i don’t want another love if he won’t love me the way you do, if he won’t make me feel the things you do. and he won’t.’
OBJ x Niara - Well, let’s take it back two years before the other piece. If she wouldn’t have waited to say something.
2017
Parking her car outside of the garage, Naira sat back in her seat and looked around. She sighed in relief not seeing any other cars in the driveway. Almost always there would be 1 or more cars occupying the driveway. Seeing no other cars here was odd for her. Grabbing her black Fendi baguette bag, she climbed out of the driver’s seat and closed her door after double-checking that she had her key fob. She quickly opened the rear door to retrieve the bag of groceries and used her hip to close the door.
As she walked up the walkway she tried to peep in the side glass windows of the door. She could see one of the four dogs walking around the hallway and another jump across the room. Making sure she had a firm grip on the groceries in one arm she reached out to press the doorbell. The sounds of three of the large Spanish Mastiffs barking sounded through the walls.
“Ni? What’chu doin' here girl?” She heard as the door opened. As soon as it was opened wide enough she could the bright, goofy smile of her best friend, Odell. Grabbing the bag from her, he allowed her room to walk into the house.
“I came home early and thought I’d surprise you,” She smiled. The moment she stepped through the door, Blackjack, Khan, and Mowgli was brushing up on her.
“Hi, my babies! I missed you guys!” Niara kneeled down to show them some love. Brushing their backs, scratching behind their ears, and hugging them. Standing up she made her way back to the kitchen. She sat her bag in one of the chairs at the island. She greeted a pregnant Eris that was resting near the couch and walked back around to wash her hands.
“You gotta chill with that baby talk with them. You the reason they don’t be listening to me no more,” He chuckled but was half serious.
“Sounds like a you problem, Beckham. Those are my babies. How else I’m supposed to talk to them?” She inquired with a tilt to her head. “You’re acting like I talk like that to them all the time.”
She rolled her eyes as she watched him take the items out of the bag and place them on the counter.
“Let me be nice ‘cause you cooking for me,“ He peered over at her with another goofy grin on his face.
“You’re lucky I’m too hungry and lazy to leave now,” She walked around the counter, grabbing the bottle of chardonnay and putting it in the wine fridge. “Um, Beckham?”
Niara looked over to see his raised eyebrows. She gestured towards the small fridge that had a few bottles in it.
“I got them the last time you were supposed to come home,” He shrugged putting the rest of the cold items in the fridge. Niara bent down to get a better look at the bottles of vino. She smiled at him remembering some of her favorites. “It only gets used because of you.”
“Thank you,” She replied sweetly with a grin. Walking over in his direction she wrapped her arms around his waist from the side and stood on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek. “Now as much as I love and appreciate you, you gotta get out of my way.”
“Dang,” He scrunched up his face as he walked backward out of the kitchen. While he could have gone to his couch and played Call Of Duty, he chose to be a spectator at the island. Grabbing his phone he opened his music app and browsed through it. Usually, when Niara would cook she’d choose whatever album she couldn’t get enough of, a throwback or current hits playlist. Not knowing exactly what mood she was in, he settled for a classic R&B playlist that she had made that also had some new faves on it. The first song to play was “Remember The Time” by Michael Jackson.
While Niara prepared their meal, she and Odell got caught up on things they haven’t spoken about on the phone. O being curious about her next job assignment. He was hoping she’d take a job in either NYC or in Jersey. He loved that she was getting to do the job she loved and travel at the same time. but at the same time, Odell missed having her around.
“I’m just saying, it would be nice to have you around for this season. You kinda missed the last one,”
“I know and I’m sorry, Delly,” She smiled apologetically. Reaching out for her glass of wine, Niara took a sip. As she placed her glass on the table she looked at her best friend. “Is being your personal cheerleader the only reason you want me around this season?”
She watched his brows scrunch up. “No. I miss you in general,” he took a sip of his pop. “I just want you around for a bit.”
She watched him slightly shrug. While he dipped into his pasta, Niara tried reading his body language. Just in his tone, she could tell he wanted to say something, maybe something else was on his mind and had him a bit nervous? Nervous about what? She shrugged to herself and grabbed her fork to finish the rest of her food.
“But I know somebody else wants you around,” He cleared his throat. “Needs you around more than I do. Does Drew want you in the same city as him or he’s cool with whatever?”
Niara stuffed her mouth with the little bit of food she had on her plate. The perfect time to savor the spicy flavoring of the Alfredo sauce she made. The peppers and shrimp were grilled to perfection. She really outdid herself with this one. Niara watched as Odell’s eyebrows scrunched with the tilt of his head.
Drew. Niara’s boyfriend for a little over two years. Very supportive of Niara being a travel social worker.
“Um, well, Drew’s opinion doesn’t matter because we’re not together anymore,” Niara rushed out reaching for her glass of Pinot Grigio and taking a gulp. This was a topic she thought could wait until later.
“What? Since when?” Odell looked at her with wide eyes.
“It’s been a month or so now,” Niara mumbled and shrugged. “If I talk about this, I’ll need more wine. I at least thought I’d tell you tomorrow.”
Odell was already up from the table and clearing it. Niara stood to her feet as well and clearing what was left. She refreshed Odell’s glass as well as her own and took the bottle with her to the couch. Just as she made herself comfortable in the corner of the sectional, Mowgli & Khan made themselves comfortable in front of her on the floor. Odell followed shortly after, handing her her plate of strawberry cheesecake with a little caramel drizzle. They took a few bites, moaning at the taste of the sweet street.
Niara took a deep breath and briefly explained how things just didn’t seem right with Drew. And it was on her. Three months ago Drew wanted to take the relationship to the next step upon her completing her assignment. They discussed Niara looking into positions in DC and moving in with him. Niara would have liked to take a job there, it was on her list of possibles. However, moving in with Drew wasn’t. It was then, she didn’t feel the same as Drew was feeling. She cared deeply for him but something or shall we say someone else had her heart.
“I got to this point where I realized I wasn’t as invested in the relationship anymore. Drew’s really a great guy. Just not the one for me,” Niara sighed and looked down at the glass in her hands. Her fingers brushing the side.
“How’d he take it?” Odell asked setting his plate on the table.
“He tried to fight it at first but then I guess he realized what I realized too and tried to deny,” It was Niara’s turn to clear her throat. She could see Odell in her peripheral. His hands pushing her to go on.
“And that was?” He leaned forward.
“You’re the guy for me. At least I think so. The women in my family think so,” Niara rushed out as she sank more into the corner of the couch and avoided his gaze. “I want you to be.”
Niara looked down and played with the rings on her fingers. Odell parted his lips, not knowing what to say. A confession isn’t what he expected to come out of that.
“I’ve realized I don’t want another love if he won’t love me the way you do. If he won’t make me feel the things you do. And he won’t. You get me. Things between us just seem to fall in place. We don’t ever have to force it.”
“We’ve been friends for six years, I would hope not,” Odell joked trying to ease Niara’s nerves. He hooked his index finger under her chin. “I feel the same way, you know.”
“Yea? Still?” Niara’s eyes seemed to light up a bit more at the revelation. She knew freshman Odell had feelings for her but she shut that down because she didn’t feel the same at the time and only saw him as a friend. A friend that played football and had all the girls following behind him. He does still to this day but it was somewhat different. She didn’t think after all this time he was still crushing on her. Maybe just a little.
While Odell was rooting for the pair because he actually liked Drew for her, he was happy that he was getting his chance. He didn’t have to watch from the sideline anymore. He didn’t have to hide how he felt about her. Which if you ask his friends, he didn’t do such a great job at. It was the way he stared at her, treated her, spoiled her when she didn’t want him to. No matter who was around, no one could compare to Niara. Let his grandmother tell it, he was wasting time with other girls until the timing was right for them.
With his finger still hooked under her chin, Odell brought Niara closer to kiss her. Niara couldn’t help the heat she felt in her cheeks and the grin forming on her face. It was soft and she enjoyed it.
“Been thinking about that for a little while now,” They chuckled. “But it was always like this.”
Niara pushed herself out of the corner of the plush couch and onto her knees. Scooting ever so slightly towards him, she straddled his lap and put her hands on the side of his face. What started as a slow and passionate kiss turned into one of hunger.