Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson by Chiquita Dennie (rooftoppers TXT) 📕

wanted to see if we could chat for a few minutes about something personal...”

“Anthony’s not bothering you, again is he?”

Ignoring Brent’s question, I find myself drawn to the woman he’s holding tightly within his arms. He senses my discomfort and introduces me.

“Babe, this is Emery Stone, one of my oldest friends and VP of Accounting at Townsends. Emery, this is my girlfriend, Lauren Johnson.”

“Hi nice to meet you, Emery, Brent has told me so much about you. I feel like I know your whole life,” Lauren says as she extended her hand for a shake.

Feeling annoyance throughout my body at Brent shoving some new plaything down my throat, I plaster on a smile and shake her hand.

“I wish I could say the same for you Lauren. Unfortunately, Brent’s been keeping you hidden from his close friends since middle school.”

“Emery, it’s not like that. We dated a year ago and just reconnected a few weeks ago. Let me walk her to the elevator, and I’ll meet you in my office.” Brent walks off with Lauren following behind him.

Ten minutes later he walks back in with a look of guilt and aggravation from me peering into his eyes. He throws his hands in the air and moves toward the bar in his office and pours himself a glass of whiskey. To be drinking at nine in the morning tells me he’s under some stress.

“Don’t look at me like that Emery, it was her choice,” Brent says as he downs the drink and pours another one.

“Can you blame her Brent? You forced her to choose and you know she doesn’t like when anybody tries to control her. You of all people know she has abandonment issues.”

“I...I... can’t keep doing this dance with her. We’ve been on and off for over five maybe eight years if you include high school.”

Seeing the pain that Brent’s going through has me rethinking talking to him about Jackson. Taking a seat next to him on the couch I grab the glass out of his hand I take a sip of his drink.

“Ewww... that’s disgusting.” I spit out the contents of the alcohol while choking. Brent takes the glass out of my hand and laughs softly.

“That’s what you get for doing big boy things.”

“Whatever, have you seen her lately? I know she’s been working overtime at the shop and you know the anniversary of her being with the family is coming up. She needs all of us, Brent.”

“No.”

“Hear me out, I’m not saying you have to take her out or anything, but the family is throwing a little party for her to celebrate. We do this every year, and she wants you there.”

“I doubt that after the last time we spoke, I left her standing outside and went back to my date.” Brent stood up and placed the glass down on the table and walked over to his desk.

“Yeah, I was hanging with Jordan at her place when Angela stormed inside and told us. What the hell are you doing with Lauren of all people? Last time we talked you said she’s a stuck-up princess that doesn’t do oral sex.”

“Oral sex isn’t everything that matters to me, Emery. I’m getting older, hell we’re all getting older. We're reaching thirty, and Angela’s never going to change. I’ve shown her every part of me and supported anything she wanted or needed. All I ask is to be a family in return.”

I stood up, and we embrace in a hug before starting work.  “Angela is different.”

“Give her some time. She’ll figure out what she wants.” Leaving his office, I decided to try one more time to call Jackson.

After finishing up my conversation with Brent and settling back in at my office, I try dialing Jackson's number. Before the phone could ring a text message pops up. Thinking it could be Jackson I hang up and check. Whose Jessica?

Jackson’s friend Jessica: Thought you’d like to know our man’s available for everyone.

I felt a punch in my stomach seeing a picture of Jackson, in bed with another woman with the sheet only covering his lower half. I know I shouldn’t be pissed but noticed the time stamp was two days ago when he took Dominique out. Furious is the safest word I could use for right now.

Me: You have me confused with someone else. Stop playing childish games on my phone. Oh... and tell Jackson he can go fuck himself.

Switching my phone to vibrate, I checked messages and caught up on some work I’ve neglected for the past few days.

Later that night, I decided to call the girls over to drink and vent about their problems.

Knock Knock Knock!!!

“Angela, don’t you have a key?” I asked as I opened the door to let her and Jordan inside. Both were dressed in pajamas and carrying bottles of wine. I grabbed one out of her hands and used the wine opener off the table.

“So, who broke your heart and how much is it going to cost me?” Angela questioned as she plopped down next to me on the couch, placing her feet on the coffee table.

“Check my cell phone.”

Angela scrolls through my messages as Jordan comes behind the couch and looks over her shoulder.

“Did you ask him if this is real? You know how people photoshop stuff,” Jordan said.

“He’s not my man. I could care less what he does.”

Angela rolls her eyes and starts texting on my phone.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Texting Jackson about this photo.” Angela stood up and walked to the kitchen.

“Don’t text him; I’d rather not deal with his excuses.”

“Too late, he said to call him,” Angela said.

Waving off her suggestion, I turn the TV on as Jordan lays her head in my lap.

“What’s your problem, Jordan?”

“Trying to decide if I should go out with Damon on a real date. After we made the whole family dinner with the kids, he persuaded me to a one on one,” Jordan replied as she sat back up again to take the bottle and chug some down.

“He must have really made an impression on you.”

“I shouldn’t be dating. DJ would get confused, and I can’t have him getting attached to anyone only to end up getting hurt in the long run,” Jordan said.

“Jordan you’re thinking too hard about this. It’s only one date. DJ only cares about cookies and pizza right now. I doubt he even remembers his name,” Angela replied.

I took the bottle out of her hand and poured some into my glass just as someone rang the doorbell.