Chapter 13
JadeSkin Hunger
Ganesha had his Monday morning jogs. Therefore, I woke up before the sun, showered, and dressed. I made sure to not wake up Kamal as he lay naked in bed. Every time I looked his way, my heart stopped for a second.
He’s so sexy.
Ganesha rubbed against my leg.
I kept my voice low. “Sorry. I’m coming. It’s just your uncle is fine as hell.”
Wagging his tail, Ganesha trotted over to his bowl.
“Okay. Okay.” I gently closed the bedroom door and fed Ganesha strips of duck and poured a few drops of flaxseed oil over it. “Bon appetit.”
He devoured it all fast, lapped up some water, and rushed to the door.
“Alright. I know you’ve been tired sitting in the apartment.” I grabbed his leash and my mask. Next, I put on Zora’s special dog walking fanny pack full of his pooper scooper, bags, and other doggy needs. “Let’s do it.”
My phone rang when I left the apartment. I placed it on my ear. “Hello?”
“How are you?” Mom asked.
“Oh, hey Mom. I’m doing good.”
“Milana told me that Kamal is staying with you.”
I paused in the hallway. “You spoke to his mom?”
“Yes. I had to make sure she was doing good.” People chattered in the background.
“Where are you, Mom?”
“I’m at Sombreno’s. That Italian restaurant around the corner.”
“Mom, you’re supposed to be social distancing.”
“I am. They’re closed, but they’re giving over a thousand meals to children who usually depend on school breakfast and lunch for their meals in a day. I’m helping with the packing.”
“Oh. That’s so good.”
“Here. Let me hang up and send you a picture.”
“You can send it while you’re talking, Mom.”
“I don’t know about that.”
I smiled.
“How’s Kamal?”
“He’s doing good.”
“What happened with that little gold digger he was with? He didn’t tell Milana.”
“And so his mother asked you to find out?”
“Maybe.”
I grinned. “I don’t have anything to do with that.”
“So. . .how long will Kamal be there? This could be an excellent opportunity.”
“For what?”
“To get to know each other better. I’ve always loved Kamal. He’s such a smart gentleman. Milana and I were talking about this opportunity and hoping you two would seize the moment.”
“Wow.”
“Is he there right now?”
“No. I’m outside with Ganesha. In fact, I have to go Mom. I’m about to take him on a jog.”
“I don’t want you outside right now, Jade.”
“Mom, you’re outside and dealing with over a thousand people.”
“I’m a grown woman.”
“And apparently, I am not.”
“That’s right.”
“I love you, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Good. And call me when Kamal is around. His mother wants to know about that chick.”
“Yeah.” Sarcasm dripped on each word. “I’ll be sure to get him on the phone with you immediately. Love you.”
Hanging up the phone, I ran down the stairs and met up with Oliver outside the building. His spaniel Elisabeth wore pink bows on top of her ears.
“Good morning.” I guided Ganesha over.
The dogs sniffed each other.
“Good morning to you.” With no mask on, Oliver tried to give me an unexpected half hug.
I backed up. “Sorry, but I’m not hugging during a pandemic. I hope you understand.”
“Yeah. I do.” He frowned and guided us toward the park. “I keep forgetting.”
I followed. “Not me. The rising deaths have been freaking me out.”
Oliver stayed on my side. “Yeah, but I’ve been cooped up in my apartment all weekend. I’m getting affected with the skin hunger bug.”
“Skin hunger bug?”
“I was checking out a CNN report. After that, I started researching it more and more. One of the difficulties for single people in quarantine is skin hunger. It’s a longing for human contact while in isolation.”
“I see.” My phone beeped. I checked it. My mother sent a picture. I opened the message. It was a huge photo of her near stacks of boxes. Always stylish, she wore a pink flower print mask with a pink shirt and blue jeans. Pink plastic gloves covered her hands.
Good job, Mom. Helping out with safety and fashion sense in mind.
“Hugs are important.”
I turned off the phone and put it up. “They are.”
“Oxytocin increases levels of contentment, which can lead to higher levels of emotional bonding.”
“Oh wow. You’ve really read up on it.”
“Nothing else to do.” He frowned. “Oxytocin is a neuropeptide.”
Confused, I raised my brows. “A. . .neuropeptide.”
“Yeah. It’s basically this chemical in our brain that promotes feelings of devotion, trust, and bonding.”
“And this all comes from a hug?”
“A really good one. Yes.”
We crossed the street. The dogs jumped and sniffed after each other.
Oliver continued, “It’s even important to hug your kids.”
“Well, I imagine so.” I giggled.
“But get this,” Oliver led us to the main path where we’d run last week. “Children need sensory stimulation and what not. It helps them with physical and mental development.”
“And they get this through hugging?”
“This one article said that hugging can help children learn positive social skills and teach them empathy.”