“Just leave me alone, Cricket.”
“Why? What did I do, D’Artagnan?”
“Cricket, I’m not one of your fuckin’ clients.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t want our first time to be me pounding you up the ass.”
“You can put it wherever you want. I don’t care anymore.”
“Anymore?”
“Yeah.” I was confused.
“Do you know how bad that sounds?”
“Oh, I don’t care about that.”
“But I do! All I ever wanted from you was an honest chance, Cricket. And you won’t give me that chance. I’m the only male in your life who would do absolutely any and everything for you. But you don’t give a fuck about me.”
He turned the water off and reached for the towel hanging on the hook right next to the shower. I backed up, and he wrapped it around his waist. He pulled me up against his wet body. He kissed me long and hard. I reached down to release the towel from his body. He let go of me and held it tight.
He pulled away from me and stared me head on. “Tell me you love me, Cricket.”
I stood there looking into his hungry eyes.
“I do love you.”
I heard the words come out before my mind even registered what I had just said.
D’Artagnan’s eyes widened, and he pushed me off him. “You’re a fuckin’ liar; I should have just let you suck me off. And I should have pounded my dick in your ass until you bled. That’s the kind of love you want!”
D’Artagnan’s words bit hard into me. He walked out of the bathroom, and I stood there letting all of the words sink in. I knew he was right, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I did love D’Artagnan, but not in the way he wanted me to.
I heard the front door slam, and I knew this was my time to exit. I ran out to the bedroom, threw some clothes on and packed my things up. I peeped out the front door and walked quickly to the elevators. Outside, I hailed a cab.
“LaGuardia,” I told the cabby. I checked for flights on my phone, found a red eye, and booked it.
When I got to the airport, I went straight to my gate. I had my big purse and a carry on. My phone started buzzing; I ignored it. I didn’t want to talk to anyone at this moment. I had a two-hour wait and found a bathroom to wash myself up a bit. I found a pair of skinny jeans with a tank and a light jacket. Then, I found a quiet, dark corner near the gate and took a seat.
My phone buzzed again. When I looked down, I saw I had eight missed calls from D’Artagnan and three from Cinnamon. I called Cinnamon back at once.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
“Nothing. Are you okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“D’Artagnan has called like ten times looking for you. What happened, Cricket?”
I gave Cinnamon the long story.
“He’s in love with you, and he wants you to love him too.”
“I know that, but I just can’t do that right now.”
“Speaking of lost loves, he’s been calling for you, too.”
“I told him to call you from here on out if he wanted to talk to the baby.”
“I know, but he keeps saying he needs to talk to you.”
“I’ll call him in a few.”
“And what about D’Artagnan?”
“I’ll call him once I get back home; I have a flight back in an hour.”
“I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“No, it will be too late. I’ll catch a cab.”
“What time is your flight, and what’s your gate number?”
I gave Cinnamon my flight information, and we said our goodbyes. I pulled out my other phone, which was almost dead now. There were thirty-six missed calls and twenty-one voicemails. I found the charger and plugged it into the wall behind me. The phone rang twice, and then he answered.
“Cricket?”
“What’s up? Cinnamon said you keep calling for me.”
“I want us back, for real this time. I swear to God I do.”
I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. I knew it wouldn’t take too much to bring on this water works show.
“I love you and the baby. I want us to be a real family. I can’t live without the both of you anymore. I’m dying inside, Cricket. I need the both of you. I miss both of my girls.”
“I’ve been thinking about that myself. Just give me a couple more months with her. I’ll send her to you. We both know I’m not mother material, and I’m sure I’m doing more harm than good having her with me. She misses you, Jyme. I can tell sometimes she’s looking for you. I won’t keep her from you for much longer, I promise. She needs you in her life. You’re a good father.”
“Cricket, thank you; but what about us? I can’t do this without you. We’re a family.”
The announcer came blaring through the speakers calling that my flight was ready for boarding.
“I have to go now.”
“Cricket, I love you. Tell me there’s a chance for us?”
“I have nothing left for you or us, Jyme. I’m sorry, but I really have to go.”
I hung up the phone and boarded the plane. I was exhausted and slept the whole way home.
The plane arrived at Atlanta International a little after 2:00 a.m. I pulled my phone out to call Cinnamon, and I accidently bumped into someone. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking and was a little disoriented. Arms wrapped around me, and I realized this person was hugging me tightly. I tried to catch my surroundings, and then I smelled his scent, his strong fresh scent. I knew at once we were all in danger; this brief reunion could kill us both.
We stood there awkwardly. I was frozen in place and Jyme’s arms were wrapped around me like a vice. I looked around and around again, searching for something out of place besides what was right in front of me. Jyme’s embrace was too tight and way too long. I managed to maneuver around his large frame and dial Cinnamon’s number.
“Hey, Cricket, I’m at your gate. Where are you?” she asked cheerfully.
“Get out of here right now. I will contact you.”
“Cricket, No! Cricket, No!”
“Jyme’s here; and I’m sure they’re not far behind him. Cinnamon take care of our family.”
“Cricket!”
“Now!”
Jyme pulled back a little and stared at me. “No one followed me, Cricket, I swear.”
“How did you find me, Jyme?”
I was in Alabama, and I heard the speakers in the airport announce your flight. I just figured you would be taking that flight since you hung up right after that announcement.”
“Cricket!” Cinnamon called frantically into the phone
“Leave me!” I shouted into the phone. “Call Chyna and tell her to get ready and not to wake the kids unless she has too.”
“Okay!” Cinnamon cried back to me.
“Be careful and keep your eyes wide open, Cinnamon.”
“I will.”
I hung up and pulled away from Jyme. I walked away from the terminals. Jyme walked next to me. Neither one of us said a word. I saw the ladies’ restroom and went in, leaving Jyme standing outside the door. I found an empty stall and called Cinnamon again.
“I’m going to get a flight to Florida or Tennessee and just drive back. Maybe that will shake them off if they’re on our tails,” I whispered.
“Cricket, what’s going to happen after this?”
“I don’t know, but you know the rule; five days and five days only. Cinnamon, you had better stick with the plan. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I gotta go.”
“Cricket, you better come home before the fifth day.”
“I will.”
We hung up, and I searched my phone for the next possible flight. I found a flight to Nashville, but it wasn’t leaving until 6:30 a.m. I booked it and left the restroom, going straight to the boutiques. Jyme followed behind me silently.
I fo
und an open snack store and bought some snacks. I went to the sitting area by the boutiques and Jyme followed. I found a quiet table in the corner. I pulled my laptop out immediately. Jyme sat down next to me. I sent an urgent email to Nan and sat there waiting. My email pinged back, and I was able to breathe again.
“I did it again, didn’t I?” he asked in a whisper.
I nodded my head, not able to make eye contact with him.
“Cricket, I want us back. Please tell me I haven’t fucked that all up.”
I opened the foil bag and pulled a few chips and ate them. I responded to the urgent email and drank some of the bottled soda.
“Cricket, I’m sorry, and I will never hurt you like that again. My head was all fucked up, and I’m so sorry.”
I opened the granola bar and took a bite. My email dinged, and I opened it.
“Cricket, will you please look at me and say something?”
I looked up and stared him straight in the eye. “I will give her to you. I will disappear, but I will support her financially, I swear. I’m sorry things are like this, but I have to take care of a few things first.” I looked back down and continued typing.
“And what about us, Cricket?”
“I just told you. I’m going to give her to you. You can stop this act of wanting me now. She’s yours. I swear I wouldn’t lie to you about this. I have accounts set up for her, and I will give you all the information. I have a nice little nest for her,” I told him with my eyes still on my email.
He sat there for another three or four minutes and then got up from his seat. “I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m so sorry for that. But, Cricket, I really do love you with every breath that I take. I will die trying to earn your trust back. I want us to be a family again.”
“We were never a real family, Jyme.”
“What’s your best moment, Cricket?”
I sat there not saying a word to him.
“Mine was the day you told me we had a daughter.”
He bent down and kissed my forehead. I kept my eyes on the computer screen. I knew if I looked up I would do something very stupid. I imagined myself running after him. I would call out to him, and he would turn around and pull me into an embrace. And then I had another image of him coming back and yanking me up and tonguing me down. We would leave the airport hand in hand.
I shook both of those images out of my head. At 5:00 a.m. I went over to the ticket desk and got my ticket to Nashville International. When I finally got to my seat, I collapse. When I arrived in Nashville, I sent an email. When I went outside, a Jeep Wrangler waited at the curb. I checked the tags and got into the back seat. The man in the front seat nodded. But the man in the back kept his gun pointed at me. I knew this was procedure so I sat quietly.
We made it to Nan’s about thirty-five minutes later. I had to go through the same old routine. I was escorted to a room with a bathroom connected to it. There was a tray of breakfast food and some aspirin on a small saucer. I took a hot shower, put on some pajamas, and crawled into bed. I woke six hours later and checked my phone. Nothing but eight missed calls from D’Artagnan. I dressed and waited for someone to come and get me.
Ten minutes later, the door opened, and Nan came in. She sat across from me in one of the comfy chairs. I went into the complete documentary version of the story. Nan shook her head, and I knew she didn’t approve of my actions. I kept going, and when I was finally done, I had told Nan everything.
“Unfortunately, Troy’s in love with you, and he hasn’t given up on you yet. That means he will do any and everything to get you back. He doesn’t care about Chyna or Michael, and that is so sad. Unfortunately, your boss is in love with you too. I’m sure he’s a good man, and he doesn’t deserve this, Cricket. And last and should be least…Jyme is going to get the both of you killed. I’ve taught you better than this, Cricket. I know he’s your first love. You gave him your all, and you know better than that. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for you and your sister. And I will help you girls out until the day that I die, and then after that, I have a plan. But Cricket, you’re smarter than this, and you know this story can’t have a happy ending. You love that baby girl of yours too much to put her in this kind of danger. You either have to take Troy and his crew out, or you have to run.”
I nodded because I knew Nan was right, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
“How’s Chyna and her meds going?” Nan asked.
I gasped with wide eyes. I dug into my purse, pulling the non-traceable phone out. I dialed Chyna’s number, and she answered on the second ring.
“Cricket!”
“Chyna, how many days have you been out of your meds? I asked in a rush.
“Four,” she whispered.
“Chyna, I’m so sorry. I will get it taken care of today. I swear to you.”
“Okay, Cricket.”
“I’ll call Cinnamon back with the instructions.”
“Okay, love you, sis.”
“Love you, too, sissy.”
We hung up, and Nan told me she would be right back. Nan came back with a complete list of doctors in the US and Canada. I knew any doctor on this list would help us. I texted Cinnamon two of the doctors’ names—both in Atlanta.
I stayed at Nan’s for another two days setting up a serious emergency plan. I had an A, B, and C plan; just in case. I texted D’Artagnan and told him I needed a few days off. He insisted on speaking with me, but I refused. Nan got me a car to drive and told me not to worry about getting it back to her if I couldn’t.
As I drove to back to Atlanta, Jyme came to mind. I hadn’t heard from him in almost three days and neither had Cinnamon. It wasn’t like him not to communicate with Babe. He always called her just to hear her sleeping if nothing else.
Four hours later, I made it back to the house. I parked the car up the street and walked down to the house. I unlocked the door, and Michael ran to me and wrapped himself around my legs. I went straight to Babe and scooped her up into my arms. Michael didn’t let go for a good ten minutes.
“Cinnamon, he hasn’t called for Babe?”
“No, not a thing.”
I took out my non-traceable phone and dialed his number. The phone rang six times before the generic voice mail came on. Chyna brought me a jar of baby food and a small bottle. I fed Babe, and she ate it all. Dear GOD, I don’t know how she ate vegetable medley when it looked so much like mush. I gave her the small bottle, and she drunk it all too. She baby talked and baby talked; I could tell she was totally entertaining herself. The non-traceable phone rang, I didn’t recognize the number, but I knew it was a California area code.
“Hello?”
“You’ve been hiding from me, you sexy bitch.”
I walked over to Babe and picked her up from her swing. I held her close to my chest. I looked all around the room, for what I wasn’t sure. Chyna and Cinnamon watched me carefully and then Chyna went and picked Michael up and held on to him tight. Michael was watching me the whole time, so he knew something was wrong and knew not to ask any questions. Cinnamon started turning out all of the lights, and then she ran into the garage and came back with two guns.
“Are you there, you sexy being? I’ve missed you, Cricket.”
“What do you want, Troy?”
Chyna closed her eyes and held on to Michael tight. Cinnamon was looking out the windows with a pair of binoculars. She saw nothing and kept looking at me and shaking her head.
“Oh, Cricket; I actually have something that belongs to you. How about you name the one precious thing that you don’t have in your little cozy possession right now. I’ll give you a hint, it’s big, and it’s an Indian.”
I closed my eyes and tried to pull all of my thoughts together. I walked over to the downstairs closet and took out the already packed bags. Chyna started crying silently, and Michael wiped her face with his little hands. I handed the baby to Chyna and she got herself together at once. I went out to the garage, opened the safe on
the top shelf, took out the money, put it inside one of Cinnamon’s purses, and placed it in the trunk of their car.
Cinnamon watched me and knew immediately that we wouldn’t be traveling together. She placed her hand into mine and stared at me. I shook my head; we didn’t have time for this right now.
“Cricket, I assure you that I have something here that you desperately want,” Troy said.
I shut my eyes. Chyna put a bag in the trunk of the car, and Michael did the same. Cinnamon whispered something in his ear, and he ran back into the house. I gestured for Cinnamon to give me the other non-traceable phone. I dialed his number, and of course, I heard his phone ringing on Troy’s line. Jyme answered, and I heard the echo from Troy’s phone on the other line. I hung up at once.
“What do you want, Troy?” I asked him.
“You know what I want.”
“I’ll be there in four days.”
“You will get your ass on a plane tonight, and you will be here by tomorrow morning.”
The first set of tears started falling from my eyes and the rest followed.
“Alright,” I choked out.
“Oh, Cricket…don’t cry, baby. I won’t hurt him. I promise.”
Troy had no idea why these tears were falling from my eyes.
Chyna gave me Babe, and I handed her the other cell phone. I went back into the house and sat down onto the couch.
“I’ll call you back with the flight details.”
“I can’t wait to smell you, Cricket.”
I hung up and dropped the phone on the couch. I cried out toward the ceiling. “Why?”
Chyna ran back into the house and was crying at my side. She wrapped her arms around me, and we both rocked slowly. Babe was holding two fists fulls of my hair, and she didn’t blink for a long time.
Wounded Love (G Street Chronicles Presents From Love to Loathe Series) Page 17
