Chapter 13: Seeing Red.

 Jason woke up at 6:30 am, did his sit-ups and push-ups, 200 each and then prayed. He had gotten into the habit of praying after he exercised. He also decided to read a daily devotion from an app uncle Pat sent to him. 

After he finished reading he prayed again, giving God thanks for his family, the opportunities for work the Lord had given him, and he prayed for Carli. He prayed that God would keep her safe and that the love they had for each other would grow. He also asked God to show her His love through him.

He went into the bathroom and had a five minute shower. When he came out, he dressed quickly. There was somewhere he needed to be. He was to look at a piece of property with Omar and his dad. They were going to go in 1/3 each on the investment. As opposed to the Paradise Flats investment, where he owned 25%. Though the overall share was smaller, just 7%, it would potentially pull in a bigger revenue stream for all of them overtime. He was excited and grateful for the opportunity.

He put on a pair of black loafers, navy blue trousers and a baby blue colored button down shirt. He put on a watch he had bought a week ago to complete his look.

He closed the apartment door and trotted down stairs to see Omar and his dad standing by their cars waiting for him. 

"Good morning," he told them

Lloyd Marshall nodded his acknowledgement, but Omar said, "Good morning."

Lloyd looked across at Jason's new vehicle. "You driving with us or you taking your car?", he asked.  

"Taking my car. I have some errands to run after we finish meeting the developer," Jason said walking towards his car.

Lloyd nodded. "Okay then."

Omar entered his dad's vehicle. Lloyd would be driving. 

He drove off and Jason followed him. He wasn't familiar with where they were going.

After driving for almost 40 minutes they came upon the property in rural St. Catherine. Jason followed the Marshalls and parked his vehicle in a new shopping mall on the opposite side of the soon to be apartment complex. He parked and met up with them and they crossed the road together. 

Omar and Jason stood at the entrance while Omar's dad went and spoke with the developer who was already on site with the construction team. 

After he spoke with him for awhile, elder Marshall raised his hand and motioned for the two young men to come forward.

Jason and Omar approached, both smiling. As they stood before the developer, Lloyd smiled. "Mr. White, these are Omar and Jason. Omar is my son and Jason is like a son to me." The man nodded at them and extended his hand to them both for a handshake. Both shook his hand enthusiastically.

"Nice that you could come out so early gentlemen." He smiled at all three of them. "Walk with me," he said.

He started walking and they followed. 

"The property overall will be 16,000 square feet, eight floors including ground floor and units of 600 to 1400 square feet size." 

He looked around at the men. Lloyd and Omar smiled and nodded, but Jason's face was expressionless. He just listened.

"There'll be parking space around the back. We'll also build in a laundry room and a small gym on the ground floor space. As you can see we've already broken ground, and begun laying the foundation." He pointed over to his right. "That will be the east side of the parking lot," Mr. White said.

"How much has already been invested?"

This question was from Jason. 

Mr. White looked at Jason directly. "Well we've gone in at about $10 million for surveyors both from government agencies and private, blue prints and architectural design consultants, as well as local government regulatory fees, two environmental impact studies, insurance, digging equipment and laying of the foundation and other matters related to that, which includes raw materials and so on."

Jason nodded. "How much do you estimate to spend overall?", he asked. 

"About $50 to $95 million," Mr White responded.

Jason nodded. He looked at the cleared land space. It was huge. "You could add another floor and make it nine. May I see the site plans please?"

Mr. White eyebrows were raised in surprise. He expected the older gentleman to take the lead in their conversation, not this young man. 

"Not a problem," he said. He had nothing to hide.

He motioned for them to follow him to his car. He opened the car door on the passenger side at the front of the vehicle and took out the blue print and site plans. He spread them out on the car bonnet. All three men approached and took a look.

Lloyd looked at the plans intently. "Oh ... Mr. White I see you have a staircase on the exterior that leads to the car park?", he queried.

"Call me Jeffery," Mr. White replied. "Yes, that will be there as an option as well as an internal staircase that leads to the car park."

"Reinforced steel beams in that area?", Lloyd asked. 

"Certainly," Jeffery answered.

Jason observed that there was extra space on the ground floor. "I noticed there could potentially be space for another unit on the ground floor. What will you be utilizing the space for if not for another unit?"

Jeffery smiled at the young man. Quite sharp. He thought.

"We're thinking of using it for a separate storage unit in lieu of tools and equipment for repairs and maintenance, or we might just allow for rented space for a small cafe."

Jason pointed to a small space facing south of the apartments. 

"That can be your storage space. May I suggest something?" Jason said.

"Go ahead." Jeffery replied.

"If you remove the external stairs you would have enough space to construct an extra unit at the bottom floor and one or two more on each floor thereafter without encroaching on your neighbor's space. Maybe one or two 500 square feet units on each floor."

Jeffery was impressed. "Not a bad idea, but the plans have already been passed by the regulatory board and the local government authorities have already signed off. For the storage space, we'll look into that," he said.

Jason nodded. He understood. Jeffery and Lloyd went aside to discuss further. 

"Smart kid," Jeffery said referring to Jason. Lloyd nodded. 

"A good friend of mine's son. His dad is a painter, one of the best you'll ever find in this country," Lloyd said.

Jeffery nodded. "Okay. Let's get down to business," he said. "You and your crew will help to build the ground floor units at a reduced price for a one per cent stake in the apartments' returns and receive an extra six percent from your investment capital."

Lloyd nodded. "Correct," he said. 

"Alright," Jeffery White nodded. "If you will just come into my company's offices tomorrow morning to further discuss and sign contracts."

"We'll have our lawyer look over the details of the contract if you don't mind, before we sign," Lloyd said confidently.

"Not a problem," Jeffery said.

"Good." Lloyd extended his hand for a handshake. Jeffery shook his hand and nodded his head in agreement. After chit chatting for a few more minutes, Lloyd returned to the young men and smiled. 

"We're all set," he said.

Omar was grinning from ear to ear but Jason was still skeptical. 

Why were they leaving so much space unutilized? He wondered.

He had a funny feeling. Omar noticed his frown and playfully slapped him on the back. "Bro bro, whapm to yuh? You should be glad!" Omie shook his head. Sometimes he couldn't understand him.

Omar squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Jason," he said. "What's the problem? Yuh nuh have your share of di money?"

Jason eyed his friend with left eyebrow raised. "Omie, one thing you should know about me, is that I always have my share. Something 'bout this nuh feel right."

Lloyd walked towards the entrance of the property, the young men followed his lead.

"It's an insignificant amount of space left over. They may want to add in a flower bed or something." Lloyd said over his shoulder. He stopped to watch the traffic on the road waiting for an opportunity to cross over.

"Wouldn't they have mentioned that in the plans?", Jason asked.

Jason couldn't shake the niggling feeling he had. He would have to see if there was some way he could find out what was really happening. "When are we due to give the money?" he asked Lloyd.

Seeing the road was clear, Lloyd stepped out to cross it. Jason and Omar walked briskly across with him. 

Lloyd stopped at his car and turned to Jason. "We have about two weeks to come up with the money," he said. "I would like to get it over and done with by the latest Monday or Tuesday of next week."

"Can you allow the two weeks to play out?", Jason asked. 

Lloyd was perplexed. "It is a perfectly good opportunity," he said frowning at Jason.

"Uncle Lloyd just trust me, please. Let me check something out." Jason pleaded.

Lloyd sighed. Jason usually had very good instincts about these things, but he was afraid that this opportunity would slip them by. He looked at Omar. 

Omar nodded at his dad and said, "Let's do what Jase says, dad." 

Lloyd scratched his beard while thinking. Okay, he would do it. "There's a proviso in the contract that states we can ask for an extra week to source additional funding. He mentioned that it would be in the physical copy that he will fax to me later tonight to read through. I will send an email to him. Okay?"

Jason nodded. "Okay."

"But you will be down in Montego Bay, won't you?" Lloyd asked.

"Yes, but there's internet and email and phone calls. I can do my checks same way."

"Alright," Lloyd said. "I will ask for the three weeks."

"Thank you. I won't let you down," Jason smiled relieved. It was his money on the line too, and he was about to be a married man soon, God willing.

Lloyd grunted. "I hope so." He opened his car door and sat inside. He waited for Omar to finish chatting with Jason. 

Omar slapped Jason on his shoulder. "Yah good yute. Do yuh ting man." He slid into the passenger side. His dad started the engine and they drove off. 

Jason watched them drive off. Something fishy was going on. He however knew who to call for a favor. 

He took out his phone from his pocket and dialed Carli's number. 

Carli answered after five rings. 

"Hey handsome, what's up?" she said. 

Jason liked her new name for him. He smiled at the phone. "Hey beautiful or should I say brown thighs."

He heard Carli laugh. "Stop!", she exclaimed.

"So yuh good?" He asked her.

"As good as I can be without seeing you," she said in a pouty voice.

Jason chuckled. "Soon come look fi yuh, man." He blew her a kiss through the phone.

He sobered up. "I need a favor from you. Moreso from your aunt."

"Okay, what can we do for you?", she asked, her interest peaked.

"I need your aunt to do some checks on a real estate property for me. Omar and his dad want to invest some sweat equity and hard cash into this new apartment complex. They haven't started building yet, but after looking at the plans I have a funny feeling."

Carli chuckled. "You have a funny feeling?", she asked amused. And what in the world is sweat equity? Carli mused.

"Yeh man, sumn nuh right 'bout this thing. Can you ask her if she can call me back around 6 this evening? I'm on the road now. So about 6 if she can just call me back I will explain. She still has ties with the real estate authority, right?"

"Yes, I think she still does. She was a supervisor there, so I think she has friends she can still ask for favors. We'll see. I'll ask her."

"Thank you baby," he said.

"So, what are you wearing?", he asked, leaning on his car. Carli noticed that Jason's voice dipped to an even sexier timbre than usual.

She laughed softly. "Well, it's for me to know and you to imagine," she said teasing him.

"You're not gonna tell me?" he asked, his lips curling into a smile. 

"Nope. Not telling you nothing." Her voice held an air of mystery Jason was eager to uncover.

"Wicked woman," Jason said playfully, his voice as sexy as ever.

Carli felt chills run down her spine. She chuckled.

Jason blew her a kiss.

He paused then said, "Can't wait to see you on Sunday."

"Me too," she said, her tone indicating the longing she felt for him.

Jason heard it. He wanted to see her too, but he had to get some things out of the way before Sunday.

"Alrighty," Jason said. "Talk to you likkle more."

Carli laughed softly. "Yes, talk to you later." She blew him a kiss through the phone. Jason closed his eyes and received it.

She hung up. Jason ended the call.

He unlocked the car, slid inside and started the engine and drove off carefully. 

Carli was definitely making him think thoughts. He laughed softly as he drove down the roadway. 

He thought about the deal and what was required by them to invest. He had no problem with that, but there was something just not right going on. His grandmother always taught him to trust his instincts, so that's what he'll do. He needed to head over to his old place and pick up some more clothes. 

It was Friday. He needed to be finished with moving by at least Saturday night. He had already agreed with his mom that his bed would stay at her place, but the other furniture and the appliances which were not much, would be moved into the new apartment. 

He had one more stop to make before he went over to his old place, and this one was very important to him and the woman he loved. He was going to buy her a gift. It would be something that whenever she looked at it, Carli would think of him and their love. He decided to stop by the mall to buy it for her. He wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with her but he wanted something that would make her feel close to him while he was away. 

***** 

Carli hung up the phone and got dressed. She laughed softly to herself. She wondered what would have happened if she had told Jason that at the very moment he called her and she answered the phone, she was naked. Not a stitch of clothes was on her. She had run out of the shower to answer and was still a bit damp. She giggled thinking about it. She wouldn't have wanted him to crash his newly acquired vehicle. 

After getting dressed she went down stairs and told her aunt that Jason needed a favor from him on behalf of his friend Omar. She was curious too. She told Carli that she wanted to hear what this was about, and would indeed call Jason later to find out more. 

Carli told her aunt that she needed to go on the road. She asked if she could drop her off at the mall on her way to work. Sandra nodded 'yes'. 

Carli reheated breakfast her aunt had left for her and Lissa. It was ackee and saltfish, fried dumplings (johny cakes). She filled the kettle with water, turned on the stove and placed it on the fire for hot water.

After two minutes the water was boiling up. She heard the kettle whistle. She turned off the stove, lifted the kettle and poured some of its contents into her mug. She felt like having some cocoa. She poured the hot water on the instant powder, then placed the kettle on the stove. She went to the fridge and retrieved some condensed milk stored in a glass jar and used a spoon to scoop out some of the milk. Dipping the spoon in her mug, she stirred thoroughly. She returned the milk jar to the fridge and closed the door. 

Carli sat around the table beside her aunt and began eating. She noticed that her aunt was reading the newspapers. Carli was only interested in the comics, she didn't see anything else she wanted to read in the daily editions.

"Anything interesting," she asked jokingly. 

Her aunt looked up at her and smiled. "I guess nothing that would tickle your interest," she said amused.

Carli bit into a warm, crispy dumpling. Mmmh. She thought. Delish.

"Okay," Carli replied. "What has tickled your interest then?" She was almost done with her breakfast. She sipped her tea.

"A merger, a big one," her aunt said, putting down the paper on the table. 

"Oh, anything significant about that?", Carli asked. She was half curious. 

"Yeah, between two major players. One a giant in the food manufacturing business and the other a real estate mogul's company. You don't see those money moves every day. People usually do mergers within their own industry." 

"Oh, okay," Carli said but was clueless.

Sandra folded the newspaper and tucked it under her arm. She would take it with her to work.

"You ready?", she asked Carli.

Carli got up and placed her used mug and plate in the sink. She turned on the faucet and filled it half way. It was Lissa's day off. Hopefully, she wouldn't mind doing everybody's dishes. She told her aunt she was going upstairs to brush her teeth, grab her bag and come down stairs. Sandra nodded."Okay. Hurry," she said.

Carli ran upstairs and dropped her purse in a hidden compartment of her bag. She hurriedly went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then washed her face with just water. She sprayed some of the lavender oil concoction on her neck, wrists and hair then headed downstairs again.

Her aunt was standing by the door. "Ready?", she asked.

Carli nodded. "Yes."

"So, I thought you had already done your shopping for your parents, and if it's about Christmas baking we already bought all the items you'll need that time Heather was here, remember?"

Carli looked over at her aunt as they approached the car. "Yeah, I remember," she said. "This is a gift for Jason."

"Really?" 

Aunt Sandra was intrigued. She wondered what her niece would be buying for him. 

Carli laughed softly as she observed her aunt's surprised expression. "It's nothing expensive," she said.

Carli went to open the gate. She returned to her aunt by the car.

Sandra slipped into the car and casually threw the newspaper on the back seat. Carli waited for her to open the passenger side. She slipped into the vehicle. 

"You should also consider baking him a mini cake, just for him. I told him you were a very good baker," Sandra said her eyes filled with mischief.

Carli noticed the look and laughed. "You did. Did you?"

"Mhm," aunt Sandra said.

Carli thought about it. She could do that. Why not?

Okay," she said. "Will do."

"And remember you have to start baking those orders I got for you ASAP." Sandra started the car, backed it out of the driveway and stopped the vehicle across the road. Carli got out and locked the gate. She re-entered the vehicle and she and her aunt were on their way.

"Yeah, I have been looking through the orders. There's one for a mini Black Forrest cake," Carli replied.

"Black Forrest cake?", aunt Sandra repeated in disbelief. "It's Christmas cake time now," she declared emphatically. 

Carli laughed. "Well aunty," she said amused. "Not everyone is a traditionalist like you."

Aunt Sandra's eyes watched the road as she replied, "I guess not." 

Sandra dropped her off at the mall. She asked if she should come back for her, but Carli shook her head and told her no she would take a taxi back home. Sandra nodded in agreement and drove off.

Carli walked around the mall. She wanted to get something nice for Jason. She wasn't sure what to get him, but she wanted it to be heartfelt. She stepped into a clothing store and looked at a few ties. She only had about $15,000 to spare so she wasn't sure what she could get with it. She didn't want to have to spend the full $15k either. A store clerk came up to her to ask if she needed assistance but she told her no, she was just browsing. 

Feeling uninspired, she stepped out of that store and walked further on. She came up on a jewelry store and stepped inside. Maybe a simple watch or gold plated chain could work. She thought. 

As she stepped inside, her eyes slowly adjusted to the lighting in the room. She walked up to one of the glass displays. She noticed that there was an attendant at the counter but he had bent down to tie his shoelaces. 

"Eh ehm," she said, clearing her throat to get his attention. 

"Just give me a minute," he said without looking up.

Carli was shocked. The voice sounded very familiar to her. "Matt?", she asked wide-eyed. She thought he was still in Manchester.

Matthew raised himself up from behind the counter and looked at her, shaken up by this unexpected encounter. 

"Carli?", he stared at her. 

The last time he saw her she still had natural hair. Now as he looked at her, Matthew perceived that there was something different about her, besides the new hairstyle. 

"Matthew. It's nice to see you," she said excitedly. She reached over the counter and hugged him. She forgot that he was angry with her. 

Matthew was surprised to see her but happy at the same time. He returned the embrace. 

He looked her up and down. She had gained a bit of weight around her hips and thighs. No doubt if she turned around he would confirm that her butt had been blessed with the extra weight as well. She was wearing a black blouse with the word 'Pink' in pink letters, black jeans shorts with fringes at the ends and a pair of strappy gold sandals.

"You look great," he said, eyeing her with male appreciation.

Carli smiled. "Thank you," she said.

She took him in.

He was wearing a black and blue jersey, a pair of light blue jeans and black sneakers. His hair was cut low with a sharp fade.

"So, you work here?", she asked, curious.

"Yes I do," he said. Gosh! She was a sight for sore eyes! He thought. 

"I moved into Kingston about two months ago, but I've been working at this job for about a week now." He said smiling at her. 

Carli always liked his smile. She smiled back at him. He was handsome. She wasn't sure why she hadn't noticed that before. He was sporting the beard he had taken the time to grow out during the summer, but now it was cut low and nicely shaped up, complementing his jawline. It made him look more mature and definitely sexy.

He was shorter than Jason but was much taller than her 5 feet 5 inches height. He had a nice muscular build; strong broad back, chest and shoulders, flat stomach and strong muscular legs from his time playing football at high school. His arms were quite toned, they weren't as sinewy as Jason's, but there was very good muscle definition. 

She remembered the way he kissed and touched her. He ignited a spark inside her, that judging by her reaction to seeing him now months later, left a strong impression on her. He was a very skillful kisser. There was also a controlled roughness about the way he handled her during the encounter that still played on her mind. 

Even the way he behaved when she saw him at Simone's house made her weak, but she couldn't conceive of their ten year friendship being interrupted by more intimate actions and thoughts. She just wanted her friend back. The cheerful guy that always knew what to do or say to make her laugh. She missed him. There was however a side to him that, after their kiss, she was drawn to.

If she lost herself and started thinking about him, she wondered what would have happened if his mom hadn't interrupted them. How being with him would have felt like, if they had gone all the way that day. She had been too weak to stop him. She tried not to think about it very often, especially now that she was with Jason, but the curiosity was there, lurking never far beneath her conscious thoughts. She bet Simone was very satisfied with him in the bedroom. 

Carli, what are you thinking?! She rebuked herself. You chose Jason remember. Besides, Simone is with him now. Cut that out!

Matthew noticed the way she was looking at him. He remembered their kiss. Now that he was free, he wondered if he and Carli could rekindle a relationship that was more than a friendship. 

"So, what can I do for you?", he asked her, his eyes intently observing her every movement. Carli felt awkward now. Maybe she should try another store. Come up with an excuse girl! She thought.

"Well, you're in a jewelry store," Matthew said. "Is this something for your mom or dad?", he asked.

Yes! Thank God he gave me an excuse! Carli thought to herself. "My dad," she stuttered nervously.

Matt nodded. He noticed she was nervous. He wondered if she remembered their encounter in his room almost a year ago or the time they were at Simone's house. He did. He also felt she wanted him to kiss her then but she was afraid. He had been with other girls, but Carli was the one who evoked raw, passionate desires in him, something he never felt before. He must have scared her. 

He could admit that he was overwhelmed by all the pent up emotions he hid from her. Their kiss opened the floodgates and he didn't know how to express himself without frustration. Now, in retrospect, he regretted his approach and knew he should have been more gentler with her. She was still a virgin and his best friend for many years. 

Now, he felt he could be patient with her. He just wanted their friendship to be mended and then maybe she could grow to love him beyond a brother figure. Either way, he would still hold a torch for her whether or not she could fall for him, he would however choose to love her the right way. Unconditionally.

He took out a watch and a few gold chains both gold plated and real. He placed them on the glass counter for her to look at them closely. 

"What do you think?", he asked. As he leaned over to her, he got a whiff of that signature lavender oil fragrance she would always wear. He remembered that he had bought it for her birthday. 

She had run out of the stuff and couldn't get it at the usual place she would purchase it. He ordered it online for her and made sure he got a larger bottle so that it wouldn't run out so quickly. That was when she came up with the one part oil to two parts water to stretch its use. Before she would just mix it in her lotion.

He leaned forward and smelt her. "You still smell wonderful," he said. He reached out and lightly touched her wrist. She looked up from the jewelry and eyed him nervously. 

"Carli," he began. "I'm sorry for what happened between us. For the way I acted, but you don't really know what you do to me. I think any guy for that matter, especially when you smell so good." He spoke 'so good' in a soft husky tone.

Carli felt rattled. She was surprised that her senses were reacting so inappropriately to his words and closeness to her. Maybe she should leave. "I think I better go," she said. 

Matthew grabbed her wrist. "Don't go, please," he said. He looked frustrated. 

Matt sighed. "There is something I want to tell you. I have a coffee break in the next twenty minutes don't leave yet. I need to talk to you. It's about Simone."

Now Carli was concerned. "Is she okay?" she asked.

"No and yes. I'll explain everything. Okay?"

Carli nodded. "Okay."

"Let me pick out something for you," he said perusing the glass displays. He went over to his left and picked something out. It was a gold and silver plated necklace with a Zirconia stone in the middle of the word 'Love', set in the letter 'o'. He removed it from its display mount and showed it to her. 

"What do you think?", he asked her. 

She nodded. It was beautiful. "I love it!", she said. Matthew smiled. She had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. This time, if he ever got the chance to redeem himself with her, he wouldn't hold back expressing his feelings for her, but in a more gentler way. He did care about her, that was true.

"How much is it?", she asked excited.

He checked the tag. "$13,500," he said.

Just enough. Carli said to herself with a relieved sigh. She took out the $15,000 and counted out $14,000, and handed it to him. 

"Sorry. I ain't got no change." Carli laughed as the memory of a joke they shared between them surfaced in her mind.

Matthew's eyes lit up. He smiled as he remembered too. "You remember, uh?"

Carli laughed. She nodded. "Yeah. I remember," she said with a broad smile. 

Matt took the money from her went to the cashier who processed the transaction and gave Matt the $500 note as change. He came back to her, gave her the receipt and change. He went into a drawer and took out a small plastic bag and placed the necklace in it and handed it to her. 

"Remember, we need to talk." He looked at the clock on the wall opposite to where he was standing. I've got ten more minutes and then I'll be with you. Okay?"

Carli nodded. "Does your phone number still work?", she asked him.

"Yes. I still have the same number," he said taking all of her in. She was different in a way that he liked, and it wasn't the weight gain, or the hair, though that was intriguing. 

"Okay. I have a new number, but I still remember yours." Carli said, smiling at him.

"Okay," Matthew responded still looking at her intently. He couldn't place his thoughts on what was different about her, but whatever it was he liked it.

Carli nodded. "I'll call you," she said. 

Matthew nodded.

She stepped out of the store with her new purchase and decided to walk around some more until his break came. She wondered if everything with Simone and the baby was okay.

After fifteen minutes had passed she called and he answered quickly. "Yeah. I'm coming out now. Sorry for the delay. My supervisor was explaining something to me. Tell me where you are?", he said.

"I'm before the ice cream and pastry place," she replied.

"Okay. Coming towards you now, " he said.

After about a minute, Carli looked up to see him coming towards her. She never noticed that there was a certain gait in his walk that gave him a cool swagger. 

What is this? She thought. Why are you now seeing everything about Matt?

She sighed. As he approached, she smiled up at him. Matthew saw her smile but noticed the cheerfulness didn't transfer to her eyes. He really regretted what he did those months before. 

There were a few tables and chairs just outside the little pastry shop. Carli was sitting in a section facing the roadway.  He sat beside her.  He reached over and hugged her, and she smelt his favorite cologne. It was her favorite one on him too. No doubt he had sprayed a little extra before coming out to see her. She didn't mind though, it was very pleasant to the senses. Matt always had good taste.

He gently squeezed her in his embrace and she put her arms around him. She had hugged him so many times like this, but somehow it felt different, and that cologne wasn't helping. He released her from the hug and looked at her. He lifted his hand and touched her face. She didn't pull away.

"I have missed you 'Red'," he said. His eyes showed that what he said was true. 

Only Matt called her that. That was his special name for her when they were growing up as kids. It was always a term that represented there abiding friendship, but as he said the name now, it sounded intimate and sensual. Carli blinked, trying to suppress intrusive thoughts. His presence near her was definitely unnerving. 

Matt noticing her awkwardness, shifted his body slightly away from her, giving her space. 

He cleared his throat. "Thanks for waiting on me," he said.

Carli nodded. She tried to gather her thoughts. She was feeling really bowled over by being near him. She never expected this. 

Matt removed his wallet from his pocket. "I'm gonna buy a pineapple tart. Do you want anything?", he asked looking at her. 

He felt glad inside but didn't show it. Based on her reaction to him, he knew she was feeling the chemistry between them, or at least she missed him, but he wasn't gonna push her. He would win her over slowly. He had a lot of practice being patient the past few months.

Carli suddenly felt like she needed some chocolate. 

"Chocolate ..." Carli paused. 

She sounded hoarse to herself. She cleared her throat and tried speaking again. "A chocolate muffin would be good and a bottled water," she said. Better but still shaky, she thought.

Matthew smiled. 

Oh lort that smile again. Carli thought. Whew! 

Matt could see she was struggling. He was happy. Maybe there could be a chance for them after all. He rubbed her back just below her shoulders, the way he always would to comfort her. "No prob." He got up and went inside the pastry shop.

Carli let out a heavy sigh. What the ...? What is wrong with you? Just listen to what he has to say about Sim and then give him an excuse and leave. What is wrong with you?! Carli argued in her head.

After about four minutes he returned with a brown paper bag with their pastry. He was also carrying the bottled water and a disposable cup filled with a yellow liquid. He rested them on the table and sat beside her. He removed the muffin which was in a clear plastic pastry box and handed it to her, then took out his pineapple tart which was in a small white plastic bag. He bit into voracious. 

She looked at the cup. Matt saw her staring at it and laughed. "It's orange juice, Carli."

Carli laughed too. "Okay," she said. She never saw orange juice that bright yellow before. She reached for her muffin.

She was surprised to notice heat coming from the pastry box. She opened it and hovered her hand over the muffin. It was warm. She looked up at him. Matthew smiled at her. 

"Yeah, I asked them to heat it up in the microwave for you - not in this container though, that wouldn't be safe - it was in a tray. I know you like your pastry warmed up," he said, watching her intently. She is beautiful. He thought. 

Carli started to feel emotional. That was very sweet of him. He actually remembered. She felt her eyes watering. She wasn't going to cry right here.

Matt noticed that something was wrong. He reached out his hand and touched hers. 

"Carli, are you okay?", he said. He squeezed her hand gently.

A tear slid down her cheek. Matt was alarmed at this. He put down his pastry and turned towards her. 

He retrieved a paper napkin from the brown paper bag and wiped the hand that was holding the pineapple tart. He covered his pastry with the napkin, then used both hands to clasp hers. 

"Carli, did I do something wrong?", he asked, concerned. His eyes searched her face for a hint. He squeezed her hands. She started crying softly. Matt pulled her into his embrace. 

"Carli," he said. "Tell me what's wrong. I'm sorry for being a jerk all those months before, but I'm here now and I'm not mad at you anymore. Just tell me what's wrong."

Carli sobbed quietly. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her, but as she cried she felt like a weight was being lifted off her shoulders. She hugged him back. Matt adjusted himself on the chair so that he could get closer to her. He hugged her more tightly. He felt like his own eyes would produce tears but pushed them back.

Her body was shaking slightly. Matt could feel the vibration run through him. This is serious. What is going on with her? He wondered.

"Red, you're gonna make me get emotional too, please tell me what's wrong?" 

Matt reached up and touched her face. It was more than he could bear now.

Carli sobbed quietly. She sighed. "I just realized how much I missed my best friend. How much I missed you. Matt you were ... are my best friend," she said her voice trembling.

He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead, then on her cheeks. He paused and looked into her eyes. She looked up at him, she was no longer crying. Gently, he brushed his lips on hers, he paused then slightly opened his mouth and kissed her softly. He cupped her face and pulled her into him. He deliberately kissed her slowly, almost in a reflective way. He planted light kisses on her lips then kissed her eyelids. 

When he pulled away from her, he brushed his right hand on her thigh. He saw that Carli's eyes were still closed. When she opened them he knew he had gotten the response he wanted. There was desire burning in her eyes. 

"I have wanted to do that ever since we were fourteen," he said, his voice revealing the passion he held back for all those years. Carli felt like something was switched on inside her as Matt kissed her. She had barely kissed him back but his lips were soft, his kissing sensual. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it. Maybe I enjoyed it too much, she mused.

Carli needed to clear the air. "Matt," she said struggling to say it, but she had to. "Matt, I have a boyfriend. We've been seeing each other for awhile, but we made it official a couple days ago."

Matt was stunned. He looked at her. She looked at him. It now dawned on him what was different about her. She had gained experience. She wasn't the shy, innocent, reserved girl he knew anymore.

He cleared his throat. "Does that mean you are no longer ...?" He paused. He didn't want to ask. It wasn't his place, but he wanted to know.

Carli figured out what he was curious to know. "Yes, I am still a virgin." Unfortunately, she thought. "But he and I, we've kissed several times," she said. Now she felt awkward.

"But Matt, wouldn't Simone be pissed if she heard you kissed me?" she asked. She felt so guilty now. 

Sim was her closest female best friend besides Nichelee, though she knew Matt first. She met Simone and Nichelee after they had all passed the Grade Nine Achievement Test in the ninety percentile range, and were streamed into a class together.

Matt shook his head. "No, she wouldn't," he replied. He sighed. "You should know, Simone's baby isn't mine."

What? Carli thought. What is he saying?

"What? What do you mean?", she asked confused. "You guys had sex? Didn't you guys have sex? You took responsibility for the child. I saw a post with you and Sim, and you were holding her belly."

Matt saw her confusion. He adjusted himself on the chair and shifted his body away from her. He uncovered his snack, picked it up and bit into it. "Eat your muffin, Carli," he said. His tone had changed. He sounded angry.

"Don't think I'm hungry," she said.

Matt hissed his teeth. "Carli, don't be ridiculous. I asked if you wanted anything. You told me you wanted the bottled water and the muffin. It's probably cold now but I already bought it."

Begrudgingly, Carli bit into the muffin. It was tasty, not as warm as before but there was just a hint of warmth left. Matt took up her bottled water, pulled off the cork and extended the bottle in his hand towards her.

Carli looked at him in disbelief. She took it from him and sipped the water slowly. She bit into her muffin. 

Matt finished his tart. He took out a straw from the brown paper bag, pulled off its wrapper and used it to punch through the tiny hole in the centre of the cup's cover. Using the straw to stir his juice, he looked at her. 

"Want some?", he asked her.

"No, thank you," she said.

He looked at her with an air of sarcasm, his right eyebrow raised. "Like fire and ice," he quipped.

Carli was over his crappy sarcasm. "How did you find out?" she asked, her voice hardened. She didn't look at him. She focused on her muffin. She was almost finished with it. She bit some more. She would finish it. Let it not be said she wasn't grateful. 

"My parents, well my dad was skeptical about the whole thing. He said it was too soon for her to know whether she was pregnant or not. She was having morning sickness, nausea, all of that but he was saying that would be about a month in. We had just had sex about maybe nine days before. My dad was away visiting family in Bermuda, so when he came back he accused my mom of allowing me to be trapped." He crumpled the pastry bag, and dropped it in the paper bag.

He continued: 

"He demanded that Sim do a paternity test for the baby. She refused but my dad threatened to hire a lawyer to sue for entrapment and false paternity. Not even sure if you can do that in this country, but Sim and her parents folded. We went to this place and got it done and received the results five days later. So yeah, the baby isn't mine." 

Carli noted that his voice sounded angrier the more he spoke. She looked at him. She felt terrible that she wasn't there to support both of them during that time.

"I'm sorry, Matt. I'm really sorry. Is that why you moved to Kingston? To get away?", she asked gently. 

Matt looked at her and laughed. It was a harsh sound. 

"Carli, what do you care?", his voice was raised slightly.

She was getting annoyed with his mood swings. Well two can play. 

She turned towards him. She wasn't afraid to express how she felt anymore. 

"Matt, I was not the one who slept with Simone. You went there and while I sympathise with you and her, that was y'alls mess. Why are you angry with me? I didn't do anything!", she said. She would let him see her angry today.

Matt eyes flew open. Feisty! She never used to be like this. He thought. This new guy must really be doing something to her. 

"Look, Carli, I didn't come out here to argue with you. I came out to make peace and to tell you about the fact that Simone was lying about the paternity of the child, or at least she was confused about it. But you started crying and I got off track." He sighed. He sipped his drink through the straw and finished it. He dropped the empty cup in the bag. Carli was halfway done with her water.  

"And what was that kiss about?", she asked him. She was angry now.

Matt could see she was annoyed with him. He looked at his watch. He had five minutes left for his break. 

"I actually miss you too, Carli, whether you believe it or not. I have missed you," he said. His eyes were sad. "As for the kiss, as I said I have longed to kiss you like that ever since we were in the eight grade. You were crying. You know I hate to see you cry. I wanted to comfort you. So I ..."

"So you kissed me?!", she retorted angrily.

"Carli, you never told me you had a boyfriend!" Matt was getting annoyed with her now.

"You never asked!", she almost shouted. 

"How in the hell would I know? Shouldn't you tell me?", he replied angrily.

Carli hissed her teeth.

Matt stood up, grabbed Carli's arm and lifted her out of her chair.

"Matt, what the hell?" She was struggling against his vice grip. 

Carli heard a harsh voice crack like a whip, interrupting the tussle between them. "Let her go!", it said. Both looked in the direction of where the angry tone came from. It was Jason! 

"Jason!", she said. Her eyes were wide open with surprise. She was happy to see him, but she also felt a little guilty. Jason stepped forward and stood in front of Matthew. Matthew looked at Carli and let her go. 

"So this is your new man?", he asked.

"Yes I am," Jason answered him.

Matthew stepped back.  He looked at Carli and said, "That kiss we just shared meant something to me. I hoped you would feel the same way." 

He looked at Jason, sizing him up. He was taller than him, but he wasn't intimidated. He could see that Jason was angry. He looked at his watch.

He grabbed Carli's empty pastry box and water bottle from the table, stuffed them in the brown paper bag, and grinned. "Let me throw this away for us. See you around Red," he said winking at her. He turned and walked away, his swagger intact.

Jason reached for her and she went into his embrace. He kissed her forehead. "You okay?", he asked.

"Yes, I am now," she sighed.

"Let's go. I think we need to talk." His eyes looked grim. 

Carli felt that guilty pang growing. She nodded. She took up her bag with the gift she had just placed in it and followed Jason to the parking lot, to his car. He unlocked the car door for her and she slid inside.

Jason slid inside the car. He looked at her. He didn't start the engine.

"You wanna tell me what happened back there?", he asked. His voice was gentle but his eyes said no nonsense. 

Carli sighed. Time to confess everything girl. She thought.

"That was Matthew. My once upon a time best friend."

"You arranged to meet him here?" Jason's eyes were boring into her.

Time to bear your soul. Tell him everything. She thought. 

"No. This morning I woke up with one intention and that was to buy you a gift for Christmas. I can't afford much but I wanted to buy you something to show how much you mean to me. So I got my aunt to drop me off here at the mall and I was walking around from store to store to see if I could get you something nice. It just so happened that I walked into the jewelry store Matt worked in." Carli looked away from his gaze and looked at her lap. 

She continued, "I never told him it was for you. I don't know why but I felt awkward. I made him believe it was for my dad." She sighed. "He helped me pick out this lovely gold and silver chain with a pendant. I was about the leave when he told me he had something to tell me about Simone, my other best friend he got pregnant. He was going to buy himself something to eat and he asked if I wanted anything. I told him a chocolate muffin and bottled water ..."

"How did the kiss come in? Jason asked interrupting her.  "I guess a better question is why didn't you push him off you? Or did you?" 

He turned around put the key in the ignition and started the car. He drove off slowly. Upon exiting the mall's parking lot he sped up the car a little bit. He was taking her to his old place. He needed to do some packing anyway.

"Well?" He looked over at her briefly then turned his attention back on the road.

"I was crying," she said now remorseful.

"Why?", he asked. He gripped the steering wheel tighter.

Carli could see his knuckles bulging as he held the steering.

"He did something," she paused.

"Carli, what did he do?" His sounded frustrated. 

Carli sighed.

"He made the cafe shop attendant heat up the muffin in the microwave for me. I guess I was touched that he remembered that I like my pastries heated up if they're not fresh from the oven", she said. "I missed little things like that he used to do for me, so I got emotional and cried like a fool."

"And he kissed you to comfort you?" Jason said feeling numb. "And you didn't push him away?"

Carli felt angry with herself. She should have left that store when she had the chance.

"I hadn't spoken to him in almost a year," Carli said trying to explain her actions. "I missed my friend. He took advantage of how I was feeling."

"Did you kiss him back?", Jason asked. They were driving on Old Hope Road heading to Papine. 

He looked at Carli. She still had her head down. He glanced at the road then looked at her. They were coming up on some traffic. The light turned red, he eased off the gas, gently pressed down on the brake and waited. The car slowed to a stop.

'Carli," he said. "Look at me."

She looked up at him. She had been crying.

He wanted to console her but he needed to know the truth.

"I'm gonna ask you something and I need you to be honest with me. And Carli if you love me please tell me the whole truth. Don't fix it up for me. I can take it."

Carli nodded. Tears streamed down her face.

"Did you kiss him back?"

Carli nodded. "A little. I didn't open my mouth, but I kinda did kiss him a little bit."

Jason closed his eyes. "Do you have feelings for him. He seems to be a rough kind of guy but maybe that's what you like."

He was glad she thought of buying something for him but knowing how it was purchased marred the sentiment for him.

"No judgement here. I just wanna know the truth. Do you love him?', he asked.

"I am very fond of him, and maybe I do have feelings for him, but I wouldn't call it love," she said. She was wiping her eyes, trying to dry them with her fingers. Jason went into his glove compartment and took out a napkin and gave it to her. She took it and carefully dried her eyes.

Jason touched her face. "Carli, you are everything I ever wanted. You're everything I want: you're kind, beautiful, patient, you can cook," he paused smiling at her. " ... and you're really smart."

Carli looked at him. 

"But," he continued. "If I am not what you want, if what I'm offering isn't enough for you, I won't hold you back. You can go be with him or do anything else you wanna do."

A car horn honked behind them. He pressed his foot on the gas gently so that the car could inch forward in the traffic. He looked at the line of traffic before him. It was moving slowly.

"I love you and I'm ready to commit my life to you, but maybe you aren't ready," he said. His voice sounded sad. 

"I think we need some space. Maybe this job in Montego Bay is what we need to figure how we feel, more so how you really feel. If you wanna be locked down with me or you want him," Jason said rubbing his stubbly jaw.

"Jason, he was angry with me," Carli said. "I don't know what he was going to do to me before you intervened. I have always known him as a cool guy but since he kissed me, he ... "

"You mean since you guys kissed the first time," Jason interrupted her.

Carli looked away from him and out the passenger side window of the car. 

"Since we kissed," she continued. "He has been acting crazy. He's not the same person. He would never handle me like that. Never."

Jason looked at her while watching the progress of the traffic. He inched his car further up as space became available. 

"He's in love with you," Jason said. "He's in love with you, but doesn't know how to express it. You told me that you've been friends for a very long time. Right?"

Carli nodded.

"And it's just after the kiss he's been acting this way?", Jason asked.

"Yes," Carli said nodding. 

"Yeah. He doesn't know how to process how he feels especially since he's had feelings for you for some time. He probably felt like you would have rejected him if he approached you directly, so he kept it in until it overflowed, so to speak," he said. Jason inched the car forward in the traffic. 

"Now that he knows you have a boyfriend he's probably very jealous and kicking himself right now for not doing something about his feelings sooner. I think you should talk to him, and if there is something, some spark between you two, explore it. I'm willing to back off if you need me to."

Carli couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You don't trust me?"

"Do you want me to?" His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Jason, honey I'm sorry. It was a mistake. I didn't mean for it to happen." Carli pleaded with him.

"I'm sorry too 'Red'. Is that his nickname for you?" His voice was neutral but Carli saw his arms tensing on the steering.

She nodded. She felt like bawling her eyes out now. She loved Jason. She didn't want to lose him.

Jason saw that the traffic was clearing up as they approached UTECH. He relaxed his shoulders and pressed down a little more on the gas to increase their speed. They were drawing near to the Mona Commons community. He turned down John Golding Road and slowed down. He parked alongside the sidewalk. He looked over at Carli who was crying silently now. 

"Carli, honey, there's no need to cry," Jason said. He felt hurt inside. "We've only known each other for three months. Maybe you think you love me, but it's the physical attraction that's talking. Maybe it's the same for me." He thought about what he just said. Maybe it was. 

Maybe Omie was right all along? Maybe it's my sexual need that's fueling my desire to be in a relationship with Carli? Maybe we're rushing things? 

He leaned back in the car seat and mused to himself. I need time to think. The time in Montego Bay would be good for both of us. Uncle Pat was wise in telling me to give her some space. I need to go see him this Sunday but not with Carli.

Jason sat up. He spoke, "I'm going to go fetch some clothes and other stuff. I'll be about ten minutes or so. Won't take long." 

Jason pulled the car door and stepped out of the vehicle. He closed the door and walked towards the community.

Carli watched him walk away. To her it felt like he was walking away from the relationship. 

Why did I allow Matt to kiss me? 

Why did I kinda kiss him back? I did a little. 

Why do I all of a sudden see him sexually? 

Do I really have feelings for him beyond a friend. 

She leaned back in the seat. 

She felt like she was going to be sick to her stomach. 

She knew she loved Jason. 

She did love him or did she? If she loved him why would she allow Matt to touch her like that? 

Why didn't she tell Matt from the beginning that the gift was for Jason. 

Why didn't she stop him when he kissed her?

Why did she feel this new attraction? 

And if she loved Jason ... Why? Why didn't she tell Matt about him from the beginning.

She was torturing herself.

Carli felt nauseous. She stepped out of the vehicle and ran over to a part of the sidewalk where there was some dirt and vomited. 

She wrapped her arms around her waist as her body convulsed. She felt the food come up and she vomited some more. She bent forward, feeling weak. Just then she felt strong hands hold onto her arms. She was trembling. She shook violently as the last bit came out. She felt really ill now. 

Jason held onto her. Her body was trembling.

He lifted her in his arms and brought her back to the car. She had left the car door open but fortunately nobody took advantage. He placed her in the car and slammed the door shut. He went back to the spot where she vomited and used his shoes to kick up dirt to cover the mess. After he did this, he went back to the spot where he had dropped his bag and a small two burner hot plate, and picked them up. He opened the car trunk and carefully placed them inside. He slammed the car trunk shut and returned to the front of the car. He looked in at her. 

"You okay? You wanna go again?" he asked. His voice was gentle.

Carli shook her head. 

Jason slid inside the vehicle and closed the door. He used the back of his hand to gauge the temperature of her forehead. She felt a bit warm. "Lean back. I'm gonna take you home. Okay?"

Carli nodded. 

Jason quickly started the engine and they drove off. He brought her to his apartment. He lifted her out of the car and carried her up the stairs to his room. He allowed her to lean on him as he opened the door.

He lifted her and carried her into the room and laid her on the bed. He sat on the bed, placed her feet in his lap and unstrapped her sandals. He laid them on the floor. He stood up, took out his cellphone and called Carli's aunt and told her that Carli was feeling sick and that it might be a mild case of food poisoning. He was going to allow her to sleep at his house tonight and in the morning he would bring her back to her place. Sandra agreed and told him to call her later to let her know how she felt. He agreed and hung up. 

"I'm gonna make you some broth. Okay?", he said, looking at her worried.

Carli stretched out her hand to him. Jason sat on the bed and touched her hand.

"Jason, I'm sorry," she said. "I never meant to make you upset or to hurt you. I don't know why I feel this way now. Matt was always my friend. I don't think I want more from him. Especially after the way he behaved today."

Jason touched her face. "I think I understand him. To be friends with a beautiful girl like you and not be sure if I will ever have you would probably drive me crazy too. I don't think I would take my frustration out on you the way he did. I would probably distance myself from you, but people deal with frustration in different ways."

"Please I wanna work things out, please." she pleaded, her eyes watering again. He looked at Carli. Now he understood why Matt kissed her. Even in her vulnerable state, all teary eyed, she was beautiful. Her tears pulled at something masculine in him that wanted to protect her. He needed her to calm down. 

Jason leaned forward and brushed his lips on her forehead. "Relax. I'm here. Not going anywhere. Even if we're just friends. I'll be here." Jason said. He was gonna keep it real. He wasn't sure if continuing the relationship after what happened was a good idea at this time, but he wouldn't totally cut her off. She needed more time to figure out what she wanted. He wanted her, but needed to be sure he could trust her.

Carli turned her back to him. She was crying quietly but he could see her body shaking. Jason took off his shoes and placed them by the door. He climbed into the bed with her, gathered her in his arms and cuddled her. He kissed her forehead. One hand stroked her face gently while the other held her close. 

After a while of being in this position, he noticed that her body had relaxed and her breathing had changed. He gently moved her away from him so he could see her face. She was asleep. He was relieved. He gently laid her on the bed trying not to wake her. He watched her sleep for a while then sighed. He had never seen this side of her. 

Did she get sick because she thought she was gonna lose him? He wondered. 

He didn't want to hurt her. He loved her, but he wanted her to be sure about their love. The time in Montego Bay was a blessing in more ways than one. 

He grabbed his car keys from the table. He would go out and buy some things to make some soup for her. He would buy some cooked food for himself. Something spicy. He felt like eating Chinese.

He headed down stairs and jumped in his car, started the engine and backed the car out of the parking lot carefully, then drove off.

*****

Sandra was worried about Carli. She dialed Jason's number. He answered after about five rings. It sounded like he was on the road.

"Hello," he answered.

"Hi," she said. "It's me."

"I know aunt Sandra." His voice sounded different.

"Where are you now?", she asked.

"I'm heading back home. I went on the road to buy something to make some soup for her. Well, more like chicken broth," he said.

"I wanna see her, please text me your address."

Jason sighed. "Okay. I will text you the address as soon as we hang up."

"Okay," Sandra said and ended the call.

Within a minute she received a text from Jason. She read it. She knew exactly where this was. She called Lissa. Sandra was still at work.

"Hey honey. I'm going over to Jason's. Carli is there. He called and told me that Carli is there with him. She's not feeling well. No, you don't need to come with me. I'll handle it. Yes, I will call you when I get home." Sandra hung up. 

She called her secretary and told her she was stepping out for about an hour or two, so she should push back her appointments a little later. She got up from her desk and pushed her chair under the table. 

She looked at the sign on her office door. 'Dixon and Dixon Realtors' it said. She was proud of the business she and her husband had built from the ground up, but her greatest pleasure was being a mom. Her niece needed her in that capacity now. She grabbed her bag from the table, opened her office door and closed it behind her.

*****

Matt felt like a fool. Why had he done that? He had lost his cool. He told himself that he would be patient with her. Why did he rail up like that? Then that big guy came along. He wasn't going to harm her. To be honest he wasn't sure what he was going to do when he lifted her to her feet from the chair. He probably would have kissed her some more, but that wouldn't have been good. They were both angry. He took a deep breath and dialed her number. There was a lull in the number of customers who came in to the store. The cashier had gone on her break and his supervisor had stepped out to smoke a cigarette.

Carli has a boyfriend. Wow! He could hardly believe it. Why hadn't she said something? 

Maybe she was afraid of how I would react. I wonder if that necklace was really for her dad or was it for this Jason guy? He thought. I need to apologize for my behaviour.

The phone began ringing. Matt heard a male voice answer the phone. It must be the boyfriend. He thought.

Jason had stepped inside his apartment to hear Carli's phone ringing. He went into her bag and retrieved it and saw a strange number. He had a funny feeling about it. He answered the call. His instincts were right. It was that guy at the mall. Carli's supposed best friend.

"Carli. Hello" Matt said.

"Yes hello," he said. "Carli can't talk now, she's asleep." His voice was icy cold to Matt's ears.

"Okay," he said. "Would you tell her I called and that I'm really sorry."

"What are you sorry for exactly?", Jason asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"For the way I acted." Matt said. He sighed and took a breath.

Jason heard Matt take a deep breath. 

"I see. Look you may have been her best friend at one point in time, but I'm here now and I won't tolerate anyone taking advantage of her." Jason's voice clipped coldly over the phone line.

"Bro," Matt was trying not to lose his cool with this guy. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend. She told me after we kissed. There's one thing I wanna know, if you can answer this question for me," Matt said.

Jason felt angry but tried to compose himself. "Go ahead," he said.

"Carli bought a chain today. She told me it was for her dad." Matt paused. A revelation came to his mind. "I assumed it was for her dad but she was nervous when I asked her what she wanted to purchase. The gift, it was for you, wasn't it?"

"Yes. It was," Jason answered tersely.

"Wow!" Matt was surprised. "She must really like you. Her parents are in a financial bind and she sacrifices to buy something for you. I am jealous, bruh." Matt chuckled.

Jason heard what he said. It was the part about her family being in a financial bind that stuck in his ear.

"This financial trouble you say her parents are in. How do you know this?" Jason probed. 

"How do I know this?", Matt repeated his question. 

"My parents and her parents are close friends. My mom and hers worked at the same place for a while. They're still good friends. Her mom told my mom. That's how I found out," he replied.

Jason listened.

"Carli said nothing to you?", Matt asked surprised.

Jason kept silent. 

Matt chuckled. "Well she never said anything to me either, but she hasn't been talking to me," he said. 

"Listen, I'm the least of your problems," Matt continued. "Carli has always been the type to keep things close to her chest. Now that I know she has someone I'll back off. I wish you the best of luck though, she's a good girl, but she takes a while to trust, but if you get her to do that, you're a lucky man. Please tell her my apologies and she won't have to worry about me." Matt hung up.

Jason looked at the phone. That was weird. He thought. He looked around at Carli. She was still asleep. He would talk to her after she woke up. He needed to cook the broth for her. He went back to the car to retrieve the hot plate and brought it upstairs. He moved the small table in the room away from the doorway and put it closer to one of the apartment's windows and carefully perched the hot plate on it. This was temporary he would go for his stove and other appliances tomorrow. 

He had bought a noodle soup mix, some vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, potatoes and cho cho. He also bought some callaloo. He would strip the callaloo and chop up the leaves to add flavor to the soup. He got a plastic bag and laid on the floor beside his feet and also spread some newspaper on the floor to catch the skins he would be stripping from the vegetables. 

His unit was equipped with a small kitchenette space with a sink but no kitchen counter. He washed the vegetable in the sink and began peeling them and cutting them in cubes. He worked quickly. He filled a pot he brought over with him with some water and dropped the veggies inside when it started boiling up.

He heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Carli's aunt. She pushed passed him. "Is she okay?" she asked. She was worried.

Jason touched his finger to his lips indicating that she should be quiet. He pointed to his bed. Sandra looked over and saw that Carli was sleeping.

"What happened?" Sandra whispered.

Jason closed the door and went back to tending to the broth he was making for his Carli.

"She saw her friend Matthew at the mall, they decided to eat and chit chat. She ate something that didn't agree with her and she vomited it up," Jason said to her.

"Oh I see," she responded. She needed to call Sharon and ask her if she knew Matthew was in Kingston.

"What were you doing there?" Sandra asked eyeing him curiously.

"I actually went there to get something for Carli for Christmas." He took the peeled skins out of the sink and dropped them onto the newspapers spread out on the floor. He then deposited them in the plastic bag on the floor.

Sandra looked around the apartment. Not bad, she thought to herself. A little bare but with additional furniture and fixtures it could be very comfortable.

"I brought some pajamas, underwear and an extra change of clothes for Carli," she said. She unzipped her work bag and took out the clothes she had placed in a plastic bag. "Where should I put them?" she asked. 

"Just rest them on the bed," he directed. 

Sandra did so. "So she's gonna spend the whole day here?", she asked.

"If she wants to," Jason answered. "If she wants to go back to your place I'll take her, but there are some things she and I need to discuss."

"You're still celibate, right?", Sandra asked.

Jason laughed softly. "Yes. I am until the day I get married," he said looking directly into her eyes. He wasn't ashamed.

Sandra nodded. "Okay. Alright, she's sleeping. Please tell her I came by with the change of clothes. Oh, and I brought her a toothbrush." She retrieved a pink toothbrush case out of her bag and handed it to Jason, who took it and placed it beside his in the bathroom. When he returned Sandra was standing by the door.

"Take care of her for me," she said.

Jason nodded."I will," he said. 

"About that thing you wanted me to check out for you?", Sandra inquired. 

"I'll call you," Jason said.

She nodded. She looked over at Carli still sleeping.

She would allow them to play this out.  She smiled at Jason who smiled back. She opened the door and closed it behind her. Jason was relieved that she left, he needed to talk to Carli alone. 

This news about her parents sounded serious. He needed to find out how serious and if he could help somehow. He also needed to know where they stood. He needed to know if she only had eyes for him, or if friendship was the better option. He couldn't imagine just being her friend though, thinking about it, he could sympathise with Matthew a little bit.

When she woke up he reheated the broth and gave it to her in a wooden bowl he bought a few weeks before. He gave her a plastic spoon.

"Sorry," he said smiling apologetically. "I'll get better stuff soon."

She just smiled and drank it without a word.

Jason climbed on the bed and sat beside her. 

"Matt called," he said.

Carli froze. She looked at him dismayed. 

"Forgive me for answering your phone but you were asleep. He sort of explained what happened. He also apologized for his behavior. He sounded sincere," Jason said watching her closely. "Carli, I'm not mad at you. In some way I do believe he loves you, but I love you too. I love you enough to let you go. In the beginning I said I wanted us to take things slow, but we haven't really done that have we?"

He placed his hand over hers. "I want you to be sure about me. I don't want you to have any doubt. The truth is we've only known each other for about three months now. There is so much I don't know about you. Your friend told me about your parents. That they are in a financial bind."

Carli nodded. "Paying for my college education is putting a strain on their money," she said, her face sad.  "I'm thinking of doing a part-time job next semester."

Jason nodded. "That might be a good idea." He touched her arm. "If there's anything you want me to do to help, let me know. Okay?"

Okay," she replied.

"Seriously, Carli. Your friend, Matt, told me you keep things inside. Don't keep things from me."

Carli stopped sipping the broth and looked at him. 

"Promise me," he said, his eyes sincere.

"I promise," she said. He was being so understanding with her. Yes, she would open up more to him.

"Let's take things slow for real this time. Let's forget about my marriage proposal for now. I want to know everything I should know about you. Inside and out. And I want you to know me."

Carli understood. They did rush things. "Friends?" she asked

"Friends, yes," he said, squeezing her hand a little.

"Oh, and your aunt came by. She brought some sleepover clothes. So you have permission to spend the day with me till tomorrow. Okay?"

She nodded. She wanted to be with him. 

"She was here?", Carli asked. She was a bit surprised. She would call her later.

"Mhm yes, she was," Jason answered.

He put his arm around her. He smiled at her. She smiled shyly back at him. He was so patient with her. She was thankful.

"So tell me, how did you get the name 'Red'?", he asked, an amused look on his face.

Carli smiled as she remembered. 

"It's a long story," she replied.

"I've got time," he said.

Hear me read a few lines from this chapter here: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDXLC2CR934/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Follow me on Instagram - @thewriting_solution1

When writing this chapter I enjoyed listening to this song. 

Thought you guys might like it too!