by Cydney Rax
The next thing he knew, Nicole removed all her clothes and made him take off his slacks and his drawers. She grabbed his penis and rubbed it against her vagina, teasing her husband over and over.
“This,” she said, “is what you’d have every single day in the new house. I will fuck you from the foyer to the refrigerator. Would you like that, babe?”
He nodded his head vigorously.
“Is that a yes?”
“That’s a yes.”
She squealed and let her husband enjoy her body. He ravished her, stroking every crevice with his hands and mouth, enjoying her moans. Nicole grabbed him around his waist and pulled him tightly against her. He plunged deeply inside of her, marking her as his.
Seeing Nicole’s face light up gave him joy. And right then he knew he wanted to do whatever it took to make his new bride happy.
“Nicole, you know. You don’t have to try to convince me the way that you do. I don’t need you to plead your case like that. Just be a decent wife, stay on top of your business, and good things will happen.”
She relaxed and thanked him the only way she knew how.
The next afternoon, Rashad skipped lunch so he could pick Nicole up to go look at the house. By two o’clock that afternoon, he’d completed the sales contract and agreed to sign on the dotted line.
Joy shook both their hands and said she’d be in touch.
“If all goes well, you will be in the new house very soon.”
“Thank you very much,” Nicole exclaimed. “I look forward to hearing from you. I have a good feeling about this. I have a good feeling about everything.” And Nicole gave her husband a big hug. “Thank you for making every single one of my dreams come true.”
Rashad told her no problem but as they drove away from the house he wondered what he’d gotten himself into.
Chapter 4
The next evening Shyla came by Nicole’s rented house to help her open the remainder of the wedding presents. It was Saturday night. The women were tucked away in Nicole’s tiny dining room surrounded by boxes large and small. The table was completely filled with silverware, lingerie, “Mr. & Mrs.” pillows, china, and lots of scented candles.
“Mmm, girl. Where are you going to put all of this stuff?” Shyla asked.
“That’s what I was wondering. I may have to store some of it in the attic.”
“Hmm, you know what happened the last time you hid something in the attic.” She was referring to the time when Nicole hid her ex-boyfriend in the attic one day when he came by to visit her. Nicole had told her friend what happened and Shyla still couldn’t believe all the drama she’d gone through trying to juggle two men.
“Where is Ajalon, by the way?” Shyla asked.
“Hell, I don’t know. We don’t stay in touch anymore.”
“Literally, huh?”
“Oh, girl. There you go.” Nicole paused. “Why did you have to bring up my ex? I’m for real, Shyla, there is no more fooling around, sneaking around, none of that. Ajalon had such a strong influence on me back then. And that’s why I had to shoot him the deuce once I got engaged.”
“You’ve blocked him from calling you?”
“Sure have.”
“But it’s just as easy to unblock someone as it is to block him.”
“Are you saying that I will get weak and let him back into my life? Not on your life, girl.”
“Alrighty then. I was just checking.”
* * *
“Trust me, I got this. Even though Rashad and I have only been married a few days, I’m completely about this life.” Nicole laughed. “For example, when we got back home from the Bahamas, I was in the laundry room sorting the clothes that needed to be washed. And um, Rashad popped his big ol’ head in the doorway. He took one look at me and I could tell right away that my man was so happy that he had someone to wash his clothes. Ain’t that a shame? So I did my thing while he stood and watched me. But then he became annoying. He starts giving me instructions about ‘don’t do this’ and ‘don’t put that one in the dryer’ and ‘make sure not to put bleach on my shirt,’ and finally I had to tell him to back off and slow his roll. He was shocked I spoke up for myself; he realized that though I love him, no, I won’t let him boss me around. We got into an argument all over the stupid laundry. Do you know he nearly cursed me out?”
“I’m not surprised. Rashad can be a little hothead.”
“I know that, but I didn’t expect him to cop an attitude right after we returned from our honeymoon. I got so mad at him that it could have gotten physical. But when I asked him if I was Kiara would he be acting like that, he straightened his ass up and apologized. Then I got him good. I told him I needed some new spring dresses and Nordstrom was having a sale. And you know what? That amazing man handed over his Amex card just like that. I was like, hmmm, I could learn to like this.”
“Well, Nicole Eason, I’m glad you got it like that. It sounds as though you think the answer to a successful relationship is to pick fights with your husband, toy with his emotions, and then get some retail therapy. That definitely won’t work for all married couples, but hey, if that works for you, at least you’ll get to build yourself a brand-new wardrobe, huh?” she asked teasingly.
“No, no, not really,” Nicole replied. “Rashad is pretty generous if he’s in the position to do so. And I know I can get every material thing I can think of . . . without the petty fights. There’s still time.” Nicole laughed and wanted to hug herself. She couldn’t believe that only a few years ago she was a broke college student, counting dimes, dollars, and quarters, and feeling underneath the couch cushions, hoping to find extra spare change.
Shyla’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Marriage is way more than the ability to use someone else’s credit card when you want to go shopping, or even having a man to sleep beside you every night. No, it’s the fusion of two individual souls, two spirits knit together as one. Compromising, giving in, and doing the irritating shit that he wants, especially when you are not even trying to hear it . . .”
“And I’m really not trying to hear you, Mrs. Perry-Fallender. Like I said a dozen times, I’m good. Now. Let’s keep opening these boxes and checking out all these cool gifts.”
The ladies continued reviewing the various items. Nicole asked Shyla to type a list of names and addresses of the guests, and to e-mail the file to her so she could print mailing labels for thank-you cards.
“Will do.”
Right then Myles walked into the room, bouncing a basketball across her wooden floor.
“Where’d he come from?” Shyla asked, almost yelling.
“He’s spending the night with us.”
“Okay, you actually look like you’re fine with that.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I thought you—”
“Shhh, don’t be rude.” Nicole wasn’t sure if Myles could hear them, he was so involved playing with his ball.
“He’s my child now. I’m fine with him visiting us. He’s a good kid.”
“Oh, alright, glad to hear that.”
“Hey, Mom. May I get something good to eat? Something sweet?” Myles asked.
“Sure, darling. I will get you something after a while. We have a little project going on right now, but as soon as we’re done I—”
“But I am hungry now. Like, my sweet tooth is aching and if I don’t eat something—”
“Myles, you gotta be joking.”
“No, I’m not. So, can you please make me a cake?”
“A cake?”
“Yes. A chocolate cake.”
“No, Myles.”
“Why not? You did it before. You did it the first time I spent the night over here. Why can’t you do it again?”
“Because!”
Shyla stared at the two of them going at it, and for once she could not talk.
“Back then I was just Rashad’s girlfriend. I wasn’t a wife yet.”
“What does that mean?”
&nb
sp; “It means that I wasn’t as busy back then as I am now, Myles. Wives have lots of things to do. All of the time. We hardly ever get a break. And once we get started on something, it’s hard to stop. Now, I did not say I wouldn’t get you something to eat. But it will have to wait a few minutes.”
“Ms. Nicole.”
“What did you say?”
“I mean, Mom, I don’t know if I can wait a few minutes. I’m really hungry. So, may I please walk to the store?”
“Absolutely not, Myles, you know better than to ask a question like that. This is not a good neighborhood.”
“It’s not a good neighborhood?”
“No, it has crime around here. Sometimes. Not all the time. That’s why I ask you to play in the backyard and not in the front yard.”
“This sucks. I want to go to my other house. It has good food, a bigger backyard, and no stupid crime. I hate it here.” He stormed out of the room, bouncing his ball.
Nicole’s hands were trembling. She held them up for Shyla to observe. “See what he does to me?” she whispered.
“Wow. Just, wow.”
“I don’t mind him at all. He really is not too much trouble. I love his energy. But he wears me out.”
Myles popped back into the room. “Mom?”
“Yes, Myles.”
“We talked to each other for such a long time that you could have made me a cake. That’s how long we talked.”
And he left the room, bouncing the basketball, until she couldn’t hear its sound anymore. But what she did hear was the complaints of an Eason man inside her head.
* * *
When Rashad showed up outside Alexis McNeil’s front door, she was surprised to see him. She cautiously stepped outside.
“What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call first?”
“I was at a job in the area and thought it would be nice if I could pop in and see Hayley real quick. I wanted to call you but my battery died.”
“Oh, really? You can’t charge your phone in your car?”
“I tried but it didn’t hold the charge, so now I’m here.”
“Fine, Rashad.”
“Is it okay if we go inside, please?”
“Um, that wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Why not?” Rashad peered at the vehicles parked in her driveway and in front of the house. “I don’t see your boy’s pickup.”
“It’s not Varnell that you should be worried about. It’s—”
Abruptly, the front door flew wide open. Mona Hooker stuck her neck outside, gave Rashad a brutal look, and slammed the door shut.
“Damn, what’s up with your mama?”
“I think she’s getting sick of my shit.”
“What shit?”
“The grandbaby, you, everything.”
“What do you mean, the grandbaby? I thought she loved Hayley.”
“Oh, she’s crazy about the girl, but she’s not always in the best mood to try to take care of her just because I ask. And, um, basically I ask a lot.”
“That’s not a good sign. I know what it’s like not to be wanted at your own house.” He hesitated. “You could always come and stay with us—”
“Ha-ha. Very funny. Shrek Eason would never go for anything like that. You’re asking to get yourself, and me, killed.”
“Hey, I was just trying to be funny.”
“Well, try harder, because that joke was weaker than month-old iced tea.”
Rashad grinned at Alexis and instantly reminisced about their good old days—the sweetest of days, when no one knew the two of them were lovers. People had no idea that a married man had fathered a daughter with Alexis McNeil. Back then Rashad was oh, so smooth. The lies rushed from his mouth with ease, and Kiara was clueless about his double life. He’d surprise Alexis with all kinds of jewelry that she loved and cherished. But now, Rashad was lucky if she let him buy her a cold bottle of water. He hated that things had changed between them, but he was glad he and Alexis had managed to come to an understanding.
“Hmm,” he muttered. “I feel like an unwanted Jehovah’s Witness standing outside the house.”
“Ha! Tell me about it.” Alexis paused, feeling bad about her mom’s attitude. “Rashad, I’m sorry you wasted your time coming over here. Hayley is stuck right now at a playdate. I’ll pick her up in a couple of hours.”
“Oh, alright. Tell her that Daddy said hello. I guess I’ll go now.”
“No, wait. Actually, I am glad you stopped by. We need to talk business.”
“Wait. Let me guess. How much you need?”
“Stop it. Everything isn’t about money. But seriously, I do want to claim Hayley on the tax return. I’ve been busy and haven’t filed yet,” she explained. “But I plan to do it soon.”
Rashad said nothing.
“You got a problem with that? You don’t look so happy.”
“If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.”
The door popped open again. Mona Hooker held the door ajar with her back as she plunked an apple-green folding utility crate onto the porch.
She quickly disappeared, leaving them alone again. Rashad blankly stared at the crate.
“What’s all this?” he asked.
“That’s the remaining part of my jewelry collection. I hawked most of the stuff a while ago.”
“What? Why?”
“Because. It was time for a change. Anyway, the stuff in that crate is the least-expensive bracelets, rings, and earrings and a couple of pricey and sentimental pieces.”
“Your mom is seriously trying to put you out?”
“Seems that way. My mother has been giving all kinds of hints the past few weeks. And I see right now she’s doing her best to try to embarrass me in front of you. I don’t understand the woman. I hope I never do to Hayley the things she does to me.” A rare tender lump formed in Alexis’s throat. “Whatever happened to compassion, or patience, or at least trying to understand what a person is going through?”
“You two had it out?”
“Somewhat. She bitches and moans about me, but why can’t my mother admit that I have made some progress? Hell, I work every day. I’m taking care of my child, and I am trying real hard to get my life together. Because my mama made it clear she didn’t want me messing around with worthless married men anymore.”
“‘Worthless’? Ouch.”
“And so I luck out and hook up with Varnell Brown. Great guy.”
“I don’t believe it, but go on.”
“And because he is a great guy, I want to take time to hang out and bond with him. He’s busy a lot of time working at the airport. So when we can do things together, we plan it real quick and try to make it work. Some of the activities include Hayley, but some do not. So, of course, I ask her grandmother to watch the baby for me. She says yes, but I can tell she has a little attitude. I try to enjoy my date, but I can’t. The lady has learned how to text, for God’s sake. And my date night gets cut short. I rush home to see what the problem is. My mama yells at me, and accuses me of things I haven’t done. She gets frantic, because she says she can’t find Hayley’s belongings, but there they are in plain view. Either she is lying or I think my mama could be losing her mind. That has to be it. Because the crazy stuff she does makes no kind of sense. I am not a bad person . . . am I?”
Alexis’s eyes pleaded with Rashad for warmth and concern.
He placed one arm around her waist and gave her a hug. “You, Skillet, are definitely not a bad woman. I can tell you some stories about bad women.” He expelled a low whistle. “I know one thing. With your ass being put out on the curb like it’s trash day, you are reminding me of me more than I ever thought.”
Rashad chuckled so loud that Alexis was ready to punch him in the gut. But she assumed he was referring to that horrid time when Kiara got sick of his shit and asked him to leave their home and never come back.
“I remind you of you, huh? I don’t think so.” Alexis hoped he wasn’t gaining pleasure out of her sorr
ows. Right then she decided that pouring out her heart to Rashad was a bad idea. She needed to regroup. “I better go now, before my clothes and purses get thrown on the street. I really need support right now and yes, money will help. Rashad, will you please let me claim Hayley?”
“Go right ahead. Don’t even sweat it.”
He told Alexis good-bye and advised her to keep a low profile. She thanked him for wanting to check in on Hayley, then she went back inside the house thinking about how she wanted to spend her tax return money.
Chapter 5
Joy contacted Nicole while she was at work with good news: The seller had accepted the offer. “Get all your financial paperwork in order, based on that list that I gave you. You can also sign some additional documents, and once all that is finalized, a closing date can be set. We’re almost there, and things are looking good.”
Nicole thanked the Realtor and said she’d be in touch. As soon as she ended the call, she raced around her office emitting tiny screams. Being approved for such a magnificent piece of property was the biggest miracle that had ever happened to her.
She and Shyla had agreed to meet for a quick lunch so Nicole could share her good news. They both had a taste for fried chicken and decided there was no better place to go than Frenchy’s on Scott Street. They drove over to the spot, ordered, and sat down to wait for their food.
“Yeah, girl,” Nicole said. “It’s a done deal. I’m about to own my very first house.”
Shyla’s eyes widened. “Hmm, that man must really love some Nicole. I just can’t believe he’d move to that large of a house so fast.”
