Brandon was impressed. As hard as he and the guys on his team played, they could not stop the females. Camirra took over and called the shots. After the first twenty minutes, things changed. She was quick, and crafty. The girls out ran, out shot, and simply outmaneuvered them. The girls worked like a well oiled machine with Camirra as their leader and she could play.
Soon the game ended and the kids were awed. Camirra looked at a surprised Brandon. She was smiling.
"What are you smiling about?" He asked trying to pretend he was grumpy because he lost.
"I'm smiling because I know the loser has to treat the winner to a gelato." She teased.
"OK, alright then, but I think the winner could give the loser a little kiss to help his bruised ego." Brandon teased, Camirra laughed and kissed his cheek.
Both froze. "After a few seconds, Brandon cleared his throat and said, "A gelato, huh? A real woman would just ask for ice cream." And he took off. Camirra laughed and walked slowly towards him when he stopped to wait for her.
She had the most beautiful laugh, and Brandon knew he'd want to hear it many more times before he went home.
"Come on." Camirra whispered. She grabbed his hand and they took off. Before long she led him to a small hooded alcove. Surrounded by a canopy of trees, Brandon felt as if the outside world no longer existed.
"What is this place?" He asked, not really caring. He got to be completely alone with her.
Camirra laughed, "We called it our secret place. A bunch of us found this private little world when we were kids. I had my first kiss on that rock right there." She smiled remembering happier times. "I was young and knew Daddy would bust a gasket if he thought I liked a boy especially one from his youth center."
Brandon laughed, "Ah, so you are a good girl?" He teased.
Camirra's smile wavered, "I used to be." Then she looked sad. "I never brought Charles here. For some reason, I could not share this place with him."
Camirra stepped away from Brandon. He was not ignorant of her ex husband, but she never discussed her marriage with him before. After dating for a few months, and getting to know his, she felt that this relationship was serious. It could be permanent. Brandon filled something in her heart that she didn't know was missing. She needed to talk to him about her past, but until now it felt as if it was too soon. Would he run? Would he stay? She didn't know, but it was best tell him about her past than to try and keep secrets.
Taking a deep breath, Camirra spoke. "My ex-husband beat me. I blamed myself at first because everyone tried to stop me from going off with him. I didn't listen."
Brandon waited. Camirra took her time. "The first time he hit me we went to see a movie and I spoke to an old friend. I had shocked and he immediately apologized. He said his love for me made him crazy. He would never hurt me."
"He was volatile, like my dad. I forgave him. We went to Vegas and got married one weekend. Dad, Jason, Mom, and Cyn were furious. Charles and Daddy actually fought. We left and went to Grandma and Grandpa. Charles got upset with something Grandpa asked, so we went to live with his family. It was bad, but I couldn't return home . I made my choice." Camirra paused.
Brandon knew the rest. His brother filled him in. Even before he met her, her sister was very protective. Then he saw her for the first time. She was so damn quiet. He didn't want to spook her, so he made a nuisance of himself. Popping in during her visits, teasing her each time he saw her, asking if she was OK. Camirra never let him get under her skin. Then they reunited over the holiday visit, and he knew. She was it for him.
He wanted this girl, not just sexually, but he wanted her to be his other half. She was hesitant and he understood. He knew they would work out. She shared a big part of herself with him today. He never met Charles Finch, and was glad he would never meet him. As for Camirra, she never had to fear being hurt again.
Brandon was surprised. She shared a piece of her childhood with him and had not shared with her husband. "Thank you for telling me about him. I want you to know, I would never hurt you. I'm not Charles. But babe, you could have gone to the police, and I've met your Dad. Why did you really stay?"
Camirra sighed and looked away.
Why did she really stay?
That was the one question she didn't have the answer to.
However, Brandon was not done, "That's enough about the ex! So, some pimply-faced kid gave you your first kiss, huh? Well, ma'am, I don't want to disappoint. Let me give you your first real kiss." He added lifting her eyes to his. Placing his lips on hers, he kissed her, loving the sounds of her soft gasps, as her body melted in his embrace. Brandon wanted so much more, but he would not rush her. Camirra was special and like his brother, he wanted this to last a lifetime. He was doing what was right. No quickies, no shortcuts. She was like a diamond, carefully hidden and deserved to be unearth and treasured. She was his diamond, and only he would enjoy her beauty.
Before the kiss ended, Camirra was holding in to him completely engaged in their kiss. Soon, the kiss ended, and she smiled. Brandon's heart skipped a beat as he stared in her into eyes.
Camirra was about to say something when her phone rang. She answered because it was Rory. She told Rory Brandon was there and they were just spending the day together. Rory was relieved and promised to visit soon.
Brandon smiled and said, "Wait, Brian will call in 5, 4, 3..." his phone rang and he answered.
Camirra giggled and the two walked back to the park. They headed to Grandma Jasmine's because she insisted that Brandon stop by. Nick greeted him, and Brandon really liked spending time with her family. Nick asked about his parents, and Brandon told him they died years ago in a house fire. It was their death that made him want to become a firefighter.
Nick was impressed. He understood how all encompassing grief could be as he remembered losing Sarai when Cameron and Rosa were small. He shut down, and for a while, his teenage son, Cameron, worked to hold the family together. It wasn't until Cameron was seriously injured that Nick dealt with his grief and took control of his family. Nick share this with Brandon, and his respect for the older gentleman grew.
Camirra talked with her grandmother and Jasmine was relieved to see her so content. She liked Brandon. He was good for Camirra.
The couple did not stay long. Darius and Jason planned a cookout and Brandon was expected to help. So eventually, they arrived at her father's home. Cynthia was at the hospital working an afternoon shift, so Derreon greeted them. Her baby brother often annoyed Camirra, but today his false bravado was too adorable.
Brandon showed her brother the same respect he showed Darius, Jason and all of the other males in the family. As the rest of the family all arrived, Cyn came in from work. The women worked on side dishes as the men manned the grills. Nick and Marvin held supervisory roles.
Camirra could not help but take sneak peeks at Brandon. They had gotten to know each other over the last few months. She liked him. She knew he was curious about her marriage but he refrained from asking. She knew if they were going to become serious, she needed to share that past with him. She wondered how he would react.
"So, tell me, can I call him son, yet?" Deidre asked.
Camirra laughed, "Momma, if you want to, but that would make him kinda my brother, right. Ewww!" She frowned, teasing. Everyone laughed.
"I like him. I like you with him." Dee added. "I know I might be wrong, but I'm glad Charles is gone. He tried to destroy you, but you fought your way back to us. You are your own woman and deserve a chance at happiness. I think you and Brandon are good for each other."
Sierra chimed in, "OK, he beat Darius and Derrick at basketball. Cameron sings his praises. We stopped by Mom and Dad and they talked about no one but those twin boys. Hell, I'm impressed. You and Rory need to go on and start planning your weddings."
The women laughed. Camirra smiled, but she didn't want to get her hopes up. She liked Brandon, but once he learned of her past, he might not want her. She looked away, and Dee hugged her. Somehow, she knew what she was thinking. "He is the lucky one." She whispered, and Camirra smiled.
The men yelled and everyone looked out to see one of the grills flaming high. Brandon and Derrick were laughing so hard they had doubled over. The women rushed outside.
Derrick and Brandon were laughing so hard and could not tell them what happened. Fortunately for them, Derreon and the other boys gladly acted it out. Darius and Jason would not live this mishap down. The family ate and all seemed well until Cameron got a phone call. He had to go. Derrick and Darius stood to go with him. Brandon had learned from an earlier visit that the three were volunteer firemen. He of course had to tag along.
Not sure what they were heading into, their wives told them to be careful.
The four took Cameron's jeep and approached an apartment complex that burned. Darius knew some of the people that lived here and he needed to know if they got out. Almost everyone did. A young girl ran to them screaming that her grandmother didn't make it out. She went back for her baby brother.
Brandon took action. Approaching the fire chief, he identified his rank and requested permission to rescue. The chief did not hesitate. He had learned quite a bit about this young man. Giving him the equipment he needed, he assigned two guys to cover him. Brandon went in. He found the older lady and young boy passed out. He hoisted them, one of each shoulder, and headed for the nearest exit. As he rushed, the building started caving. He had to make a split second decision. So right before he crossed the threshold, he tossed the boy out. The old lady was too heavy, and he could only take one person through. The men that the chief assigned caught the boy and one rushed him to the medic and Brandon leaped to safety with the old woman. The door gave way and the building imploded.
