“So, you’re not going to do anything for his birthday today?” Collins asked.
“No, not today. I might take him somewhere over the weekend, but I’m not sure where. Around noon, I’m meeting Mama at the mall, and we’ll probably do a little shopping, that’s all. How about you? What do you have planned for today?”
“Nothing. I’m going to hang around here and do some work. If you don’t mind, maybe LJ and I can go somewhere together and hang out later.”
“That’s fine. If you want to, you can hang out with Mama and me at the mall.”
“No, thank you.”
I laughed, and after we ate breakfast, I cleaned the kitchen and did a little more tidying around the house. It got close to eleven o’clock, so I gave LJ a bath and put a blue Nike jogging suit on him. Since Jaylin always tried to dress like him, I put on my Nike jogging suit as well.
By quarter to twelve, I was on my way out. I stopped by Collins’ office to say good-bye, but he was on the phone. Instead of interrupting him, I blew him a kiss and whispered to him that I’d see him later.
Having a little time to spare, since we usually didn’t meet up until one o’clock on Jaylin’s birthday, I stopped at the store and bought Jaylin a birthday card. I let LJ pick it out; I knew Jaylin would like it.
When we got to Café Lapadero, the waiter sat us outside. He brought over some rolls and tea for me, and gave LJ a coloring book and crayons. LJ was growing up fast, and every time I looked at him, I couldn’t help but see Jaylin’s face. I couldn’t stop kissing him on his cheeks, and he gave me a smile that nearly melted my heart.
After a while, I started to get worried because it was already one o’clock. I took a deep breath and sat back in the chair. The hand on my watch ticked away. Jaylin was already thirty minutes late. I reached for my cell phone to call his house, but the operator said the phone had been disconnected. Thinking that I had dialed the wrong number, I dialed out again. I got the same response, so I called his cell phone. That was still on, so I left a message, telling him that LJ and I were waiting for him.
Feeling as if something wasn’t right, I flagged down the waiter and asked if anyone had called for me. When he said no, I continued to sit there and wait. By two o’clock, I was disappointed. Jaylin wouldn’t forget about meeting us for anything in the world. And with it being LJ’s birthday, I was positive that he would have called by now, or at least shown up.
I hung around a little while longer and ordered LJ’s and my food. By the time that came, it was going on two forty-five. I wanted to cry, and my stomach ached badly. I picked through my salad and had no desire to eat. I dialed Jaylin’s number again. When I felt someone touch the back of my chair, I discontinued the call and turned around. It was Collins.
“Hey,” I said, shocked to see him.
“Hi.” He sat across the table from me and crossed his legs. He then picked up a menu. “Have you ordered yet, or is the salad enough?”
“I . . . I just wanted a salad. I’m not really that hungry.”
He looked at the menu and then called for the waiter. “I’ll have the chicken marsala, but light on the sauce, please.”
“Will there be anything else?” the waiter asked.
“Baby, are you sure you don’t want anything else?” Collins asked.
“No, really, I’m fine.”
The waiter walked away to get Collins’ food. LJ stayed occupied with coloring, and Collins reached over and rubbed his head. He then looked across the table at me.
“So, why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”
“Because I didn’t know I was coming.”
“Yes, you did. You mentioned to me before that you always meet Jaylin here on his birthday. Question is, why did you lie about it?”
“Who says that I’m meeting Jaylin here, Collins?”
“So, you’re not?”
“No, I’m not. I came here to have lunch with my son.”
“Well, what’s the purpose for the flowers and the teddy bear?”
“What flowers and teddy bear are you talking about?”
“You didn’t get them? Let me get them for you.” Collins called for the waiter again, and when he nodded, I turned around as the waiter headed my way with a dozen long-stemmed red roses in a beautiful crystal vase. He also held the shirtless teddy bear in his hands.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry. These came for you a little while ago. I didn’t know—”
“That’s okay,” I said, looking at the flowers and the bear. I pulled the card out of the opened envelope and read it:
Sorry I couldn’t make it, but as you can see, I must be tied up. Kiss my son for me, tell him I said happy birthday, and make sure he knows that Daddy loves him. As for the teddy bear, I removed the shirt that said “Yours Forever, Nokea,” since you no longer belong to me. Gotta go, and give Collins my best.
“So,” Collins said, “why didn’t you tell me you were supposed to meet him today?”
“Because I didn’t want you to get upset with me, that’s why.”
“You’re damn right I’m upset. I have a serious problem with my wife secretly conspiring to meet her ex-boyfriend for lunch on his birthday. More so, him sending her flowers and a teddy bear.”
“It’s just lunch, Collins, and I knew you wouldn’t understand. I told you that Jaylin and I meet here on his birthday. For God’s sake, I have his son, and I can’t keep them apart forever.”
He leaned closer to me and raised his voice. “I remembered you telling me, but when I asked what you were doing today, you said nothing about coming here. As for keeping him and LJ apart, I never asked you to do that. All I ever asked was for you to be honest with me and to be true to yourself. But you just keep on lying about shit, Nokea, and I’m nobody’s fool.”
“Would you mind keeping your voice down? I’m not going to sit here and let you embarrass me. We can go home and talk about this, but now is not the time or the place.”
“Then you tell me when the time is appropriate,” he yelled. “You will never convince me that you don’t love him anymore if you keep on doing shit like this behind my back. I don’t feel as if I can trust you. Do you have any idea where trust ranks in a marriage?”
The waiter brought Collins his food, but being so livid with me, he didn’t even stay around to eat it. I felt bad about getting caught up in another lie, so I left the restaurant to go home and work this out with him. When I got there, his car was gone, so I knew he’d taken another detour. Where? I hadn’t a clue.
Since he wasn’t home, I drove by Jaylin’s house to see if I could catch up with him. This time, his house looked quite different. His cars were no longer in the driveway, and his house looked somewhat deserted. When I got out of my car, that’s when I noticed a padlock on the door. I looked at the window and saw a FOR SALE sign taped to it. What in the hell was going on? Where was he?
I panicked and rushed back to my car. I called everyone that I could think of who knew him, and nobody knew where he was. I was sure Stephon would know, but he swore up and down that he hadn’t talked to Jaylin in months. When he suggested that I call Shane, I called his house to speak with him.
“Please tell me and don’t lie. Do you have any idea where he is?”
“No, honestly, I don’t. I talked to him about a week ago and he wished me well and said he was doing fine.”
“Was Scorpio with him? I mean . . . did he say they were together?”
“I’m sorry, but again, I don’t know. If I did, I would surely tell you.”
“Thanks,” I said, and then hung up.
I sat outside for a moment, and when I saw a car park in my rearview mirror, I hurried to it. I carried LJ on my hip and walked up to the lady who got out of her car.
“Mrs. Bedford, I’m sorry I’m late, but have you had a chance to look around yet?” she asked.
“No. I mean I . . . I looked through the window, but—”
“Well, wait until you see the inside. It’s the nicest
house in the neighborhood, and the price is worth every dime.”
I followed behind the lady, and when she took the lock off the door, I walked inside.
“Isn’t it lovely?” she said, smiling as we stood in the foyer.
“Yes, it’s very beautiful.”
“And if you’d like, all of the furniture stays. It’s up to you. I’m sure the owners will negotiate a price.”
“I see,” I said. “Do you mind if I go upstairs?”
“Not at all. Take your time and look around. And there’s a surprise waiting for you downstairs.”
I rushed upstairs to Jaylin’s bedroom and saw that everything was gone. My stomach turned in knots and I damn near lost it. The closets were empty, and the room no longer carried his scent. I gasped for air and quickly ran downstairs.
“Where are the owners?” I said, barely able to hold back my emotions.
“They moved, honey.”
“Do you know where? I mean, this is such a beautiful house, and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to give up something like this.”
“I don’t know. I think they moved to Florida. If you’re worried about them coming back, they’re not.”
I stormed out of the front door. The lady called after me and asked if I wanted to continue the tour. I couldn’t believe Jaylin had left without saying a word to anyone, especially to me. I broke down in the car and could barely get myself together when I got back home. How Jaylin could jump up and leave his son without saying a word puzzled the hell out of me. He hated his father for doing the exact same thing, and then to turn around and do it to LJ was too hurtful for me to understand.
Before I went into the house, I called Jaylin’s cell phone again. I cursed him out and told him what a shitty father he’d been. I wished him and Scorpio a happy fucking life together, and called her a few names while I was at it. My purpose for saying such cruel things to him was so he’d get angry with me for what I said and call back.
Almost a week later, that phone call still hadn’t happened. And neither did a conversation between Collins and me. I was zoned out, and felt as if I lived in another world without Jaylin. Collins could tell something was wrong with me, but he didn’t bother to ask. When he found me downstairs on the couch snuggled up in some covers, crying and listening to Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” that’s when he insisted we talk.
“What is wrong with you?” he said, shaking me.
Not being able to hold back any longer, I grabbed him around his neck, sobbing on his shoulder about losing the man I truly loved. “He’s gone, Collins!” I yelled. “I’m sorry, but Jaylin’s gone for good!”
34
JAYLIN
Now, this was the life. No headaches, no arguing, no fussing and cussing, and no sex. I hadn’t had no pussy in quite a long time, and it really didn’t even bother me. I’d been keeping myself busy by taking late-night jogs on the beach, reading, and relaxing. Nanny B would go jogging with me sometimes too, but when she did, I had to walk slowly with her. I often chilled outside on the hammock, or rode around for a while with Ebay to check out my new city.
I didn’t think things would go as smoothly as they were, but I couldn’t complain. I had my middle of the night setbacks, thinking about the past, but under the circumstances, I couldn’t help it. When I thought about Shane’s advice a while back, to take months away from everybody to see who or what I really wanted, that advice was the best advice he could have given me.
Eventually, I was able to put the memories of Scorpio’s and my relationship to rest. Letting go of my thoughts of her wasn’t easy, but I needed so much more from a woman than some good pussy. I had no regrets for what we shared, but my way of loving her would’ve never been enough. A few more years of us being together would have brought about much turmoil, and that was something neither one of us needed.
As for Daisha, Brashaney, Felicia, Heather, Mercedes, Alisha, Ebony, Yo-Yo, and the many whose names I failed to get, the thought of being with them again never, ever crossed my mind. Sad to say, they were convenient at the time, and other than Daisha, the relationships had very little value to them.
Nokea, however, she stayed with me. I slept with the thoughts of her at night, and woke up with the same thoughts of her in the morning. I’d gotten her messages, but the last time we spoke, she begged me to allow her to be happy. If being with Collins was making her happy, then that’s where I wanted her to stay.
The day of LJ’s and my birthday was difficult for me to get through. I visualized Nokea at Café Lapadero with LJ, and wished I could be there with them. At the time, all I could do was send flowers. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about the teddy bear, but it was time to give him up too.
Nanny B had tried to cheer me up that day, but seeing that she couldn’t, she suggested I go hit the water with our neighbors on their yacht. That was pretty cool, and it kept my mind off Nokea for hours; however, when I returned home that evening, I stayed up the entire night and let my emotions get the best of me. Nanny B said many encouraging words to me, but at that moment, all I wanted was to personally wish my son a happy birthday and see the woman I loved.
Each day, though, continued to get a little easier for me. I hoped that one day I’d be free of her, and when that day came, then I’d be able to cope with seeing LJ. If I made attempts to do it now, it was going to hurt me even more knowing that Collins and her were still together. The less I knew about their situation, the better off I was.
Ebay drove me to the grocery store to get a few things. Nanny B planned dinner and invited our neighbors over to join us. The Nelsons were an old white couple that had lived near the beach for years. They were some of the nicest people I’d ever met, and we all had become good friends. Mrs. Nelson claimed that I was too handsome to be alone, and offered to introduce me to her daughter. I declined because meeting somebody new wasn’t on my agenda. I hadn’t seen Nokea for almost three months now, and my heart still ached for her.
I stood in line, waiting to pay for my groceries. That’s when I noticed this chick who resembled Nokea from behind. My heart raced, as I thought it was her. When I reached out to touch her shoulder, the woman quickly turned around.
“Yes?” she said.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone I knew.”
“No, but I’m sorry that I’m not who you were looking for.”
When I got back home, I told Nanny B about what had happened. She suggested that I go lay down until dinner was ready. I lay in bed, closed my eyes, and couldn’t stop thinking about Nokea. Listening to the ocean always helped calm me, so I took off my shirt and walked along the beach in my jeans.
It puzzled me how much Nokea was on my mind. The couples on the beach made me think of her even more. I took a deep breath and sat down close by the water. I did sit-ups and stopped when I reached two hundred. When I looked up at the sky, the dark clouds rolled in and the rain started to pour. A cool breeze kicked up, and I got drenched as I made my way back home. Almost out of breath from running, I hopped over the balcony to go inside.
When I opened the double doors to my bedroom, my eyes played tricks on me again. I wiped the rain from my face with my hands and looked at my bed. I thought I saw Nokea lying there, and I couldn’t take another step. The room was dark, but when the lightening flashed to light it up again, I saw that she was still there. I stood somewhat afraid that I had lost my mind, and kept blinking my eyes. If anything, I thought I was dreaming. I was known for having hallucinations when I felt under pressure.
The sheer white curtains blew gracefully around the bed and the leaves trembled on the palm tree. Could I have died and gone to heaven?
Nokea must have noticed how out of it I was, so she placed the teddy bear on her lap and sat up on her elbows. She smiled. “We came to get our shirt back. What took you so long?” she said softly.
I hesitated to answer, fearing I would be talking to myself. “So . . . so I’m not dreaming? Baby, is it really you?”
&nb
sp; “Why don’t you come pinch me? And not on my behind.”
I still didn’t believe it was her, so I stepped up to the bed. She pulled the covers back and exposed her naked body. I reached out my hand and pinched her butt.
“Now, that ass was real.” I smiled, so damn happy to see her.
We stared at each other and couldn’t keep the smiles off our faces. “Kiss me,” she said softly. I kneeled on the bed and leaned forward to peck her lips. “I mean, really . . . really kiss me.”
I stepped back and slid off my wet jeans. I eased in bed and put her body on top of mine. As I held her face in my hands, I looked deeply into her eyes for a moment and then pulled her face to mine. We smacked lips for a long while, and when I heard LJ, I shook my head.
“He’s not going to interrupt me this time. And you’re not going anywhere.”
“No, I’m not. You know Nanny B got him all taken care of.”
“I’m sure she does, but tell me something.”
“What?”
“How did you—?”
“Not now, later.”
“But what about Coll—”
“Please, not now. I’m here with you, and this is where I want to be.”
Just wanting to hold her, I placed her head on my chest and took deep breaths. I rubbed up and down her smooth body. I couldn’t believe she was really here. When I was ready to go where I had dreamed of going for many, many nights, I moved Nokea to my side and leaned over her. I pecked her lips a few more times and massaged her breasts with my hands. When I eased my hand down and felt how wet and warm her pussy was, I looked in her eyes, making a prediction.
“We’re going to make another baby tonight, aren’t we?”
“You already have LJ, don’t you?”
Naughty 3: It's Juicy, No Matter How You Slice It Page 32
