Two's Enough Three's a Crowd

by Brenda Hampton

  “Sure.” She covered herself with a towel and went back into the bedroom, where she lay across the bed and turned on the TV.

  When I got out of the tub I flaunted my big dick in front of her. I walked into the closet and pretended to look for something. I stood right in the doorway and dried my body with a towel, then grabbed the St. Louis American newspaper off the nightstand and pimped out the door. I lit up a Black and Mild, and after I closed the door to the bonus room, I laid my naked body on the floor with my feet propped up on my leather sofa. I opened the newspaper and started to read.

  Scorpio came in and locked the door behind her. She took the newspaper from my hand, straddled my chest, and then squatted down on it. I got a glimpse of her good stuff, as every bit of it stared me in the face.

  She rubbed her clitoris and allowed her fingers to find a way inside of her. As her juices flowed, she placed her fingers on my lips because she knew that was definitely how to turn me on. I sucked her fingers into my mouth and continued to lay there and watch. Her attempt was to fuck with my mind, and just for the hell of it, I took my fingers and teased her walls. But when she turned around and put her ass in my face, how could I resist?

  I took a few puffs from the Black and Mild, and then blew the smoke out of my mouth. I scooted her down on my face so I could lick her at the right angle. I tore her insides up, but when I thought about my weakness—and my love for Nokea—I stopped the action. I moved her over to the side and stood up.

  “Jaylin, why... why did you stop? Don’t you want to fuck me?” she said, kneeling down in front of me.

  I rubbed my hand on her cheek. “Baby, sex doesn’t solve everything. I’m not saying that I don’t want to have sex with you. All I’m saying is it’s not going to keep us together forever. I find it funny how easily you can make me love your pussy. Question is, can you make me love you? For that is the only thing that counts.” I picked up my paper, grabbed my Black and Mild, and went to sleep in one of the guest rooms.

  Scorpio didn’t bother me for the rest of the night. I actually got up in the middle of the night to make sure she hadn’t left with Mackenzie. When I saw both of them still there, I went back into the guest room and went to sleep.

  Mackenzie and I rushed to get her to ballet class on time. I bought her pink shoes instead of purple, and she made a big deal about it. We had to stop by the store to exchange them before we went to ballet class. I made it perfectly clear to her there would be no more complaining from her. And even though she cried again, I felt good about standing my ground for the first time.

  After seeing her twirl around the floor, I couldn’t do nothing but smile. I stood and watched as she took charge and learned everything that the instructors taught her. I was proud of my baby girl, and I didn’t care what anybody said.

  Before going home, we stopped at McDonald’s on Olive Street Road. Mackenzie took about ten minutes deciding what she wanted, only to play with the toy that was inside of the Happy Meal. She didn’t eat a thing. When I tried to make her eat it, she did her normal routine and pouted. I reminded her about our conversation earlier, and when I told her I would give her hamburger to Barbie, she ate it.

  I was surprised to see Scorpio’s car still in the driveway when we got home. Usually, on Saturday mornings, she’d find somewhere to go, like to the gym or to Chesterfield Mall or Saks Fifth Avenue to spend my damn money. But I guess that since I’d gotten a little tight with the money, she had fewer options.

  She must have heard us pull up because she came outside and asked how Mackenzie’s ballet class went. I felt like if she really wanted to know, she would have gotten her ass out of bed and gone with us. But what the hell? I couldn’t make Scorpio do what she was supposed to do, and I wasn’t trying to kick up an argument with her today.

  I went into my office to turn on my computer. My intentions were to catch up on some work before Stephon came over, so I closed the door so I wouldn’t be interrupted. No sooner had I taken off my jacket than I saw him pull in the driveway. He was outside talking to Scorpio—probably trying to coax her ass in the bedroom too. I did promise him a while back that as soon as I was finished with her, he could have her. Again, it didn’t matter to me either way.

  They were outside for a while, so I pulled my curtain to the side to see what was taking them so long. Scorpio held a baby’s car seat in her hand, and Mackenzie jumped up and tried to look at the baby.

  I guess Nokea finally had it. I was nervous about seeing the baby. My palms had already started to sweat. Stephon, of course, couldn’t wait to bring it over here and throw it in my face.

  I heard them coming through the front door, so I rushed to my desk and pretended to be occupied. Scorpio peeked in and told me Stephon was here to see me. When I told her to let him in, he walked into my office with the baby in his arms. I lowered my head and rubbed my goatee. Couldn’t even get up enough nerve to look at the baby. Frankly, I didn’t know how to respond.

  Stephon cleared his throat and got comfortable in a chair. “Say...say, man, I know I’m a little bit early, but I figured you and Mackenzie was probably back from her ballet class.”

  I looked up. “I see you got yourself a son there, huh? Can’t help but notice all the blue and white he got on.”

  “Yeah, I got myself a son.”

  “How’s Nokea? I didn’t think she was due so soon. I just saw her on my birthday and she didn’t mention anything about her delivery date being so soon.” I knew Stephon had no idea we’d seen each other on my birthday.

  “So, you saw her last week? What did she say?”

  “Nothing much. She just wished me well and we talked, that’s all.”

  “Aw, okay. But, uh, she’s doing pretty good. She hasn’t been getting much sleep because of the baby, but her parents and me been trying to help out.”

  “So, I take it you had a night off last night since you were at your place with Felicia.”

  “Aw . . . yeah, that. Well, ah, Felicia and me, we cool. But I didn’t come here to talk to you about her. We’ve shared plenty of women in the past—eight of them, to be exact—and we never made it a big issue, so I don’t want to do it now.”

  “I’m with that. And actually, it was nine, to be exact. I counted them myself just last night.”

  “Well, nine then. I’m just glad we don’t have a problem keeping it in the family.”

  “Naw, no problem. But there was one exception. One I sure regret not keeping to myself, and one that I told you was off limits,” I said bluntly.

  “I know, Jay, but things happen. I couldn’t control my feelings for her, and I really thought you had moved on with Scorpio. So, what I’m about to tell you, I want you to listen and listen good. If you get upset with me, just know I didn’t come here to fight with you again. I think it’s time this came out in the open so we both can get on with our lives.”

  My voice rose. “That’s all I’m trying to do. But every day, it’s something new. I don’t know how much of this back-stabbing, playa-hating bullshit I can take.”

  “It ain’t even like that, Jay. Just...just let me start from the beginning. As you know, when we were growing up, I always liked Nokea. You never paid her any attention, and I think that’s why she liked you so much. When y’all started dating, I was really disappointed. And then when you kept fucking around on her, seeing all these other different women, Jay, it bothered me. All I wanted to do was see her happy. Year after year, same ole shit.

  “And each time y’all got into it, she came to me for comfort. This past year was the first time she ever said it was over between y’all, and I truly felt it was time for her to move on.”

  Stephon moved around in the chair and tried to get more comfortable. He could see the daggers in my eyes ready to do damage. “So, anyway, I stepped up,” he said. “I tried to show Nokea what a good man could really be like. But she still wouldn’t love me like she loved you. No matter how hard I tried. So, a part of me felt like if I saw other women, maybe her fe
elings would change. Maybe she did want a bad boy in her life.

  “She doesn’t really know about the other women in my life, but I think she suspects something. And just that small suspicion is bringing her closer to me. Making her want to be with me more and more. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. She seems to like me more because she thinks I’m a challenge for her now.”

  Stephon took a deep breath and looked at the floor. “When I told you I made love to her a few weeks after you did, I lied. When I told you we’d had sex before my mother’s funeral, I lied about that too. I lied to you because I wanted this baby to be mine. I wanted Nokea to be happy and I wanted him to be raised by me. I know it was wrong, my brotha, but I felt like at the time, it was the best thing to do.”

  He stood up and carried the baby over to me. He took him off his shoulder and laid him in my arms. “This is your baby, Jay. I took it upon myself to name him Jaylin because he looks just like you.”

  Since I’d obviously been lied to so much, I hesitated before accepting the baby in my arms. Stephon laid him in my arms and pulled the blankets back so I could get a good look at him. My eyes searched his head full of curly black hair and the shape of his eyebrows. Stephon rubbed his cheeks, and as he squirmed around a bit, his eyes started to open. When they did, I could see myself written all over this baby. Wasn’t no denying him. My baby picture was almost identical.

  I looked at Stephon as a tear rolled down my face. I hadn’t cried in a while, but having my son in my arms just did something to me.

  “Did anybody ever think about what I wanted? This could have changed things for me a long time ago. Why in the hell would you and Nokea lie to me about something like this? Maybe I didn’t have my head on straight, but... but this is something we could have worked through together. You all I got, man, and I thought our bond was much stronger than that.”

  “It is. That’s why I couldn’t go another day without telling you. It’s been killing me not being able to, but I did what I thought was best.”

  “So, when was he born? She had to have just had him.”

  “He’s a week old today. She had him on your birthday. I guess after seeing you last week, it was too much for her.”

  I smiled and thought about my conversation with Nokea at the restaurant. God surely had a way of making a way out of no way. As stubborn as I’d been, I didn’t know why he was looking out for me. “On my birthday, huh? She had him on my motherfucking birthday?”

  Stephon nodded.

  “So, now what, Stephon? You seem to be the man with all the answers. Where do we go from here?”

  The grin on his face vanished and he walked back over to the chair to take a seat. “I’ve asked Nokea to marry me. She accepted, and in less than six months, we’re going to be married. I don’t want to keep you from seeing your son, but I want to be a part of his life too. He will definitely know who his father is, and I will never do anything to keep him from you.”

  I could have damn near died. I shook my head and even had to chuckle a bit from the bullshit I’d just heard. “So, now you’re going to marry her? Just like that. Walk her down the aisle knowing damn well that she still loves me. Man, that’s crazy. How can you be with a woman knowing how she truly feels? Don’t make any sense, and neither does your plans for my baby.”

  “Well, it makes sense to Nokea and me. She’s different, cuz. Ever since she’s had the baby. She wants a family. She wants to set the same good example her parents set for her. And personally, I think she is starting to love me. I didn’t expect you to be happy for us, but this is what we want, and nobody is going to stop us.

  “I would like for you to get on board and be my best man. I really wouldn’t have it no other way.”

  I stood up and put the baby on my shoulder. Did the best I could, anyway, because I really didn’t know how to hold him. “You have got to be out of your fucking mind,” I said, not knowing any other way to put it.

  I looked out the window to see where Scorpio and Mackenzie were. They were outside washing the cars, so I turned my attention back to Stephon. “You expect me to stand there and watch you marry the woman I love? Man, please. I don’t even want to talk about this shit anymore. My mind is going a mile a minute.”

  “Jay, man, don’t be like that. We can put this behind us. You can accept this situation for what it is and move on with Scorpio and Mackenzie. Please, man; be there for me. You don’t have to give me an answer today, but think about it.”

  He picked up the baby’s car seat. “We gotta go. I told Nokea I was taking him to the barbershop to brag on him, and she’s going to be looking for us, so I’d better go. I didn’t tell her I was coming by here, so if you could keep this quiet until you decide what to do, I’d appreciate it.”

  I looked at the baby and kissed his forehead. My mind was so messed up, I didn’t know which way to turn. I gave him to Stephon and watched him lay the baby in the seat. This motherfucker had my son and my woman, and it was actually the first time in my life I felt as if I’d lost control.

  He slammed his hand against mine, and before heading to the door, he turned. “Just think about being my best man. Call me when you’ve made up your mind.”

  “I already gave you my answer, Stephon. Ain’t much to think about. But you can do me a favor and tell Nokea to call me. I want to talk to her and make sure this is what she wants to do.”

  “No problem. Will do. I’ll ask her to call you later.” He shrugged and left.

  I figured Stephon wasn’t going to tell Nokea nothing. I looked out of the window and watched him put my baby in the car.

  I couldn’t blame anyone but myself for fucking Nokea over like I did. I never thought my mistakes would cost me a son and the only woman I’d ever loved. But no question about it, what goes around definitely comes around, and I was starting to feel the effects of every bit of it.

  I sat in my office all day long with the door locked. Scorpio hollered in and told me she and Mackenzie would be at her sister’s house. I guess she figured I needed time to myself since I’d refused to come out of my office when she asked me to.

  It had gotten late, and I was still in my office. I didn’t turn on any lights, just lay on the couch, sleepy as ever, and thought about my child. During my dreams, I called on Mama and she encouraged me to go get my son. She said she was finally proud of me for realizing the mistakes I’d made. Claimed it was not always about me, even though I wanted it to be, and yelled at me for not respecting her wishes by being with Nokea. When I tried to touch her again, I woke up. It was another dream, but it seemed so damn real.

  I wiped my face with my hand and the tears just kept on coming. No one was there to stop my pain. No one was there to hug me, and right about now I needed that more than anything in the world.

  As I soaked in misery, there was a light knock at the door. “Daddy, are you in there?” Mackenzie whispered. “Come out. You haven’t played with me all day.”

  I chuckled and felt a sudden sense of relief. I went to the door, and then locked it after Mackenzie came in. We remained in the dark because I definitely didn’t want Mackenzie to see I’d been crying.

  “Daddy, why are you in the dark?” she whispered as she hopped up on the couch and turned on the lamp next to it.

  “Because, Mackenzie, I’m thinking.” I held my head down.

  She got off the couch and stood in front of me. Then she lifted my head like I did hers when she felt down.

  “Have you been crying?” she asked. “It looks like you’ve been crying.” She wiped her hands on my face. “Don’t cry. I’ll take care of you.”

  I held Mackenzie tight and we rocked back and forth together.

  “I love you, Mackenzie. I really and truly do love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy. But I’m hungry. Would you make me some of those pancakes you made me last week?”

  “Pancakes at this time of the night?” She nodded. “Sure, baby. You can have anything you want.”

 
; I led her into the kitchen. Scorpio came in and sat on one of the stools. Mackenzie didn’t waste no time telling her I’d been crying, and she looked at me with sympathy in her eyes.

  “I know that was your baby Stephon had today. I want you to know that I will be here for you if you need me. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll back you all the way. Even if that means you want me to move out. I talked to my sister about moving back in with her, and she said it would be okay—”

  “Scorpio, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I haven’t asked you to move anywhere, so don’t go making plans to move out just yet, all right? Besides, I need you right now. Need you more than I ever have before. You and Mackenzie both.”

  Scorpio gave me a hug and placed her lips on my ear. “I love you,” she whispered. “More than you will ever know.”

  34

  FELICIA

  Stephon and I were having sex every chance we got. He crept into my place and I crept into his. But when he told me he had proposed to Nokea, I was devastated. It didn’t stop him from putting it on me, so I tried hard to get him to change his mind. But no matter how hard I worked him, he stood his ground. I thought about calling Miss Homebody and telling her the news about her so-called fiancé, but knowing her, she’d probably try to kill her damn self. I didn’t want to be responsible for nobody taking their life over a man who wasn’t worth it.

  Nokea was a fool, though, a prime example of every stupid woman who puts all her trust in one damn man. I knew better. And even though I had kicked Paul and Damion aside for Stephon, the door was always open so they could come back. I made sure of that, because I kept our conversations going, the dinners going—and even the money. Anything I needed, they gave, even though I’d cut off all the sex.

  Wasn’t no need for me to be screwing three men when Stephon tore it up like he did. He was definitely better than Jaylin. Besides, who better to replace him with than his own cousin?

  When Stephon and I got together, we were like two dogs in heat. He couldn’t stay away from me for two days, so I didn’t know how he thought this marriage thing would work itself out. If it did, he knew damn well that as soon as the honeymoon was over, he’d climb right back into my bed. When I brought that to his attention, he laughed. Laughed because he knew I wasn’t lying. He knew Nokea couldn’t satisfy his physical needs like I could. So, I knew for sure, if I wasn’t a pain in her side now, I’d sure as hell be one in the future. The Jaylin drama was over for us, but her husband drama had just begun.