Page 7 of Intentional Foul (The Complexity of Love #2)

I diverted my attention to the stove, but he cupped my chin, bringing my attention back to him. We glared at each other with intensity. If he wasn’t Anissa’s son I could get lost in his brown eyes.

“Jhae, I’m going to come over tonight. We need to talk about how we’re going to move forward,” he said.

I pushed his hands away. “You and I do not have anything to discuss. There is no we . Anissa is my best friend, Malcolm. I’m off limits, move before someone catches us,” I said.

He lowered himself to eye level with me. “I don’t care who knows. I’m in love with you, Music Note,” he said.

The thought of arguing with him pushed forward, but I rejected it. I tried freeing myself by removing his hand from the counter, but he didn’t budge.

“Malcolm, I don’t feel the same. Move,” I said.

“You won’t allow yourself to because you’re worried about your best friend. I’m not giving up, Jhae,” he said.

I continued to focus on the cabinets with my arms folded. Malcolm leaned into me. My heart rate increased as his heated breath landed on my skin. The warm wetness from his lips aroused me.

“We will talk about this later. I love you, Music Note,” he whispered and backed away.

“Marquise, give me my daughter,” Anissa said.

The shame of being aroused coated me as tears formed. I exited, opposite Malcolm, in search of the bathroom as Anissa’s voice closed in on us.

Malcolm

Running after Jhae would’ve alerted Mom.

I didn’t care if she knew about us, but my Music Note felt differently.

At the sight of Jhae’s car in the driveway, the anticipation of seeing her smile overtook me.

I hopped out of Pops’s truck, leaving it running at first but doubled back.

Not seeing her for two months had me in a head fog and shooting slump.

“You want to stay with me, don’t you, Khaira?” my brother said.

Mom and my twin entered the kitchen. “What’s wrong with Jhae,” Mom asked me, and I shrugged.

“I’ll check on her,” I offered, and she agreed with a head shake.

I moved down the hall, passing the family photos, stopping at the closed powder room door. The muffled sound of sniffles creaked over the sound of the vent. Tapping on the door, Jhae said, “give me a minute.”

I remained quiet with my hand resting against the doorframe. Jhae opened and rolled her glossed over eyes. She tried moving around me, but I blocked her exit. Stepping forward triggered her to step back into the bathroom. With enough clearance, I shut the door behind us.

“Malcolm, can we not?” she said.

I cupped her chin, bringing her warm brown eyes back to me. “I’m sorry if I upset you, but I am in love with you,” I said.

She lifted her hands in the air and allowed them to fall in disbelief.

“This is not right or okay. Anissa is my best friend. This could ruin my life,” she said.

I examined her twice, taking in the worry lines printed on her forehead. “I’m not trying to ruin your life, Jhae. I’m the last person who would ever want to hurt you. I believe you can have both. We can be lovers, and you can still have your relationship with Mom,” I said.

Jhae’s hands waved between us. “There is no we, us, lovers, nothing,” she said.

“Why were you upset a minute ago? When our skin connected, you experienced the same spark I did but couldn’t handle the guilt?” I guessed.

The trembling of her body confirmed my suspicion. Energy flowed through both of us.

“There was no spark. Get. Out. Of. My. Way,” she spoke each word with heightened aggression.

When she realized her feistiness turned me on, she would try a different emotion. I captured her waist, pulling her to me. She swallowed hard at our closeness as I examined her face. I tried deciding which part of her skin I intended on kissing. The gloss coating of her lips teased me.

“Malcolm. . .”

I placed my lips over hers and pulled her bottom lip into my mouth.

She positioned her hands on my chest to push me away, but her attempts were weak.

Jhae invited me inside her mouth as our tongues introduced themselves for the first time.

The smell of her gentle scented perfume and thick lip gloss hardened my dick.

The warmth of her mouth separated my spirit from my body.

The hunger I’d suppressed for her could no longer be contained. Jhae belonged to me.

“We can’t do this,” Jhae said in a low, unsure tone as we separated.

It pained me to release the security of her body, but I did, stepping backward.

“Don’t ever do that again, Malcolm. Let go of this dream or fantasy you have of us. It’s never going to happen.”

I battled if I wanted her to meet the real me.

The version who wouldn’t entertain a universe with us not being together.

Understanding I’ve shocked everything within her system, I allowed her to believe this was the end.

She sidestepped me to leave, and I smiled with the residue of her gloss on my lips.

For this to be my first kiss, I pulled it off; I thought to myself.

Entering the main living space, Pops and Caleb had joined everyone in the kitchen.

Jhae moved closer to Mom as if she could save her from me.

With our foundation not being solid, Jhae and I couldn’t withstand the wrath of Anissa Shaw- Jefferies.

We needed to be sure in our relationship before telling someone outside of Marquise and Ivey.

On the night of our marriage vows, I roped in Ivey to hack the marriage license database.

I needed the legality of our union to remain hidden until further notice.

She congratulated me on finally making a move to secure my woman.

It surprised me that Ivey knew about my affection for Jhae. She said anyone with eyes could see it.

“Malcolm, can I talk to you for a minute,” Mom said and Jhae stiffened.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said and followed Mom outside to the patio area.

I stared into Mom’s fuller face and secretly agreed with Pops about her keeping the weight. Mom patted my upper arm and smiled.

“Mal, we need to talk about you and Jhae,” she said, and I gave a slight lift to my brows.

“I’m listening.”

“Son, I know you have a crush on Jhae but it’s not okay to tell her not to date. It’s time for you to move on. Find a nice girl and go on a date. Jhae is family,” she said.

Respectfully, I disputed her ask. “Mom, Jhae is one of a kind. She is my wife.”

Mom gave a slight giggle before temporarily lowering her eyes to the patio and back up to me.

“Son, Jhae is not going to date or marry you. She would never betray my trust. There are plenty of singers out here. What happened to the Music Note girl,” she said, and I smirked.

“Why does it have to be a betrayal? We are both adults and have our own money. Jhae is the one for me. Don’t you want me to be happy and in a healthy relationship?” I teased to gain insight on the matter.

Mom shook her head with amusement. “Malcolm, I do want you in a happy and healthy relationship but not with Jhae. She is my best friend. Move on, Malcolm,” she warned and kissed my cheek.

As she opened the patio door to step back inside, I sighed. The family merger would be harder than I imagined.

Pops ignited the fire pit as the sun set and we sat around joking with each other after dinner. Jhae continued to glue herself to my mother out of quiet fear.

“Jhae, when is the album coming out?” Caleb asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m struggling with my love ballads. My mood is more party not love,” Jhae said.

Caleb inched closer to her, but I knew she wasn’t interested. Jhae selected a strawberry from her bowl and bit into it, drawing Caleb’s attention. He focused on her mouth and licked his lips.

“Let me take you out. Somewhere romantic,” he said.

“Speaking of dating, Jhae suggested we all double date at a new restaurant not far from her condo,” mom said and I closed my eyes to suppress my anger.

“Sounds good to me,” Caleb agreed.

Marquise cut his eyes at me as I awaited Jhae’s answer. “I hear it’s a good place for friends to hang out,” she said.

Jhae should’ve said no instead of giving him false hope.

Witnessing Caleb try but fail with my woman around the fire pit amused me. He’s been trying to make headway for the better part of the BBQ.

“Pops, can you hand me a bottled water?” I asked, interrupting their conversation, reminding Jhae I was still in attendance.

He passed me a bottle, and squinted his eyes at me. Leave it to Pops to start putting things together. He was nosier than mom sometimes.

“Maybe I could help you write a song,” Caleb offered Jhae, and she covered her mouth and laughed. “I’m serious,” he said and tapped her leg.

I pulled out my phone and texted her.

Me

Tell him you’re not interested so he can stop embarrassing himself.

“Marquise, did you get my message?” I said to throw everyone off of Jhae and I texting.

My brother lifted his phone, playing along with my game.

Jhae

Stop it Malcolm.

Me

If he touches you again, I’m going to turn the fuck up.

“Marquise, man, you need to chill,” I said, and my brother shrugged in response.

Jhae

Malcolm, why are you talking like this?

“Bro, did you get the pictures?” Marquise asked as I held the phone to my face.

Me

I’m not going to tolerate any more disrespect.

“Jhae, can I pick you up maybe tomorrow night? I would love to take you out before the double date,” Caleb asked with hope-filled eyes.

She scanned the space, pausing in my direction before returning her eyes to him.

“I can’t, in fact, I need to be going,” she voiced to the crowd and stood.

I mirrored her movement by standing. “Can I hitch a ride with you? Marquise has plans for tonight. I would’ve been gone if I had driven.”

Jhae smiled but changed her stance. “Sorry, I’m not going straight home. I have somewhere to be.”

My little liar , I thought to myself as she hugged my mom and kissed Khaira.

“Pops, I need your keys. I parked behind Jhae,” I lied to get alone with my woman.

He dug into his jeans, tossing me his keys as Jhae continued to put unwanted space between us. “You can take my truck home if you need to, Son,” he said.

I declined to answer, following behind Jhae as she tried to exit the side gate.

Although she had a head start on me, I’m bigger so one step for me was two for her.

I sprinted behind her, catching the side gate before it closed.

Snagging her arm, I paused her steps, tugging her to the blind spot of the security cameras.

“Music Note.”

“Malcolm, was I not clear?” she whispered.

The sound of everyone laughing bounced around us.

“You were clear, but I was too,” I reminded.

“Goodbye, Malcolm,” she said and removed herself from my grasp.

I followed Jhae outside to the front and watched her get inside her car and pull away.

“Bro, what you gon’ do?” Marquise asked from behind.

Turning to him, I said. “I’m just getting started. My little Music Note will soon learn that I will stop at nothing for us to be together,” I said

Marquise shook his head and laughed. “But yet I’m the crash out and need therapy,” he said.