All That and a Bag of Chips (37 page)

She ran her tongue across his lips and pecked him slowly and erotically on his lips and said, “Thanks.”

“Venice, you keep that up and you'll be going home limping.”

That laughed and held each other tightly, absorbing the warmth of their bodies.

They were relaxing in the rec room when the telephone rang. Bryan was calling to verify when Venice was leaving. Craig gave her the phone and she informed him of his itinerary. Afterwards, he told her he thought it might be best if she flew home instead of drove. He was concerned for her driving alone during the holidays. She insisted she'd be fine, but Bryan argued the point until Venice got defensive. She felt he was babying her again. He told her under no circumstances was she to drive and that he was going to get her plane ticket. She flat out refused and slammed the phone down.

Craig was confused and wondering what was going on. “What's wrong, Taylor?” Without answering him, she disappeared upstairs.

The phone rang again. Craig answered it in a puzzled state. “Hello?”

“Hey, Craig. Where's Venice?”

“She just went upstairs. What's wrong?”

“Nothing except for her acting childish?”

“Can I help?”

Bryan went on to explain what he'd discussed with Venice. Craig, not wanting to get in the middle of it, said, “Let me talk to her. I'll get back with you.”

Craig hung up and went upstairs to find her. He looked around the house for a while, then he heard Bear barking. She was sitting out on the porch in the swing with Bear in her lap. Craig sat down next to her and said, “Bryan called you back.” She didn't acknowledge him. She kept on swinging. Craig explained, “Baby, Bryan's only trying to look out for you.”

“My brothers have been trying to look out for me all my life. The only reason I continue to let them get away with it is…” She hesitated for a moment. “Something almost happened to me a couple of years back.”

Craig listened, not to give away the fact that he already knew what had happened. Venice stared out into the yard and went on to tell him the horrible details Bryan had already told him. Craig put his arm around her shoulder and wiped away the tears.

She said, “That's why my brothers are so overly protective of me. They think I'm still traumatized by it. I've gotten past it now. I did
have a hard time trusting men after that, but I'm trying to be more independent. I'm trying to take care of myself.”

“Venice, brothers have been protecting their sisters for generations. It's our job. Even though Bernice is older than me, that didn't stop me from jumping a guy almost twice my age and size when he called her a hoe. I got my ass kicked but I defended my sister. You need to let your brothers protect you as long as they can. Good brothers don't come along often. I hate that happened to you, Venice. Be thankful it wasn't much worse and that you have good friends and brothers to look out for you. I care about you, too. Let your brothers do their job. Now…you might want to call Bryan back so you can talk about it. Look, Venice, tell Bryan if he wants me to and you don't mind, I'll drive you home. Okay?”

Venice had tears in her eyes and nodded her head in agreement. “Okay, thanks.”

Venice got up from the swing and went back inside to call Bryan. Venice had no idea of the drama waiting for her. Jarvis was already home for the Christmas holidays and anxiously waiting for her to arrive.

 

Tuesday morning, Craig loaded the
suitcases in Venice's car about nine. She said her good-byes to J.T. and Bernice. Venice felt a little sad to be leaving the Bennett household. She knew that when she came back, she would have to spend more time in her dorm room. Luckily, her grades hadn't suffered from her spending so much time with Craig. The second semester classes were going to be a little more demanding, but Venice was ready.

They'd been on the road for about three hours and Venice was able to get a little sleep as Craig drove. He played some of his favorite CDs to pass the time away. Venice woke up and told Craig she'd drive the last three hours if he wanted her to. He told her he'd let her know if he got tired. They stopped for gas and lunch halfway through the trip. The weather was very cold and there was a sever weather warning for snow moving in. Venice insisted on driving the remainder of the trip so Craig could catch a nap. Before he knew it, they were in her hometown. Craig woke up, looked at his watch, and realized she must've been rolling. She cut their trip by a good thirty minutes. He stretched and asked, “How fast were you driving?”

“You don't want to know. I wanted to get here before it started snowing.”

She made her way through town and pulled into the driveway at the back of her house. They both got out and stretched from being in the car so long.

Venice said, “I'm so tired.”

About that time, Crimson ran out of the house. She jumped up in Craig's arms, hugging him. He said, “Hey, squirt!”

She jumped down, ran around the car, and jumped up on Venice, nearly knocking her down.

“Hey, Auntie! What did you bring me?”

Bryan came out and hollered, “Crimson! Get your little tail back in this house! You don't have on a coat! Hey, Craig. Hey, Venice.”

Venice was trying to walk with Crimson still in her arms and said, “Hey, Bryan.”

She hurried to get Crimson in the house. When she entered the house, she could smell the aroma of some good home cooking. Her mother met her at the door and gave her a big hug and kiss. “How's my baby? I'm glad you finally got here. Some snowy weather might be moving in. Dinner's almost ready and I know you're hungry. Where's Craig?”

“Outside with Bryan. We heard about the snow on the radio. Where are Galen and Sidney?”

Her mother was taking something out of the oven. “They've gone shopping or something.”

Venice took her jacket off and hung it in the hallway. “Where's Daddy?”

“He's playing cards with some of his friends. He'll be home soon.”

Craig and Bryan entered with the luggage. Venice's mom greeted Craig. “Thanks for bringing our baby home.”

“I didn't mind, Mrs. Taylor. It was my pleasure.”

“Okay! Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”

Bryan said, “Ma, I have to make a run. Craig, you can ride if you want to.”

“Thanks, Bryan. I believe I will.”

Before leaving, Craig gave Venice a small peck on the lips.

A little while later, Venice covered a sleeping Crimson up on the
sofa and said, “Momma, I'm going up to take a bath. Crimson is asleep on the sofa.”

Her mom told her to go ahead. She was going into the den to sit down anyway. Venice climbed the stairs, still a little sore from the past fiery nights with Craig. She put her bags in her room and started running the bath water. She laid out the clothes she was changing into and finally eased into the hot, sudsy water. As she laid there, she realized this would possibly be her last few nights with Craig before he returned to Dawson. She closed her eyes and laid back to soothe her sore muscles. A few minutes later, she heard Bryan's voice coming from downstairs. She knew they were back and Bryan was growling that he was ready to eat.

She heard her mother say, “Ya'll go ahead and fix your plate. Venice, dinner's ready!” Venice hollered back, “I'll be down in a minute!”

Venice closed her eyes and laid her head back on the tub. A few seconds later she was startled by familiar hands stroking her shoulders. Venice was surprised to turn and see Craig grinning.

“What are you doing in here? My mom's going to kill you!”

Craig squatted down and put his hand over in the hot water to caress her thigh. “I don't think so. She's downstairs setting the table. I could probably get some and be back downstairs before anybody missed me.”

“You don't know my mom! Hand me the towel, please.”

“Why are you trying to cover yourself? You don't have anything I haven't already seen.” She stepped out of the tub, wrapped her body in the towel, and let the water out. She went to the door and peeped out to see if anyone was in the hall. She ran across the hall to her room.

She told Craig through the crack in her door, “Go back downstairs before somebody comes looking for you.”

He tried to push her door open and said, “Not before I get a kiss.”

Venice held the door open and laughed. “No, Craig. Now go on.”

“Not until I get some sugar.”

Venice's mother hollered again, “Venice, Craig, dinner's ready!!”

In unison, they replied, “Okay!”

Venice laughingly whispered, “Quit playing, Craig.”

He finally pushed his way into her room and closed the door behind him, locking it. Venice backed up and said, “You're crazy!”

Craig masked a devilish grin as he stalked toward her. “Come here, Venice.”

She backed up and tumbled onto her bed. Craig immediately crawled on top of her and covered her lips with his. He prodded her mouth with his tongue and was instantly drugged by her taste. He ran his hand up her thighs and under her towel. She arched her body into him and nuzzled her face into his neck. All this was going on while her family was downstairs. She could feel that he was aroused as she brushed her naked body against him. He lowered his gaze and proudly admired her beauty.

“Lord have mercy, girl.”

“We have to stop, Craig.”

He kissed her again and moaned, “Uh-uh.”

Breathless, she said, “Craig, baby, you…damn…my God!”

He finally stopped, then wrapped her back up in the towel and said, “Now see what you did to me.”

Sitting upon the bed, he covered his face as he tried to talk his desire down. He laughed, saying, “It's not funny, Venice.”

“You brought it upon yourself. Sorry for you, baby.”

“I'll get you back later, so rest up.”

With that statement, he closed the door behind him, leaving her alone. Venice fell back on the bed tingling from head to toe.

About fifteen minutes later, Venice joined her family downstairs for dinner. When she entered the room, she was shocked to see Joshua and Jarvis sitting at the table with her family having dinner. She stopped in her tracks, stunned.

Joshua jumped up and said, “Hey! There's my girl!”

He came over and gave her a big hug and kiss.

Venice whispered, “I'm going to kill you.”

“It wasn't my idea.”

She went around the table to greet her other man.

“Hi, Jarvis.”

He stood up and unexpectedly gave her a hug and kiss right on the lips.

“Hello, Niecy.”

She quickly glanced over at Craig, who was ignoring them, and said, “Has everyone been introduced?”

Bryan said, “Yeah, girl! Everybody knows everybody.”

Bryan then gave her an
I bet you didn't expect to have to deal with this now
look.

Her mother noticed the tension and said, “Venice, sit down and eat.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

She sat down next to her mother and they talked about the upcoming Christmas holiday. She looked over at Jarvis, who winked at her and she knew he was going to be cool. Especially with the awkward situation facing them.

The Taylor house was beautifully decorated with lights and a huge Christmas tree in the living room with lots of presents under the tree. The stairs had garland and red bows going all the way up the stairwell. It was beautiful and good to be home. It wasn't long after they began eating when Sidney and Galen returned. While Galen was saying hello to Craig, Venice went upstairs with Sidney.

Venice asked, “Sidney, can you believe both of them are sitting downstairs in my momma's kitchen?”

“I figured they would be heading over here. We ran into them at the mall. Your man was asking Galen when you were coming in. Venice, you knew it was eventually going to happen. What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea. Craig is going to be here until Saturday. Jarvis will be here for three weeks. I'm glad he didn't show out in front of Craig.”

Sidney crawled up on the bed and said, “Well, you've got your hands full. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for nothing. I don't know how you're going to get out of this. You better get on back down there before they kill each other. Good luck.”

Venice slowly got up and said, “You're no help.”

“Sorry for you, sis. Tell your mom that I'll get something to eat when I wake up.”

“Okay, do you want me to get you something to drink?”

“No thanks.”

After dinner, Bryan invited Joshua and Jarvis to come play ball with them at Gator's house. Venice peeped out to see that Craig seemed to have no problem being in the same company with Jarvis. She hoped Bryan and Galen would make sure everything remained cool.

The evening went on without any problems. Mr. Taylor finally came home for dinner. Bryan had called Gator to confirm they had enough people for the pick-up basketball game. Venice thought Craig would be too tired to play, but the mention of basketball brought instant energy to him. He went upstairs to change.

Venice met him in the hall and asked, “Are you cool with this? I didn't know Jarvis was coming over.”

Craig smiled and said, “I'm cool, baby. Don't get stressed out over this. As long as he's cool, I'll be cool. I'll see you later.”

After the men left for Gator's house, Venice decided to go visit Chanelle to bring her up to speed on the current events that had her head spinning. She was still stunned from the boldness of Jarvis kissing her in front of Craig. She always knew he went after what he wanted and she also knew she wouldn't be any exception.

Once the two got together, they caught up on all the activities from the past hours and days. Chanelle was laughing and told her, “Girl! This is it! You know Craig is not going to let you out of his sight. Jarvis is going to try to get you to ditch Craig so he can hook up with you. This is going to be buck wild. What are you going to do?”