Adrienne, who moved to New Orleans from somewhere else, would run the other way.
Out loud, he said, “All right. Thanks for letting me know, Mama.”
“Just be careful, Jayden. You’re my reason for living.”
“I’ll be around to drive you crazy until you’re a hundred years old,” he promised. “Mama, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure, Jay.”
“It’s about Izzy.”
Silence.
“Would you consider letting her stay with Daddy full time?”
No response.
“She loves it there. Our stepsister, Chelsea, is her best friend. They go everywhere together. She’s really happy.”
“I been good, Jay,” his mother’s voice was hushed. “I done everything the court said and more.”
“I know, Mama.” Already, he hurt for her. “Isabelle is really happy.”
“She needs to know her relations.”
“When she’s older, I’ll bring her to visit everyone,” he promised.
“I’ll think about it.” She hung up.
Jayden resisted the urge to call her back and press the issue. It was hard for him to broach the subject, even harder not to imagine how poorly his mother might handle the topic. Was she lining up shot glasses? Calling the ex who supplied her with drugs?
He had to have a little faith that she’d do what was right. He was giving her the chance to prove she knew what was best for her daughter. Jayden just wanted her to sign away Izzy willingly in hopes of giving his troubled mother some peace.
He released a breath, thoughts on his grandmama’s latest bizarre prediction.
A white girl with white hair and eyes like jewels.
The description was too accurate for his comfort. He could convince himself it was a coincidence, except for the information Adrienne told him about her sister dying.
He shook his head, spooked for no reason.
Jayden finished the drive to his dad’s and pulled into the smaller garage behind the house. His two young sisters weren’t on the couch waiting for him, which meant Tara had probably dragged them kicking and screaming to bed despite her insistence earlier it was his turn.
Selfish and vain, Tara still had a streak of goodness in her. Sometimes, he forgot she’d come from a background as screwy as his. Tara’s biological parents were both dead. Her mother died of cancer when she was young, and her father passed soon after Chelsea was born. Cherie Washington had adopted the little girl left to her by her dead husband then married Jayden’s daddy, who adopted both girls as his own.
Tara was a good person, if snobby.
The sounds of low talk and scent of cigar smoke came from his father’s study, an indication the dinner party was running late.
He continued down the hallway to the kitchen and automatically checked the refrigerator to make sure the chef had prepared the lunches for the two young girls before he went to his room.
Alone in the quiet room, he flung himself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts fluttered between Adrienne’s incredible smile and his mother’s uncanny warning.
He’d never believed in that voodoo crap. He wasn’t about to tonight.
Rousing himself from his thoughts, he set his football gear by the door and went to bed.
After a grueling football practice and fast breakfast, Jayden was ready for a nap. He made it though his first period before going to the Coffee Corner. Mickey was there with a cup in his hand already.
“That thing’s bigger than you,” Jayden teased.
“I’m not going to make it,” Mickey groaned.
“Tell me about it.”
“Where were you last night?”
Jayden smiled mysteriously. He wasn’t certain how to answer, because there was no easy way to explain he’d spent two hours walking around the Iberville Projects looking for a girl no one knew he was interested in.
Mickey perked up. “Kimmie?” he guessed.
Jayden shook his head.
“Who?”
“Let me get my coffee.”
Jayden went through the line then met Mickey’s gaze. He nodded his head to the side, indicating Mickey should follow him.
Mickey did.
“You know the singing angel?” Jayden asked.
“No way!”
“Nothing serious. Just tutoring her.”
“So … you’re not asking her to Homecoming?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
“Kimmie would make your life hell.”
And Adrienne’s. Jayden considered, aware it was going to be hard enough for Adrienne to fit in as a scholarship student without Kimmie turning the school against her.
He shouldn’t have to be concerned with what Kimmie thought. It bothered him today more than usual. There were a lot of reasons not to pursue Adrienne: his father, Kimmie, school, the drama of his personal life. Yet he was drawn to her in a way that seemed too strong to resist. Something about her was special.
“Maybe I’ll ask her,” Mickey mused.
“No.”
Mickey laughed. “Okay. Off limits. I get it.”
“Ugh. I just want to play football and graduate valedictorian so I can run away to college. I don’t need more girl drama,” Jayden said.
At that moment, he saw Adrienne, walking with Tara down the hallway. Suspicious of his stepsister’s intentions, he caught her eye and lifted an eyebrow. She grinned.
Jayden scowled. His eyes went to the small form of Adrienne, whose face glowed. Her long hair was in a braid down her back.
“Earth to Jayden,” Mickey teased, waving a hand in front of his eyes. “You’re right. No drama.”
Jayden batted his hand away, aware he stood in the middle of the hallway, gaze on Adrienne.
“She’s just so … pretty,” he said.
“She’s cute. She’s no Tara, though.”
“Dude, I have to live with that. Trust me – you couldn’t handle it,” Jayden said with a smile.
“I’d put up with hell for a chance.”
I know the feeling. Jayden’s eyes strayed once more in the direction Adrienne had gone. He’d ignore the strange warning his grandmama gave him and Adrienne’s father’s racism for a chance to date her.
“Later,” Mickey said, breaking away.
“Later.” Jayden shook his head and headed down the hall.
“How about today?”
He turned at Kimmie’s voice. She stood a few feet behind him, her dark eyes taking in his face closely.
“You still don’t want to date me?” she prodded.
“What? Did you buy a new spell?” he asked.
“Two. One to make you forget every other girl and one to make you love me.”
Jayden rolled his eyes. “The answer is no. I’m telling you. Go get your money back.”
She gazed at him critically. Her eyes fell to the dog tags he wore, and a look of intent interest crossed her face.
“Are you wearing a protection spell?” she asked.
“Goodbye, Kimmie,” he replied and walked away.
She didn’t respond.
Jayden went to his next class and sat down, checking his emails. He had the usual from the guys on the team, but it was Adrienne’s email that caught his attention. He opened it.
Hi J-
Thank you again for rescuing this damsel in distress last night. Your Band-Aid saved my life LOL. We can study at the library tonight or somewhere else. (If you still want to study with me.)
A.