20. Piper
I sat at the head of the conference table, looking over the graphic designs for the ad section of our magazine. Not only was I in charge of the editorial pages, but I was the one who made sure every detail of the paper was correct and put together well.
I was the executive over graphics and editing, on top of getting celebrity interviews.
While I sat looking over the designs, I said nothing, but my mind was going a thousand miles a minute.
I was unfocused after seeing Khalil the other night.
His sad, angry eyes and his hard, saddened tone had been plaguing me since I saw him.
The words fight for me ran through my head a thousand times, and I didn’t know if I should or even wanted to.
It wasn’t because I didn’t love him. I was still very much in love with my husband, but when I thought about all the shit we went through in college, I didn’t want to relive the scrutiny that came with it.
Now that we were adults and had our dream careers, the shit would be ten times worse.
One thing about those tables: they always turned.
Now that he was in the spotlight, could he handle the backlash of calling off his fake engagement if he did happen to forgive me?
What about him revealing that he was already married?
“Piper?” My head lifted to the voice of my partner and best friend, Robyn Smith.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Are you okay with the prints?”
“Y—” I cleared my throat. “Yes, these are good. Q, what do you think about the final edits on the Kema and Knowledge interview?”
“You did your big one, per usual, queen. Ready to press go whenever you are.”
“Then let’s do it. If that’s all, I think this meeting is adjourned.” I slid the prints back over to Hanna, our graphic designer, as they all stood to leave the room. Robyn stayed behind just as Braelyn walked in with a basket of muffins and sparkling cider.
“Hey, ladiessss!” she exclaimed, cheerful and loud, as she always had been.
I smiled at how her beautiful, dark skin glowed.
Pregnancy certainly agreed with her. This would be her and Xander’s third baby.
Xavier was four, Malaysia was three, and now she was in her third trimester with baby girl, Kiari.
I swear, that man couldn’t stay off my friend, but she didn’t mind, because he spoiled the hell out of her and their babies.
“Well, hello, gorgeous,” I said, standing and kissing her cheek. Robyn stood and did the same before Braelyn took a seat at the table.
Robyn moved here two years after college. We worked at the Michigan Times for three years before deciding to open our own company. Xander had gotten traded to the Detroit Outlaws two years after that, which brought Braelyn here, and I was so excited about it.
We were all still friends, including Gennel, but she lived in DC, was the chief of police, and could only visit us once a year. Jessica was a kept woman, traveling around the world with her man, Beau, an engineer with an obscene amount of money.
“I’m glad you stopped by Brae. I have something to tell you all before we get back to work.”
“I figured you had something on your mind. You’ve been zoning all day,” Robyn noticed.
“Yeah. . .” My voice trailed as I thought about how to tell them about Khalil and me.
“Spill it, chick!” Braelyn exclaimed.
“I saw Khalil last night . . . at the Detroit Vipers charity gala.” Both of their eyebrows rose in surprise.
“So, what happened? Was he surprised to see you?” Braelyn asked.
I shook my head. “He was infuriated to see me. I—I wasn’t exactly honest with you guys when I told you why I left.
For the most part, I did leave because of everything that was going on, but when I tried to reach out to him afterward, he ignored me until he disconnected his line. We, um, we’re married.”
They both gasped.
I expected it.
“I know you fucking lying, Piper. Since when?” Robyn asked.
“Since October 14th, 2015.”
“Oh, my God. I-I’m speechless,” Braelyn said, mouth still agape.
Robyn leaned back in her chair. “And you’ve been married this whole time and never told me?”
“Shit, she didn’t tell me either, and we’ve been talking every day since college.”
“Listen, that was a time in my life when I was confused and heartbroken. We fell in love too quickly. Everything was perfect when it was just us. He made me feel so fucking desirable, needed—wanted. But when Nia attacked me, and that shit went down with Sabrina, I didn’t know how to handle it all. So, I left.
“I regret my decision to leave without closure, and I’m deeply sorrowful that I hurt him.
He didn’t deserve that. But I didn’t deserve the shit I was going through with his crew of asshole friends, and Sabrina with her crew of whores either.
It was just too much for me. Now, he wants me to fight for him. ”
“I understand. That’s why I forgave you for leaving me. You and our girls were my only true friends at True. Chicks thought I was weird because of my OCD, but you ladies let me be me without judgment.”
I could see her eyes misting. I stood, walking around the table to sit next to her.
“Aww, it’s okay, bookie. You helped my messy ass become much neater in those two and a half months at True.” I laughed and hugged her.
“Sorry. It’s the hormones.” She giggled and dabbed at her eyes.
“So? What’s the plan, Piper? You gon’ win your man back or let him serve you divorce papers?” Robyn asked with a light smirk.
I sighed. “He’s engaged.”
“Engaged isn’t married.” Braelyn shrugged.
I chuckled. “Not the voice of reason out of the group encouraging me to break up a happy couple.”
“No, I’m encouraging you to fight for your marriage.
” She then turned in her seat to fully look at me.
“I saw the way he would look at you, Piper.
It was the same exact way Xan still looks at me.
Like the sun rose and set on you, and with admiration.
It was adoringly sickening the way he would stare at you from across the room as if nothing or no one else mattered.
“He loved you, Piper, and I can assure you that love for you hasn’t left. Even after ten years. If he asks you to fight for him, it’s not because he wants you to get on your knees and grovel. It sounds as if he just wants to see if you still love him as much as he loves you.”
Tears prickled my eyes as I looked down at my hands for a moment. Brae didn’t have to tell me what I already knew, but since she put it that way, I gained newfound confidence to fight for my marriage.
“So what should I do? A grand gesture?”
“That could work. They play the Colorado Kings tomorrow. I’m always down for a little girls’ trip,” Robyn said, wiggling her eyebrows and smiling at me.
“No. I need time to figure something out. No grand gestures unless it comes down to it. He’s a celebrity, and I don’t want his business on the front page of our maga—” I paused as an idea hit me.
A slow smile crept on my lips, and I looked at Robyn.
“Does Emily still do photography?” I asked, referring to her sister.
“She does,” Robyn replied.
“Good. Get her on the phone for me. If he wants me to fight, then I’m about to set it off.”
Two Days Later
Friday
I pulled into the parking lot of Emagine Photography Studios, grabbed my bag, and then stepped out of the car. I hurriedly made my way inside as Emily met me at the door.
“Hey, Emmy,” I greeted her, giving her a hug.
“Hey, love.”
“Is everything set up?”
“It is. If you need any help, I’m only a call away.”
“Okay. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“Okay. Have fun!” she exclaimed then walked out the door. I looked around, seeing that she had set up the camera and lighting for the fake photo shoot I set up through Khalil’s agent, Nick Washington. It wasn’t easy getting through to him, but I had always been resourceful.
Since I didn’t have Khalil’s personal number, I was able to contact his agent and set up the photo shoot that paid fifty thousand dollars for Khalil to be featured on the front cover of SI. It was a small fib, but I hoped he would take the bait.
And he did.
I set my purse down and checked the time on my phone.
He was due to arrive in the next five minutes, so I checked my reflection in the mirror.
The black Vivienne Westwood bodycon dress snatched every curve and sat my triple Ds up perfectly.
I straightened my hair last night, so it fell softly down my back with a part down the middle. Makeup flawless.
I shook off my nerves and hooked my phone up to the Bluetooth speaker. I went down my playlist until I landed on Tyrese’s “How You Gonna Act Like That,” then poured myself a half glass of champagne.
The door opened, and I tensed a little before turning and seeing Khalil walking through the door with the garment bag I had sent to his agent.
Since I was in the dark corner, he couldn’t see me, but I could see him looking around confused.
“Yo!” he called out.
Disguising my voice, I called out, “The dressing room is on your right. First door on the left. I’ll be right there!”
His brows dipped a little, but he eventually walked away, and my body loosened. I walked over onto the platform, checked the camera, and adjusted it so it pointed at the throne chair in front of the white screen. I moved the umbrella over a little to block his view of me once he returned.
It only took him fifteen minutes to emerge, wearing an all-black Brooks Brothers tux and black Ferragamo loafers.
“You can have a seat in the chair,” I told him, hiding behind the umbrella and still disguising my voice.
He chuckled. “You gon’ have to come harder than this, Pipe.”
My stomach dropped.
How did he know it was me?
I stepped from behind the umbrella and watched him place his elbows on his knees while staring at me.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Because I know you. The song, the intimate setting, the perfume you always wear, and that ass. Your body and smell are imprinted in my memory, baby.”
I nodded, biting back a smile.
“Well, since I’m busted, pose for me.” I snapped the photo before he could reply. Even off guard, Khalil had my nipples pressing against the fabric of my dress.
It had been six months since I’d been intimate with anyone, and just from memories of how he turned my world upside down with his sex, it had me hoping we could reconcile and seal this with me riding his face.
He shook his head. “I’m not doing this with you, Pipe.”
I stepped down from the platform and walked over to him. “You told me to fight for you.”
“And this is your idea of fighting? A staged photo shoot?”
“It’s a start.” I shrugged.
“It’s lame, baby.”
“You still haven’t sent those divorce papers, so I still have a chance to right my wrong.”
“I got tied up.”
I smirked. “Sure you did.”
“I’m a busy man and don’t have time for games, shorty.”
“Congratulations on the win, by the way.” He didn’t reply, only stared at me as if he was trying to read me. I reached out, trailing my fingers through his beard. He moved away then stood.
“I gotta go.” He walked away, and I went after him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Wait. I’m sorry. Please don’t leave. I only set this up because I wanted us to talk. To have a real conversation without all the malice and people around.”
“What is there to talk about?”
“About why you never responded to my calls, texts, or letters. And don’t give me that bullshit about you knowing what I was calling about. I’m not buying it.”
He turned toward me. “So what was your intentions, Piper? What were you calling and sending letters for? Hmm? Humor me.” I looked away because those calls and letters were me trying to release myself from him. “Exactly,” he finished.
“Okay, but I’m here now. We’re still married, and we can figure this out.”
He turned to face me fully. His palm gripped my neck, not hard, but enough to get my attention. He stared into my eyes, and I swallowed, seeing the hurt behind his.
“I waited for you to come back to me. To try to reach out to my people to find me because you loved me and realized you’d made a mistake. If you’d come back, I would have instantly forgiven you, but you let too much time pass. Too much distance.
“It may have been childish to make you go through hoops to reach me, but I wanted to test you to see if you loved me just as much as I loved you. Then you got my baby attached to you. Didn’t even check up on her after her accident. Good thing she was too young to understand any of it.
“I gave you my last name without any doubt or question, but I realized I may have come on too strong. You weren’t ready for me or the love I gave.
My father always told me that if I’m going to do something, to always do it with intention, and I vowed forever with you before God and a chapel of motherfuckas we didn’t know.
And you just . . . walked away like none of it mattered.
” Before I could stop them, tears fell and rolled down my cheeks.
He pressed his forehead to mine, and air filtered out of his nose.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I hate what happened between us.”
“Then forgive me. We were young, and I didn’t know how to handle what happened all at once. I’m older now. Whatever comes our way, I’m strong enough to deal with it now.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you.”
“You can. I promise I’ll never hurt you again. You were the first man to ever show me what real love felt like. You loved me through my insecurities and restored my trust in men. I was just too stupid to realize what I had was real. I love you, Khalil. I never stopped.”
I slipped my tongue in his mouth, and he accepted it. His arms came around my waist, holding on to me tightly. Our kiss turned rough as his hands gripped my ass. I pushed at his suit jacket, trying to pull it off, but he immediately pulled away from me.
My heart sank, and my breaths were heavy.
“Kha—”
“I gotta go.” He walked to the corner and grabbed his belongings, then walked back over to where I stood.
“If I stay, I’m going to fuck you.”
My eyebrow lifted. “Where’s the problem?”
“You gotta earn your rights back to this dick, shorty. As much as I want to say forget you, I can’t.
I love you too much, and seeing you again only brought back memories and the love I have for you.
I’m about to hurt somebody’s feelings and possibly be traded after I do.
But you gotta show me that you’re worth the risk. ”
I frowned. “So you’re going to be fucking her until I do?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. I’ll see you around.” He walked away and out the door, leaving me upset, hurt, and . . . hopeful.