Chapter Twenty
Miles away that same Tuesday morning, Karlie pleaded with Jamaal. “Please don’t be upset with me.”
“I’m not upset,” Jamaal said. “It’s your life if you want to throw it away. I can’t help but feel you chose Brian over me.”
“I didn’t choose Brian. I chose myself.”
The couple stood at the checkpoint inside the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. They had thirty minutes to spare for his seven a.m. flight. The airport was quiet. Only a handful of travelers were present.
Karlie insisted on accompanying Jamaal to the airport against his wishes. She detested the way things were between them and hoped they would use the wait time to talk. Jamaal had other plans. He moved toward the entrance to the gate.
“You don’t have to rush,” Karlie said, pointing toward the empty space. “There’s no line at this hour.”
“I want to go,” he said. He chucked his chin in the universal sign of good-bye before walking off.
“No kiss good-bye?” she quietly asked. Karlie had never had to beg for kisses before.
Jamaal paused midstride. Her sad tone must have touched him, and he returned to stand before her. His strong arms crushed her to him. Jamaal gave Karlie a proper send-off, and Karlie savored the sweet taste of his lips. Something about it tugged at her heartstrings and a tear slid down her face.
Is he saying good-bye, she wondered.
Panicked, Karlie broke the kiss. She held his cheeks in her hands. “This is not the end for us. I need you to understand that.”
Jamaal shoved his hands into his pockets. He pretended as if her words hadn’t affected him. Then with a sarcastic edge to his voice, he declared, “This is not the time nor the place. When you find the time, we need to talk.”
She wasn’t going to let Jamaal guilt-trip her for pursuing her dream. “Listen, we’re important to me, but I’ve got to do this. Music is in my blood. It’s my passion and a part of my DNA. I can’t come home. I have to make my dreams a reality.”
“Dreams Brian put into your head.” Jamaal glared. “He’s only in this for himself. I hope you know he doesn’t care about you. I do.”
“He does care,” Karlie said. “That’s why he’s doing this. For me.” She resisted the urge to stomp her foot. She was too old to throw a tantrum. She looked down and made circles on the floor with her feet. “I’ve always supported you in everything. When you wanted to do stepping, I’m at almost all your events. You’re on the basketball team, and I’m cheering you on. Why can’t you do the same for me? Say what you will about Brian, but he’s in my corner.” Karlie raised her head to look at him. “Jamaal, we could’ve spent time together and gone out and done something fun last night, but you spent the whole time ranting about Brian and me. It’s getting old.”
With a furious whisper, Jamaal addressed her through gritted teeth. “It has everything to do with Brian. You’re crushing on him and he’s a player. He’s messed about with two women for months and you turn a blind eye. You shouldn’t even be friends with him knowing his lifestyle. You should be preaching God to him, but instead, you laugh in his face.”
Karlie clutched her chest. “I’ve got news for you. Jesus was a friend to the lowest of the low. Being friends with Brian doesn’t mean I condone his behavior. I’ve known him for years, and I do talk about God with him. Brian’s not saved. He’s—”
Jamaal cut her off. “There you go defending him again. If it were anyone else . . .” He drew a breath, “But it’s Brian. Newsflash. I’m not stupid. I can see the chemistry between the two of you. Heck, the entire world has seen it at this point. You two are all over each other like leeches, and I’m sick of it.” Jamaal stalked toward the passengers’ only sign.
Watching the stubborn set of his stride, Karlie’s heart constricted. These were days where anything could happen. She did not want the last words spoken between them to be, “I’m sick of it.”
Karlie shouted, “I love you!”
Jamaal kept walking.
Dejected, Karlie stormed outside to hail a cab. She knew he’d heard her. Jamaal could have at least said he loved her too, instead of leaving her high and dry. How she wished he would drop the whole I-think-you’re-in-love-with-Brian episode so they could move on. However, she knew from experience once Jamaal had an idea in his head, it was difficult to persuade him otherwise.
A cabbie pulled in front of her, and she got inside. Her cell buzzed.
Instantly her anger evaporated like ice in the Florida sun. She had a smile the size of a Cheshire cat on her face after receiving Jamaal’s text. Before she could respond, he sent another:
Hope rose. He was communicating, even if it was through text. Karlie’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she texted him back:
I know. I need you in my corner.
Within seconds, a reply popped up on her screen:
I need you too. I wish you had let me show you last night.
Ugh! This was the real reason he had reached out. To air his other grievance. This man was going to make her yank her hair out. He had a one-track mind.
In time. Be patient.
Don’t give him what’s mine.
Karlie’s mouth fell open. Forget the truce. She was ready to go off, but the cab slowed in front of the hotel. She paid the fare and exited the cab.
As soon as she could, she sent:
That was uncalled for. Stop that!
Karlie swept through the doors and nodded at the hotel clerk. Another buzz came through:
Gotta go. Time to board. Watch the video.
Why? Karlie meandered toward the elevator. Why was it so important to Jamaal that she review the clip? Curious, Karlie pulled up the YouTube video. She relived her and Brian’s debacle in the water while trying to remain objective. She wanted to see it from an outsider’s point of view. What did Jamaal see?
To her chagrin, Yentl captured the terror on her face, but then the camera zoomed in on Brian’s expression. Karlie saw the grit and determination on Brian’s face. She registered how he swooped her into his powerful arms. Glued to the screen, Karlie held her chest as Brian pounded through the alligator-infested waters with her grabbing on tight.
After the rescue, she fainted. That was one moment she wished was not on display. Brian’s forehead kiss made her heart constrict. Brian had done that plenty of times. It was the tender, unguarded moment. Maybe that was what Jamaal saw.
She read several comments. Apparently, people thought something was up between them and rooted for their “relationship.” Karlie clicked off. She needed to set the record straight. This wasn’t a Chad Murray-Sophia Bush connection like One Tree Hill.
Karlie opened the door to her suite. Eager to speak with Brian, she walked toward the connecting door. Pressing her ear against the door, she heard distinct groans. She tried to open the door quietly and discovered it was locked. Maybe he has someone in his room. She could not go barging inside.
She looked at her watch. It was only half-past-seven. She would give him until after nine. Twiddling her thumbs, Karlie grabbed her Bible and returned to her bed. Not once would she admit that she felt as if she were on the wrong side of the door.
Hours later, Karlie pounded on the connecting door. “Brian, you’ve been holed up in there all morning. Let me in.”
“I’ll come see you in a little bit,” he yelled through the door.
“Do you have someone in there?” she asked, hoping she didn’t come off sounding jealous.
“What? No.”
Karlie rested her head against the door. “Yentl told me you canceled our mudding expedition for a couple days.”
“Something came up. I need to . . . think.”
As she trudged from the door toward her bedroom, she could have sworn she heard a groan, but Karlie let it go. She moped for a minute before opening her MacBook. She might as well Skype home. Her father answered.
“It feels so good seeing your face,” Neil said.
Karlie smiled. “Where’s Addie?”
“She’s spending the night with her new best friend.”
Karlie laughed. Addie changed best friends like socks. “What does this make now? Best friend number six?”
Neil nodded. “How are things going with Brian?”
Karlie thought for a moment. If she hadn’t just seen the video, her response would’ve been less guarded. As it was, she provided a bland update. “Pretty good. We were offered a television show.”
“You don’t sound too excited about it.”
“I’m thrilled,” Karlie said. She should have known her father would see through her farce. She weighed her words before speaking. “It’s just I’m worried about doing a show with Brian when he can be a little . . . unreliable.”
Neil’s eyebrows arched. “Unreliable? Why do you say that?”
Karlie touched the bridge of her nose. “Maybe unreliable isn’t the word I’m looking for. Brian gets into these moods where he closes off from everyone and me. He usually bounces back after a day or two, but I don’t know how that will pan out if we have a television show with deadlines.”
Neil nodded. “You know my preference would be for you to finish your degree. I really wish you’d avoid the entire Hollywood scene, but you have to follow your heart. I’ve been praying for you both nonstop, and I just have to trust God.”
Karlie bit her lip. She hated feeling as if she had disappointed Neil, but she had to listen to her inner voice. “I feel this is where God is leading me. I was meant to do this, Dad. Please understand.”
Neil softened. “Okay, honey. I’m here for you always. However, you need to have a fierce conversation with Brian. The last thing I want is a phone call telling me that you’re being sued or something because you guys failed to live up to your commitment.”
He is so right.
“I’ll talk with Brian,” Karlie promised. “You gave me a lot to think about. The show will have both our names on it. I need to know he’s ready. We’re shooting our last video before we enter talks about the show and contracts. Winona’s handling everything.”
“Smart move using Winona. Tiffany trusted her with her estate. She’s good people.”
Karlie heard Neil’s wistful tone when he mentioned Tiffany. She knew how much he had loved her mother. They had been the best of friends.
Karlie too missed her mother. Her dream would have been to sing with Tiffany on stage. She knew that could never happen here on earth, but she was saving some songs for heaven. She was sure Tiffany was leading God’s choir up there and ripping out some good tunes.
“What crazy adventure do you have planned?” Neil asked.
“Mudding.”
Neil’s eyes widened. “Did I hear right? You’re going to dirty your hair?”
Karlie cracked up. Her long hair was a chore to wash and set. It took hours to do it herself, which is why she had her hairstylist, Shanna, on speed dial.
“Actually, I’m going to be dirty all over. Mudding is a dirty sport. I’m dreading the dirt caked into my hair, but I keep telling myself it’ll wash out. Maybe I should have Shanna on standby.”
Neil raised his hands to the ceiling. “Girl, you’re going to keep me on my knees, but have fun.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Just before she logged off Skype, Karlie saw a friend request. Her eyes bulged when she saw who it was.
Merle Peterson.
Her grandmother.