Jimone One Shots: Part II

afterhours.

Author's note: Hi. I had to dust off good ol docs and write a lil something something with current time jump in mind. I hope if you're reading this , that you enjoy.

~*~

Simone smiled while opening the birthday card from Amari. "Happy birthday Mama" written in her adorable handwriting made her tear up.  The envelope had came days earlier but she had waited until her actual birthday to open it. She had a pile of cards to get through but her's was the most important.

She had a whole five year old back home in Beverly.  A five year that her parents took it upon themselves to care for while she finished her education and still allowed her to attend the HBCU of her dreams in Atlanta.

Amari was half of her. She was her whole heart. She sat the card open on her nightstand next to the latest framed photo of her and Amari from her first day of kindergarten.

Exiting her bedroom,  the shared apartment with Thea and Nate once belonged to her aunt. The Patterson blood was meant for greater things as she transitioned from college president to working for the vice president of the United States. Women really did run the world.

She runs with excitement greeting Jr then Cam. She is taken aback from their singing and their overly loud but dramatic version of Stevie's birthday rendition. Her smile is wide as she grins at her two best friends, Thea and Nate - noticing the absence of Keisha. It's not surprising given that drunken Keisha after a night out had confessed to having feelings for Jr that he promptly and thankfully didn't return.

"Keisha is in New York but she sends her love." Cam said plainly not wanting to mention her anymore, He playfully mushed her head.

His once Beverly enemy through her past became one of his closest friends. He had confined in Simone more than Keisha sometimes. He wouldn't dare let her know how insightful her advice could be.

"Blow out your damn candles, old lady!" Thea demanded holding the marble cake with the numbers "21" lit up.

"Okay okay okay. Let me make a wish first, damn bossy." Simone breathed, closing her eyes.

She thought long and hard hearing the sighs of her friends. She blew them out and immediately went to grab a knife to cut them some slices. 21 - she never thought she would make it this far.

"Who are the flowers from?" Simone wondered, reaching for the card tucked in between.

Happy 21st, Sisi!!!
We love you.
   
   The James family

She hadn't expected anything from them. They all lived their lives with Olivia in New York with Spencer which she knew by news articles. She would quietly support having a Bobcats jersey with Spencer's number and the collection of Coach Baker books as they released to send to Amari back home.

She hadn't talked to them in almost two years since she last reached out to Olivia to check in on her and her sobriety since losing Billy. She never tried to keep in touch with Jordan. Maybe it was for the best as heartbreaking as their breakup was. Simone was just happy with Jordan being happy. She would always want him to be happy.

***

It was a bad idea - maybe. Jordan knew that Cam extending the invitation to Simone's birthday was likely a bad idea. It had been years since they really spoke. The last time was when she offered condolences. Yet, he wanted to celebrate with her. He wanted them to be friends at least so he didn't give Cam a response. The location and time was all he needed.