Ohio to the Bayou

Chapter 10

The morning after that night by the river, I woke up still floating, my mind replaying every detail. The softness of his touch, the way his voice wrapped around his words, the warmth of his kiss—everything felt like a dream. But the daylight was real, and my heart still fluttered at the thought of Jamarr.My phone buzzed with a text. Ja'marr: Coffee?I grinned, already tossing my shoes on and grabbing my bag. ---We met at the small café just off campus, a cozy place with mismatched furniture and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. Jamarr was waiting, a quiet smile on his face as he saw me walk in. "Morning," he said softly, handing me my usual coffee order. We settled into the booth by the window, the sunlight spilling over our table. Our conversation flowed naturally, but there was an underlying spark now, a new rhythm that neither of us seemed to want to disrupt. Halfway through our conversation, Jamarr's phone buzzed, and his expression shifted slightly as he glanced at the screen."What's up?" I asked, noticing the hint of worry that crossed his face. He exhaled, setting his phone down. "Just... some family stuff. My mom's in town, actually. She wanted to meet for lunch." I nodded, sensing there was more to it. "That's nice, though. Do you see her often?""Not as often as I'd like," he admitted, tracing the rim of his coffee cup with his thumb. "She keeps me grounded, though. Reminds me of who I am, where I come from." He paused, glancing at me. "Would you... would you want to come? Meet her?"His question caught me off guard. Meeting Jamarr's mom felt like a big step, a shift from the lighthearted nights we'd spent together into something deeper. But his eyes held a quiet hope, and I knew that saying yes wasn't just about meeting his mom; it was about meeting the parts of him he hadn't yet shared. "I'd love to," I said softly, feeling the warmth of my words.---A couple of hours later, we pulled up to the restaurant, a small, family-owned place with old photographs and vintage décor. As we walked in, Jamarr's mom spotted us immediately, her face lighting up with a smile that mirrored Jamarr's. She stood up, opening her arms to embrace him, and I couldn't help but smile at the way they held each other, a silent understanding passing between them."And you must be Emory," she said warmly, turning to me with an inviting smile. Her eyes held a warmth and kindness that instantly put me at ease."It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Chase," I said, shaking her hand."Please, call me Lisa," she replied with a grin. "Any friend of Jamarr's is a friend of mine."We settled into the booth, the three of us quickly finding a comfortable rhythm. Lisa was warm and easy to talk to, asking questions about my studies and my family, and sharing stories about Jamarr's childhood, moments that made us both laugh. There was a softness to her voice, a kind of wisdom that spoke to years of holding her family together. I could see where Jamarr got his quiet strength."So, Emory," she said, her gaze steady. "What do you do when you're not snapping photos?"I hesitated, surprised by the question. "Well, photography takes up a lot of my time," I admitted, "but I like exploring the city, finding new places that inspire me. There's something about capturing those quiet moments, you know?"Lisa nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You have an eye for details, I can tell. That's a good quality in life, too—noticing the small things."We continued talking, and as the meal went on, I felt a sense of belonging I hadn't expected. Lisa made me feel welcome, like she already trusted me with parts of Jamarr she cherished.---After lunch, Jamarr and I walked Lisa to her car. She hugged him tightly, whispering something in his ear that made him nod, his face softening. Then she turned to me, pulling me into a warm embrace."Take care of him," she said gently, her voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "I will."As we watched her drive away, Jamarr took my hand, his fingers lacing through mine. There was a quiet gratitude in his gaze, a look that spoke of how much this moment had meant to him. "Thank you," he murmured, pulling me close. "Anytime," I replied, leaning my head against his shoulder. ---In the days that followed, Jamarr and I grew even closer, our connection deepening with every moment we spent together. I found myself opening up to him in ways I hadn't with anyone else, sharing my dreams, my fears, my memories. And in return, he shared pieces of himself too, fragments of his life that he'd kept guarded, like a hidden treasure he was slowly revealing.One evening, as we sat in his car after one of his games, I told him about my childhood, about the times I'd felt invisible, like I was always on the outside looking in. He listened quietly, his hand resting on mine, his touch grounding me."You're not invisible to me, Emory," he said softly, his voice filled with quiet intensity. "You're the one person I see most clearly."His words left me breathless, a warmth spreading through me that I couldn't quite explain. I looked into his eyes, feeling a wave of gratitude for this moment, for him, for the way he'd become my anchor in a world that often felt uncertain.---But as our connection grew, so did my fears. There was a part of me that wondered if this was too good to be true, if our worlds were too different to ever truly fit together. Jamarr was on a path that demanded everything from him, a path that would soon take him away from this place, away from me.One night, as we sat on the rooftop of my apartment building, watching the city lights flicker below, I found myself voicing my fears."What happens after this year, Jamarr?" I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.He was silent for a moment, his gaze steady as he looked at me. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice filled with honesty. "But I know I don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose you."His words hung in the air, a promise that neither of us could fully understand but both felt deeply."I don't want to lose you either," I whispered, feeling a tear slip down my cheek.He reached out, gently wiping it away, his touch tender. "Then let's just take it one day at a time. We'll figure it out together."In that moment, I felt a quiet peace settle over me, a reassurance that, whatever the future held, we'd face it side by side. The city lights flickered below, the world stretching out before us like a canvas waiting to be filled. And in that perfect moment, I knew that whatever happened, this connection we shared would always be a part of me.