Checkmate 3: Playtime's Over

by Tiece

  She sighed again. She didn’t want her thoughts to go back to Brendon because they were wrong and maybe what she was feeling was not what she wanted it to be. She knew that they could never have anything intimate because of her relationship with Monty. It would never work and everybody would look at her as if she was wrong as hell for doing that shit. They wouldn’t be wrong because she would be thinking the same thing.

  She rested her head back on the sofa listening to Keyshia Cole featuring Monica; Trust. It was one of her favorite songs. She slowly rocked her head back and forth listening to the soothing sounds that occupied her thoughts. Just as she’d started humming the words with pure relaxation her phone rang.

  “Who could this be?” She looked at the caller ID; it was Monty.

  She took a deep breath in. She still felt something for him and in her heart always knew she would whether they were together or not. She inhaled again.

  “Hello,” she answered.

  “What’s up baby mama?” He asked. His sexy voice still sent chills up her spine.

  “Ain’t nothing much,” she replied.

  Monty was a little speechless at first. He didn’t really want to bring the baby up whether there was really a baby or not. He knew that he’d be opening up a can of worms.

  “How’s MJ?” He asked.

  “He’s good. I was about to feed him, but he went to sleep.” She said.

  “Mama says he does her like that all the time.” They shared a laugh. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m just looking or shall I say listening to videos play.” She responded.

  “Oh okay.” He paused. “I did wanna talk to you about something, but you seem so chillaxed.” With her head resting back and her eyes closed she definitely wasn’t up for no more shit from him.

  “What is it, Monty? You may as well tell me because I’m sure I’ll hear about it or see it for myself later.” She casually said.

  “It ain’t that bad.” He commented.

  She rubbed her eyes still resting her head back.

  “What you might think ain’t bad; it just might be to somebody else.” She was referring to herself.

  “I just wanted you to know that MiKayla isn’t pregnant.” He said.

  Candy was quiet for a moment. “What do you mean she’s not pregnant?”

  “Meaning that she was never pregnant,” he explained.

  Candy shook her head. “Wow,” she sat silent for a good minute. “Why doesn’t this surprise me?” She asked. “So you mean to tell me that your lil sidekick lied to you about being pregnant? What was that all about? Sounds fishy to me.” She said. He knew where she was going with her accusations.

  “No, it wasn’t like that. She really did think she was pregnant.”

  “I guess you’re so smooth and good that you wouldn’t know when a chick is trying to play you like she’s pregnant by you. That’s the oldest trick in the book.” Monty wanted to say more, but he saw that this conversation was going downhill fast. He knew MiKayla better than what Candy thought he did and he knew that she didn’t fake being pregnant just to hold on to him.

  “Okay lil lady. I wasn’t tryna start an argument.” He said.

  “And I’m not either,” Candy responded. She sat quiet for a moment as did he. “So if you’re telling me that she’s not pregnant then what happens from here with the two of you?”

  “We’re not together if that’s what you want to know.” He said.

  “It’s not what I want to know because it is what it is.” She said. “Don’t tell me after the fight and that little charade she put on at the hospital that y’all are not together? Who broke up with who?” She asked.

  Monty was quiet. He didn’t want to dig himself in a deeper hole. “The truth is that she thought it best to move on, but I was going to call it off anyway.” He tried recovering quickly. Candy laughed with sarcasm.

  “You mean to tell me that you had a woman already, but you let your sidekick break up with you? What’s wrong with that picture?”

  “Candy I don’t wanna do this?” He said.

  “And neither do I,” she responded. She thought about how MiKayla must’ve felt about Monty. She knew that MiKayla was in love with him because Monty made it very easy for a woman to fall for him. She knew this because she was one of them. “For the record, it’s not cool to just go around and lead women on, because in the end nobody wins. I’m heartbroken and I’m sure that she’s heartbroken too. And what are you, Monty? I mean seriously how do you feel?” She asked.

  Monty sat in silence as he thought about her question. “I’m heartbroken,” he said in low and sad tone. Candy shook her head. He damn near disgusted her at the moment.

  “Well you should be.” She whispered. How dare he say that he was heartbroken? If he knew what a broken heart was he would never want to cause that type of pain on anyone else; especially a person he was supposed to love. “I gotta go.” She said ending the call.

  Monty felt bad as hell. The words, you should be, hit him harder than he could have imagined. It’s almost like he heard a little hate in her voice for him. MiKayla not being pregnant didn’t even faze her, so technically it wouldn’t have mattered if she really was. He knew it was going to be hard to get over her, but somehow if she wasn’t going to cut him any slack then he was going to have to let go.

  **********

  He dialed MiKayla’s number. He didn’t want to use her to make himself feel better, but hearing her voice probably would cheer him up a little.

  MiKayla was sitting at her dining room table doing some work for three different clients. She had gotten behind a little and needed to get back on her grind. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Monty. She was undecided if she really wanted to talk with him at the moment, but before the phone could go to voicemail…

  “Hello,” she answered.

  “Hey MiKayla,” he said.

  “Hey Monty,” she responded. “What’s up?”

  “Not too much,” he said. “Were you busy?”

  “To be honest, I am busy. I’m working on three different ads. I’d gotten a little behind. You know being preoccupied and stuff.” She said.

  “Trust me, I know the feeling.” He said. “Do you want to add another client to your list?”

  “Sure, I could really use the extra cash.” She had plans of paying her own bills and didn’t need him to help her with anything. Even though she was capable of paying her own bills from the start, but having him take control and handling them was a turn-on.

  “Well my cousin Brendon is in town and he just bought a building over on Washington Road that he is opening up as a sports bar. He needs to have a few ads placed in the paper for hire and for advertising his business. I told him that you would be the perfect person to take care of him.”

  MiKayla smiled. Monty always had a way with her and she believed that he knew it. “Is that right?” She asked.

  “You know it’s right,” he said.

  “Do you think that I took care of you?” She asked.

  “Yes, you did take care of me.” He answered.

  “Well why didn’t you take care of me?” She questioned.

  “I don’t know. I tried, but things got complicated very quickly.” He said. “I’m sorry and I don’t wanna make this hard for you. I only called for my cousin. If you want I can just tell him to call you tomorrow or something. That way you won’t have to feel uncomfortable with me calling you.” He said.

  “I’m never uncomfortable when you call me.” She said. “I just hate the situation that I was put in and I take full responsibility for my part. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a grown ass woman and I could say no to anything that I don’t feel is beneficial for me. I don’t put all the blame on you, but so that you know; you really hurt me.” She sadly added.

  “I know, babe and I feel extra bad about it. I do.” He sincerely said.

  “I’m not gonna lie; a part of me wants to say that you should feel extra bad, but then a par
t of me says that you couldn’t do no more than I allowed you to do. So, I’ll own that.” She said clearing her throat. “Tell your cousin to call me tomorrow around two if he can. And for the record, I never mind you calling me.” She said. Monty smiled a little. “We’ll talk later,” she said and ended the call.

  Somehow she made him feel better. It was something about her grace and the unselfish way she pardoned him each time was appealing. He knew he had hurt her, but the difference between MiKayla and Candy was that MiKayla was quicker to forgive him for his fuck-ups. He didn’t know how long that would last, but that’s the way it was for now. He wasn’t even going to take advantage of the opportunity of getting back in there good with her. He just wanted to chill for a while until he could figure out his next move.

  He sighed because chilling out was really hard to do while Candy was still hot with him.

  **********

  Candy hadn’t moved from the same spot she was in when she spoke with Monty. MJ was sound asleep and she was full of thoughts. The phone call with Monty was hard for her because she still loved him very much. It did make her feel somewhat alright that MiKayla wasn’t pregnant, but the fact still remained that Monty slept with her unprotected and continued a drawn out affair with the chick. She couldn’t understand what he was thinking. The relationship with MiKayla was supposed had been over. The thing that was so frustrating was that she felt threatened by MiKayla because it was something about her that kept Monty going back.

  “Uurrrgh,” she said as if she was annoyed. Brendon could have kept her occupied if he wasn’t Monty’s cousin. He had all of her attention and she felt bad that now they would never have nothing together; not even a fling. He probably didn’t even want to think about her like that no more. He seemed like a genuine person in telling her what the deal was before Monty entered the room with them. So that within itself meant that he was a genuine person who really respected boundaries.

  Her thoughts reflected to hearing Brendon walk past Monty’s room while Monty was up on her. She wished she knew what he was thinking at the time. She had his number, but was not going to call him. Her pride was much too big to have a nigga tell her that he wouldn’t be able to fool with her because of the blood thicker than water bullshit. She felt like any chance they had of getting to know each other was gone down the drain. She rested her head back on the sofa.

  The front door opened. It was Dee. She walked into the entertainment room where Candy was sitting.

  “What’s up, Cuz?” She asked.

  “What it look like… Shit.” She responded.

  Dee laughed. “You’re one silly ass broad. You know that?”

  Candy mustered up a smile. “So how was the party after I left?”

  “I’m glad you asked trick.” Dee grinned. “Brendon who is Miss Cat’s nephew came home. Girl, that thang is fine as hell and looks good enough to be by my side.”

  Candy grinned because she knew the feeling. “Did he make any advances or moves on you?”

  “Nah, that’s just it. He didn’t even seem the least bit interested in ya girl and I know I’m the hot shit.” Candy laughed at her comment.

  “You’re one crazy lil shit too.” She responded. “Maybe he has a girlfriend or something.”

  “Well if he does then he must be in love with her, because the brother didn’t look my way twice.”

  Candy felt a little good inside because she knew that Dee was a hot catch so if a nigga didn’t pay any attention whatsoever to her then something was wrong.

  “I’ma have to see what he’s working with and why he’s acting that way.” She said. “I’ll be right back. I’m ‘bout to go change into something comfortable.” Dee looked over at MJ. “And he sleeps,” she said. Candy grinned as Dee headed down the hallway and into her room.

  I wonder what’s up with Brendon, Candy thought. I’m curious to know if he have a girlfriend in Texas and will she be moving with him once he gets settled. I mean what’s the story with this mystery man?

  She laid her head back and closed her eyes once again. Maybe I need a nap. Sleep some stress away. She figured just as her phone rang. She looked down at the caller ID and it read, Mysterious, the name she’d saved Brendon’s name in after he called her. Butterflies instantly rejoiced in her stomach. She held the phone in her hand. Should I answer it?

  “Hello,” she answered in the sweetest tone she could muster up.

  “Hey Boo,” he said. His voice did something to her. She felt hypnotized trying to figure out what to say next. She slowed her thoughts a bit to focus. She inhaled slowly to catch her breath and calm her heartbeats.

  “Hey you,” She calmly said.

  “I’m sitting at the bar inside my new spot and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

  Candy blushed. “Is that right?” She asked. He could tell by the way she was talking that she didn’t mind him calling, but he wanted to make sure.

  “You don’t mind me calling do you?” He asked.

  “We’re still talking aren’t we?” She said with a smile.

  He grinned. “You’re a feisty lil some. You know that?”

  “I’ve been told that a time or two.” She said. Her voice was tantalizing and he was enjoying every minute of it.

  “I can’t lie, I hate that you and my cousin are deep.” He said.

  “Yeah, seeing you over to Miss Cat’s house really threw me for a moment. I didn’t know what to think.”

  “I didn’t either. I know we were a little reserved about our identities, but I promise you that I just didn’t put you and Cuz together like that. It makes sense now that I know, because I know my cousin and his taste in women.”

  “Oh yeah,” Candy responded.

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “So how did you figure out that it was me?” She asked.

  “I was talking to Cuz about his son. You know, y’all son.” He grinned. “I was telling him that lil man was a handsome lil fella. Lil cuz started laughing and the dimples set it off.”

  Candy laughed. “Yes,” she grinned. “That’s the only thing he got from me, I believe.” They laughed.

  “Anyway, I started asking a few simple questions just to see and when he said that I’d just missed you last night at Rico’s; I knew then for sure.”

  “Oh okay,” she said. “I see.”

  “I was trying to call you as soon as he left the room but the doorbell rang and it was you. I didn’t want the moment that we were all around each other to feel awkward as it was earlier.”

  “I know right,” she responded.

  “I wish we would have known off top then our bumping into each other wouldn’t have been so alluring.” She knew exactly what he was talking about because the alluring feeling was present each time she saw him.

  “Now that we know, what do we do?” Candy asked.

  Brendon was silent for a moment. “I’m just gonna keep it real with you. I like you, but I know that we can’t go there. However, I would love to get to know you as a person.” I need this, he thought.

  Candy didn’t respond right away, because she was unsure of how things would be with them getting to know each other.

  “How would you suppose we do that? I can’t just be talking with you like that. Monty don’t mind us getting to know each other I’m sure, but he and I aren’t gonna be talking like that no time soon. Plus, if we’re sneaking around and we get caught then they’ll think that we were messing around all along.”

  Her mind was running a thousand miles per hour because she wanted to get to know him too, but she didn’t want to get caught up in no shit over it.

  “What if we don’t caught?” Brendon asked.

  “Huh?” Candy asked.

  “I mean, we can still see other without people knowing. I know it sounds cliché but I just want to get to know you with no strings attached. You seem like a person I truly can talk with and I’m sure with the things that’s been going on you need a confidant too.” He said.

  She t
hought for a minute. I need this.

  “So what do you say?” He asked. “No strings attached,” he assured her.

  “I say why not.” She said. Brendon smiled. She had made his day. And even if she didn’t buy the whole no strings attached he meant every word of it.