Ex-girl to the Next Girl (19 page)

“W
hat are you doing?” Karen asked.

“Sitting back, about to eat and watch that movie
Woman, Thou Are Loosed
.”

“Why don't you bring the boys over?”

“I only have Kevin,” I said.

“Where is my baby boy?” Karen asked.

“I let him go with Malik.”

“You what? I would have watched him. You don't have to let Kayden go over there. I am grateful that Malik got me out of this jam, but just because he helped me doesn't mean you have to be his friend.”

“I know, but I think it is time to let him see his father. Malik is married now, and I'm moving on. He has changed—he seems a lot more mature.”

“Don't let him weasel his way back into your life.”

“I'm not. Never.”

“You better than me. I wouldn't have a sympathetic ear for him. He dogged you. Fuck him. I'll send him something for helping me out, but I still don't like him. I'll never forgive him after what he did to you. Just because you forgave him doesn't mean God has. He has something coming to him. Mark my words.”

“I know—he has changed a lot, though.”

“His ass still not to be trusted.”

 

 

I guess you can say that Andrew was my man, boyfriend, or something like that. We've been to a winery, Salsa classes and a live jazz show. He even took my car to get serviced. Meeting Andrew after work for happy hours had become our little routine. Kevin had signed up for baseball, and Lonnie dropped him off after practice. I didn't have to get Kayden because Malik was getting him on Wednesday and Thursday. I was slowly falling in love with Andrew.

“So, what you having?” the bartender said as I took a seat.

“I'm not ready to order yet.”

“Are you waiting for someone?” he asked, wiping a glass clean.

“Yes, I am,” I said, opening my compact and applying new lip gloss. I waited for Andrew, and then he showed up. He came and had a seat.

I went to the bathroom, and when I came back, the bartender said, “Ma'am, are you going to order?”

“One moment,” I said.

“Is your party here?” he asked as he looked around.

“Yes, he is,” I said as I turned toward Andrew. This was getting real old—look who's coming to dinner.

He looked at Andrew and said, “Oh, I see.” He didn't even apologize to me. He looked me over and then asked Andrew what he was having.

“What does he mean,
Oh, I see
?”

“Don't worry about him—tell me about your day.”

“No, forget that.” I went and found a manager.

“What's the problem?”

“Your waiter is rude.”

“Oh, that guy—he is a prick. Listen here, your drinks are on the house. Don't take it personal.”

“No, I'll pay for my own drink—I wasn't looking for a freebie.”

“I don't know how much of this I can take, Andrew. I really like you, but I'm not used to this kind of discrimination. This has happened twice in the last week. People being rude or saying something disrespectful.” I didn't have much time to dwell on that because my son's father, Malik, had just walked through the door. Oh my God, I didn't want Malik to see me with Andrew. Would he think I was desperate? I know he wouldn't understand. But then it dawned on me that I should not be worried about Malik seeing me on a date, but where the hell was my son? If he is here on a date with this young girl, where is my child? Is he home with that woman? What is she doing with my child all alone? They were about to leave. I should tell the woman he was with that Malik was married. I really thought Malik was getting himself together, but I guess that is impossible. Here he is, canoodling and kissing a woman that wasn't his wife. I didn't want to cause a scene. I just excused myself and went into the ladies' room and called him.

“Malik, you are out. Who has my son? And don't say your mom, because I already called there and she is not home.”

“Nadia has him—call her.”

I hung up on him and dialed her number. Coincidentally, Nadia's phone was off. I called Malik's mom and got no answer. I was worried about my baby. By the time I came out of the bathroom, Malik and his date were gone. He was not allowed to watch him anymore. I called Malik for three hours straight, but he never answered.

Chapter
32

M
y Aunt Connie was having her fiftieth birthday party. I had invited Malik—he said he would meet me here. I walked in and had a seat. Betty Wright's “Tonight is the Night” was blasting from the speakers. The entire bar was decorated with silver and black streamers. My aunt had a whole pamphlet dedicated to her life. There were pictures of her sweet sixteen, graduation, and wedding day. I spoke to a few of her friends and people that I didn't remember but that remembered me and told me how nice I looked. I saw all my aunt's friends with their men or alone. Some looked my aunt's age and others looked like they could use a facial rejuvenation (face-lift). They looked twice as old as she was. I wonder how I will be in another twenty-five years—with my husband and kids, or by myself. Rodney was walking in my directon. I hadn't seen him since the card party. I hoped he didn't see me. I wanted to crawl in the corner. But here he was walking up to me. I was so embarrassed I didn't want to face him. “Nadine I think we need to talk,” he said “Okay.” I said like make it quick.

“Listen, I'm sorry Nadine. I always felt attracted to you too! But you know we can't ever be. One, we are family. Two, I have a girlfriend and she is here. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes. Rody I was drunk, it was a mistake.”

“Oh, I thought you really had a thing for me.”

“No!”

“Well that's a relief because we would have been kissing cousins,” he said as he gave me a non-threatening hug. Even though I would love to tear Rodney apart I knew I had to leave well enough alone. I had to call Malik to see where he was.

Toya came over to me with her big stomach, interrupting my thoughts, and said, “Why is Rodney's girlfriend here? She is fat, ugly, and trying to be down. Look at her,” she said pointing. “There she goes.”

“Oh, she is ugly,” I said, turning my lips up.

“I told you. What Rody see in her?”

“I don't know, but if that's what he likes, that is on him,” I said. Her eyes were cocked. Her left eye was looking in a whole other direction from her right. She had on a thin wifebeater that thinly veiled the rolls of fat that was her stomach.

“Why she trying to be in the family, calling me sis and my mother mom? My mom was like ‘girl, I'm not your mom.' ”

I thought Toya was lying—then the girl came over to me and screamed, “You must be Nadine. Nice to finally meet you.”

“And you are,” I said, intentionally trying to play her.

“I'm Rody's girlfriend, Ayinde.”

“Oh, okay. Nice to meet you,” I said as I walked away. Toya followed and said under her breath, “She must have money. Why would my brother bring this chimpanzee home?”

“I don't know. I have to find your mom,” I said as I walked away from Toya. Aunt Connie had a black long dress with hanging sleeves and a diamond tiara and unbelievable diamond earrings and necklace. I had to find her and give her my card.

I gave her the card—she ripped it open and took the money out, fanning it. “You gave me my favorite gift. Thanks, niecey.”

I went upstairs to where the food was. There were big silver aluminum containers of buffalo chicken, honey wings, spinach garlic salad, a spaghetti pasta salad, and crab casserole. There were little silver plates. I got a little of everything and I came back down the steps and waited for Malik to show up. I can't wait for everybody to meet him. I checked my cell phone to see if he had called and I missed it. I called Malik and got his voice mail. It was starting to get late. I hoped he could make it.

Uncle Chuck told everyone to get on the dance floor. Everybody joined him middle of the floor. One of the bartenders rolled out a huge cake in the shape of a high heel. The cake read
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE AKA HIGH MAINTENANCE.
My aunt laughed and asked, “Am I high maintenance, Chuck?” He didn't say anything, so she asked him again.

“I'm high maintenance, Chuck?”

Somebody said, “Think about that before you answer, Chuck.”

“Yes, but I still love you,” he said. We all laughed and they kissed and he said, “Happy fiftieth, baby.” Then we all sang Stevie Wonder's version of “Happy Birthday.”
Hap-py Birth-day, Happy Birthday.
Everybody was singing in unison. I called Malik to see if he was still coming.

“Malik, are you on your way?”

“Nah—sorry, I won't be able to make it.”

“Are you serious?” I asked.

“Yeah, something came up.”

“Okay, well, I'll talk to you later.” I sat down at the bar, a little sad. I guess I will be alone all night. I thought me and Malik were headed somewhere. I ordered a double apple martini and started thinking about Erick. I walked to the bathroom and wanted to cry, but I didn't. Men are so damn unpredictable. I couldn't let anyone see me cry, so I wiped my tears away. The moment the first tear runs, your eyes get a little pink; then you wipe and they become red, then the bottom under your eyes puffs and people start asking you if you're okay. I don't need that. I pulled a towel from the towel holder, wet it, and wiped my face. I opened my eyes to keep the tears back. I had got myself together and walked out of the bathroom. I saw Toya and went and had a seat next to her.

“What's going on, girl?”

“Nothing. You know, everybody all in my business, talking about when I'm going to get married. I told them to mind their business.” She then stopped and said, “You didn't tell me you was bringing your replacement.”

“Who?” I asked, looking to see who she was talking about.

“Malik.”

“How'd you know what he looks like? He's not here. He couldn't make it,” I said, turning around.

“Yes, he is—I know that's not one of my mom's friend. He's right over there,” she said, pointing Malik out.

I fixed my clothes and hair and he was walking towards us. “Malik, I thought something came up.”

“I was playing with you. I was looking for somewhere to park,” he said as he pulled me closer to him and gave me a hug.

“Don't play like that. You lucky you look and smell good,” I said as I inhaled his cologne.

“Thank you,” he said, and I asked him if he wanted something to eat. He said he was a little hungry. We walked through the party and upstairs—nobody was upstairs but us. I began fixing his plate and he came up from behind and hugged me.

“Ooh, you feel so good,” he said. I turned around and nudged him away. I felt a little spark shoot through my breast to my pelvic bone. I shook it off.

“So, what do you want to eat?” I asked.

“You.”

“Stop playing, Malik.” He told me what he wanted on his plate. I wanted to introduce everybody to Malik. He was looking so good.

“Aunt Connie, this is Malik.”

She said “nice to meet you” and winked at me. I needed my family to see that I was so over Erick. Me and Malik danced to the oldies and at the end of the night I went into the bathroom and took my thong off. When I went back to the dance floor I handed it to Malik.

“What's this?” he said as he opened his fist up. Once he realized they were my panties he then began massaging my waist and butt because he knew I didn't have any underwear on.

“You're a freak and I love it,” he whispered in my ear.

“Let's go back to my house.” I was so hot all over and my body was excited. I couldn't wait to have him in me. I thought about how I was going to mount his dick and rub every inch of my walls over him.

Once we reached my house we started kissing. We went into my house. I turned on a movie from Erick's collection. He didn't say anything; he just kissed me. I kissed him back. His body felt so warm and firm. We stood there; just tongues swirling each other back and forth. There was a woman getting her breast licked by another woman on the screen and the man was fucking her. “You ever had a threesome?” he playfully asked as he nibbled on my ears and eyeing the movie.

“Absolutely not,” I said.

“You ever think about one?”

“No, I think a man can only handle me. He wouldn't have enough energy for another woman.”

“Really?”

“Yeah really.” I said. Malik came closer and unleashed my breast. They began to jiggle as he massaged my breasts and he played with them until they grew in size and color from a deep brown to dark burgundy. He took every inch of them into his mouth. His suckling hurt, but was pleasurable at the same time. I went into my drawer and grabbed my purple vibrator.

“What are you going to do with that?” he asked.

“I'm going to use it,” I said as I opened my legs and let the thick wand of pulsation enter me. Malik watched in silence as I pleasured myself. I gave the toy to him. He inserted it deep into my cervix. He was enjoying sticking and twisting the toy in me. He used it until I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed his pants and pulled them down. He stood up and I bent down and reached for motion lotion. I poured some on him, rubbing it up and down the shaft of his penis. Then I blew on him. The lotion became warm when you blew on it. I then placed him into my mouth and pulled so tightly with my jaws and mouth that I almost gagged. Malik's facial expressions let me know I was satisfying him in more ways than one. I think he is going to be my baby. I know I am his because he told me.