Yearning for Love by Toye Lawson Brown

creased his brow showing he was serious.  She kissed Jeremy on the nose and said, “Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back to finish my dance.”  She slid off his lap using her thumb to free the shorts disappearing between her plumb butt cheeks.
    Walker shook his head returning his attention to his brother. “Look, I’m not trying to ruin your fun, but you chose to get married.  If you want to start it off with secrets, that’s on you, but I will not lie to Patty if she asks me what went on here tonight.”
    “Why are you being a goody-two shoe?  She's having a bachelorette party at the hotel.”
    “They're having a freaking pajama party. There won’t be any male strippers at her party, Jeremy.”
    “Yeah right,” he said reaching for his drink on the table and downing it.
    “I’m serious, Jeremy.  Patty told me what they were doing.  Because she included her aunts, she had to keep it clean.  They are playing games, watching movies and getting plastered with wine, but nothing dirty like this.”
    “Thanks for telling me but I’m having my fun tonight regardless of what she’s doing.  Did you see the woman Lance chose for you?  She is banging hot.”
    “True, but I’m not into strippers and you know that.”
    Jeremy stared at him. “Exactly what are you into, Walker?  There was a time you dated nothing but superficial women.  I introduced you to Mary Ellen and you let her slip between your fingers because you refused to marry her.  Now all of sudden you don’t like partying women.  Ah wait a minute.  You want Nicole McLin.”
    “Nicole has nothing to do with this,” he stated leaning back in the chair.
    “She has everything to do with this! You were her white knight today.  Did you hold her hand all the way to the hotel too?” He asked in a disrespectful tone.
    Walker stood up. “I’m not going to argue with you while you’re drunk.”
    “Yep, I hit a nerve.  Since you are being open with your advice, let me give you a little.  Her skin may be light, but her hair is too coarse for her to be accepted in our social circle.  Get with the program and stick with your own, little brother.”
    “Shut up, Jeremy!”  He said louder than he expected.  The DJ lowered the music in time to draw attention to the brothers arguing.  Walker didn’t know if the tightening in his chest came from the strong cigar smoke or his anger building.  But he wanted to punch something and if Jeremy didn’t back off, it was going to be him.
    Jeremy leaped from his chair causing Walker to stand to his feet. “Can’t stand to hear the truth?  I tried to warn you earlier, but it’s obvious you don’t want to hear what I’m saying.  Leave Nicole alone and look elsewhere for love.  Dad will never approve of your being with her.”
    “I’m a grown ass man and don’t need Mitch’s approval or yours.  I choose who I want to date and if neither one of you like it; tough shit.”
    Jeremy swayed before getting his feet together.  Walker stared at him waiting for Jeremy to take a swing at him.  While Jeremy was five years older, his boyish looks didn’t show he would be forty-one come his next birthday. Jeremy resembled both his parents.  His hair was golden blonde and cut short and neat with no graying like their father’s.  His crystal blue eyes and straight nose he inherited from his Italian mother. 
    It was clear to everyone that Walker and Jeremy weren’t from the same stock.  He and Jeremy shared the same father but different mothers.  Walker was the product of a kept mistress demoted to side-chick when the wife caught wind of the long-time affair.
    Mitch Collingsworth was an insensitive man who Walker did not take to when they finally met on his sixteenth birthday.  His mother eventually told him the truth about his biological father when he started researching the man he’d thought was his father, and whom he believed died a hero, never existed.  His mother had made up the man when Mitch