Read Again (Brandy Jeffus) for Free Online

breath.
    "You’re getting easier to be around, Eli. Don’t make apologies. Just keep being yourself. It's been a relief to have you around helping with Mama. I really do appreciate it."
    Eli nods slowly, "Anything for my favorite Jinks women. Where’s Tatum anyway?”
    "She went to Mama’s to shower and sleep."
    "Well don’t wake her up when you get home. You both take as long as you need to. I won't be needed for my next shift 'til tonight."
    We stand and suddenly Eli envelopes me in a hug. It feels so normal and I immediately wrap my arms around him. I lay my head on his chest and hear his heart beating slow and steady. This was my favorite place in the world long ago.
    "Thanks for having breakfast with me. I had a rough night to be honest and this was a really nice change of pace," he says, still holding on to me.
    "You’re welcome. Thank you, too."
    Eli releases me and gives a shy smile. Yup, things were starting to change.
    ***
    At the end of the week, Tatum and I stand at the airport terminal, waiting on her flight to board. She has on her fatigues and looks nervous, but excited. Her goodbye with Mama had brought tears to all of us.
    I realize then, how much I miss my little sister. The night before, I apologized to her during a sisterly pow-wow. I’ve been holding onto so much guilt for abandoning her in the middle of some of the hardest years a girl has to go through. We cried a lot, laughed more and by the end of the night I felt better about mine and my sister’s relationship.
    The announcement for her boarding comes on. We embrace fiercely and I take a deep breath to keep the tears from coming again.
    “Bonnie, I love you so much and you’re the best sister ever…but please don’t be an idiot about Eli, okay? Don’t be too stubborn that you don’t recognize that God is giving you guys a second chance” Tatum whispers in my ear. I smile and kiss her cheek.
    “I don’t know when you became so knowledgeable, baby sis. But I’ll try. I love you so much! This time I’ll write more okay?”
    She just nods and wipes her hand over her eyes. She grabs her bags and with one last kiss turns around and leaves.
    My sister is a woman, and a damn great one at that.
    ***
    Eli was nervous. Most of the time he had nerves of steel, so he didn't know what was wrong with him. They had been to countless dances throughout middle and high school. There were at least a dozen pictures of the two dressed up in front of some lame decoration to prove it. But then again this was Prom. It was the dance that every girl dreamed of the entire four years of their high school career. He had heard girls in his freshman class planning for the future event. Ridiculous, he always thought.
    He knew Bonnie was excited about it. It was the last dance they would go to. She wasn't over the top with her excitement, but Eli knew that she was still a little anxious.
    He didn’t know what her dress looked like, only that it was teal. He picked a tux to match and had his mom help him with the corsage.
    He rang the doorbell at Bonnie's house. His parents were already over here, waiting to take pictures and see the couple off. Ms. Cindy opened the door and swooned over how handsome he was. He walked in the living room and hugged his mom who looked near tears.
    "Bonnie, he's heeerrre," Tatum said in a sing song voice. She winked at Eli and he smiled back. The room got quiet and Eli swore he could hear his heart thud in his chest. He took a deep breath as he heard Bonnie's heels on the floor getting closer.
    She turned the corner and time froze. Everyone else disappeared and it was just the two of them in the room. Her dress was the most amazing blue in the world. Like the oceans in some far away paradise. It was spaghetti strapped and although it wasn’t bejeweled in any way, but it still looked like the most exotic thing Eli had ever seen on Bonnie. Her beautiful blond hair was curled and had a silver dolphin barrette in it.
    Eli finally heard