8. Carter
CARTER
Shani used to do some shit in the bedroom that had a nigga calling her name.
I’d never front like I hadn’t had some very good sex because I had.
In fact, I’d had women so freaky, I had to let them know certain shit in the bedroom I wasn’t doing.
Anybody that tried to put a finger or a tongue near my ass damn near got karate chopped in the throat.
The sex I had with Alise though. That sealed the deal for me as far as wanting something serious with her.
We were only thirty days in. There was a lot more we had to learn about one another, but I wasn’t letting her get away unless it was proven that we weren’t compatible.
The sex we had was next level. I couldn’t get enough of her.
Two rounds then a few hours of sleep, and I woke her up to round three.
She hadn’t had sex in two months. That wasn’t a real long time, but I had that ass limping to the bathroom to soak in the tub when I was done with her.
When I went in the bathroom to use it, she was laid back with her eyes closed.
“You good?” I chuckled.
Alise’s eyes opened. “I’m good. I’m not so sure about my vagina though. It feels like she’s been through some things.”
“You want me to kiss it?”
“Please don’t come near me, or I might have to pull out my bear mace.”
“Damn.”
“You want breakfast?”
“I do. You cooking, or you want to go grab something?”
“I’ll cook. I’m about to get out.”
I had an overnight bag in the car. When Alise was done in the bathroom, I took a shower. By the time I was ready and walking into the kitchen, she was throwing down making biscuits, fried smoke sausage, scrambled eggs, and grits.
“Damn this looks good.” I walked up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist, and kissed the crook of her neck.”
“It tastes good too.”
“I bet it doesn’t taste better than you,” I spoke in a low tone directly in her ear.
“You gotta chill,” she giggled.
“I’m going to let you live. For now.” Stepping back, I smacked her on the behind.
During one of our conversations, Alise informed me that she had an IUD.
She was older, but older women got pregnant on accident more than people realized.
I was cool with grandkids, but I really didn’t think I wanted to start over with a new baby, and I didn’t think Alise did either.
Knowing we could have all the nasty sex we wanted without worrying about an oops baby was music to my ears.
She also told me she didn’t have a period anymore which meant, we’d never have to hold off because she was bleeding.
If I really rocked with a woman, I’d run a red light, but it wasn’t my favorite thing to do.
“What are your plans for the day?” Alise set my plate down in front of me.
“Damn is that my cue to leave after breakfast?”
“No, crazy,” Alise rolled her eyes. “I was just making conversation. I don’t have any plans of leaving the house today unless I go detail my car when the sun goes down some.” She grabbed her plate and sat across from me at the kitchen table.
“Why would you have to clean your own car when I’m here?” I asked with a frown.
“Um because for one, I don’t know your plans for the day, duh. And two,” she shrugged. “I usually pay someone to do it once a month. It’s just been raining a lot, and it’s starting to give me the ick. I need it clean.”
“Again, why would you have to do that when I’m here? I’ll do it after I finish eating. After that, I’m going to help my daughter put some things together for her new crib. She wants me to mount a few TV’s, put together some bookcases, and install some blinds.”
“Oh, wow you really have a full day. Carter, I promise I can clean my own car out. It’ll only take me about twenty minutes. I appreciate the offer.”
I didn’t say one word. Just stared at her until she lifted her hands in surrender.
“Okay dang. I was trying to look out for you.”
“You don’t have to look out for me, shawty. I’m good.”
“Say no more. How was the wedding?” I raised my brows, and Alise laughed. “I swear I’m not trying to be funny. I love weddings. Just want to know if you enjoyed it.”
“It was nice. They had it outside. There was a violinist playing. It was cool.”
“Oh, I bet that was so pretty,” she sighed.
“Did you have a big wedding?”
“No. I didn’t want a big wedding, but I wanted something nice. He wanted to go to the Justice of Peace because he doesn’t have a lot of friends and family. I wanted some kind of ceremony, so I told him I’d pay for it. My budget was $3,500. So, it was nice enough but not big and extravagant.”
The frown on my face made her jaw slack.
“What?”
“You paid for the wedding? The whole wedding? He didn’t pitch in?”
“No, because I wanted it. He didn’t want to spend money on a ceremony. He was trying to save for a house, and I respected that.”
I stared at her for so long, Alise balled up a napkin and threw it me.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she giggled.
“I’m so sorry you married a fuck nigga. I don’t care what he did or didn’t want. Letting you pay for the entire wedding was egregious. I wish my daughter would marry a man that let her pay for the whole wedding. Simp ass.”
“We live and we learn,” she shrugged one shoulder. “Marriage is about compromise, so I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“You’ll get it right next time,” I winked at her.
“I’m not sure I’m getting married again. That’s one of those things like been there, done that, it was cool, but I don’t have to do it again.”
“If you keep fucking with me, and I want to marry you, you’re going to marry me, or I’m leaving you.”
“Okay Mr. Carter. You run a real strict program. I think I might stay on punishment.”
“I like punishing you, so that works for me.”
Alise blushed, and I chuckled. Yeah, shorty was it for me.
When I left my daughter’s house, I was dog tired.
Cleaning out Alise’s car then playing handyman for six hours after getting less than four hours was sleep was crazy.
I checked my phone once I got in the car, and I saw two missed calls from Sheree.
She was pissed when I left Golden Waters.
I figured she’d never speak to me again, but she clearly had something to say.
I returned the call and waited for her to answer.
“I’ve been waiting all day thinking you were going to call me with an explanation that really made sense, but you haven’t said anything. You really up and left at midnight?”
“Sheree, what’s the issue? You invited me to the wedding, and I was there for the wedding. After the wedding we went to the reception. What the hell else were we going to be doing that I couldn’t come back home?”
“Spending time together. Maybe talking about us. You know that kind of thing.”
What is there to talk about?” I was genuinely confused.
“You told me if I wasn’t ready for a relationship, you would explore other options, and I told you I understood.
I can recall calling you once, and you didn’t answer.
I still wanted us to be cool, but I assumed you weren’t feeling it, and I gave you your space. So again, what is there to talk about?”
“Hmm I don’t know maybe seeing if this time apart changed anything, or if I’m still only good enough to have sex with. We’re grown, Carter. I’m thirty-nine years old. I’m too old to only be dealing with a man that only wants sex.”
“That only wants sex?” Angrily, I chuckled.
“You got me fucked up. I only want sex? Where did we eat for your birthday? That tab came up to $387. You wanted some bundles and a Louis V purse, and I got you that. We also went to New York to see Othello because that was what you wanted. Those tickets were $1,500. We stayed in a five-star hotel, and you didn’t have to pay for a thing all weekend.
And your period was on, and we didn’t even fuck.
So, who just wants sex? Don’t act like I only call you after midnight, come through smash and dip. ”
“Yes, Carter, you treat me very well. Which is why I want more. Are we going to date forever? You that afraid to be with one woman?”
I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. On God, I didn’t. “Sheree, man, listen. You told me you wanted to explore other options.”
“And none of the men that I dated are who I want. I want you.”
“Just because two people have fun together, baby, doesn’t mean they’re meant to be together.”
“Wowwwww,” she drawled. “Just wow. So, you’re one of those?”
“One of what?”
“The old ass men that are still running around here fifty and up fucking these twenty-five-year-old bad bitches because older women require too much.”
“Aye,” I chortled. “Sheree, you really got me fucked up. Up until this morning, I hadn’t had sex in about three months.
I have enough discipline not to jump on anything with a slit.
I’m just the type that does shit because it feels right.
I met someone while you were exploring your options, and she feels right.
And shorty is far from twenty-five. More like forty-five.
” I knew she’d be upset, and that wasn’t how I wanted to break it to her, but she was really acting like I had done her wrong. I wasn’t obligated to be with anybody.
“Fuck you and her Carter.”
I shook my head and started to toss my phone on the seat, but I decided to check in with Alise.
“Hey.”
“You asleep?” I asked.
“I’ve been up for about thirty minutes. I got up to use the bathroom and get something to eat. After you left, I was out like a light.”
“Must be nice. My ass is about to fall asleep behind the wheel. My daughter worked me like a Hebrew slave.”
“Are you serious? You know that’s dangerous.”
“I’m good. I’m like five miles from home. This shower is about to be love. I know after I eat, I won’t be good for shit.”
“You got something to eat?”
“You trying to come sit on my face?”
Alise giggled. “Be for real.”
“Yeah. I got leftovers. You going back to sleep?”
“I’ll probably lay here and watch TV for a bit, but I can see me dozing off soon.”
“Come spend the night with me.”
“Okay. Send me the address.”