This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
Simply Complicated
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Crystal Davis
v2.0
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Contents
Prologue: Ken and Susan
Prologue: Jake and Camille
Prologue: Ted and Lynn
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank God for bestowing upon me this gift of writing that I never knew existed. A special thanks to my wonderful family for supporting me and believing in me. It is because of your love and continued support that I am able to write. I love you so much. You guys mean the world to me. To my best friends (you know who you are) who helped me to stay focused and took the time to read each and every page of the manuscript as each story unfolded. I love and appreciate you.
I would like to give a special thank you to my good friend Terry Chisolm at Eclipse Productions, for marketing my book. Thanks for everything. Thanks to T-3 Promotions for doing a great job with the cover design and to Wilderness Publishing for editing my manuscript. Thanks go out to Outskirts Press for making self-publishing easy. A special thanks to my niece Melody for helping with promotions and my niece Lashanda for designing my website. You are so gifted. It is my hope and prayer that you continue to allow God to use you.
Dedicated In Loving Memory
My Father, Edward Eddie Lee Hunt (1937–1977)
My Mother, Maxine Hunt (1940 –1985)
My Mother-in-law, Michelle Davis (1954 – 2009)
My Nephew, Lee Andrew Hunt (1979 – 2009)
I truly love you and wish you were here to experience this moment with me.
I would also like to dedicate this book to my two aunts who passed away recently, Bernice Gladney and LuVenia Damron. You are all now at peace.
Prologue
Ken and Susan
It was nearly 12:30 in the afternoon when Ken left his office and headed to Susan’s apartment. She was so happy that he called asking if he could come over.
As soon as he walked in she began kissing and undressing him. She failed to notice he was acting a little differently.
“Hey, baby! I was so glad you called. I guess you’re finally realizing that we belong together. I have your favorite drink in the bedroom on the nightstand, as always,” murmured Susan as she unbuttoned his shirt.
“I’m not drinking today,” Ken said.
“You’re not drinking?” she exclaimed.
“No. Susan, we need to talk,” replied Ken. He grabbed her hands, attempting to make her stop touching him.
“We can talk. Let’s go into the bedroom where we communicate best. I know one thing you’re doing today,” said Susan as she led Ken by the hand to the bedroom.
Before he could say anything else, Susan pushed him on the bed and climbed on top of him. Although he wanted to end their relationship, he still found it difficult resisting her sexually. She was so into getting her needs met that she didn’t care that Ken was behaving differently.
Whenever she tried kissing him passionately, he would turn away. He eventually turned her over onto her hands and knees so he wouldn’t have to face her as they had sex.
When it was over, Susan laid on her stomach with her eyes closed as Ken gently ran his fingers across her back.
“Susan, I have something to tell you,” Ken whispered as he continued to gently caress her back.
“What is it, Ken? Are you finally ready to marry me?” asked Susan sarcastically.
“Not quite. I’m not sure I can do this any longer,” he said as he sat up in the bed.
“Do what?” Susan replied.
“Cheat on my wife with you. I can’t be with you any more. I’ve decided that we should call it quits,” said Ken as he moved to the edge of the bed.
“You decided we should call it quits? You say that as if you are the only person who has a say in the matter. You can’t just decide it’s over just like that without any warning. I guess you’re finished using me and now you’re ready to go home and play husband as if I never existed,” cried Susan angrily as she got out of bed and grabbed her robe.
“It’s not like that, Susan. We’ve taken things too far and I can’t be all that you want me to be. You deserve someone better than me. You deserve someone who can take you out on dates and spend time with you and your family. You deserve someone who can be with you all the time,” Ken explained as he got dressed.
“Don’t try that mess with me, Ken. I’ve heard that before. You’re not the first man to use that line on me. I deserve a man who will be honest about why he is leaving me. I deserve a man who keeps his word,” said Susan as she paced back and forth across the floor.
Ken didn’t know what to say next. He just stood there looking at her, searching for the right words. Before he could speak, Susan started furiously walking from one room to another. She was so angry that she began talking to herself as if he were not there. “I can’t believe this. What kind of fool does he think I am? Calm down, Susan. Don’t get upset. Calm down, Susan. Don’t get upset,” she repeated.
“Are you okay, Susan? Try to calm down,” said Ken as he attempted to caress her shoulder.
As he reached out to touch her she turned and slapped him hard across the face. He was shocked. He didn’t see that coming. He was trying to keep the situation under control. As he tried to talk to her she slapped him again.
“I know you’re upset but you need to stop hitting me, Susan. I hate to break the news like this but there is never a good way to end a relationship. You knew coming into this that I was never leaving my family. I thought I made that very clear,” Ken backed away as he spoke.
She stared at him without saying a word.
“Did you hear me, Susan? Say something. Don’t just stand there!” Ken said.
“Well, since you have nothing to say, I’m going to let myself out. Goodbye Susan. Take care,” said Ken as he walked towards the door.
Without warning, Susan picked up the phone and threw it at him. It hit him in the back of the head.
“What the hell is wrong with you? I’m not going to let you keep hitting me! Now I’m trying to be nice but you insist on making this difficult. It is over between us and I’m not going to say it again,” yelled Ken.
“How can you do this to me? You said you loved me,” Susan screamed.
“Be for real, Susan. I like you but that’s about it. What we had together was sex. I thought you understood that,” said Ken.
“How dare you say that? What do you call what we just did? It felt as if we were making love—not just having sex. Two months ago you told me that you would leave your wife for me,” cried Susan.
“I never said that. Besides, you know the game, Susan. When we first met, you told me that you would not interfere with my marriage, that you understood the ru
les. Now that it’s over, you won’t let go. I am never leaving my family for you—not now, not ever!” said Ken angrily.
“When your wife wasn’t taking care of your needs, I was there. When she wasn’t pleasing you in bed, I was there. When you needed advice and someone to listen to you, I was there. Now after all we’ve been through in the last fifteen months you think I’m going to let you just walk away?
“Well, you don’t know me like I thought you did. I’m sick of men treating me this way. Playing with my emotions and then trying to walk out. It’s not right! You are the last man who treats me this way and gets away with it,” shrieked Susan as she stormed into the other room.
“Good morning, dear,” said Ken as he kissed his wife Monica.
“Hey baby. Hurry and eat your breakfast before it gets cold. What time will you get home tonight?” she asked.
“Around six o’clock. What time will you and Marci be home?” he asked, quickly buttering his toast.
“We’ll be home by five,” she replied.
“Will you be available for lunch today? I can pick you up around one,” he said.
“I’m not sure. Call me around noon and I’ll let you know,” Monica said.
“Okay dear—have a great day,” he said as he kissed her goodbye.
Ken enjoyed being an investment broker at one of Chicago’s top banks. He was good at his job and had everything a man could want: a beautiful wife and daughter and the ideal career.
Unlike most of the married men he worked with, he tried to be faithful to his wife. Most of them had a mistress and would often tease him for being monogamous.
They didn’t know that he secretly imagined having an affair but had never acted on his fantasies. He enjoyed listening to the illicit stories told by his friends and colleagues. He lived out his fantasies through their lured tales of fun and excitement and secretly wished it were he telling the stories.
Monica was a nurse in the psychiatric ward at the local hospital. They had been married for seven years and had their daughter Marci two years after their wedding. The first few months after Marci was born, Ken was excited. He would get up at night to change Marci’s diapers and rock her back to sleep so that Monica could get some rest.
As Marci grew older and required more of Monica’s attention, he started to feel neglected. He would often comment on their need for privacy and some alone time without the baby. Whenever they would try to be alone, Marci would wake up and start crying. Naturally, Monica would comfort her and sometimes she would fall asleep while rocking Marci. Ken would eventually go to sleep very frustrated.
He understood that being a parent was new to both of them and he tried to rationalize his feelings. Despite this understanding, what seemed to stand out in his mind was it had been several months since he and Monica were intimate together.
He was not blaming the baby nor was he really angry with Monica; he only knew that certain of his needs were not being met and he was trying very hard to not think about it.
Monica knew that Ken was getting frustrated so she arranged for her parents to watch Marci for an entire weekend. When Ken came home from work that day, he was surprised to see candles lit throughout the house and a sumptuous dinner on the table.
“Hey sweetheart,” he said as he kissed her on the neck.
“Hey baby. How was work?” she asked.
“Where is the baby?” Ken replied, looking around the house.
“She is at my parents’ house for the entire weekend. It’s just you and me tonight. Is that okay with you?” Monica asked, pulling off her robe to reveal her nakedness.
“Yes it is,” he said as he took her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
They spent the entire weekend rekindling their relationship and having fun together. Ken was happy and he felt re-energized when the baby returned home.
As time went on, Ken and Monica would often try to find time alone. They agreed that no matter how busy they became, they would always stay faithful and true to each other, and would put forth every effort to arrange a special date together at least once each month.
This arrangement worked well for a few years until Ken started working late in the evenings and on some weekends.
One evening, he and some colleagues visited the corner bar to celebrate picking up a big client they had been trying to acquire for quite some time. While there, Ken noticed a woman staring at him.
Initially, he tried to avoid eye contact with her but eventually, their eyes met and they both knew the other was looking.
As Ken and his colleagues prepared to leave, she approached him.
“Hello. I’m Susan Johnson and I couldn’t help but notice you looking at me. Do you want to have a drink with me at the bar?” she asked.
Ken sensed that she was trouble and tried to think of a way to graciously tell her no.
“Hello Susan, I’m Kenneth Thomas. It’s nice meeting you but I wasn’t staring at you. I just happened to glance your way and I noticed you looking at me. I’m sorry but I’m married and having a drink with you is not a good idea,” replied Ken, smiling politely.
Even though she kept insisting, he remained firm with his answer.
“If you ever want to feel single again give me a call,” she replied, smiling back.
Jake, one of Ken’s coworkers, immediately pulled out his business card and gave it to her. “If you’re ever interested in investing, give me a call,” he said.
Susan smiled and took his card. She then looked over to Ken, slipped her telephone number in his suit pocket, and walked away.
“Look who scored big tonight,” teased Jake.
“Hey man, if you’re not going to use the number then I will,” offered Rich.
“Come on, guys—cut it out,” said Ken.
He laughed and put the number on the table. Shortly after the conversation with Susan, they decided to leave the bar. Ken looked at the number and then over to the bar at Susan. He found himself picking up her number and heading out the door.
He knew it was risky keeping her number, but after looking at her again and finding himself getting excited, he convinced himself that there was nothing wrong with having her as a friend.
A few days after meeting her, Ken still could not get her out of his mind. There was something about her that turned him on. He wanted to call her but could never summon the nerve to do so.
One day while he was working at his office, there was a knock on his door. When he looked up he was startled to see Susan standing there.
“Hello Ken. How are you?” she asked, smiling provocatively.
He was surprised but extremely pleased to see her, “Susan! Wow! How are you? How did you find me?”
“I’m great!” she replied. “Remember your friend gave me his business card that evening? I assumed you worked at the same bank. I was in the area and thought I’d take a chance and see if you were at work. I wanted to come and apologize for my behavior the other night,” she said apologetically.
“I’m glad you stopped by. Come on in and have a seat. You look beautiful,” he smiled broadly and jumped up to pull out a chair.
“Thank you. You look pretty nice yourself. I was hoping you would have called me but I understand. You told me you were married and I can respect that. There aren’t that many honest men left. I didn’t mean to be so forward when we first met. I think I had too many drinks that night,” she explained.
“I didn’t think you were being that forward but I appreciate the apology anyway,” he gallantly offered.
“Well, thanks for forgiving me, kind sir,” she joked.
Ken chucked back, “Oh, I see you have jokes.”
“I love laughing and having fun. Life’s too short to not be happy,” her eyes sparkled as they shared a moment of hopeful laughter.
“I agree,” he said with a huge smile on his face.
“Well, I’ve wasted enough of your time. You take care of yourself, Ken,” she said as she stood to shake his hand
.
“What’s your hurry? I was enjoying your company,” he replied, rising to escort her out the door.
“Well, if you must know, I’m having dinner with my fiancé tonight and I have a few things to do before I head home,” she explained.
“So you’re engaged? I should have known a woman as beautiful as you would be taken,” he said graciously.
“Yes I am, and thank you for the compliment. So now that you know I’m in a committed relationship does that mean we can be friends now?” she asked, attempting to get his number.
He replied cautiously. “That does change things. I need to be honest with you. I thought about calling you several times but I wasn’t sure how I could do that without you getting the wrong idea. I would love for us to be friends but I didn’t know how to say that without you thinking I was trying to sleep with you.”
“You could’ve said it just like that. I would have understood. So, are we friends?” Susan asked.
“Yes. And to prove that I trust you, here’s my cellular number,” he said as he wrote it down and handed it to her.
“Thanks for the trust and the number. I really need to go. Can I call you this week?” she asked happily.
“Sure! I would really like that,” said Ken.
When she left he felt happy that they were able to talk. He decided that he would wait for her to call him.
He and Susan talked nearly every day. He would call her from work and occasionally from his cellular phone. Each time they talked the conversations focused on him. Initially they discussed his hobbies, favorite sports, his family, and work. Once they started getting comfortable with each other, their conversations shifted to his secret fantasies and the things that turned him on sexually. One evening he attempted to call her from his cellular phone but realized the battery was too low and the phone turned off. He decided to call her from his home phone.
Simply Complicated Page 1
