"What happened?" V asks.

"Jamie has something important to tell me. He wants to talk about it before church on Sunday."

"Wait... Will told you that?"

I just nod, not really in the mood to tell her how he got involved.

"Why couldn't Jamie just tell you himself?"

"He did text me, asking me to call him. I just didn't know it was that important."

"Okay, so he should've told you with some urgency then. Now he got somebody in the middle of it, causing more mess. I'm so glad I don't have to see him anymore. He's so childish."

"Damn, you're really done with him like that?"

"That was your friend, not mine. I just made the mistake of hanging out with him too many times."

This girl... I can't help but to laugh. But I do agree he was wrong for the things he said to her, and for not going to her going-away party. I just don't think cutting him off is going to resolve anything. I just say take a break from his ass like I'm doing, right now.

I hear the bathroom door open, and then turn around to see my baby coming out. "What's up, beautiful?"

"Hey." She says dry as shit, walking towards me.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired." She buries her head in my chest as she wraps her arms around my waist. I kiss the top of her head before remembering what she told me about V this morning. I look at my cousin who's looking at me, and realize there's some low-key tension between them.

"What's up with you two? The vibe in here switched up mad quick."

"You told me I should talk to Yemi, so that's what we did."

"So what was the conclusion? 'Cause I'm not feeling this, right now."

Yemi moves her head to look at V with her arms still wrapped around me.

"Well, do you still want to keep your distance from me?" V asks her.

I look down at Yemi in shock. "That's what you told her?"

She nods.

"Damn, ma."

"Yeah, I was shocked, too," V added.

"I admit that was a little dramatic. But I appreciate you hearing me out," Yemi confesses.

"Of course, Yemi. Even though you threw away our best friend title, you're still mine," V tells her, smiling.

Damn, a lot of shit was said in the short amount of time I was gone. I knew Yemi was feeling some type of way -- I was too -- but I had no idea she was that bothered.

She stops hugging me, breaking me from my thoughts. "Well... I'm gonna take a nap, right now," she says with a tight lipped smile. Either she's that tired or she's hiding how she really feels. She never smiles like that. But I'll talk to her later about it.

"Do you wanna hang out after?" I hear V ask her.

"Yeah, we can." She gives me a quick peck on the lips before walking off.

"That's all I get? I haven't seen you in like 3 hours, ma."

"Oh my gosh. I forgot how annoying you two are." Now she knows how I feel when she volunteers information about her sex life.

Yemi spins around, smiling. "I'm sorry, my love." She jumps on her tippy toes, and then grabs my face before giving me a much better kiss. "I missed you, too, handsome," she says giving me her real smile. That smile always sends me into a deep thought. Honestly, everything about her does. I never thought I would feel this way about anyone.

"Papi?" Yemi interrupts my thoughts, knowing damn well she can't be calling me that when we have company. She smirks, knowing exactly what I am thinking. "I thought that would get your attention." She rubs her hand down my chest area before walking away.

I'm right on her tail. "Looks like you're not about to get any sleep."

"Oh shit. What time should I come back?" I hear V calling out as I follow Yemi into the bedroom.

"Just stay here," I tell her.

"I do not wanna hear y'all moaning! I'll be back in two hours!"

I hear the front door closing as I watch Yemi crawl into bed with her ass poked out. Shit... V better change that to three hours.

­­­___

THE NEXT DAY

The airplane lands and I immediately get this premonition of what this week might bring. I don't think it's the Jamie thing, though. I came to the conclusion that he probably just wants to tell me what caused him to change his number, but probably wants to meet up before church so there won't be any bad tension between us during Service. I just hope that all this drama isn't over some shorty.

"I miss New York already," Yemi coos, poking her bottom lip out.

"I bet you do. When do you have to be back at work?"

"Tomorrow."

"Damn. They were not playing with you."

"Nope. But at least my boss didn't try to find a replacement for me."

"They replace people a lot?"

"Unfortunately."

That's fucked up. I wonder if that's what she wants as a career. She mentioned that she wants to travel with me, but I'm not sure how that's possible if her job is at risk when taking time-off. I definitely gotta talk to her about that later.

Speaking of work... I take my phone out of my pocket and turn the airplane mode off, hoping nothing bad has happened at my new gym while we were in the air. A few notifications pop up on the screen. The one that catches my attention first is a text from the pastor.

I forgot he wanted me to help unload boxes for the food drive.

The seatbelt light turns off, and I can hear the majority of passengers behind us wasting no time reaching for the overhead bins. I grab our carry-ons from above us before leading Yemi out stealthily.

"Mamas..."

"Yes?"

"I forgot I told the pastor I would help him in a couple of hours. You want the driver to take you home first?"

"Is that where my truck's parked?" She responds, grinning.

I chuckle at her excitement. "I don't know what I was thinking. Off to my place, then," I tease her.

She links her arm with mine as we walk through the airport. "I still can't believe you got me a G Wagon. I can't thank you enough."

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, ma." I hope she knows that I mean every word of that. That's why, now that I'm back, the first person I have to set straight is that grimy ass Jonathon.

Yemi jumps up and kisses my cheek right before we step onto the escalator. "You're so sweet to me Sammie. The best boyfriend ever."

___

I see a small semi-trailer as I approach the back of the church parking lot. I hope P got a couple of more people helping us. Usually, I wouldn't mind it just being the two of us doing the work. But right now, my bed is calling my name.

I walk around to the other side of the trailer, and see P talking to Brandon, the same Brandon who was trying to spit game to my Yemi.

The pastor does a double take before smiling. "What's up, Youngblood?" We fist bump.

"How you doing, P?"

"I'm blessed. Welcome back."

"Appreciate it." I look over at Brandon. "Wud up Brandon?"

"Nothin'." You can tell he really didn't want to say anything. I just chuckle at him before walking to the opening of the trailer. Seeing mad boxes full of food inside of them.

"Thanks for coming out Sam. I know you're probably tired from that flight."

"It's all good." I add a box on top of the one I'm carrying. "How do you want everything set up?"

"I was just going over the set up with Brandon." He waves Brandon over to us. I find it funny that it's been a few months now, and Brandon still looks salty.

"Alright, so we'll stack all the boxes inside against the wall. Once the coordinator gets here, she'll have her crew empty out the contents and organize them however they want.

"Bet."

For 20 minutes, we unload the trailer. I put the last box on the wall when I hear indistinct chatter. I turn around and see the pastor walking in and Brandon on his way out.

"Good work fellas."

"Alright sir. See you Sunday," Brandon tells P before walking out the door.

"Thanks Brandon." He turns to me and smiles. "That woman must be something else for Brandon to act like that."

"She's a different breed, I'll tell you that. And you were definitely right about God sending her to me."

"When have I ever been wrong?" He asks sarcastically, causing me to chuckle.

"Let me get out of here, so I won't be in the crew's way."

"Oh wait... there's a woman out there who volunteered to help when I met her on Sunday. She came up to me after the service and told me she knew you from years back."

"Knew me?"

"Yeah. Her name is Jasmine."

What? Wait, what? That can't be what I heard. "Who did you just say?"

"Jasmine. Oh, here she comes, right now." He nods at the door, and I immediately turn and see... her.

What the fuck?

"Sam..." She starts walking towards me, smiling. I stare at her every movement, hoping that my eyes are playing tricks on me.

"You alright, Sam?" I hear P ask me.

"He's probably just shocked to see me out here. I had moved back home to the Bay, after college," she answers for me.

I feel like my world is crashing down right now.

"Ah. Got it. Well, I'll let you two catch up. Thanks again for helping out, Sam."

I hear everything, but I feel like I'm losing all my other senses.

"Sam?" I hear the pastor call out just before tapping my shoulder.

My instincts kick in, and I accidently push him. He almost falls to the floor and his eyes grow big. "P, I didn't mean to do that."

He looks between her and me. "Sam, let me walk you to your car," he says with concern in his voice. I nod at him, grateful P didn't take any offense to my reaction.

I start to leave, but then she grabs me. I yank my arm out of her grasp, causing her to jump.

"Sam, you're not still mad at me, are you?"

Why the fuck is she here? This can't be a coincidence.

"I didn't think you'd react like this. Jamie told me you were doing well, so I thought it wouldn't be a problem for me to come and talk to you."

"Jamie?"

"Uh-huh. We've been staying in touch for some time now. He keeps me updated on you."

"What? For what?" I can't believe this shit.

"Wait. Is that a problem?" She asks in disbelief as if she hasn't done anything wrong.

Hold up... is she the one he's been acting stupid over? That's why he wanted to talk before Sunday... she's been coming to the church. Yo, you got to be fuckin' kidding me!

I rush to the door and the pastor follows me. I hear him telling Jasmine to give me some space as we exit the building. I walk past the group of ladies outside, and they all speak to me, but I keep moving, not wanting to deal with them at this moment.

I'm ready to flip the fuck out, and I'm starting with Jamie.