Chapter 5 Ava
AVA
Thursday
Hearing my alarm go off jolted me out of the deep sleep I was in. I snatched my phone off my nightstand then hit dismiss but I wanted to throw it across the room. Sighing in frustration, I went ahead and got up. I knew that had I hit snooze, I would’ve for sure overslept.
“Good morning, babe.” Justin chuckled.
Damn near jumping out of my skin then turning to face him, Justin slapped me across the ass just as I was about to walk into the bathroom that was connected to our bedroom.
“Damn it! You almost scared the life out of me, J!!”
“My bad, baby,” he said then busted out laughing at me. “What you so jumpy for?”
“I didn’t think you were in the room when I saw that you weren’t in bed. I didn’t even see you standing there. For Christ’s sake! You could’ve given me a heart attack!”
“Really, babe? Who else would be standing in our bedroom at five in the morning?”
“See, this why we need a dog. A dog wouldn’t have allowed for you to scare me like that.” I laughed back at him.
“Oh, so you want a dog so you can train him to attack me? Ah hell nah! Now you really not about to get no dog. I almost considered that shit, too.” Justin continued to laugh.
I’m sure I was looking a hot ass mess with my hair all over my head and sleep still in my eyes. I wasn’t much of a morning person, unlike him.
“Of course, I wouldn’t train our dog to attack you, silly! But I do want a dog because it will provide another layer of protection, especially on days when you’re not home.”
“What you feel you need protection from?” Justin asked, stepping into the bathroom with me as I jumped into the shower.
“I have no reason in particular. I just like the security that it would provide as well as companionship.”
“We haven’t had a dog in all this time. Plus, we have an expensive ass security system that I pay a pretty penny for every month, babe. You straight, ain’t shit about to happen to yo ass.”
“You don’t know that to be factual. Because of your work hours, it’s not hard for a criminal to pick up on the pattern of when you’re home or not. They can easily figure that out and come up in here on me.”
“Girl, what is wrong with you this morning?” Justin busted out laughing. “That’s it! No more crime investigation shows for yo ass! You watch way too much TV babe.”
“That’s not funny, J! Seriously though!”
“Look, if having a dog is something that you really feel you need, then I’ll consider it.”
“Stop playin’… for real?” I all but shouted.
I got so excited that I almost slipped in the tub.
“You straight in there?”
“Yeah, I’m cool. I almost busted my ass, but I’m straight.” I laughed out of embarrassment.
That was the one thing that I hated about our shower. It was so slippery! A bitch could really break something if I wasn’t careful. Also, where most showers had a shower curtain hanging, that side of our shower was made of glass so you could clearly see into it.
“I thought I was going to have to jump in there and catch you for a minute.” Justin laughed.
“You just full of jokes and giggles this morning.”
“Since I almost scared the… as you say, life out of you, that’s the least I can do is get you a dog. But you gon’ have to take care of it and clean up after the dog. That means you going to have to walk it so it ain’t shittin’ all up in the house. You gone walk it not me…you Ava.”
“I know, and I will.”
“That’s what you say now. We’ll see once we get it. I have a feeling I’ma be the one stuck having to walk and clean behind the damn thing.”
“I promise you won’t be. Except for the days I work and you’re home. I mean, that’s a given though.”
“I really like it just being us, but for you, I’m trying to be understanding.”
“Thanks, babe. I appreciate you for understanding.” I felt like part of the reason why Justin gave into us getting a dog was because I kept it real and told him that I felt unsafe being home alone. “I just know you not up in here takin’ a dump! JUSTIN!”
“What? We’s married nah!”
“That’s so nasty! You should be shamed, for real.” I laughed but was serious. “Why didn’t you wait ‘til I got out to do nasty ass. I don’t want to be smelling like your shit.”
“I was on my way to the bathroom first. You in the shower, you not gon’ smell like shit. Yo ass sound crazy.”
“Just nasty!” I laughed.
Finishing up in the shower, I grabbed my dry towel off the towel heating rack. Going into our walk-in closet, I dried off then found something to wear to work. Heading back into the bedroom, I put on some baby oil then got dressed.
Just as I was almost done, Justin walked out of the bathroom into our bedroom.
“Coming out feelin’ bout ten pounds lighter,” he said as he rubbed his stomach.
“You have way too much energy this morning. What you so jovial about?”
“I’m still high off the lovemaking we had last night.” Walking up to me and into my space, he grabbed a chunk of my butt then kissed me on the lips. “You did yo thang last night, baby.”
“So did you. You better stop ‘cause I can’t be late to work.”
“I’ll stop for now.”
“I promise later you can have all the kisses you want.”
Kissing him one last time, I grabbed my purse, more like tote and cellphone.
I knew if I stayed a minute longer another kiss would lead to other things.
My husband and I were so in love we couldn’t keep our hands off of one another.
We had come such a long way. There for a minute we almost didn’t make it.
Before we got married, Justin started acting funny toward me, even the sex had changed; then things got really bad after that.
He stayed gone more than he was home on his days off, leaving me alone all the time.
I became miserable and lonely. I felt like we were ships passing in the night.
We were so distant with each other that I started to suspect he was cheating with some floozy.
Then when I’d confront him about it, he’d always say that he was with Tate.
Tate and Justin grew up together and were the best of friends.
Tate was a very handsome guy that couldn’t keep a girl to save his life.
His mom was Egyptian, and his dad was white.
Tate was freaking gorgeous! When Justin and I went to Thanksgiving dinner one year at Tate’s house, I had the chance to meet his parents.
They were the sweetest couple… his parents definitely were couple goals.
Tate was an EMT, his work schedule was similar to Justin’s, and often times, they would have some of the same days off.
Tate would either be over at our house or Justin would be at his.
I loved Tate, but it had become way too much.
Some days I just wanted to chill with my man without having to share him with Tate, so them hanging out ALL the time became a major turn off to me.
When I told Justin how lonely I was feeling, he switched up and fought for our relationship.
Had it not been for that, we would’ve never got married.
Heading to the kitchen, I made my daily cup of coffee thanks to Justin.
It was routine for him to get up and start the coffee the mornings he would be home.
I truly appreciated that. I was not a morning person in the least bit, so coffee was essential for me.
Just as I finished and was heading to the garage, Justin came into the kitchen.
“See you later, babe,” he said, giving me a sweet kiss on the lips.
“Later, J.”
Heading into the garage and getting into my car, I began my trek heading to work. I called my sister so we could chop it up on my way to work.
“Hey, sis! How you feelin’ this beautiful morning?” Dawn asked, answering the phone sounding like she was out of breath.
“I feel great, but what’s up with you? You straight over there?”
“What you mean?”
“Why you breathing so hard?” I chuckled. “Let me guess… you running late, ain’t you?”
“Stop!” Dawn laughed. “I’m walking out the door now.”
“Damn shame. Some stuff never changes.”
“Period,” Dawn responded, causing us both to laugh.
“What you got goin’ on this weekend?”
“Nothing much. Why, what’s up?”
“Justin works Friday and Saturday, so if you’re free you should come by.”
“I just might. I miss our sister nights.”
“I do too. Shane supposed to come over Saturday too.”
“Oh, okay. I just might come over cause Shane is funny as hell and cool to hang around. It’s just something about him that doesn’t sit right with me.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but he a lil too surface for me.
His ass is funny as fuck, I know that, but I could never look at him like a friend.
” Dawn giggled throwing a shade at Shane.
“Shane is a straight fool and hat’s why I love him so much.
He is a fun time for sure. I don’t know why you always say it’s something about him you don’t like though.
I swear he is super loyal and has always been a great friend to me.
He’s the only other person that I consider my bestie besides you.
He can be a handful at times, but I love his crazy butt.
Hell, you can be a bit of a handful too. ”
“It’s just a feeling I get whenever he’s around. It has nothing to do with his choice of lifestyle either, to each their own; it’s just a gut feeling. Just remember, that’s YOUR friend. I’m cool with him on the strength of you and that’s all that it could ever be with him and I.”
“Ugh, you so aggy, sissy.” I giggled. “You have a packed schedule today?”
“Yassss, Thursdays are my busiest days. Folks be wantin’ to get in before the weekend crowd.”
“Better you than me. I don’t see how you can stand on your feet all day doing people’s hair.”
“Shit, I don’t see how you can be locked in a building with hundreds of teenagers all damn day. Better you than me!” Dawn retorted causing us both to laugh.
“Touche’ sissy, touche`! Well, I do hope you come Saturday cause I need you to do a silk wrap for me.”
“Oh, so that’s why your butt invitin’ me over.”
“No, it’s not. I miss hanging with you first, but it would be perfect and just in time for my hubby to get home, too. Lord knows I done sweated my poor hair out.”
“T.M.I sis! You know I’ll hook you up. I know you hate going to the shop to get your hair done.”
“I absolutely hate it. The beauty of having you for a big sis is I get home visits.”
“Girl, you a mess.” Dawn laughed. “Well, let me call to the shop. I need to let them know I’m almost there.
And I need to tell Jackie she can start washing out my client’s hair cause I know Mrs. Jenson’s ADHD is getting to her having to sit and wait for me.
Plus, I need her ass ready for me to start on as soon as I get there. ”
“Okay, sissy, love you.”
“Love you, too. Talk to you later.”
Making it to work, I parked then headed into the building and of course, Kevin opened the front door and held it for me, just he did every morning.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Kevin. Have a good day,” I replied as I walked into the building.
He normally would respond and make a little small talk or compliment me, but ever since I told Kevin that I had gotten married, he seemed a bit distant with me.
I was used to him being more talkative and somewhat flirty.
But lately, all he said was good morning and good evening when I’d leave.
I guess that was a good thing because Kevin was an attractive man.
Even though I loved my husband, I didn’t want to put myself in a position that I couldn’t find my way out of with Kevin.
I guess he was just being respectful and I couldn’t do anything but respect it.
When Justin and I went through our rocky patch and I was feeling lonely, I’d feed into Kevin’s flirting but in a discreet way.
Being mindful to the fact that we were around teenagers was a must. Our flirting was innocent, platonic in a sense, but I would be lying if I didn’t like the attention that he’d give me.
I just never let things get to a level above playful flirting, especially working in a high school.
I would never risk getting caught being inappropriate with a fellow co-worker at work.
Once Justin and I got back on track, I eased up from Kevin, but I still entertained small talk with him.
Just because I was married didn’t mean we could no longer chit-chat platonically cause I wasn’t feeling him being standoffish toward me now.
Making it to my office, I logged into the computer and settled in, ready to get my day started.