For some weird reason I changed Kim's name to Lisa. I don't know why, I just did it while editing on my laptop. So, her new name is Lisa. 🙃
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"Nice business you got here." Mack complimented as he looked around the buzzing bar. "Great energy..." He continued while nodding his head. "And great drinks."
Malcolm didn't break into a smile. In fact, he sported this whole annoyed expression that Mack didn't seem to realize.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just...thought I stop by and check on you." Mack blurted out as he placed his eyes on his son.
They shared the same facial features. Malcolm was a couple of shades darker than his old man. However, everything else was identical.
Of course, Mack had grown older over the years and put on a few pounds. That was natural for any human. Instead of being on the slim side, he was burlier than anything. Malcolm noticed the potbelly that his "so-called" father sported.
"Cut the bullshit, alright?" Malcolm cursed, snapping his brows together. He was no fool. He knew his dad was up to something. This wasn't like Mack at all. He didn't fuck with the children he made with Frida.
Mack chuckled a little while running his thick hand over his curly salt and pepper hair. "You're still stubborn as hell, I see. Can't even talk to me like somebody."
"You pop up unannounced at my place of business." Malcolm replied, stating the obvious. "How do you expect me to talk to you?"
"Look, man I didn't come here to argue with you. I just...need to talk to you."
Malcolm looked off, not wanting to converse with him. Mack wasn't on his good list. He never been on that list before. His selfish and arrogant ways turned Malcolm sour towards him. Of course, June wasn't a fan of him.
"About what?"
Mack looked around for hustling ears. People didn't seem to mind him at all. Dean stood by the bar, wiping out glasses as he ran his mouth to a regular customer. Dock leaned over the bar, sipping on his poison, but far away from them.
"I ran into a little problem." Mack continued while raising his eyebrows. "A financial situation."
"Let me guess..." Malcolm trailed off as he leaned his head to the side. "You need my help."
"I really need it, I do."
Malcolm glanced over at Mack's honeyed eyes. They looked exhausted from his years of running a graveling business. He continued to hold on to his service since it was the only way he could provide a stable income.
"I can't help you, man." Malcolm announced as he shook his head.
"I borrowed money on my house..." Mack blurted out, catching his son's attention once again.
Malcolm looked his father dead in the eyes and said, "That's not my problem. Figure something out—you got this, playa."
"So, it's gonna be like that?"
"Just like that. Enjoy your beer." Malcolm tapped the counter and decided to walk away.
He had no plans to help Mack.
When he opened the door to his office, he noticed Jersey and the scowl she wore. She was busy pulling out his files, trying her best to organize them. She looked like she was in deep concentration since her eyebrows were darted.
Malcolm took the time to check her out. Jersey had height on her, with a slim build. The woman did eat a lot, but she couldn't seem to pick up weight. Her stomach stayed flat and she didn't have the colossal booty and bountiful breasts.
Her slender body didn't bother her much. However, as a kid she would often get called names by her late grandmother and the neighborhood kids for being so little.
Vivienne would often call her Bone since Jersey's bones were very visible. As a young girl, she was a picky eater. Her tastebuds didn't agree with everything, so her weight declined.
The kids in her neighborhood called her various names—light pole, tree, string, and so on. Jersey didn't let them tear her down at all. In fact, she managed to shrug it off.
Nevertheless, she was still a pretty girl. Her skin was the color of milk chocolate. Her nourishing hair was thick and mixed with coils and curls that she pulled off quite nicely. She had those exaggerated features that made her beautiful. Her wide nose and full lips paired well with her big dark brown eyes.
Malcolm closed the door, catching Jersey's attention as well. He placed his eyes on her as she held stacks of folders in the crook of her arm.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm good..." He trailed off, tucking his left hand into his pocket as he walked further inside the room. Malcolm drew his bottom lip into his mouth.
"You sure?" Jersey pressed. She knew something was up with him.
"Yeah." He swiped his nose with his thumb as he neared her. Malcolm hooked his arm around her waist and pushed her against his hardened chest. "You almost finished?"
There it was again, his smell intoxicated her. Jersey had to tighten her grip around the folders as she leaned her head against his chest. She blinked a few times, trying to get herself together.
"Uh, no. I still have to organize everything."
Malcolm leaned over, carefully watching her. His brows were hiked up in concern. "You straight?" A chord of chuckles pushed from him.
"I'm okay." She whispered; head still rested on his chest.
"Go ahead and finish." Malcolm instructed as reached down for his iPhone. "I'mma tell Amber to leave."
"...Alright." Jersey replied as she dropped the files on the desk. She leaned over and pulled more out.
Malcolm was busy typing, but he managed to stop just so he could get a glimpse of Jersey's butt. With his empty hand, he slapped her on the ass and went back to texting.
Jersey jumped while jerking her neck over at him. She parted her lips in surprise. She wasn't expecting him to hit her butt. This was his first time doing that.
"Really?"
"I got to start hitting it from the back more." Malcolm pointed out as he went back to typing.
"Why—what?" Jersey stumbled over her words, confused by Malcolm's.
"Never mind." He muttered under his breath as he shot his text through. He tucked his phone back into his pocket and placed his attention on Jersey who was trying to figure out his meaning.
"No, I want to know." She pressed while emptying her hands and nearing Malcolm. Her mouth was gaped as she eyed him.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Malcolm's lips as he tried to remain serious.
"What do you mean, you need to start hitting it from the back—" And that's when it came to Jersey. Her eyes widened as she stabbed her finger in Malcolm's chest. "Are you saying my butt is flat."
"Technically, its not. I mean, I can still grip it."
"Shut up!" Jersey responded while slapping his chest. "So, you really like women with big asses?"
Malcolm leaned his head to the side. He did like a woman with a nice ass. However, it wasn't a major requirement for him. He mostly went by a woman's personality and beauty.
"I'm not an ass man." He answered coolly while eyeing her.
Jersey pursed her lips, not believing him.
"I mean, I like a nice ass, but it's definitely not a requirement."
"Yeah right." She retorted trying to turn around. Malcolm caught her before she could and pulled her into his embrace.
"I'm serious." Malcolm assure her calmly. "I'm mostly attracted to a woman's personality and her facial features."
He ran his thumb across her thick lips and said, "You have all that. I'm definitely satisfied."
"You don't seem satisfied to me." Jersey deflected. "Because if you were satisfied, you wouldn't have made that statement about hitting it from the back."
"I was joking." He laughed, spreading his hands over her lower half. He grabbed a handful of her butt and gripped it in his large hands. He placed his attention on Jersey while tucking his bottom lip inside of his mouth and releasing it. "I can hold that ass with both hands—that's all that matters."
"Oh my God." Jersey guffawed as she blushed. "Get off of me. I need to finish cleaning up your files."
Instead of holding on to her, he released her and watched as she traveled toward his desk.
The sound of knocks wrapping at the door caused them to divert their eyes.
"Yo?" Malcolm called out.
"It's Dock, man."
Malcolm looked over at Jersey who continued her file cleaning. He made his way over to the door and opened it. Dock appeared at the threshold with a questioning expression on his face. He tossed his eyes over at Jersey who tried not to pay him any attention. His narrowed eyes went on his nephew who wore an annoyed look.
"What's up, Unc?"
"You?" Dock deflected back. "Care to talk to me in my office?"
Malcolm scratched his chin and looked over at Jersey. He told her he would be right back and left out.
When they made it to Dock's office, Malcolm closed the door behind him. He couldn't sit in his seat good since his uncle tossed questions at him.
"Mack showed up here...why?"
"He needs money." Malcolm replied honestly as he took a seat.
"Figures..." Dock replied. "You going to help him?"
"Hell no." Malcolm snapped. "I'm not giving him shit."
"Well, it's not my business. I'm going to let you handle this on your own."
Malcolm took in a deep breath as he thought about his negligent father. After Frida broke up with Mack, he failed to take care of his kids. He wasn't around Malcolm to teach him how to be a man. He didn't show up for his children's graduation, their recitals, and so much more activities that required both parents in attendance. It bothered Malcolm that his father failed to be around him. Now, as an adult, he wanted nothing to do with him.
"So...you and Jersey, y'all a couple now?" Dock inquired Malcolm nosily.
Malcolm knew that his uncle was going to question him about his relationship with Jersey. Instead of being straightforward, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Something like that."
"Something like that?" His uncle reiterated.
"That's what I said. We're working on our shit right now."
"Oh..." Dock nodded his head. "This girl has a drug abuse history—"
"That I'm cool with." Malcolm finished as he gave his uncle a stern look. He sat up in his seat and leaned over to look his uncle dead in the eyes. "That shit is in the past and she's clean now. I don't want you bringing it up to her."
Dock wanted to get upset, but he didn't. Instead of throwing a jab at his nephew, he just nodded his head and said, "Understood, man."
________________________
"You know what?"
Jersey looked up and noticed that Malcolm had made his way into the room. He wore nothing but some basketball shorts that covered his boxers. A durag covered his head in order to keep up with hair routine.
"What?"
"I don't like the way Henry be looking at you." He pulled the blankets back, dipped in the bed, and got under Jersey who was busy reading a book.
"How does he look at me, Malcolm?"
"Like he want to fuck you or something." He placed his lips against her ear, causing her to shiver under his touch. Malcolm couldn't help but to kiss on her skin. It was silk like Ghirardelli's chocolate.
Jersey laughed, trying to place her attention back on her book.
"He's just a really nice guy."
"Nah, he wants you. I saw how he was checking you out the other day. I almost fired his ass."
"Don't do that." Jersey placed her eyes on him. "He may like me, but I promise you, I'm not interested. Now, Henry is a great Team Lead. Don't involve your feelings in the workplace."
"Check you out." Malcolm directed his attention on Jersey who was laying beside him. A bonnet covered her hair while she laid there in a large t-shirt and panties. The shirt was Malcolm's.
"I'm just saying. I'm not checking for him—you shouldn't be worried about it."
Malcolm leaned over and placed his lips against hers. He kissed her a few times and eventually pulled back.
"I need your advice." He announced while shaking his head.
Jersey closed her book and placed all of her attention on the brown-skinned giant who laid beside her. "On what? What's wrong?"
"Mack showed up..."
"Mack?" She questioned him, looking confused.
"My negligent father." Malcolm informed her.
"You never talked about your father before."
"He doesn't exactly exist in my world." Malcolm rasped coldly.
"An absent father, huh?"
"Hell yeah."
Jersey adjusted her body on the bed. She leaned on Malcolm, wanting to be closer to him. "Well, you're asking the wrong person for advice. I don't know who my father is."
Malcolm found it strange hearing that come from Jersey. He did his research, but he didn't know that much about her, only the basics. Hearing that she grew up without a father did make him feel some kind of way.
"It still won't hurt to get an opinion from you."
She tapped his chest and said, "Well, lay it on me."
"He showed up at my bar..." Malcolm trailed off, grasping her hand in his large one.
"Really, what did he want?"
"Money."
Jersey swallowed her spit as she kept her eyes on Malcolm. He seemed...conflicted by the situation, she could tell. His facial expressions told it all. The way he knitted his eyebrows and pressed his lips together as he paused for a moment.
"Oh." She snapped her mouth shut and parted her lips again to ask him a bothering question. "Do you know why he needs the money?"
"He borrowed money on his house...and now he has to pay it back."
"Man." Jersey uttered as she shook her head.
The thought of a loved one losing their home brought back terrible memories for her. Her grandmother owned a nice brownstone in Brooklyn. However, she lost it after getting busted for illegal prostitution and drug trafficking. The government wasted no time seizing her property and putting it up for sell. From what Jersey could understand, a Caucasian man purchased her grandmother's brownstone. She didn't know how true it was. It'd been years since she last laid eyes on the house.
"I'm not giving him shit." Malcolm ranted as his nose flared, showing his frustration and bitterness. "Why should I? He don't give a fuck about me, never did. If he cared about me—he would've been present in my life. For my graduations and shit. He would've supported my mom's by giving her money to help take care of June and I. Instead, he abandoned us. Fuck that nigga."
"I understand that you're upset about him not being around you and helping your mom..." Jersey began. "But, at least you know who your father is." She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know who mine is. It's like...he doesn't exist."
Malcolm placed his eyes on Jersey, watching her. She was raw and uncut, showing her true feelings. He noticed how emotional she grew from talking about her absent father.
She ran her hand over his bearded face and fingered through it. Malcolm's brown irises looked glassy as he observed her.
"Just forgive him..." She trailed off.
Malcolm parted his lips, ready to debate with Jersey.
"No." She covered his lips with her index finger. "I'm not telling you to forget what he did to you, your sister, and your mom. I'll never tell you to do that. All I'm saying is that you should forgive him and move him. Don't carry that bitterness on your shoulders, Malcolm. Let the hurt go and forgive him. I promise you, it's not healthy."
This was strange to Malcolm. Here he was, laid up with a woman in his apartment. Not only was he laid up with her, but he was spilling his guts to her. Jersey didn't try to coddle his frustrations at all. Instead, she gave him her opinion and advice on his situation with his dad.
Malcolm didn't speak, instead he looked up at the ceiling with a million thoughts invading his mind.
"I'm not telling you to give him the money, just forgive him." She continued.
Instead of speaking, he decided to draw closer to Jersey. He could smell her fruity fragrance and the coconut scent that fumed from her lip gloss that was smeared off, but slightly still there.
Malcolm crashed his lips against hers, kissing her hard. While using his right elbow for a prop, he grabbed the back of her head with his left hand. He deepened the kiss by slithering his tongue inside her minty mouth. Their tongues entangled as they grew carried away. Jersey couldn't help but to moan under his affection as her hands meandered over his muscled arms.
Reluctantly, he pulled away to catch his breath. Jersey did the same while lying flat on the bed. Her chest rose up and down as she tried to catch her breathing. She was engrossed with Malcolm and his appealing kisses.
"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" He questioned her randomly.
Jersey swallowed her spit as she thought about the holiday. She had no real plans. Visiting her family was definitely scratched out since Lisa didn't want to see her. However, Preach was here in New York. She planned on cooking and spending time with him.
"I'm just going to stay here and do a little cooking. Plus, Preach is here. I figure I spend time with him."
"Come to my mom's house with me for Thanksgiving."
Jersey couldn't believe that Malcolm had invited her to his mom's house for Thanksgiving. She laid there, perplexed about the whole situation. She didn't mind going, but she wasn't ready to face June and her pestering cousin, Morgan.
"I'm not sure..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "I don't want to be around your sister...or Morgan."
"Don't worry about them." He pushed out, under his breath. "I don't want you to hang around here by yourself. You and Preach can come with me. It'll be cool."
"I'll be fine." Jersey assured him with a faint smile. "This isn't the first holiday I spent without a family."
"It's different now..." Malcolm trailed off. "Plus, I want to show you off, I figure this could be a way to start this shit off."
"To start what off?" She asked, dumbfounded.
Malcolm tilted his head a little and said, "Our relationship. You said in the office you wanted more, right?"
She nodded her head and said, "I did say that."
A relationship was supposed to be the furthest thing on Jersey's mind. However, her dealings with Malcolm made her change. She wanted to be in more than just a situation-ship with him.
"Well, this is a way we can start it off." Malcolm rasped as he watched her carefully. She bit her bottom lip as she looked around. "You good?"
Jersey nodded her head and said, "Yes."
"What's on your mind?"
"You."
Malcolm raised his eyebrows, wanting to hear more.
"...It's just that...Never mind."
"Nah..." Malcolm objected. "Tell me."
She shook her head and said, "I'm just overthinking."