by Belleza
“So is this it? I get an early Valentine's Day gift because I will be too busy with work?”
“Nah, this is just one of many that I have for you. I don’t need one day to celebrate my wife.”
Natavia’s smooth peanut butter skin turned a warm red as her eyes beamed how happy and in awe she was.
“I can’t believe it, Johan. You’re so good to me.”
“Believe it. It’s very real, love. You deserve so much. If I could give you the world, I would give you two. Of course, no amount of gifts could express how I feel for you, but I will do whatever it takes make sure you feel it deep down every day.”
“I love you so much,” she replied kissing me deeply on my lips.
Natavia maneuvered her body so that she was straddling my lower body awakening the monster I tried my best to put to rest since she tapped out. I guess she had other things in mind.
***
“What’s going on here?”
“Give me one second, please,” I asked one of the movers just as I heard Natavia’s sweet voice from behind me. With her naked body only covered by the thin fabric of her robe, she stood with her arms crossed against her chest and a crooked grin on her face.
It was well into the afternoon, and the last time I checked up on her, she was knocked out cold from our long night and early morning. She didn’t have to go into work today and was mainly getting ready for her girls’ night with Camille and Keira. I took the initiative to add a little more to their get together by hiring a chef to make them appetizers and a meal. While the food was being prepared, they were going to be sitting in the den area getting manicures and pedicures.
It was amazing what you could do when you had money. I never heard of a travel nail salon, but from the extensive research I did, I came across one. It cost me a pretty penny to get a room in my house transformed into an in-home nail salon. I knew how this day was much needed for them, so it was just me spreading a little love to my wife and the women in my family.
As exhausted as I was, I got up bright and early to make sure everything was perfect. My eyes traveled from her toes up to her face taking in the fact that the robe left little to the imagination.
“Can you excuse us?” I asked the mover who was in a trance as well. I laughed a little from the look on his face. I waited until he was gone and approached Natavia who was still grinning. “You’re gonna get people hurt walking around like that.”
“I didn’t know we had company,” she replied wrapping her arms around my neck and standing on her tiptoes to peck my lips.
My hands went down to her back and down to her ass gripping a handful as I pushed her into my dick that was rocking up.
“You see what you starting?”
“Oh, no. I ain’t messing around with you today,” she replied moving out of my arms giggling. “I have to get things together for girls night.”
“If you let me explain, you will see there’s nothing for you to do. The chef will be here soon to prepare the food. And in the den, they’re setting up so y’all can drink y’all wine and get y’all crusty toes painted.”
Natavia’s mouth dropped. “That doesn’t make sense. Let me see.”
She tried to walk past me, but I caught her arm in my hand and pulled her back towards me. “I’ma fuck around and fire the entire moving company if they stare at you a second too long,” I warned her playfully. “I got this under control. Go get yourself together. By the time you’re dressed everything should be set up. All you gotta do is relax until they get here.”
Natavia’s smile got wider, and she kissed me again. “I love you so much.”
“I love you so much more. Now go put some clothes on,” I told her slapping her on her ass as she walked past to go back upstairs. I watched every step she took contemplating on if I should follow her and get some before I headed out. Figuring she needed a break, I went back to the den to make sure everything was where it needed to be before I went to go meet up with my brothers.
Asahd
“Nigga, you’re late,” I told Johan tapping on my watch to further annoy him. He was here five minutes after we planned on meeting up. He was usually the one on time and bitching to Zayne and me about punctuality. It was the businessman in him. The thing was I wasn’t holding meetings in a suit and tie , so everything I did was always on my time. Now that it was him showing up late it was my turn to get on him.
I got in the passenger seat while Zayne got in the back seat and he pulled off. “How you’re gonna come up with this plan and have us waiting?”
Johan cut his eye at me. “You sound worse than Natavia. Shut ya mouth and put that damn blunt out in my car.”
I cracked up laughing. “Shit, you need some of this,” I replied putting it out in his ashtray. “What the hell were you doing? You can’t blame it on the boys because Ma has them.”
“I had to make sure somethings were going as planned at my crib. I surprised the girls with a spa day at the house. Keke is still going right?” Johan asked Zayne looking at him through the rearview mirror.
“Yup. She was actually up this morning looking for something to put on.”
“That’s what’s up. Natavia got a shit load of wine for them, so they’ll be having a good time.”
“Hold up,’ I interjected. “How the fuck you doing all this shit for our women? You making it hard for us now. I can’t top no damn spa day and no fucking diamond bracelet. Camille gonna be looking at my roses with her face balled up like Nigga what the fuck is this?!”
Johan and Zayne burst out into laughter as I gave them my best Camille expression. Everyone expected Keira to be the snippy one, but it definitely rubbed off on Camille. I was half joking though. She appreciated anything I gave her. It was just dope as fuck that Johan was doing little shit every day meanwhile I would be satisfied with some ass from Camille since she was always on her fucking computer or playing around with papers.
“It’s funny?” I turned around in my chair and looked at Zayne.
“Man, you need some pussy,” he waved me off.
“You do too!” I told him shutting him up.
“Y’all sound like two horny little boys,” Johan laughed shaking his head. “I understand Zayne’s situation, but what the fuck is going on with you and Mill?”
“Ain’t shit going on besides her working at school and home. It’s like she doesn’t take a break. The weekends aren’t time off because one of those days she gotta take her ass back up to the school and make copies and get ready for Monday. Teachers are definitely overworked and underpaid.”
“I feel you on that one. If it’s what she wants to do, you gotta accept it.”
I huffed dragging my hands down my face. The last time I got some pussy was a week ago, and that was a long stretch for me considering at one point of time I had countless women I rotated. “I have, but damn we have a relationship too. It’s like I’m fucking last or at times I don’t exist. You and Natavia both work. How are y’all keeping the relationship healthy?”
“It’s all about communication. If you don’t express yourself how you feel she will never know its a problem. By you not saying anything she believes you’re good with how things are going.”
“Nah… that sounds too much like bitching. I ain’t about to be nagging her about spending time.”
“So you rather bitch at us? We can’t give you no pussy, nigga,” Zayne told me.
Cracking up, I turned around and went to go sock his ass, but he smacked my fist away.
“Aye… I’m fucking driving. Y’all two need to settle down.”
“Get ya brother, man. I’m back here chilling minding my business,” Zayne told him.
“Wait until we get out this car. I’ma fuck you up,” I laughed getting comfortable in my seat.
“Like I was saying communication is key in the relationship. Even if it’s uncomfortable, the only way to heal is if y’all get everything out in the open.”
“Yeah… maybe,” I responded looking out t
he window. Even though it seemed as if I was barely paying attention, I was listening to Johan fully. His relationship with Tabitha was fucked up, but it wasn’t on his end. He was really a good ass man, and if there's anything I learned from him, it was on how to love a woman. He and my pop showed me that.
The plan today was to get some shit for them for Valentine’s Day and catch up with each other. We were tight as fuck, but these days we rarely saw each other, even with Zayne living down the street.
When we got to King of Prussia Mall, he parked in Valet parking, and we headed in following Zayne’s lead since he was the one that recommended we hit up the mall.
The first store we went into was Louis Vuitton, and I groaned knowing he was about to get some fly shit for Keira.
“So you’re about to have me looking bad too?” I questioned him playfully as he went straight to the luggage.
“If you don’t get ya wife something out of here and shut the fuck up,” he spat.
“Hello, may I help you with anything?” the sales associate asked us with a big ass smile on her face. I was sure she saw dollar signs when she spotted us which meant her commission was going to huge by the time we left out of the store. For the most part, we were dressed simple as fuck in some sweats in sneakers, but it wasn’t hard to tell we were a few niggas with some bread.
“Yeah, I will like these two,” Zayne told her pointing at the biggest rolling luggage they had. The woman got jolly as fuck probably estimating his purchase in her head. “Let me get a matching carry on bag as well.”
“Yes sir!” she stated going to get everything he asked for.
“He must be getting ready to move out,” I joked, and Johan shook his head.
“Fuck you. I ain’t going nowhere without my lady. We need time to alone, so I’m surprising her with a trip for Valentine’s Day.”
“Thats dope. Y’all need it more than anyone,” Johan told him.
“Yeah…” Zayne agreed taking a seat. “I’m praying she goes, but it’s worth a shot. She’s out of the house now, so that’s a step.”
While Johan and Zayne talked, I got lost in my thoughts as I browsed the store. I ain’t have no issue buying Camille something, but it’ll be a waste of a day to just buy her a gift and not enjoy each other’s company.
***
I talked so much shit, but I ended up spending some bread on making sure my two leading ladies had a great Valentines Day. It was tough getting them something special when they had everything they wanted, but I made out with some nice gifts for the both of them.
Walking around the mall worked up an appetite, so we ended up at a sports bar in the mall where we ordered wings, fries and a few beers that even Johan joined us in drinking. Zayne was focused on his phone with this funny ass smile on his face.
“That just better be my sister you texting, cheesing all hard,” I told him taking a swig of my beer. I didn’t take Zayne to be stupid enough to cheat on Keira again, but given their circumstance, it was a possibility. I complained about Camille not giving me 100%, but as of late Keira was nonexistent even with her being present in their house. That was hard as shit to take on. Zayne held it together pretty well, but with him, you never knew what was really going on in his head.
“Who else would it be? Apparently they’re having fun and she is talking some big shit right now.”
“Somebody gonna be sucking some toes!” I laughed when he showed us the picture Keira sent of her manicured feet.
“At this rate, I’m all for it,” he laughed. “You don’t even know how it feels to have ya girl right next to you, and you can’t even touch her.”
I shook my head. Camille and I had our rough patches, but it wasn’t anything compared to what Zayne was going through. While she was pregnant with Asia, she was emotional as fuck, but she eventually got out of that funk. “I give you your props because I can’t imagine not having sex for so long. Shit, I’m attempting to adapt to this once a week shit.”
Johan and Zayne both shot me this look that had me taken aback.
“I don’t care what y’all going through. Camille isn’t your girlfriend, and she isn’t your baby mama. That’s your wife, so you better not fuck up your happy home for a few minutes of sex.”
“Whoa! Who said I planned on cheating?” I asked Johan.
“People don’t normally plan to cheat. I’m just making sure we’re all on the same page. I’m proud as fuck at how much y’all have grown up. There’s no need to backtrack.”
“Bro, I’m not cheating on Camille,” I assured him.
“You sure?” he asked for the hell of it.
“Positive. I never did, and I’m not putting myself in no situation where I will.”
Johan stared at me hard as if he was trying to gauge how serious I was before he dug into his basket of fries and continued to eat.
“I’m telling you, bro. You don’t want to deal with no shit like that. It’s one thing to deal with postpartum but try healing a broken heart. I regret that night,” Zayne told me.
I’ve watched Keira and Zayne go through the motions of recovering from that shit. It even had Camille side eyeing me over that shit, and since I’ve made it official with her, I’ve been on perfect behavior. I wasn’t jeopardizing my family life for nobody. I don’t care what we went through.
“I’m not saying it’s impossible for something like that to happen, but I can assure you I’m not losing my family over no bitch. If I ain’t checking on business, I’m in the house with my girls even if Camille is locked in the room with her school shit.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” Johan said. “The second I find out y’all on some fuck shit, I’m coming for y’all.”
Zayne and I exchanged looks but didn’t try to argue Johan down because he was right. We came too far to let everything go over some bullshit.
Keira
“This is nice. Real nice,” I exhaled sinking my feet into the pink warm water. The woman poured a powder in the water, and it began to firm up into a soft jelly that took the comfort to another level.
I can’t remember the last time I indulged in anything like this. It felt so good. What I expected was for us to be on a couch watching ratchet TV was an evening of relaxation.
“I can’t believe you did all of this,” I added.
“Girl, this wasn’t me. Johan planned this taking over my idea.”
The goofy grin she had on her face was so addictive, it had me cheesing. Her and Johan were definitely relationship goals.
She had this jovial glow about her that radiated off of her. She was truly happy, and I was sure it was because she was being loved the way she deserved from Johan. She had a real tough relationship with her son's father that had her insecure. Meeting her over a year ago until now she was a whole new person. She lost some weight and became so much more confident in herself. Natavia kind spirit and words pushed me to get my mind right.
The servers came in with a tray of fruit, crackers and cheeses and glasses of wine. We sat in plush gold thrones, and our feet emerged in white round basins being served like we were royalty.
“He’s amazing. If he’s been doing all this for you, imagine what he got planned for Valentine’s Day.”
“Actually… nothing special might happen on that day. I’m going to be busy at the restaurant.”
“And he understands?”
“Of course. He’s so understanding. With a house full of kids and businesses we’re both aware that there are things that come before us. That doesn’t mean we neglect our relationship though. As long as I fall asleep in his arms, I’m good.”
Bringing the glass of wine to my lips, I took a sip and thought about everything she said and compared it to my life. Last night was the first night in a long time I allowed myself to fall asleep in Zayne’s arms. I’ve been trapped in my own head for so long I forgot how much healing and comfort an embrace or kiss can bring.
“You ok?” Natavia asked bringing me back to reality. I was slowly
treading back into my guilt-ridden mind.
“Yes,” I replied moving my head up and down. “I just feel bad that now I feel so much better than I’ve did since Zayla was born. I mean, Zayne tried so hard to help me get in a better place, yet here I am smiling and getting my drink on as if nothing was ever wrong with me.
Natavia laughed at me shaking her glass of wine. “We all need a little escape. Don’t feel bad though. I’m glad you came.”
“I’m here!” We both focused on Camille who had this big ass bag on her shoulder. “Hey girl!” She exclaimed coming over and giving me a hug and then Natavia before she took her shoes off and took her seat in the chair on the other side of Natavia.
Even with us living down the street from each other, I can’t remember the last time I saw her as well.
“You’re a little late,” I told Camille. “For a second I thought you weren’t going to come.”
She rolled her eyes to the top of her head. “Girl, even taking a half day at work it’s so hard to get out of that school. There’s always something that gotta be done.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” Natavia told her. “My son drives me crazy already. I don’t need other people children adding onto it.”
The nail tech began to get Camille’s basin together as she got comfortable in her chair. “I don’t either. But enough about my crazy job. How are you feeling?” she asked leaning up out of her chair so she can look at me.
Inwardly I cringed from that question. I hated to feel like everyone had to feel bad about what I was going through. I’ve been strong all my life from losing my mother, and having my father choose his wife over me it felt weird not to know how to deal with these emotions I was trying to get a grasp of.
“I’m better now that I’m here. I missed you guys!”
“We missed you too!” Natavia grabbed my hand and gave it a little squeeze. “We should have these get together at least twice a month. It’s so easy to get caught up in work, kids, and our husbands that we forget we gotta enjoy time to ourselves.”
“I’m all for it!” Camille said lifting her glass of wine before downing it.
