Page 102 of The Love of Priest 2

"Brit, I grew up motherless. I never learned my way around the kitchen, and when I was supposed to learn, we had a private chef. I think it's too late to start now." Jazzlyn shook her head while Priest laughed.

"Yo, the deadbeat mom shit only gets you so far with Brit," Priest enlightened Jazzlyn, letting her know that her go-to excuse wouldn't work on his fiancée.

Jazzy let out a light groan before making her way around the island to wash her hands like Britain expected her to. She put Jazzy to work by having her chop and peel potatoes, ignoring her complaints.

"When Ru and Kay come down, tell them to meet me out back, will you?" he requested of Britain.

She nodded her head in response to him. Before exiting the kitchen, he sat a light kiss onto Britain's lips.

"You make him all soft," Jazzy told Britain once Priest made his exit.

"He's always been a nice guy. He just needed a little love," Britain laughed lightly causing Jazzy to agree with a nod of her head.

"It's nice seeing him enjoying the safe space you created for him. Makes me wish I had one of my own,"Jazzy admitted with a smile.

A light breath aired out of Britain. "The older I got, I realized that you don't necessarily need someone to make you happy or bring you peace.”

Jazzlyn pursed her lips before her shoulders shrugged lightly.

"I know that, but having someone you can trust without a doubt would be nice.

I just feel like I'm never gonna find that person because everyone who comes in my life is just for a season or has motives to get to PJ," Jazzlyn expressed as she continued to cut and peel the potatoes.

Britain felt for her. Jazzlyn lived life differently, and it also didn't help that she had such a rough upbringing. Britain was glad she could be a listening ear instead of someone who would dismiss how Jazzlyn felt due to her being well-off financially.

"You're still incredibly young, Jazzy. In my early twenties, I was a wreck.

I gave the wrong people chances only because I feared the thought of being alone.

It took years of heartbreak and humiliation to find the love I have now.

You just have to take your time through your journey.

When that person does come into your life, enjoy it. "

As Jazzy listened to Britain, her mind couldn't help but venture off to Cameron.

She had yet to tell Britain they had both fallen victim to his bullshit.

As much as she wanted to bring it up, she couldn't find it within herself to do so.

Britain seemed at peace with how she read him for filth at the boutique back in New York.

Resurfacing that while she was in Italy focusing on living a new life would just be awful.

"I appreciate that, Brit. You always know what to say," she expressed her gratitude.

"You're welcome.”

As Britain led the way in the kitchen and Jazzlyn followed helplessly, the two talked about everything they could, really just enjoying each other's company.

The guys sat together in the backyard, enjoying the view with rolled joints in hand, discussing the sit-down Kaymen and J'Ru were scheduled to have with the connect.

Eventually, Britain and Jazzy wrapped up dinner. While Jazzlyn set the table, Britain called the men in from the backyard so they could claim their seats. Priest was last to return inside. Before making his way toward the dining room, he turned to face Britain.

"Thank you." He peered down at her with his dark orbs, expressing his gratitude for her making dinner.

Britain smiled up at him as he pulled her close, resting both hands on her rear. "Don't worry about it." She shrugged lightly. "It was fun. I really enjoyed doing something as normal as cooking instead of being served and catered to."

Priest smirked down at her. "I guess you'll be a good housewife after all," he teased her with a laugh.

Britain quickly shook her head. "See, you're pushing it," she warned.

Priest eased up with his jokes as he craned down to meet her for a kiss.

Together, they made their way to the dining room hand in hand.

Britain made sure everyone was served before claiming her seat.

Together, they bowed their heads, allowing Priest to lead the table in prayer.

Once they all said amen, they began eating.

"So, you ever coming back to the city or y'all making this move permanent?" Kaymen asked Priest.

As the attention drifted over to Priest, he let out a light sigh. A return to the city wasn't something that had ever been discussed between Priest and Britain, so even she wanted the answer as well. "I don't got the answer to that yet," he admitted and shrugged his broad shoulders.

A scoff escaped J'Ru. "You should probably wait until Sylvia’s old ass dies," he carelessly let out as he took a big bite of the food, earning a spree of laughter from the table.

"C'mon! That's uncalled for," Priest said, despite him being in laughter as well.

"He's right, though," Jazzy agreed. "She got it out bad for this one," she informed him and pointed to Britain. With a roll of her eyes, Britain laughed. She knew Sylvia hated her, and it was for all the wrong reasons.

"Fuck her finding out you really alive! Imagine how she gone act when she finds out y'all getting married," Kaymen mentioned, causing J'Ru and Jazzy to agree.

Priest was sitting across from Britain at the table, and the two exchanged a look with each other.

Hearing this was putting things into perspective for both of them, making them realize they had a lot working against them if and when they ever agreed to return to New York. It was a lot to think about.

"Speaking of wedding, what's the plan?" Jazzlyn asked Priest.

A smooth chuckle aired out of Priest. Because of their line of questioning, at this point, he felt like he was in the hot seat, but he wasn't rubbed the wrong way by it.

He understood their worries and concerns.

After all, whatever he decided to do would affect them.

His life always seemed to have a ripple effect on everyone else's.

"I think we’re just enjoying the engagement," he shrugged before taking a drink of the brown liquor he had lingering in his cup. "But if Brit wants to start planning now, I'm good with that too," he added as she averted his gaze to Britain.

Britain shifted in her seat a bit. In her mind, the question was what was the point of planning a wedding if they couldn't sign the paperwork?

But she had yet to have that conversation with him.

A light smile canvassed her face as she nodded her head, agreeing with him.

"Yeah, I'm not in a rush, but I'm also not against looking around for some ideas.

Maybe we can go shopping tomorrow, Jazzy?

" She turned to Jazzlyn in hopes of ending the conversation about her and Priest's wedding.

In Britain's favor, the conversation was steered away from the wedding as J'Ru cut in. "Jazzy rolling with us tomorrow," he told Britain.

Priest's face screwed up at J'Ru dictating where Jazzy would be going the following day. "Since when?" he asked. "We’re handling business tomorrow. Jazzy got no parts in any of that."

Kaymen let out a heavy, stressed sigh as he leaned back in his seat. He could always count on J'Ru to just spit shit out without any second thought. Now he was bound to be caught in the crossfire between the J'Ru and Priest.

Tension was beginning to build around the dinner table.

Jazzlyn definitely wanted to jump the table and strangle the hell out of J'Ru right now.

Having Priest find out that she was working alongside them wasn't supposed to go down like this.

If anything, she wanted to be the one to tell her brother.

"I'm talking to myself now?" Priest throated out, his tone much heavier as the frustration began to brew within him. He was awaiting a response from either of them, but they looked as though they were all awaiting someone else to give him the answers.

"We ran into an issue," Kaymen finally spoke up, hoping that if he led the conversation, there would be fewer chances of a blow up because J'Ru and Priest were both too headstrong.

"I ain't hear about no issue, so what’s really going on?" Priest scoffed before taking another swig of the liquor in his cup.

A heavy breath exhaled out of J'Ru as he sat his utensils down on his dinner plate.

"You sent us an empty ship when we were ready to load it with paper and send it back here," he reminded Priest, referring to the ship that was supposed to be filled with product.

"We couldn't just have all that paper sitting around.

If the wrong eyes landed on it, ain't no telling what motherfuckas would’ve done to get their hands on that paper," J'Ru continued to explain.

"We do what we always do," Priest cut in.

He felt like J'Ru was gearing up to tell him a long-winded story that he really didn't have time for.

If having the money sitting around was an issue, then J'Ru and Kaymen should have brought the money over to the trusted accountant who had never done wrong by them.

Kaymen shook his head. "You know we can't do that, P.

Out here, you're living, but out there in the city, you gone.

Ain't no way your accountant should be seeing that much paper when you're supposed to be dead.

It just wouldn't make sense," Kaymen continued to explain, hoping that Priest would quickly understand.

"So, where Jazzy come in at?" Priest's thick brows were pushed together in confusion. Sitting across from him, Britain could see the patience diminishing within him by the second. He was trying his best to keep his composure, but she was unclear how long that would last.