Impossibly Forever: Two Books in One (Impossibly Duology) (18 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Moya

  
After finishing up our shopping
at Harborplace in downtown Baltimore,
Vanessa and I decided to have lunch at a shrimp eatery inside the mall. Her
cold symptoms had eased up, making the day more fun and relaxing.

  
We sat at one of the tables by the window with the view of the harbor. Even
though it was cold outside, there were still tourists in the harbor taking
pictures of the popular USS Constellation naval ship and other nearby
attractions.

  
“Branden coming to the Annual Christmas Eve Festival?”
Vanessa asked, helping herself to one of my crab cakes.

  
“I hadn’t even mentioned it to him.”

  
Her brows shot up.
“Why not?”

  
I shrugged.
“Forgot.
What about Calvin? He never comes
to the festival.” That always made me curious, how Vanessa and Calvin never saw
each other on Christmas or New Year’s.

  
“Cause he’s always going out of state with his
fam
,” she replied, playing it cool.

  
I suggested, “He should stay back one year, spend the holiday with you, or even
take you along.”

  
She quickly changed the subject. “What do you think we should get our moms for
Christmas?”

  
I hoped things were really good between her and Calvin, and she wasn’t
pretending with me. I knew my best friend well, but sometimes, I feared I
didn’t know her well enough.

  
Accepting Vanessa’s evasion, I went along and answered her question, “I’m going
to treat mine to a day at the spa. She’s been complaining about her feet and
back lately. A relaxing massage would be nice for her. She’ll like that, maybe
yours will too?”

  
“Mmm hmm.”
She drank some soda, a sly grin playing at
her lips as she said, “I could use a massage myself; have some sexy masseuse
oil me down and loosen me up.” She winked at me. “I love the Spanish ones too.
They just hit the right spots.”

  
Not in the least bit surprised by her remark, I snorted. If a stranger heard
Vanessa talking they’d think she was single. “Girl, don’t you have a
boyfriend?”

  
She tittered. “And I love him dearly.”

  
“I don’t know about you sometimes?”

  
I was starting to notice how she kept glancing at her phone, checking for a
text or something. So I decided to ask, “What are you waiting—”

  
“Hello, ladies. Nice seeing you here,” the deep voice disturbed me.

  
“It can’t be,” I muttered, turning around to confirm. I screwed up my face
seeing it really was Tobias.

  
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, pointing my fork at him.
“Listen, you’re seriously taking this thing too far now. Don’t make me call the
cops.”

  
Astonished, Tobias stepped back and raised his hands. “Christ! Remember I live
in Baltimore too? I’m just shopping at the mall like everybody else. See,” he
lifted the bags for proof.

  
“Dang, girl, relax.” Vanessa reached over and snatched the fork from my hand,
putting it down on the table. “Were you going to stab him or something?” she joked.

  
I sucked my teeth. “Don’t be silly.” Then I eyeballed Tobias again, shooting
daggers at him. “But you’re getting on my last nerve.”

  
A smug grin spread across his lips. “I can’t say hi to my classmates now?”

  
“Tobias, you’re something else,” Vanessa chuckled. She nudged my hand. “You
should just go on one date with him, girl.”

  
I gave her a cold stare. “Are you crazy? I have Branden.”

  
“I’m only joking, chill out.”

  
“Well, that’s not funny,
Nessa.”                 

  
Her phone buzzed. After reading the text she sprang from the chair and started
to get her stuff together. “Girl, I gotta run. Calvin texted me saying he wants
to talk about something.”

  
“Okay, I’ll drive you.”

  
“Um,” she appeared awkward all of a sudden. “You don’t have to. He’s going to
pick me up. Don’t worry about it.”

  
I got up anyway. “It’s no problem. I’m leaving too.”

  
When I turned to leave, Tobias reached out his hand in front of me so I
couldn’t pass.

  
“Man, are you still here?” I groaned.

  
“Oh, come on, Moya. Hang out with me for a while.”

  
Vanessa was already at the exit. She peered back at us and said, “Calvin’s
outside the mall; gotta hurry. I’ll call you later, Moya.”

  
Not waiting for my response, she hasted off without so much as a look behind to
see if Tobias let me by, which he still hadn’t done.

  
“You heard your friend: one date,” he said.

  
Rolling my eyes, I pressed the back of my hand against his chest and tried to
move him aside. “You know my answer.”

  
Finally, Tobias let me through, only to follow closely behind as I exited the
shrimp eatery.

  
“Have you always been so headstrong?”

  
I ignored him, bustling down the steps. The frigid air tickled my face as the
wind picked up. Tobias reached for my elbow and slowed me down before I could
completely get away from him. My frustration level soared.

  
“Leave me alone, damn it.”

  
“I’ve wanted you since Calvin’s party, Moya. I’m not going to give up. I
can’t.”

  
The piercing look in his deep, brown eyes startled me. I’d seen that gaze
before. It was almost similar to the way Branden looked at me.

  
I wrung my arm free. “You can’t always get what you want, Tobias. I told you I
already have someone. A guy that I lo—”

  
I didn’t get to finish saying the word because he shoved his lips on mine. I
quickly pushed him off, slapping him so hard my hand stung.

  
“What the hell!”

  
Grinning, Tobias licked his bottom lip and rubbed his thumb across it. He
looked pleased. “I knew you’d taste good. I bet you feel even better.”

  
“Asshole!”
I shouted, not caring if anyone heard. “You
ever touch me again and you’ll get more than a slap across the face.”

  
I spun around, exasperated, wanting more than anything to get away from him; to
erase what just happened from my mind.

  
“Moya, I’m sorry,” he yelled after me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  
His voice faded the further I got away from the mall, crossing the street to
the parking garage. Thank goodness he wasn’t following anymore.

  
Tobias kissed me. He actually had the audacity to put his mouth on mine. I
tightened my jacket around my body, feeling cold, and somewhat violated. How
could I tell Branden that another guy kissed me? Then again, why would I tell
him?

***

  
That evening, I showered, got dressed, and waited for Branden to come pick me
up. I always felt anxious going by his house. It was the third time I’d be
having dinner with his family, and I still couldn’t control my nerves.

  
“You look nice,” Momma complimented me as I walked into the living room,
peeking out the window. Branden would be here any moment now.

  
Plopping down next to her on the crimson sofa, I replied, “Thanks, Momma. You
don’t think it’s too dressy, do you?”

  
She rubbed my arm. “No. It’s just fine.”

  
I decided to wear my ivory sweater, black jeans, and ankle boots, and I
accessorized with my butterfly necklace and gold stretch bracelet. I didn’t
want to dress too formal, but I still wanted to appear as if I made an effort.
Mrs. McCarthy always gave me a glance over whenever I entered her home. That
much I’d noticed.

  
“You should bring him by more often. I feel like I haven’t seen him in a
while,” she remarked, skipping through the channels to find something to watch
on TV.

  
“I will.” Then a thought occurred. “I’ll tell him to come over for dinner next
weekend.”

  
She looked at me and smiled. “Good. I look forward to that. He’s a wonderful
young man.”

  
At the sound of a car pulling up outside, butterflies began to swarm around in
my tummy. I stood the moment Branden knocked on the door, my heart pounding as
I treaded over to open it.

  
His blue eyes beamed at me. “Hey, you look nice.”

  
“Thank you. So do you.”

  
“Me?” he pointed to himself, doubtful, and peered down at his clothes. Branden
was wearing a gray crewneck t-shirt inside of his green military jacket, with
dark jeans and boots. I couldn’t help but smile. No matter how simple he was
dressed, he was more handsome every time I laid my eyes on him. He was my
Branden.

  
I collected myself when Momma came over.
“Hey, Branden.
How are you doing?”

  
“I’m doing all right, Ms. Douglas.
How about yourself?”

  
“I’m good.” She smiled in an odd way that told me she was about to haul him
inside and start sharing stories about my childhood.

  
Trying to keep another episode of her showing off my embarrassing pictures, I
grabbed my coat from the rack by the door and hastily moved past her. “We’re
going to take off, Momma. I’ll see you later.”

  
“Oh, you can’t stay a little?” she asked, hopeful.

  
“Next time,” I said, towing Branden down the porch steps.

  
“Well, all right then,” she groaned, disappointed. “Have fun.”

  
“See you, Ms. Douglas,” Branden waved at her over his shoulder.

  
Not long after we climbed inside his car and waited for Momma to close the
front door, I reached over the middle console, kissing him in an insatiable
way. I pulled back for a moment and ran my fingers through his hair then down
the side of his face, while I admired the face I’d been missing for the past
few days. Nothing could compare.

  
Nothing at all.

  
Stroking my cheek, Branden whispered, “I missed you too.” Then he wrapped his
arms around me and pulled me in closer. His grip was tight, thrilling. He gave
me a rush. His spicy scent, leveled by an earthy and provocative aroma, seduced
me. I didn’t want him to let go.

  
I tilted my head and motioned as if I was going in for a kiss, but then I
stopped short, teasing his lips with my tongue instead. His eyes glistened in the
dark, unsatisfied. He wanted more.

  
Branden pressed his lips on mine. His minty taste cooled my mouth as his tongue
made its way inside and wrestled with mine for dominance. We would have gone on
longer, but then the headlights of an incoming car disrupted our heated moment.

  
I pulled away fast, remembering we were still in front of my house and Momma
could have seen the entire thing. She’d surely tease me about it later.

  
Branden settled back into his seat, squeezing my hand. “Damn, I’m not sure I
still want to go to dinner now,” he joked.

  
I brushed back some curls from my face, fixed my coat, and steadied my
breathing. “We should get going though. Momma might be watching.”

  
“Yeah, I guess we should.”

  
Instantly, Branden let go of my hand and started his car, pulling onto the
road. Another five minutes and we’d be in Harrington.

***

  
When we arrived at his house, Branden snaked his arm around my waist as we
strolled along the chestnut grove, stoned walkway up towards the front door.
The concrete architecture of his house, and overall intricate details in the
landscaping always managed to leave me breathless. It was a dream of mine, to
live in a nice house by the water. Maybe one day I’d get to enjoy such things,
with Branden.

  
I recovered quickly from my daydreaming when Mrs. McCarthy opened the front
door to greet us.