by Kiki Swinson
“What’s going on?” Fatu asked.
“She came from out of nowhere and started attacking us,” the woman blurted out.
“Bitch, I didn’t touch you!” I pointed out.
“You pushed me on the ground!”
“You lucky I didn’t go upside your fucking head!”
Bintu stood alongside the nightclub with his back posted up against the wall. He wouldn’t say a word. It was apparent he was pretty out of it from all the alcohol he had, not to mention I’d popped him pretty badly. From the looks of it, I’d stung him real good in his right eye and I was happy as hell because of it. I bet he wouldn’t play with my feelings anymore.
“Look, Nikki, I know you’re upset, but we can’t have this type of thing going on here outside the club.”
“Fatu, you know I’ve been trying to get in touch with Bintu for the longest. So when I saw him coming out of the club with this bitch all over him, I snapped. I mean, it was like he totally forgot about me.” I began to sob.
Fatu took my arm and escorted me to my car. I resisted at first because I wanted to talk to Bintu. I wanted him to look me in my face and tell me why he did me the way he did. I mean, that was the least he could have done. I felt like I deserved at least that much, but when Fatu explained to me that right then wasn’t a good time to approach Bintu because I probably would not get a straight answer out of him while the other woman was present, not to mention the fact that he was a bit drunk, I nodded and proceeded to my car.
“When am I gonna be able to talk to him? You know now he’s really gonna avoid me after what just happened.”
“Don’t worry about tonight. I’m going to talk to him. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Well, would you call me and let me know how everything went?”
“I’ll tell you what,”—He got silent, as if he went into deep thought—“why don’t you call me tomorrow afternoon?”
“I don’t have your number,” I said.
Fatu gave me his cell phone number and then we parted ways. I noticed Bintu had walked back into the club and Kofi was ushering Bintu’s whore into a cab. I was very pleased to see her carry her ass home. At least she and Bintu wouldn’t be spending the night together, so I felt like something did end in my favor.
On my way back to the house, I called Fatu and told him the main reason why I acted out like I did. He was sympathetic when I told him about the accident I had with Neeko, which made me feel good because I finally had someone to share it with. After I spilled my beans, I made him promise not to tell Kira about last night and about what I had just told him. He promised me that he wouldn’t, so I was happy about that. Before we hung up he reminded me to call him the next day.
“I will,” I promised.
***
The following day while Kira and I were at work, I slipped outside and called Fatu. I had to make sure she was busy working on a client so she couldn’t eavesdrop on my call. My heart was beating really fast because I had no idea what he was going to tell me about Bintu. When Fatu answered the phone, I exhaled and waited to hear what he had to say.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. But how is Bintu?”
“He’s doing OK. Not too pleased about how you attacked him, but other than that, he’s fine.”
“Did you get to talk to him?”
“Yes, we spoke about what happened.”
“What did he say? Why was he avoiding me?”
Fatu hesitated for a moment and then he said, “First off, he said he wasn’t avoiding you. Secondly, he did say that you are a beautiful woman, but you and him aren’t on the same page, and that you two have different views about a lot of things, so he saw no need to lead you on.”
“Where is he now? I want to talk to him,” I snapped.
“He’s at our apartment, resting.”
I sighed heavily. “Fatu, that lame-ass excuse he gave you was bullshit, and you know it. I mean, let’s be real! He knows damn well he played me for a one-night stand. So why won’t he just ’fess up to it and stop being a fucking pussy about it!”
“Calm down, Nikki.”
“Come on now, Fatu, let’s be real! How in the hell is it humanly possible for a woman to calm down after she gets fucked one night, and the nigga who fucked her will not return her call the very next day? That’s some devastating shit, especially when the dick wasn’t that good. Did you know that I had to suck him off to get his dick hard so he could fuck me? That was a lot of damn work and I didn’t even get paid for it, so my feelings are hurt!”
“I’m sorry about all of this.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It wasn’t your fault. I’m the one who allowed this cat to play me, even though I had reservations about it. But let me ask you this.”
“What is it?”
“Was it true that Kira caught him fucking some chick in the kitchen area of the club?”
“What did Bintu say?”
“I didn’t get the chance to ask him. Remember? He’s been avoiding me.”
“Wait a minute, how did you find out about that?”
“Come on now, you know who told me. And anyway, that’s not important. What is important is why he’s avoiding me.”
“Stop staying that. He’s not avoiding you.”
“Easy for you to say when you’re not the one ’round here with your heart all fucked up.”
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’m standing outside the salon.”
“Where’s Kira?”
“She’s inside doing a client’s hair.”
“Would you like to meet me for lunch so we can continue to talk about this?”
“Sure. But where?”
“Come down to the Oceanaire Seafood Room at the Galleria.”
“What time?”
“Come now,” he insisted.
“All right.”
I went back inside the shop to retrieve my handbag. I told both Kira and Rachael that I had to make a quick run. Thank God no one asked me where I was off to, so I was out of there in a jiffy.
While I drove to the restaurant I laughed at the thought that I was on my way to have lunch with Kira’s man. She would have a fit if she knew! Now that I thought about it, I might use this secret lunch date to blow her mind on a later date if she pissed me off. She had a fucking field day with the fact that she caught Bintu fucking some chick in the kitchen area of the nightclub, so I would love to get her ass back. The expression on her face would be priceless, and I knew that I would laugh my ass off. That was a piece of payback that I would love to dish out.
When I finally arrived at the restaurant I had to wait an additional fifteen minutes before Fatu joined me. He was looking really good dressed in his Burberry denim jeans and a Burberry polo to match. I thought it was really cute seeing him dressed casual since I’d always seen him sporting expensive Armani silk and linen suits. He smiled at me as he approached the table, so I stood to greet him. When we embraced one another the touch of his arms and hands were like magic. And the cologne he wore was out of this world. The fragrance was soft but masculine. It took my breath away.
“What is that you’re wearing?” I asked.
“It’s Marc Jacobs,” he told me and immediately took his seat.
I took my seat too and admired him from where I was. Deep down inside I wanted to hop right on his lap and give him a big fat kiss, but I decided against it. Didn’t want to scare him off.
“I have something for you,” he said and pulled a small jewelry box from his right jean pocket.
My eyes grew three inches bigger. “Oh my God! What is it?” I asked as I took the box from his hand.
He sat back and remained silent while I opened the box. After I saw what was inside my mouth fell wide open.
“Fatu, it’s beautiful!” I said, admiring the fourteen-karat gold women’s Presidential Rolex watch.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replied.
“
What is this for?” I asked while I was detaching the watch from the plastic packaging it was wrapped around.
“For your troubles,” he said. “I’m sorry about my brother. Here, let me put it on for you,” he continued as he took the watch out of my hand. While he was fastening the links together, I couldn’t help but wonder why fate didn’t leave me and him to hook up. I could’ve been the best thing he ever had.
“There you go,” he said after he straightened my watch.
I took another look at it and smiled my ass off. “Damn, this is nice! No one has ever given me anything like this before.”
“Well, they should have.”
“Be honest. Did this come from Bintu?”
“No. It’s a gift from me.”
I smiled. “You are so sweet!”
He smiled back. “Believe me, I’m not this way all the time.”
“I’m sure. But I need to know how I can pay you back. I mean, I know this Rolex had to set you back at least ten grand.”
“You’re close,” he said.
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t like to talk about money, so let’s just figure out what we’re going to eat,” he said, cutting me off.
“OK, but will you at least tell me what I can do to repay you?”
He placed his menu down and said, “Don’t worry about it. It was a gift.”
“I understand. But I feel like I’ve got to do something for you. That’s just how I roll. So can you please give me a chance to show you how much I appreciate you giving me this?”
Fatu thought for a second and then he said, “OK, I’ll tell you what, when I think of something, I’ll let you know.”
“And I will be ready,” I assured him and then I looked back at my watch.
The watch was nice as hell. Fatu really knew how to pick out expensive gifts. The only fucked-up thing about it was that it was probably the last time this nigga would cop a gift like that for me. I had to savor that moment for the rest of my life, because I remembered he was involved with Kira. But if she ever fucked up, I was going to be on the sidelines waiting to scoop him right on up.
“I appreciate you taking out the time to have lunch with me so we can talk,” I said as I played with my watch.
“Nikki, you’re a beautiful girl, so that’s the least I can do.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“When you first saw me at the gas station, was I attractive to you then?”
“Yes, you were.”
“OK, well why didn’t you try to talk to me first?”
Caught off guard by my question, he hesitated for a moment and then he said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to answer that.”
“Well, try as best as you can, because I’m curious. I mean, you and I probably would have made a good couple.” I pressed the issue.
“You think so?” He smiled.
“I know so.”
Still apparently at a loss for words, Fatu just sat there twiddling his thumbs. He must’ve thought that I was trying to set him up or something because he would not open his mouth for nothing in the world. I reached across the table and massaged his hands. “Look, I’m sorry for putting you on the spot, but I got to know why you didn’t try to hook up with me first.”
“I really can’t say,” he said, and then paused for a second before continuing. “I remember pulling up and Bintu making references about introducing himself to you, so I sat back and let him go for it.”
I shook my head. “Oh my God! I can’t believe this,” I said. “Do you know that when y’all pulled up that night, I had my eyes set on you? I was furious when Bintu approached me,” I lied to see how he’d react.
“Really?”
“Hell yeah! I was attracted to you.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“What was I supposed to say?”
Before Fatu could respond to my question our waitress came to our table, took our drink orders, and then she left, giving us a few more minutes to decide what we wanted to order. While we were looking over our menu I watched Fatu’s body language through my peripheral vision. He seemed like he was feeling a little uneasy, so I said, “Am I making you feel awkward?”
“No, I’m fine,” he said. But I knew he was lying. Mixed emotions were plastered all over his face.
I grabbed his hands again and said, “Look, I am so sorry for bringing all of this up. But I just had to tell you. I mean, I was feeling you from day one, and when you asked if my cousin was available, I was upset.”
“Really?”
“Hell yeah!”
“But why?”
“There was just something about you. You seemed laid back and quick. And I like those type of men. They make me wonder a lot and that is so sexy to me.”
Fatu smiled as if he was embarrassed. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just needed to get all of that off my shoulders, and now that I’ve done that, I feel like a load has been lifted.”
“Well, I’m glad,” he replied and then he picked up his menu.
After we finally figured out what we were going to eat, we gave the waitress our order and she was back with it less than fifteen minutes later. While we were eating, I told Fatu how my relationship with Kira was deteriorating. Then I decided to see how he would react if I told him everything I knew about Kira. I explained that she was a money grubbing whore. I also told him how much of a ride-or-die chick I was to Kira’s husband, and how he hung me out to dry.
“What happened?” he asked.
“He was a big-time drug dealer and he needed someone to transport some of the work to his drug houses, so I took the job. But after about a few months, somebody tipped off the police and had me busted. So when I called him to bail me out, he basically told me to kiss his ass!”
“And what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” I lied. “I just sat back and did my time. I’m not into that snitching shit! That’s for suckers!” I continued, trying to keep a straight face.
“What did Kira do?”
“She couldn’t do anything. Her hands were tied too.”
“How much time did they give you?”
“Well, since I was a first-time offender and the police only caught me with two ounces of coke, I received a very light sentence of two years. All of it was suspended except six months, and now I’m on probation.”
“Where is Kira’s husband now?”
“Don’t tell her I told you any of this, but he’s dead.”
“How?”
“He was murdered.”
“By whom?”
“No one knows.”
“Wow, that’s interesting,” he said and then he took a forkful of his food.
I watched him as he ate for the next three or four minutes. I had to break the ice. “Are you OK?” I asked. “I’m not scaring you off with my past life, am I?”
“No, I’m just amazed at how resilient you are. You put your life on the line for someone, lost your freedom for it, and you did not once roll over on them. That right there shows major character on your part.”
Hearing Fatu praise me for some shit I didn’t do put a huge smile on my face. I felt deep down inside that I was winning him over and making him regret that he hadn’t stepped to me first.
After we ate he escorted me to my car and then we both parted ways. Before we parted, I kissed him on his cheek and thanked him once again for my watch.
“Don’t forget I owe you one,” I told him.
He smiled. “I won’t.”
Back at the shop I flashed my watch around so that everyone could see it. Kira didn’t say a word, but I knew her hating ass got a good look at it. Rachael wanted me to spill my guts about where I had gotten it from, but I kept my lips sealed. I wasn’t ready to break the news yet. I figured I’d use that ammunition for a later date.
I’m Still Wifey Material
(Kira
Speaks)
Today made three months since Fatu and I had been dating. Things were really looking good for us, and I was enjoying every last bit of our romance. Today he picked me up from my house and whisked me off for a full day of shopping and pampering at the Pelican Spa. We had a ton of fun, especially when he took me back to the Aquarium restaurant, which was where we had our very first date. I had the Thai marinated fish with crab legs and a house salad, while Fatu had the blackened tuna and a few items from their tapas menu. The evening was beautiful and the ambiance was on point. What really set off the night was when Fatu reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a black jewelry box. My face lit up.
“Oh, my God! What is this?” I asked.
He opened the box and turned it around toward me. “Will you marry me?” he asked, revealing a gigantic emerald cut, canary-colored diamond inside a platinum setting.
That diamond had to be at least eight or nine carats, if not more. I tried desperately not to jump out of my chair from excitement. Instead I politely smiled and said, “Yes.”
Fatu slid the ring onto my finger and then he kissed my hand. “You know what this means, right?”
Confused by the question, I said, “No, I don’t.”
He held my hand with a firm grip and said, “This means that you and I are engaged now. You are officially my fiancée.”
I smiled at the sound of that, because it sounded really good. But then I started thinking about how we had only known each other for three months, so we might have been taking things a little too fast.
“Honey, do you think we’re taking this thing a little too fast?” I asked Fatu.
“No, I don’t. I’m in love with you, and I don’t think we should put a time limit on that.”
“I feel the same way, but I don’t want to mess up what we have by rushing into something we might regret later.”
“Don’t speak like that. I am a firm believer that the way you go into a relationship is the way it is going to end. Haven’t things been going really good for us? Aren’t you happy when you’re with me?”
“Yes, everything is going really well for us, and of course I’m happy when I’m with you. But I just want us to take this thing one day at a time so we won’t run into any misunderstandings.”
