was always great to see Julius, but with all the interruptions, I knew I’d never get Toni’s workout done before my interview came.
“What’re you doin’ here?” Toni asked. The way she lit up when she saw her boyfriend made me proud. She’d been through so much in her life, so much violence and heartbreak, none of us were sure if she would ever be able to let go and trust again. But she proved us all wrong. She trusted and loved Julius and he adored her in return.
Maybe I needed to be more like Toni.
“Thought I’d come by for a workout. Ain’t I allowed?”
“I don’t know, this is my Jake time,” Toni said, hugging her boyfriend. Julius was only about six inches taller than Toni, but he enveloped her in his hug like she tiny. His dark brown eyes smiled when he looked at her.
“Hey now, no fightin’ over me. There’s plenty of Jake to go around,” I said spreading my arms and grinning.
“Really?” Toni turned and laughed at me. “Plenty of Jake? If there’s plenty of Jake to go around, does this mean you’re cookin’ for me tonight?”
“Well tonight probably ain’t gonna work. How about next week when y’all come back? We’ll have dinner at my place next Wednesday.”
Smiling, Toni said, “Sounds great. You can practice for your restaurant.”
“What restaurant?” Julius asked.
“Jake’s openin’ his own restaurant.”
“It’s not a done deal,” I insisted. Of course Toni would be excited about this venture and she’d start telling people.
“Well,” Julius said. “Let me know what I can do. I’m always looking for great investment opportunities.”
“Thanks, Jules,” I said. “Let’s get started before Gage gets here.”
Fifteen later, a knock sounded on the door, Faith, our receptionist, popped her head inside. When her eyes landed on me, a crooked smile crossed her face. She stood a little taller and stuck out her chest a little more. The hope I had for her to finally realize I wasn’t interested seemed completely wrong.
“Jake, there’s a guy named Gage Andrews up front lookin’ for you. You want me to send ‘im back?”
“Yeah, Faith. Thanks.” She winked before she turned.
“You got a thing goin’ with Faith?” Toni asked, a shocked look on her face.
“Hell no. She just won’t listen to reason. I assumed she finally understood I’m not interested, but apparently I was wrong.” If she didn’t keep the place runnin’ as well as she does, I probably would’ve gotten rid of her a while ago. But Faith was good at what she did and she kept the clients happy, even when I was a miserable bastard. And if I wanted my restaurant, we needed her to take on a more active role in running the business.
“Must suck to be so desirable,” Toni teased.
In a flash my arm shot out, winding around her shoulders. I pulled her into me and instantly started giving her a noogie. Toni squealed. She swung her fists at me and shouted for help from Julius as he just stood by and laughed. When I released her, her hair was a tangled nest at the crown of her head and her face was flushed.
“You asshole,” she shouted through a smile while swatting at me. Then she turned her venom on Julius. “Thanks a lot, jerk. You’re supposed to help me.”
“Not from family,” he laughed. “Besides, Jake would probably kick my ass if I got in the middle of you two. I can’t let him hurt my pretty face. The sponsors would be pissed.”
A laugh burst out of me as Toni smoothed her hands over her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail.
“Paybacks are a bitch. I’ll get you both,” she growled.
The squeaking door turned our attention from play fighting. A stalky, buff looking man walked into the room. He was about six-feet tall; hardly taller than Toni. His black hair was cut close to his head and his dark brown eyes were framed by thin wire-framed glasses. His dark umber skin was taut over his muscular frame. He smiled when he walked into the room, taking in the
“What’re you doin’ here?” Toni asked. The way she lit up when she saw her boyfriend made me proud. She’d been through so much in her life, so much violence and heartbreak, none of us were sure if she would ever be able to let go and trust again. But she proved us all wrong. She trusted and loved Julius and he adored her in return.
Maybe I needed to be more like Toni.
“Thought I’d come by for a workout. Ain’t I allowed?”
“I don’t know, this is my Jake time,” Toni said, hugging her boyfriend. Julius was only about six inches taller than Toni, but he enveloped her in his hug like she tiny. His dark brown eyes smiled when he looked at her.
“Hey now, no fightin’ over me. There’s plenty of Jake to go around,” I said spreading my arms and grinning.
“Really?” Toni turned and laughed at me. “Plenty of Jake? If there’s plenty of Jake to go around, does this mean you’re cookin’ for me tonight?”
“Well tonight probably ain’t gonna work. How about next week when y’all come back? We’ll have dinner at my place next Wednesday.”
Smiling, Toni said, “Sounds great. You can practice for your restaurant.”
“What restaurant?” Julius asked.
“Jake’s openin’ his own restaurant.”
“It’s not a done deal,” I insisted. Of course Toni would be excited about this venture and she’d start telling people.
“Well,” Julius said. “Let me know what I can do. I’m always looking for great investment opportunities.”
“Thanks, Jules,” I said. “Let’s get started before Gage gets here.”
Fifteen later, a knock sounded on the door, Faith, our receptionist, popped her head inside. When her eyes landed on me, a crooked smile crossed her face. She stood a little taller and stuck out her chest a little more. The hope I had for her to finally realize I wasn’t interested seemed completely wrong.
“Jake, there’s a guy named Gage Andrews up front lookin’ for you. You want me to send ‘im back?”
“Yeah, Faith. Thanks.” She winked before she turned.
“You got a thing goin’ with Faith?” Toni asked, a shocked look on her face.
“Hell no. She just won’t listen to reason. I assumed she finally understood I’m not interested, but apparently I was wrong.” If she didn’t keep the place runnin’ as well as she does, I probably would’ve gotten rid of her a while ago. But Faith was good at what she did and she kept the clients happy, even when I was a miserable bastard. And if I wanted my restaurant, we needed her to take on a more active role in running the business.
“Must suck to be so desirable,” Toni teased.
In a flash my arm shot out, winding around her shoulders. I pulled her into me and instantly started giving her a noogie. Toni squealed. She swung her fists at me and shouted for help from Julius as he just stood by and laughed. When I released her, her hair was a tangled nest at the crown of her head and her face was flushed.
“You asshole,” she shouted through a smile while swatting at me. Then she turned her venom on Julius. “Thanks a lot, jerk. You’re supposed to help me.”
“Not from family,” he laughed. “Besides, Jake would probably kick my ass if I got in the middle of you two. I can’t let him hurt my pretty face. The sponsors would be pissed.”
A laugh burst out of me as Toni smoothed her hands over her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail.
“Paybacks are a bitch. I’ll get you both,” she growled.
The squeaking door turned our attention from play fighting. A stalky, buff looking man walked into the room. He was about six-feet tall; hardly taller than Toni. His black hair was cut close to his head and his dark brown eyes were framed by thin wire-framed glasses. His dark umber skin was taut over his muscular frame. He smiled when he walked into the room, taking in the
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