It was crazy to move Jade in so fast. I knew my sister and mother would have something to say about it. Even Ross might too. But if she remained at Zora’s apartment, it would be difficult to see her.
In this morning’s press conference, Governor Ellis talked about starting strict regulations to keep people out of the streets. There could be some fines and tickets if people were out for nonessential reasons.
This time of corona required more extreme methods for me to get to know Jade. That meant rushing a courtship that would have taken more time. It meant having her in my condo well before the appropriate relationship milestones.
But it doesn’t matter. I didn’t know Amber, but I do know Jade. I watched her grow up. Sometimes, I feel like I get her more than my own family.
Jade was perfect for me. I felt like hitting myself for not coming to that realization before.
She’s nervous about this. I’ll show her that it’s the most logical thing she’ll do in her life.
When I finished cleaning the kitchen, I turned to catch Jade leaving the bathroom. A towel covered her head. Another wrapped around her body.
I grunted.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, I left my bathrobe in the bedroom.”
“Did you, now?” I prowled her way.
She giggled and walked into the bedroom. “What are you doing?”
I followed her inside. “I’m done with the kitchen. I’m here to help.”
“Well, unless you feel like moisturizing and detangling my hair, then you can take your self back in the living room.”
“Do your hair?” I nodded. “I’ve got this.”
She parted her lips. “You don’t know—”
“It can’t be that hard.”
“No, but—”
“I’ll get the brush.” I picked it up from the dresser. “What next? You need a blow dryer or something?”
“No. I’m detangling.”
“Let’s do it.”
“No way. I was just joking.” She took the towel off her hair. Tons of itsy-bitsy candy curls fell around her head. “This is a whole day of work.”
“Relax. The doctor is here.” I went over to her and touched those soft thick strands. “I didn’t realize your hair was so curly.”
“My hair is a lot. Curly, frizzy, dry. That’s on a good day. But most of all, it regularly defies gravity.”
I smirked. “What do you need me to do?”
“Help me comb out five pounds of knots.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“You’re serious?”
I raised the comb and brush up like they were daggers. “New York Assassin at your beck and call.”
“Okay.” She grinned. “We can do it in the living room. I’ll put on something.”
“Don’t put on too much.” I left the room.
Ten minutes later, I was on the couch.
She sat on the floor between my legs and handed me a different comb. “You must use this.”
I showed her the one in my hand. “That comb is better than the one I have?”
“Yep. That’s Zora’s comb. Mine is a wide-tooth. We have a different job over here.”
“I understand.” I put the one I had down and picked that up. “And what about this bottle of stuff that you poured into your hair? It smells so good.”
“That’s my lavender leave-in conditioner.”
I inhaled and smiled. “I like this. I’m going to buy you a box of this stuff.”
“Thank you.” She went on to show me how to comb her hair, taking small sections and working them through the comb.
I copied her with my own section.
When I finished, she investigated the strands. “Okay, Kamal. You’re doing a damn good job.”
“I succeed at anything I try.”
She laughed.
I studied the curls I’d combed through. “That’s not funny.”
“It is when you say it that way.”
“I’m confident.”
“Clearly.”
I placed the combed curls on one side.
She grabbed that hair and braided it.
I watched. “Hmmm.”
“What?”
“You did that pretty fast.”
“I’ve been braiding forever.”
I grabbed a new section, combed through it, set the comb down, and attempted to braid the section too, accidentally yanking her head back.
“Ah!”
“Sorry.” I twisted the strands on top of each other. “This is difficult.”
“What are you doing up there?”
“Trying to put together a little braid.”
“Do you know how to do it?”
“No.”
“Oh, wow. You’re just going to make more knots.”
“I succeed at everything.”
Giggling, she lifted her mirror and checked out the disaster that I’d created. “Well. . .”
“You want me to just focus on combing?”
“Yes, please.”
“Fine.” I undid it and let her correct it. “You’re clearly not ready for my innovative braiding skills.”
“I’m not.”
“It’s the future.”
“Clearly.”I eyed the rest of her wet hair. “After we comb and braid it all, then what?”
“I think I’ll just do some simple buns.”
“Oh, I’m good at buns.”
“Hmmm.” She braided the section I combed.
Jealous, I combed another part and tried to braid it again.
She chuckled.
“Don’t laugh at me. I can get this. The last time I only used two strands, but I saw you cheated by using three.”
“It’s not cheating. You need three to braid it, Kamal.”
“Sure you do.” I twisted each one around for a few minutes and then gave up. “This is impossible.”