by Tiece
“If you don’t mind me asking; who was your previous point of contact when opportunities came your way?”
“Barry Davidson,” she said.
“Of Davidson Reality?”
“Yes, the grandson of course.”
“Of course,” Monty said.
“Long story short, we’re not seeing each other anymore and things have become complicated when working with him.”
“Ah, I see.” Monty said. “Well, I’d be happy to take on the position. I could potentially learn some important things from you.”
“Yes, you could. Plus, anything that Monica taught you I can teach you better.” She said.
Monty grinned. “Monica,” he paused with uncertain thoughts. “Wow, where did that name come from?”
“I always find out as much as I can about a person before I allow them in my space. Don’t take offense to that. I just like to know who I’m working with.” She confessed.
“So exactly how much do you know about me?” Monty asked.
“I know enough to know that you and Monica were once seeing each other and not long after that you owned a piece of property that she once owned.” She sipped from her drink.
“Okay so Monica helped me get my start in the business. Is that a crime?” He asked.
“No it’s not. I just like the way you did your own thing without her even being in your life anymore.” She said. “Look, I don’t want this to turn into something about Monica, because it’s not. I just wanted you to know that I’m always aware of who’s in my circle, nothing more or less. We’re out this evening because I wanted to celebrate the success of our first business transaction together and make sure that you were on board for future opportunities.”
“Of course I’m on board,” he said. They tapped their glasses together as Susan smiled, but Monty was no fool. He didn’t know what Susan was up too, but just the mention of Monica’s name said far too much. He smiled back because if it was a game she wanted to play then she’d definitely come to the right man. There was nothing that excited him more.
**********
Rico walked Mona into the house. She was still buzzed and slurred from the alcohol she’d consumed earlier. He attempted to follow her down the hallway and into their bedroom, but she immediately turned and started kissing him aggressively. The kissing definitely turned him on, but he knew that she was drunk and he didn’t want their long awaited moment to happen in this way. She would even be mad at herself afterwards knowing that he allowed it to happen.
She reached inside his pants, but he quickly removed her hands.
“What’s wrong baby? Don’t you want me?” She asked.
“I do baby. More than you know, but not like this.” He said. He didn’t wanna push her off of him, but the thought of fucking Karen a couple of hours ago had him spooked. “Baby, I need to help you get in the shower. You just need to lie down and relax a little afterwards.”
“Relax a little? Baby, Caylin isn’t here tonight and we can have as much fun as we want.”
“Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of. Too much fun can result in us having another little one if we aren’t careful.” He explained while pushing her gently toward the bathroom. Monica sat on the side of the tub as she watched Rico run her shower water. “Do you need any help getting out of your clothes?”
“No,” Mona pouted. “Why help me get out of my clothes if you don’t wanna touch me like that.”
“Baby please, you know it’s not like that.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah; I sure as hell can’t tell.” She commented pulling her shirt over her head.
“I’ll be in the den if you need me. Trust me; you’ll thank me in the morning.” Rico said. He walked out of the bathroom leaving Mona as she undressed. His thoughts reflected on Monica. He just wanted to make sure that she and Aiden were safe and was close to their destination. Surprisingly, she hadn’t called, but he was going to call her.
As he stood in the den, he listened down the hallway to make sure that the shower was still running. He knew that calling Monica from the house was risky, but he had to know if they were alright. He quickly dialed her number.
“Hello,” she answered.
“You can’t call nobody?” Rico asked.
“What are you talkin’ ‘bout?” Monica asked. “I haven’t made it to the beach house yet.”
“You could at least call so that I’ll know you’re okay while you’re on the road.”
“Oh you’re concerned about me?” Monica asked.
“More like being concerned about Aiden.” He teased. “Oh and you too since you’re his mother and the one driving.”
Monica blushed. “So now you care?” She grinned.
“Just a little bit,” he said.
“Okay well I gotta go so I can concentrate on making it to my destination.” She said.
“Yeah please be careful with my lil man. And make sure you call me when you make it to the beach house. I don’t know what I’ll do if something happened to y’all.”
“I will,” she said thinking that his words were touching, to say the least. “One day you’ll admit how much you really like me.”
“Don’t hold your breath Monica.” He teased.
“Whatever,” she grinned, ending their call. Rico smiled for some reason. It was moments like that when he’d let her have her way. He thought about Mona who was in the shower. He had to think of something quickly or her horny ass was going to get out and expect him to make love to her. Regardless of how it may have seemed; it was nothing more in the world that he’d rather be doing with her. The only problem was that his conscience was getting the best of him and he didn’t need to feel worse knowing that he’d just slept with another only to turn around and make love to her.
He glanced down at the screen of his phone and the beautiful sight of Caylin’s picture made him feel like he was the lowest scum on the earth. How could he betray her mom in such a way and ask her to marry him knowing that he was still a liar and a cheat? His head was spinning with thoughts about how awful a person he was and at that moment he knew he felt the urgent need to leave the house. A breath of fresh air would do him wonders. He rushed down the hallway trying to catch Mona before she came out of the bathroom. He stuck his head around the corner of the door listening to her softly sing in the shower.
“Hey babe, I’ll be right back. I’m going to the store for some beer.”
“Beer?” She asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be right back.” He said and before she could say anything else he quickly left in hopes that when he returned she’d be sleep or at least half way there.
“Okay,” she said. “Oh babe, Bring me back a BC powder.” Rico didn’t respond because he’d already left the room and when she turned off the shower she could hear his music thumping as he left the house. Mona stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel around her wet body. She dried off and slid her robe on. Her steps were still a little off balance as she made her way to the bed. She picked up the phone thinking that she should call Rico, but called Candy instead.
“Hello,” Candy quickly answered.
“Hey Sis, I just called… Uh why did I call you?” She questioned herself.
“I don’t know Mo.” Candy grinned. “Maybe it’s because you’re fucked up.”
“Yeah maybe,” she responded. “Oh yeah, there won’t be anything to tell tomorrow because I’m fucked up.”
Candy burst out laughing. “Didn’t I just say that?”
“Hush Candy girl,” she teased. “I’m going to bed now.”
“Where is Rico?” Candy questioned.
“Oh yeah that’s who I supposed to be calling. I need a BC powder. I can already tell that I’m gonna have a hangover if I don’t take one.”
“That would be the best thing for you to do.” Candy said. She heard a light knock on her back door. “Okay well call Rico. I gotta go.”
“Why are you rushing me off the phone?” Mona inquired.
“Bye
lil gul,” Candy said and ended their call.
“Heifa,” Mona said after she realized that Candy was gone. “Now what was I about to do? Oh yeah, call my boo,” she said as she dialed Rico’s number.
**********
Candy opened the back door and an immediate smile came across her face as Brendon stood there.
“What’s up Sexy?” He asked. Candy had to maintain her composure because she wanted nothing more in the world at that moment than to jump his bones. Standing there with his perfectly fitted black Levi’s, dark gray fitted Rocawear hoodie, and New York logo dark gray fitted cap did something to her. She quickly invited him.
“You took long enough.” She said as Brendon followed her inside the house.
“That’s funny, I could remember coming straight over.” He teased making Candy grin.
“Have a seat,” she said. Brendon sat down on the sectional in the entertainment room. Candy sat beside him. “Oh my bad, did you want something to drink?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He said.
“Okay, don’t say I didn’t offer you anything.”
“I was hoping that maybe you would have offered me something else.” He commented. Candy knew that they enjoyed teasing each other, but a part of her knew that he was dead serious when he said that.
“And if I did would you have said nah, I’m good.”
“That would depend on what you were offering.” He said with a smile.
“Stop it before I get you in trouble.” She quickly said.
“I told you about that word trouble.” Candy laughed at his comment. It was his charm that drove her crazy, but reminded her so much of why she was so in love Monty all of those years.
“You are a trip, but I like you. I like that we’re cool like this.” She admitted.
“Me too,” he agreed. “Be honest, why’d you call me to come over here?”
“Honestly, I called Monty first.” Brendon frowned. “You see, I got this itch that I knew he could unquestionably scratch. If you catch my drift,” she said.
“Drift caught,” Brendon responded. “What happened? Why am I here instead of him?”
“Truth be told, he was already in the presence of another woman when I called.”
“I see.” Brendon said.
“Typical Monty, he’ll never change.” Brendon didn’t comment to that. He was already wrong for being there and nothing she could say would even tempt him to bash his cousin. He knew he wasn’t a saint, but never was he a hater.
“Tell me,” she said. “Have you ever truly been in love with someone?”
“Well,” He paused. The pause was so long that she jumped in to clear up the awkward silence that filled the room.
“I take that as a NO.” She shook her head. “Being that you’re kin to Monty and my goodness y’all are so much alike that shouldn’t surprise me.”
“I have been in love before,” he confessed.
“Really,” Candy questioned with a staggered stare. “Let me guess. It’s that Trina chick right?”
“Nah,” he said.
“Then who was it and what happened? I bet she ended up leaving you didn’t she?”
“Yeah, you can say that.” He confirmed.
“What, she caught you cheating? Oh betta yet, she found out that you had a baby on the way? Nah… I know, she-”
“She died.” He said abruptly. Candy was shocked. She didn’t expect to hear that.
“Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. It’s been three years now and even though she crosses my mind from time to time, I understand that life goes on.”
“Damn, I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Well I don’t like talking about it.” Brendon said.
“Trust me, I know the feeling.” Candy whispered then cleared her throat. All she wanted at that moment was to change the subject. “So, how long had you and Trina been together?”
“We were together for two years technically, but the truth is that she was a side chick before Raven died.” He said.
“I see,” Candy commented as she thought back to why he named the club Raven’s Hot Spot.
“When Raven died Trina kinda filled in the empty spaces in my heart and if it wasn’t for her I would probably be dead myself or in jail.”
“Do you mind me asking what happened to her? Raven, that is?”
“Mistaken identity,” he paused. “She was shot by a wanna-be thug who mistaken her for someone else.”
“Damn, that’s sad.” Candy said.
“So don’t think I don’t know how it feels to be in love with someone and lose them.”
“You got me.” Candy confessed.
“I wish,” Brendon commented. She shyly looked at him. “You have some beautiful eyes.” He said.
“Thanks,” she responded. “Can I tell you something?” She asked.
“What’s holding you back? Nothing has stopped you before now.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know if I should tell you this.” She said.
“No pressure here.” Brendon stated.
“Okay,” she said as if he twisted her arm. “I wanted to call you first, but I knew it was safer to call Monty instead.”
Brendon nodded. “Is that right?”
“Yeah,” she answered.
“So what you’re saying is that you actually wanted me to scratch that itch first?” He blushingly grinned.
“Something like that,” she hesitantly stated.
“What’s stopping you now that I’m here?” Candy was speechless for a change as her heart raced from the possibilities of what could happen next.
Without saying a word, Candy leaned in for a kiss. Sparks went up immediately. The kiss was definitely one that she’d always remember. It touched her in ways she couldn’t explain. All at once their eyes opened and they stared at each other, lips locked. The intimate gaze told her a lot about him, something good. At that moment she was totally relaxed and in closing her eyes back, she kissed him for as long as she could.
Chapter 16
Rico sat on the side of the bed watching Mona peacefully sleep. It seemed like an hour since he’d been staring at her and thinking. She hadn’t even come out of her robe she was so sleepy. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. He was tired himself from such a long day of being focused on everything but the right thing.
“I gotta get it together,” he whispered. He gently rubbed his fingers through Mona’s hair. She turned a bit but didn’t awake. He got up and walked into the bathroom, turning on the bath water. A much needed hot shower was calling his name. He undressed and didn’t waste any time stepping under the humid drizzle from the showerhead. The beads of water ran down his head to his spine relaxing him a bit, but it definitely didn’t make him feel better inside.
After taking a long shower Rico stepped out and dried himself off. He walked into the bedroom opening up his drawer, grabbing a pair of boxers and slipping them on. He felt bad about the night’s events but knew that he had to get it together. Fucking other women wasn’t the solution to his problem. Keeping his dick in his pants probably was though.
He lay back on the bed resting his head on the pillow. For some reason he was extremely exhausted. The time on the TV displayed that it was just 10:30pm. Normally, he’d be up till the wee hours of the morning researching potential investments. He flipped through the channels. Nothing caught his attention like the rapid thoughts rambling in his head.
I don’t wanna lose everything that I’ve come so close to getting, was the last thoughts on his mind before he drifted off into dreamland.
Mona awakened instantly out of her sleep. She felt over in the bed thinking that Caylin was there. She frowned then thought about it for a moment. Caylin was with her mama she remembered. She could feel a headache coming on, but she was asleep before Rico made it back with her BC powder.
“Damn, I feel out of it.” She said looking over at the alarm clock. “No wonder I’m woke. I’d be feeding Cay
lin right about now.” She stood up realizing that she was lying on top of the cover and still in her bath robe.
Strange, she thought. What was even stranger was seeing that Rico was already in bed and apparently knocked out so early. He was never in bed before two in the morning.
“My baby must be tired.” She said opening a drawer and pulling out a short gown. She noticed a nagging headache lurking as she put the nighty on. She wanted to wake up Rico and ask him if he brought the BC’s for her, but he was resting so peacefully that she decided not to bother him.
