My Bestfriend's Man (8 page)

“Mom,” I laughed.

“How old is he?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Does he have any children?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“What does he do?”

“He owns that popular club,
Envious.”

She shook her head. “That club is
bad news. Too much going on in there.”

“Mom, he’s clean,” I said ready
to defend Brian. “You probably talking about his dad, Big Brian. His father
doesn’t own the club anymore.”

“I know what I’m talking about.
Matter of fact, he was in the news about something about a year or two ago,”
she said looking towards the ceiling in deep thought.

“Once again you are probably
thinking about his dad.”

“And once again I know what I’m
talking about,” she said with the roll of her head.

“Okay mom,” I said shaking my
head. I wasn’t about to argue.

“You like him?”

I sighed and placed a hand on my
chin. I sat there for a minute trying to answer the question. Brian is cool and
we have fun together, but as far as something serious, I couldn’t see him in my
future. I didn’t want to begin to think about putting myself through another
episode like last night.

“Does he know that?”

“Mom I didn’t even answer the
question.”

“You don’t have to,” she said as
she turned around, getting back to washing dishes. “Just know that men deal
with their emotions differently than women do. I think you should tell him how
you really feel Savannah, before someone gets seriously hurt.”

“Okay mom,” I said half
listening.

“How’s my baby girl?”

“Daddy,” I jumped up and wrapped
my arms around his neck. I loved my mother with all my heart, but there’s no
doubt I was a daddy’s girl. He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me
off the ground. My daddy is handsome with his smooth caramel skin, light brown
eyes,
and waves for days.

“Gerald, you better stop all that
foolishness. You know you’ve been having problems with your back,” my mother
said over her shoulder as she tried to watch us and wash the dishes at the same
time.

He put me down and kissed me on
the cheek before walking over to my mother and patting her on the backside. She
frowned and shook her head.

“Stay out of my business woman,”
he joked.

“You are my business, especially
when it keeps me up at night.”

“Just get me my breakfast. I’m
out here slaving, doing what a man’s supposed to do and you want to give me a
hard time,” he said winking at me as he sat down at the table.

I couldn’t help, but smile as my
parents
went at
it. They
went at
it like this all the time. There was
never a dull moment in our lives. As I listened to
them,
I couldn’t help but think this could have been me and
Brandon. I’m a hopeless romantic and as a little girl I always wanted a happily
ever after with a handsome prince. I thought that the
handsome
prince would have been Brandon.

A sense of sadness washed over me
as I thought about what could have been between us. We could have had a good
life, but he just had to go and fuck it up. I could feel the tears starting to
surface. I shook my head and tried to think about something else.

“Since you’re here baby girl I
thought it would be nice if we all went down to visit your sister Gabby.”

I looked from my mother to my
father. They remained silent waiting for me to respond. I haven’t been to visit
my sister in a long time. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

 
“Come on Savannah. I think it would do us all
some good. We haven’t been down to see her in a while.”

I really didn’t want to, but I
could see it in my father’s eyes that this is something he really wanted us all
to do. Reluctantly, I nodded my head yes.

*
  
*
  
*

The sun was out and the summer
air of July was a bit musty. As we all walked towards our destination, I found
myself constantly swatting and ducking honey bees. It could have been my
Burberry perfume, whatever it was they were attracted to me and wouldn’t leave
me the hell alone. I hate bugs with a passion and these sons of guns were extra
aggressive today.

My mom shook her head at me. She
kept trying to tell me if I left the bees alone they would leave me alone.
That’s bullshit because I wasn’t bothering them. Those little suckers kept
coming for me.

“Girl, if you don’t stop. If I
didn’t know any better I would have sworn you were a city girl,” my mother
chastised.

I didn’t respond back because
we’d finally reached our destination. I could feel my heart starting to pound
against my chest. I could feel my emotions about to take over. My father must
have sensed this because he wrapped his arms around me. I gladly laid my head
on his shoulder.

We both stood back and watched as
my mother placed a fresh bouquet of flowers on my sister’s grave. My beautiful
baby sister died over ten years ago. She was just eight and I was twelve. As I
stood there staring at her tombstone the memories came flooding back.

I remember the sirens, because
they were so loud. They scared the shit out of me. It was around eight o’
clock
in the morning when the police banged on
our front door. I jumped at the sound of my mother’s screams. Out of instinct,
I jumped up and looked over towards my sister Gabby’s bed.

At the time. I thought nothing of
it when it was empty. I put on my robe, slipped my feet in a pair of slippers
and walked out into the living room. My mother was hysterical and my father did
all he could do to console her. He tried to get me to go back to bed, but I
wouldn’t. I wanted to know what was wrong with mommy and where was Gabby.

Later on that morning after the
police had finally left and my father tucked my mother into bed, he told both
me and Roxie the devastating news. Gabby’s lifeless body was found in the pond
we use to play in just a few blocks away from our house.

Her death was ruled as an
accidental drowning. The cops claimed she snuck out of bed and walked to the
pond, went in too deep and drowned. I didn’t believe that bullshit and my
parents didn’t either, but our opinion really didn’t matter, they made the
decision and there wasn’t much we could do about it.

“Let us pray,” my father said
removing his arm from around my shoulder.

He held out his hands. My mother
took one hand and I took the other. As my father began to
pray,
I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer.
They came gushing out like a broken faucet. I lived with the guilt of my
sister’s death
every day
of my life.

“Shhh,” my father said as he did
his best to console me. “Come on Karen,” he said to my mother.

I watched her blow a kiss towards
Gabby’s headstone before helping him walk me to the car. The entire drive back
my mother and father did their best to console me. They told me over and over
again that what happened to Gabby wasn’t my fault, but that did little to erase
the guilt weighing down my heart.

I know were not supposed to
question God, but I often wondered why. Why did he take her instead of me? Why
didn’t I hear anything? Why didn’t I just wake up? Did she suffer? Did she call
for me and I didn’t hear her? So many questions tortured my mind. At times, I
found it hard to escape from them.

After
the visit
to the
grave,
I
wasn’t
any more
good. I needed to get
away and clear my head. My mother didn’t want me driving in such an emotional
state of mind, but I assured her I was okay. I decided to go to Starbucks and
drown out my sorrows with calories. I had a craving for a strawberry Frappuccino
and a lemon loaf.

As soon as I walked in the door I
immediately regretted it. This world is just too damn small. There he stood before
me again in the flesh with the same bitch he was at the club with. Tomorrow I
was definitely taking my ass to church. This was a sign I needed Jesus in my
life. We made brief eye contact. I rolled my eyes and attempted to walk around
him, but he blocked my path.

“Brandon move.”

“Savannah please just talk to
me.”

I looked from him to the chick
who stood beside him. She looked uncomfortable and I would be lying if I said I
wasn’t happy. I wanted her ass to sweat a little. She really had nothing to do
with the bullshit going on between me and Brandon, but I still didn’t like her.

“Brandi, can you go wait in the
truck. I’ll be right there.” Her feelings were hurt, but she simply nodded her
head as he handed her the keys. She briefly gave me the once over before
walking past me. He returned his attention back to me. “Savannah.”

“Brandon,” I snapped back.

“Can you please, just talk to
me?”

“There is nothing to talk about
Brandon.”

“There’s a lot we need to talk
about Savannah.”

For a
second,
I almost got lost in his beautiful green eyes. I cleared my
throat and quickly looked away. By now, bystanders were staring at us. He
gently grabbed my arm attempting to pull me to the side, but I snatched away.

“Let’s just sit down and talk.”

“About?” I asked rolling my neck.

“You really want to do this here?
Like this?” He had the nerve to ask. I gave him a serious look. He ran his hand
over his mouth. “
Okay,
if you want it to
be like that. Why did you leave me? The least you can do is give me an
explanation.”

“Are you fucking serious
Brandon?” I yelled. He looked around and smiled at the audience we had now
created. “You’re actually going to sit here and play dumb?” He shrugged his
shoulders like he had no idea what I was talking about. “Fuck you and your
bitch,” I yelled and stormed passed him.

I was an emotional wreck. I
wasn’t sure if I would be able to drive myself home. Too much had happened in
such a short amount of time. I don’t know why I still allowed Brandon to get
under my damn skin. I wanted him to leave me the hell alone. Every time I came
in contact with him this happened. I still loved him. He still had a hold on
me. If I could only figure out a way to break that chain.

“Savannah,” Brandon yelled after
me.

“Leave me the fuck alone
Brandon,” I yelled over my shoulder as I quickly walked to my truck. I hopped
in and closed the door.

I thought he would get the hint,
but he didn’t. He stood outside of my window screaming my name begging for me
to talk to him. A part of me almost gave in. I was stuck in time, you know how
they play the movies in slow motion. My hand almost touched the handle to let
him in, but then the image of him in bed with another woman popped in my head
and I quickly drew my hand back.

“Savannah,” he pleaded.

I shook my head back and forth.
“Just go Brandon. Just go.”

He was heartbroken and by now his
energy was gone. He put his head down momentarily before looking back up at me.
We stared at each other a moment longer. Without saying a word, I knew what he
was asking of me, but I shook my head no. I couldn’t allow him back into my
life again. After he cheated on me the first time I gave him a second chance
and he fucked it up. It made me believe strongly in that saying once a cheater
always a cheater.

He lightly banged my window and
shook his head. “There’s a reason we keep running into each other Savannah. We
really need to sit down and talk.” Without saying another
word,
he left.

I couldn’t contain my tears as I
watched him walk away. He was walking out of my life, and I couldn’t handle the
pain I felt in my chest. I needed something, anything to take away the pain. I
fished around in my purse for my cell phone. He was the last person I should
have called. It wasn’t fair to him, but I needed someone to take my mind off of
Brandon. Even if the moment was a lie, it would do for now.

“Hello,” Brian answered.

“Babe, I need you.”

“I’m on my way.”

Brandon

I knew I looked like a damn fool.
Hell, I even felt like one. I know I said I wasn’t going to continue with the
back and forth with Savannah. She still has a hold on me and every time I see
her I can’t control myself. I just need to know why she left me like she did.
She keeps giving me this bullshit that I already know. If I did, I wouldn’t
keep asking her ass.

People were looking at me like I
was crazy as I walked back to my truck, but I didn’t care. I grabbed the door
handle and hesitated. I felt like shit. Brandi didn’t deserve what just happened.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. She didn’t even look my way as I
hopped in.

“Look-,” I began as I turned
towards her.

“Don’t even worry about it,” she
said with a shrug of her shoulders. “We’re just friends, no strings attached. I
remember,” she looked at me and smiled.

She smiled, but I could tell she
was disappointed. It wasn’t anything serious going on between me and Brandi. We
established that from the beginning. She said she wanted a friend, and I
honestly needed one, but she still didn’t deserve to be caught up in the middle
of what just went down between Savannah and
me
.

“I’m assuming that’s your
ex-girlfriend,” she asked me after a moment of silence.

“Yeah,” I said keeping my eyes on
the road as I weaved in and out of traffic.

“She’s pretty.”

“I know,” I mumbled ready to put
the entire Savannah situation behind me.

“Can I be real with you though?”

I glanced at her for a second
before returning my attention back to the road. She didn’t even wait for me to
respond. She just started in on me.

“Real talk Brandon, you looked
pathetic. You looked real desperate and thirsty.”

“Thanks, Brandi but I already
know.”

“Do you?” She asked.

I could see her looking at me out
the corner of my eye. I knew she was right, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk
about it.

“Look, you’re a good guy. I just
hate to see you put yourself out there for someone who doesn’t appreciate it.
Besides it’s about
time,
you took your
balls back.”

“What the fuck are you talking
about? I never lost them?”

“I can’t tell. She got you out
here chasing after her ass like some bitch. I’m sure she’s moved on already.”

Brandi was talking some real shit,
but I really wasn’t trying to hear it. The thought of Savannah being with
someone else had me feeling some kind of way. Maybe I
was being
cocky, but I was the first one to break her in. I didn’t
want anybody else to have that.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You’re giving her too much
power. She’s feeding off the drama,” Brandi continued ignoring my request. I
cut my eyes at her before looking back at the road. “I’m just saying. Ignore
her ass next time and see what happens.”

“Are you done?”

“Yep. Since we missed our morning
coffee, how about you come back to my place and I fix you lunch?”

“Nah, I’m not in the mood,” I
said shaking my head.

I watched out of the corner of my
eye as she shook her head. She opened her mouth to say
something,
but she didn’t.
Instead,
she folded her arms underneath her breast and looked out the window. I sighed
and thought about my current situation.

I hated to admit it, but Brandi
was right. Savannah had me out here looking like a damn fool. As much as I
loved her I had to move on. It wasn’t healthy for me to hold onto someone that
didn’t want to be held. She made her choice and I had to live with it. I
chuckled to myself thinking back to what Brandi told me earlier about getting
my balls back. If my older brother Sterling saw how I was
acting,
he would have kicked my ass on GP.

I pulled into Brandi’s driveway.
She still hadn’t spoken a word to me. She grabbed the door handle ready to get
out, but I stopped her. She looked at me, breathed hard and sat back.

“I know, you’re right, but it’s
not that easy Brandi. You don’t understand me and Savannah have-,”

“History, I get it,” she said
completing my sentence.

“You wouldn’t understand anyway,”
I said shaking my head.

“You’re right I wouldn’t, but you
said it’s been a year and she still doesn’t want anything to do with you,
right? I do know when it’s time to move on. You can’t keep holding onto this.
In the end, you might miss out on something good.”

The air between us got a little
tense. I caught the underlying message and this time I’m willing to take her
advice when it came to Savannah. It has been a year and from the looks of
things she had no plans of coming back. She probably moved on without a second
thought.

  
“So what do you have
in mind?”

  
“Huh?” She asked me
with a confused look on her face.

  
“I thought you wanted
to cook
my
lunch.”

  
She smiled that
beautiful smile of hers and hopped out of the truck. Brandi is cool, but I
couldn’t see us being anything more than friends. She’s young, in college and
still undecided about what she wanted to do in life. She was carefree and
simply lived for the moment.

I stuffed my hands into my
pockets as I followed her into the house. She said she was a struggling student,
but I couldn’t tell by the way she was living. She lived in a lavish three
bedroom home, in a prominent community. I started to question her about it, but
at this point I really didn’t think it was any of my business.

“So what are you making for me
again?” I asked as I followed her into the kitchen. For some
reason,
I couldn’t keep my eyes off
of
her ass. She wore a t-shirt, a pair of
leggings and flip flops. I knew she was putting an extra sway in her hips
because of me, and it was working.

“Nothing fancy, baked spaghetti
and garlic bread. I might even throw in a side salad.”

“Aight do your thing,” I
stated
as I walked in behind her and sat down
at the table.

“You thirsty?” She
asked
as she opened the refrigerator and pulled
out the hamburger.

“Yeah, what you got?”

“What you looking for?” She asked
as she looked at me and winked.

I smirked and shook my head.
“I’ll take
a beer
.”

“Ugh, sorry I don’t keep those things
in my house. Beer is so disgusting.”

  
“You asked.”

“Well, try something else.”

“Bottled water is fine.”

“Good,” she smiled as she dipped
back inside of the refrigerator before handing me my bottled water. “You don’t
have to stay out here with me. You can make yourself at home. Go watch some TV,
play a game of pool. It’s whatever.”

Before I could
respond,
we were joined by someone else. I
don’t think she noticed me, but I sure as hell noticed her. She was dressed in
a black halter top with no bra. I could see her nipples pointing at me. The
gray booty shorts she wore strained hard to cover her ass. They were so tight I
could see the imprint of her pussy.

“Hey Brandi.”

I got the feeling Brandi wasn’t
thrilled about her company. She looked at the girl and frowned.

“Hey yourself. How the hell did
you get in here?”

“I have a key remember?”

“Yeah,” Brandi smirked. I watched
as Brandi eyed the girl up and down with displeasure written all over her face,
then she looked at me.

That’s when the girl finally noticed
me. She did a double take as she looked at me. There was something familiar
about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was so transfixed on her body
that I didn’t get a proper look at her face until now. She was beautiful with
slanted eyes, high cheek bones, and lustful lips. Her caramel colored skin was
flawless.

“Staring is so rude,” Brandi
interrupted.

“I wasn’t the only one staring,”
she replied back with the roll of her eyes. She placed a hand on her thick hip.
“And what’s with all the attitude?”

“Because I have company and you
all up in my shit unannounced.”

I was starting to feel
uncomfortable as I sat there and listened to them go back and forth. I wasn’t
sure if I should stay or go.

“Oh, so you’d rather entertain
your company than your own sister. We haven’t spoken or seen each other in
almost a year and this is how you do me?”

“Bri, stop with the damn
dramatics,” Brandi said as she continued to go about the kitchen preparing my
meal.

I cleared my throat and stood up.
“Maybe I should go.”

“No, Bri was just stopping by.
Isn’t that right Bri?”

The expression on Bri’s face told
me she wasn’t too pleased about being kicked out, but she took it all in
stride. She pinched the tip of her nose and breathed deep. She rolled her eyes
at her sister before directing her attention back at me.

“It was nice to meet you
Brandon,” she said with a wink. She slowly turned around and exited the
kitchen.

“What was that all about?” I
asked as I took a sip of my bottled water.

“Nothing. I don’t want to talk
about it.”

“Oh, I see. You want me to talk
about my problems, but you can’t talk about yours?”

“Boy
bye
,” she said as she ran water into a large pot.

“That ain’t even right. I thought
what we had was special, but you want to keep secrets and shit.”

She looked at me and smiled. Damn
I loved her smile. “Aight, but I need to pour me a glass of wine first.”

“That’s cool as long as you know
how to control your liquor and keep your hands to yourself.”

“And if I don’t?” She questioned.

I was stuck on mute when she came
back at me like that. It was in her eyes, she wanted me, but I didn’t want to
hurt her so I held my restraint.

“I plead the fifth.”