“Yeah. It was. We’re having a little get-together for him on Saturday. I’ll understand if you can’t make it.” Nate said as he threw his towel over his shoulder and picked up his water bottle.
“Of course I’ll be there. I’m one of his Godfathers. I’m actually looking forward to it. It will be nice to see everybody.”
Nate almost choked. “You? Looking forward to a kid’s birthday party?”
Carter took a pull from his water bottle. “Yeah. Why are you so surprised?”
Nate lifted the side of his mouth in a smirk. “Because you don’t do kids’ parties or anything related to kids.”
“A lot can happen to change your perspective.”
Nate nodded in understanding. “True. That is exactly how Melody and I felt after our car accident a few years ago. When that happened, we were determined not to take life for granted. Damian’s death hit us pretty hard too.”
“It hit all of us hard.” Carter’s eyes had a flash of sadness. “It definitely made me take stock of my life.”
“Speaking of taking stock? How is Harlem? We haven’t seen much of her lately either.”
“All in all, she’s doing okay. Her pregnancy is going pretty well. She’s out of that morning sickness phase.”
“You two are growing pretty close, huh?”
Carter tilted his head slightly. “Something like that.” He was guarded in his response. He wasn’t sure how Nate would handle him wanting to pursue a romantic relationship with Harlem.
Nate wasn’t really that surprised. “Man, I remember when you two couldn’t stand to be in the same room. I guess I could understand . . .” Nate was having diarrhea of the mouth and decided to shut up.
“Guess you could understand what?” Carter was interested in what he had to say. “Don’t stop now. Say what you were going to say.”
“I don’t know. Don’t punch me in the face for saying this, but Harlem just always seemed more like your speed than Damian’s.”
“Why would you say that?” Carter was curious.
“I was at that frat party with you and Damian when the two of you met her. If I remember correctly, you saw Harlem first. She had your tongue hanging out of your mouth.” Nate kindly reminded him. “Never seen you react to a woman like that before or since.”
“You’re over exaggerating. My tongue wasn’t hanging out of my mouth.”
“Yes, it was.” Nate laughed. “Dame was supposed to go talk to her for you. He ended up getting her number.”
Carter remember that night very well. “I was young but definitely learned a valuable lesson.”
“What?”
“Don’t ever send another man after something you want. Do that shit yourself.” Carter laughed.
“Definitely.” Nate agreed. “So you did want her?”
Carter responded. “As did most of the men in the room at that party.”
“True, except for me. That’s the night I met Melody. Harlem’s a sweet girl, but I just didn’t see it working out with Damian.”
“Again, why would you say that?”
“Just based on what she has told Mel, it was obvious to us that they wanted different things. I’m not sure if Damian or Harlem were even aware of it.”
“That’s interesting.”
“C’mon. You know Damian and Harlem didn’t agree on hardly anything. But, you know Damian. Don’t get me wrong. He was a good guy. I love and miss him, but Dame was a smooth talker. He could convince you to do things you knew damn well you didn’t want to do. Only you wouldn’t realize it until after the deed was done. That’s what made him such a shark at our investment firm.”
“I always thought Harlem was attractive, but she was with Dame. I didn’t think of her that way after they got together.”
“Never?”
“Mostly, never.” A corner of Carter’s lip lifted in a smile. “I’m human. But, I would never cross the line.”
“I always thought the underlying tension between you two was because maybe there was something untapped there.”
“I don’t know. If there was, I’m not sure either of us would have been aware of it. We had too much love and respect for Dame to ever consider hooking up. We barely even talked back then until your accident. Even after that, we didn’t start to get to know each other until after Dame’s diagnosis.”
“Mel says she mentions you a lot when they are talking on the phone. Is there something going on that’s a little more than friendly?”
Carter shrugged. He wasn’t sure how much of anything he should say. “You know that we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Let’s just say that I’m interested, and we’re trying to figure out how far and fast to take things.”
“So, you’re seriously thinking of pursuing her?”
“I know it might seem too soon, but Damian gave us his blessing.”
“Damn. Straight?” Nate was a little surprised.
“Yeah. He did.” Carter held Nate’s gaze. “Would you have a problem with that?”
“Look, man. No matter how much we wish otherwise, Damian is gone. He would want both you and Harlem to be happy. If he gave you his blessing, and you two can find peace and joy with each other, I’m all for it. You will no doubt have people in our circle talking shit, but Mel and I aren’t one of them. If Dame’s life ending too soon has taught us anything, it’s that life is short. We have to find love where we can.”
Carter appreciated his words. It wouldn’t have mattered, but he still appreciated them. “I have this connection with Harlem that I’ve never shared with anyone else. And I’m a man who trusts his instincts. They are telling me to go after her.”
“You’ve got to
