That's Our Jam | A Short Story

Hey, you!

Here’s an update on Kadence x Jory

*Please note that this content may contain spoilers if you haven’t already indulged in Melodies of the Heart.

In the meantime, happy reading! 💋

With love, ShanicexLola

(Copyrighted material)

Before you dive in, please note that this story brings you a mix of arousal, adventure, and unapologetic raunchiness. I invite you to read with an open mind so you can fully experience the passion that unfolds within.

Kadence

The thick glass doors of SheIsTreasure headquarters slowly opened as I swiped my badge and stepped into the modern lobby. The pink and brown color schemes of the interior matched the branding and vibe of our website, which was feminine, chic, and personable.  The subtle scent of brewed espresso floated in the air from the café tucked into the corner of the first floor, and the low chatter of employees settling into their workday surrounded the open-concept space. I took the black elevator to the fifth floor, where the editorial team had their own stylish nook. The floors were hard, dark carpet, the walls adorned with abstract art and motivational quotes in bold, scripted fonts. Large windows welcomed the natural light through the open blinds, making the office feel airy and open.

It was rare for me to be here; working remotely was my preference, but I was due for a team meeting. The clack of my heels against the floor echoed faintly as I made my way toward the glass-walled conference room, a slim laptop bag slung over my shoulder. I tucked into a chair by the window, but my attention didn’t land on the town’s view. My eyes kept drifting to the diamond ring on my finger, putting a constant smile on my face. It had been three months since Jory slipped it on my hand, and I was on a permanent high from the proposal.

I turned my hand slightly, watching the square-cut stone shimmer, its delicate halo of smaller diamonds creating an almost ethereal sparkle. My thumb brushed the smooth band, tracing the familiar coolness. I couldn’t get over how perfect it was… or how perfect we were together. My smile grew as I got lost in the memory of him kneeling before me in his living room, his handsome face serious, and his eyes glossy with emotion when he asked me to be his wife.

I didn’t realize how long I’d been staring at my ring while deep in my head until my boss’ pitchy voice entered my daydream.

“Kadence?” she called, side-eying me.

I blinked rapidly and glanced up. Zhara sat at the head of the conference table, her bouncy, brunette bob perfectly in place. She was stylish as always, dressed in a taupe satin blouse tucked into high-waisted slacks.

I sat up straighter and smiled politely as I tore my eyes away from my hand. “Sorry. What was that?” I asked, wondering how much of the meeting I’d missed.

“I was just asking what your next article will be about,” she said, her arched brow lifted, curious and expectant.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, clearing my throat and mentally switching gears. “Right. Um, I’m working on a feature covering the new brunch food truck that opened last month,” I said, my words gaining confidence as I spoke. “It’s been getting a lot of buzz lately, and my focus is highlighting the chef’s backstory and how she’s incorporated local vendors into her menu.”

“Sounds solid,” she said. “Deadline is next Friday. Think you can swing it?”

“Absolutely,” I replied.

“Good.” She glanced around the table, then with a satisfied nod, added, “That’s all for today, folks.”

A light scrape of chairs sounded against the floors as the other few writers began filing out. I slipped my laptop into my bag and stood, but Zahra’s voice called me back.

“Kadence, wait a second,” she said.

I turned, curious, and watched as she walked toward her office door. She pulled it open and revealed a large bouquet of roses on her desk, styled neatly into a crystal-cut vase. The petals were creamy pink, and my heart instantly raced when I recognized the writing on the card propped against them.

“These were delivered to the wrong office,” she said.

I crossed the room and plucked it from the bouquet, my chest tightening as I read Jory’s familiar scrawl:

I can’t wait to see your fine ass later tonight. Dinner at my place with Jason. I love you.

I pressed the card to my chest, feeling my heart stutter. We were a year in, and I hadn’t stopped feeling giddy and lightheaded over his thoughtful gestures. Each time I saw him, I still felt the same heated sensations I did the first time I watched him sing his heart out on stage. I prayed those feelings never went away.

Zhara smiled. “Your man’s got good taste,” she said, eyeing the elegant arrangement.

“He does,” I mused, smoothing my thumb over the edge of the card.

But as I turned the card over in my hands, the mention of Jason lessened the excited flutter in my chest. Jory’s younger brother was in town from Florida, and dinner would be my first time meeting him. The thought worried me; I knew Jory and his brother’s rocky history and wanted everything to go smoothly. Jory had been open about the strained relationship between him and Jason. The emotional distance, the passive-aggressive remarks, and the nagging resentment they hadn’t confronted. He’d told me about the old wounds they hadn’t quite healed and the grief that had created a chasm neither of them knew how to bridge.

“Thank you for letting me know, Z,” I said.

“Of course,” she chirped.

Airing a heavy breath, I folded the card, grabbed my flowers, and headed to my office.

Meeting his parents went well, I reminded myself, trying to ease the knot of pressure forming. Jason will be fine, too. Just be yourself.

I slipped back into my desk chair, opened my laptop, and pulled up a blank document. I stared at the blinking cursor, forcing myself to focus on my article instead of overthinking dinner. Still, as I typed out my opening paragraph, my mind wandered back to the man who sent me flowers on a Wednesday afternoon just because he missed me… and how his complicated brother was in town from Florida.

***

My place was quiet except for the light whir of my diffuser, filling the room with the soft scent of lavender and vanilla—a trick I used to keep the pre-dinner jitters from getting the best of me.

I stood in front of my full-length mirror, barefoot, and still in my office slacks and satin tank; my bad nerves made me feel antsy and uncomfortable. With a sigh, I padded into my bedroom and walked to the open walk-in closet, rolling my fingers slowly across the rows of neatly hung dresses, trying to decide which one felt right for tonight.

Classic but not stuffy. Sexy, but still subtle.

I landed on a long black dress made of silky material, sleeveless with a delicate scoop neck. I slipped it on, the fabric gliding over my skin, and then reached for the light purple cardigan I loved—a soft shade that added a splash of color without being too bold.

Turning back to the mirror, I assessed the look.

Simple. Classy. Me.

I glanced down at my feet and bit my lip, contemplating shoes. A moment later, I plucked a pair of black heels from the rack, a pointed-toe style that always made me feel a little taller with endless legs. Next came jewelry. I kept it simple but intentional with gold hoops that framed my face. Finally, I stood at the bathroom sink, leaning closer to the mirror as I pinned my curls into a bun and a few wisps intentionally escaped at my temples.

When I stepped back, I let out a slow breath, taking myself in.

Sophisticated but effortless. Okay. This works.

As I grabbed my clutch purse from the dresser, my phone buzzed with an incoming group call. I didn’t have to look at the screen; I knew it was Riley and Savannah. They never failed to blow up my phone at random moments, and I could never leave them hanging.

I tapped ‘accept’ and propped the phone against my vanity mirror, putting it on speaker. “What’s up, troublemakers,” I greeted, sliding on my gold watch.

“Girl, you look good. What’s the move for the night?” Riley asked, putting her face close to the camera as she examined me.

“Dinner with Jory and his brother who is in town from Florida,” I explained, hoping no other questions followed; I didn’t want any of my answers to lead to us discussing my nervousness around meeting Jason.

Savannah’s voice joined us, sounding deflated and like she wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Kadence, I need you to tell me I’m not being crazy.”

My eyebrows pinched as I zipped my clutch, narrowing my eyes at the screen.

We all knew her ass was crazy, so how was I supposed to tell her that?

“Don’t tell me you two are arguing about something stupid again?” I asked.

“But you are being crazy.” Riley let out an exasperated huff. “Savannah and Jaylon had a dumb fight… again,” she deadpanned. “This time it was over him having lunch with one of his exes who was in town.”

I squinted. “What’s up with that? I’m not sure I like the sound of having lunch with exes either,” I said.

“The lunch was necessary and included others, though. She reached out to offer him a great opportunity to sell his artwork to some people at her job who love his oil paintings,” Riley explained. 

Savannah groaned. “Damn, can I tell my own business? I know it’s stupid of me and I’m trippin’. I thought I was doing good and then my trust issues kinda leaped out after he told me about the lunch.”

“Yeah, but he told you the moment she contacted him, let you in on all the details, and kept you informed on the meeting and their brief interaction,” Riley pointed out. “And you still started shit with that man and accused him of wanting her.”

I stuffed my car keys into my purse and grabbed my jacket from the coat rack by the door. “Savannah, it does sound like you still have some things to work through so I’m glad you’re self-aware that some trust issues are still lingering,” I said, heading out the door and locking up with my alarm code. “And Riley, knowing what we know about her mentally abusive ex and how much he played in her face, she deserves our grace. Sav, this is something you should talk to Jaylon about, and be very detailed so he understands why it bothered you, though he did nothing wrong. Be honest with yourself and him,” I finished carefully.

There was a pause for a moment until Riley spoke up again. “You’re right, Kady. She does deserve our grace, and I’m sorry if you haven’t felt that from me today, Sav. You’ve got baggage. We all do. I just hope you stop punishing yourself and Jaylon for what your ex did,” she said with a gentleness I didn’t hear often from her.

I walked briskly down the hallway toward the elevator. “Sav, you love him,” I added. “No more self-sabotaging, remember? Adjusting to a healthy relationship after a toxic one is no easy thing. I find myself having to control my thoughts a lot more now too. So, while it’s important for your partner to be patient with you, it’s also important for you to be patient with yourself.”

The elevator dinged, and I stepped inside.

Savannah sniffed quietly, but I heard her. She may have cut her camera off, but it was no secret to her best friends that she was the most emotional of us.

“Ugh, I hate when y’all are right,” she said.

I smiled, grateful they had each other, and that I had them too.

“You’re gonna be fine,” I reassured her. “Jaylon isn’t gonna hold this over you.”

Riley and I had only met him once at the beginning of their relationship at Sav’s appointment during a run-in while he was leaving and we were visiting. He was exactly the smooth, laid-back, respectable guy she had described him as.

The elevator opened into the lobby, and I entered the cool evening air. A few feet away, I slipped into my car, slid my phone into the holder on the dash, and turned the key in the ignition.

Savannah sniffed once more. “I appreciate y'all for talking me through this,” she murmured, her voice calm and lighter now.

“Okay, enough of the mushy shit,” Riley declared. “Kadence, we hope you have a nice dinner with your man and his brother tonight. If he’s fine, has a job, single, and is mentally stable with no kids, give him my number. I have another opening on my roster.” 

I let out a short laugh and pulled into the small café lot down the street from Jory’s place, parking in front of the brick storefront.

“Will do. I’ll call you ladies tomorrow, okay?” I soothed. “Love you so much.”

“Love you too,” they chorused back before our call ended.

I dropped my phone into my clutch and walked into the café, inhaling the warm scent of cinnamon and sugar. I picked up the cheesecake I’d ordered ahead—strawberry swirl with graham cracker crust—and carried it carefully back to my car. 

After pulling out of the café lot, I drove the short distance to Jory’s complex, my nerves kicked up again. I parked before his building while reciting, “It’s just dinner. You’re gonna be fine.”

Grabbing the cheesecake from the passenger seat, I pulled in a slow, steadying breath, and stepped out of the car, exhaling slowly as I headed toward his front door.

Here we go.

Jory

I swung the door open to Kadence looking damn near edible in a black dress that hugged her slim-thick body. Before she could get a word out, I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, then her jaw and lips.

“Damn, I missed you,” I murmured against her skin, breathing her in.

“It's only been thirty-six hours,” she crooned, trying to hold back those high-pitched giggles I loved hearing. “But who’s counting.” She shrugged.

“Me. Because that’s too long.”

“I’m here now,” she said, leaning into me, her body melting against mine. 

I glanced down and noticed the bag in her hand. “Dessert?”

“Cheesecake,” she confirmed, holding it up. “Strawberry swirl.”

I grinned and took the bag from her. With my free hand, I locked the door and laced our fingers together, leading her further inside. The smell of fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread swarmed my space—straight from Kim’s kitchen, one of the best soul food spots in town. The dining table was already set with food platters, plates, and bottles of wine. I’d wanted tonight to be easy and relaxed since Jason told me he was passing through town to visit his girlfriend in North Carolina. For a week, I anticipated introducing him to my fiancée while he was here. 

Jason was already at the table, wine glass in one hand and his phone in the other. He barely looked up as we walked in. “Glad you finally made it. We can eat now,” he grumbled.

Kadence didn’t hesitate to counter, “I’m actually on time. Glad you could finally make it to town, though.”

Jason smirked, finally lifting his gaze from his screen and tossing his locs out of his face. He studied her for a second before leaning back in his chair and taking a swig of wine.

I placed the cheesecake on the counter as Kadence approached the sink to wash her hands.

Jason straightened in his seat and glanced at me. “I like her,” he mouthed, clear as day.

I’d been a little worried about how their strong personalities would mesh, both quick-witted with slick tongues. I’d learned that Kadence could handle herself anywhere, and Jason would have to respect that just as I did.

Luckily, dinner flowed easily, proving that prayer works. Our conversation bounced around, lighthearted but occasionally touching on how the world went to shit more and more every day. Jason and Kadence went back and forth a few times, testing each other’s sarcasm, but it never got out of hand. It seemed like he was genuinely warming up to her, and since that wasn’t an easy feat, it reassured me that she was special.

An hour later, we cleared our plates and poured another round of wine, Jason leaned back in his chair, watching Kadence for a bit as if he were sizing her up.

“You’re different,” he finally said. “Jory’s type is usually… self-consumed and money-hungry. Women who only care about what he can do for them.”

Kadence tilted her head, considering his words. “I’m here because I want to be. I enjoy loving him, and I know the feeling is mutual.”

Jason nodded as I held back a big smile over her response. 

“You’re good with me,” he murmured, then held his glass up, motioning toward the cheesecake on the counter. “Now, let’s get into that.”

“Bet,” I said, looking between them and standing. 

I realized Jason hadn’t just tolerated meeting her, he relaxed in her presence and was calmer than I’d seen him in a long time. All signs pointed to him respecting her, and it felt good knowing he sensed she was the one for me, too.

***

As soon as the door to my bedroom clicked shut, I wasted no time pulling Kadence into me, my hands on the small of her back as my lips found hers. Moaning into the kiss, she cocked her head and gave me full access, the taste of red wine on our tongues.

My grip tightened as I guided her backward toward the bed, but just as the backs of her knees hit the mattress, she pressed a hand against my chest. “Jory,” she whispered, almost breathless, “your brother is in the next room.”

I rested my forehead against hers. “You think I care?”

“You should,” she teased, smoothing her hands over his chest. "I don’t need Jason hearing me making questionable noises through the wall.”

I traced lazy, teasing circles against the curve of her hip. “So you admit you be loud?”

She rolled her eyes, but the way her body reacted to my touch exposed her wanting me, too. “I'm serious,” she insisted.

I sighed, knowing she was right, though hating the interruption and that I couldn’t have her the way I wanted. I kissed her again, relishing how her lips moved against mine. “Thank you for coming tonight,” I said, tracing my thumb along her jaw. “And for kicking it with me and Jason.”

She smiled up at me. “I’d do anything for you. Don’t you know that by now?”

I gazed into her eyes and knew she meant it.

Kadence hesitated, then admitted, “I was a little nervous about tonight, but Jason seems cool. I can tell he’s stubborn and talks a lot of shit, but he’s aight with me.”

I shrugged and chuckled. “Yeah, he has his ways. But before you arrived he mentioned briefly that he’s in therapy and it’s been helping him, so I think that helped us a lot tonight.”

“Shout out to his therapist,” she quipped. “I know y'all have some things to work on in your brotherhood, but I can tell he really loves and cares for you.”

I studied her for a beat of a minute before pressing another kiss to her lips. “You wanna get outta here?”

She arched a brow. “My place?”

I nodded. “So I can have you to myself.”

“Let’s go.”

Once she gave me the green light, I grabbed her hand and led her out of the room. We left my place quietly, Jason already drunk and comfortably sleeping in the living room, limbs stretched out on the couch with some show playing in the background. The drive to her apartment was quiet, only the beautiful sounds of Sade playing softly in her car. I kept my hand on her thigh, needing the contact just as much as she did, as her hand stayed on mine. When we pulled into her lot, she turned to me, searching my face like she needed to say something, but then she just shook her head and smiled.

“What’s up?” I asked, cutting the engine.

“Nothing,” she whispered. “I just… I love you… so much.” Those words sink deep like they always did.

“I love you too, beautiful.”

I followed her inside, watching as she kicked off her heels by the door and stretched her arms over her head.

“You tired, baby?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her from behind and pressing my lips to her neck.

“Mm. Just relaxed.”

She turned in my hold, her hands sliding up my chest with her gaze full of adoration that made my heart knock against my ribs.

I cupped her beautiful, round face. “You got me in ways no one else ever has.” I kissed her deeply, hoping it expressed the things words never could. When we finally pulled back, I asked, “You know that song I wrote for you?”

I ran my fingers down her spine as she nodded, enjoying the softness of her body as I sang the lines that said everything I felt:

"A love like this ain't borrowed, rushed, or pretend… it’s the kind of zeal that plants deep; the kind that never ends.”

Kadence let out a shaky breath, eyes watering as she gripped my shirt. I kissed her again, sealing every promise those words held.

No rush, pretense, or doubt.

Just us.

The kind of love that never ends.

Subscribe to my mailing list for exclusive deets on what’s next from SXL.

Thank you for your continued support!

With love, ShanicexLola