Naughty 2: My Way or the Highway (24 page)

 

Life was so unpredictable. Who would have thought that a date with Collins would lead to one of the best times of my life? I knew how handsome he was, but his class showed even more when he picked me up for dinner. He was a true gentleman, and seemed to be the kind of man I'd dreamt of having in my life for years. Age was definitely only a number, and his tint of gray hair mixed in with his thinly trimmed beard truly turned me on. I couldn't help but admire the way his chocolate skin meshed with his dark brown slanted eyes. His height and slimness gave his black tailored suit all the help he needed to sway me in his direction.

During dinner, Collins kept me laughing and smiling the entire time. I finally got a chance to know more about him. He was part owner of Jefferson & Assoc., a computer technology company, and had offices in St. Louis and Detroit. Most of his time was spent running back and forth, making sure business was running smoothly. He had an eighteen-year-old son, who was a freshman in college, and an ex-wife of five years. I didn't ask why she was now an ex, but I was sure time would tell. Right about now, there was nothing he could say or do that would turn me off. He was perfect for me, and had come into my life at the right time. Had he come any sooner, I may not have been ready.

When he drove to his house in Ladue, my eyes lit up. He lived alone in a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house on acres and acres of land. I asked if he got lonely sometimes and he admitted that he did. Since his wife had moved out, and his son had moved away to college, he'd been thinking about putting the house up for sale and moving to his smaller house in Detroit. He said the house in Detroit had only four bedrooms, and lacked the extra living space of the one in Ladue.

Either way, the man had it going on. I was flattered to be in his presence and told him just that as we laid on two square velvet pillows by the fireplace, drinking wine. The off-white, clean carpet gave our bodies all the plush we needed.

“Thank you for being so kind,” he said. “This evening has turned out wonderful, all because of you.”

“Because of me? I haven't done anything special, but that doesn't mean I don't intend to.”

“Just being here with me, Nokea, is truly enough. I've been skeptical about pursuing another relationship, but when I saw you that day, I couldn't get you out of my mind. It was so ironic that I saw you again at Cardwell's
.
”

“I agree. And meeting you again couldn't have come at a better time.”

We kissed, and as the night went on, we connected even more. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, our clothes were off and our bodies were sweating from the heat generated by the fireplace, and our passionate lovemaking.

Finally, I felt like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Collins's timing couldn't be more right. I knew Jaylin was a man of the past, and I had no problem moving forward with Collins. My parents would be elated about him; Collins was the kind of stable man my father always wanted me to have.

Collins drove me home, and we sat in his car and smacked lips for a while. He invited LJ and me to spend a week with him in Detroit. He said that his entire family gathered there for Christmas every year and he wanted us to come along. Not really having any plans, other than to spend time with my parents, I told him we would love to. I was really looking forward to going, until I picked up LJ from Jaylin's house around three o'clock that afternoon and broke the news to him.

“You have got to be out of your rabbit-ass mind, Nokea,” he yelled while sitting at the kitchen table, eating a sandwich.

“Jaylin, look, I could have lied to you, but I'm trying to be as open with you as possible about LJ. Allow me to be happy, please.”

“You can be happy all you want. Run off with this joker you know nothing about, I don't care.

But, LJ is staying right here with me. He will not be caught up with you chasing around after some dick.”

“It isn't like that and you know it. Don't you know and respect anything about me? I am not the type of woman to drag my son along with me if I don't feel comfortable with the situation. If you're that bothered by Collins, why don't you meet him for yourself?”

Jaylin put his plate in the dishwasher and I stood next to him. He glared at me and swallowed. “You are asking too much of me and you know it. I got a bad-ass feeling about this shit, and if you fuck me over again, Nokea, I swear—”

“I'm not trying to mess you over, Jaylin. All I would like to do is take my son with me to Detroit for one week, that's it. Please don't make me feel guilty about doing this. All I'm asking for is your support.”

He turned away from me to look out the window. I could see the hurt on his face, and when he closed his eyes, I knew he was trying to calm himself. “You fucked him, didn't you? That's what this shit is about. And don't lie to me because I've known you long enough and can tell when you're lying.”

“Believe me, this has nothing to do with—”

“
Did you fuck him
!” he yelled, searching my eyes for a response.

“Would you please calm yourself down? I don't want Nanny B and the kids hearing—”

“You did, didn't you? I can't believe you did it.”

“Jaylin, I had to move on, but—” “Get out, Nokea!”

“Please—”

He stood face-to-face with me and gritted his teeth. “I said, get the fuck out of my house!”

“I'm not leaving without my son.”

“Fine, take him.” He walked toward the kitchen door. “Make sure you're ready to hear from my attorney tomorrow.”

“And you make sure you're ready to hear from Collins's attorney.”

He quickly turned. “What did you just say?” He rushed over to me and put his finger in my face. “Did you just say what I think you said, Nokea?” A look I had never seen was on his face. Maybe I shouldn't have gone there.

“Look, Jaylin. I don't want this to escalate—”

He grabbed my collar and leaned against me. “Bitch, if you ever bring up another motherfucker—”

Before I knew it, I was smacking the living daylights out of him for calling me a bitch. He grabbed me tighter and lifted me up. He banged my head against the cabinet, and when he let go, I felt dizzy and fell to the floor. Afterward, he pulled me off the floor by my arm and shoved me into the living room. He was in a rage and tossed me into a living room chair. His arms straddled the chair and he leaned in front of me. “You're a silly-ass woman, Nokea. Every time a man puts his dick inside of you, you wanna drag my son into your mess. You'd better learn how to watch your mouth because it's liable to get you hurt. I'm so sick and tired of you putting me through this shit with LJ, and I promise you, this is the last time I'm going to let you do this to me.” He stood up. “So, tell your new ancient-ass man to bring it on. You are not taking my damn son home with you today, nor will you take him to Detroit. Now, get the fuck out of here like I told you to.” He started to walk away.

Nanny B stood on the Romeo and Juliet balcony with LJ and Mackenzie, looking down at us. “What is going on down there?” she yelled.

“Nanny B would you bring my son to me,” I asked, standing shakily from the chair.

Jaylin turned and sucked in his lip. “You wanna fuck with me, Nokea?” he yelled. “I will kill you over my son!” He grabbed my neck and choked me. After tripping me to the floor, Nanny B ran down the steps and yelled for him to stop. I squirmed around, barely able to breathe with his tight grip and body weight on top of me.

“Jaylin!” Nanny B yelled. She tried to pull him off me, but he ignored her and squeezed tighter. The only thing that stopped him was when Mackenzie started crying and yelling, “Daddy, please stop!” He looked at her and LJ, as both of them stood watching us in tears. Taking deep breaths, he fell into the couch. Nanny B helped me off the floor, as I coughed and tried to catch my breath. She put her arms around me and asked for my car keys. When I reached in my pocket and gave them to her, she picked up LJ and looked at Jaylin.

“I'm taking them home. This is outrageous, Jaylin. You really need to get yourself together,” she said, furiously.

He didn't say a word, just laid his head back on the couch and looked up at the ceiling. Mackenzie was still crying, and she sat on his lap and put her arms tightly around his neck. Nanny B, LJ, and I left.

On the drive home, I told Nanny B what happened, and she kind of sided with Jaylin. She said he was wrong for putting his hands on me, but she didn't agree with me wanting to take LJ to Detroit for Christmas. Like Jaylin, Nanny B felt as if I didn't know much about Collins, and explained what a disappointment it would be for LJ not to be around on Christmas Day. I understood how they both felt, but he was my son too. And to get our lawyers involved would only make the situation more chaotic. I'd had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Frick, Jaylin's attorney, in action for him several times before. Frick was an asshole, but he definitely knew how to win a case for Jaylin. I had less than three weeks to work with before Christmas, and I hoped by then Jaylin would calm down and see things my way. If not, LJ and I were going to Detroit with or without Jaylin's consent.

Late Sunday afternoon, I spoke to Collins and told him what had happened. He insisted he wasn't trying to interfere, and expressed how much he wanted LJ and me to go with him. He even suggested getting to know Jaylin better, so Jaylin would feel comfortable with LJ being around him. He'd gone through the exact same situation with his son when his ex-wife had remarried. He told me how difficult it had been for him to cope with another man trying to step in. Before we hung up, he apologized for putting me in a tough position, and told me he was willing to do anything to make it better. We agreed to see Jaylin at work on Tuesday and talk the situation out with him.

When I called Jaylin's house the next day, Nanny B asked how I was doing and told me Jaylin and Mackenzie had been gone all day. He'd refused to talk to her about our dispute, and had stayed in his room until morning. She accused me of hurting him, and after I reminded her of everything he had done to me, I ended our conversation. I didn't want to be disrespectful to her because she had really been there for all of us, so I later called back and apologized. More than anything, I understood that she had a serious bond with Jaylin and was like the typical “mother” looking out for her son.

 

 

Collins picked me up around noon on Tuesday, looking dynamite in his tan Brooks Brothers suit. I had taken a couple days off work so I could get this issue between Jaylin and me resolved.

On our way up the elevator in the Berkshire Building, my stomach felt queasy. I was a nervous wreck. Collins kissed my hand and told me to relax, which was, of course, easy for him to say since he hadn't had the pleasure of seeing the full potential of Jaylin's ire. The other day was the first time he'd ever put his hands on me. I'd never thought things between us would go to that level. Pressing charges against him crossed my mind, but I decided against it. I knew we could work this out somehow.

Collins was relaxed, strutting with confidence into the lobby. He asked Angela for Jaylin, and when she confirmed that he was in, my heart dropped. She asked Collins for his name, her eyes flirting with him. I stepped forward and told her to let Jaylin know I was there to see him. When she buzzed Jaylin's office, he said that he was eating lunch and asked for me to come on back. I took Collins's hand and led the way.

When we walked through the door, Jaylin was on the phone laughing with someone. He was eating a lunch tray of
Gourmet To Go
, and his smile vanished when he saw Collins's hand joined together with mine.

“Daisha, I'll call you back later, all right?” He hung up and looked me in the eye. “You just don't get enough, do you?”

“Please,” I said. “I just thought it would be a good idea if you met Collins. So, Collins, this is Jaylin, and Jaylin, this is Collins.” Collins offered his hand to Jaylin, but Jaylin just looked at it. Collins pulled his hand back.

“Jaylin, listen,” he said. “Trust me when I say that I know how you feel. The only reason I'm here today is because I was faced with the same dilemma not too long ago. My ex-wife's husband tried to be a father to my son and I wasn't having it. So, I'd like to take just a little of your time so you can get to know me better and understand that I'm not trying to replace you. From what Nokea's told me, you're a good father and there's no need for me to step in when you're handling your business.”

Jaylin got out of his chair and closed the door. I noticed that he and Collins checked out each other's attire. I was glad it wasn't a contest or anything because they were running neck-in-neck.

“Have a seat,” Jaylin said, sitting back in his chair. We did, and when Collins folded his leg, Jaylin glanced at his expensive-looking leather shoes with tassels on the flap.

“First, I'll tell the both of you that I do not like taking care of personal matters in the workplace. Second, I do not like to be put on front-street by anyone. And third, Collins, I apologize for not shaking your hand when you came in here. This chaos between Nokea and me go way back, and I'm sorry you had to get caught up in the middle.” Jaylin reached out and gave Collins a handshake, then looked at me and slightly rolled his eyes.

“I didn't like the idea of coming to your workplace either,” Collins said, “but sometimes these kinds of places seem to work out better, instead of talking out matters at home. When my ex-wife's husband came to talk to me in my home, many months after the damage had been done, I was arrested for assault on the brotha. If he had come to me in the beginning, and given me the opportunity to know what kind of man he was, and let me know what his intentions were, the assault never would have happened. After all is said and done, we're pretty good friends now, however, I still have my moments when the situation bothers me. Especially when my son comes home from college and wants to stay with them instead of me. I have to man up about the situation and let him decide, because if I don't, it will drive him away.”