Lust and Lies (The Jamie Reynolds Chronicles #1)

by Casandra Charles

  “How is your mother doing, anyway?”

  “She’s good.”

  “Tell her I said hi,” I said with the biggest grin on my face. “Alright, David. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Alright, JR. Talk to you later.” He hung up the phone

  I couldn’t help but smile as I closed my cell phone. Damn, I couldn’t wait to see David. David was just a good friend and I enjoyed his company. We talked about a lot of stuff. Yes, we flirted a little, but been there, done that, and I think we understood we were just not able to take it to the next step because of our differences.

  I felt bad because David was very stable. He graduated from college, he had a thriving career, he was working on getting a home, and he drove a very nice car. I wasn’t big on cars and flashy things like that, but David had a pretty good balance and we made the best couple (fashion wise). If I didn’t know better, I would say he was gay because he cared so much about fashion. We would coordinate our outfits when we went out, and went shopping together. I felt I had to step up my style when I was around him because when we stepped out, everyone took notice. It was kind of cool and I missed that because Toni was so relaxed and never dressed up for anything. His body shape was built like a retired football player, so he was short and stocky, and he had a hard time finding clothes to fit him right and would never alter anything to fit him (which I hated). He thought it was a waste of money to alter clothes, which didn’t make sense because I had to alter almost everything I bought because of my shape and my height.

  Toni didn’t have the best job, but it was better than nothing. He was working at another call center for a very large credit card company. His pay was pretty good and he was making more than what he made in Atlanta. I thought this was a step in the right direction, but after one week at this job, Toni finally said he hated it. He said he might quit because he was working with idiots. I didn’t know what to say, but I told him to hang in there until he found something else. He agreed and I told him I was leaving for Atlanta in a few days and we could talk when I got back.

  ***

  Toni dropped me off at the airport and we said our good-byes, and I was very excited to get on the plane because I was still very confused on what was going on with Toni and my relationship. It had been almost two months and the only thing we agreed on was our lovemaking after we got into it, when he often apologized during sex for doing something stupid. I was hanging in there because, again, I thought he got fired because of me, so I was open to making this work and trying to stay positive.

  I exited the car at the airport and Toni grabbed my hand and promised when I got back everything would be clear. I was lost and asked what he meant by that.

  “Just trust me, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I understand what I need to do and I’m doing it all for you,” he said.

  “Wait, what does that mean?” I kept asking.

  He just said it would all make sense when I got back, that I would be pleased.

  My mind was all over the place as I exited the car, but I felt he might be expecting a better job offer or something, setting us up for success since I didn’t have another gig lined up when I returned. With very little savings, I trusted he would figure something out since we needed a boost in our finances. I was out of savings and his first two checks went to playing catch-up with his car note, cell phone and other bills. He did pay the cable, Internet and home phone bill, which was around $100 a month, and the gas bill which was around $50 a month, but I still paid the mortgage and the electricity, which was still over $1300 a month plus my own personal bills.

  Dinner and Talking…

  I texted David before I picked up the rent-a-car to make sure we were still on for tonight.

  “Hey, my plane just landed. We still on for tonight?” I texted, knowing the answer already.

  “Hey, nig. Of course we still on. You renting a rent-a-car, or do you want me to pick you up?”

  As tempting as his offer was, I knew better, so I already had my rent-a-car reserved.

  “No, I’m good, picking up the rent-a-car now.”

  “Okay, you picking up the Benz or the BMW?” David jokingly said.

  “You stupid, I’m getting a regular car.”

  “A’right, you can meet me at my house. Then we can take my car. I know how you hate to feel trapped. We have reservations at eight. Then we will head over to Leopard Lounge and have drinks and stuff. Cool???”

  “Cool, well, I just got the rent-a-car. I still have to go to Ang’s house then get dressed and it’s already 5. I’m going to apologize now if I’m a little late.” I usually don’t like having a full conversation via text and David knew this, but after six months of texting Toni, I totally got used to it and became a very fast texter.

  “No, no, no. You better not be late. I can’t wait to see you. My mind is set to see you around 7–7:30. I will lose it if you come any later than that.”

  “You are so full of shit. I’ll see what I can do. However, this cute guy keeps texting me and he won’t let me go.”

  “You’re damn right I’m not going to let you go. I made that mistake once already.”

  Why did David have to go and text that? He makes hanging out with him so awkward sometimes. I clearly didn’t know what to say after that text and I guess neither did he, since there was a moment when no one texted.

  “Alright, man, see you soon.”

  “K.” Thank goodness he said holla because what was I supposed to say after a statement like that.

  On the twenty-minute drive to Angela’s house, my mind started wandering on the good and bad times me and David had.

  How could I forget those last two years had had their ups and downs? We were never officially ever together, but we did things like a couple: date night, celebrations, holidays; I even had dinner a few times with his mother and son. I think everyone wished it would work out between David and me, even David and me, but it just wasn’t right. We both occasionally dated other people without saying it, as we often took small breaks for a few months and we both knew why. He might have found someone new or vice versa, and we never asked about it, we would just check in on one another after a few months and pick up right where we left off. I felt my move to New Jersey threw off this rotation and maybe was why we missed each other so much.

  If I had my ideal guy, David would be it. He had everything I was looking for, besides the kid and the baby-mama drama. I didn’t mind the kid after a while, but David wanted more kids and I never did. He liked my hustle at times, but I think in the end he wanted a stay-at-home wife who took care of the house and the kids, and that just wasn’t me. I wanted to travel the world with the man I loved, with no kids. He always asked would I change my mind for the right man, and he may have been that right man, but I wasn’t ready to admit my life plans would change for him. I liked what we had, but did he like what we had?

  You Want to Talk About It…

  “Hey, babe. I’m here and just got my rent-a-car. I’m heading to Angela’s apartment now and then we have plans for dinner and drinks. So I can’t really stay long.” I felt bad lying, but I had to get off the phone before I made it to Ang’s apartment so I had time to chat and then get dressed for dinner.

  “How was your flight?” Toni asked before allowing me to get off the phone.

  “Oh, it was great. I slept most of the way.”

  “I never know how you can sleep on a flight,” he said.

  “I can also sleep on trains and cars, maybe it’s the motion, but I sometimes get the best sleep on a plane, train or car,” I said jokingly but was actually being serious.

  “Anyway, drive safe. Are you meeting up with Jonathan while you’re in town?”

  “I don’t have plans, but I’ll hit him up to say hello and see what’s up with him. Have you spoken to him lately?” I asked, not telling Toni I knew he had been avoiding Jonathan’s calls, but Jonathan said that was just him and he would let it go if Toni ever called him, and he wished him luck.
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  “Oh, I need to hit him up, it’s been a while,” Toni said.

  “I know you’re off, but do you have any other plans over the weekend?”

  “Not really, I may take a ride to New York and just hang out downtown and play a tourist for the day.”

  “Sounds like fun,” I said sarcastically. “I’m kidding, have fun, and I’ll chat with you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, love you.”

  “Ditto,” I said, which was funny to say because neither one of us had said ditto since he moved to New Jersey. Actually, our whole communication had changed since the move. We barely spoke and all of the kind words and texts he used to send had gone bye-bye. I sometimes wished we could go back to the long-distance relationship because I missed the passion we used to have for each other. I missed the long nights talking, but I guess the new reality was we lived with each other now and we were trying to make it work.

  I pulled up to Angela’s new apartment. I liked the old apartment better, as it was in a gated community and located in a much nicer part of town, but, “Oh well,” I said to myself as I found parking in her open garage and called Angela to let her know I was outside.

  “Hey, girl,” I said to Angela. “I’m here, I just found parking.”

  “Good, I’ll meet you outside so I can let you in the building door.”

  “Let me in?” I said with a confused tone.

  “This new place has a security door downstairs, but it’s hooked up to Tammy’s phone, so I have to manually open it to let you in. I’ll give you the door badge so I don’t have to open the door while you’re out and about,” Angela replied.

  “Thanks, this will be very helpful. How is Tammy?” I said, referring to Angela’s roommate, as I saw Angela walking down the stairs to open the main gate so I can enter the building.

  “Hey, girl, she’s good. Our schedules are on different times, so we really don’t see each other much,” she said as I hung up the phone. She opened the main gate door to the building and I leaned in to give Angela a hug.

  “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too. How is Toni and New Jersey treating you?” Angela asked.

  I sadly lied and said, “Man, everything is great.” I didn’t dare tell Angela things were different now that Toni moved in. She might still be a little upset I didn’t tell her Toni moved to New Jersey until like two weeks after he moved, and only because she heard him in the background when we were speaking on the phone. I just told her I would call her back because I would have felt bad if Toni knew I didn’t tell Angela. Like always, Angela was my best friend, so she supported my decisions, but I could totally hear it in her voice as her whole tone changed when I told her how it all happened.

  “So girl,” Angela said, snapping me out of my daze, “what you got planned for the night?”

  “Nothing much, same oh same oh; going to see a few friends and see how everyone is doing,” I said. Not really lying, as David was a friend and I was going to catch up with my friend to see how things were going.

  “Anyway,” Angela said, “I have to run to work soon, but here’s the key and the badge to get in the apartment door. I won’t be off work until like four a.m. Gotta love working overnight,” Angela jokingly said.

  “I know the feeling, girl. Alright, girl, thanks and I’ll see you later. I have to work tomorrow afternoon, but maybe we can do breakfast tomorrow before I go to work.”

  “That will work,” Angela said and then she quickly left the house.

  I pulled out my outfit for my dinner with David. I figured I could dress low key, as no need to dress up, but I knew David and he always dressed for everything, so I quickly pulled out another outfit. “This is much better,” I said to myself as I pulled out a pair of Baby Phat jeans, a hot pink off-the-shoulders shirt and some matching wedges.

  I called David to let him know I was on my way.

  “Hey, David. I’m leaving Angela’s house now and hopefully I’ll beat this lovely Atlanta traffic and be at your home in thirty minutes.”

  “Alright, cool. I just dropped Donte off at my mom’s. She said hello, by the way, and will be home around the same time. Do you remember my address?” David asked.

  I had to laugh because we’d been on again off again for over two years and he never moved, so I knew exactly where he lived and even knew the back way to his home. “Lol, I remember unless you moved out and bought that home you’ve been talking about.”

  “Man, we all can’t be like you with two homes,” he said.

  “There you go again. Anyway, how is your mom?”

  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You know I’m waiting for that special someone to move out of this apartment and invest in a home.”

  There was an awkward pause; then David continued, “Mom is good, she’s always asking about you and I had to tell her you moved to New Jersey and she may not see you around anymore.”

  “Now I feel bad, I’ll be in town a few times a year, so maybe I can pop over to say hi to your mom next time. Anyway, how is the search going for this new lady?” I quickly said in a joking way.

  “Man, you know the streets are rough and I can’t find any SBF (single black females) anyway.”

  “That sucks. I can be your wing woman tonight and help you find someone.”

  “Thanks, nig, you always got my back.”

  “That’s what friends are for. Anyway, let me go and charge my cell. I’ll see you in a few.”

  “Alright, holla,” David said.

  I love it when he says New York slang in his cute Southern accent, I thought to myself. Within fifteen minutes I made it to his apartment, luckily managing not to hit any traffic. I notice David’s Acura was parked outside, so I guess he beat me to his home. I slowly walked up the stairs, but everyone could hear me coming as my wedges hit the wooden stairs. Before I could even make it to the top, David opened the door.

  “Whad up?” David said in a very excited voice as he hugged me.

  “Hey, man,” I replied as I hugged him back.

  “Man, it’s been a minute and you still look the same.”

  “Thanks, I guess.”

  “Man, you know what I mean, you look good. Come in, come in,” he said as I entered his familiar apartment.

  Not much had changed, as the apartment looked exactly the same, including the open laptop on the dining room table.

  “We still have like thirty minutes before our reservation. I didn’t know if you would be stuck in traffic coming from Buckhead.”

  “Well, Angela moved and now lives off Northside Drive.”

  “Northside and what?” David asked in a sarcastic tone.

  “I know, I know. She’s like a few blocks from the Georgia Dome, in those new apartments.”

  “How she liking it?”

  “Well, Angela is like me, so she works all the time and only goes home to sleep, take a shower and change,” I joked.

  “Funny, when you said she was like you, I thought you meant moving to a new place and breaking the hearts of dudes who like her,” David said, but this time in a serious tone.

  I quickly changed the subject and asked, “How’s life? How’s the kid?”

  “Man, he is good, can’t complain. Same ole craziness with his mom, but man, it’s all good. I’m good, man, I’m good.”

  That was good to hear, but I knew it could get really bad between them, and I always felt bad because she would use their son as a paycheck, and David was a good guy and tried his best to do right by both of them. He attended all of his basketball games, bought him all kinds of stuff, and his mother would send him to his dad’s house with no clothes so David was forced to buy his own son new clothes for the time he was staying with him. Until finally he started buying new clothes and leaving them at his apartment. It just didn’t make sense, and I was out of that craziness, but I always felt bad because Donte was a smart kid and knew what was up.

  “Glad to hear everything is going well,” I tried to say, not trying to make him feel
bad.

  “Anyway, how is New York, no, excuse me, New Joe-sey,” he said, trying to have an up-north accent.

  I gave him the “never do that again” look and we both just started laughing.

  “Man, everything is good. Can’t complain. Same ole stuff, but it’s all good.” I gave David the same response he gave me, and I could tell he knew what it meant.

  “You want to talk about it?” he asked.

  I played dumb. “Talk about what?” I tried to sound confused.

  He gave me the “come on” look. It was scary, David and I were so much alike and we could read each other like a book.

  “Anyway, you know I’m here for you if you ever want to talk,” he said as he got up from the couch and went back in his room.

  “Thanks… you good,” I yelled to him since he just left me in the living room.

  He came out like twenty seconds later. “Sorry, I’m good, I just wanted to grab my watch before I forget so we can get ready to go.”

  “I totally forgot about dinner.”

  “You forgetting about food? Ha.”

  “I’m done with you. Look, I be telling people don’t mess with a skinny girl who is hungry. It’s dangerous.”

  Like a gentleman, David held my hand as we walked down his apartment stairs and, of course, opened the passenger door for me before opening his own door.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  I felt like a little kid going on a joyride in a car and said, “Yup.”

  It took us about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant and David and I did some more catching up and talked the whole way there. As soon as we pulled up to the restaurant, it was about 6:50 p.m. and I really was starting to get hungry; however, my phone started buzzing as David opened the passenger door to let me out. I knew exactly who it was and I sadly allowed it to go to voicemail. David could read me like a book and asked, “Are you going to get that?”

  I said, “I’m good,” as we walked into the restaurant.