Chapter 43 Ace
Ace
“What’s my budget?”
“Ain’t none.”
“Ace!”
“Buy what you want, Ray Ray.”
I don’t know why my wife is arguing with me in the middle of the Louis Vuitton flagship store, but here we are.
After much coercion from me and one of the associates, she settles on a, well, a purse. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s pink and it’s cute on her. I tell her to go find a matching scarf. As soon as her back is turned, I approach another associate.
“Hey, I saw a little baby set. I need you to wrap that up for me.”
“Yes, sir. Pink or blue?”
“Blue. Actually, one of each. And also, pick out something that can double as a diaper bag. Wrap that, too. Be discreet.”
He nods and goes on his way.
Once we’re all checked out and back outside the store, she tries to peek inside my bags.
“Keep your eyes on your own work.”
I’m keeping my purchases to myself, along with the gift receipt just in case she does what she keeps saying she’s gonna do. And if I know her like I think I do, it’s a fucking pipe dream.
But we move.
Tori meets us at Top Hat, her favorite spot in NYC. It’s part lounge, part club, but she had us go to the cigar section where it’s quieter.
Raya’s laughing by the time Tori and I order our drinks. Scotch for me, martini for Tori, and club soda for my wife. The fact that she’s not drinking doesn’t go unnoticed, but I temper my excitement and let her be.
“So how do you feel about it?” Tori asks after Raya runs down the talk with her mother.
“I feel nothing. Same as before.”
“It’s okay if you feel sad,” Tori reassures. “I know you like to look strong, but you’re human.”
Raya rolls her eyes. “First of all, I don’t like to look strong, because when people think you’re strong, they leave you to fend for yourself. And second, I’m not sad. If I was, I would tell you.”
Tori looks at me and smiles. “You hear that, Ace? Your wife is a damsel in distress.”
I snicker at that.
“I didn’t say all that.” Raya looks at me. “Stop laughing at her dumb jokes.”
“Nah, it was just the idea of you pretending like you don’t already have us both wrapped around your fucking finger.”
“Oh how I wish that was true.”
Tori’s brow lifts. “Need we remind you of a little thing called first-degree murder?”
“Okay. I’ll give y’all that. But let’s get it all out on the table.”
“Hello! I’m Jordan, and I’ll be serving you tonight.”
Whatever she was gonna say gets lost in the flurry of menus, orders, and Tori flirting with Jordan. It’s not until Tori and I are on our second round of drinks that Raya revisits her point.
“Listen,” she begins. “I’m not gonna lie. I thought about killing both of you.”
I set my glass down and angle my body toward my wife, eager to hear this.
“I knew that would hurt me so much, I’d have to kill myself, so that plan was out. Then I thought about how I could hurt both of you.”
“Wait, what are we talking about?” Tori asks smoothly.
But Raya isn’t fooled. “Yall conspired to put his fucking baby in me, which was an insane violation of…everything. But we don’t have to rehash it.”
Tori nods.
“I’m never gonna forget that y’all went behind my back and did this to me. It really…hurt me.”
She said that last part like it was some bitter-tasting medicine she had to swallow. And frankly, I'm surprised to hear her say it. My wife isn’t one to talk about her feelings.
“Is there a way we can make it up to you?” Tori says, and Raya’s tiny smile makes my stomach twist.
“Y'all can listen to me. I need to say my piece. It’s probably gonna feel disrespectful, but it’s the only way.”
“Do what you gotta do, babe.”
“Wait a minute,” Tori objects. “When you say disrespectful—“
“I need to cuss y’all out a little bit. I gotta get this anger out. I think y’all would both agree that it’s like poison. If I don’t purge it…” she trails off, leaving us both to use our imaginations to finish that sentence.
“Go ahead,” Tori says. “Wait, lemme brace myself.”
She and I both sit up a little straighter.
“Okay. Auntie, you a lowdown, trifling, bald-headed bitch for that. And I say that because this nigga,” she points at me, “just became my family a few months ago. You’ve been my family all my life.
We share blood. You were supposed to be on my motherfucking side, hoe.
But you’d rather scheme with this stupid motherfucker. ”
She turns to me. “And you. Poor Ace. You ain’t nothin’ but a fuck ass mama’s boy without the mama part.
I mean, you know that’s dumb as hell, right?
You’re smart, but you’re slow. Some kinda way, you got it in your head to make me the mother you never had.
Oh yeah, I peeped that shit. I’m Freud, bitch.
I know I got issues, but nigga, you got issues.
And then you two idiots assemble like the fuckin’ Avengers to take down Thanos. Yes, bitches, I’m Thanos.”
I bite back a laugh.
“I’ll never forgive y’all, and I’ll never forget.
But I still love y’all, Lord knows why. And I must be maturing, because I’m gonna work past this shit.
I need you, Tori, because unlike Connie, you love me and you wouldn’t leave me, and I love you for that, you cunt.
You’re my rock. And Ace, I need you because I really think your slow ass is my soulmate.
Plus, I’d be broke as fuck without you, and you let me be me, and frankly, the sex is insane, and you talk me through it, and I just feel like I’ve found the dick I wanna ride for the rest of my life.
And I really, really love you. So there’s that. ”
She takes a deep breath.
“I’m gonna have your fucking baby, but I’m telling you right now…we’re going to the bank first thing Saturday morning. You’re gonna open me up a plastic surgery account and you’re gonna put money in it every month.”
“For?”
“A tummy tuck and a vagina reconstruction and a breast lift and whatever else I’ll need. Also? I’m not Ciara and you ain’t Russell Wilson. We are one and done, negro.”
“I got you.” I take a deep breath, fighting the smile on my face, and fighting the urge to get up and run around this fucking restaurant. “You’re really gonna have it?”
“What I just say?”
Tori’s whole face lights up. “I’m gonna ignore the names you called me. I’m too excited to get mad.”
And then Tori and I lock eyes, and we both jump up at the same time and grab each other in a hug.
“See, this the shit that’s gonna set me off,” Raya grits. “Be happy, but not that fucking happy.”
I burst out laughing at that. “Come ‘ere,” I say, grabbing her hand. “I wanna hug you. Real quick.”
There’s a tiny hint of a smile on her face as she allows me to pull her to her feet. I grab her in a gentle hug, knowing that if I let my body do what it wants, I’d probably squeeze her to death. I can’t help it. I’m overjoyed in this bitch.
“I love you,” I say in her ear, giving her a quick peck on the lips before I sit her back down.
I blow out a breath and rub my hands together. “I feel like this is a celebration. Yall want some champagne? Well, not you, babe. Tori?”
“Fuck both of y’all. Y'all ain’t drinkin’ no fucking champagne in front of—did y’all not hear a word I said? Don’t trigger me.”
“Okay, okay, I hear you.” I glance at Tori, who’s also trying not to explode with happiness. “The mama’s boy with no mama and the bald-headed bitch will temper our excitement.”
Tori breaks then, and so does Raya.
Everything feels a little lighter after that, or maybe I’m just floating on a cloud. More drinks, more laughter, more food for Raya. It’s like she’s finally given herself permission to act like a pregnant woman, and now she’s going for broke. Homegirl ate two whole steaks.
“Excuse me,” Tori says. “I’m going to powder my nose.”
We watch her leave, laughing when she wobbles on her feet, then I slide a little closer to Raya and lean in to whisper a little something.
“Did you get enough to eat?”
“I did.”
“I didn’t.”
She turns, and her eyes meet mine. “I got you later.”
“I know. I need a little taste, though.”
“Help yourself,” she murmurs. “There’s plenty.”
I swear to God, I wanna break her in half.
But I settle for a little whetting of my appetite. My eyes dart around as my hand sneaks under the table. When she feels my touch, she opens her legs, her gaze still fixed on my face.
I ease my fingers into her panties and find what I’m looking for. It’s hot. It’s wet. And I’m hard.
But I control myself, making a quick swipe before I pull my hand out. Her sharp intake of breath makes my heart beat faster and my brain work overtime to figure out a way to end the evening.
I see Tori approaching. Raya watches me put my fingers in my mouth and suck, but Tori, who’s looking dead at us, seems too tipsy to notice.
“Who wants dessert?” she breezes.
Raya clears her throat. “I’m good. Ace is full. I think we’re gonna—“
“Oh, no, I was thinking one more drink.”
“I think you’ve had enough, T.”
I place my elbow on the table, resting my hand on my chin, my fingers carefully resting below my nose. Raya bursts out laughing when she sees this, but once again, Tori is oblivious.
“Fine. I’ll get my cheesecake to go,” she says sadly. “Leaving me all alone in this big city.”
“You lived here for five years, Auntie.”
“Shit.” Tori ponders that. “I forgot all about that. Your aunt has lived, honey. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“I prefer cumming myself,” I mumble.
Raya shoots me a look.
“Lemme ask y’all something,” Tori says. “Mainly you, Raya.”
We both lean forward.
“You said he talks you through it. What does that mean?” she slurs. “Talks you through what?”
I press my lips together to hold the smile at bay, but Raya just stares blankly at her aunt. I’m over here fighting for my life, and they’re just looking at each other.
Then Tori looks at me. “What does it mean, Ace?”
“You really don’t know?”
She shrugs.
Raya shakes her head, but I been drinkin’ too, and she ain’t my auntie, so it’s whatever.
“When we make love—“
“Ace!”