Embracing Forever Page 6

  While Jerome and Kendrick knew, she hadn’t mentioned it to her girlfriends or brother, Simeon, who was in Rosewood Heights visiting their parents. Raven was older by two years, but he often acted if their ages were reversed. He was due back next week and, although he knew Bryson, she didn’t look forward to the interrogation that was sure to come. Her attorney brother would question her like he would a hostile witness on the stand.

  Through the office window, she saw Mrs. Butler pass. The woman waved enthusiastically. Raven chuckled inwardly and waved back. Pushing back from her desk, she walked out to greet the woman. Maybe Raven could get through the session without her suggesting places where she might meet a “nice young man.”

  After the session ended, Raven completed her charting and sent a text to her cousin, Erika to make sure they were still on for lunch. While Raven’s mother had elected to stay in Rosewood Heights, her older sister—Erika’s mother—had left to attend college and moved to LA after marrying her college sweetheart. Knowing she had family in the area had given Raven one more reason to attend college in the city.

  Erika had injured her knee and, after being referred to the clinic for therapy, had her first appointment that afternoon. The two cousins hadn’t talked in a few weeks and this would give them a chance to catch up.

  Raven spotted Erika in the waiting room an hour later and mouthed that she’d be out in five minutes. She finished the progress note that would be sent to her client’s doctor and logged off. She retrieved her purse from the locked drawer and slung it on her shoulder. “David, I’m going to lunch.”

  “Okay,” he called over his shoulder.

  Out front, she greeted Erika with a hug. “It’s good to see you, cuz.” Erika was three years older and often filled the role of an older sister.

  “Ditto,” Erika said. “You’re looking good, girl.”

  They pushed through the front door. “I’ll drive.”

  Erika limped down the ramp. “That’s fine with me.”

  Raven pointed out her charcoal gray Acura and slowed her steps to match her cousin’s.

  Once in the car, she collapsed against the seat. “I can’t believe how much having a knee issue tires me out.”

  “Well—”

  “Don’t start, Dr. Holloway. I do not need to know the science behind the whys. I just need it to be fixed.”

  “Whatever you say.” From the moment Raven stepped across the stage with her clinical doctorate, Erika had taken to calling her that.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Just to a sandwich shop down the street on Sepulveda,” she said, merging onto the street. The rehab clinic was located a few miles northeast of LAX. “How’s Emery?”

  “My hubby is doing well. He just got back from an emergency medicine conference in Philadelphia last week.” The two had met at the hospital where they both worked—Emery as an emergency room physician and Erika as a nurse manager. “We’re planning to do a Fourth of July barbeque, so put it on your calendar. You can bring Darren.”

  “Darren and I are not together anymore.”

  Erika turned in her seat. “I thought you two were getting along well.”

  A car pulled out of a parking spot near the sandwich shop just as she drove up and Raven quickly snagged it. “Things changed. I’ll tell you about it while we eat.”

  Once they were seated with their food, Erika said, “Okay, I’m waiting. What happened?”

  She told her about the dinner, his announcement about wanting to take things to the next level and the interruption by her clients. “After they left the table, Darren asked me if I had given his suggestion about changing my job more thought. He wanted me to work in a place where he wouldn’t have to be concerned about my clients flirting, like a nursing home.”

  “Girl, I would’ve cussed him out, restaurant or not.”

  “I should have. I was so mad I told him to take me home and to not call me again. I ended up taking a cab after he tried to grab me.”

  She shook her head and bit into her sandwich.

  “But that’s not all. There’s something else I wanted to talk about that’s confusing me.”

  “Okay.”

  “I…Bryson and I slept together.”

  Erika started coughing. “You what? I thought this was going to be about Darren.”

  “No, Bryson.”

  “As in Bryson, your best friend?”

  Raven nodded.

  Erika leaned back in her chair and didn’t say anything for a lengthy minute. “Wow. Oo-kay, so how did you end up, you know?”

  “I was telling him about what happened with Darren and crying. One minute he’s consoling me like he’s always done and the next we’re in my bed. It was crazy.”

  “I’ll say.”

  “Seriously. I’d never felt anything for him outside of friendship, but that night I felt this strange thing when he touched me and when he kissed me, I didn’t want him to stop.”

  “Honey, do you think it was just a rebound kind of thing? You were upset about the breakup with Darren. Bryson was just there at the right time when you were vulnerable.”

  “No. That’s the one thing I’m sure about. I’d been with Darren for four months and he didn’t make me feel any of the emotions I experienced with Bryse.” Raven had asked herself the same thing and easily ruled it out.

  “So, this was just one night of sex?”

  She ate a chip.

  “Raven?”

  She shook her head. “We’re sort of seeing each other now.”

  Erika picked up her drink and took a sip. She waved the cup. “You should’ve told me we were going to have this kind of conversation. I think I need something stronger than green tea. I take it that was his suggestion and not yours.”

  “Yes. How do you know?”

  “You sound unsure. I remember Bryson being a pretty great guy, as well as his two friends. That hasn’t changed, has it?”

  “Not at all, but it just feels odd to say I’m dating my best friend.”

  “I get that. After it was over, did he get up and go home right after?”

  “No. Why?”

  Erika smiled. “So did he make eye contact with you during, cuddle with you after or kiss you on the forehead?”

  Raven had no idea what she was getting at, but said, “Actually, he did all of them.”

  “Yes!” She slapped a hand over her mouth when a couple people turned around. “Girl, that means it was more than just sex to him. He might be a keeper.”

  Her brows knit in confusion. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Erika shook her head with exasperation. “If you weren’t always such a tomboy, you’d know these things. Those are acts of intimacy and men don’t do that kind of thing unless they’re really into a woman.”

  Raven waved her off. “I need you to stop watching all those women’s shows.”

  “You don’t believe me? Okay, tell me this. If you slept with Darren, did he do the same thing?”

  They’d only slept together a few times and in each instance, he’d gotten up almost immediately after, dressed and left like she had been nothing more than a booty call.

  Erika smiled knowingly. “That look on your face says things were very different. Mark my words, Bryson is thinking serious relationship and I hope you’re ready.”

  Her stomach knotted and she put her sandwich down. The smile on her cousin’s face set off warning bells in Raven’s head. Every serious relationship she’d had ended with her heart being ripped to pieces and she wouldn’t be able to handle it if that were to happen with her and Bryson.

  “Don’t worry, love is a beautiful thing.” She smiled and picked up her sandwich.

  Love? All of a sudden, Raven felt lightheaded. They weren’t in love. They’d only agreed to date less than a week ago. Her appetite now gone, she rewrapped her sandwich.

  “You’re not going to finish your food?”

  “I’ll eat it later.”

  Erika, on the
other hand, had no problems demolishing her sandwich. “That was good. Now, I’m ready to get my therapy on.”

  Raven shook her head and smiled. “Let’s go, crazy woman.” As they walked back to the car, she asked, “Did you bring a pair of shorts?”

  “No. What’s wrong with my sweat pants? I’m just going to be doing some little exercises, right?”

  “Erika, didn’t you read the instructions? For your first appointment, they’ll do an evaluation—check swelling, flexibility, range of motion. They can’t see your knee in those, so you’ll have to put on a hospital gown.”

  She cursed and got into the car. “I need some lotion. And don’t say one word.” She held up a hand. “Not, one word.” Erika had a habit of not putting on lotion when she wore long pants.

  Raven bit her lip to keep from laughing, but failed miserably. She dug into her purse, found a small tube of hand cream and handed it to her. “This is all I have.”

  Erika glared at Raven and snatched the tube out of her hand.

  She figured Erika would wait until they got back to the clinic to put on the lotion, but Raven should have known better. The woman tried to put the lotion on while wearing her sweats. Raven burst out laughing at the comical picture she made sliding around on the seat while reaching inside her pants to lotion her thighs. When she pulled up her pant leg, Raven asked, “When was the last time you saw some lotion, girl? I’ve seen alligators with smoother skin.”

  “Shut up. I told you not to say a word.”

  Raven thought she was going to hurt herself from laughing so hard.

  “You need to pay attention to the road, instead of cackling over there.”

  Raven could barely catch her breath. She wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re my cousin. I needed this laugh.”

  “Obviously,” Erika muttered, rolling her eyes. But she was smiling.

  When they got back to the clinic, she found a closer spot, so Erika wouldn’t have to walk too far. “Hey, don’t get mad at me. You should’ve read the instructions.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

  Inside, they shared a hug. “Thanks for listening, Erika.”

  “You know I’m always here. And I’m glad I could provide you with some amusement. Oh, and don’t forget what I told you abut Bryson.”

  Her smile faded. She doubted she’d be able to forget. That he might be looking for something serious both excited and frightened her. For now, however, she thought it best to just stick to the agreement and take it one day at a time.

  * * *

  Friday evening, Bryson, Raven, Jerome and Kendrick sat around the table at the sports grill laughing and talking. Bryson had wanted to pick Raven up so that they could arrive together, but she had texted him earlier, saying she would rather drive herself like always. He hadn’t been happy, but didn’t push the issue. Thankfully, the only seat available when she arrived had been next to him. Otherwise, he would have spent the entire evening trying to come up with a way to get next to her. She tried to pretend as if everything was the same, but he’d caught her more than once staring his way. She wanted to keep him in the friend zone and he was determined to be more. Bryson observed her laughing at something Kendrick said. Why had he never noticed that her dark brown eyes sparkled whenever she laughed and why did the sound make his heart beat a little faster?

  Raven held up her glass of beer. “I think we should have a toast to congratulate Bryse and Rome on the grant they received this week.”

  Everyone raised their glasses and Kendrick said, “To Bryse and Rome. May this be the first of many grants. Wishing you much success, my brothers.” They all touched glasses and sipped.

  Jerome set his glass down. “We just found out that the grant is renewable. We may only get the stated amount, but I’m cool with that.”

  “Since you’re rolling in the dough, I shouldn’t have to donate my services. Here’s to a summer stipend,” Kendrick said with a chuckle.

  Bryson snorted. “Nah, bro. Volunteering would look so much better when you decide to go into administration.”

  Raven laughed and laid her hand on Bryson’s arm. “I have to agree. And, Ken, didn’t you say that we all should give back?”

  Bryson shifted in his chair. Raven leaned against him and her hand on his arm played havoc with his body.

  Jerome divided a glance between Bryson and Raven and smiled, as if he knew what Bryson was going through.

  Bryson downed the rest of his beer and stood. “I’m going over to the pool table.”

  “Raven, you want the first game?” Kendrick asked.

  She glanced up at Bryson and hesitated briefly. “No, that’s okay. You can go ahead. I want to finish my food first.”

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Kendrick said, “You’ve got it bad, man. When you first told me about you and Raven, I thought it was just a fluke, but you’re really feeling her, aren’t you?”

  “I told you I was.”

  “And Raven?”

  “She’s getting used to the idea. I told her we’d go slowly. She’s worried about losing me as a friend and, although she hasn’t said so directly, I know she’s also thinking we won’t work out.” During their conversation about her previous breakup, she mentioned that her relationships never lasted.

  He set up the game and took the first shot. “I hope it does. I’ve never seen you watch a woman the way you do her.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be something if the two of you ended up married?”

  “It would.” Bryson had wondered the same thing and the more he mulled it over in his mind, the more he began to warm up to the idea that Raven could be the one for him. She possessed all the qualities he wanted in a woman—intelligence, humor, beauty, a perfect partner in the bedroom—and he envisioned that there would never be a dull moment with her around. He glanced at her over his shoulder as she laughed and talked to Jerome.

  “Are you playing or not?” Kendrick asked with amusement.

  He turned back and stepped up to the table. “Shut up. You act like you didn’t do the same thing when you and Sandra first started dating.” He lined up his shot and sank the first ball. He walked around the table and missed the next one.

  “What can I say? A beautiful woman will do that to you.”

  Bryson laughed. “So I’m finding out.”

  Halfway through the game, Jerome and Raven came over.

  “I’ve got next,” Raven said.

  Kendrick sank his next two balls. “I’ll be ready for you as soon as I’m done kicking Bryson’s butt.”

  “Whatever, boy. Just take your shot and skip all the BS.” Bryson was two shots from losing the game.

  A moment later, Kendrick sent the eight ball flying into a corner pocket. “Like I said… Let’s go, Raven.”

  Raven took the cue stick from Bryson. “Rack ‘em up. And I hope you don’t think you’re going to do the same thing to me.”

  “Girl, you’d better recognize the king.”

  She snorted. “We’ll see, so quit stalling.”

  “I’ll even let you go first.”

  She batted her eyes and said sweetly, “Aw, thank you, Ken.”

  They all burst out laughing and Kendrick shook his head.

  When she bent over the table, her slacks stretched taut over her backside and Bryson sucked in a sharp breath. In a way he was glad he’d lost. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the game with her positioned like that for any length of time. It took all he had to stand there and not run his hands over the smooth, round globes. He wanted to slowly slide her slacks and panties down her legs and ease his—

  “Yo, Bryse!” Jerome nudged him. “Man, what are you thinking about?”

  “Just thinking about the grant,” he lied. No way would he say what was really going on in his mind. His erection throbbed and he stepped behind a bar stool to hide the growing evidence of his desire. “Did you say something?”

  “Yeah. I asked if you wanted another beer or somet
hing.”

  “I’ll take a lemonade. Actually, I’ll go get it. What do you guys want?” He took their orders and went to the bar for the drinks, hoping that by the time he returned his body would have calmed some. What the hell is wrong with me? This attraction to Raven had come out of nowhere and was now barreling down the tracks like a runaway train. He had to get a grip. Since they’d be leaving soon, all had opted for non-alcoholic drinks. Bryson returned with the drinks just as the game ended. He set the glasses on a small table.

  “You have just been dethroned, Oh King,” Raven crowed as she strutted around the table. “Bow to the queen.”

  Kendrick took her hand and did a sweeping bow. “I will be wanting a rematch, Miss Queen.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll see.”

  Bryson handed her a glass of iced tea. “To the queen.”

  They all raised their glasses and shouted, “To the queen.”

  Raven skewered them with a look. “Cut it out you nuts.” She smiled.

  Kendrick picked up his drink. “Anybody else want to play?”

  “I think I’ll sit this week out,” Jerome said. “I don’t want to knock Raven off her throne so soon after her victory.”

  She rolled her eyes. “In your dreams, Mr. Dance-A-Mania.”

  “You’re a cold woman.”

  Bryson and Kendrick howled.

  Once Bryson regained a semblance of control, he put his arm around Raven’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “That was the best one of the night.” While Jerome and Kendrick still laughed, Bryson leaned close to Raven’s ear. “And when we leave, I’m going to give you your reward, my queen.” He smiled down at her shocked expression. And with about twenty minutes of daylight still left, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.