Youngin' Blues: The Story of Reed and RaKeem (9 page)

“I’m good.” Reed smiled. “Tell me. Have you given any thought to your plans after the baby?” Just like that, they fell into conversation.

Danity continued to try and reach Keem. From the dejection that could be heard in Reed’s voice, she knew that she had snagged something. If Keem knew what was best, he’d answer. Danity was simply trying to give him the heads up. After realizing he’d powered down his cell, she shot him a text. Danity advised him of retrieving his shirt as soon as possible, because of her encounter with Reed. She knew him well, and felt as if he’d be upset. However, it was what it was. She had no clue that she’d run into Reed while doing laundry. She’d never seen her in the laundry room before. Besides, Keem himself had told her that it was forbidden on his end. He made sure that her needs were taken care of.

7

Reed’s smug expression couldn’t be mistaken as she stalked to RaKeem. He’d been nice enough to invite her to his home for a spa night. RaKeem had scheduled for entire team to come over and cater to her every need. As the weekdays passed, she found herself stretched thinner and thinner. RaKeem was completely aware of the case, so he was always sure to add a few moments of peace and tranquility to her time.

“Beautiful,” Keem called out, taken aback by Reed’s expression.

His heart beat rapidly as he wondered what she would say to him –more so what she was feeling towards him. be it hurt, anger, sadness, or resentment he was afraid to find out. She’d powered her cell off the entire day, and just responded to his demands an hour prior to his arrival. He knew that she had to have been upset with him.

Reed had never gone to such lengths. She was always there when he needed her. All day long, he’d needed her. He needed to hear her voice, see her smile, and know that she was okay. Danity had warned him of the laundry room incident, and the news left him desperate to speak with Reed.

“Why the frown?” he asked, grabbing Reed’s face and bringing it closer to his. Had he been mistaken, he’d sworn that tears pooled in her beautiful eyes. However, that couldn’t have been the case, because he was Keem. And Keem would never have his precious Reed crying, or would he?

“Hey RaKeem.” Reed shifted from one foot to the other, pulling away from Keem’s grasp. As she turned her head, she wiped the lone tear from each eye. His scent, the once intoxicating one, was making her sick to the stomach.

“Come here.” Keem pleaded, softening even more. He pulled her back in, wrapped his arms around her neck, and kissed her forehead. “I missed you all fucking night.” He admitted. It was the truth; he had.

“I missed you, too.” Reed countered, expressing her truths.

“I have special plans for you.” He whispered in her ear. “You’re going to love them.”

RaKeem lead Reed to the passenger seat of his car. he hadn’t known what to expect, so the driver was left at his home. Keem didn’t know if Reed would require special attention, or if she’d be straight. Again, she’d never disengaged from him. The shit had literally freaked him out.

Quite some time later, the couple was pulling into the driveway of RaKeem’s home. A huge black van was parked out front, and Reed knew what time it was. A faint smile appeared on her face as she thought of the famous massage that she was about to order. The idea of being pampered but her body at ease. However, that would all have to wait, because she had some business to handle before she could completely relax and allow the effects of everything to take place.

“Spa day?” Reed questioned, getting out of the car. She didn’t wait for Keem to walk around and open her door. Reed was on a mission, and not even a polite gentleman could deter her.

Just as expected, Rosa swung the door open to RaKeem’s mansion, inviting Reed inside. After allowing Rosa to kiss each side of her cheeks, Reed continued into the house. Rosa was spewing something behind her, but she didn’t bother turning around. Heading upstairs to the master suite, Reed heard RaKeem’s sized 11 shoes behind her. She paid him no mind as she opened his bedroom door and threw her purse onto the bed.

Going into his bathroom, she headed for the laundry closet. Keem would leave his clothes out to sit for days before allowing Rosa to do her job and get them to the dry cleaners. Half of the time, she had to sneak in to get them. Keem didn’t see the big deal, mainly because he rarely wore the same thing twice. Before Rosa could wash things, they’d be thrown away.

Reed reached the closet and pulled back the thin door that separated it from the rest of the bathroom. His smell smacked her across the face, again. She pulled the huge white wicker basket from it’s home, bringing it out into the middle of the floor.

“Reed!” Keem yelled, trying to get her attention. “What are you doing?” he asked.

Rushing to her side, he picked the basket up and tried putting it back where it belonged. She was not about to take it there, and he wouldn’t allow her to. Knowing just where she was going with his, Keem tried to spare her the trouble.

“Put the basket back down. I’m looking for something.” Reed yelled, demanding that he place the basket back where she’d put it. She’d never used such tone with him. He was alarmed, yet he wouldn’t lower the basket. Reed wanted to push him down; she was so upset.

“Na, man. Gone downstairs.” He instructed, still trying to get the basket back into the closet.

Jumping up, midair, Reed smacked the basket from Keem’s hand, causing him to drop it. She was not here to play games. Whether he wanted her to or not, she was going to look through the clothes. She needed to be sure that his shirt was where it needed to be. There was no way in hell she was going to believe that someone was prancing around campus in the tee that she’d purchased for him. That would be a deal breaker in her opinion. Some things just reeked of disrespect, and that was one.

The basket tumbled and clothes fell to the floor –exactly as Reed had planned. She heard Keem hiss behind her, but she didn’t give a damn. She had dropped to her knees immediately, and began to hunt. Over and over, she threw clothes back into the upright basket, removing the articles that were definitely not what she was searching for from the pile that still needed to be looked through.

“I have an entire team downstairs waiting for you and you’re up here trying to sift through dirty clothes.” Keem shook his head.

“It was yours wasn’t it?”

Reed finally made it through the entire basket, not once had she graced the shirt in question. Immediately, strife filled her heart and mind. She hated RaKeem in an instant. He’d gone from high and mighty to low and unfit in her book. “Wasn’t it?” she wanted to know, desperately.

“What are you talking about?” Keem acted as if he didn’t know what she was referring to. Forged confusion written all over his handsome face.

Before Reed could explain, the tears began. RaKeem’s immediate reaction was to drop to his knees and console her. “What are you crying for, baby?” Deeply saddened, he tried to grab ahold to her.

“Was it your shirt that she had on?” Reed asked again.

“What shirt? What are you talking about?”

“It’s not here. Your shirt. The one that I got you. You wore it the other day.” she better informed.

Fear launched at Keem, causing him to swallow his words. He was looking for the right explanation, but not much was coming to mind. He had to think, and quick. “Which one? Reed, you buy me so much.” Those were the only words to burst through his lips, teeth, and tongue, so he went with them.

“The one with the red. You wore it just three days ago.”

“Oh shit.” Keem stood. “It should be in here.”

He removed himself from the floor and went back into the closet. He was praying that the shirt magically appeared. If his staff was as efficient as they needed to be, then he’d have nothing to worry about. However, he’d never know. The shirt was supposed to be in the basket, but it wasn’t there. His heart cried out to Reed as he listened to her sniffle on the floor. She was highly upset, and he was well aware of the facts.

Flicking the light on in the small closet, RaKeem was visibly relieved to see the shirt laying on the floor. His bones were able to rest and his heart lit with glee. Guessing it had fallen to the floor, he bent down and picked it up. Leaving back out, he went over to Reed. Still standing, he held the shirt in the air.

“This shirt?” he asked, looking into Reed’s tear stained eyes.

Placing her hand on her beating heart, Reed closed her eyes and silently thanked God. Her man hadn’t gone and done the ultimate, and she was so happy about the revelation. Although Reed was relieved, Keem felt like shit. To see what the results would be had Reed not been granted what she wanted was devastating. He’d been sure to require someone to go to the mall and purchase him the same exact shirt that Reed had. Also, he had them to spray it down with his cologne, after running it through the dryer to seem worn.

It didn’t matter what it had taken, he just needed to be sure that it was present when his dearest Reed had made it to his place. Knowing that she would look, it was the first thing on his mind when he woke. He could’ve taken Reed out to the spa, but he brought them to his home for a reason.

RaKeem needed to clear his name immediately, and cease any thoughts that Reed had of his unfaithfulness. Now, after the game had been won, Keem was left feeling like a complete fool. Reed was pure perfection, and yet he still felt the need to do his thing.

“Yeah.” Reed swallowed hard, nodding her head. Relief washed over her.

Getting up from the floor, she felt foolish for having reacted in such a way. In the heart of hearts, she knew that RaKeem only had eyes for her. However, she needed to be sure. Men were unpredictable, but Reed was happy to have an honest one in Keem. Tossing the shirt into the laundry basket, Keem rushed to Reed. Pulling her up, he brought her lips to his.

“What’s with the tears?” he asked.

“I saw someone with a shirt much like yours. It even smelled like you.” She complained.

“You do realize they make tons of those shirt and millions of bottles of the exact same cologne that I spray every morning, right?”

“I wasn’t thinking of that. It was just so coincidental.”

“Is that why you ignored me all day? My feelings have been hurt since I called and got the voicemail the first time.” he played the blame game well.

“Yes. I needed a moment. All night, I laid awake, hoping that my suspicions were just that… Suspicions.”

“Have a little faith in your man, baby. I got you. If I can help it, I’ll never hurt you. You look too ugly when you cry.” Keem shed some light on the situation. Reed pulled back and punched RaKeem in the gut. He needed it, and he secretly felt better. He deserved the sucker punch. He was a straight coward for making her cry.

“Shut up. I look good.” Reed smoothed down her hair. Turning to go look in the mirror, she made sure that she was back in check before turning around and giving Keem the middle finger.

Keem looked on as Reed laid in his bed, fast asleep. The pampering had put her to sleep, and she would probably be out for the rest of the day. RaKeem grabbed his personal cell and headed outside. He needed a minute, and a bit of advice. He knew of two people that he could call. However, he dialed the first that came to mind.

As he walked along the huge lake, that was an addition to his backyard, Keem listened as the ringing of the phone commenced. His call was answered by the third ring.

“What’s up, young bull?” RahMeek asked.

Although he could’ve called his father for some sound advice, he felt that Meek would better relate. As a young nigga, RahMeek was wilding in the streets. Mason, their father, was always tied to RahMeek’s mother. Even though he did his thing, he was tied down the entire time. He could feel Keem’s pain. Yet and still, Keem needed to hear the other side of the story.

As a young man in a relationship, he often questioned if he was missing out on much. He and Reed had fell into habit, and now they were inseparable. She was perfection, so Keem was confused at his need to entertain others. As much as he’d like to blame it on their lack of intimacy, he knew that even if she was giving him the goods he’d probably still seek other women. It just felt so natural, much more than monogamy.

“I’m fucking up.” He admitted.

“Elaborate.” Meek spoke, sitting up, he wrapped his arms around Reign, sure not to let her fall. She’d gone to sleep on his chest. Even at six years old, she was still accustomed to sleeping on her dad. Bella had gotten on to her about not wanting to have her hair combed, and she’d cried herself to sleep –right on her father’s chest.

“I dipping on Reed.” He couldn’t even believe he was having so much difficulty sharing the news. Meek was well aware of his unfaithfulness. However, Keem was questioning his actions after suspicions arose.

“She on your rope?” Meek asked, already knowing where the sudden change of heart was emitting from. “So you’re feeling guilty huh?”

“Yeah. Something like that.” Keem nodded.

“You’re young, but that’s no excuse. You’re not missing a motherfucking thing in these streets. Reed is a good girl, and I’m not just saying that shit because I know her. It’s the truth.”

“I know. That’s why I don’t understand myself. The fuck am I doing?”

“You’re giving into temptation. Face it, though. You ain’t going to find another woman to put up with your ass the way she does, handle your business the way she does, and get shit done the way she does. That girl is one of a kind. Together, you two can move mountains. Don’t lose the one you love over some bitches you like.”

“I’m not. I’m not going to lose her.”

“We usually think that until we actually do.” Meek stressed. “Keem?”

“Yeah?” Keem asked.

“Love her or leave her the fuck alone.” Meek hissed, ending the call.

Keem was left with his thoughts. Meek had made him feel even worse than before. He was right. There would never be another Reed. She handled shit so well. She’d mastered the craft to where it was her speaking at meeting and consultations. RaKeem sat back like a proud papa as she strategized with clients. Her approach was fiercer than his, being that she was a woman trying to win authority amongst his make clients. Some listened to her, and the ones who didn’t always wound up back in their office –wishing that they’d taken her advice.