by Love N. Joy
I woke up and the TV was off and it was pitch dark in the room. I realized I was still on the couch and lying on Ava still who was sitting up sleeping. I got up from the couch and grabbed the pillow. The fact of me moving caused her to wake up. “I’m about to go to bed,” I said.
“Alright then,” she said in return to me. As I got up from the couch she began to stretch out on it.
“You know what I’d feel bad having you sleep on this uncomfortable couch, you can come sleep with me in my room,” I said. She gave me a look that asked was I sure. I chuckled and said, “Come on I don’t bite.” She smiled and grabbed my hand and we walked into my room closing the door behind us…
Author’s P.O.V.
The next day over at Quincy’s apartment, he was planning a nice surprise for Zariah and his four year anniversary that was coming up in a couple weeks. While he was writing down his list of things he could see Zariah coming into the bedroom out the corner of his eye. “Dang girl you can’t be coming in here without announcing yourself,” he said while smiling. He placed the tablet he was writing on in his drawer. He looked up at Zariah and noticed she had a worried look on her face and she kept fiddling with her fingers. “Baby what’s wrong?” He asked with concern in his eyes now.
“Um Q we really need to talk,” she said as her eyes started to gloss up.
“Babe come sit down next to me,” he said as he patted the empty spot next to him. Zariah came and sat next to him. “What’s wrong?” He asked again grabbing one of her hands.
“Um this is not easy for me to tell you and it’s not easy for me to say it either,” she started off with as she wiped her tears with her other hand.
“Baby I’m all ears,” he replied.
“It was a false alarm…there is no baby,” Zariah came out and said. She looked into Quincy’s eyes waiting to see some type of sadness or shocked look but no it was just a blank stare in his eyes. “Well do you have anything to say?” she asked.
“Are you serious?” was all Quincy could ask.
Zariah sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “No I’m just pulling this information out of my ass,” she replied back with aggravation in her tone.
“Why you got to say it like that?” Quincy asked with a perplexed look in his eyes.
“Because you acting like you don’t know what to say, you don’t even seem a little bit sad,” Zariah replied. She didn’t expect herself to flip it on him; after all it was her idea to fake a pregnancy. Yet at the end of the day she was doing all of this to see if Quincy cared and now here he was showing no emotion that there wasn’t going to be a baby.
“I’m sorry if I don’t know what to say right now Zariah I mean you just sprung the news on me,” he replied. Zariah looked at Quincy with so much pity in her eyes. Before the tears started falling, she quickly wiped them from the corner of her eyes.
“Well thank you Q,” she said with a small grin on her face. Quincy looked at her with a confused look in his eyes again.
“For what?” He asked.
“Thank you for showing me how you really feel after all this time.” With that being said she stood up from the bed and began walking out of their bedroom.
“Whoa, what does that mean?” he asked but Zariah didn’t reply. He jumped up from the bed and stopped her before she walked all the way out of the room. He turned her back towards him. “Zariah I don’t want you to think I don’t care I’m just speechless right now,” he said. Zariah didn’t reply she just stared at him with a disappointing look in her big doe eyes. “I mean maybe this is a sign from God that he’s not ready for us to have one just yet.”
“No Q maybe it’s just a sign from you.”
“Why would you say some shit like that when I told yo ass all I can think about now is us having a family together?” Quincy asked getting pissed now.
“Yeah you did tell me that…but let’s just be honest you only said it because you only felt like you had a responsibility that you’re forced to take care of.” Zariah snatched away from him and walked out. Quincy sighed deeply as he heard the front door slam. He was at a point in his life where he was ready to give up on love for good…
A distraught and teary eyed Zariah sped down the lodge to downtown Detroit. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her cousin’s number. “Talk to me,” she heard a cheery Yolanda say on the other end of the phone. It hurt Zariah to have to call and ruin her mood, but Yolanda was the only one she could go to about her situation that wouldn’t judge her about it. “Hey Yolanda are you busy?” Zariah asked trying to disguise the fact that she was crying but Yolanda wasn’t stupid, she could hear it in her tone.
“No I’m not busy, what’s wrong sweetheart?” Yolanda asked in return. It was funny how a person can show concern and cause you to break down crying even harder. Zariah couldn’t hold back her tears anymore; they began to stream down her chocolate brown face.
“Yolanda I’m tired I can’t do it anymore,” she replied.
“Whoa slow down and tell me what’s wrong.”
Zariah explained to Yolanda what’s been going on with her and Quincy for the past couple of weeks and what happened between the two of them tonight. “Wow, I’m sorry to hear that,” Yolanda said after Zariah was done explaining everything to her.
“I can’t go home tonight Yolanda, can I please stay over there tonight?”
“Girl sure, you know you can stay for as long as you want. It’s just me here I could use the company. Now you know when one of my boos come over you got to sleep on the couch in the living room,” Yolanda replied causing Zariah to chuckle.
“Sure I don’t mind that, hell you’re doing me a favor,” Zariah said in return.
“So when are you heading this way?” Yolanda asked.
Zariah sighed deeply then said, “I’ll be that way as soon as I leave this destination I’m at right now.” She looked over at the Pandora Temptations bar that she was parked in front of. It was a low key bar that stayed open past four. This was a place that Zariah came to when she needed a drink and something to take her pain away. There was never a time when she didn’t come here and trouble did not find her. She hung up with Yolanda got out of her car and headed in.
The bass was heavy but the song made love to Zariah’s ears. They were playing her favorite song “More” by Silk. She sashayed over to the bar while all eyes were on her. Although in her mind she wasn’t really dressed to impress, guys still seemed to stare. She had on a lavender mini skirt with a slit going up the side and a white collared shirt with a lavender corset over it and lavender and purple suede heels.
“Bartender can I please get a sour skittle on the rocks,” she said as she sat down at the bar.
“Sure thing you’re looking mighty nice tonight Zariah,” the bartender Tony said as he prepared her drink.
“Awww thank you Tony I really needed to hear that compliment. It lets me know that there are still gentlemen out here,” Zariah replied.
“There are always gentlemen out here you just got to look a little bit more over the pretenders and you’ll find them in a corner checking you out,” Zariah heard a deep and sexy voice say. She turned to her right where the voice was coming from. There he was standing at 6’4” muscular frame that showed through his black satin collared shirt, dark chocolate complexion, almond shaped eyes and long dreads that were nice and neatly braided up in a ponytail. At that same moment while Zariah was observing him and feeling a tingly feeling in between her thighs, “Rendezvous” by Craig David came on really setting the mood.
“Here you go,” the bartender said as he handed Zariah her drink.
“Thank you,” she said to the bartender then looked back at the eye candy standing in front of her. He walked over to her and sat down to the seat next to hers.
“I hope this seat isn’t taken by anyone,” he said staring directly into her eyes.
“No it’s not taken,” Zariah said as she sipped on her drink.
“So I’ve never seen you around here before,” he replied.
“I should say the same for you,” she replied.
“I haven’t been here in a while, just started coming back around. What’s your excuse?”
“I only come here when I need to ease my mind and erase pain from my heart with a good old fruity drink for the soul.”
“You know you don’t need that though right?”
“Need what?” Zariah asked.
“You don’t need a drink to make you happy; you should let a guy like me do that for you.”
Zariah sucked her teeth and said, “Please my days of depending on a man to make me happy are over.”
“See sweetie I’m a different kind of breed.”
“Yeah that’s what they all say.”
“I can only allow proving you wrong by letting you get to know me then stand here and disagree with you.”
Zariah looked at him and smiled admiring his smooth talking ways. It was something about him that made her want to get to know him better but she knew this would only lead her to trouble.
“Can I pay for that drink you’re sipping on and buy you another as well?”
“I don’t let guys I don’t know buy me a drink,” Zariah said flirting with him.
He grabbed her hand and planted a soft kiss on it. “I’m Isaiah and what is your name?” he asked.
“I’m Zariah, nice to meet you,” she said back amazed at this man’s manners.
“Hey Tony, I’d like to pay for this drink that this beautiful lady is enjoying and when she is done with this one can you give her the special,” he said. Tony looked at him with an are you sure look. Isaiah gave him a nod in return. Tony went to making the drink and while no one was looking he slipped in an ecstasy pill and shook it around until the pill dissolved. Once Zariah was done with her drink, he handed her that one and walked away feeling ashamed but he knew if he didn’t do what Isaiah said that would be the end of his job.
“So why is this drink called the special?” Zariah asked.
“Because it’s made for a special lady, as if you didn’t know,” Isaiah said chuckling. Zariah laughed in return as well.
“Well what’s in it?” She asked.
“Ms. Zariah one day you will learn that surprises aren’t meant to be ruined. Just trust me you will love it,” he said then planted a kiss on her forehead. She drunk the drink and allowed ecstasy to flow all through her…
Chapter 10
Author’s P.O.V.
Summer nights on the beach listening to the rain drops, wind blowing through your hair this is what it feels like… Zariah woke up hearing the words to “What it Feels Like” by Day 26. She thought she was still at the bar until she looked around and saw big glass windows, a red leather love seat with black suede pillows on it. She found herself laying in a king size bed with red satin sheets and a black king size comforter. “Where the hell am I?” she asked herself as she sat up and noticed the 56 inch flat screen TV on the wall. There was also a stereo sound system right under it with surround sound speakers hanging in the corner of each wall. She looked down and realized that she didn’t have on the clothes she had on last night, only the lingerie and a black satin collared shirt on.
“Good morning beautiful,” she heard a deep voice say. She looked up and saw the same guy from last night. He was standing there in the doorway with a tray in his hands that had two lit candles around them.
“Oh my God, please do not tell me we did what I think we did,” Zariah said as she placed her hands to her mouth. Her life was already on a rocky ride. She didn’t need to add to the drama.
He chuckled in return and said, “No we did not sleep together if that’s what you are asking. Like I said before I’m a gentleman,” Isaiah said as he walked into the room with the tray.
“Then why am I here and where is your shirt and where are my clothes?” Zariah asked.
“Whoa, before you start the 21 questions you got drunk last night and I didn’t want you driving in that condition, so I had my friend keep your car parked in the back of the bar behind their gate. I promise I will take you over there today as soon as you get dressed so you can pick it up. I don’t have my shirt on because I let you wear it. I wanted you to sleep in something more comfortable and I decided to wash your clothes for you,” he explained.
“Wash them, why did I throw up on them?”
“No I just wanted to do an act of kindness that’s all. I hope that isn’t a problem.”
Zariah sighed feeling somewhat bad for accusing someone of bad intentions when her life could’ve been in danger if she decided to get behind the wheel last night and drive. “Look I apologize for questioning you and looking at you sideways but I’m sure you can understand why,” she said. Isaiah placed the tray in front of her and blew out the candles. Zariah lifted the tray and on the plate was an omelet with sausage, cheese and peppers and diced potatoes and fresh fruit on the side. “Wow this looks delicious, did you cook this?” She asked. He nodded his head and sat down beside her. “You know you didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yeah I know but I wanted to…now dig in,” he said. With that being said Zariah took her fork and began to take a bite of the omelet and potatoes.
“What do you think?” He asked.
“It’s delicious like it looks,” she said as she took a bite of the fresh fruit.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replied.
“So can you tell me what all happened last night because I really can’t remember all that much. I just remember you brought me a second drink and after that it’s all a blur.”
“Well you liked the special drink I brought for you so much you had me buy you another one so I did but then after that I cut you off from it. We sat at the bar and we talked. You told me about how you are unhappy with your love life and you want to find better happiness. You didn’t go into details of your love life you just said you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
“Wow, really?” Zariah asked while still eating.
“Yeah you did.”
“I guess liquor will get you to pouring out your heart to just anyone,” Zariah replied.
“I don’t want to be just anyone to you Zariah.”
Zariah paused in the middle of eating. “Excuse me?” She asked thinking her ears were playing tricks on her.
“I said I don’t want to be just anyone to you,” he said repeating himself.
“Isaiah like I said last night I really don’t want to depend on another man for happiness again,” Zariah said.
“I understand that you said that but you don’t understand how sad you looked when you were talking to me last night. You had this lost look in your eyes and I just want to be someone you can come to and make you laugh. I want to be someone you can be carefree with. I’m not asking for you to be serious with me just want to be the one to bring a smile to your face, show you how happiness feels because obviously homeboy at home isn’t doing his job right.”
She chuckled and said, “Wow I see you’re the competitive type.”
“Trust no need for competition if your man isn’t a challenge to me.”
Zariah smiled and sighed. “So why me Isaiah what is so special about me that makes you want to take my pain away?” She asked.
“Zariah you deserve to be happy and I want to be the one to do that for you plain and simple.”
“But what are you getting out of this?” Zariah asked not understanding what he saw in her after one night of talking that made him want to come into her world and turn it back around.
“What I’m getting out of this is that knowing I’m one of the people who can put a smile on your face makes me feel good,” he replied.
Zariah stared at him for a couple of seconds then said, “Can I at least give what you’re saying to me some thought, seeing that I just met you last night?”
A grin crawled across Isaiah’s face like a snake. He slowly licked his lips in a seductive way and said, “Sweetie I got all the patience in the world.”
“Ok I’m glad to hear that. Since I told you a little about me last night do you mind telling me a little about you?” She asked.
“In time, baby girl you will know all of that.”
“Well can you tell me how old you are and what your last name is?” Zariah was finding herself to get a little agitated with him. He was like a big puzzle that was so complicated to solve.
“I’m 28 and my last name is Chandler,” he replied.
“Thank you it’s about time I got a simple answer out of you,” Zariah replied.
“Well hey I don’t want to get boring to you I got to stay a mystery,” Isaiah said in a joking matter causing Zariah to laugh again.
“Whatever, you’re so silly.”
“See looks like I can make you smile very easily,” he said in return. Zariah didn’t say anything in return. She didn’t know if he would be the one to make her happy or what would happen between them but she did know that he was going to be on her mind for the rest of the day.
Later on that day after Zariah finally got her car back, Isaiah and she went their separate ways. When she got to Yolanda’s house and saw how worried Yolanda was that she never showed up last night Zariah sat her down and explained to her everything that was going on from last night till today.
“Bitch, is you stupid?” Yolanda asked looking at her cousin Zariah with disbelief in her eyes.
“Yolanda I already got enough drama in my life I’m not trying to add to it,” Zariah replied.
“Yes you have enough drama in your life but this man wants to just be good friends with you and probably have amazing sex from time to time with no strings attached…WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?” Zariah sighed deeply and didn’t respond. Yolanda sat down next to her cousin and faced towards her. “Zariah you’re always saying that you’re tired of loving someone who doesn’t love you fully, if Quincy’s heart is not all the way in it, then yours shouldn’t be either.”
