Chapter 36

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"Leslie, don't you look beautiful," Kameel said coming to stand a few inches from me.

I smile politely as his eyes slowly roam over me taking in every detail. I was beginning to feel self-conscious when Kimberly got up from where she sat and ask if she could get me anything to drink.

"How about I come with you," I told her moving away from Kameel but he reaches for my hand stoping my retreat.

"No let her go and get it, I want to spend some time with you before family and friends begin to swarm down on me," he said and I watch as both of my friends left the room.

"It is your mother's memorial so you know how it is especially since you've been away for quite some time," I said with a smile as I look at him.

"It's a pity most of them are not here to support me but come to leech," he said with a bitterness that causes me to stare at him.

It seemed he sense my scrutiny so he shrugs and gave a laugh which seems hallow. We stood there for a while before he walks to the window and leans against the frame where he looks at me causing me to once again feel uneasy.

"So what's been going on with you?" I ask wishing the girls would return.

"Nothing much," he answers as he shrugs his shoulder again then adds. "I am still shocked to know that you're married to Julian."

"Why is that?" I ask with a quizzical raise of a brow.

He tilts the peek cap he wore from his face and then he folded his arm and said. "Never see you as the type to share a man."

I felt my anger begin to surface at his implication that I at one point thought too. I was so grateful Dan and I had cross this hurdle before Kameel came to place it up again.

"Well, I am not," I return tightly as I held unto my composure.

"You know he and Stella has a history and is still hot and heavy," he said and I glare at him.

"What Dan had with Estelle is long over," I said wishing I had left with Kimberly, "Are you hot on Estelle and see Dan as a threat?"

He gave a short snort and ease from the window frame then walk over to me and when we were mere inches apart again he stood and stare into my eyes before saying softly "I like my woman petite, redhaired and burning with a different type of fire that Estelle will never have."

As he said this he trails a lean finger against my cheek and rests it below my chin where he tilt my head further up causing our lips to be mere inches apart.

I must admit I was fascinated by the man that stood before me with his blue designer t-shirt boasting gold studs that fan the expanse of the cap of the clip art character that stood upon the front of it in an array of green, pink, blue, and yellow paint splatter that hug his broad chest.

He fascinated me in the sense that he was a far cry from the guy I cared for deeply when we were younger. I found myself trying to fit the two together and it turns out to be an impossible feat. The Kameel I knew back then was humble, caring and though driven by ambition was not spiteful.

I let my eye travel over his navy blue jeans that fitted and frame his muscled thigh and legs to rest upon a pair of black Nike Air Max with splatters that match those on his tshirt about its rim.

I knew that guy from our childhood was no more. Here standing before me was a persona-driven to conquer and divide as he took what he felt was entitled to him and somehow he thought I was one such thing. I flinch away from his touch and move away from him.

He grabs my arm and pulls me into his body and before I knew it he was crashing his lips down unto mine. I twist my head to the side and push against him hard.

"What is wrong wit yuh, Kam?!" I gasp as I stare in shock at him. "What has become of my friend that sat with me, comfort and protects me whenever my world was crumbling down?"

He wipes his lips and lessens the space between us again. He stares at me as if he was just aware of where he was and who he was with. He sighs and wipes his hands across his face then made to speak but a knocking sound on the door and I hope it was Kimberly, but it was a man who came in.

I did not like the way his beady eyes look at me and then I came to realize it was a guy who came to live in Cornwall Street a few years back when he was deported. He had a deposition that I did not like then and I sure as hell did not like now.

I watch as he whispers something to Kameel who went over to him and when he left Kameel turns to me and said.

"It is like everybody thinks they know shit about the people around them, but guess what Leslie you all don't know shit."

"I need to get out of here. To think I was afraid of what people would say if I came back here considering what Ilene has done when it turns out to be my best friend who is the one who sets out to break me," I said feeling a deep sadness fill my heart.

"You think Dan wants you? Do you think he loves you? He'll never get you the way I do."

I move to leave this time but what he said next causes me to stop, turn and look at him.

"When I will always want only you, he'll always like his chocolate both light and dark."

"What?"

"He's with Estelle as we speak."

He walks over to the other door in the room that he open to reveal a short hall that leads to another room. I did not know why I walk through the door and down the hall or why I stop by the door at the end but I did. The door was slightly ajar I shift the curtain by the door and look in.

There was Daniel with Estelle when he was supposed to be in New Jersey. I back away from the door as I heard a next-door open in the room in which they stood their faces together. They pull apart to face the door and look towards those who intrude on their private moment.

I lean against the wall as my stomach sank to my feet and my body suddenly felt lifeless. My limbs seem to be made out of putty, I tried to stand but each time I did so I only sank back to the ground.

I saw Kameel came to stand beside me, I felt when he scoop me up into his arms, I heard when he spoke but nothing made sense. I could not get clarity. All I was thinking is, why was Dan not in New Jersey where he was supposed to be?
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Hey yuh all 🤗

Yuh c mi dying trial doh e....I meant to say what a dirty little, conniving, scheming brute. Even when magic turns rats into coachmen they are still rats and you Kameel is a rat personified you ain't no Prince Charming.

Leave your vote and keep the comments going my darlings🙂

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