Be Bad For Me(51)

"We'll be back in a moment," Jordan said.

Annette and Jordan didn't go far. In fact, they walked no more than  twenty feet of the picnic table and stopped in front of a huge oak tree.

"Are we finally gonna have a productive conversation, now?" Jordan asked.

"Depends on you, I guess."

"Depends on me?"

"Yeah. You said you had something to tell me earlier today, but you just  walked off," Annette said, switching from one feet to the other.

"Let's sit down. No use standing up." Jordan knelt down on the ground.

"On what?"

"My lap, if you want." Annette saw him try to hide his smile.

She crossed her arm on his chest.

Taking the hint, Jordan pulled his shirt over his head and spread it out on the ground beside him.

Annette tried her best to hide the surprise in her eyes and forced  herself not to focus on his chest. "Thank you. But, I'm not gonna sit on  your shirt." She grabbed his shirt up off the ground, dusted it off,  and sat on his lap, instead.

He chuckled to himself, and then reached for his shirt.

"I'll keep you shirt and let you know when I want you to put it back on," Annette said, snatching his shirt away from his reach.

His chuckle turned into a laugh. "I see how you are, now. Are you gonna tease me like that?"

"I haven't changed, Jordan. I've always been a tease," Annette said,  holding out his shirt over his head and helped as he pulled it back over  his head. When his shirt was on again, Annette's hands were still in  his laps. They were almost too close for comfort. Their eyes met when  they realized this.

"Annette, why are we not talking to each other? I don't understand it." Jordan's arms were now around her waist.

"I don't, Jordan. I admit that I have been selfish. I know that you have  been completely truthful to me. I know it's not your fault that you  made these decisions before I ever came along. And you know what the  truth is? Do you know how I feel?"

"How? Tell me."

"As selfish as it may sound, I'm afraid of losing you. I'm afraid that  you won't care about me as much. I feel that if you have a child and a  baby mama to worry about that you won't have time for me."

"Annette … " He shook his head from side to side. "Is that what you thought? I would never … look at me when I'm talking to you."

Annette lifted her head to look him in his eyes.

"I would never … ever stop caring about you. There is nothing that will  make me stop caring about you. You know I love you, baby. That love for  you won't change and it has not changed, okay?"

Annette nodded her head. "I love you, too, Jordan. That's why I'm scared. I don't want to be hurt."

"I won't hurt, you, Annette. I promise you that. I will always put you  first. And if it just so happens that I am a father, then I will put  both of you first. You know that I want you in my life forever, don't  you?"         

     



 

"Don't say things you don't mean, Jordan. Forever means forever. Forever  implies that you … " Annette started talking, but she didn't want to  mention the word marriage or anything like it. The last time she  mentioned marriage to a man that's when they broke her heart. She would  give up getting married for love forever, instead.

"Forever implies what, Annette? Why didn't you finish?"

"I just think that we should take everything one day at a time."

"And we will. And, no, I don't say things I don't mean. And, yes, Annette, I do mean forever."

"I want to be in you life, too, Jordan. You make me happy."

The hug that they shared next reminded her of that night on the balcony under the stars. "I want to kiss you," he whispered.

Jordan didn't have to ask her for permission. She lifted her head from  his shoulder and kissed him. No matter how many times she kissed Jordan,  she could never get tired of feeling his soft lips against hers. She  could never get tired of his warm tongue meshing with hers. The kiss was  long and deep and they pulled away for about two seconds to catch their  breath before moving in again. Nothing could have disturbed them. Not  even the loud voices and laughter of their friends arguing over the card  table about twenty feet away.

"Have you seen your baby, Jordan?" The question was on her mind after they pulled away.

Jordan nodded. "I visited them on Wednesday. There was a baby shower  last weekend since she didn't get to have one because he came early, so I  took some stuff out there."

"Oh. Does he look like you?"

"You know … I don't think so … but they say that it's too early to tell."

"That was nice of you to take some stuff out over there. What's his name?"

"David Martin."

"Does she still demand money from you?"

"Annette, the truth is that she can't demand anything from me. She  doesn't have to demand it, in fact, I'll take care of my son whether she  demands it or not. We're going back and forth about setting up a  separate account for David. My lawyer will be contacting me on Monday  about that. He says that after everything is verified that I can seek  joint custody."

"Custody?"

"Yes, that is what I want. Custody of my son, if that is what's best for him."

"I support you, Jordan, no matter what you decide."

"I know you do. And I know it's hard for you, but nothing will change  between you and me. My love for you will not change. As you can see, I'm  not prepared to let you go."

"Good." Annette smiled. "Because, I'm not prepared to let you go, either."

"Oh, yeah?"

"You're mine, Jordan."

"And you're mine, Annette," he replied, and then he added, "But, I  wanted to let you know that this new guy, Chris, was about to get  himself knocked out on those bleachers at the race track earlier."

"You have nothing to worry about, baby," Annette reassured him, wrapping  her arms around his neck. "Now, what did you have to tell me since  earlier this afternoon?"

"Oh, just that we're going out on a date tomorrow night."

"Did I have a choice?" she teased.

"Not really. I had to pull a few strings to get last minute reservations here, so you can't back out, either."

"Just like I didn't have a choice today about going drag racing."

"You catch on quickly, baby. That time slot for drag racing was reserved  three weeks ago with you in mind, so no, you didn't have a choice in  this, either."

"Thank you, Jordan. I had fun."





Chapter 30





By the following week, Annette had accepted the fact that Jordan was  sincere about his feelings for her. Despite hearing the news of the  birth of his child, his attitude toward her never once changed. They had  gone on several romantic dates since Sunday night and took turns  shopping for each other at the local mall one night. She had purchased  several new suits for him for business meetings and he had purchased  several business suits for her for work. He even picked out lingerie  that he wanted her to wear.

Rod was holding a pool party at his house for one of his homeboy's  birthday party. Annette had arrived an hour ago with Denise, but she  didn't expect Jordan to be there yet. He called her that morning to let  her know that he was going to visit his son and that he would arrive a  little later than he thought. Annette picked up her wine cooler from the  side of the pool, just as Tara popped out of the water and splashed  water in her face.         

     



 

"Ah!" Surprised, Annette splashed the water back.

"Earth to Annette! What are you daydreaming about?"

"Nothing. I was just enjoying myself until you came up and splashed water all in my face," Annette said.

"Sorry, babygirl. Wanted to get your attention. Did you talk to Denise about what she needed to do?"

Annette looked over at Denise who was laid out on a lawn chair, Nick on  the towel beside her. Tara was talking about Denise wanting to pledge  membership. Nick was probably already getting the pussy, but she  couldn't be a member yet unless another member agreed to have sex with  her.

"I think Nick has already told her. I just don't understand why she doesn't want to get her license."

"Me neither, girl. I guess you and I are different. We seem to be the  only ones who can stand on our own if something were to go down with our  men. Not saying that this would happen, but … you know. That's why I  explain to girls that once you're a Heat Ryder, you are always a Heat  Ryder and expected to perform and attend outings. That's why girls who  only want the men get turned down. These guys can get girls anytime,"  Tara said, reaching for Annette's wine cooler.

"I agree. All members should be required to get licensed. And if they  happen to want to sleep with the guys, then that's up to them," Annette  said.

Tara took a sip of Annette's wine cooler. "So, you know who wants to fuck her, right?"

"It's obvious that it's Alex," Annette said. "He's been eyeing her ever  since I brought her in the group. Anyway, that's between the three of  them. I already told her about it and she knows."