34/ Danielle
I slowly rolled out of bed and jumped in the shower.
I was so tired I was tempted to call in to work and stay my narrow ass at home, but if I did that, I would have to listen to Chance’s mouth, and I really wasn’t in the mood to listen to all that jealous talk.
Especially since things had been going so well between us.
As soon as the water turned warm, I climbed in.
It usually took hot water beating across my back to get me going.
While I stood there with my eyes still closed, I couldn’t help but think about Calvin.
When he was here, he made it his business to give me a back rub, especially after a long day of caring for patients.
Thinking about him caused my heart to lurch.
I hated to say it, but I missed him. I mean, I really, really missed having him in my life. He had been a bright spot. And as much as I loved Chance and the things he did for me, and as much as he reminded me of Ron in bed, he just hadn’t filled the void that I felt now that Calvin was gone.
Damn. I don’t know why I was thinking about this now, especially since it was over between me and Calvin. I already dumped him once for Ron, so I know he’s not thinking about my ass anymore. And it’s not like Chance’s not a good man, because he is. He can fuck and knows how to suck a sistah’s toes.
But I missed cuddling with Calvin, holding each other while we’re discussing our dreams.
All Chance can talk about is playing the lottery on Saturday, hoping he’ll win that three hundred million so that he will be sitting pretty and buy himself a sweet ride.
I sighed.
It was so sad I could have laughed.
My boo-boo just needed a woman like me to motivate his ass to look toward the future and think bigger than a Tahoe on twenty-six rims.
Not sure how much time I’d wasted, I reached for my washcloth and quickly washed up, then climbed out and grabbed a large towel. When I stepped into my bedroom, I saw Chance holding my cell phone to his ear.
Hell to the no!
Dropping my hands to my waist, I waited for him to end the call and return it to my nightstand before I cleared my throat. As soon as he noticed me standing there, he turned around and frowned.
“You had a call,” he informed me.
My brow rose. Who the hell told him he could answer my phone?
“Who was it?”
“Some dude named Calvin.”
I gasped. “Calvin? What did he say?”
Chance reached for his pants and slipped them on while he spoke. “He asked for you and I told him you were in the shower.”
I was still trying to digest what he said when he walked across to me, planted a kiss on my cheek, then walked into the bathroom like it was no big deal.
Oh, but it was definitely a big deal.
I followed and stood at the door. “Um, what made you decide to start answering my phone?”
Reaching for the toothpaste, he paused and swung around, giving me a crazy-ass look. “’Cause I’m yo man, that’s why.”
He looked like he was waiting for me to say the wrong thing so that he could go off on me. Lucky for him, I wasn’t in the mood and didn’t have the energy, so I didn’t say anything.
Calvin never tried to answer my phone.
I respected his privacy and he respected mine.
“Ain’t I yo man?”
“Well, yeah,” I began. “But what would you say if I answered your phone?”
“You my girl. So, you can do that.”
He started brushing his teeth and I stood there stunned.
I couldn’t believe this.
“Did Calvin tell you what he wanted?” I tried to ask like it was no big deal.
“Nah, he just said to tell you he called,” he said with toothpaste running down his chin.
Shaking my head, I turned and headed back into the bedroom. Chance followed.
“Yo, baby girl. If we gonna do this, you need to tell them otha dudes you got a man now and they need to lose yo number.”
I swung around with attitude.
“Lose my number? What, I can’t have male friends?”
“What you need them for when you got me?” he asked with a grin, then wiped his mouth, came over, and scooped me off the floor and carried me back to the bed, kicking and screaming.
I couldn’t help but laugh because Chance could be so silly and always made it hard for me to stay mad at him.
“Baby, I’m feeling you and I’m in here for the long haul, but you’ve gotta be willing to make this thang work, and that means cutting them otha dudes loose.”
I gazed up into his sexy brown eyes and my body started talking nasty to me.
“I do want things to work.”
“Then that means it’s me and you. I don’t need no otha woman when I got this sexy thang here, and hopefully I’m all the man you need.”
Oh, he was definitely keeping me satisfied.
Sex was not an issue.
“You’re all the man I need, boo.”
“Good, then you can tell Calvin to lose yo number. I don’t believe in sharing. I’ve been telling all of them females at work that you my girl and all. And some of them have been hatin’, but hey, I’m all about being exclusive.”
I could just imagine which females had been smiling all up in my man’s face. It made me feel good knowing he had chosen me.
“Make sure you let them know you’re my man.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said with a smile, then glanced down at his watch. “Look, I gotta get to work.”
I watched him put on his shoes and frowned. “Aren’t you gonna take a shower first?”
“Nah, baby, I’m wearing you to work.” Leaning down, he kissed me. “I get to smell you all mothafuckin’ day.”
He kissed me once more and headed for the door.
I was grinning.
As long as he smelled like me, I didn’t have to worry about him being up under some other bitch at work today.
And that’s just the way I liked it.