Lust and Lies (The Jamie Reynolds Chronicles #1) (19 page)

“Hey, we need to talk,” Toni said.

“What’s up?”

“I know I’ve been acting strange lately, but I’ve been doing some solo searching and I wanted to talk to you about it. You push me to be a better person and I want to make you proud to be with me. I see how you look at other people’s boyfriends or husbands when they have a career and stable income. I know you don’t like living paycheck to paycheck and I know you want to travel and stuff. I first want to thank you for pushing me to want better for myself, for this family.”

I was so confused and was wondering where the conversation was going. “What’s going on?”

“While you was in Atlanta, I spoke to my dad and we really had a great talk.”

This sounded scary, as I had spoken to my dad a few weeks ago and we also had a good talk. “I’m confused; what is going on?” I said in a strong tone.

“Babe, I’m getting to it, relax. Anyway, my dad knows how crazy I am about you and I told him you make me want to be a better man for you. While you was in Atlanta, I was thinking about my goals and visions and what was next in my life. The one thing I kept seeing was you and it was clear to me, if I don’t make a move quick, I will lose you and you are the best thing that happened to me. I love you and want to make you happy, I want to make you proud of me…”

Toni kept on going as I started to tune him out and panic at the same time. Where was he going with all of this? He had been speaking for almost ten minutes about how much he loves me and what his dad said and how he needs a career move.

“While you was in Atlanta and after speaking to my dad, I decided I want to be a writer.”

This totally knocked me out of my daydream and back into the conversation. “A writer?” I repeated. I’d never seen him even read a book, let alone write one.

“I want to be a screenplay writer. Jonathan and I have spoken about this idea some time ago because he had the connection and I have the vision to write a great screenplay.”

“Have you spoken to Jonathan about this?” I asked, being slick because I knew Jonathan was still mad at him for skipping out on the rent he owed and leaving the house in a mess when he up and left Atlanta, and Toni has been dogging his calls, and I still hadn’t told Toni I knew about all of it.

“No, I haven’t spoken to Jonathan as yet about this, but I know he’ll be happy. He knows I can write some good stuff.”

“Have you ever written a screenplay before or anything?”

“Not really, but it’s cool. I have the whole story line, though, check this out. It’s about a young man who finds love while he’s in the military and he’s torn between his love for his country and the love for his girl.”

I was so lost and confused, I didn’t even know what to say. “Okay,” was the only word I could get out of my mouth.

“The dynamics between his military life and his family is where the drama happens.”

“So it’s a drama?” I asked.

“Yes and no.”

“Have you started writing it?”

“No, I need inspiration. Most writers can write from experience, so while you was in Atlanta, I was exploring my inspiration.”

“What does that mean? I’m a little confused.”

He grabbed my hands and held them and said, “This is going to be great. Have you thought about moving back to Atlanta? You have a great deal of connections back in the A, and I sometimes wonder if you’re completely happy in New Jersey?”

I froze for a minute and heard David’s words saying the same thing, but I still didn’t understand where Toni was going with all of this.

“Anyway, babe, I said all of this to say I enrolled in the navy and just got my training orders yesterday.”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“I enrolled in the navy and I leave for boot camp next month.”

I pulled my hands back, shocked. “You enrolled in the military for inspiration in a screenplay?” I yelled.

“Yes and no.”

“Stop that, that is not an answer. Which one is it, yes or no?” I demanded.

“Yes, I signed up for the navy, and no, not just for a screenplay. My dad joined the army when he was young, and he said it gave him guidance and helped shape his career.”

“Your dad works at a factory and does labor work,” I said without thinking and felt bad after the words left my mouth. My dad also does labor work, so I knew those words were wrong. My dad did what he had to do for his family and always encouraged us to get an education so we could be better than both my parents.

“That factory job put food on our table.”

“I’m sorry, I know.”

“I made the decision to enroll for a better life for myself, for us,” he said as he grabbed my hands again. “I already put in my notice at work and was hoping to spend some time with you before I leave.”

“Leave to go where?” I asked.

“My training is in Great Lakes, Illinois, and it’s for two months. It could be longer, depending on the job I take.”

I was much calmer now, so I started to ask more rational questions. “How does this whole thing work? What kind of job do you qualify for? How do you get to Illinois? Where would you stay?” and my questions went on and on. After over an hour of talking, I still was a little confused but felt like I understood what Toni was trying to do. He needed a path in life, and with no degree or real career goal, maybe this was good for him.

“I know it’s a lot to swallow, but I promise this is going to make a better life for us.”

“I can’t say I’m a hundred percent okay with everything, but I guess I have to allow you to make decisions that are going to benefit you and your career path.”

“This is not just for my career path,” he interrupted. “This is for our future; the military will take care of our needs. I don’t want you stressing over finding your next gig or paying bills or traveling the world. I was thinking of requesting to get stationed in either New York or Atlanta or overseas. I can work on my screenplay on the side and you can maybe go back to school like you mentioned you wanted to do.”

“Wow, well, I mentioned going back to school later in life, like after I’m done with the production world and want a more normal life.”

“This move can help you get that normal life. Bear with me and let’s see what happens,” he pleaded.

To be honest, I was excited to see him this excited about a real plan for his life. Not really the screenwriting thing because I’d come to learn Toni was all talk but no action, but I would see what happened with this military thing. In the end, he’d find a career and he’d have something to fall back on. I’d met many people who went into the military and used their training and skills to do some good in their life when they got out.

“Well, I guess your mind is made up, and it seems as if you already signed your life away to the military, so…”

Before I could even finish, he leaned over and gave me a big hug and said, “Thank you.”

“What’s that for?” I asked.

“Thanks for believing in me and supporting me through this crazy new adventure of mine.”

Before I could even say anything back, he leaned over and kissed me. At first he started kissing me on my lips and then he made his way down to my neck and then my breast and next thing I knew I was flat on my back and he kissed me between my legs. He wasn’t the best, but I needed a stress reliever after this kind of news. He stopped in the middle and got up and went into the kitchen.

“I always wanted to try this,” he yelled and came back with a cup full of ice. He pushed me back down and placed a piece of ice in his mouth and went back down between my legs. This was new for me, the coldness from the ice and the warmth from his warm mouth was an interesting combination and I felt even more relaxed as I pulled his face deeper into my legs and lifted my body up and down. I had to stop him at one point because I thought I was going to pee.

“No, babe, don’t stop me.”

“No, wait, I think I’m going to pee.”

“Babe, you was about to come. You need to relax and allow your body to naturally do what it was going to do.”

The moment was totally gone, but I said, “I’m sorry, babe, I felt like I was going to pee, so I needed you to stop.”

“Babe, did it feel good?” he said.

“Yes, it did.”

“That was all I wanted to hear.”

I felt bad because over the next few weeks leading up to him getting ready to leave all I wanted was to feel that feeling again, but it never happened. I started to do some research and Toni was right, that sensation was normal, and for the first time, I was relaxed and almost allowed my body to do what it did naturally and I would have most likely came. I remember talking to my ob-gyn doctor a few years ago and asked was it normal for me to never experience an orgasm during sex. She told me this was normal and there was nothing wrong with me. She said I needed to know my body and this was when I bought my first dildo. I was shocked at the amount of selection there was, so I went with the size and color, and now I was hooked. At first I only used it solo, but now Toni used it on me every chance he got. He said he liked when I was this relaxed and he wished I let myself go and enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed sex and I was always wet, but I couldn’t stop thinking about wanting to or knowing if I had a big O, so I really couldn’t relax during sex.

Toni was pretty good in bed mainly because he found pleasure in pleasuring me and I loved this. Once in a while I would go down on him, but he usually came too fast, so he’d rather me not do it. Not to pat myself on the back, but it kind of made me feel pretty good to know my head game made him come fast. So the tables got turned and I got to enjoy all of the benefits of his head between my legs, or the dildo.

“I created a monster,” Toni said just as I was lying on my back and getting ready for round two.

“You’re about to leave in a few days, so I’m trying to get it all in,” I joked, but I was so serious. Ever since Toni introduced me to his tongue and ice, I was like a crack fiend for his lips between my legs, which led to some good sex. We had sex once or sometimes twice a day for over two weeks. Now that I was working at Macy’s, I had a more regular schedule and Toni loved this. Our relationship was stronger than ever. Was it because he was leaving, or maybe because I was under less stress not working production. Whatever the reason was, I was enjoying this time together and I was truly happy.

***

In less than twenty-four hours, Toni was leaving for Illinois and I was really going to miss him. I was working late and Toni surprised me at Macy’s and wanted to take me to lunch. As we walked through Macy’s, he stopped at the jewelry counter and pointed to a ring I’d seen in the Macy’s catalog and said I liked. It was a one-carat ring cluster and I thought it would make a great fashion ring.

“Is this the ring you said you liked in the catalog?”

“Yup,” I said as the sale rep Denise walked over.

“Hey, JR,” Denise said. “Is this Mr. Toni I hear so much about?”

“This is Toni. Toni, this is Denise.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I can see why JR has you under lock and key,” she said as I gave her the look, like cut it out.

“I don’t know why she has me under lock and key, but it’s all good, and nice to meet you,” Toni said as I pulled him away from the counter.

“We’re heading to lunch, Denise. I’ll see you later,” I said as we walked away.

“Are you excited to go?” I asked Toni over lunch.

“I guess, but I’m going to miss you, but I promise to call you every day or at least write every day.”

“You act as if you’re going to prison or something.”

“I’m hearing stories about how it’s like a prison. These next eight weeks will be hard but worth it in the end. There’s a graduation after the last week and naturally I want you to come. I know you was bummed about not having that getaway before you started this nine to five or should I say ‘tax job,’” he jokingly mocked me.

“I never been to Illinois; how far is it from Chicago? That’s the only part of Illinois I know.”

“You crazy, I’m going to miss you.”

“We’ll be fine. You forget we started the first part of our relationship from a distance,” I reminded him.

“How can I forget?” he said as we cleaned up the mall table and made our way back to my job.

“I’ll be off at six, so I’ll see you at home,” I said as I gave him a hug and walked back to my department.

It’s a Promise…

As JR walked back to work, I wanted to go check out that ring she wanted. I made my way back to the counter and saw Denise again.

“Hey, Denise. Can I see that ring JR liked?”

“Hey, Toni, welcome back. Let me grab the key so you can check out this ring.”

“This is a nice ring and I know Jaime would like it.”

“Jamie, is that JR’s real name?” Denise asked, laughing.

“Yeah, her name is Jamie Reynolds. That’s where she gets JR from.”

“I guess I never even asked why everyone calls her JR since it’s on her name tag. Okay, so here’s the ring and it’s on sale. JR… Jamie says you’re leaving for Illinois soon.”

“Yeah, I leave for boot camp.”

“Oh, boot camp, I guess I also never asked what you was doing in Illinois,” she said, laughing. “My cousin was at Great Lakes.”

“Hey, I’m also going to Great Lakes.”

“He said it was nice but a lot of work. You know, they break you and then build you back up,” Denise said.

“Thanks,” Toni said sarcastically. “So how much would this ring be?”

“It’s on sale, but you know JR gets a twenty percent discount and since she has a ton of Macy’s money—”

“What is Macy’s money?”

“Macy’s money is great. It’s money you can only use at Macy’s. Every time we open up a credit card account we get Macy’s money, and JR also gets bonus Macy’s money because she’s a CSM.”

“CSM?” Toni asked.

“Yeah, a customer service manager. You don’t know what she does here at Macy’s?” Denise says, laughing. “Besides shop, of course, JR can always find the best deals sometimes. This is why she has so much Macy’s money, because she only buys stuff on clearance. I’m guessing she has about two hundred dollars in Macy’s money left, plus her twenty percent discount plus the sale we have going on; you can’t beat it.”