almost Wednesday since it's not midnight yet."
"Same difference. " I started to sing the lyrics to my song Home. "I'm falling fast. Don't care how long it lasts. Just give me the chance to do a little romance with you." I put my foot on the rail and danced. "Baby, let me take you home. Listen to me. I'm what you want. 'Cause I'm falling fast. Don't care how long it lasts. Just give me a chance..."
The elevator doors opened and an older woman looked at me like she was my mother. I quickly put my foot down and walked off the elevator as A.B. followed me. We laughed as we walked down the hall.
"Do you know that woman?" He asked me.
I smacked my lips. "Now you know I don't know that woman."
He continued to laugh as he opened his apartment door. "She looked like she was seconds away from getting her belt."
"Or switch. She probably thought we were teenagers." I took off my shoes and went to the guest bathroom.
When I came out, A.B. was popping popcorn.
"Sir, I just finished dancing. I need a shower."
The microwave stopped. "Follow me," he said.
I did as told. We went to his bedroom.
A.B. pulled out some pajama bottoms and another T-shirt. "This shouldn't be too big for you. Everything you need is in the bathroom."
"Cool beans," I skipped to the bathroom. Just like he said, everything I needed was in there: towels, soap, unopened mini mouthwash, toothbrush, and toothpaste. He knows how to treat a guest. Low key, this could be my new home away from home.
After a shower, I walked out the bathroom. A.B.'s bedroom door was closed. I started to open it, but I heard a woman's voice.
"I forgot my chocolate cake in your refrigerator. You know I'll drive all the way back for that."
Was that Priscilla? His mama?
"I would've taken it to you in the morning," A.B. told her.
"No. I'm about to eat this thing now. What movie you about to watch?"
"Mama, are you staying the night?" He asked her.
My eyes bucked. I should've went to my parents' house like I was supposed to. Where is my phone? I looked around and my purse was on the nightstand. I quickly retrieved it. I grabbed my phone to see that I had 2 missed calls and a text from my mom.
Mama: Jamie are you coming home tonight? Monica brought your bag here.
Me: Hey mama. I didn't hear my phone. Are you and dad still up?
I tiptoed back to the bedroom door to listen.
"I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back."
"Okay, baby."
I stepped away from the door as it opened.
A.B. walked in, closing the door back. He looked at me and whispered, "My mom is here, and she's spending the night."
"What are we going to do?" I asked him.
"You can stay in here."
I titled my head. "Sir, where is your mother going to sleep?"
A.B. was definitely not thinking. I wanted to laugh, but I'd only be laughing at myself. I can't meet this man's mother wearing his clothes. She just met me the other day.
"I'll ask her to sleep on the couch." A.B. quickly walked out the bedroom.
Who asks their own mother to sleep on the couch when you're single and have an entire bed for them for sleep in? She is going to slap him.
I checked my phone. My mom still hadn't replied to my text. It was a few minutes past midnight.
"Mama, you didn't have to sneak out and leave if you only wanted your cake. I wasn't going to make you stay. Call or text me when you make it home."
I opened the bedroom door and peeped into the living room.
A.B. said to me. "She's gone."
I walked out his room. "Did she find out I was here?"
He walked over to the couch with a bowl of popcorn in his hand. "No. She thought I was gonna make her stay."
"Were you?" I sat on the couch next to him.
"No."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"It's late. She could've waited on that cake."
"Must been some good cake."
A.B. stated, "She never cared about time. We used to go to the park at night when I was little."
"She sounds fearless." I grabbed a handful of popcorn and ate it.
"She is. I'm going to take a shower. Watch anything you want." A.B. went to his bedroom.
While I was alone, my thoughts ran. This popcorn was pretty good, almost as good as the movie theater's popcorn. I picked up my phone. It's 12:30 a.m. I can't believe I'm still up. I guess I just don't want to go to sleep yet. Even though I was upset earlier, today was still a good day.
I can't believe Zeke and Monica are together-together. I said a lot of mean things to them. I'm going to make sure I apologize to the both of them. Just thinking about them, they already get on my nerve. Am I...? Oh, my goodness! I think I'm jealous of my cousin. What is this jealous spirit, and how do I get rid of it? God, please help me. I haven't been myself in a while.
I finally picked up the remote in search of something to watch. Within minutes, I was curled up on the couch catching Zs.