Chapter 14 Part 2: Make Ups
Reagan
How could Chris do this to me?
I knew he wasn’t sorry. If he truly wanted to spend time with me he woulda found a way to get here last night. I really missed him. I kept my eyes on him as he slept peacefully; aas if nothing happened.
I slipped out the bed and headed into the shower to get myself ready for today. Since we were already staying in the French Quater, Tori wanted to go to all the little boutiques to shop, and I didn’t mind it. The only thing that wouldn’t be fun was going to the JAX art gallery. I originally wanted to go with Chris, but he already showed me what was important to him.
When I finished taking my shower and lotioning my body, I slipped into a black BCBG sundress and some black Alexander McQueen ballet flats. I slicked my hair into a ponytail and headed into the main room of the suite to grab my coach clutch bag that contained pretty much everything I needed to survive for the day.
I glanced at Chris one more time and decided not to tell his stupid ass shit. He really let me down and I know it may not be a big deal, but if I accept this shit now and let it slide, its gonna become the start of a pattern.
***
“Tori that’s sooo cute!” I exclamed. We were in ‘Blue Alligator’ checking out the Jewelry they had. Tori picked up a little thistle necklace that seemed to compliment her feautres really well.
“I know right! I think imma put it on Ty’s card.” She muttered. She waltzed over to where Mikey, Liam and Mijo were standing and ran back over to me. “We also gotta find a lingere shop. My birthday is in two days and I refuse to have you being sour.”
I glanced at Tori chuckling a little, “Excuse me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Girl, imma need you to get some because on my day, I want everyone to be happy.”
“And who says Im not happy?” I scoffed as she eyed me suspiciously.
Tori sighed, placing her hands on hips, “Rae im not dumb. Don’t let what ever happened last night ruin the whole time for you. Did he apologize?” I nodded my head and she spoke again. “So they why are you stressing?”
“Cause Tori, he knows this is time we’re all spending with each other, he choose his ‘job’ over me. Like he coulda called, he didnt have to lie.” I sighed trying to read Tori’s face.
“Girl what’s done is done. Get on his ass when we get back to Miami, right now imma need you to be happy, and for us to go find this lingere shop.” I shot her a straight face making her laugh. “Girl once Chris gets in them vicky’s you not gonna give a fuck anyway.”
I shook my head laughing at her. Tori was fucking crazy. Her solution to everything was good sex. But this went deeper than that. She was right though what’s done is done, and I shouldn’t spend the rest of this trip worried about his fuck up. It was a new day; I should enjoy it and not stress myself.
Tori and I continued talking and shopping with everyone else until Beyonce’s voice began blasting on my phone. I pulled my droid out and saw Chris’ picture flash across the screen. I let out a deep breath and placed the phone to my ear.
“Hey ba-” I was cut off by an angry Chris. Even though he had no reason to be mad as hell, he was gonna be. He needed to have control over something.
“Where the fuck are you?”
“I went out with everybody.” I said lowly walking away from the group. I didn’t need them in my business, especially not Liam.
“And you didn’t think to wake me up, Reagan?” He sneered from the other end.
“Chris, I thought you -“
“That was really petty and bitchy of you, Reagan I thought you weren’t mad anymore!” He damn near screamed into the other end of the phone.
I didn’t know whether or not I wanted to hang up or try to calm him down. But I know if he gets crazy again, it’s gonna be a damn problem.
Chris
Twenty minutes after my phone call with Reagan, I showed up to the ice cream shop everyone had walked to.
When I woke up and noticed Rae wasn’t in our room, my blood was boiling. I hated when people did petty shit when they were mad. I didn’t have the time or patience for that.
Say why you were mad, so we could work it out. Simple.
As soon as I locked eyes with Rae, I instantly regretted how I handled the phone call. Rae glanced at me, and her face instantly twisted up in disgust. The sadness she had in her eyes last night was replaced with fire. If she wasn’t mad last night, she was definitely mad now.
The whole group was standing at the front of the counter, staring up at the menu. Tori and Rae were on the opposite side of where I joined Ty. He glanced over at me and shook his head with a laugh.
“You know you fucked up, right?” He asked, turning his attention back to the menu. I sighed, “Time got away from me man. We talked about all kinds of new bus-“
“Not missing the dinner, man.” Ty cut me off. “We got her to calm down about that. But that phone call?” Ty shook his head again, “You know you were wrong for that.”
“She’s that mad?” I almost laughed at my own stupid question when Ty did.
“Nigga,” Ty chuckled. “She’s been on the phone with airlines ever since you hung up on her. She’s trying to send yo’ ass home. The only reason why she can’t, is cause of this damn storm.” He patted my shoulder and started walking over to Tori.
I followed him over, stopping close behind Rae, “I’m sorry for the phone call.” I muttered against her neck. “I was just mad when I realized you weren’t in the room when I woke up.”
“Yeah, I noticed that, Christopher.”
I sighed, “Come on, RaeRae.” I pleaded. “I’m trying to apologize here.” I noticed Tori shoot Reagan a look before she turned to order with Ty.
“Rae,” I put my hand on her arm and gently turned her around, “I promise you; I have zero business left to do while we’re here. I’m yours for the rest of the week.”
I felt her relax a little bit, and I pulled her into me, “Whatever you wanna do; I’m down. Okay?”
She nodded, “Okay.” I leaned in cautiously for a kiss, half expecting her to push me away. Instead she reached up and pressed her lips against mine. I parted her lips with mine, slipping my tongue into her mouth.
“Excuse us, nasties!” Tori yelled, snapping her fingers. “Y’all getting ice cream or no?”
“I’m good.” I laughed as Rae wiped her lip gloss off of my lips.
“Same.” Rae walked over to a table besides Liam and who I was assuming was his girl for this trip. I followed her, sitting in the seat right next to her.
“So what did you wanna do today?” I paused to look at her, “Or did y’all already make plans?”
“No.” Rae shrugged, “Well we kinda just decided everyone is doing their own thing today before dinner. Tori really just wants to spend the day getting it in with Mikey.” I laughed. I didn’t blame them.
I was more than down to spend the day fucking Rae all around our hotel room. But I could wait. I owed her a day out together and to be present for dinner. But tonight was the night we finally got it in.
After dinner.
“Chris?” Rae laughed, “Did you hear me?” I shook my head and she rolled her eyes. “I said I got tickets to the art show you wanted to go see.”
“Wow.” I muttered. I don’t remember having a conversation about the Jax Art Exhibit with her. I just remember mentioning it vaguely in a random talk we had about this trip.
“You wanna go today?” I looked up at Rae who looked excited.
“Let’s go now.”
…….
“I don’t like this.” I looked up and down at a painting I had been standing in front of for a couple of minutes now.
Rae chuckled softly, “You haven’t liked the last four pieces that we’ve looked at.” It was true. There had been a lot of really nice art pieces in this exhibit, but not as much as I had expected. I wanted to be blown away by the things that I saw today, but I just wasn’t.
For the most part, everything was unimpressive. “I just feel like I can do better than this.” I waved my hand dismissively before walking to the next painting.
“You can.” Rae stated. I looked over at her and watched as she took in the painting before us. “Actually. You should, Chris.”
“What?” Rae shrugged, “I’ve seen your art. I love your art. This…shit..” She chuckled and walked closer to me. “I don’t see why you can’t do your art more.”
“I play around when I’m not working.”
“That’s not even real-“ Reagan cleared her throat when she saw the look that I was giving her. “I’m just saying, Chris.” She continued. “You could have a show like this one day. Filled with your work.” She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck, “Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
It sounded amazing. Especially coming from Rae. I never had someone believe in my art other than my mom. A part of me thought she was just saying this cause she didn’t want me dealing anymore. But I could tell there was truth behind her words. She meant what she was saying.
“Just tell me you’ll work on your art more, and business less?”Her eyes were hopeful.
I nodded slowly, “Alright, I’ll work on it more.” Rae pulled me into her tightly, my arms instantly wrapped around her waist. When she pulled away, I pressed my lips to hers before she could say anything.
I just hoped I could actually keep my word. Lord knows I was gonna try. I didn’t want to disappoint Rae anymore. That’s the last thing I wanted in this world. She just didn’t understand why I did what I did. Or how I got started. At this point, I didn’t even know if I could stop.
Rae pulled away slowly, “I’m so excited for you!” She squealed. “The first thing you should work on when we get back to Miami, is my walls.” She pecked my lips, and I linked my fingers through hers.
“Oh.” I chuckled as we walked out of the art exhibit, “I got big plans for them walls. But I’m not waitin’ till we get home.” I shook my head, “I’m tearin’ ‘em down tonight.”
Rae’s jaw dropped while I held the door open for her, “Chris!” She playfully slapped my chest as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me while we walked.
She knew better than to play games. We were back on track, and we both knew what the deal was. We had been teasing the shit out of each other ever since she got back to town. But Rae was mine now.
And after the club tonight, it’s a wrap.
