AT MY BEST

Eleven

My to-do list was long this week. The second location for my boutique "Giselle's Boutique and Beauty Bar" was finally finished and I needed to hire cashiers for the store and Hair dressers, Makeup artists and Nail Techs for the Beauty bar upstairs. Thankfully JT did hair in Miami and was actually really good. She was my first hire and since I trusted her I made her manager. She definitely had a round the way personality but she was no nonsense. On top of all of that it was the last week in my condo and I needed to pack. As JT and I were doing interviews I get a text from Jarvis with an urgent message.

"Giselle please! come to my grandmother's house as soon as you get this it's serious "

Confused by his message I tried to call him. He never picked up. Unaware of what was going on I excused myself letting JT handle the interviews we had scheduled for today and headed to Jarvis's grandmother's house. When I arrived there were so many cars in the driveway. Seeing as though something was wrong I hurried inside the house. As I made my way through the house I noticed a lot of Jarvis's family crying. They were so distraught that no one even cared that I hadn't been around for months. My chest was tight as I made my way upstairs to where everyone seemed to be. I noticed most of the traffic came from Mrs. Ruby his grandmother's room and my heart sank. Slowly I walked in to the room.

"Jarvis! I'm here." Once he turned around at the sound of his name I noticed the fresh tears rolling down his face. And then I saw her. "She's gone gee! She's gone!" Jarvis ran into my arms hugging me tight as we both grieved the loss of his grandmother. This was the first time I saw Jarvis vulnerable. Mrs. Ruby raised him since his mother gave him up when he was five years old. Though his real mother was still alive ruby was the only mother he truly had. And the only woman he respected. I stayed with Jarvis as the funeral home came and got her. Most of his family migrated downstairs as he and I stayed put in her room.

"I'm sorry I never came to see her. I was so busy with my business I didn't know it was this serious I'm sorry jay!" I said as my eyes still swelled with tears." Gee! It's okay. I can't expect you to drop what you're doing to be here with my family. I forfeited that when I did what I did." Jarvis said as he looked me deep in my eyes and grabbed my hand while we sat at the foot of ruby's bed on the floor. "Still! Ruby cared about me so much. And now she passed thinking I was mad at her or something."

I was still crying thinking about how I let down someone who didn't deserve to be shutout by me."Giselle if any body knows the reason you shut us out it's her. I've been scolded for five months by her." We laughed knowing Mrs. Ruby was definitely hell on him. She always warned him if he didn't do right by me I would leave. I was so stupid in love that she was the one who prompted me to leave. She said he devalued my worth. I checked the time on the clock on the wall and it was almost nine and I'm sure Jordan was worried." It's getting late I should be going home. You gonna be ok!?"

"Yeah I'll manage. The funeral is on Wednesday. Will you ride with me? Please!?" I hesitated thinking of how Jordan would feel but Mrs. Ruby was like family to me so I obliged." Sure i'll ride with you. See you later Jarvis." In five months that was the most peaceful conversation we had since our breakup. Unfortunately it took for his grandmother to pass for us to get there. I got in my car and drove home as fast as I could. Once I made it back to my condo I found Jordan undressing in the room. He had just came in.

"Baby where you been? I was worried sick. When I couldn't get in touch with you I called JT she said you left in a panic."

"I'm sorry baby my phone was on silent, its been a long day."

"Baby you been crying!? What's wrong?" Jordan said as he kissed me on the lips as he held both my hands concerned. " Mrs. Ruby Jarvis's grandmother passed today. He called me earlier. That's where I was."

"Damn baby! I'm sorry I know you told me yall were close. How was seeing Jarvis?" Jordan had pulled me to the bed and held me while we talked. " To be honest babe that man was so distraught every asshole bone in his body was numb."

"She must have meant a lot to him. When is the funeral? I could go with you."

"That would be great it's Wednesday. Can you come?" Lord knows I did not want to be there by myself. "Shit! I would babe but Steve is gonna be out Wednesday I have to cover for him." I sighed knowing I would have to be there with Jarvis alone. He and I were fine as far as me being there for him but something just gave me a bad feeling. Being there with him brought back feelings I suppressed. He was the man I fell in love with when all he had was a dollar and a dream. Not the cocky jackass he was when I left him.

"Alright I guess I'll see you once it's over." Jordan pulled me up and walked me to the bathroom." Here let me make it up to you." He ran a bath with bubbles and lit some candles. He got in with me and held me, supplying me with a bountiful of kisses. After the bath Jordan cooked us some salmon and roasted cauliflower. Sitting in the dining room enjoying a beautiful dinner suddenly reminded me of the reasons why Jarvis wasn't the one for me. Jordan cooked and cleaned and was considerate. Even at Jarvis's best I still waited for him hand and foot. The fact that he was a suave  ladies man made him a easy liar. He had a way with words. When I thought he was working shifts at a distribution center to get money for his restaurant, he was out late selling drugs. But what should have been the one thing that should have been a turnoff is that Jarvis didn't want kids. The one thing Jordan wanted the most. What I wanted the most. And as I sat across from the most gorgeous man with the sexiest smile I realized, no matter what feelings resurfaced for Jarvis all because we were both vulnerable, He just wasn't Jordan Xzavier Michaels.