“Man that youngster got you losing your damn mind,” David said laughing.
“It’s like she get off on making me mad. She knows how I feel about that nigga Kevin,” I said fuming.
“Every time you go one night without seeing her you start feeling some kind of way,” David said. He wasn’t lying. I was supposed to hook up with Brook last night, but Kennedi’s mama invited us to dinner to talk about the wedding. I started to fake sick, but Kennedi would have wanted to stay home with me. Lying was something that I never did, but messing with Brooklyn turned me into a straight up liar. When I wanted to spend the night with her, I would tell Kennedi that I had to do an overnight drop off because another employee wasn’t available. I used to do drop offs all the time so that wasn’t impossible. I even begged her to come with me a few times just to make it seem real. Kennedi was high maintenance, so I knew that sleeping in the truck would never happen.
This was the second time since I started dealing with Brook that we didn’t hook up. I felt like a crack head. I was in need of a fix and I needed it bad. Watching her walk around and not being able to touch her was like dangling crack in front of a recovering addict. Sex with her was just that addictive. Earlier today Kennedi finally tried to do something different, but it was an epic fail. I had to fake like I came just to get it over with. Even after I tried to help her move she couldn’t get the hang of it. With Brook, the student had definitely become the teacher. She was showing me shit that grown women didn’t do and now I craved it.
“What’s up?” Brooklyn said when she walked out front. David spoke, but I kept smoking and ignored her. She made sure the coast was clear before she leaned over and gently kissed me on my lips.
“Don’t kiss me and you were probably somewhere kissing on that nigga,” I said turning my head. The way I was acting wasn’t even like me, but that was exactly how I felt at the moment.
“Don’t get mad with me because you couldn’t get away last night. I should be the one mad,” Brook said.
“Whatever,” I said waving her off. When she leaned down and whispered in my ear, all of my anger instantly disappeared. I jumped up and put my blunt out on the concrete steps.
“Aye, look out for me right quick,” I told David as I followed Brook into the house.
“Man, y’all two are crazy for real,” he laughed.
Everybody was outside and I hope they stayed there for a while. I followed Brook down a narrow hall into a small dark room that had nothing but a washer and dryer inside. When we got in the room Brook closed and locked the door. She turned on a dim light over the washing machine that barely allowed us to see each other.
“If you get loud, we’re stopping,” she threatened as she hiked up her dress and put her palms flat on the washing machine. When she lifted her ass up in the air, there was nothing else that needed to be said.
****
When I woke up the next morning, I was in a terrific mood. Brooklyn had broken me off proper before I left her brother’s house. We ended up staying in Bryce’s laundry room for over thirty minutes and nobody even missed us. Even Kennedi noticed the change in me from the day before.
“I hope this Dominic comes around more often,” she joked before she left the house. If only she knew the reason for my happiness. She was going with her mama to meet the wedding planner. They went alone and Kennedi would show me everything when she got back. It was Saturday so both of us were off. I was sitting around the house waiting for Brooklyn to get out of class. Usually, she wouldn’t be in her Saturday class too long. She wanted to go shopping and I was more than happy to foot the bill. Kennedi and I had separate bank accounts, but I still used cash whenever I did anything for Brook. Kennedi and her mother knew how to look up anybody’s banking information using the database that they had. That was how she found out how much my company made every month. I didn’t have anything to hide, but it pissed me off that she felt the need to check up on me. As soon as she left, I grabbed the remote to my stereo system. Before I turned it on my phone rang displaying my brother’s number.
“What’s up, bruh?” I asked when I answered.
“Aye, Corey said he needs the address to make his drop off. I’m at this football shit with Ivan so I can’t do anything right now,” David said. Corey was one of our truck drivers who always seemed to have a problem. If he wasn’t getting lost, he was forgetting where he was going.
“I have to get Brook from school so I can drop by the office to get it for him,” I replied.
“Alright, cool, let me call and tell him,” David replied. As soon as I hung up with him my phone was ringing again. I smiled when I saw that it was Brook calling.
“Hey baby, are you ready?” I asked.
“Yep, I’m ready to shop till I drop,” she yelled making me laugh.
“Alright, I’m on my way. I have to stop by the office before we leave.”
“Okay, I’ll be in my usual spot,” she said before hanging up.
Once I picked Brook up from school, I went straight to the office.
“What woman helped y’all decorate in here?” Brook asked as she admired her surroundings.
“My mama decorated for us,” I replied. Our office was very spacious. David and I both had our own desk with high back leather chairs. The waiting area and bathroom were all beautifully decorated as only a woman could. I went to our file cabinets and retrieved the information that Corey needed. I called him and told him the information and I was ready to go. Of course, Brook had other plans as usual. She hopped on my desk and spread her legs wide open to give me a view.
“What are you doing girl?” I asked getting turned on by her boldness.
“You always ask me that like you don’t already know.” She pulled her thong to the side and pulled my face towards her opening. I stuck my tongue out and started giving her just what she wanted. She threw her head back and grinded into my face. I was in the zone so when Brook pushed my head away I was about to protest. “Somebody’s coming,” she said as she jumped down from my desk. It was only then that I heard someone fumbling with keys at the door. I grabbed some napkins and wiped her juices from my face just as Scott walked through the front door. He paused when he saw Brook sitting at my desk, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Hey, boss man, what’s up?” He spoke. Scott was one of me and David’s best friends that we grew up with. His family was one of the few white families that resided in the projects. Scott and I graduated from trucking school together and he now worked for us. Besides me and my brother, he was the only employee who had a key.
“What’s up, what you doing here?” I asked him.
“I was just coming to wash the trucks,” he replied. That was the reason he got paid more than anybody else. He didn’t mind coming in on his days off to do a little extra.
“That’s what’s up. Oh and this is Brook. Brook this is Scott,” I said introducing the two of them. They exchanged greetings and Brooklyn and I was out the door.
“That was close,” I whispered to her when we left. A few seconds later and I would have been caught with a mouth full, literally.
After buying Brooklyn everything she thought she wanted, I dropped her off at her cousins’ house and headed home.
“Aww shit,” I mumbled when I saw Kennedi’s mother’s car parked out front. I got out of my truck and took my time going inside. When I opened the door, I was greeted by Kennedi and Tiffany while Karen looked me up and down.
“Glad you remembered where you live Dominic,” Karen said sarcastically.
“Don’t start mama,” Kennedi said. I ignored her miserable ass and listened to Kennedi as she started talking. “Baby these are the flowers that we’re going to have. They’re all fresh and the lady is only charging us twenty thousand,” she said excitedly. I almost choked when she said the price.
“Twenty grand for some flowers Kennedi! Once the wedding is over that shit is going into the trash,” I yelled.
“But fresh flowers look so muc
h better,” she whined.
“You can buy a greenhouse and grow your own damn flowers for less than that,” I said.
“We’re getting fresh flowers and that’s that. You don’t need his permission to do anything,” Karen said.
“Yes, I do need his permission mama, he’s the groom,” Kennedi stressed.
“That’s just why you can’t keep a man. You want to wear the skirt and the pants,” I told my future mother-in-law. Tiffany started laughing, but I could tell that Kennedi was pissed.
“I don’t need a man, I just need their money,” Karen replied nastily.
“What about these colors, do you like these?” Kennedi asked showing me some fabrics.
“I’m not feeling that pink,” I said putting one of the fabrics to the side.
“Kennedi we had all of this planned and now you’re changing your mind because he’s here. I have a lot of important people that are coming to this wedding. I need everything to be perfect,” her mother yelled.
“Let me get the fuck out of here before I say something that I’ll regret,” I said walking to the front door.
“Dominic wait!” Kennedi yelled as she ran after me.
“Wait for what? I’ll be damned if I let your mama talk crazy to me in my own house. You always want me to put my brother in check, but you can’t do the same for her ass.”
“I just wish you wouldn’t say anything and let me handle her,” Kennedi said sounding stupid.
“What? You’re too scared of her to do anything. But you can keep letting her run shit and you gon’ be marrying that bitch instead of me!” I yelled right before getting in my truck.
“Baby just come back inside please,” Kennedi begged.
“I’ll be at my brothers, call me when that she-devil leaves,” I said as I sped away. I picked up my phone and called Brook. After finding out that she was home alone, I headed straight back to her.
CHAPTER 19
CANDACE
“I should have brought my switch blade and sliced all of their asses up,” Co-Co complained. We were just leaving The Sand Piper nightclub and we were both drenched in alcohol. Co-Co and I worked every day except Sundays and Mondays so Saturday night at the club was a must. We would usually get home around six on a Sunday morning, but it was only a little after two. Some jackass thought it was funny to shake up a bottle of champagne and spray the crowd. Soon after, a few more dummies followed his lead. A few fights broke out as a result, and the owners shut the club down early.
“My hair is a hot ass mess,” I complained. My messy bun was living up to its name. It was all over my head.
“Let’s go get something to eat. I can’t remember the last time I came from the club this early,” Co-Co fussed. We decided to go uptown to The Wing Shack. They sold every flavor chicken wing you could think of and their drinks were nothing nice.
“Make sure you get something for Brook too,” I told Co-Co before he got out of the car.
“Girl you know her nerdy ass is probably asleep,” my brother said.
“You know she be up late sometimes studying . If not she came warm it up later, I replied.
When Co-Co got our food, we headed home to turn in for the night.
“You notice how different Brooklyn has been acting lately?” I asked Co-Co out of the blue.
“I think she’s just been feeling herself a lot lately. She’s been killing it with her hair and wardrobe though. I’m just happy that she’s finally coming out of that shell that she’s been in for so long,” he replied.
“Yeah, I know, but I still feel like something is not right. Like, who took her to get a driver’s license? It wasn’t anybody in the family and Taylor said no when Bryce asked her. I just feel like she’s being sneaky or hiding something.”
“Honey I don’t have a clue, but whatever she’s doing her brothers forced her to do it. They’re on the girl’s back so damn much. I really don’t blame her for doing whatever she’s doing,” Co-Co said.
“She’s just so green. I would hate for somebody to take advantage of her,” I said seriously.
“Girl, Brooklyn is not as innocent as y’all think she is. You must not be paying attention to all the money she’s been having or all the bags she comes inside with. That bitch is doing something right,” Co-Co said.
He was absolutely right and that’s what scared me. Brooklyn had been showing up with bags of new clothes and she always had money now. She used to have to call one of her brothers to bring her money every so often, but that was a thing of the past now. Her pockets stayed full without their help.
“Well, I hope she knows what she’s doing,” I said pulling up in our driveway.
When we walked through the door, all of the lights were on except for the dim night lights that illuminated the hallway.
“I’m in desperate need of a shower. I’m all sticky with no man around. What a waste,” Co-Co said making me laugh. I was shocked when I saw a little light coming from the spare bedroom where Brook slept. As I got closer, I heard the radio playing too.
“You can bring Brook her food, look like she’s up,” I told my brother. We both walked down the hall and headed straight to her room.
“Ahhh, Brooklyn!” I screamed, dropping the food that I was holding. Nothing in this life or the next could have prepared me for what I was seeing. Brooklyn was bent over the chair while Dominic mercilessly pounded her from behind. He had a hand full of her hair and they were both completely naked.
“Yes Ms. Brook, get it girl,” Co-Co clapped and cheered.
“Cordell shut the fuck up!” I hollered as I stood frozen in shock.
“Dominic I told you to lock the door,” Brooklyn said slapping his arm. It was crazy because she was more worried about covering him up than herself.
“I thought I did,” he said seemingly unfazed by our presence.
“I feel like I’m about to faint,” I said leaning up against the wall.
“Bitch, just die with your over dramatic ass,” Co-Co said looking at me.
“Can y’all step out into the hall for a minute?” Brook asked us.
“Why do we need to leave?” I asked her.
“They probably want to finish,” my brother said pissing me off. Dominic was laughing, but I didn’t find a damn thing funny. I didn’t miss how comfortable Brooklyn was standing there butt ass naked in front of him. That really made me wonder how long this little fling had been going on.
“I’ll come and talk to y’all in a minute. I need to talk to Dominic first,” she replied. When the hell did she get so mature? It was like she had grown up overnight and it blew my mind.
“Yeah, I’ll let y’all talk, but leave the door open,” I said standing to my feet.
“Seriously Candace, you’re too late for all of that,” Brook replied.
“Come here Dominic,” Co-Co said. Dominic stood up wearing only his jeans and walked over to my brother.
“What’s up?” He asked.
“For future reference, this is how you lock the door,” Co-Co said as he demonstrated for him.
“Are you fucking serious right now?” I yelled in disbelief. Everybody thought it was funny, but I didn’t.
“My night at the club was ruined, but I swear y’all just gave me life,” Co-Co said with a smile.
“Let’s go,” I told him. “You got five minutes Brook.” I picked up my food and walked to the living room.
I didn’t want to go to my room just in case they decided to pick up where they left off. I wanted to make sure Dominic left out of the front door. Co-Co sat next to me and started eating his food.
“I can’t believe you have an appetite after that,” I said pointing to the back room.
“Bitch, please. It’s not even that serious. Hell, I’m kind of jealous. Did you see what that lil nigga is working with? I’m surprised Brooklyn can walk,” he said with a mouth full of food.
“I can’t believe this shit. I asked her if she was having sex and she said no,” I fumed.
I looked up and saw Dominic and Brook holding hands walking down the hall towards the living room. They looked too familiar with each other for this to be new. When they got to the door, they engaged in a long kiss. “Call me later ma,” he said before he left.
“I thought you weren’t having sex Brook,” I said right as she closed the door.
“When you asked me I wasn’t. It’s just happened,” she shrugged.
“Exactly how many times has it happened?” I wanted to know.
“Girl I don’t know. I lost count a long time ago.”
“What!” I yelled in shock. “How long has this been going on?”
“It’s been a while, a few months at least,” she answered.
“Oh my God, please tell me that you’ve been using protection.”
“Yeah, we’ve been using protection,” she said looking away.
“That bitch is lying. She made eye contact when she answered every question except for that one,” Co-Co observed.
“He pulls out,” she said sounding young and dumb.
“Girl, you better be happy you got that face and that shape because you are dumb as hell,” Co-Co said.
“You can be prepared to skip class tomorrow because you are going to the clinic bright and early tomorrow morning,” I said seriously.
“Okay,” she replied lowly.
“Don’t get quiet now. You wasn’t quiet when Dominic was tearing your ass out the frame,” Co-Co said.
“This is so fucked up Brook. Dominic is about to be a married man. Not to mention he used to date my best friend. You better pray that your brothers don’t find out about this,” I told her.
“I hope you’re not planning on telling them,” she said with wide eyes.
“You really are dumb, huh?” Co-Co said. “Why would we tell on you when the shit happened in our house? We’ll look just as guilty as you are.”
“Is this his first time coming here?” I asked. She shook her head no, in response.
“Where is his truck?”
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