It only took thirty minutes to pull up to a house out in Madison Heights. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into or what Jordin’s reaction would be to seeing me; all I knew was that I wasn’t leaving the house without her.
I parked my truck behind a Buick, then stepped out and went to the door. I could hear girly giggles and chatter behind it as I rang the doorbell three times. It only took a few minutes for someone to come to the door, and when it flung open, Aniya appeared, eyes going wild when she saw my face.
“What up, Niya? Long time, no see.”
“Oh my God, Zi. What are—it’s good to see you,” she said, baffled by my presence. She stepped closer and opened her arms for a hug. I reciprocated, not letting the hug linger too long.
“How have you been?” I asked, stepping back.
“I’ve been well. A little surprised to see you here, though.”
“Yeah, I was in the neighborhood,” I fibbed and smiled.
She smirked. “Listen. I can’t let you in here, Zi.”
“That’s fine. Either she comes out, or I come in. Either way, I’m going to see her,” I told her firmly. She stared at me for a second, then nodded, allowing me entry. I stepped through the threshold, looking around at all the wedding paraphernalia, and wanted to burn all this shit to the ground. No way was I seeing this shit. No way was the love of my life about to break my heart like this.
Aniya led me down the hall to the sunken living room, where six other women and Jordin sat, holding champagne glasses, laughing while Jordin’s back was to me, opening gifts.
“Who was at the door, Ni—” Jordin started, but she immediately sprang from her seated position upon seeing me, while the gift she was opening fell to the floor.
“Oh my God!” Jessie exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
“Z-Zion . . . what—” Jordin stuttered, but I cut her off.
“What’s up, Dinny? Surprised to see me?” I asked her, stepping down the three steps to where she stood.
I could see her swallow with her eyes misting.
“Zion. . .”
“Tell your friends goodnight, Dinny. I’m going to find a room upstairs. Three minutes. That’s all I’m extending. Find me when you’re done.” I then turned, found the stairwell, and ascended it. I could hear the soft whispers, but I didn’t care about any of it.
I found the first door, opened it, and then proceeded inside once I saw it was unoccupied. I purposely left the door open so I could hear when she was near and took a seat on the bed.
It didn’t take long for her to appear in the doorway, and she looked even more beautiful than the girl I left behind.
Her soft, brown skin looked slightly tanned, giving her a roasted-almond look. Her soft hair, which she used to wear neck-length, was now in long, curly layers. My eyes traveled to her apple-sized breasts that had a little more definition, then to her slim waist and wide hips. Those piercing, brown eyes still captivated me, and her pretty lips still looked kissable.
I stood to my full height, walking up to her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Zion. . .” she called out breathlessly. When I felt her arms around my neck as she squeezed me, my body relaxed, and I nuzzled my nose in her neck, smelling her sweet scent.
“I missed you, baby. Damn, I missed you,” I said, running my palms up and down her back. She pulled away, and I removed one of the curls framing her face.
“I missed you, too, Zi. But?—”
“But what, Dinny? I hope you don’t think you're about to marry this nigga. That’s where we are now, Jordin?”
“You told me not to wait, Zion.”
“Yeah, but nowhere in me telling you not to wait did I saygo marry the next nigga.Nowhere did I tell you to fall in love or get into anything serious with anybody.”
“It’s not what you think, but what did you expect, Zion?”
“I expected you to be available to me when I got out, like I asked.”
“People grow up, Zi. I would have waited if you asked me to, but you never asked me. Now you come here, having my friends questioning me, and I don’t even know what to tell them.”