“Chanel? Uh, she came over Pops’ this past Friday for one of Marjorie’s family dinners.”
“Friday, you said?” The same night she’d showed up at Grants looking all despondent.
“Yeah, why?”
I contemplated telling him how she’d appeared at the restaurant and ask if he knew why, but it wasn’t my place. I knew their family history was a complicated one, to say the least. But her comment about Elliott and Jason not caring if she’d gotten into an accident still fucked with me. There was no way she could really believe that.
I’d been thinking about Chanel all weekend, in spite of my best efforts not to. The way she looked as she sat at the bar, trying to rush out to save a client in trouble, and that damn kiss. Most importantly, the kiss remained on my mind for the last four days. It was too short to have even enjoyed it well, but I knew I wanted it to happen again. When I first saw her leaving work a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her legs and ass in that skirt. And once she’d put her lips on mine, her ass was just begging for trouble. I looked at Jason and figured I’d skip that last part. I’m sure my best friend didn’t need to hear about another man wanting to taste his sister. Especially not his best friend.
“I saw her Friday night when she popped intoGrant’sfor a drink.”
“Oh, word.” His brow furrowed. “She’d left dinner a little early, saying she needed to pick up some work files.” He rubbed the back of his neck contemplatively. “Grant’sain’t really near her work office though.”
“Yeah, she had a couple of drinks, so I gave her a ride home.” I decided to skip the part about picking up her client and taking her to an abuse shelter.
“That’s what’s up. I’m sure my sister put up a fight,” Jay laughed.
“Man, she told me she’d just use the autopilot feature in her Tesla.” I laughed at the way her face had screwed up incredulously at me when I told her I couldn’t let her leave.
“Yeah, sounds like her.”
“But listen, I’m thinking of asking her out. Like, on some date type shit and I just wanted to know if you’d be cool with that?” As a man, I needed to come to my best friend honestly about my intentions toward his sister. I’m not saying I was trying to marry her or even get involved like that, but I definitely wanted to see more of her.
Jason immediately started cracking up, covering his mouth laughing. “Get the fuck outta here, man.” He continued laughing.
I sighed heavily. “I’m not joking, Jay.”
My tone must’ve made him realize I was serious. His brows rose, and the laughing stopped. He stared at me, then his face scrunched up. “Yo, what the fuck happened Friday night?”
Damn, his anger was peaking. “Nothing, Jason. Seriously. I gave her a ride home. I’m just saying, There’s something there. And I’d like to explore it, if she’s open to it, of course.” She was open to it if that kiss was any indication.
“Nothing happened?” He looked at me skeptically.
“Jay.”
“I’m just sayin’ you come to me talking about you saw my baby sister Friday night and gave her a ride home. Now you’re talking about taking her out. I’ve got questions.”
I nodded. “Understood. And you’re my Ace since before we was teens. I wouldn’t disrespect our friendship by sneaking around with Chanel. But I’m telling you what it is.” I tried to remain calm. I’ve never had to go to another man to discuss just the possibility of dating their relative. But Jay wasn’t just anybody; for all intents and purposes, we were brothers. Ordinarily, that would sorta make Chanel like my sister, but there was nothing sisterly about the visions I’d been having of her since that kiss. Hell, since before that kiss.
“Okay, I respect that, man. I mean, you’re both consenting adults, and I know you well enough to know you don’t move sloppy and shit where women are concerned. If she’s up for it, it’s whatever.” He shrugged, obviously not completely bowled over by the idea, but okay with it, for now. “Hell, I mean, you may be barking up the wrong tree anyway. Chanel hasn’t dated or had a serious relationship since she broke up with her fiancé five years ago.”
“That you know of.”
He shook his head. “Nah, none she’s told me about, and none that I found out about. We didn’t talk much while she was in L.A., but I had people watching her. No major boyfriends.”
“You had spies on your sister?” I laughed.
“Man, I had to. It’s not like she came home often or told us what was going on in her life. You know how busy work keeps me. I just wanted to make sure she was doing okay out there. I know she wouldn’t tell me or my pops if something wasn’t right.”
I remained silent, but I’d gotten that impression from her.
“But look, I respect you coming to me. It’s going to take some getting used to if anything pops off, but as long as Chanel’s cool, I’m cool.” He rose as I did. We dapped it up and gave the one-arm hug before continuing the rest of our workout. With that out of the way, I took the rest of my workout to figure out how and when I was going to approach Chanel. I figured I’d wait until I returned from D.C. the following week.
****
Of course, I’d made plans, but apparently, the big man upstairs must’ve had a different idea in mind. The next day, stepping out of another meeting with one of my financial advisors, I ran into none other than the object of my affections lately. I just barely managed to control the smile that wanted to make its way to my face.
She was again coming out of the elevators, dressed in a navy blue skirt that stopped just above her knees, into which was a tucked cream top that was sleeveless with a ruffled collar. The heels she wore set off the sexy-ass office look without her even trying, I’m sure. She began walking toward me, but stopped short, turning to someone behind her who’d called her name.
