Don't Even Go There

by Brenda Hampton

  As I continued to look around upstairs, I heard the garage door open. My heart dropped to my stomach. I went back into the master bedroom, where I’d seen his-and-hers walk-in closets. Liz’s closet was packed with clothes, shoes, hats, and purses, so I knew it would be easier for me to hide in there. I did, and wrapped myself with a comforter I’d seen in the far corner.

  I could hear Liz on the phone talking to someone. I wasn’t sure about moving just yet, so I stayed put.

  “Me too,” she said to the person on the phone. “I can’t wait to get to church on Sunday to see how she reacts.” She paused for a while. “I agree. I think she’s screwing the pastor too, and the way he be looking at women drives me nuts. I’m going to find me another church to go to, soon.” She laughed and paused again. “I know, and her dress! Did you see it last Sunday? That thing was up to her butt. She should know better, wearing something like that. I know you’re supposed to come as you are, but that doesn’t mean you should go to church looking like a tramp.” She paused, then told the caller to hold on. “Yes, dear,” she said. “Nothing, just talking on the phone to Cicely. She’s running her mouth too much for me, so hold on a minute while I get her off this phone.” She paused. “Cicely, this is my honey pooh. I’ll talk to you later.” There was silence for a minute. “Okay, babe, I’m back. Are we eating in or out tonight?” She listened to him speak. “Aw. Well, I’ll throw something in the microwave for me, and you can pick up something on your way home. See you later and be careful.” She paused before delivering the final blow. “I love you too, honey.”

  Fake, fake, fake was all I could think. I was somewhat worried about getting caught in the closet, and, more than anything, being arrested for breaking and entering. But seeing how these two operated at home was very interesting to me. Liz was just as I had expected, and, as I said, people really knew how to show their asses behind closed doors. The door to her closet opened, and I watched as she tossed a long silk robe over her shoulder. She removed her heels and placed them on a rack in front of her. She left the closet, closing the door behind her. I was actually in a pretty comfortable place in the closet, and as another hour and a half went by, I could hear the microwave going, and her yakking on the phone again. Then she came back into her room. I heard the bed squeak a little, then I heard the flat-screen TV that was above the fireplace come on. While on my knees, I crawled to the door, carefully turning the knob. I cracked the door a tiny bit, and saw Liz sitting on the bed, eating a Healthy Choice dinner. She was looking at the TV, and laughed at the reality show that she was watching.

  “Terrible,” she commented out loud. “These people should know better.”

  She finished her food, and left the plate on the tray. I thought she was going to go back downstairs, but she didn’t. She seemed tuned in to the TV, then picked up her cell phone again.

  “Joy,” she said. “Girl, are you watching The Bachelor tonight?” She paused. “I know. It’s ridiculous, and he’d better not end up with that hoochie. I can’t stand her, and if he picks her I am never watching this show again.” She laughed, and when she heard the garage door go up, she told Joy she’d call her back. I saw her stretch and yawn while looking toward the doorway.

  “Hello.” She smiled as Steven walked into the room with a briefcase in his hand. He set it next to the bed and walked up to her. The same lips he used to suck my pussy were being placed on hers.

  “Hey. How was your day?” he asked.

  “Ugh,” she said. “It was just okay. I tell you one thing, though. I am really getting sick of my job. Mr. Aimes is working me, and so are that darn Claudette and Chase. The way they look at each other drives me crazy. I’ve really got to do something to put my department at ease. It’s not fun anymore. There was a time that we all used to have fun.”

  Steven was just nodding his head, I assumed, not paying her any attention, because he didn’t respond. He sat on the edge of the bed, removing his shoes and wiggling his toes.

  “I think my feet are growing, because my shoes are starting to get too tight.”

  “No, your feet aren’t growing. Something else may be growing, but definitely not your feet.”

  Steven turned around to look at her, then snickered. He pulled off his jacket, then stood to go into his closet. He remained in there for a while, then walked back out in his boxers.

  “What did you eat?” Liz asked.

  “I had a sandwich. I really wasn’t that hungry.” He picked up his briefcase and set it on the bed. He removed some papers, then put the briefcase back on the floor. He joined Liz in bed, sitting up next to her. She was still tuned in to The Bachelor, and as she talked about the show, Steven stayed consumed with the papers in front of him. Liz got up to leave the room, and came back minutes later with two wineglasses. She gave one of them to Steven.

  “Thank you,” he said, pecking her lips again. “You’re so sweet.”

  “I know. And so are you.”

  “Not as sweet as you are.”

  “As I said, I know.”

  They laughed, and as the night went on, they made small talk with each other. I was ready for the lights to go out, and for them to go to sleep, just so I could get the hell out of there. My back was starting to hurt and the closet was getting rather stuffy.

  Liz kept flipping through the channels, and when she yawned, I felt relieved. She finally turned off the TV and scooted down in bed.

  “I’m getting ready to go to sleep,” she said, puckering her lips. Steven leaned over and kissed her.

  “Good night. I’m going to shut it down in a minute too.”

  Liz turned her back, and Steven continued to sit up, observing the papers in front of him. He shook his head a few times, scratched his arm, then looked over at Liz. He stared at her for a few minutes, then laid the papers on his nightstand. He scooted down in bed, cradling the back of Liz.

  “Baby,” he whispered. “Have you gone to sleep yet?”

  “Almost.” She remained with her back facing him, and when his hands started to roam over her body, I was heated. He lifted her leg over his, and, from her moans, I could tell he was touching something. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. It surprised me how peaceful things really appeared to be with them at home. It may have been a little boring, but, based on what my eyes saw next, maybe not.

  Liz climbed on top of Steven and he lifted her long silk nightgown over her head, exposing her nakedness. He eased down his boxer shorts, kicking them to the edge of the bed. I watched as his boxers fell to the floor in front of my peeping eyes. Liz started to ride him and the look in his eyes displayed that he was very much into her.

  “Ahh,” he moaned. “I love you…love this. Do your thing, baby, and keep on giving it to me like this.”

  “I love you too,” she said, riding him for a while longer, then turning herself around. Her face could be seen right through the crack of the closet, so I got a good look at her facial expressions. Steven had gotten behind her and was thrusting himself into her. Not quite as hard as he entered me, but more gentle. Her eyes were closed and she was licking around her top lip. “Ohh, Stevie,” she whined. “Stevie, honey, this feels magnificent. Go in deeper. You know how much I like it when you go deep. Keep making me feel this good, every day, for the rest of my life!”

  “Stevie” went in deeper, and Liz cut up just as much as me. She was panting like a dog, and he was grinding inside of her like there was no tomorrow. After all of the sex we’d been having, I was surprised that he still had so much energy. My insides were boiling. I wanted to pull the door open and tell him to go fuck himself, along with that trip he had mentioned to Vegas. I guess I shouldn’t have been as upset as I was; after all, she was his wife. But seeing this shit for myself just did something to me. And just as I thought they were about to shut it down, he suggested that they go take a shower. I heard the water come on, and while in the closet, I could hear him pounding her against the wall. With each thud, she groaned out loud, telling him how much she l
oved him. He threw it back to her too, and as they continued, I rushed out of the closet to leave.

  For the next several days, I answered not one of Steven’s calls. He was like, “Where are you, sweetness? Why haven’t I heard from you?” Had the nerve to even say he missed me, and when the Vegas weekend came, I was missing in action. I let my cell phone ring and ring, and refused to answer his calls. Just so I didn’t have to stay cooped up in the house, I called Veronica to see if she wanted to go to the movies. That helped clear my head, and before the movie got started, we chomped on buttered popcorn. I started to tell her about what had happened at Liz’s house that day.

  “I was hiding in the closet, watching the action with a close-up view. My back was killing me, though, and when they went to the shower to finish up, I got the hell out of there.”

  Veronica’s mouth was wide open. She kept shaking her head in disbelief. “You never cease to amaze me. Weren’t you scared? I would have been shaking all over. What if they would have come in that closet and seen you?”

  “If that would’ve happened, I would have busted out Steven. I was more concerned about being arrested for breaking and entering than I was about being caught by them. But what I saw really shocked me.”

  “Why? You had to know he was still having sex with his wife, didn’t you?”

  “Of course. But these men be acting like they’re so unhappy at home with their wives, but many of them are not. They just enjoy having their cake and eating it too, and I don’t like feeling as if I’m being used. I didn’t expect him to be that aggressive with her, and, honestly, it shocked me.”

  “I’m just in awe about the whole thing. So, have you spoken to him since then?”

  “He’s called, but I haven’t answered his calls. We were supposed to go to Vegas this weekend, but so much for that. I’m not going anywhere with him until I start getting some of the things I want. Girl, you should have seen that house. Liz got it made, and somebody got some straight-up money. I know it’s him, and it’s time for him to pay up.”

  “Have you fallen for him? You always said this was a ‘D’ thing, nothing more, nothing less. I know you ain’t trying to have a for-real relationship with him, are you?”

  “I’m just talking a bunch of mess right now because I’m mad, maybe a little jealous. But if I ever get with a man, he’d better be bringing it like Steven. As for him, what in the hell can I do with a married man, other than fuck him? I’m far from being a fool, and Steven knows that. If I say something to him about Liz, that’ll make me look weak. He admires the confidence and nonchalant attitude that I have about his marriage. We are definitely going to keep doing our thing, and it will be a long time before either of us gets tired.”

  We both laughed and quieted ourselves when the movie got started.

  After the movie wrapped up, I dropped Veronica off at home and headed to my apartment. I was inside for about ten minutes, then I heard a knock at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but when I asked who it was, the person cleared his throat.

  “Steven,” he said.

  I was surprised that he had come to my apartment, and figured he must have gotten my address from the file that I’d left at his office. I hurried to check myself in the mirror, and straightened a few pillows on my couch. A glass was on my living room table, so I quickly ran and put it in the kitchen sink. I took a deep breath, then pulled on the door, inviting him into my cozy apartment, which was nicely decorated, but could in no way compare to his house.

  “Have you been getting my calls?” he asked, standing by the door. He was casually dressed in jeans and a button-down tan shirt.

  “Yes. But I’ve been dealing with something personal, so I stepped back for a minute.”

  He slightly cocked his head back. “Stepped back? But what about our trip? I paid for two tickets to Vegas and had to go alone. I didn’t know what was up. I thought something had happened to you.”

  I sat on the couch, tucking my leg underneath me. “No, I’m okay. As I said, I just had some personal issues, and I didn’t want to involve you.”

  He walked around the table and took a seat at the other end of the couch. “You want to talk about these personal issues or what?”

  I let out a deep breath and turned toward him. “Are you still having sex with your wife?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “Barely. Why? What’s it to you?”

  “I just wanted to know, especially since we have as much sex as we do.”

  He shrugged. “So? And what does that mean? Am I supposed to completely cut off sex with my wife because we’ve been overly active?”

  “No, not at all. And before you get all bent out of shape about it, I was just asking.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t be asking at all because it’s really none of your business. When we started this, I warned you about these kinds of conversations. I’m not having them with you, and if you’re getting to a point where you can’t handle this, let me know. I’ll back up, and you won’t have to stress yourself about doing it.”

  I loved aggressive men, but smart-mouth, arrogant men, especially the ones with wives, drove me nuts. “I guess you’re right,” I said, removing my leg from underneath me and standing up. “Besides, I don’t like to feel stressed. When I get over this ill feeling I have inside, I’ll call you. If it doesn’t disappear, then I guess you won’t hear from me anytime soon.”

  I went to the door, opening it wide so Steven could exit. He got off the couch. I could tell his insides were boiling, but he played it smooth. “Whatever, baby. It’s whatever.”

  “See you later, Stevie. Have a good night.”

  He stopped before exiting. “Don’t call me that,” he said.

  “Why not? That’s what your wife calls you, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe so. But you’re not her.”

  “Wouldn’t want to be. Ever.”

  He walked out and I closed the door behind him. Steven made one big mistake tonight, and that was lying to me. It wasn’t rare that he was having sex with Liz, and she even blurted it out that night. She specifically said, “Keep making me feel this good, every day, for the rest of my life.”

  Just with her saying that, I knew it was on. I was going to sit back for a while, because I had a feeling how this would play itself out. Steven would reach out to me before I ever reached out to him again. For months, I prepared myself for something like this to happen, and whenever he called me again, I didn’t want to be shacked up in hotels with him. I didn’t want to be in the back seat of a car, or screwed on the couch in his office. I wanted to be in the bedroom at his house, and in his shower, just like he was with Liz. No exceptions. Never as his wife, but as his plaything when his marriage fell apart. No doubt, it was bound to happen.

  Chapter 10

  The company picnic was today and Forest Park was packed with people that I worked with and their families. I invited Lance to go with me. He didn’t mind, and since he was already pretty cool with Veronica too, we sat at a picnic table playing cards with two other ladies named Jazel and Gina. They worked in another department, but were known for gossiping. We couldn’t even play cards without them talking about everybody’s business around us. At the moment, they were discussing Claudette. She brought another man to the picnic with her, and the two of them seemed awfully chummy. I had warned her before about bringing her man around others, but luckily for her, he wasn’t my type.

  Liz was there with Steven, and her ol’ prissy self sat far away from everyone, underneath a tree. She had a blanket on the ground, and Steven rested back on the blanket while reading a business book. When the barbecue cooks yelled for everyone to come and get it, folks gathered in line with paper plates in their hands. Before people ate, Mr. Aimes stood up, giving a speech about how much he appreciated the work his employees had been doing. He congratulated Liz on the increasing sales, and everyone clapped. I was fake as ever, and when I saw Steven look my way, I turned my head. I went to the food line with Lance and Veronica, and w
atched some of the kids jump up and down on a huge bouncing castle filled with balls.

  It was pretty hot outside, so I was dressed in a yellow halter that tied with two strings in the back. My blue jean shorts were pretty short, but had a one-inch cuff at the bottom. I wore white Nike tennis shoes and left my sandals at home, only because I knew we’d be playing volleyball.

  After we ate, a group of coworkers gathered to play volleyball. Lance wanted to go against me and Veronica, so he opted for the other team. More men were on that team anyway, and where we played, it was right in front of where Steven and Liz were chilling on the blanket. At first, Steven remained absorted in his book, but when Liz walked away, that’s when he sat up. I was laughing out loud, letting him know that I definitely wasn’t hurt because he hadn’t called me in almost three weeks. I even bent over a few times, just so he could look at what I knew he was missing. When the ball was served over my head, I ran to get it. It rolled right by Steven, and he picked it up. He tossed it to me.

  “Thanks.” I smiled and turned back around to continue the game.

  The women had lost two games, and, by this time, I was tired as ever.

  “Sore loser,” Lance teased, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I laughed loudly.

  “He’s looking,” Lance said underneath his breath. “And you know who I’m talking about.”

  “Put me down,” I yelled out. A few seconds later he did, but kept his arm around my waist. I would have kissed him, but since kids were around, I backed up and smiled. Not once did I look Steven’s way, but I figured he was still checking me out. A few minutes after that, I noticed him going to his car. He left, but Liz remained behind. She made her rounds talking to people, and finally came over to our table to talk to us.

  “It is hot out here, isn’t it?” she said.

  “Very,” I replied. Everyone else nodded. She continued to talk to us, and when my cell phone vibrated, I stepped away from the table to take the call.