I kept shaking my head, saying no. The people in the church were loud, but nothing was louder than a cackling laugh that came from the back of the church. When I turned to see who it was, it was Chase. She laughed uncontrollably and clapped her hands.
“Way to go, Roc,” she shouted. “How’s that marriage thing working out for you?”
“Not so good,” Desa Rae said. I felt a jab in my stomach, and when I looked down, she had stabbed me with a knife. I tried to tell her I was sorry, but the pain in my stomach prevented me from saying anything. She smiled and backed away as I tried to break my fall by clinging to her dress. I fell to my knees, but before I hit the floor, the dream came to an abrupt end.
I quickly sat up in bed with a sheen of sweat covering my forehead. That dream had me messed up, and when I looked at the alarm clock, it was almost seven o’clock in the morning. It was another day, yet I wasn’t guaranteed another dollar. Not unless I started making some noise in here to get the others out and get my ass home. Chase was first on the list. I planned to have a talk with her today about why I thought she should leave. I was positive that she’d see things my way.
Before I got out of bed, I looked at her bed and she was lying there out like a light. I guess I didn’t have to wonder why; maybe because I had knocked her back out and she was still in a coma. The dream had me feeling horrible about fucking her, but a part of me felt as if it was justification for the way Desa Rae made me feel when I called home. She should’ve known better. I didn’t play that kind of shit, and shame on her for thinking that I was the kind of man she could toy with. At the end of the day, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt. No matter what the hell I had dreamed about, what had happened between me and her had to stay a secret.
I took a lengthy shower, especially since I did a quick wash-up last night. I then gave myself a clean shave. When I tossed the blade in the trashcan, I saw several used condoms. The one I had used with Chase was in the kitchen’s trashcan, so these condoms had to belong to Jaylin. If not, Jada and Chase were around here doing some freaky shit that didn’t make sense. I smiled from the thought of Jada and Jaylin fucking. That was what made sense, especially since they were always playing with each other and hanging around together.
“Dirty dog,” I whispered underneath my breath and laughed again.
I exited the bathroom, dressed in purple and yellow B-ball shorts and a Nike tank shirt that showed my tats. I was somewhat lazy today, so I didn’t feel like working out. Instead, I stopped at the computer to check my fan mail. There was a lot of it, but I was so eager to find out what had happened between Jaylin and Jada that I only replied to one email from Cadeesha in St. Louis.
Roc, I swear that I’ve been all over St. Louis looking for you. LOL. I’m a forty-something-year-old woman who dates younger men. Your relationship with Desa Rae is so interesting, and I would like to know, from you, what makes you and Desa Rae’s relationship work, considering the big age difference?
I had to think about this. After last night, it was obvious that it wasn’t working well at all. But I had to give the woman some hope—keep some for myself too—even though there could possibly be serious trouble in paradise.
Cadeesha, what up, ma? If you search hard enough in the Lou for me, you’ll definitely find me. Right now, I don’t know how my relationship with Desa Rae is working, but I’m hyped about it. I don’t believe the success that we’ve had revolves around our ages as much as it does around two people who understand each others needs, who know the real meaning of compromise, and we recognize that neither of us are perfect. A person can be any age to realize that, so don’t be skeptical to date brothers the same age as you. I happened to luck up on a woman who is willing to work with me, especially at a level that I need for her to be. Wish me luck, ‘cause after this Hell House challenge is a wrap, I’mma need all the support I can get. You know how much I love trouble, so say a li’l prayer for Black Love. It’s still alive, so never give up on it.
I hurried to shut down the computer. On my way to tease Jaylin about what had gone down between him and Jada, I stopped in the kitchen. I picked up three slices of bacon that Jada must have already cooked. I put the bacon between a buttery biscuit and added grape jelly. I stuck the sandwich in my mouth and jetted to the workout room.
From a distance, I saw Jada and Jaylin inside. He was showing her how to lift weights. They seemed chummy and turned their heads when I opened the door.
“Morning, Roc,” Jada said with a big, bright smile. “I see you couldn’t wait to get your hands on my homemade biscuits. I got up real early to make those, especially for you.”
“Aww, that was sweet,” I teased. “I don’t have to tell you that you did your thing. You know a nigga appreciate it.”
“You’d better. Jaylin in here tryin’ to show me how to quickly shed some pounds. He says that liftin’ weights is a good start, but what you got to say about that?”
“I say you’re on the right track, but all people have different results. You may lose more weight by doin’ aerobics.”
“Yeah, that too,” Jaylin said. “But more than anything, you gon’ have to cut your calorie intake in half and exercise a whole lot more than what you’re doing.”
“I’m not gon’ cut my calories by much, but I will try to exercise more.”
Jaylin wasn’t trying to hear that. “If you don’t cut your calories, then you’re defeating your purpose for losing weight.”
Jada got defensive. “No, I’m not. I heard that people can burn off all calories, no matter how many they eat, by exercisin’ for thirty minutes every day. Like, look at Michael Phelps. I heard he eats close to ten-thousand calories a day. He’s skinny as a pencil, and all he do is swim.”
“Swim a lot,” Jaylin countered. “A whole lot, where he can afford to eat like that. You, on the other hand, can’t.”
“And you, on the other hand, need to stop insultin’ me before I shove my foot up your you-know-what.”
“No, I don’t know what that is.” Jaylin seemed to have an attitude and he backed away from her.
Jada sat on the weight bench, pouting.
“I’m only trying to help you,” Jaylin said. “Stop wasting my time and don’t come crying to me again because you gained seven pounds since you’ve been here.”
“Six,” Jada said, standing up. She went over to the treadmill and got on it. “Six pounds that I’m getting ready to walk off right now.”
“Well, prepare yourself to walk until midnight. Six pounds ain’t coming off like that.”
Jada rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the inspiration, fool.”
Jaylin ignored her and returned to the weight bench. I guess a night of sex wasn’t capable of bringing him and Jada together.
“You ain’t working out this morning,” Jaylin said to me.
“Nah. I had a long night and my energy level ain’t up to par right now.”
“I feel you on that. Same here. Mine ain’t either. I had a real long night and even a longer early morning.”
“Nothin’ wrong with that, especially if it was worth losin’ sleep.”
Jaylin lifted the weights over his head and smiled. “No doubt, it was worth it. Well worth it.”
I nodded, not expecting for Jada to satisfy Jaylin sexually. He seemed like a hard man to please. Then again, Jada had a wild side to her that she probably kicked up a notch during sex. The visualization in my head didn’t quite do it for me, but I had to take Jaylin’s word for it being worthy.
I finished my sandwich and sat on another weight bench to watch TV. Jada had headphones on and loudly sang lyrics to a song. The singing was distracting and I couldn’t hear the TV. So instead of hanging around, I decided to chill outside on one of the lounging chairs. I was outside for about fifteen minutes before Jaylin swooped in to take a seat. He wiped sweat from his face, then tossed the towel over his shoulder.
“So, what’s the play for the day,” he said. “The football games are starting at noon a
nd the Eagles are playing the Steelers. It’s supposed to be a good game. I can’t wait to see what’s up.”
“Same here. I hope Jada and Chase find something to do so they don’t be buggin’. Maybe Jada will stay on that treadmill until midnight. That may not be such a bad thing.”
Jaylin agreed. Anything to keep her mouth shut and out of the way.
“She’s a feisty-ass something,” Jaylin said. “Every time I tell her something for her own good, she gets defensive. I guess some people don’t like to work out, but she should know better, especially since she likes to eat all those fattening foods.”
“Right. Maybe she still tired from the workout she got last night, or early mornin’, as you put it. That may have been enough workin’ out right there.”
“Slaving in the kitchen to make biscuits ain’t exactly what I call a workout. And she’d only been lifting weights for fifteen minutes before you came in.”
“I wasn’t referrin’ to her workin’ out in the kitchen or in the exercise room. I was talkin’ about the other action that went on last night. I saw several condoms in the trash. Somebody must have put in some overtime. Pounds had to shed.”
Jaylin licked his bottom lip and rubbed down his goatee. “I forgot to throw those in the other trashcan. My bad.”
There was a newspaper on the table, so he picked it up and started to flip through it. Minutes later, Jada busted out of the workout room huffing, puffing, and limping.
“Whew,” she said, fanning herself with her hand as she came over by us. “I’ve had enough! That working out mess ain’t for me. How do y’all stay in there for hours at a time? I got hot and too sweaty.”
She dropped in a chair. Jaylin lowered the paper and looked over at me. “Man, please respond to her so I don’t have to. After five minutes, she shouldn’t be that tired. That’s a damn shame.”
“I know, ma. You did more sweatin’ than that last night, didn’t you?”
“Not as much sweatin’ as you probably did,” Jada said, then winked at me. “What time did you and Chase finally hit the sack, or in other words, wrap things up?”
I sucked my teeth. “It took a while, but we got there.”
“You sure did, especially from the way she was hollerin’. You must have gotten all the way up in there, and I applaud the bitch for climbing up that tall ladder and staying on it.”
I laughed wickedly as I thought about Chase pleading for me to stop. I surely put it on her, but my intentions were to keep what had happened between us a secret. Jada, however, kept at it. Jaylin had also put the newspaper down and was tuned in.
“Was it good, Roc?” Jada asked, playfully shoving my shoulder. “Or did she put it on you?”
“Nah, she definitely didn’t put it on me. Not at all. As for it bein’ good? It was good, not great. I’ll leave it there.”
“Oooo,” Jada said in a giddy mood. “I can’t wait until she wakes up so I can drive her! You mean to tell me that she didn’t leave you with no everlastin’ memories? She must not be a full-blown sista then. We usually leave men with unforgettable memories.”
“Let me repeat myself, it wasn’t bad. It’s just that some people can’t be matched when it comes to sex.”
Jaylin cleared his throat and massaged his hands together. “Let me get this straight. Are you saying that you had sex with Chase yesterday?”
I made myself clear. “Nah, fool. I’m not sayin’ that I had sex with her yesterday. What I’m sayin’ is I knocked her muthafuckin’ back out and tore that shit up.”
“Damn!” Jada shouted. “Be blunt with it, why don’t you? Is this how men talk amongst each other? I see how y’all get down, and I’m all ears!”
Jaylin sucked in his bottom lip and bit it. “So, yesterday, as in last night, you were intimate with Chase? Do you mind telling me what time all of this took place?”
I felt like I was being interrogated and cocked my head back in straight up confusion. “Does all that matter?”
“Not really, but I want to know.”
“Why?”
Jaylin placed his hands behind his head and let out a soft snicker. “Why? Because I exchanged juices with Chase last night too.”
Jada threw her hands up in the air and pursed her lips. “Who cares, Jaylin? Now ain’t the time for you to be talkin’ about you and Chase exchangin’ orange or apple juice. I’m tryin’ to get the scoop about her and Roc. Finish telling us, Roc. What else happened?”
I tried to ignore Jada. My face fell flat. Jaylin’s words almost knocked the wind out of me. Maybe I misunderstood him, like Jada had done.
“Juices, as in sexual juices?” I questioned.
Jada snapped her head in Jaylin’s direction. “Boy, shut yo mouth! Are you sayin’ that she climbed up your long ladder too?”
“Fucking her is not exactly what I did. I’ll just say that we slapped naked bodies together all night and well into the early morning.”
I was in disbelief. “So you fucked her?”
“Roc!” Jada shouted again. “Yes! Get a clue, ’cause it obviously sounds like he did. That’s just nasty and triflin’. Ugh.”
I was straight up shocked. I could tell by the look on Jaylin’s face that he was taken aback as well. How in the hell did something like this happen? I wasn’t mad, but something inside of me wanted to hurt Chase. I’d be wrong to go inside and confront her, though. I wondered if Jaylin was thinking the same thing. I thought back to the condoms I’d seen, still thinking that he’d knocked Jada off in the process.
“Uh, I gotta say that I’m kind of fucked up in the head right now. But didn’t you have sex with Jada too?”
Jada pointed to her chest. “No, not me, stupid. Chase! Didn’t that man just tell you that he exchanged Kool-aid all night and all mornin’? What about that do you not understand?”
I put my hand up to Jada’s face. “Silence yourself. You’re annoyin’ me. All I’m sayin’ is somethin’ don’t add up.”
“It doesn’t add up to me either,” Jaylin said. “But what’s done is done. Now we both know that there is major work to be done here.”
Jaylin scooted back from the table. His face looked a li’l tight with anger, but before he stood up, the sliding doors opened and out walked Chase. She was dressed in a tight pencil skirt, stilettos, and a fitted shirt that cut above her midriff, making her breasts appear even bigger and rounder. Her braids were in a neat bun and two strands dangled near each side of her face. She looked sexy as hell as she swished her hips from side to side, heading our way.
Jada rushed up to her with her hands in the air. “Girrrl, give me a high-five, ’cause that’s how you do that shit! I’mma be sure to give you my number so we can talk! I need to hear every single detail about who was slangin’ dick the best and how they got down. I mean, did you see any fireworks, shootin’ stars, or red lights?”
Chase had the audacity to giggle and give Jada a high-five. She then walked over to the table and removed her sunglasses.
“What a lovely day,” she said, squinting at the sun. “I feel like a million dollars and I wanted to thank the two of you for showing me such a good time.” She squatted next to me and held my hands with hers. “From day one, I knew we would click. And if you ever want to get my pussy high again, or murder it as you clearly did, please look me up. From the bottom of my heart, Roc, I really do view you as a decent man. My only hope is that your woman wakes up and realizes the same thing.”
Chase stood and paraded over to Jaylin. He ignored her and pretended to be checking out the newspaper. “Yeah, I know you won’t say much to me, but just so you know, my time with you almost made me rethink this whole thing. You were extremely good to me, Jaylin. God knows if I could package up your dick and sell it, I would. I was so touched by the way you comforted me, but I think we both know that as passionate as our time together may have been, love doesn’t live in our hearts anymore. Too many people have hurt us, and we can’t go there with the love thingy anymore. That’s too bad, hu
h?” She bent down and kissed his cheek. He still didn’t move. “For now, fellas, I must go. There is nothing else left in this house for me to do, and quite frankly, I’m getting bored. So be good for me. If either of you want to hook up when you leave here, I’ll be easy to find.”
Neither of us responded. Chase sighed and shrugged. She wiggled her hips to straighten her skirt, then walked off. Jada stopped her and they exchanged a few words. That was when Jaylin looked at me and I shot him a glance too.
“Crazy bitch,” I said. “I guess she don’t realize that she did us a favor by leavin’.”
“Maybe so,” Jaylin added. “But I’d go further than that. Crazy, bad bitch that may bring about some trouble. All I can say is watch your back.”
He lifted the newspaper, reading it as if he wasn’t fazed one bit. Either he wasn’t or he was a good actor and deep down he was feeling like I was—like shit.
• • •
The whole day had been messed up. I was pleased that Chase had left. All I kept thinking about was her laughing in my dream, and how the whole day started off on the wrong foot after that. Jada and Jaylin were in the kitchen arguing about dinner. To be honest, that shit got on my nerves. I tried to ignore them, but it wasn’t always easy to ignore Jada’s big mouth.
“I said let me cook it,” Jada said, trying to push Jaylin away from the oven. “I won’t cook your steak all the way through. If you want blood runnin’ out of the doggone thing, so be it.”
“All I said was make it medium. Just a little pink in the middle, but still tender. I didn’t say medium rare.”
“All I know is done or undone. If you want to get into all of that medium stuff, then you may have to stay in here to cook your own steak. Just stay out of my way. Shoot.”
Jaylin did his best to stay out of Jada’s way, but with her dancing around in the kitchen, and singing, it was kind of hard to do. I sat back on the couch, watching TV with my feet propped on the table and my hands behind my head. I wasn’t that hungry, but the aroma moving in from the kitchen smelled pretty good. Jada always wanted me to taste her food, so she rushed into the living room area with a slice of steak on the tip of a fork. I opened my mouth and chewed on the juicy piece that left my mouth watered.
The Roof is on Fire Page 15
