Chapter 16 Baye
I had just fucked this woman into a coma last night, and she was up and out of bed before the sun could even rise.
That shit made me feel a way.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed just as the door opened, and Alicia walked in.
She was dressed in a black, formfitting dress.
Those hips stuck out like camel humps, and her hair was bone straight.
She wore light makeup, sheer stockings, and black, six-inch stilettos.
My dick stiffened just from looking at her beautiful ass, and before I knew it, I was across the room, pulling her to me.
“Good morning, beautiful. You look good as fuck, baby,” I said, kissing her neck. She pulled away from me and smiled lightly.
“Thank you.” She walked over to the chair in the corner, grabbed my clothes she’d obviously folded, and handed them to me. “I fed the kids and got them dressed already. My mom is on her way to pick us up for church. There’s a fresh toothbrush and washcloth on the sink in the adjoin—”
I frowned while cutting her off. “Wait. Why do I feel like you’re dismissing me? What’s going on, love?”
“Nothing. I just don’t need you for today.” She avoided eye contact with me and had been since she walked in. Something was off with her, and I knew it couldn’t have been the sex. I never had a complaint, and with the way I had her cumming back to back told me this wasn’t that.
Something happened last night.
I saw it on her face when she walked through the door, and I thought to pry further, but she distracted me when she kissed me.
“Talk to me, baby. Because I’m not buying that it’s nothing going on.”
She twisted the rings on her fingers while looking down at her heels.
“I saw Leo and my ex-best friend last night at the spa together. Seeing them only confirmed what I already knew. My husband left me with three kids for my best friend and had the nerve to tell me she’s pregnant.
We got into an altercation, and me and my cousin got banned from the spa for a year.
I just—I messed up last night. I was a little buzzed, hurt, and pissed off, and I just needed to feel something. ”
“Humph.” I waited a minute before I spoke because I felt used. Disposable. Like she didn’t mean what she said last night. “So, we’re back to this place again?”
“What place?”
“This employee/boss shit? That’s how you playing it?”
“Basil, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like, Alicia?” My voice raised a little because I felt a little hurt by her actions. I took a breath because I had no right to raise my voice. I knew what this was, but I hoped last night meant more to her than this.
In a calm voice, I said, “You telling me about you seeing your fuck-ass ex with your fuck-ass ex-best friend, and now you’re pressing pause on us again like you didn’t just cum on my dick ten times last night.”
“Please don’t be upset. I told you I wasn’t ready for a relationship. It’s only been three months since that bastard broke my heart and left me with three kids. I’m just trying to figure this shit out. I thought we agreed to be friends.”
“Yeah, you put that boundary between us, then crossed it last night when you had sex with me. Now you think you can just close the box you opened whenever you feel like it? How is that fair to me?”
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from me.
You know what? Fuck this.
I put on my clothes and grabbed my shoes to put them on. She stood near the door with a sad look on her face, and that was the last thing I wanted for her. I got myself into this. I knew she wasn’t ready, and because I really liked her, I thought it would be easy to help her get through her pain.
Obviously, I was wrong.
I couldn’t allow another woman to hurt me because they were hurt. This was on me for having high expectations for a situation that hadn’t truly healed. I wasn’t even mad at shorty for pulling away. I just wished she hadn’t put that good-ass pussy on me before she did.
“I’m sorry,” I offered. “I’ma give you your space, baby. I knew it was too soon, and you wasn’t ready for me. I should have stopped you last night, but I didn’t think you were going to use me as a rebound to get over seeing your ex with his mistress.”
“Basil, don’t do that. You were not a rebound.”
“I was, and I’m okay with that.” I walked over to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go back to how things were when I first started. You need time to heal, and I don’t want to be another nigga that makes you feel unworthy. You have a good day, baby.”
She didn’t say anything as I walked out of her room.
When I made it downstairs, I went into the family room, where the kids were watching Jools TV and dancing to the song on YouTube.
I gave them all hugs and told them I’d see them in the morning.
Of course, Carsyn and Chloe had questions, asking why I wasn’t going to church with them, so I had to tell them I had something important to do.
They bought it, and I was thankful for that.
I grabbed my satchel, gathered the finance statements I was looking over last night, and walked out of the front door, running into Ms. Anika on the way out.
“Hey, Basil. You coming to church with us? It seems like you’ve been missing the last couple of Sundays.”
I gave her a hug and smiled at her. “Nah, not this Sunday. Got a few things to do today before I start my work week.”
“Oh, okay. Well, we miss you coming. Don’t make it a habit. Come back sometimes.”
“I will. I promise. In the meantime, send one up for me, please?”
“You got it, baby. Have a good day.”
“You as well.” I bid her adieu, hopped in my truck, and started the engine.
I looked over and saw Alicia standing in the doorway and staring at me.
She diverted her eyes when her moms made it to the porch, and she plastered a smile I knew wasn’t real on her face.
I pulled out of her driveway and headed home to shower and change, with the smell of her on my chin and hurt feelings.
I walked into my parents’ home and spotted Siori in the living room, watching TV while playing with her dolls. Her face lit up upon seeing me.
“Uncle Baye!”
She moved with hurried feet toward me, and I opened my arms to receive her. It was just what I needed after the morning I had. I had intentions of going by their house after I left here, but I was glad I didn’t have to.
“Hey, princess. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Can we go back over Ms. Alicia’s house? I want to show Chloe my new dolls. Mommy let me buy her one and Carlee a teddy bear!”
I smiled at her. “That was sweet, baby girl. I’ll see when’s the next time they’re available, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Where are your sister and brothers?” I asked, walking with her still in my arms toward my mother’s sunroom, where I knew she loved to be.
“The boys are with Daddy and Grandpop, and Sahira is taking a nap.”
“Cool. I’m going to talk to Nama for a minute, then I’ll take you and your sister to get ice cream, okay?”
“Okay!” I kissed her cheek then set her back on her feet while she ran back into the living room. I headed to the sunroom and saw my moms and Sheena sitting in the lounge area, sipping mimosas.
“Ladies,” I greeted as I walked over and kissed their cheeks.
“Hey, Brother B,” Sheena replied.
“Hey, baby boy. How are you?” Moms asked. I took a seat in the chair across from them and let out a sigh.
“Uh-oh. What happened?” Sheena asked.
“Where my brother at?” I ignored her question.
“Brendan’s basketball game.”
“Damn. I totally forgot about his game. Shit.”
“He said he called you to remind you this morning, but your phone was going to voicemail.”
“Yeah, it died last night, and I forgot to charge it.” I placed my palms on my head, interlocking my fingers as I stared up at the sky through the glass, in deep thought.
I didn’t regret what happened last night; I was just upset that I allowed my feelings to get involved, knowing shit was going to end this way. I didn’t blame Alicia. I only wished she would look past that fuck nigga and what he’d done and see that I could love her better than his ass ever could.
“Basil?” Mom questioned after a moment of silence.
I gave her my attention while they both stared at me. “My bad. I’m just a little tired.”
“What’s going on, baby boy? I know you didn’t come over for no reason.”
I smiled at her. “I can’t just want to come see my beautiful mother?”
She waved me off. “Please. I know it’s not uncommon for you to drop by, but you’ve been holed up at your client’s house and haven’t been around lately. This is the third weekend you have graced me with your presence. You got that look on your face, so I know something is wrong.”
I sighed. “I could never get anything past you.” I chuckled. “I made a mistake, and now I’m in my feelings about it. But it’s all good. I know how to bounce back now.”
“You fell for your boss, didn’t you?” Sheena called me out. I didn’t say anything, and that only further gave her ammunition to get in my business. “I knew it! Mama, I told you he was over there playing house with that lady and not doing his job, didn’t I?”
Mama chuckled. “You did.”
“Wait a minute. I am doing my job, miss know-it-all,” I countered.
“Yeah, and doing the mama too.” They both laughed at my expense, and I was going to let them have that. I couldn’t dispute shit that was true.
“Okay, okay, let’s focus here. What’s the issue, Son?”
“I guess I thought too far ahead when I took the job. I saw her twice prior to her choosing my services, and I liked her. I felt like God kept placing her in my path for a reason. I also knew that she was married, but I still had the urge to take the job.”
Gloria’s eyebrows dipped dangerously low, and I knew she was about to rip into my ass. I just didn’t know exactly what for. “So, you went under that married woman’s roof and have her cheating on her husband with you because you liked her? You know better than that, Basil Lamont!”
“You know I’m not that type of man, Ma. She’s going through a divorce—”
“But she still has papers on her. You don’t know if they’re going to reconcile. You’re putting yourself in a sticky situation that could both hurt and break you.”
“They’re not getting back together.”
“And how would you know that?”
“He cheated with her best friend and got her pregnant. He left her a freaking voice note telling her how he couldn’t take being married with children no more, and how he wasn’t coming back home, on their anniversary.
If that ain’t an indication that it’s over, I don’t know what else would convince you.
I know messing around with her was a mistake—a beautiful one—but you know how I am.
I saw an opportunity to go get what I wanted and took it.
I didn’t plan on doing the naked tango with her, but I also didn’t stop it from happening either. ”
Sheena guffawed. “The naked tango is wild.”
“Shut up, Sheena!” Mama scolded with a light smirk.
“Sorry, Mama, but you know that was funny. Basil do not use those kind of words, so it’s funny to hear him say that.”
“Naked tango, funky chicken, or however the hell you want to filter it, it’s still wrong,” Mama said.
“You right, Ma. It was wrong, but only because I know she’s not ready. Her husband did the ultimate deceit, so I can understand her pulling away. But she came on to me like she was ready, when she put me in the friend zone prior to us—playing around.”
“Then you should have had more restraint. So, what now? She put you back in the friend zone, and now you’re mad about it?”
“Yes, but I’m not mad at her. I’m mad at myself for allowing it to happen.”
“As you should be. Let this be a lesson to you, baby. I don’t want you around here losing weight again because some floozy want to play in your face.
That catastrophe with you and Nyami was enough for me.
I don’t want you getting into another problem or situation like that again.
If it’s meant to be, then you will have her.
If it’s not, don’t dwell on the failed attempt.
Just move on until the one that’s made for you comes along.
You’re still young, so there’s no rush.”
I chuckled. “I’m pushing forty, Ma. Don’t you want more grandkids?”
“I do, but not at the expense of you getting hurt.”
“I hear you.”
“Good.”
Sheena cleared her throat. “I understand you completely, Mama, but I truly believe this is going to work out between them.
I only say that because I have known you guys for over fifteen years.
I have gotten to know the type of person Basil is.
He has a good heart and a genuine spirit.
And the way he is with children is something most men do not possess and act as if they need a damn handbook to care for them.
“I, for one, say give her some time. Don’t crowd her, don’t pressure her, don’t even flirt with her.
I promise, once you do that, you’re going to have her in no time.
” She winked and held her glass up to salute me.
She was right, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.
Sheena always thought she had the answers to my problems. Talking about she was praying Ciara’s prayer over my love life.
As much as Sheena joked around and got on my nerves sometimes, I knew she wanted me to be happy. They all did, and hell, . . . so did I.
I knew my one was coming soon. The question I really wanted to know was when? I had the money, the business, the good sex, and the ambition. All I was missing now was someone to share it with.