Page 33 of Sweet Surrender
13
ALEX
ONE WEEK LATER
“How much dill do you need for the sauce?”
“That one bunch should be enough.” I replied to Judah’s question as I grabbed some fresh fennel from the stand.
We were grocery shopping and preparing a dinner for ourselves and a couple of our friends, Kelli and Gabe. Tonight would be the first time that we appeared officially as a couple with anyone. I was excited about it, and I knew that tonight was only a test run. Kelli was deeply bought into the idea of us, or Judex, as she called us, which I hated.
“I’m still on the fence about dessert, babe. You think we should try to make the cheesecake, or should we just go ahead and buy a dessert?”
“I don’t know, baby. What do you think?” I asked, tapping my chin and pondering the question.
“Well, I was thinking about saving time. It’s already a little after one now. We still have to get home, unpack the groceries, prep and cook, and then shower and get dressed. They’ll be at my place at five. I don’t want us to be pressed for time. Thisshould be easy and smooth flowing so that we can be relaxed when they get there. I don’t want this to be stressful. We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves.”
I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed him. “See, that right there is why I love you.”
He wrapped his hands around my waist and stared into my eyes. He lifted one thick, bushy eyebrow and asked, “You love me?”
I bit my bottom lip and nodded.
“Since when?”
“I think I kind of always did. I’ve had a crush on you since I was a pre-teen, and over the years, I just fell a little bit more each time I saw you. Once I started dating Issachar, I convinced myself that it was just a childhood crush, and everyone has one, right? I’ve been thinking about what you told me about your conversation with him, and I must take some of the responsibility too.
“I was always comparing you and him. I put you on a pedestal so many times over the years, but I never thought it mattered. After all, you were his big brother, and in time, you were married. My crush wasn’t hurting anyone, or so I thought. It clearly hurt your brother.”
“He’s gonna be okay. He just told me yesterday that he’s getting therapy for some of his issues. You’re gonna be okay, too, beautiful. I’m gonna make sure of it because I love you even more.”
Judah squeezed my waist and brushed his lips against mine once more. I pulled back and asked, “Wait. When did you discover you loved me?”
“The day of Zack’s wedding when you stepped out the bathroom with that tear rolling down your face. I knew then that I loved you, and I never wanted to see you hurting, crying, or pressed for another nigga again in your life. I knew that I wantedto be the one who wiped away your tears, always made you laugh, and always made you smile.”
He pressed a kiss to my lips again, and I laughed. “You’re about to make me cry now because you’re so sweet.”
“Baby, don’t.” He kissed my forehead just as I heard someone clearing their throat behind us.
I slowly spun around after seeing the blank, but hardened expression on Judah’s face and in his eyes. My heart sank just a little when I saw that it was my mother, father, and brother. I planned to visit her tomorrow after church and tell her about Judah and me.
“Hi, Mama. Hi, Daddy. Hi, Jon,” I greeted, clearing my throat and pulling the hem of my tank top down just a little.
My father leaned in and pulled me close. He kissed the top of my head and replied, “Hey, baby girl. Hi, Judah.”
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan. Jon.”
Judah’s hand rested on my shoulder, and he did not move. He stood firmly behind me like a guardian angel, to keep me strong. I appreciated him more than he knew.
“This doesn’t look anything like an anniversary planning session to me. When was the last time a client kissed you? I was just telling your brother, isn’t that Alex and Judah over in produce? I didn’t want to believe it, but, Alexandria, you’ve been lying to me.”
“And I apologize for that, but Mama, you don’t make it easy to talk to you.”
“You can talk to me anytime about anything. I’ve always held an open door, and I’ve told you and your brother that through the years.”
“You have, but your open door comes with a tornado full of judgment blowing through it.”
“And you wonder why? If it weren’t for me watching over you guys, I don’t know what sort of foolish decisions you would havemade throughout the years. I mean, look at you now. It’s not a good lookbeing passed through a family like this; it’s whorish behavior.”
