The Start

After interviews and two days of having dinner and supper with different families, I woke up to Dean getting dressed telling me he had to go to Bismarck. I went everywhere with him, and when he told me he was going alone; I was surprised, to say the least.

“Nikita wants some, ‘Stud’ time. Don’t be jealous.” And those fuckin dimples of his just make me smile.

Back to tonight:

We walked out the door, his hand reached, and I took it pulling until both his hands rested in mine. I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him. It wasn’t a ‘end of the night with a bad date kiss.’ And it wasn’t a ‘I love you to the moon and back’ kiss either. I don’t know why I did it.

“Niki? I love and have loved, Robby, with every heart that’s ever beat in my body. You can’t see Dean when you look at me. I won’t be a Seri-get for him.” And I slapped him across the face.

I dropped the other hand reaching for his shoulders. “I didn’t kiss Dean, you, ass. I kissed Ryan, RJ. You don’t get it,” and now my hands rested on my hips.

“If it walks and talks like a duck. If it sounds and looks like a duck? If it’s uncatchable like a duck; it must be, RJ Chancellor.” And we turned seeing Don holding my purse with his mouth open.

“Niki?”

Still from Niki’s POV:

I made arrangements for RJ including the next two days and left him a detailed email. He was smart and could follow directions. I told him I had Foundation business and would meet him in Texas. I came back un-expectantly and went to tell Robby. I knocked and checked the knob finding it was unlocked; I walked in.

His back was to me as he looked out at the water with headphones on; just, fuckin, belting, it out. ‘Etta-fuckin, James, At Last.’ I couldn’t pull my phone out fast enough and tried to move to a spot where I could see his face.

“At last, my love has come along… my lonely days are over. And life is like a song.”I had heard him sing with Ryan but ‘my fuckin god.’ This was a different level. I made it up a couple of steps and he didn’t see me.

“At last, well, well, well, the skies above, there blue; my heart was wrapped in clover.” He ran the fuckin scale. He jumped from high to low and then off to somewhere, few, could go.

Robby had headphones on and all I could hear was him, a Capella. “For you are mine”And I listened to some of the craziest vocal shit I’d ever heard.

He was on his knees and I backed out without him seeing, my phone still on. What in the hell do I do with this???

Then before I could close the door. “When I need you, I just close my eyes and I’m with you. And all that I so… want to give you; It’s only a heartbeat away, Rye. When I need love; I hold out my hands and I touch love, I never knew there was so much love, keeping me warm night and day, Rye.” Robby was talking to Ryan who wasn’t here to see what he tried to give but was miles away. I stepped back into the room.

“Miles and miles of empty space in between us, Rye. A telephone could never take the place of your smile, Rye.”And I know what tears look and feel like.

“But I know you won’t be traveling forever; It’s cold out, but hold out, and do like I do, cause, I love you, RJ”OK. I was fuckin crying.

“When I need you, I just close my eyes and I’m with you; and all that I so… want to give you, Ryan. It’s only a heartbeat away.”

I thought about everything. I thought about The Foundation. I thought about what RJ did for Healey’s foundation. The astronomical amount of money he raised for the Cooper Foundation. What in the hell was I doing?

Ryan may, or may have not, realized, what he was doing. I didn’t want Robby to be collateral damage; don’t care how much money Ryan raised.

Reflecting back:

Everything went crazy. Dollywood on his birthday was amazing. The Ghost album came out; Sony fast-tracked it, and Dean spent three months doing the follow up double album. And he was set to be a performer and presenter at the up-coming, AMA’s. The talk was, he’d be receiving a few as well.

I remember the date, August 8th. Dean was down to just two tracks left on the first side. He had talked JT into bringing Dream Works on board, despite the cost, and everything just fell into place. His last album with Sony would look like the original Star Trek compared to this one, The Next Generation.

Back to today.

Niki’s POV:

I remembered Dean’s Parents;bringing them here to meet, Pop’s; it seemed only fair to bring, RJ.I walked in with Ryan’s hand pulling on my elbow. “Niki?”

“There’s our little girl” And he got what I can only assume was a face going to a lynching, looking at RJ.

Ryan put himself between us and Pop’s pushed him aside to hug me. “Whatca ya doin bringin his doppelganger in here?” He said in my ear.

“He’s solid, Pops. Him and Dean beenround the block. This is RJ, and he’s family.”

“Look, everybody, our little girl came to have supper with us and this here, skinny white boy, is RJ. He’s Family.”

Niki. Flashback.

Dean came in and said he was taking me to dinner and then the car stopped at this little hole in the wall on the wrong side of town. When we walked in I thought he made a huge mistake. We were the only white people in the place. I took his hand like trying to tell him and this big black man came out. The closer he got his look didn’t change then a smile broke out on his face.

“Pops,” and Dean’s arms opened up to hug the huge man who was wearing an apron covered in god only knows what.

“Kid, you come back to see, ol Pop’s?”

“I didn’t come back fur your ugly old mug. I come backs for somes of that slops you fed me last time.” And they slapped each other on the back and he looked at me.

Dean’s left arm meandered around my waist as he pulled me close in a possessive kind of way. “This is Niki, Pop’s.” And I could tell he had pride in his voice introducing me.

The big black man went to wipe his hands and I opened my arms and gave Pop’s ‘a Niki hug.’ I’ve been told it’s something special. My grammy taught me; its more than a gesture, more than a hi or goodbye. It’s a chance to let someone who deserves a hug have a tiny piece of you. I had to play into whatever Dean was trying to pull on me.

He kissed me on the top of my head before turning to the occupants’ saying, “Look, everybody, ‘The kid’ come to have supper with us and this here, skinny white girl, is Niki. She’s family.”

Today.

It’s so strange when life plays out. John Legend brought Dean here two years ago, Dean brought me here; and I brought his parents. Today I brought another member to the fold. RJ, was not ready for this when we walked through the door.

“This young man is family. Donyodare dispect him.” He told everybody.

“Know gives Nikis’ a kiss on the lips so everony sees you lipskinning a white girl fer thfirstime.” And he did.

“How yadoin Miss. Niki?” Old Leroy asked.

“I been missin you, ol man; how you cheated the reaper this long?” And I had to kiss his head before he got.

He reached up to hold my cheeks, “I don’t see color looking at you, child.” And he kissed each.

“What’s color but another shade of another, old Man? Now sits your tireoldass downfore we needs calling EMS”

RJ; wasn’t really ready for this, who knows if he ever would be, but he needed to experience it. We wared with our eyes and hadn’t really talked since the elevator in New York. Then our food came. I watched what ‘orgasm face’ must look like on, RJ. I watched him eat like the food didn’t have the same effect on me that it did him.

And then it was like deva-fuckin-voo. “You can’t just fuckin kiss me, Niki. What were you thinking.”

“Whdidhesay?” And I had to laugh.

“He dindent likme kissing him” I yelled back, like I was yelling the answer on Jeopardy.

“Niki, you-lie like-a dog” Came right from RJ.

“Dontyamakme open a can of whoopass on youlillwhit punk ass. You don’t talk to Miss. Niki, Likes that.”

“Sit-your-tired-old-ass, down, Leroy; let the white boy finish.” The woman next to him yelled.

Ryan lowered his voice. “It’s, not, like, I, didn’t, like, it Niki! You surprised me.”

“Whtdidhesay???”

“Will you, just, shut the fuck up, and let him finish; old man?”

“She can’t kiss? Is that what is, Boy?” Ryan cupped his face in his hands.

Everyone has known an old black man, or any old man, for that matter? The guy who just, can’t, shut, the fuck, up?

“I swear I will cut the hose to your air; now will you shut the fuck up and let him finish?” I needed to hear this.

Like on the sly, RJ asked, “They do know you’re not black, right? What the fuck are you doing, Nicole?”

Another flashback:

Dean took my hand pulling me to a table. “Ok, Dean, spill.”

“What?” he asked with dimples. He’s got to stop doing that.

“This here, skinny, white girl. Really? They do know you’re not black, right?”

“From now on, you’re, family. And that’s all that matters, Niki.”

“Fox News says you doing drugs, Kid. That true?” an old man asked trying to stand.

If you can imagine a ND boy trying to talk ghetto shit. “Whatcha talking bout, olman? Oh no, did they take yours Wheel a Fortune and Jeopardy off the air and all you gots that shit? You know me better than that.” And Dean got up walking over to him.

“Don’t you go getting all high and mighty on me, boy? I can still open a can of whoop ass on like you ain’t neverseen fore.” And he started to cough.

“Sit your tire old ass down now fore you busts a hip.” And Dean helped him sit kissing the top of his head.

He sat down in front of me straight-faced. Ok, I know how to play, Stare, too. Dean lost and I realized how much I loved his dimples.

“Good one, Dean. Pat yourself on the back. You, punked, Niki. But I knew when we walked in. You paid everybody in here, didn’t you? There’s a camera, right? I’m not a fool, Farmboy.” And He was fighting a smile.

“White folk don’t wander into a all-black, restaurant, and act like a raging horse’s ass expecting to walk out. And who are you trying to fool with that lingo anyway?”

He ignored me. “What are we doing tomorrow, Niki? Fuck that. We need a break. Let’s take the week and just.” He stopped as he looked at me.

“Just what, Dean?” I asked.

“I really don’t want to have this conversation here, Niki.”

“What conversation, Dean?” I really didn’t know.

He leaned in, “Niki? You never told me if I was.” And he shook his head.

“If you were what, Dean?” I couldn’t get a read on him at all.

“Come on, Niki.” And he took in a deep breath blowing it out dramatically.

“Words, Dean. I need more words.” I said a little too loud.

“You’re just going to make me say it, aren’t you?” he asked, bristling.

“Dean? I don’t have a fucking clue what you’re trying to say.” And our food came.

We started to eat. I just wanted more of whatever was on the plate. I started to ask what it was and Dean just shrugged. “OK. I don’t want you to go getting all constipated on me so why don’t you just ask whatever you want the answer to.”

“When we were in London; you never said anything after.” He announced with such question.

Back to today:

“I couldn’t help it, RJ. It was a kiss of endearment, nothing more, nothing less. So you liked it?” I asked with a smile taking another bite.

“It’s been years since I kissed a girl, anyone, who wasn’t Robby. I love him but, I have strong feelings for you that confuse me. I don’t know where it comes from.” He finished taking another bite.

“You read more into the kiss,” I told him.

“I don’t think so, Nicole. And to be honest; I would have done you in the elevator.”

Now my mouth was open with food still in it as RJ was being honest.

“Whdshsy?” I hear from two tables away.

“She did him in the elevator.” Someone from three tables away said.

“Nobody did anybody in the elevator! Now can we finish supper?”

“Wadshsay?”

“She said shut the fuck up and mind your own business, olman.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had sex with anybody but, Robby. You do confuse me, Niki. I do have feelings for you and I don’t know where that comes from. I’ve had girlfriends, some buddies too.” And he took another bite.

“I would never get between the two of you but, I am available if you need to sort shit out.” And he looked at me.

“Are you staying here tonight or flying back home?” He asked.

“Would it make a difference to you Ryan if I stayed or flew back home?” I asked not really wanting an answer.

“Wadshsay?”

A girl in her early twenties stood. I had to laugh at the fro comb stuck off to the side. “Howbout you two poor little white kids take you tired old shit out of here so I can finish my dinner in peace.” Her head was rocking back and forth.

Ryan stood and then I did, telling him to, sit the fuck down. “You got a problem, Be-atch?”

“Don’t make me hand your little ass back to you, cunt.” And that really pissed me off. I hate that word and if anybody got their ass handed back it was going to be her.

“Yagirlstopit.” Shut the fuck up Leroy, we said at the same time.

A large hand fell on my shoulder. “Family, don’t fight at the table, Girl. Now sit your ass back down; you too, Miss. Niki.” And we both sat on command.

I couldn’t believe Ryan, “Could you all just turn your hearing aids down for a minute? You too.” As he pointed at the only person who didn’t need one. I had to smile.

“Niki?” and he shook his head back and forth. “Are you staying or not?”

“What do you want me to do, RJ?” The way he looked at me. The pain in his face and the way he was breathing reminded me of when Dean and I were here.

He washed his face with his hands then pushed on both sides of his head. He closed his eyes and tilted in serious thought as I answered his question. “I’ve got to go home.”

From your Author:

I see some authors posting more frequently. I’d like to think I played a small role in that. A reader, Derion, and I are on the same page when it comes to RJ and Niki. Here we are at the end of another chapter. I never saw this going past 16 and I still wonder; do you enjoy my fiction, have you read other stuff I’ve written, do you vote or comment? Do you like my music? RJC.