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My mind was moving a mile a minute full of questions, answers, and anxiety. Did Maverick have any idea that I would be at this get together? Had he seen me already, but was he acting as though he hadn’t to see what I would do? If I approached him, what would his reaction be? Does he hate me? What if he hates me? What if he doesn’t? What if he wraps his arms around me and asks if he can carry me upstairs to his room? O, Dios mio, it was only by the grace of God that I kept my composure. I was feeling muy caliente all of a sudden.
This weekend was getting more interesting by the minute. Finally, my drink arrived, and I took a long swig of the heavenly calming fluid. Almost immediately the numbing effect kicked in, giving me the nerve to take another glance in Maverick’s direction.
Just like so many years prior, he’d vanished. I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved that he was gone. The whole sighting was probably my mind playing tricks on me, anyhow – nothing but wishful thinking on my part. But then, I’d have to do some internal inspection, wouldn’t I? What would be the significance of me having visions of Maverick?
I smiled silently to myself while I nursed my drink. I was going to have to think long and hard on that one. I shook my head, giggling softly at my own naughty thoughts.
Then, without warning, two words I had not heard in years sent a raging heat from the top of my head down to the very tips of my neatly manicured toes.
Chapter 12
Shayla
What is taking Titus so long?
I’d showered, lotioned my skin to a silky glisten, and put on this delectable two-piece lingerie set, and he still had not made it back up to our bedroom with his breakfast. I reasoned that Rhonda must have been talking his ear off, and I hoped he was getting the name and address of the punk that abused her. After lying provocatively on the bed for a few minutes waiting, I peaked my head out the bedroom door and everything was quiet, so I called out to him.
“Titus?”
He didn’t answer, so I said to myself, “He must have let Ronnie out by now.”
Ready to drive him back up the wall where he would stay the rest of the morning, afternoon, evening, and night, I planned to remind him of everything that he was missing at home, and I mean everything. My husband and I needed this time alone together without his business getting in the way. Then I thought the worst, I hope he is not on the phone talking business, or worse, one of those raggedy negro friends of his have stopped by. I tell you we can have no peace!
I could give Titus one thing. On the rare occasion that he spent time at home, it was quality time – provided that he stayed away from his cell phone, and we had no visitors. I suppose that one of the two was already a wash with Ronnie stopping by this morning. Titus spared no expense spoiling me with gifts or performing his special late night massages in all the right places when I had his undivided attention. The thought made me smile. Thinking back to the time when he hired Chef Balal to prepare a romantic dinner se
renaded by the famous singer Joe in the comfort of our dining room, I knew he could be a really a special man when he wanted to be. I snapped back from that sentimental trip down memory lane and slowly descended the staircase making sure not to make a sound. I had a surprise or two for Titus that I knew he would enjoy.
Moving like a model on the runway, I tiptoed through the living room. The edible gold-toned lotion spread over my body was ready to be licked, bitten, eaten and kissed. Edible nipple pastries and panties were about to make for a full course meal for my husband. When he had his fill, I planned to take him into the shower and break in the new swing. The toils of an undercover freaky housewife were never done. I laughed at the thought as well. For a few fleeting seconds, I felt like the silly schoolgirl in love so many years ago when I first met Titus on the schoolyard. To keep that feeling alive, I was willing to give the best of me to a man who would no doubt indulge completely, but I also knew that within a few days he would go back to being a part-time husband.
I pushed those irritating thoughts to the back of my mind, unwilling to let reality ruin my rare moments of happiness. I decided a long time ago to take the good with the bad with Titus. I knew the role of a kept woman, and even though he’d “wifed” me, I was still stowed away like a mistress. I enjoyed the glitz and glam of being the first woman to a made man and made the best of the time we had together, staying true to him no matter what.
I searched the kitchen with no luck in finding him. As I walked out of the kitchen, approaching the den, the sounds of sensual moans resonated through the door. I knew good and well he was not up in there watching porn when he had the real thing waiting on him.
“I must have left that TV on earlier,” I said, as I reached for the door handle.
Just as quickly as I reached for the handle, I released it like hot fire when I heard my best friend’s distinctive voice say, “It’s fucked up that you choose Shayla over me when you know she can’t be the woman that you need like I can.” My brow wrinkled up in a confused scowl. I felt my nostrils begin to flare as I pursed my lips together to suppress the shout of surprise that threatened to come forth and reveal my position.
Then my husband let out a moan and replied, “Oh, Ronnie… shit! You know I got you, girl. Just make Big T cum for me. Get back in good with daddy.”
A shiver ran through my spine. Hearing Titus speak his code name for what was rightfully mine to another female was inconceivable. My mouth fell wide open with anger and disgust. I had to be hearing things. Surely, my husband and my best friend were not getting it on right there in my den while I listened on the other side of the door. I pressed my ear up against the expensive mahogany and heard the unmistakable sounds of kisses, moaning, and raunchy sex talk.
A range of disturbing thoughts came as flashes through my mind. I saw flashes of Rhonda’s smiling face looking at me that very morning as I explained to her how Titus had come home late the night before. I remembered how I had described our feverish love making, and how silent she had sat while I told her all of my intimate details. I saw a flash of Titus’ shocked face as he came down the steps that morning when he saw Rhonda sitting in our kitchen. He had insisted that I leave him alone downstairs with her, while I waited like a dumbass upstairs for sloppy seconds!
I was unable to feel or think coherently. Every emotion seemed to push itself into my head at the same time, and none of them were good. But when I pressed my ear firmly against the door the second time and heard my husband’s moans along with slurping and sucking sounds, hurt overrode all of the other feelings, flowing through my spirit like an uncontrollable rushing river.
If what I imagined was going on was true, my heart was going to break in two directions.
Hearing my best friend purr and say, “Titus, you like that? I told you Shayla can’t do you like I can,” caused my stomach to begin to hurt as much as my spirit, tying itself up into a million tightening knots. I just could not believe my ears. There was no turning back now. It was happening, and it was happening in my home. My beautiful… expensive… expertly-designed… house of lies.
“Stop talking, and work your magic, Mama,” I heard Titus say, and with that I could not comprehend, think, feel, or concentrate. Colors seemed to grow brighter and swim across my eyes. The edges of my vision began to grow dark, and I thought that I was going to pass out, so I placed one hand on a wall table for balance. Two of the people I loved the most in this world were disrespecting me to the fullest. It was as if I was frozen in place, unable to run from the incomprehensible situation that I was thrust into. After the night we shared together, after getting up and cooking him breakfast, and after preparing to spend another beautiful day with him, I realized none of it had mattered to my husband. No matter what I did to attempt to please him, there would never be any respect or appreciation from Titus. I shuddered under the weight of anger and disrespect that I was feeling, shock drying up any tears that may have tried to fall.
And Rhonda, how could I have been so naïve? Why hadn’t I listened to Mama all of those times when she had told me, “Never tell your friends your personal business between you and your man. They act like they care about you, but they listenin’ hard, baby. Too hard.” Even though I had shaken my head and disregarded her warnings, she had been right.
Let me not even address how this conniving bitch had allowed me to pour my heart out to her so many times about what I was going through in my marriage. All the while, she knew that she’d take any opportunity that presented itself to give my husband a blow job! I had to fight the urge to burst through the door and put that whore’s weave straight through my plasma television. All this time, I had been crying on Rhonda’s shoulders about my problems. I had been a blind fool. How long had this been going on? While she coddled me and essentially advised me to stop whining and appreciate what I had with Titus, she was one of the women who stole away precious moments with my husband. And now, she had grown bold enough to do her dirt in my own home to boot. The two of them didn’t have any more tact than to get themselves off in my house. They had just made a makeshift Motel 6 of my den while I lay upstairs like an idiot.
Finally, I took two steps away from the door, looking at that doorknob as if it had turned into a four-eyed monster. At the moment, I was unsure of myself and any of the people that were supposed to be close to me. Everything I believed in had transformed, became demented, and caved in on itself..
I didn’t know what to do, so I did what came natural to me. I ran. With no place to run to in particular, I ran back up to my bedroom. As badly as I wanted to confront the two of them, it wasn’t in my nature. If I was real with myself, I knew that I had always been too meek. Maybe that was part of my problem. Even when I attempted to assert myself, it came off very passive-aggressive. No one ever took me seriously. That must explain how two people who I had let into my exclusive inner circle had chosen to shit in it. Titus didn’t think his actions would bring about consequences. Why should he? They never had before. Sure, a few tears and angry shouts from me every now and then when he went too far, but other than that, it was always business as usual. He had to learn a lesson. This was the very last straw – the last hurtful thing he would do to me while I sat with my head in the sand.
