Married Men (56 page)
Authors: Carl Weber
“Come on, Keyshawn, leave her alone. The girl’s pregnant. You gonna mess around and make her go into labor.” Renee tried to pull her to the door.
“Let me go, Renee.” She pulled herself free and took a step toward me. “All I’m tryin’ to do is give her the same advice I wish someone had given me.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” I asked sarcastically. This sister was obviously just jealous because I was with Jay now. All that shit about VD was probably just to cover up the fact that my man dumped her ass.
“Stay as far away from Jay Crawford as you can get. If you don’t, you’re the one who’s gonna need an AIDS test. With me he was just passing on clap, but as many women as he messes with, I’m sure he’s moved on to bigger and better things. Take it from me, honey. Every time you sleep with him, you’re taking your life in your hands.”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Could she really be talking about the same man who had just proposed to me thirty minutes ago? What if Jay really had given her gonorrhea? And what if he was really sleeping with other women? Nah, this bitch was lying. It couldn’t be true. Jay wouldn’t do that to me.
“He’s not like that.” I glared at her. “And I don’t appreciate you talking ’bout him like that. He probably never even messed with your stupid ass.”
“You calling me a liar?” She took a step forward and I took a step back. Damn, if I wasn’t pregnant, I’d be putting my foot right in her ass.
“Come on, Keyshawn, don’t do this. I keep tellin’ you she’s pregnant.” Renee was pleading now.
“I ain’t gonna touch her, but I don’t like no one calling me a liar, ’specially some young, stupid bitch.”
“Well, I don’t like no one lying on my man, so we even.” Pregnant or not, I had a real attitude now. This wench was getting on my last nerve.
“Oh, yeah?” she laughed. “Why don’t we go ask him if I’m lying?”
“Why don’t we?” I headed for the door, eager for Jay to put this bitch in her place. By the time I got to where Jay was sitting in the lobby, I was about three strides ahead of Keyshawn and Renee.
“Ready to go?” he smiled.
“Do you know her?” I pointed at Keyshawn and his smile disappeared.
“Yeah, Jay. Do you know me?” She stood right next to me with hands on her hips, a wicked grin on her face. Jay didn’t say a word. He just glared.
“Jay, I asked you a question. Do you—”
“Yeah, I know her,” he stopped me. “Why? What’d she say?” His eyes never left hers.
“I told her you ain’t shit, nigga. That’s what I told her.” Keyshawn poked her finger in Jay’s chest.
“Yeah, well, it takes a nigga to know a nigga, Keyshawn.” He stood up and reached for my hand. “Come on, baby, let’s go. It’s starting to smell around here.”
I pulled my hand back.
“No, Jay. I wanna know if you gave her gonorrhea.” Jay’s eyes got huge. He looked at me, then Keyshawn, then back at me.
“She told you that shit?” he asked slowly.
I nodded.
“And you believed her?”
“Just answer my question, Jay,” I demanded. I was still hoping he was gonna put this bitch in her place when the truth about them came out. He gave me this stupid look, then exploded.
“Hell, no! I ain’t give her shit. I told you there were gonna be girls like her trying to fuck our shit up. She’s just another player hater, mad that she can’t get none.”
“Can’t get none? What the fuck would I want from you? The last time you gave me something, it took two shots to get rid of it!” Keyshawn was screaming, out of control, and the entire restaurant lobby was now staring at us.
“I ain’t give you shit, you fuckin’ project ho!” Jay took a step toward her. I could see the muscles in his neck start to bulge and I was afraid he was going to hit her. I reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Come on, baby. Fuck her. I believe you.”
“You one stupid bitch. Can’t you see I’m trying to help you? He’s gonna dog you just like he done everyone else.” She was breathing heavy, and she had this wild look in her eyes. Damn, she was really tryin’ to convince me of her story. She musta really wanted Jay back or something.
“No, I can’t see shit you trying to do for me but break up my engagement. You jealous heifer.” I smiled and flashed my ring near her face. “And I swear if you call me a stupid bitch again, pregnant or not, I‘ma kick your fuckin’ ass. Come on, baby, let’s get the hell out of here.” I strode toward the exit, pulling Jay’s hand.
We spent most of the ride home holding hands in total silence, me staring at my engagement ring, Jay entranced in his own thoughts. After that scene, I guess neither one of us had the strength to even deal with it. Truth is, I was grateful for the chance to sort out some of my emotions.
“You like it?” He pointed to my ring as he parked in front of our apartment.
“I love it.”
“I love you.” He smiled and then just as quickly changed the subject. “Look, I’m gonna go get some beer. When I get back, we can celebrate our engagement the right way.” He winked and let his eyes roam over my body.
“We got beer in the house,” I pouted. I was still a little shook up, and I just wanted him to come inside and hold me.
“I know, but I want a Heineken. Kyle, Wil, and Allen can have that Budweiser tomorrow when we move.”
“Oh, all right,” I sighed. But can you go to Carvel for me? I been craving Carvel.” I figured if he was gonna be out, I might as well take advantage of it. He’d be back soon enough to take care of me.
“Sure. What you want?”
“Get me a strawberry sundae with extra hot fudge. And don’t forget the nuts and whipped cream.”
He looked at me and made a face. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
“And can you leave me your cell phone? I wanna call my mom.”
“You gonna tell her we’re engaged?”
“Uh-huh, that’s why I’m callin’ her.”
“Good,” he smiled, handing me the phone as I stepped out of the car. “You make sure you tell your ma how big that rock is.” I nodded and he pulled off.
I watched his car drive away wondering about his sudden need to go out to buy beer. What a time for him to be so eager to leave, and why didn’t he just drive there before coming home? I’d never had any doubts about him messing with anyone other than Kenya, but now I wasn’t so sure. I’d have to be blind not to notice how women seemed to always be looking at him. Some of them looked like they wanted to eat him for dessert. God, what if I was just one of his many girls? Keyshawn sure made it sound that way, and so had that woman at the funeral. I looked at the ring on my finger and tried to smile. Jay wouldn’t give me a diamond like that unless he really meant it, would he? I wished I really believed that.
I wasn’t going to get any answers standing outside in the night air so I headed into the house to call my mom. I hadn’t talked to her in so long, and I was feeling like I really needed her now. We’d been more like sisters than mother and daughter until Jay moved me to this roach motel out here in Jersey. I hadn’t spoken to her since the day me, her, Jay, and Daddy went to brunch and she announced that I was pregnant. I was so mad at her, I didn’t think I would ever forgive her for that. But now she was the only person I wanted to talk to.
I maneuvered through all the boxes we’d packed up to move. They were scattered all over the living room. Somehow I found some empty space and sat down on the sofa. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before I dialed the number to my parents’ house. I was praying my father wouldn’t answer.
“Hello?” My eyes filled with tears when I heard my mom’s voice.
“Mom?” I whispered.
“Tracy? Is that you, baby?” She sounded like she was going to cry, too.
“Yeah, Mom, it’s me.” I took a breath. “How you been, Mom?”
“I’m all right, Tracy. But I been worried about you. Is everything all right with the baby? You’re going to the doctor like you’re supposed to, aren’t you?” It felt good to hear my mother’s concern. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed that feeling of security I always had with my parents. Why hadn’t I noticed that it was missing with Jay?
“Yeah, Mom, I been goin’ to the doctor and the baby’s fine. I had a sonogram the other day.” I smiled as I remembered seeing my baby moving on the screen. “They told me you’re gonna have a grandson.”
“Oh, Tracy. You for real? I’m going to have a grandson? Wait ’til I tell the girls in the office. You decide what you gonna name him?”
“No, not yet. Any ideas?” We talked about names and I could hear the excitement in her voice as the two of us prattled on just like the old times. I hadn’t even brought up what happened at the restaurant or that Jay and I were engaged yet. Suddenly that didn’t seem important. It just felt so good to be connecting with my mom again.
“When you coming home, Tracy?” Her voice was so soft, and her question sounded more like a plea. “I’m not asking you to come home for good, but just to visit for a week or two. I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you too, Mom. But Daddy said—”
“I don’t care what your father said, Tracy. You’re my only child and you’re always welcome in this house. Do you understand me? Besides, he might not admit it, but that big lug misses you just as much as I do.”
“You think so?” I grinned at the thought of my big, tough daddy with the soft heart.
“I know so. He’s just worried about you, Tracy. And so am I.”
“Well, that makes three of us.” There was silence on the other end as my mom processed what I had just told her. She finally cleared her throat.
“What’s wrong, Tracy? Everything all right with you and Jay? Is he treating you all right?”
“I guess. We got engaged today.” I tried to sound excited, but I don’t think it worked.
“You don’t sound too happy about it, baby.”
“I am. I’m just a little confused.”
“About what, baby?”
“I don’t know. I’m just thinking maybe I don’t really know Jay well enough yet. Everything just happened so fast with us, with the baby and all. And now we’re talking about marriage. We can’t even afford for me to go back to school.”
“Tracy, I wasn’t gonna tell you this ...” Mom hesitated. “But there’s something your father told me about Jay that maybe you should know.”
“Mom, I already know he’s married. He’s going to see a lawyer tomorrow about a divorce.”
“That’s not it, Tracy.” She hesitated again before she dropped the bomb. “Your father found out that Jay was arrested five months ago.”
“Arrested! For what?” I closed my eyes and prayed it was nothing too bad. Something Jay would be able to explain. When Mom told me, I didn’t think I’d wanna hear Jay’s explanation, even if he did have one.
“He pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute.”
“Are you serious? Mom, that’s not possible.” I didn’t want to believe it, but after everything else I’d been learning about the man, I guess anything was possible.
“Yes, baby I’m serious. Your father showed me the printout.”
“Oh, Mom. What am I gonna do?” I started crying as I gave her the news about everything else I’d heard about Jay. “I just found out he gave another woman gonorrhea.”
I explained everything to my mom about my relationship with Jay. From the day he left me at his house, to the fight at the funeral, to him calling me Kenya, to the scene in the restaurant bathroom. Mom was a great listener. She didn’t say a word ’til I finished the entire saga. Then she asked me something I didn’t expect to hear, but something that made me so glad. She asked me if I wanted to come home.
When Jay walked in the door, he must have sensed something was wrong. Then again, I would hope that after taking two hours to get some beer he’d know he was in some trouble. He put down the six-pack of Heineken and took slow, apprehensive steps toward me.
“What’s wrong? Why you looking at me like that?”
“Where’s my ice cream?”
“Oh, shit.” He hit himself in the head with his fist. “I knew I forgot something. I’m sorry, baby. I got a flat tire and completely forgot about your ice cream.” He gave me this innocent look.
“It took you two hours to change a flat? What do I look like, a fool?” I looked at him from head to toe, and there wasn’t a speck of dirt on him. That was the cleanest tire change I ever heard of. Jay must have known what I was thinking, ’cause he had an excuse prepared before I even opened my mouth.
“My jack was broke so I had to call Triple A.”
“Yeah, right. Tell me anything.” I rolled my eyes and used my coldest voice.
“Look, you’re not still mad about that Keyshawn shit, are you?”
“Yeah, believe it or not, after waiting for you for two hours, I’m still not over it,” I said sarcastically.
“I told you she’s a liar.” He was starting to sound worried.
“And you’re playin’ right into her hands. She just wants to mess up what we have.” He tried to reach out for me, but I pulled back. I couldn’t let him touch me.
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