Talk a Good Game

by Angie Daniels

  The sales assistant signaled for me to follow her in back. “Whateva,” I mumbled under my breath and stepped off the platform.

  “You know you love me!” Janelle yelled after me.

  Yep, and that’s the only reason why I tolerated her crazy ass.

  30

  JANELLE

  I could tell as soon as I padded into the kitchen for breakfast that something was on Kaleb’s mind. In the months we’d been together I’d started to read him like a book. “What’s wrong, baby?” I asked.

  He looked over at me, then shrugged and said. “Nothing.”

  “Yeah, it’s something. You’ve been quiet all morning. Something is bothering you.” I took a moment to see if I had remembered to wipe down the bathroom after getting out of the shower, or if I had left my clothes on the floor. I was certain that I had done neither. Kaleb might have been tripping because he had caught me texting or surfing the web this morning. Either of those things was subject to tick him off.

  “Nothing. Just got a lot on my plate today.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?” I asked between chews because I was taught that a good woman is always there to listen to her man even if she didn’t fucking feel like it.

  He sighed then shook his head as if he was annoyed. By this point I rolled my eyes and mumbled, “Whateva,” under my breath. I wasn’t about to beg this man to tell me what was bothering him. I tell you. Sometimes he acted like a woman on her damn period.

  After another long moment of silence, I decided to try a different approach. “What time’s your first game tonight?”

  Kaleb looked surprised by my question. I don’t know why. Unlike him I listen to what he tells me. A few weeks ago, he had joined a softball team with some of his colleagues. I put the first game on my calendar and received an alert this morning.

  “Uh… it’s tonight at six or seven.”

  And when were you planning to tell me? I was more than a little annoyed. “Oh, okay. What position are you playing?”

  I noticed he was glancing down at his plate as he spoke. “Second base. You know I wasn’t planning on playing but since they’re short one player, I guess I will.”

  Yeah, I just bet.

  CJ came racing down the wooden stairs as if he was falling and once again it took everything I had not to scream at him. Why can’t he walk like normal people?

  Kaleb looked at him over the rim of his coffee cup and said, “Son, you ready for camp?”

  “Yes, sir.” He walked over, wrapped his arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Love you,” he said then walked around the table and leaned in so I could kiss him.

  “Love you,” I said and gave him a loud smack on the cheek. He really was a good kid.

  I watched him grab his backpack and head out the door to catch the bus that stopped at the corner, to summer camp.

  Camp had been my idea. I had gotten sick of watching that kid spending the summer doing nothing but playing video games so I had signed him up for three weeks of camp. Something was better than wasting his whole summer doing nothing constructive. As promised, I tried to get him in a summer minority program but those programs started receiving applicants way back in January, so I insisted on summer camp instead. CJ was resistant at first but once I had gotten his father in agreement it was a wrap.

  I carried my dishes over to the sink and went upstairs to get ready for work. I was slipping into my new Vera Wang dress when Kaleb stepped into the room. He gave me a look then moved over to his dresser.

  “What?” I said with attitude.

  “Nothing.”

  “Then why did you just look at me that way?” I said without skipping a beat.

  He frowned as if I was the one who was being ridiculous. “What you talking about? I didn’t look at you any kinda way.”

  I was starting to get frustrated. “Whatever. You’re fucking retarded.” Ain’t no way in the world I’m gonna let this dude start making me think I’m crazy. I zipped my dress then slipped into my green pumps. The sooner I got up outta his house the better. I didn’t have to put up with this shit. I had a restaurant to run and a million things to do.

  I guess Kaleb sensed I was pissed because he walked over to me and took my hand.

  “Babe, c’mere.” He had that sexy grin on his face I loved so much. “Babe… Look, I’m sorry if I’m taking my frustrations out on you. I don’t mean to,” he added, with so much sincerity I suddenly felt guilty for planning an evening that didn’t include him.

  “It’s okay,” I said, then I tilted my head as his mouth met mine. Just the feel of his warm mouth made my nipples tingle for a quick romp in the sack.

  “I just wanna marry you and share our lives,” he said with a pout.

  So that’s what this was all about. Last night after we’d made love, Kaleb had suggested we run off to Las Vegas next weekend and get married. I didn’t mean to laugh at him but I did, which obviously had pissed him off. Then we argued for the next hour, as to why I wasn’t in a rush to get married.

  I needed to see how I could benefit from this relationship before I decided to get married. After he received his inheritance, if I stilled loved him as much as I did now, then we could set a date. But even then, I needed at least a year to plan the event of the city. Of course, I didn’t tell him that. Instead, I made up an excuse, and told him even though I loved him, I was scared and needed more time before we set a date. Kaleb said he understood.

  Now I knew he had been lying.

  “Boo, I want nothing more than to marry you when the time is right.” I suggestively stroked his crotch, then gave him a long, deep kiss until I had him moaning and unbuckling his pants. I smiled triumphantly. One thing I knew how to do was turn him on, and I made sure Kaleb left the house completely satisfied.

  By the time I finally made it to the restaurant, April was waiting in my office for me. “You’re late,” she said and swiveled away from the financial report she was working on.

  “Yeah, yeah. It was one of those mornings,” I replied with a playful eye-roll. “Men.”

  She grinned knowingly. She’d been happily married for twelve years. “Well, I’ve got some news that will cheer you up.”

  “What?”

  April came around the desk and held up the morning paper. “You won!”

  It took a moment for her words to register. “I won? Oh shit!” I snatched the paper and read the announcement and sure enough FoxTrot had been voted as Columbia’s Restaurant of the Year. I started squealing with delight. “I won!” April draped an arm around me.

  “Congratulations Jae!”

  “Ohmygod, ohmygod!” I had tears running down my face. All those years I had poured into making my dream a reality had finally paid off. “I should be thanking you, April. You’ve had my back since the beginning.” It’s rare to have family who believed in your dream, but my cousin gave up her job as a shift supervisor at Hardee’s to come and help me run FoxTrot and I’ve never regretted my decision.

  “I’ve spoken to the mayor’s office and he’s schedule to be here on Friday at ten to personally present you with the award. I’ve already confirmed Channel 8 News and the Columbia Daily Tribune. Everyone is coming!” she exclaimed.

  I was so overwhelmed with emotion I had to take a seat before I collapsed to the floor. “Ohmygod! I can’t believe this!”

  “Well believe it,” April replied, her chocolate eyes were cloudy with tears. “You sit there and enjoy your moment. I’ve got a restaurant to run.”

  I grinned. “Thanks April.”

  “Anytime, girl.” She squeezed my shoulder and exited my office.

  As soon as she left, I reached for my phone and called Kaleb. He answered on the first ring.

  “Whassup?”

  “Hey baby, guess what?” I said trying to contain my excitement.

  “What?” he replied and I ignored how flat his voice sounded.

  “I won! I won Restaurant of the Year!”

  “Oh rea
lly? Congratulations,” he replied yet his tone said something altogether different.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I was so disappointed by his response.

  “Nothing, why?”

  “Because I just shared with you the most exciting news of my life and you act like you don’t care.”

  “I said, congratulations,” he said and sounded just as flat and unenthusiastic as before.

  “Yeah, but you don’t sound excited.”

  Kaleb sighed loudly. “Listen… I’ve got a lot going on right now with my investors so I’m sorry if I sound distracted, but it can’t always be about you Janelle,” he hissed.

  I closed my eyes, counted to ten then blew out a long breath. “What’s going on at work?”

  “White folks ain’t never happy, no matter what I do and how I do it. I’m getting sick of their shit!” He rattled on and on, and I just pressed a finger to my temple and prayed for strength. He bitched and complained so much, I was starting to wonder if this man knew what being happy was. It was always everyone else’s fault. He was always the victim. Oh my God! Enough is enough.

  “Then quit.”

  “What?” he sputtered.

  “You heard me. If you’re that miserable, if everyone is always fucking with you then quit.” I have never known a man who didn’t know how to be happy. Misery loves company and I wasn’t jumping onboard.

  “Wow really?” His tone was laced with sarcasm. “I thought you had my back?”

  “I do, which is why you need to quit. You’re miserable, yet you have the biggest portfolios and the largest number of clients. So start your own firm and take them with you. Whatever it takes to make you happy, then do it.” I was just sick of listening to it.

  The silence after my comment stretched so long I guess he realized he had struck a nerve because he said, “Jae, I’m sorry for complaining. You’re right. I need to make some decisions. In the meantime my baby has been awarded Restaurant of the Year. I’m so proud of you.” Now that’s the tone I wanted to hear from my man.

  “Thanks, sweetheart. It means so much coming from you. The mayor will be here on Friday to present my award.”

  “Then I’ll be right there with you. We definitely need to celebrate this weekend. You still gonna come watch me play this evening?” he asked.

  I looked at my calendar. “I have a meeting with a distributor at five so I’ll try to get there after he leaves.”

  “That’s fair enough. See you later babe. And hey?”

  I released a tiny sigh. “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  I grinned and purred, “I love you too.”

  * * *

  I didn’t make it home until close to nine. I was gossiping on the phone with Nyree about her wedding plans, when I spotted Kaleb. I already knew there was a problem.

  “Ree, I better let you go. Kaleb is sitting on the porch staring me down my throat.”

  “Good luck with that shit.”

  “Right,” I groaned, then quickly ended the call but not before Kaleb straightened up on the chair, looking over at me.

  I pulled into the garage, climbed out, then reached for my briefcase from the back seat. I don’t know what was up, so I was definitely tryna stall for time so I could prepare myself mentally for what was about to go down. I took so long, Kaleb came around the house to see what I was doing.

  “You need some help?” he asked.

  I answered with caution. “No, I got it.” I walked over, smiling, and kissed him hard on the lips.

  “You didn’t have to get off the phone.”

  Here we go again. “I was just talking to Nyree.”

  He made some rude noise and I could tell he didn’t believe me but I was too tired to care what he thought.

  “Let’s sit outside awhile,” he suggested, and pulled me to him and gave me a big hug.

  “Okay, let me take my bag inside and I’ll be right down.” I was trying to simmer whatever was stirring inside his head.

  I went up to the master bedroom and gasped at what I saw sitting on the nightstand. A beautiful pink bouquet of roses, a congratulations balloon, and a card. As I read the loving words, I couldn’t stop smiling. My man was really something else.

  I put my bag away, slipped out of my heels then hurried back outside to join Kaleb on the porch where he was sitting and drinking a beer. “Baby, thank you so much!” I said and wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “That was so thoughtful.”

  He grinned. “What are you talking about?”

  I laughed. “You know what I’m talking about. Thanks. I love you.” I kissed him again and moved over to the other rocking chair.

  “You’re welcome babe. I really am proud of you.”

  Honey was still sniffing around the yard. I settled back and enjoyed the peace and quiet. The breeze was perfect for August. I was grinning when I caught Kaleb out the corner of my eye. The weird look in his eyes spelled trouble. Mr. Hyde had returned.

  “Baby, look at me. What’s wrong?” I took his hand in mine.

  Something strange passed across his face, for a brief moment and then he shrugged. “Nothing’s wrong.”

  I tried to sound casual although my frustrations were brimming at the surface. “Then why have you been so quiet and distant? You’ve been like that ever since you got up this morning.”

  I could tell he was struggling to keep his temper in check. Good because he wasn’t the only one.

  He drained the last of his beer and then his face grew serious again. “I’m not distant. It’s just been a long week.”

  “What’s going on at work?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he retorted in a tone that said he didn’t want to discuss it.

  “Whatever.” I wasn’t going to let him spoil my mood. I watched Honey play in the yard and decided to change the subject. “What did y’all have for dinner?”

  “We just made some sandwiches.”

  If he wanted me to feel sorry for them, that wasn’t happening.

  “What did you eat?”

  My eyes shifted away from his. I didn’t dare tell Kaleb me and Nyree went and had Thai food and celebrated. I would never have heard the end of it. “I had a salad at the restaurant. Sorry I couldn’t make your game. How’d you do?”

  “We lost.” Kaleb sounded sad, then started staring off in space again, so I just heaved a huge sigh. He never was very talkative, but this was ridiculous. When Honey decided to run after a stray cat, I used it as an excuse to get away from his sour attitude.

  “I better go get him.” As soon as I was around the corner I rolled my eyes. I don’t know why I had bothered rushing home tonight. Knowing him he was either mad because I didn’t come to his game or that he came home and dinner wasn’t ready. The dude was just too damn immature. The problem was he’s rich and I loved him, and for selfish reasons I was willing to deal with just about anything. But even then, I had my limits. And Kaleb was taking me there quick, fast and in a hurry.

  By the time I found Honey and brought him back to the house, Kaleb had already gone in the house. I just heaved another long sigh and went inside. CJ was sitting in the living room on my new white couch, watching television.

  “Hey Ms. Jae,” he said without looking away from the television.

  “Hey CJ,” I said. “How was summer camp?”

  “Good.” There was that annoying voice again.

  As I started up the stairs, I spotted the bag of potato chips he was trying to hide.

  “CJ, I thought I told you no greasy potato chips on my sofa.” That kid doesn’t listen to shit. The last time I caught him he had left crumbs and grease stains.

  “Sorry,” he said with a hint of sadness then he rose and carried the bag into the kitchen.

  I was sick of telling Kaleb his son needed consistent reinforcement so I just shook my head and went on upstairs.

  When I moved into the room Kaleb was lying across the bed, texting on his phone. I was so tempted to ask him who the
fuck he was texting since he was always asking me, but instead I didn’t say anything and took a seat beside him. “What’s the score?” I asked trying to make small talk and take my mind off of our problems.

  “Three to five Cubs.” He didn’t even bother to look up from the phone.

  I went and changed into a pair of knit shorts and a t-shirt. He finally put his phone away and leaned back against the pillow.

  I enjoyed baseball and was yelling at the screen every time the batter missed a pitch while Kaleb was back to not having shit to say. I slid over and rested my head on his chest then tilted my chin for a kiss. He smiled and kissed me then his phone started beeping indicating he had a text message.

  I lifted my head. “You need to get that?”

  He rolled over and reached down for his phone, then started texting again. Okay, this was getting ridiculous.

  “What’s up with all the texting?” I said trying to keep a smile on my face.

  “You gotta lot of nerve. It’s one of my clients,” he hissed. His attention was focused on the cellphone screen.

  Two can play that game.

  I rolled over to my side of the bed and reached across the bed for my phone in the side pocket of my purse and noticed I had a text from my brother. I gladly sat there, smiled and texted him back. The whole time Kaleb glared at me. I had to resist the urge to laugh. “My texts are to my family. You can’t say the same.”

  His phone beeped again. As he reached for it, I guess he noticed me roll my eyes because he had the nerve to laugh and say, “I know you’re not tripping the way you stay on your phone.”

  I cussed his ass under my breath and decided to surf the net for a few moments and noticed an email from Frankie.

  Hey Jae, here’s the directions to that Old School spot I was talking about. If you’re man ain’t acting right let me know and I’ll take you. LOL.

  Last week Frankie and I met for breakfast and he had mentioned a new lounge that had opened in Jefferson City. Since there weren’t too many places for black folks to go and have a good time, this was big news.