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  “I know! I was so damned disappointed. What really pissed me off was that I was making excuses for his sorry ass after the bad sex. I was about to put up with his horrible sex game because I thought he was a good guy.”

  “Girl, that car probably didn’t even belong to him. If you continued dating him, he would have been begging for your car keys,” Kalena said.

  “You know what, I didn’t even think of that. Ooooh, now that just pisses me off, that car probably belonged to his daddy. There is no way that he could be able to afford that car on his salary. Damn, what a scrub.”

  Tamika interjected, “Well he can because he doesn’t have grown-people bills. Shit, that car note is probably one of the only bills that he has to pay. I’m not trying to look down on the brotha because we all have to make it, but stunting is not a good look.”

  Crystal sighed, “And then people wonder why I’m single. Look at the kind of men that we have to choose from. Every time I think that I’ve found a decent man, he turns out to have all kinds of issues. They’re not faithful, they live with their momma, they have anger issues, they’re spoiled, they’re selfish, and that’s just the beginning. I haven’t even tackled the sex issue!”

  “Don’t give up,” Tamika said, “There are men out there that are worth your time and attention, you just have to be patient.”

  “That’s all I’ve ever been, patient. I’m tired of waiting on a good man. I am serious about being a lesbian. There are plenty of women out here that would treat me right.”

  “I don’t know, these women are just as devious as the men now,” Kalena said. “I’ve heard some real horror stories from some of my co-workers. Lesbians go through the same bullshit that we do, so don’t cross that line thinking that it’s going to be easier. Girl, when you break up with women, they go absolutely crazy. My friend Rebecca got her tires slashed in the parking lot at work by her girlfriend.”

  “See, I would have to shank a bitch if she fucked with my car. I guess I’ll keep batting for team “D”. I swear that I’m not going to catch any feelings for the next guy that I screw. It will be a strictly sexual relationship; I don’t care how nice he seems to be. I want to have some real fun! Maybe I’ll sign up for one of those hook-up websites.”

  “You have really lost your damned mind,” Kalena laughed.

  “Girl that’s implying that she had one in the first place,” Tamika said before she turned and looked at Crystal. “Your ass better not get on one of those booty call websites. You know those young kids are on there and you don’t need to run into one of your students.”

  “Ugh, that’s just nasty. I’m going to have to think of something because my body is crying out. Maybe I’ll go to Vegas and buy me one of those boys!”

  “Okay this conversation is over,” Kalena giggled, “I’m going to need a hose to calm you down.”

  “Just leave the hose and I’ll use it in another way after you go,” Crystal said, gesturing lewdly, simulating raunchy sex.

  “Eww! You’re nasty!” Kalena squealed.

  “You know you like it,” Crystal said as she batted her eyelashes.

  Tamika sat back and watched the two of them joke around. She loved sitting around and joking with her friends but she was hurting on the inside. Her laughs weren’t genuine, she was faking it. All she wanted to do was guzzle down a bottle of wine and go to sleep. Her brain shifted to her doctor’s appointment that morning.

  Her doctor was a little surprised to see her again so soon after their last appointment, but he made time for her. She was a loyal patient and never bothered him unnecessarily. It was time for her to weigh her options and she wanted to discuss abortion as an option and to see how much time she had left to make the decision.

  He laid out her options for her but urged her to tell her husband what was going on, he didn’t want her to make a permanent decision based on temporary feelings. He knew how badly she wanted a child, and he’d seen the way that abortion emotionally destroyed women. Tamika left the office feeling more confused than she had been when she arrived. It was time for her to tell Reggie the truth, but she wasn’t ready. She couldn’t stomach seeing the possible look of disgust on his face, that would destroy her.

  Her hands moved to her stomach as she thought about the life that was growing inside of her. Was it a little boy or a little girl? Did it know that its mommy was considering getting rid of it? Tears sprang to her eyes as the gravity of what she planned on doing finally hit her. If Reggie was going to leave her over a child, then he was going to leave her anyway. Either way, she wanted her baby. If she had to do it without him, then that’s what she would have to do.

  “Earth to Tamika,” Crystal said as she waved her hand in front of Tamika’s face, “Are you listening to anything that I’m saying.”

  “Nope,” Tamika admitted.

  “What’s going on with you? Do you want to talk about it?” Crystal asked with concern.

  “No, I don’t want to talk about it. I just need to deal with it; after I have it all sorted out I may really need the both of you for support.”

  “Whatever your decision, we’re here for you,” Kalena said, “Although, I’m a little excited at the thought of being a God mommy.”

  “Who in the hell said that you were going to be the God mother?” Crystal laughed.

  “Both of you need to stop it, you know that you both would have to share the role. I’m not about to deal with either of you crazy chicks coming after me. Somebody at my job would probably think that I have a lesbian lover.”

  “You’re damned right,” Crystal said, “Because I would spray paint some real derogatory shit on your car if you didn’t make me your baby’s God parent.”

  “Then I would have to shank you,” Tamika laughed.

  “It’s a good thing that we’re going to avoid all of this drama. Wait…does that mean that you plan on keeping the baby? Have you talked to Reggie yet? What did he say? Oh my god, I’m sitting here rattling off at the mouth and you have some news!” Crystal was practically vibrating in her seat.

  “Calm down. I have decided that I’m going to keep the baby, but I haven’t told Reggie about the pregnancy yet.”

  “Well when do you plan on telling him?” Kalena asked, “When you’re in labor?”

  Crystal snickered and got a mean scowl from Tamika.

  “Sorry for laughing but it’s funny. Girl, tell that man that he has a child on the way so that he can man up and take care of his child. You know how Reggie is about taking care of his responsibilities. He’s far from a dead beat, once he finds out he has a kid, he will fall in line. You just have to give him a chance and stop freaking the hell out. Who knows, this may be what your relationship needs to get back on track.”

  “I don’t know, I hope so, but we’ve seen this story happen a million times over. Babies don’t make relationships better, they just amplify the joy or pain that you’re already experiencing. He may not run away from his responsibility but he may leave me and I have to be okay with that.”

  “No, you don’t have to be okay that!” Kalena said.

  “I do! Let’s face it; he’s made his mistakes but so have I. Maybe our relationship has run its course and it’s time to let it go.”

  “Don’t say that, you two are my only hope.” Crystal’s heart went out to her friend, she hated to see her hurting so badly.

  Well then I truly do feel sorry for you,” Tamika said sadly.

  #Chapter7

  “Do you forgive me?”

  Reggie

  The following day Reggie hopped up the stairs to Mimi’s house. He was happy to give her the money and then he was going to have to re-evaluate his life. This was too close of a call and this wasn’t the life that he wanted anymore. He worked hard for everything that he had, it was time for him to stop falling back on bad business.

  Mimi answered the door before he could knock, “You have my money?”

  “Yeah,” he said.

  She smiled at him and opened
the door. She was dressed in a skintight leopard dress that showed off all of her womanly curves. He still remembered the way that her skin felt when he dug his fingers into her flesh. The sounds of her moans still haunted his memories at night. He hated it when he missed her but she was a part of him, she was the reason that he wasn’t broke and in the streets.

  “What are you looking at?” She asked.

  “Nothing,” he said quickly as his dick hardened. It was definitely time for him to sleep with his wife because he was tripping.

  “Mmmhmm, you try to act like you don’t miss me, but I know you do. I see the way that you look at me,” she said as she walked towards her couch, sat down, and sexily crossed her legs. “I turned your little ass out. Your wife should be thanking me; I taught you everything that you know.”

  Reggie’s blood boiled whenever Mimi mentioned Tamika. Tamika was in a class of her own, and her name should never be spoken from the lips of someone like Mimi.

  “Aww, are you mad at me for telling the truth, Baby? I know that there is no way that you can forget what my lips felt like as they were wrapped around your big cock. Does that little prissy girl know what to do with what you’re packing?”

  “If she didn’t then I wouldn’t be with her, she’s a grown ass woman, and she’s my wife. I came by to give you your money.”

  “Well, give it to me then,” she grinned as she licked her ruby red lips.

  “Where’s your little boy toy?”

  “Are you talking about Solomon? He’s out handling some business for me. Why? You want to temporarily take his place?”

  “Nah, he just is usually somewhere around ready to kiss your ass at a moment’s notice.”

  “Tsk tsk tsk, jealousy doesn’t look good on you baby.”

  Reggie ignored her and handed her a bag of money, she placed it on the table and didn’t look through it. She trusted him, he didn’t play around when it came to her money, he knew better.

  “Come here,” she said.

  He took a few steps closer to her; he was familiar with the look in her eye. She was horny and she was about to make a move. Anticipation, excitement, fear, and disgust filled his being at once. His big head was telling him to get the hell out of there but his dick and feet weren’t getting the memo.

  She was right; the memory of her mouth enveloping his dick was something that his mind could never erase. She was a pro at that and not even Tamika could compare with her head game. Tamika was really good at it now but damn, Mimi would have him speaking in tongues.

  “Closer,” she demanded.

  He stepped directly in front of her and she stared at his bulge. He stood there unashamed of the tent that was inside of his pants. All he could think about was her mouth; he wanted her to suck the memories of the last few months out of his head. For a little while he just wanted to lose himself, enjoy himself, and feel good.

  They temporarily made eye contact before he looked away. He couldn’t stand to look at her face; he just wanted her to put him out of his misery so that he could go home. Mimi’s light chuckle filled the room and her hands expertly unfastened his belt, undid the buttons of his slacks, and slid his zipper down. The sound of the zipper was loud; at least it was to him. It made his pulse race, his cock jumped, it knew what was coming, and it was excited. She pulled his pants down, and unleashed his massive cock from his underwear.

  “Mmmm, it looks just as good as I remember,” she whispered. Her tongue swirled around the tip before she ran her tongue down the underside of his shaft, and bathed his balls with her saliva. She lightly stroked his cock as her tongue bounced along his scrotum playfully. His breathing intensified, she was playing with him, torturing him.

  She slightly hummed and then wrapped her mouth around the head of his dick, swirling her tongue around it before she took more of him inside of her mouth. His face turned up towards the ceiling as he enjoyed the nostalgic feeling of her sucking him. His hand went to the back of her head and pushed deeper in her mouth. It was so warm and wet, he was damned near ready to blow his load. It had been too long, far too long.

  He looked down at her as he grabbed a hand full of her hair and reality hit him. What the fuck was he doing? Why was he acting so stupidly? While he still had his wits about him, he pushed her off him and took a few steps back.

  “Oh please, don’t tell me that you’re getting a conscience now. Get back over here and let me finish, let me remind you of how real women do it.”

  “Nah, I’m good,” he said as he put his hard dick back into his underwear and pulled his pants back up. “I’m gonna get the hell out of here.”

  “Wow, some things never fucking change.” She sounded pissed off and hurt. “I’m so sick of you thinking that you can come and go as you please. I made you and you’ll always belong to me. That dick will always belong to me. I know that you think of me when you’re fucking her.”

  See, that’s where Mimi was wrong. When he had sex with his wife, the only thing on his mind was his wife. Mimi was tight but she was nowhere near as tight and wet as Tamika. She didn’t seductively say his name the way that his wife did, his body wasn’t filled with love when he screwed her either. She wasn’t anything compared to the woman that he married, which is why he married her. But there wasn’t any way in hell that he was going to say that. He’d already pissed Mimi off, and he didn’t want to incur her wrath further, the quicker he go out of there the better.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just going through a lot right now and I have to start thinking about shit before I do it. I hope you understand, but I really have to get out of here.”

  “Bye, Reggie.” She crossed her arms and tried her best to look unhurt, but he knew better. Even she had feelings.

  On his way out of the door he passed by Solomon. He gave him a sly grin and headed down the street. He’d almost really fucked up his life again, it was time for him to make things right with his wife.

  *

  That evening Tamika was tired and excited at the same time. She wasn’t sure what to expect but she hoped that it would be good. She desperately needed something good to happen to her. When she got a text from Reggie asking her to meet him at Dressler when she got off work, she was happy. That was the man that she knew and loved, she missed their date nights and they were overdue for another.

  Her day had been tough. The work she could handle, but being around Jin was a completely different story. Everything was awkward between them and she missed the relationship that they had before. Going back wasn’t an option because they were too aware of one another. She could still feel his hungry kisses. He was a passionate lover and she fell asleep many nights wishing that she was with him.

  Getting that text message from her husband strengthened her resolve and confirmed that she made the right decision to cut Jin off. She couldn’t effectively maintain two relationships and she had to choose the one with her husband. What she did was wrong, she had a weak moment, and she was moving on.

  She stepped inside of the restaurant and her husband was sitting in a booth along the wall. He waved her over. She gave a polite smile to the hostess, pointed towards her husband, and joined him.

  “You look good,” Reggie said with a warm smile.

  “Thanks,” she blushed. What in the hell happened to her husband? He was acting like he liked her, and looking at her the way that he used to. She wasn’t complaining but she couldn’t help but wonder what caused the sudden change. “Are you doing alright?” She asked.

  “I’m great.” He reached for her hand and laced her fingers with his own, “I invited you out because I wanted to take the time to apologize to you.”

  “Apologize to me for what?”

  “I’ve been acting crazy, and you’ve still stuck by me. You never stopped trying to reach me even though I’ve been difficult. Work has been stressing me out but that’s no excuse to treat you the way that I have. I’ve been standoffish and selfish. I haven’t considered how my actions have made you feel at all.”


  Tears sprung to her eyes as she heard his admission. She pushed down the part of herself that wanted to get catty and rattle off a list of his transgressions, but she couldn’t do that, not when he was looking at her with his beautiful brown eyes. Warmth settled over her and a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. He’d returned to the man that she knew and loved so much, she hoped that it wasn’t temporary. “What’s been going on with you? Why have you shut me out?”

  “I don’t know. There has been so much pressure on me at the office, I felt like I couldn’t stack up, and it was effecting everything else in my life. But that’s over with, I’m back to being me.”

  She smiled, “Baby, there is nothing that you can’t tell me. When you’re going through a tough time, share it with me. I’m here to help you carry the burden.”

  Reggie listened to her words and he contemplated telling her the truth, but he was way too deep in his lie. He would have to start making legitimate money soon, or risk his wife finding out the truth. She would find out about the past that he’d been trying so hard to hide since he met her. He couldn’t let her know that she’d married a street thug. She always talked about how she didn’t have any time or tolerance for men that made money illegally. She valued her freedom and her community too much to respect people that pumped poison into their own neighborhoods.

  Tamika expressed how impressed she was by him constantly. She always wondered how he did so well for himself and his brother. The odds were stacked against them but he managed to come out on top. He couldn’t tell her that he made it through the drug trade. The drug trade took care of him and his little brother and he had to sleep with she-devil to get it. Not only that, but he had to do it for at least four years into their relationship. Tamika would never forgive him. Tamika’s father would probably try to kill him, and for good reason.

  The waitress came and took their orders. Tamika’s stomach gurgled; she hadn’t been feeling too hot over the last few days so she only ordered a salad. Reggie wasn’t used to that from her because she was a huge foodie. He also noticed that she hadn’t been going to the gym lately either.