Unconditionally Single (15 page)

Another commentator said, “Yeah, since Darius’s mother has been sharing her suite with her new gem, she seems happier.”

“Oh. My. God. That dog!” Honey yelled. Grabbing the remote from Hunter, she hurled it at the screen. “He’s not looking for me. He’s moved on with some prim and proper stuck up looking bitch.”

“It’s not what you think,” I told her. “Grant truly loves you.”

Honey snapped. “Don’t tell me what the fuck you think. Tell me what the fuck you know about Grant, Hunter, Valentino, that bitch he’s at the game with…tell me every fucking thing or I swear I’ma kick your ass so bad your mother won’t recognize you.”

I exhaled, stood, then answered, “Oh, you mean the same way your mother recognized you?” I reached into my purse, ripped the corner off an envelope, jotted an address, handed it to Honey.

Honey’s misery was not going to accompany me, not tonight. “I have a dinner date at the Ritz and I’m not about to let you fuck that up too. If you want your man,” I said, pointing to the piece of paper, “I suggest you go and get him.”

B
abysitting a grown-ass woman during the game was not halftime entertainment. Benito moved Red Velvet’s chair into the living room in front of the black leather sofa, removed the tape and scarf from her mouth, then fed her a bite of our pepperoni pizza with extra cheese.

“Oh, damn. Darius scored again! Nigga, you are missing the game of the motherfuckin’ season over there trippin’.”

“She’s gotta eat too, V,” Benito said, twirling a strand of cheese onto his finger. “Open wide.”

Red Velvet’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know where your finger has been. You could’ve pissed, shook your dick, then left the bathroom without washing your filthy hands. You eat it. Give me another bite of the part you haven’t touched.”

“Nigga, I say let her ass starve. Oh, damn. Darius has scored again. This game is beyond spectacular.”

Why hadn’t I heard from Sapphire? Had she collected the money from Grant? Cut me out altogether? She could be back in Las Vegas. I wasn’t going to California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, or any contiguous state that tipped that bitch-ass state of Nevada, ever again in my life. Summer would have to pack up our shit and move to Atlanta after she had the twins or she’d have to raise them by herself in Nevada. Where was that crazy-ass wife of mine and what was she up to? All I knew was Summer had better not have another man up in my house, sleeping in my bed, telling my son what the fuck to do. Women were more trouble than they were worth. If it weren’t for pussy, titties, ass, getting head, and birthing babies, women were not necessary. Men could enjoy sports 24–7 without interruptions.

“Untie me,” Red Velvet complained. “I’ve gotta pee.”

That was exactly the distractive shit I was thinking about.

Benito put the pizza on the cardboard box, wiped his hands on a napkin. “Okay.”

“No, nigga, no. What the fuck are you doing? Do not untie her ass until I say so.”

“He’ll change his mind in a minute. It’s got to be his idea not yours,” Benito said, feeding her another bite.

Was that nigga a double agent? Benito’s loyalty was solid as quicksand. But that nigga Darius Jones was faster than a cheetah. Darius was my new nigga. I had to see his ass shut down that damn arena in person. Halftime highlights—that nigga had a triple-double—points, rebounds, assists. The cameraman zoomed in on an exotic international-looking bitch and a black goddess.

My anaconda slithered down my leg. Midthigh, I grabbed the head, squeezed my dick tight. “Slow down, nigga.” I’d like to fuck both of them at the same time too. “Look at these bitches here, nigga,” I said to Benito. “Damn, they are straight solid. I’d do them both.” I stood. Red Velvet stared at my dick. “You know you want some of this.”

“I’ll pass on that there shit, nigga. Don’t look like you’ve had your rabies shots yet,” she said.

The commentator said some shit about, “That’s Darius Jones’s mother, Jada Diamond Tanner, looking like a jewel, and his wife, Fancy Taylor, a flawless diamond, and that’s his son.”

The second commentator dipped in, “But that’s not her son. Sure takes a woman to raise another woman’s child. The biological mother, Ashlee Anderson, is reportedly not doing so well.”

I walked over to that trick Red Velvet, raised my hand to smack her in her big mouth, as the first commentator said, “Yeah, since Darius’s mother has been sharing her suite with her new gem, she seems happier.”

“V, stop. Look at the television man.” Benito stared at the screen. “My bro! Got himself another rich woman. I think she was the one in the limo that day. That’s how we do it. You think Lace knows?”

The second commentator asked, “Wasn’t Ashlee Darius’s stepsister?”

“I believe so. Back to the real highlights here,” the first commentator said.

Grant had impeccable taste. He’d better not introduce me to Jada or Fancy. I’d fuck them so good they’d be callin’ my name in their sleep. “Nigga, I don’t care if Lace’s ass knows or not. I’m glad your brother is smarter than I thought. Lace is bad news. Definitely not his type.” She was more like mine.

Red Velvet kept her eyes focused on the television. There was something in her eyes—lust.

I told her, “What? You think you can score with Darius? A man that successful would never let a trick like you suck his dick. You’re not good enough.”

“Don’t say that, V. She’s not so bad. I kinda like her. If I don’t get back with Lace maybe Red Velvet and I can hook up.” Benito resumed feeding her pizza. “Can I untie her now? She’s wiggling in her seat.”

“No, nigga, no. Let her ass burst. She’s got to release information at some point. I’m tired of playing her game,” I said, then yelled at her, “I’m Anthony Valentino James, bitch. I don’t have to beg for nothing. You don’t have to talk to me. I just decided. It’s time for your trouble-making ass to going home.” I dialed 411.

“What city and state, please?” the automated system asked. Red Velvet’s ass gave me a newfound appreciation for a preprogrammed bitch.

“Atlanta, Georgia.”

“Business or residence?”

“Business,” I said.

“What listing please?”

“SPCA.”

“Would you like me to automatically connect your call?”

“Yes.”

A few seconds later I heard, “SPCA.”

“Yeah, is this the dog pound where you guys hired that inexperienced motherfucker to run things?” How the fuck did an animal shelter hire a nigga with no animal rescue skills?

“Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about. How may I help you?”

That bitch knew exactly what I was talking about—the shit was all over the news. “I’ve got a female bitch over here who’s got me heated. Best y’all put her to sleep before I do.”

“Is she an endangerment or terminally ill?” the woman asked.

“Damn straight, the bitch is foaming at the mouth. She can’t stop barking and she doesn’t obey commands.”

“Have you tried obedience school?”

“Bitch, have you? Just send the fucking dogcatcher to fetch her ass before I put her to sleep my damn self,” I said, ending the call. This was not bitches of the world unite day.

Laughing, Benito rolled on the floor, scooted under Red Velvet’s chair. His head was aligned with her ass.

“What’s so funny, nigga?”

“You, V. But I have to see if Red Velvet pussy smells like the cake before the dogcatcher comes to get her.” Benito rubbed Red Velvet’s ass.

“Nigga, you at the wrong end.”

“Her ass so big it’s kind of hard to get the right angle unless I tip her over,” Benito said, grinning.

“I’ll tip the bitch for you.” I pushed the chair on its two front legs. Benito repositioned himself to the front end and smiled.

Water flowed over the edge of the chair into Benito’s mouth.

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I damn near dropped the chair on him. “That’s what you get, nigga.”

Benito slid from underneath the chair. “That wasn’t nice. I should beat you senseless for that,” he lamented at Red Velvet. “I’m the one who fed you and that’s the thanks I get?”

That nigga may never learn. You can’t treat a bitch like a lady. I shook my head.
Smack!
I slapped that nigga upside his empty head, grabbed the scarf and tape. Gagged that bitch, slapped a wide strip of tape over her mouth. “Go wash your pissy-ass face, then come help me put this nasty bitch on the balcony to dry out. And you are going to clean up her piss.”

That bitch ruined my appetite. I tossed the pizza in the trash, watched the game. “That nigga DJ keep this shit up he gon’ fuck around and get the league’s MVP. Most valuable pussy.” Somehow, I was getting in that suite with Grant and Jada on the regular. Had to change my strategy.

An hour later, the game ended. Darius had half the team points. I had to find a way to make Grant respect me. Maybe I could take my money when I got it and partner with him on a few real estate deals. Do some legitimate business and shit.

Benito came back smelling fresh. That nigga had dressed up, black slacks, black button up shirt, and rubber gloves. Couldn’t blame him for doing it up. Nigga had to get his ego intact after having a bitch give him a golden shower.

“Help me carry her ass, chair and all, out on the balcony,” I said, holding my side of the chair with a bath towel.

Benito grabbed his end. Red Velvet bucked like a horse. Made us lose our balance, slip and fall into her piss.

“Bitch, I will pick your ass up, chair and all, and throw you over the balcony. Do it again.”

“Untie her. Let me handle her, V.”

“Nigga, you’re the reason both of us have to take a damn shower. Now! Buck again, bitch. I dare you,” I said as we picked her and the chair up again.

We straddled her chair across the threshold. I shoved the sliding door firm against the side of her chair so tight she couldn’t move a fraction of an inch. “Go shower again, nigga,” I told Benito. “I’ma go take one too. Hopefully by the time we get dressed that damn dogcatcher will be here. If not, we’re dropping her ass off at the pound. She’s useless.”

V
alentino was insane. Benito was obnoxious. Grant was wonderful. Seeing Grant on television rekindled fond memories of our sexual adventure. I prayed Honey was safe and she’d reunite with Grant before that Jada woman stole his heart. He did seem happy with Jada though.

I heard the showers running in both bathrooms. This was my time to escape these fools. I bucked but the chair hadn’t budged. Bucked harder. Harder. The chair hadn’t moved with me. I scanned my surroundings. The knives were six feet away on the counter. I twisted my hands in opposite directions. “Ow.” That wasn’t a good idea. Tears burned my eyes. A burst of air hit my face. A breeze emerged, chilling my wet ass.

Footsteps drew closer. Valentino was in his bedroom, Benito in his. Who was in the condo? I kept quiet. What if Valentino really had called the pound? What if it was a robber? Or Valentino’s wife? Or one of his enemies? He had to have many, my being only his most recent. My heart thumped. I quieted my breathing. What if it was Sapphire?

The pointed tip of a canary yellow shoe appeared. Then I saw the squared toe of a black leather shoe stop beside the yellow one. Then a pair of red pants flared against a pair of black slacks. Next I heard the front door close.

The draft abruptly stopped. No longer funneling my body, the breeze brushed my back one last time. The woman and man stood side by side in the dining room. He was my onetime lover. She was the older woman from the suite at the game.

“What the hell is going on here?” Grant asked.

Frantically shaking my head, I cried, “Please untie me. Hurry.”

“Oh, my gosh, this poor child. I thought you said your brother lives here,” Jada said, peeling the tape from my mouth. She untied the scarf, went to the living room, took a few deep breaths, then said to Grant, “You can explain this later.”

Turning his head sideways, Grant inhaled, untied my stinky ankles, then exhaled as he stood. “Where are they?” he asked.

“In their bathrooms. I had to pee. They wouldn’t untie me so I pissed on them.”

Grant shook his head, then laughed. “Those two deserve to be pissed on.”

“They tried to force me to tell them, but I swear I don’t know where Honey is.”

Jada untied my wrists. Grant untied my waist.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now. I believe you. I don’t know where Honey is either.” Grant hugged my upper body, avoiding below the waist contact.

“Baby?” Grant said.

Jada and I both answered, “Yes.”

Grant smiled. He kissed Jada, looked into her eyes, then said, “Baby, I need you to take Red Velvet home, then come back and pick me up.”

Jada kissed Grant. “My car? You want me to take her home in
my
car?”

“Please,” he said.

“If I didn’t care for you—”

He answered, “But you do. And I care for you too. You have to—”

“I do trust you,” she said to him, then asked, “Sweetheart, is there a towel or something she can sit on?”

Grant went into Benito’s bedroom and returned with a cashmere camel-colored blanket. Jada grabbed the blanket, then said, “Let’s go.”

Grant held my face in his hands, focused on me as though we were the only two in the room. “Velvet Waters, you have a wonderful mother, beautiful son, and promising future in acting. I can’t let you leave without asking.”

My eyes widen, heart palpitated.

“Did my brother or Valentino sexually assault you?”

What the hell?
I wanted to lie, wanted Grant to beat their asses, but I couldn’t lie to Grant. “No, they were annoying but they didn’t hit or rape me or anything like that,” I said, hoping Grant would hug me again. He didn’t.

“Go home, get yourself together, and get your family to Los Angeles so you can start filming, because Hollywood does not wait to make an unknown actor a star. Trust me, if you don’t show up when you’re supposed to, they have a replacement ready to take your part.”

I smiled. He remembered I was leaving. Then I frowned. Was he trying to get rid of me?

“But Sapphire and Onyx said they’d find me because I’ve abandoned their mission to find Honey. Sapphire and Onyx had me and they might still have the other girls prostituting by the theme park every night. They’re trying to find information that’ll lead them to Honey and Valentino but Valentino is right here with you. Why haven’t you called the police? Don’t you still love Honey?” I asked, searching Grant’s eyes to see if he cared more for Honey than he cared about Jada.

Grant stared through me. “If you need anything…money, travel arrangements, help finding housing—”

“I’ll help her with all of that,” Jada said, grabbing my arm. “I can see how much you’re concerned about her well-being, sweetheart, so I’ll take over from here.” Jada’s fingers tightened around my bicep. Firmly, she said, “Velvet, let’s go.”

“Bitch, let me go,” I told her, snatching my arm, hoping she’d say, “Grant, you take her home.”

Grant turned his back to me, sat on the sofa, and faced the flat screen as Jada escorted me out the door to an ivory-on-ivory gorgeous Bentley. She spread the blanket over the seat and floor. “Get in and try not to touch anything. I’ll close the door.”

Fine.
I sat in the seat, wrapped my arms, torso, legs, feet, ass in the blanket, and waited for her to get in.

The animal rescue van parked in her space.

“Where am I taking you?” Jada asked, lowering all four windows. Frowning, she mouthed, “SPCA. Where are they going?”

I laughed to myself, gave her my address near Atlantic Station.

“So how did you get involved in this situation?” she asked, driving toward BPP’s exit.

Glancing out my window to avoid looking at Jada’s boogie behind, I saw a car backing out of a driveway. When the car faced us, I looked in the doorway of the condo and saw a lady that kind of looked like Honey. I stared in disbelief.

“Stop the car,” I said, pointing. “I’ve got to get out.”

The woman slammed the door. Jada kept driving.

I was so delirious I didn’t know what to think or whom I saw.

“I’m taking you home. Once you get home, do whatever you like,” Jada said.

“But I think I saw Honey.”

“I know all about Honey, honey. Tell me about you.”

My eyes opened and shut. My head leaned toward the window. My body ached from sitting in that chair overnight. I was exhausted but managed to say, “I have a six-year-old son. Ronnie is the love of my life. I conceived him because an older man raped me.”

“Oh, you poor thing. That’s horrible. But I meant tell me about you and Grant,” Jada said.

I ignored her inquiry regarding Grant; I was not getting kicked out of her car before I got home. “Don’t pity me. I’m fine. My son is wonderful. If you’re jealous of Honey, you shouldn’t be. What you should know is, Honey is wonderful. Either Grant wants Honey or he doesn’t, but you could learn a lot from Honey. And the only thing you really want to know about Grant and me is did we fuck. Ask him. I’m young, attractive, and I’m about to make millions as an actress. Your feeling sorry for me probably makes you feel better about yourself. Thanks for the ride,” I said as she parked in front of my place. When she kissed Grant, she’d be kissing Honey, Sapphire, me, and every other woman Grant had locked lips with.

Jada placed her hand on mine.

Sternly I looked at her. “Don’t touch me.”

“I apologize. You’re right. A friend of Grant’s is a friend of mine. Here’s my card. If you need anything, let me know.”

I opened my door. None of this madness was her fault. She was nice and I was being rude because Grant was with her. My mom would say, “Don’t burn your bridges,” so I said, “Would you like to meet my mom and my son?”

“I’d love to,” Jada said, “but I can’t stay long. I have to get back to Grant.”

Jada followed me to my front door.

“Hey, Red. Where you been? Your mother is worried sick about you. I was too. What you all wrapped up in that blanket for? You’re not hiding your stomach, are you? Red, you pregnant again?”

“No, Mrs. Taylor, I’m not pregnant. I’ll be right out.” I was going to miss her so much.

“Your mother and Ronnie should be back in a minute. They went to the store.”

“Thanks,” I said, unlocking my door, then told Jada, “Have a seat. I have to shower. Don’t want my mother or my son to see me like this.”

“I understand,” Jada said, taking her cell phone out of her purse.

I was so happy to be in my house, I screamed. I scrubbed every nook and crevice of my ears, fingers, toes, thighs, arms, hair, and pussy three times over. I dried off, then towel-dried my hair. I covered my body with cocoa butter, put on a pair of sweats, a T-shirt, my tennis shoes, and dabbed on my favorite perfume.

“I’m ready,” I said, joyfully bouncing into my living room.

Jada was gone. I walked outside. Her car was gone too.

“Red, no sooner than you closed your door, that woman left. She drove off like her life depended on it. Left tire marks in your driveway,” Mrs. Taylor said, pointing as my mother and Ronnie drove up.

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” was all my baby shouted.

I lifted him in my arms, gave my mother a big hug. We went inside my mother’s house. I closed the door behind us, behind me, to all that was happening outside. I prayed Grant, Honey, and Jada were well, but I’d never neglect my mom and son again.