Chapter 7

 

Bailey and I spent the day apart the next day, which was odd, because I was doing all things wedding related. Claudia usually liked to tag along to make degrading remarks about the wedding planner’s assistant but opted to stay home this time. I pulled up to the sprawling grounds where Bailey and I would have our commitment ceremony. It was a beautiful plantation style mansion on acres and acres of perfect green grass. 

“Missus Jaylen,” The maid answered the door. “Missus Grier is in the veranda. She says to send you out.” Grier Mayfield-Lewis was the premier wedding planner in Houston; she had weddings booked out years in advance. Going through the wedding announcements and pages in the newspaper, scouting things that I liked, I noted that everything I wanted, Grier had in her weddings. The fact that she was going to be the one that planned our wedding was a surprise to me from Bailey; Bailey and Grier’s wife, Adrienne Lewis, played basketball together. Grier was a no-nonsense woman, meticulous and business minded to the tee. She intimidated most, but unlike most of her brides, I was a lesbian like she was. We got along very well. 

“Jaylen.” Grier was upon me quickly and offered me a flash of an absolutely perfect white smile and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you’re here. We have a lot to work on.” Grier’s hands smoothed her already impeccably smooth outfit. Grier looked like a supermodel that moonlighted doing weddings because she just loved to do it. “Dre says to tell you hi.” Dre was her nickname for her wife. I cringed a little; that was Andre’s nickname as well. 

“How is she?”   I asked of Adrienne. Grier smiled blissfully. 

“She’s great.” They had been married for five years, had been together for ten, and Grier still smiled blissfully. She gave me hope. “I thought you guys were coming over for dinner last week?” 

“Oh yeah. Bailey had to go out of town for something, I can’t remember what. This week, maybe?”

“Yeah right. We have no time to have dinner parties, Jaylen. It’s wedding crunch time.” Grier said, and led me over to a table. “We’ve got a million things to do.” 

“Hey, Jaylen.” Grier’s assistant Marcus came over, twisting his hips harder than any woman I’d ever met. While most gay men adored Claudia, Marcus and Claud had a very adversarial relationship. They often spent most of my wedding planner session sniping at each other. He kissed my cheek. “Want something to drink?”

“Marcus, bring her some lemonade.” Grier said quickly. “We’ve got a lot to cover in a short amount of time.” She waved her hand dismissively and while he rolled his eyes, he scurried off to do as asked. Marcus loved weddings and refused to work for anyone but Grier. Grier looked at me seriously. “Do you realize you’re getting married in two months, Jaylen? We’ve got a lot of work to do today.” I sighed and nodded, and Grier began discussing our plans.

Three hours later, I emerged the mansion finally. I was on brain meltdown. I’d called and talked to Jada – I still wasn’t speaking to Andre – and she was busy as usual and didn’t want to talk on the phone. I went to the market and pretended to shop for food, but I was really walking around aimlessly to clear my head. 

“Jaylen!” Someone called my name. I turned to see Cass. I wanted to turn back around again, but I didn’t. Cass hadn’t done anything wrong, but being around any of them made me feel like I was being pulled back into the alternate universe that was Desi. “OhmiGod, I haven’t seen you in two years and now I’m seeing you everywhere.”  Precisely what I was afraid of. I offered her a weak smile.

“Hey, Cass.” I said, and hugged her. “What are you doing here?” 

“Trying to buy some special sort of wine for Liz’s birthday. You know it’s her birthday tomorrow, right?” I nodded. I could never forget Liz’s birthday, no matter how I tried. “We’re having a party tonight, and I know that she’d love it if you’d come.” Cass’s tone was firm and encouraging. I smiled weakly again.

“I don’t know, Cass. I really don’t.” We walked in silence for a moment. 

“So, you live over here? With Bailey?” She asked. I didn’t want to confirm anything. I just shrugged. 

“Not far.” I answered noncommittally. 

“Jay, can I ask you something?” Her voice was thoughtful. I nodded. “I know some bad s**t went down between you and Des, but why’d you have to cut Liz off? She was so hurt, Jay. She really was.” As I listened to Cass, the stolen intimacies between Liz and I seemed to be happening right now. I could smell her, feel the touch of her collarbone under my fingertips, on my lips; the silkiness of her ponytail as I pulled her hair. I shook my head, willing the vivid memories away. 

“They’re best friends, Cass.” I answered finally. “She was Desi’s friend way before she was mine.” 

“Yeah, but,” Cass stopped my basket and had me look at her. “She loves you, Jaylen. She always has. She was really worried about you.” I felt like the scum of the earth right then. I felt just awful.

“I know she does. I love her too.” I said softly. “Honestly, Cass, I was worried about me too.” She nodded understandingly. We walked on.

“I couldn’t imagine if I found out that Liz cheated on me.” She said. My heartbeat quickened guiltily. “And with a guy? For a year? Des was wrong for that s**t. But honestly, Jay, she didn’t love him. She was confused. So confused.” I shrugged.

“So what wine are you looking for?” I asked brightly, changing the subject. Cass looked at me knowingly with sadness in her pretty, expressive eyes.

“You know you can’t not talk about Desi forever, Jay. She is a major part of your life.” It was my turn to stop the basket. 

“No. She WAS a major part of my life. Not IS. It’s over.” 

“How can it be over with someone that you loved so much for so long?” Cass inquired. “I mean, I used to tell Liz that I was amazed at how much you loved her. She didn’t deserve you.” The last words were crushing to me. She didn’t deserve you. I turned to Cass and plastered a smile on my face. 

“I’ve gotta go, Cass.” I kissed her cheek quickly, and abandoning my basket, walked out of the store. 

I walked back into the quiet house. Bailey had left a note to say she was out playing ball and Claudia was up in her room. I heard Claud on the phone, laughing. I knocked on her bedroom door. 

“Okay. Bye love.” She ended her call. “Hey, Jaylen. How was the wedding planning extravaganza?” I shrugged.

“A lot. What’s up, what are you doing today?” I asked her. 

“Well, Ava and Margie are having a party for Liz at the house. Ava invited me weeks ago, but she just called to tell me that Liz would love for you and Bailey to come.” I shook my head.

“Nope, doubtful. Want some lunch? I can make you something.” I walked out of her room purposefully and she trailed behind me. 

“I’m starving.” She admitted.

“Claud, why didn’t you eat?” I asked her.

“I was waiting for you to come back and cook for me. Duh.” She said. I rolled my eyes and headed into the kitchen. 

Anytime I was with Claudia, it was easy for us to laugh and talk about things of importance, or of absolutely no consequence at all. We sat downstairs after we ate lunch, a movie watching us, discussing what Claudia, who decided to go with her original arrangement of attending the party alone, would wear since she’d be seeing Ava and her girlfriend. Bailey burst into the house with her old teammate, Robyn, loud and sweaty.

“Hey, babe.” I called out to her. “Hey Rob!” Robyn came in and hugged me, sweatiness notwithstanding. 

“Jay! What you cookin’? I’m starving.” She said.

“I don’t know, I can go see.” I told her. Bailey kissed my cheek.

“Make me something too. I’m going to change.” She said. 

“Of course I will.” The two of them headed upstairs and Claudia glanced my way. She’d always thought Robyn was attractive, even though Robyn was a confirmed heterosexual. 

“Claud, no. She’s straight, damn you.” 

            “I think everyone in this house was straight at one point.” She said airily and followed me into the kitchen. 

            “So, Bails, what are you doing tonight?” Claudia asked while looking at Robyn, who was eating busily. 

            “You been with the wifey all day and you ask me what I’m doing tonight? Whatever she’s doing.” Bailey responded with a grin. 

            “Liz’s birthday party is tonight. Wanna go?” Claudia asked her pointedly. I cleared my throat.

            “Selfish.” I muttered at Claudia. I flashed a smile Bailey’s way. “You should go, you deserve a nice time. Ava and Margaret are giving it at their big ol’ River Oaks mansion.” I told her. She shrugged.

            “You don’t want to go with me?” She questioned. I shook my head ardently.

            “I’ve had all I can stand of Liz and everyone right about now. I’m on overload. Plus, I’m really tired from the wedding stuff.” Bailey frowned.

            “I want you to go with me, though.” She insisted. 

            “Bailey, I really don’t want to go. I think you should go and have a great time.” My tone had finality in it. 

            “I’ll go.” Robyn offered to go in my place. Bailey looked frustrated but nodded. 

            “That’s fine.” She didn’t sound like it was fine, though. I started to clear the table.

            “You know,” Bailey said. “She’s going to see us together sooner or later.” I looked back at Claudia and Robyn. Claudia was flirting tirelessly and Robyn was giving her a random grin. 

            “Bailey. It really isn’t about that.” I said quietly. “I’m tired. Really.” She nodded but she didn’t look any more accepting of my answer. I turned back to the dishes, and when I turned around again, Bailey was gone. I finished cleaning and then retreated to my spot on the couch.  When I woke, I hadn’t even realized I’d fallen asleep, and where I’d usually wake to Bailey watching me, I woke to nothing but a dark, empty house and the moonlight gazing in the window. 

           

Reviews

[D1218]

I feel most sorry for Bailey :(
I mean I understand that Jaylen's hurting and everything but she needs to work on getting over it for real - not just acting like it
She's hurting other people :/

I also understand that you're probably not reading this - just felt the need to express how into your story I am xD

[Brjden (Bridge-Den) Cre..]

I have to keep reading, but I'm over Jaylen and her drama. Condemn Desi for cheating, but sleep with her best friend and smile in the face of Liz's girlfriend. I have more to say, but I'll save it....