by Ancelli
***
“Don’t get what I’m going to say wrong, but this feels so strange being with you two like this here. I’m so used to John and Amy.”
Jason caressed her arm. “Well, now it’s Sophia and John. Things change, and I think they’ve changed for the good.”
John put his arm around Sophia and pulled her closer to him. “I understand what you mean, but this feels so right to me.”
“So you better get used to it,” Sophia joked.
“I’m happy for you two.” Kay looked over at Amy. “Some people aren’t made for each other.”
“And some are.” John gave Sophia a soft kiss.
“Excuse me.” Sophia placed her napkin on the table, pushed back her chair, and turned to John. “I’m going to the restroom.”
He pushed back his chair as well. “Me, too.”
***
John opened the ladies’ restroom for her, and she gave him a suspicious glance. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I really do have to go.”
She smiled and stepped through the door.
“But the thought did cross my mind.” He tapped her on her ass, and closed the door.
Sophia was fixing her hair in the mirror when Amy walked in. She stared at her reflection.
Amy moved to stand next to her. Sophia had to admit Amy was a beautiful woman. She only glared in return.
“Go ahead and have fun with my husband.”
Sophia turned and placed her right hand on her hip. “Your husband?”
“Yes. John will always be mine.” She stepped an inch closer.
“Really!” She offered Amy a sweet smile. She wasn’t about to allow this woman to ruin her night.
“Last time I checked, the two of you were divorced.”
“You might have given him a bastard child, but I gave him his first son, and that’s a bond you can never break.” She smirked. “Anytime I call him, he will always come running, because that man will always love me.”
“You don’t say.”
“He’s come every time I’ve called, and he always will.”
Sophia moved a bit closer to her, staring Amy straight in the eyes. Her heels evened out their differing heights. “I know when I have a good thing, and I will fight you to the end. Even if I have to scratch your eyes out, I will. You had a good man, and you took him for granted, but not me. So, if a fight is what you want, then bring it on!”
“You bitch!” Amy raised her voice.
Sophia smirked, then looked herself in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. In one swift move she connected her fist with Amy’s jaw, making her stumble back. “You owed me one.” She had been waiting to do that for months, it felt so good. Sophia shook out her hand, tightening and loosening her fingers. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“You’re going to pay for that!” Amy yelled, touching her jaw.
Sophia walked out of the room straight into John’s loving arms.
“Who was yelling?” he asked.
She smiled. “Some unfinished business between your ex-wife and me.”
He arched an eyebrow.
Amy exited the restroom, and John could see her swollen mouth. She rolled her eyes at them, “You’ll pay for this,” she spat as she stormed off.
“I’m not even going to ask.” He took Sophia’s hands in his and guided her to the dance floor.
“I hope you can dance.” She chuckled, and was surprised when he began swaying from side to side, with soul and swagger.
The deejay announced, “This is for the lovers out there,” as he spun the first notes of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”.
He circled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Baby, this white boy can dance.”
“I see,” she said, and began singing the lyrics.
They moved slowly against each other but kept it clean, knowing their environment. The music changed. An eighties classic came on and John started doing the cabbage patch. “You don’t know anything about this.” He laughed, going down and coming back up.
“Oh really,” she said, doing the running man.
Her chuckles got louder. They were having fun, and he always enjoyed watching her laugh.
People started forming a circle. “Go, John!” He grabbed one foot and grooved, and then when she did her moves, everyone chanted. “Go, Sophia!”
Jason and Kay joined them, and then everybody formed a soul train and danced down the line.
He put his hands around her waist, pulling her close to him. “You make me a better man.”
She gazed into his eyes and cupped his face, pulling him down into a sweet kiss. “You make me a better woman.”
***
They danced and laughed until the music was turned off for the charity donation events.
John was called up to the stage with six other bachelors, including Charles Morris. Sophia couldn’t keep her eyes off John. God, he was fine, he was wearing a black, tailor-made suit. You could see the definition of his muscles. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was. Never had she ever imagined she would be living with a man like John. Two years ago they’d barely been friends and now she couldn’t imagine her life without him. He owned a piece of her heart, next to Amber and Cara.
“Hey, beautiful,” someone said, touching her arm.
When she looked back, it was Kevin. He looked great. “Hey, you.”
“You look stunning.”
“Thank you. You look great too.” She smiled.
He gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. “I heard you had another baby.”
“Yes,” she said proudly. “She’s four months.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. How have you been?” she asked. She looked past Kevin and saw John shooting daggers at her.
“I’ve been great. I got married a few months ago,” He showed her his band.
“Congratulations.” She gave him a hug.
“Hey, look. The auction is about to start. It was nice seeing you,” he said, before he excused himself.
“Please, everyone, have a seat,” Tabitha announced over the microphone.
John was pissed, standing there. He didn’t like the way that man had his hands on Sophia. He could feel the vein in his neck throbbing. He’d never really felt this way with Amy. He was fucking jealous, and he couldn’t shake it off.
The auction started with Charles, and he was eventually awarded to one of the legal clerks for the sum of three hundred dollars.
He couldn’t stop staring at his lady. She sat at one of the middle tables, looking stunning, showing off her crossed legs.
“Now, ladies, the moment you’ve been waiting for. We saved the best for last,” Tabitha said. “Who wants a date with our very own Superman?”
John looked around, wondering whom she was talking about.
“John Morgan, front and center.” As she spoke, the room filled with the sound of female whistles.
“Okay, ladies, let’s start with the bidding.”
It quickly went up to a thousand, surprising him. He looked at Sophia. Kay and Jason were enjoying themselves, laughing at his expense.
“Going once, twi—”
“Two thousand dollars,” came a voice from the back.
He sighed. He knew exactly who it was. Amy.
“Damn, anybody wants to top that, it’s for a good cause.” Tabitha looked around the room and no one raised his hand. “Going once, going twice…”
Kay raised her hand, stopping Amy from getting the date, and then nudged Sophia. “Two thousand, five hundred,” Kay said.
Amy raised her hand again. “Three thousand dollars.”
Kay leaned into Sophia and whispered something in her ear.
“Going one, going twice, go—”
“Five thousand dollars.” Sophia raised her hand.
The room became quiet, and John smirked. That’s my girl.
“Going once, going twice, gone! Congratulations to the pretty woman in white,” Ta
bitha said. “Thank you all for coming and please keep enjoying yourselves.”
The music started playing. John jumped off the stage and grabbed Sophia by the arm, startling her, then guided her outside to the balcony.
Sophia pulled her arm away. “Are you crazy?” she huffed. “Is this about the money? Because I’m paying for it.”
“I couldn’t care less about the money.”
“Then what’s wrong with you?” she asked, pissed.
“Why did that man have his hands all over you?” John tried to calm down.
She looked confused. “Who?”
He paced.
“You mean Kevin?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “John, Kevin is married, and he didn’t have his hands all over me. I wouldn’t let anyone disrespect me like that.”
He just stared at her. He knew he didn’t have a reason not to trust her. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“Don’t you trust me?” Her eyes began to fill with tears, but he didn’t answer. “I’m not your ex-wife. Don’t punish me for Amy’s sins.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I could never hurt you like that.”
He wiped her falling tear. “I know.”
She gazed into his eyes, and he swore she could see into his soul.
“I love you, John.” She said as another tear dropped.
He didn’t know what to say. Those words had made his heart skip a beat.
She smiled. “I’m not telling you this because I want you to say it back. I don’t want you to say anything you don’t feel.”
He bent down and met his lips to hers, trying to convey how he felt through the kiss.
Sophia knew this was his way of saying he felt the same. She placed her hands around his neck, and teased his tongue.
“Say those three words again.”
“I love you.” She placed her hands around his neck. “Te amo con todo mi corazon.”
He gazed at her with so much love. “I can’t imagine my life without you. You have made me the happiest I’ve been in years. Family, love, and laughter. I can’t ask for anything more.”
“I’m complete when I’m with you.”
He caressed her neck, and gave her another kiss. “What did Kay whisper to you, to make you bid?”
Sophia laughed. “She said, ‘are you going to let her win a date with your man? You better fight for your man.’”
“I’m so happy you bid for me. I couldn’t survive a date with Amy.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen.” She lifted to her tiptoes. “Don’t ever doubt my love or faithfulness.”
“If you ever have a doubt about anything, come to me, and from now on I’ll do the same.”
“I have a surprise for you,” she said, tugging his hand.
“What surprise?” John asked, following her.
She looked at his watch. “You’ll see.”
“What are you up to?”
“It’s a surprise. Now close your eyes.”
He did as she asked. “This brings back memories.”
She guided him to the front, and got on her tiptoes again, and kissed his lips.
She squealed, making him laugh. “Open your eyes.”
When he opened his eyes, he was looking at a V-Rod Muscle Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and two helmets.
“Oh, shit!” he shouted, pumping his fist. “No way…” He covered his mouth, jumping like a little boy.
“Yes. It’s yours.” She grinned from ear to ear. “I hope you like it.”
He picked her up and spun her around. “Like it? I love it!” He placed her down and took long strides to the motorcycle. “It has my initials.” He touched shining metal and polished leather. He couldn’t believe she’d bought him a motorcycle.
“You thought I forgot?” She moved next to the bike.
“I can’t believe you did this.” He sat on it, getting comfortable.
“Believe it. You deserve everything your heart desires.”
Oh God, he loved this woman. “My heart desires you.” He extended his hand. As she entwined her fingers with his, he pulled her in.
“Damn, you look sexy.” He patted the seat. “Jump on. Let’s take a ride.”
“I have on a white dress.”
He could feel himself devouring her with his eyes. “That dress will be coming off, really soon.”
“But what about the gala?”
“We came and now we’re leaving.” He scooted up. “Get on.”
She smiled and jumped on behind him, securing her dress in between her thighs. He handed her a pink helmet, and he put on his own.
“Hold on, baby,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot.
She held on, resting her head on his back. She was so lucky to be blessed with him. Then she thought of what Amy had said. I won’t let you go, John. I will fight her till the end.
Chapter Forty
John and Sophia had just finished making love again. Damn, she couldn’t believe the things he made her body feel and do. But it had been months since she’d told him she loved him, and he still couldn’t say it back.
Amber started crying and she left John in the shower.
The doorbell rang. When Sophia strolled over and looked through the peephole, she saw a woman and a man. The woman kept ringing the doorbell. Sophia swung the door open with Amber in her arms. The woman was gorgeous. She moved a strand of black hair away from her face, and stared at the baby with gray eyes. The man was tall for an Asian, standing there with a suitcase in his hand.
The woman stepped forward. “Oh my God, is this big momma?” she asked, trying to take the baby out of Sophia’s arms.
She nervously stepped back.
“Excuse my wife,” the Asian man said. “She’s excited.”
“Vickie,” John said, walking toward the door. As soon as the woman saw John, she ran into his arms.
“John, I’ve missed you.”
He hugged and kissed her. “This is a surprise! What are you doing here?” He looked between the woman and her companion.
“I wanted to see the new addition to our family.” This was the woman, again staring at the baby.
Sophia wanted to take another step back, but stopped herself.
John turned to Sophia. “Baby, this is my sister Vickie, and her husband Tuy.”
Sophia felt stupid. When she’d opened the door, she hadn’t expected someone she didn’t know to try to grab her baby. She was paranoid and didn’t trust anyone when it came to her kids.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She moved forward and handed his sister the baby.
“No worries. I’m the one that should be sorry. I should’ve told you who I was.” His sister gently took Amber, and kissed her head. “I love the way babies smell.” She inhaled the baby’s scent, and looked around. “Where is Johnny?”
“With his mother,” John answered.
“You let him see that heffa?” she asked.
Sophia chuckled. She didn’t know his sister, but she already liked her. Now that the siblings stood next to each other, she could see the family resemblance.
“We share custody.” With a wave of his hand, he guided them to the living room, and they all sat down. Then he took in his brother-in-law’s hand, and saw the suitcase.
“Don’t blame me, blame your sister. She wanted to see you and she decided she was staying,” Tuy said, sitting down.
“Staying?” John asked.
“Only for a couple of days,” Vickie answered, sitting down next to him.
“Where are you staying?” John asked, already knowing the answer.
She grinned. “Here.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have enough room.” John looked at each of them in turn.
“Don’t mind John. We have plenty of room,” Sophia said, staring at John.
“I knew I was going to like you,” Vickie said. “You see, honey, I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“You could’ve called,” John said in a stern voice.
&n
bsp; “Sorry, baby brother, but I wanted to surprise you.”
“You surely surprised me.”
“Do you guys want something to drink?” Sophia asked from where she stood.
“Thank you, sweetie, but we’re okay.”
John stood, strolled over to where she was, and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Vickie and Tuy are not guests. They can get whatever they want.”
The entire time he talked, reminiscing with his sister about growing up on his grandmother’s farm, John couldn’t keep his hands off Sophia. Vickie kept smiling at their interactions, even when Sophia yawned at the advancing hour.
“It’s late. You guys can go to sleep. We have her,” Tuy said, caressing the baby’s head.
“I guess you two can sleep in Johnny’s room for tonight,” John said. Sophia stared at their daughter. He could tell she didn’t want to leave her. “Baby, she’s my sister. She won’t hurt her.”
“I know…”
John rose and gently pushed her to their room. “C’mon. We can make love all night, and you can do that thing you do with your tongue without worrying about Amber waking up.” He chuckled, closing the door quietly.
***
The next morning, they were awakened by the smell of coffee and breakfast.
“I love your sisters already,” she said, rolling out of bed.
“Sisters? There is only one here.” He watched her get dressed. “And Vickie can’t even boil water. My older sisters were always the ones who cooked.”
“Happy birthday.” She lifted to her elbows and kissed him.
He smiled.
“Get up,” she said, going into the bathroom. “It’s your birthday!”
He slipped out of bed and joined her. “I already got the best gift.” He smiled. “I know what this is about. I can’t believe you miss Amber. She’s right in the next room.” He chuckled.
She turned, kissed him, and left the bathroom. He heard the door open and close. He finished his morning ritual and also left toward the kitchen.
There were more than two voices coming from the kitchen, making John stop dead in his tracks. Oh no, it couldn’t be. When he slowly made his way around the corner, he saw his older sister Olivia holding his baby.
