The Escort S2

Part 77: Where should we start?

JJ's POV

It's 1:00 am and I sit in the semi-dark kitchen, lit only by the light of a beautiful full moon that spills across the room. I start to rise when I hear soft footsteps approaching. It must be Tae. He's probably getting a late-night snack for Kookie. Evidently those two are active. The refrigerator door quietly opens and it's Ivory. A tickle of a butterfly flutters in my belly. I sit back and watch as he reaches deep inside and pulls out a container of banana milk. I press my lips together tightly to stifle my snicker. Ivory then shuts the door and turns.

"Oh, shit!" He yells as the plastic container thuds to the floor.

I quickly stand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I-I was just going to my room." Why is it that I have no cool around him?

"JJ, why are you sitting over there in the dark!?" He says bending down to pick up the container.

"I, uh, couldn't sleep." I say, shrugging my shoulders like a small child caught being mischievous.

"Oh, okay. I couldn't sleep either." His smile beams and he giggles as more butterflies join the one already moving in my belly. Why does he make me feel like jelly? "I wanted a cup of warm banana milk. It helps me to sleep. How about I make you a cup too?" Before I can respond, he moves to the cabinet, retrieves two mugs and then opens the container. He's such a loving caregiver.

"JJ, is there something on your mind that keeps you awake?" He asks, pouring milk into both our cups. I certainly can't tell him that he's the reason I can't sleep and how he's always on my mind.

I take a settling breath. "Ivory, can I talk to you?" I ask, as he starts the microwave and leans against the counter.

"Sure, JJ."

"Ivory, uh, Lisa and Tae said we can go out and do things now." His smile expands.

"JJ, that's wonderful. Now we can visit our donut shop." He softly claps with an excited bounce. I bite down hard on my bottom lip to suppress my excitement for his jovial response. I think I might have the courage to ask him something else

"Oh, uh, I'd like that, Ivory. This time we'll get a booth inside and drink our lattes." He rapidly nods his head as he comes to the table with two hot steamy mugs of banana milk and takes a seat. "Not yet, JJ," he says and rushes over to the refrigerator and grabs a tall container of whipped cream.

I watch him with wonder as he tops the milk with a mountain of whipped cream. Before he places the whipped cream down, he tosses his head back and squirts a mound of the whipped topping into his mouth and I let out a laugh at his simplicity and cuteness.

"You're next," he says, holding the container in front of my face. I pull back and shake my head in refusal.

"C'mon, JJ. It's fun." He has a bit of a pout with pleading eyes which I can't refuse. I open my mouth. "Close your eyes." I comply and he squirts the whipped cream in my mouth and on my nose. I'm a creamy sugary mess as my eyes fly open and I see Ivory laughing uncontrollably while covering his mouth to keep the sound down. I join in the laughter. It's the perfect moment. The perfect moment to kiss him. I move closer and then something stops me. I push back into my chair.

"So, I hear you're meeting your brother tomorrow," I shift the topic and kill the moment. He's been taken advantage of, and I don't want him to think I'm trying to use him.

Ivory tells me about his brother and how excited he is as we drink our warm milk. I can only think of how he deserves some good things in his life. No one should have gone through what he did.