by La Jill Hunt
“So, you’re not going to tell her?”
“I don’t know. What if Hampton is bluffing? I mean, he could just be saying that because he’s playing Lynne and doesn’t want to get busted.” She was grateful that the conversation was about Nivea’s threat. The last thing she wanted to think about was having to watch Titus outside of her sister’s house. Or the fact that he kept looking at her car in the driveway. No doubt he wondered where she was, and from the way he kept looking around, maybe he could somehow sense that she was less than 500 feet away. She forced the image of how great he looked out of her head and focused her attention back to Sherrod.
“Or Nivea may be bluffing and Hamp didn’t say that at all,” Sherrod suggested. “This may be her way of protecting whatever it is she’s got going on with him.”
“Do you think she would do that?” Janelle thought out loud.
“She’s your best friend. You know better than I do. But when it comes to guys, I wouldn’t put anything past Nivea,” Sherrod answered. “Are you on your way over?”
“I am.”
“Good. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“What is it?” Janelle couldn’t help but ask.
“Something you’ll like, I hope,” Sherrod said. “See you when you get here.”
Janelle wondered what it was that he had for her. She’d somehow managed to avoid sleeping with him again, but she knew that it would have to happen soon or he would sense something was up. It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to have sex with him, because she was attracted to him. It was just that she had to figure out a way to enjoy it. If she could do that, things would be great. The problem was she didn’t know how. Not only that, but she wasn’t speaking to the one person who she thought would even be able to help: Nivea. Janelle would have to figure this one out on her own. And she was determined to do so.
* * *
You can do this, she told herself as she waited outside the door to his townhouse. As soon as he opened it, she stepped inside and put her arms around his neck, pulling him into a passionate kiss, one that she hoped would be hot enough to ignite a passion that would stay lit and not fizzle in the middle of their interaction. Sherrod’s excitement from her action turned her on even more, and their kiss continued as they made their way inside and into his living room and onto the sofa.
“Damn,” he paused long enough to say. “Hello to you too.”
Janelle didn’t say anything. She just removed her sweater, then pulled him back to her. She had one goal, and one goal only, and didn’t want to waste any time. She kissed Sherrod’s neck and whispered in his ear, “I want you.”
“Oh, really?” He smiled.
“I do.” She nodded, fumbling to unfasten his belt.
“Janelle, hold up. Wait, just a sec.” He grabbed her wrists.
“What’s wrong?” She frowned and stared at him.
“I was wondering the same thing. What is going on with you?” Sherrod sat beside her.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just in the mood, that’s all. Is there something wrong with that?” she said, confused by his question.
“I guess I’m wondering why you’re in the mood all of a sudden. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad, but I was under the impression that you wanted to slow things down.” He held her hand in his.
“Why would you think that?” She frowned.
“Because for the past couple of weeks when I hint that I wanna be with you, you haven’t seemed interested. So I thought we were taking a step back from that part of our relationship for a while.”
“No, that’s not, I mean...” Janelle shook her head.
“Janelle, it’s cool. I just wanna make sure this isn’t about your seeing Titus today.”
Janelle’s back straightened. “I didn’t see him.”
“No, you saw him. He didn’t see you. There’s a difference.”
“Sherrod, this has nothing to do with Titus, okay? It has to do with me, us. You’re right, I’ve been kinda off for a few days, but now I’m good, and I want this.” She reached for him.
“Janelle, are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sherrod asked.
“I just told you I was ready for it,” she said with a sexy grin.
“Not just that, but all of this.” He stared into her eyes. “Look, you know how much I’m feeling you. You are everything I’m looking for in a woman. I’m certain of that. I can see myself being with you and enjoying life together. But I’m not sure you’re ready for that. And if you’re not, that’s fine. I’m ready to take this thing to the next level, but I want to be sure that that’s something you even want from me.”
Janelle’s heart raced as she listened to Sherrod’s words. Words that she’d always wanted to hear but never expected. Until now, she’d thought he was the cause of her frustration, but she realized that she had become her own worst enemy and had been selfish.
“Sherrod, you are just as much of a total package for me that you say I am for you. I need you to know that I do want you, and I am ready.” She nodded.
Sherrod smiled and stood up. “I’m glad. Don’t move.”
“Where are you going?” Janelle asked.
“Just wait here, I’ll be right back.” He walked out of the living room.
Janelle’s cell phone rang, and Sylvia’s name flashed on the screen. “Hey, I got my car and left.”
“I know. I’ve got Lynne here on three-way. She says she has something to tell us.”
“Hey, Nelle,” Lynne said.
Janelle became nervous, knowing exactly what Lynne was about to say. “Hey, Lynne. Listen, I’m with Sherrod, and we’re in the middle of something.”
“This will only take a minute,” Lynne said.
“Okay, talk fast,” Janelle whispered.
“So, I was at a workshop tonight for my job at the Westin Downtown. That’s why I missed Peyton leaving for prom, but I promised I would see her when she went to the other one.”
“I said talk fast,” Janelle reminded her.
“Okay, well, as I was leaving, I saw this couple all hugged up,” Lynne told her. “I damn near fainted.”
“Look, I already know, and I was gonna tell you about Nivea after I talked to Sylvia first,” Janelle admitted.
“Nivea? What the hell does she have to do with this?” Lynne asked.
“Huh? Oh, never mind.” Janelle realized she’d misspoken and tried to clean it up.
“Lynne, who the hell did you see?” Sylvia demanded.
“Girl, it was Tricia, and the guy she was hugged up with damn sure wasn’t Titus.” Lynne cackled. “She got a boo too.”
Sherrod walked in, carrying a small velvet box. Janelle’s jaw dropped open, and she quickly said, “I gotta go.”
Chapter 33
Tricia
Missing her son picking up his date for prom wasn’t something Tricia had purposely done. She had every intention to be at the Blackwell home, but her day had been filled with unexpected delays, starting with a call from Everett, who sent a text telling her he was in town for a turnaround trip. She was already running late for her hair appointment and then had promised to pick up the corsage Titus ordered for Tank to give Peyton. It was going to be cutting it close, but there was no way Tricia was going to not go and see him. She quickly agreed to a late lunch at his hotel.
“We gotta be at the Blackwells’ at six fifteen,” Titus told her when he called to remind her about the corsage.
“I know that, Titus. I’ll meet y’all there.”
“Meet us?” Titus asked.
“Yes, meet you. I have a lot to do today, so I’ll just pick it up while I’m out.”
“Tricia, are you sure you’re gonna do this and be there on time? I would do it myself, but I got some stuff to handle here at work, and then I’m picking up the tux while Tank gets a haircut.”
“If I wasn’t gonna do it, I woulda said I couldn’t. It’s just picking up a damn flower. I may not be some great influence in his life like he told the
world you are, but I can pick up a corsage for his prom. Or don’t you think I’m capable of doing that?” she snapped.
“Fine, I’ll see you at six fifteen. And, Tricia?”
“What?” she moaned.
“Thanks.”
She was surprised to hear him say thank you. Not that she did a lot that warranted his gratitude, but it was nice to hear. “You’re welcome.”
Tricia’s hair stylist had inadvertently double booked and took longer than anticipated. By the time she walked out of the salon, she looked good but was almost an hour behind schedule. There was bumper-to-bumper traffic leading to downtown, then when she finally arrived, Everett sent a text letting her know the hotel shuttle had just picked them up and he would be another fifteen minutes. She looked at her watch and had to decide whether to leave or wait it out. It was already after four o’clock. But she was already at the hotel, and she could at least stay long enough to see him, even if they didn’t eat.
“Tank,” Tricia said when her son answered the phone. “I’m gonna need for you to go pick up your corsage. My hair appointment is taking longer than I thought.”
“Ma, I’m at the barber shop, and I still ain’t got my hair cut yet. I ain’t gonna be able to go get it,” he snapped.
“Who are you talking to like that?”
“Nobody. It’s all good. I’ll get it,” Tank said and hung up.
Tricia was about to call him and lay him out for hanging up on her, but she looked up and saw Everett walking into the hotel lobby. She smiled as she walked over, and he hugged her.
“Look at you, lady in blue. I like your hair. It’s nice.”
“Thank you.” She blushed.
“I’m sorry it took so long. I’m starving.” He hugged her again. “I’m glad you came to see me.”
“Me too.” Tricia nodded, promising herself that she would leave in an hour. But time slipped away as they talked and ate. Before she knew it, it was almost six o’clock as she rushed out of the hotel parking lot, promising Everett that she’d call him later. Despite breaking all types of speeding laws, she knew it was too late. Instead of going to the Blackwells’, she went straight home.
“How did it go?” she asked Titus as soon as he walked in. He glared as he walked past her without saying anything. She continued behind him. “I’m so sorry I missed it. Traffic was horrible, and my stylist took forever. It was a mess. That’s why I called Tank and told him I was going to be late.”
Titus remained silent. She was right on his heels as he went into his man cave, turning on the light and TV before sitting on the sofa.
“Titus, it’s not my fault,” Tricia said. “Talk to me. Say something.”
“I don’t have nothing to say.”
“You want me to order us some food?” she offered even though she was already full.
“No.”
Tricia had never seen him this upset and knew she had to do something. She sat and leaned against him. “I’m sorry. Come upstairs and let me make it up to you.”
“I’m good,” Titus murmured.
Tricia sat up. “You’re good? What the hell is that supposed to mean? You don’t want to come upstairs with me?”
“Nope,” Titus told her, his eyes still on the TV.
“That’s how you’re gonna act? Really?” Tricia snapped. “Here I am apologizing and trying to make it up to you, and you don’t even care?”
“I don’t,” Titus said. “I really don’t care.”
Tricia was unnerved by his cold demeanor, and she realized he really did not care. She walked out and stood in the kitchen for a few minutes before grabbing her purse and keys. If he didn’t want her, that was fine.
She returned to the Westin and had the valet park her car in the overnight lot.
What room are you in? she texted Everett.
1512, he sent back. Why? Are you sending me room service?
No, something better.
She got on the elevator and hit the button. She took a deep breath as she knocked on his room door.
“Tricia, what in the world?” he said when he opened the door.
“I came back. Told you it was better than room service.” She shrugged.
“I thought you had to go see Tank and his prom date.”
“Are you going to ask me inside or just play twenty questions while I’m standing in the hallway?”
He moved so she could enter his room. He’d taken off the dress shirt he’d had on earlier, and the white T-shirt he wore clung to his potbelly, reminding her of Winnie the Pooh. Even his physique was the opposite of her husband, whose body was muscled and athletic. The two men were like night and day in every aspect. Titus was hard and cold. Everett was warm and caring.
“Would you like to sit down?” Everett offered, pointing to one of the empty chairs near the large bed.
“No.”
“Well, let me grab my shirt. We can go down to the bar and have a drink.” He picked his shirt up from the bed.
“I don’t want a drink. I don’t want to sit. I want to stay in here and get in bed with you.”
Everett’s eyes widened, and he looked panicked. “Uh . . .”
“Why does that surprise you? Don’t you enjoy being with me?” Tricia asked as she took a step closer.
“I do. I mean, I enjoy our conversations, and I think you’re very special. But—”
“But what?” Tricia took another step toward him.
“But you’re married.”
“So, you’re saying you don’t want to be with me?” Tricia was now standing directly in front of him.
“Tricia, I’m saying you probably need to leave,” Everett stared and said.
Tricia’s heart sank. “I, oh, I’m so sorry. I thought, maybe...”
“I enjoy you, Tricia, but not in that way. Not now I don’t.” Everett gave her a sympathetic look that made her even more embarrassed than she already was.
Tricia nearly tripped as she ran out of his hotel room. Had she not been on the fifteenth floor, she would’ve taken the stairs, but she not only had to endure an elevator full of other guests as they slowly descended, but the valet took forever. By the time she got into the truck, Everett had called five times. She sent a text telling him to leave her alone before blocking him from her phone, and then she allowed the tears she’d been holding to flow. How could I have been so stupid? All that talk about being his lady in blue. He’s a damn clown and probably gay anyway. Fat-ass pooh bear.
As she turned into her neighborhood, she got a call from an unfamiliar number, which she ignored, thinking it was Everett calling from his hotel room phone. The number called twice more before she answered.
“What!”
“Tricia King?” a woman said.
“Yes? Who the hell is this?” Tricia demanded.
“This is Mercy General hospital. Your husband was just brought in.”
“What? Why?” Tricia screamed.
“It appears he’s had a heart attack.”
Tricia made an illegal U-turn and sped to the hospital, no longer thinking about Everett and the way he rejected her. She ran into the emergency room and was escorted to the triage area, where one of the doctors updated her on Titus’s condition.
“Mrs. King, I’m Dr. Baxter, one of the cardiologists here.”
“Is he all right?” She trembled.
“Your husband had a heart attack. We’re prepping him for surgery.”
“Surgery? Oh my God,” Tricia wailed.
“He’s going to be fine. He’s stable, and we’re just going to put a stint in to help the blood flow.” Dr. Baxter smiled.
“Can I see him?”
“Yes, you can. He’s under anesthesia and pretty out of it, but you can go in.”
“Thank you.” Tricia nodded. She walked into the room.
Titus lay in the hospital bed with his eyes closed. An oxygen tube was in his nostrils, and his body was connected to several machines, including one that monitored his heart rate. A nurse a
djusted an IV in his arm. Tricia walked to his side, touching his face. Despite their strained relationship, he was still her husband, and she loved him. Seeing him like this made her realize that now more than ever. God, please let him be all right. I promise if you pull him through this, I’ll be the best wife I can be to him. He won’t even need the calendar, and I’ll learn to cook. Just save him. I need him.
“Please, God,” Tricia prayed out loud.
Titus’s eyes fluttered, but they remained closed. She leaned closer to him, touching his forehead. “Titus, baby, I’m here. You’re going to be okay. I love you, do you understand? I love you.”
“Yes,” Titus murmured. His voice was raspy. “I love you too. I’ve always loved you, Janelle.”
Coming Soon . . .
All in Love Is Fair