As he pulled off the flattened tire he whistled a cheerful tune to himself because although Stacy hadn’t returned any of his calls he was sure that she’d be coming to New York to visit Vanessa and he was ready to see her.
In no time he was finished putting the spare on. He tightened all of the lug nuts and was just about to put the jack back in the trunk when he noticed something hanging from underneath the muffler. He lay down underneath the car and pulled and pulled trying to yank it out.
Regina came out of nowhere. She got down on her knees and whispered. “I should lower this truck and let it crush your bones”
Malik was shocked and aghast, because of Regina’s insane actions. Hurriedly he slid from underneath the vehicle, bumping his head during the process. “Did you do this to my car?”
Regina could tell that Malik was petrified. “What do you think? I guess you didn’t listen when I told you that some women just might end up becoming your worst nightmare.” She was about to walk off when she remembered there was something that she wanted to give Malik “Oh yeah I almost forgot something” She handed Malik his pocketknife. “Here’s your knife back. Don’t bother calling the police it’s just going to look like you’re trying to make a false insurance claim. And believe me when I tell you that I’m not going to hesitate to tell them that you asked me to do it so that you can get a few extra grand to help you take care of a few bills. Trust me they’re going to believe this cute face” She smiled. “Tootles”
Malik climbed back in his Suv and drove to the nearest mechanic shop, paying close attention to his surroundings. He didn’t trust that Regina wouldn’t pop up out of nowhere again. She had him spooked.
When the mechanic was done putting on the new tire Malik headed back home. Going to the gym was the last thing on his mind.
It was 2 AM that following morning when Malik’s phone rang. He blinked away the exhaustion, yawned, then looked at the screen on his phone.
Jennifer? God I hope McKenzie is okay.
“Hello” he answered.
He heard sobbing. “Daddy”
“Baby what’s wrong?”
“I want to come home”
“Sweetie it’s 2 o’clock in the morning. Where is your mother?”
“She’s asleep. Kharl just left out of my room. He tried to touch me daddy”
Malik jumped up from the bed. “He tried to touch you where?”
“In my private places.” She sniffed. “Daddy I hate it here, will you come and get me?” She cried. “Please daddy, I want to come home”
Within a split second Malik’s was wrathful. His anger was extremely intense and the piercing look in his eyes was fierce. He dashed to the closet, snatched down a pair of jeans and slid them on. “Mac do you know your address?”
“Yes” Mackenzie sniffed.
“Text it to me” Malik said “I’m on my way”
Malik ran out the front door, not realizing that he didn’t lock up the house. He’d have to get a refund on his plane tickets to New York because nothing and no one meant more to him than his baby girl.
****
Malik pulled into the circular driveway of a beautiful abundant home located in a prestigious neighborhood on the North side of Chicago. According to Mackenzie’s text and the built in navigation system he was at the right place. He’d driven non-stop all night long to get there. Luckily the long drive had helped calm him down. Because when he left Jacksonville his intention was to kill Karl. Now, his intention was only to kick his ass. Trust and believe he was going to do just that.
Jennifer didn’t ask who was pounding on the other side of the door before she opened it. She was shocked to see Malik standing there. “Malik? She puzzled and stepped outside the door, shutting it behind her. “What are you doing here? How’d you find my address?”
She took a good look at Malik. His body was trembling all over. Violence drowned his eyes. She could tell that he was enraged but she didn’t know why “What’s your problem?”
“Our daughter called me at 2 o’clock in the morning crying. Scared. Apparently Karl thinks that it’s okay to touch little girls.”
“What are you talking about? Karl wouldn’t do that”
“So you’re telling me that you are going to listen to that perverted ass hole over your own daughter?”
“Mackenzie will say anything. Especially if she thinks it’ll get her back to Florida.”
“You sound so stupid.”
When Jennifer heard the door pull open her heart damn near ran down the street. She turned to Karl “Sweetie who is it?” he asked her, then paused. “Oh...you must be Mackenzie’s dad? She looks just like you” He said stepping out the door.
Malik shoved Jennifer out of the way. “Yeah motherfucker I’m Mackenzie’s dad”
“Malik, don’t hurt him,” Jennifer screamed as Malik pushed Karl back through the doorframe. Where he fell back first on the wood floor.
“St-opp-pp” Jennifer yelled. “You’re going to hurt him” She was pulling at Malik’s clothes. Clearly he’d snapped into an entirely different person. One she couldn’t identify.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Karl yelled, trying to escape Malik’s tight grip.
A violent rage rushed through Malik as he punched Karl so hard he lost his balance again. Instantly he fell back to the floor. Malik hovered over him giving him blow after blow. “You like to touch little girls huh? I wonder how much you like getting your ass kicked.”
“Please Malik. I’m begging you.” Jennifer begged, as blood poured from Karl’s face. “Please you’re going to kill him”
“What’s all the...” Mackenzie gasped, jogging down the steps. “Daddy. Stop.” She cried. “I don’t want you to go jail. You’re going to kill him dad. Stop. Please”
“Sorry ass excuse for a man” Malik said as he got up. He kicked him one last time. “This is the kind of man you want. A coward that likes to touch little girls” He shouted to Jennifer. He was pissed and if it weren’t for Mackenzie begging him to stop he probably would’ve beaten Karl to death. “Baby girl go and get your things you’re coming with me.”
“I’m going to press charges. As a matter of fact I’m going to call the police right now.” Karl said staggering from the floor.
“Go ahead so that I can tell them the reason I kicked your ass. Yeah, let’s see how you’re going to explain your attempt to have sex with a minor”
“What in the hell are you talking about man?”
“Mackenzie did Karl try and touch you last night?”
“Yes” She answered sadly, hugging herself tight as tears filled her eyes.
“I don’t believe you” Jennifer said. “I don’t believe Karl is capable of doing something like that. Mackenzie you stop it. Just stop lying right this second”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Malik shouted. “She’s a kid. What reason does she have to lie about something like this?”
“Mom I swear. It was last night after you’d gone to sleep. I swear” Mackenzie pleaded.
“Karl is this true?”
“Jen, baby you know me. You know I wouldn’t do something like this.”
Malik wanted to throw another punch at him. “Are you’re calling my daughter a liar?” He roared, curling both of his hands into a fist.
Jennifer quickly grabbed Malik by his forearm. “Malik let me handle this.” She pleaded. “Mac are you sure you’re not confused?”
“Of course she’s not confused” Malik yelled.
“I’m not confused mom. I know what he tried to do. He did it and he knows that he did it” She cried.
“I can’t believe you’re doubting your own daughter” Malik said. “Mackenzie let’s go. Don’t worry about your things. We’ll get you some new clothes. Go wait for me in the car”
“She’s not going with you” Jennifer argued. “
“You and what army is going to stop me.” Malik roared. “I hope you don’t think that your punk ass fiancé is going
to stop me.”
Karl acted as though he didn’t hear Malik’s remarks and didn’t say one word.
“I didn’t think so” Malik said
Mackenzie headed outside.
Jennifer tried to run after her but Karl grabbed her by the arm and mumbled, “Let the little lying spoiled brat go”
“What did you just say” Malik said, rushing over to Karl. Karl was now sitting on a recliner. Malik’s old recliner. Malik grew more upset and without hesitation he’d jabbed Karl on the side of his face. Karl landed on the floor again. Malik hurdled over the recliner like he was in a track meet and stood over him “Say something else about my daughter and you’re going to hate the fact that you have a tongue.”
Karl was curled into a fetal position, scared.
“Look at your little punk ass” Malik chuckled. “And this is the man that you claim you’re going to marry! Good luck because you’re going to need it.” He smirked. “From now on stay the hell away from my daughter. And don’t come crawling back when you find out that she’s telling the truth.”
chapter 18
Stacy...Chicago Illinois
After Harold’s, excuse me, Khyle’s lies caught up with him I basically cut myself off from the world. My ringer has been off for weeks. I haven’t logged into Facebook or checked my emails in I don’t know how long. I'm sure that my girlfriends have been worrying sick about me but I really don’t feel like talking to anyone. I’m not in the mood. I'm so pissed with that lying bastard that I don't know what to do. If I could get away with murder I swear I'd kill his smug ass. What possesses a man to do something like this to a woman? I'm sick and tired of men. Them and their whorish behavior. Particularly black men, because that's the only race I've ever dated. But that's about to change. I'm near the point of screaming "To hell with black men to the top of my lungs" A decent black man seems to be extinct anyway. Maybe I should expand my preferences when it comes to the men I choose. Just because I'm a black woman doesn't mean that I should limit myself to only a black man. "Shit" black men date outside of the black race all the time. Why is it so wrong when sistahs do it? Besides it's some fine ass white men that love them some black women here in Chicago.
I was unaware of the flimflam that Harold's/Khyle’s scheming, disloyal, ass was pulling on me. His fake charisma completely blinded me. In fact I was so blind that I didn't notice the phoniness that was staring me directly in the face. There I was thinking that he and I had something good going. Something special. And that bastard was playing me. And with a man at that! I don't mean to carry on as if he's the last man on earth, but it's the principal of the giving situation. There are certain things that you just shouldn't do to a person. Is it me or do most men not have a conscience?
Harold's, excuse me, Khyle’s, whatever his damn name is failure to mention his choice of sexuality stirs up this awkward sense of insecurity inside of me. It's new to me, something that I've never felt before. There is something about discerning the fact that the man you've been involved with has been cheating on you with a man. It makes you feel unattractive, unwanted, and less desirable. Damn I hate feeling like this.
Maybe I was a fool? It is possible. I think that I rushed things. That I got a little bit to enthused about the possibility of finally finding Mr. Right. He was a successful, attractive man with a big dick. What more can a woman ask for? I'll tell you what a woman doesn't ask for and that’s a man with the complete package that secretly sleeps around with other men.
It turned out that he was a thirty seven year old hardhearted, insensitive asshole living on the downlow, and that's to say the least. How could I have been so stupid? Every time I think about him it makes me want to puke.
Last night I got to thinking. Maybe I should've put my physical needs aside and maybe Kelvin and I could have had something good. Who am I kidding? There is no way in hell that we would have worked out. Still, those are usually the type of thoughts that race through my mind when I’m lonely. Or when I feel like my time is running out. Truthfully Kelvin was a good catch. Some women would probably call me a fool for letting him go. Especially the ones that don't care much about their physical needs. I just can't imagine myself settling for a man that can't satisfy me sexually. Surely he's probably a pro with his tongue but even that gets old. Sometimes you want a man to give it to you so good that you won’t need sex for an entire month. “Shit” I need me a straight-up Mandingo.
Today I’m exasperated. My office looks like a tornado just passed through it and I'm sure that my voicemail box is full. I need a vacation.
"Knock Knock"
Without taking my eyes off the file I've been studying since I walked through the door this morning I say, "Come on in"
"Good morning" Pam Hicks, my assistant says walking into my office carrying my morning latte. She sets the cup of steaming coffee on my desk, then walks over to the window and opens the blinds.
“What’s up with you? You haven’t been smiling in days. That’s uncharacteristic of the new you” She says.
“I’m not in the smiling mood”
“Something going on with you and Harold?”
“Harold…Khyle, whatever the hell his name is. He and I are over”
“I don’t believe you”
“What reason do I have to lie?”
“Well what happened?”
“Let’s just say that he doesn’t quite understand that his hole is an exit not an entrance”
“He’s gay?”
“As gay as they come”
“Damn. He could have fooled me.”
“If you think that he had you fooled imagine how I feel”
“I can’t even begin to imagine something like that. How did you find out?”
“Trust me you don’t want to know”
“Girlfriend I’m listening” She says and flops down into the chair directly in front of my desk.
“To make a long story short we were about to have sex when his overly attractive male lover came home”
“And did what?”
“Girl, he went off on Harold’s ass”
“Yuck, I think that I just threw up in my mouth. That’s humiliating. Good thing that you hadn’t given him any. You hadn’t given him any had you?”
“No. But it was close”
"I definitely want to change the subject. On to what you pay me to do.” Pam says. “Your mailbox is full"
"I'm sure it is I haven't had time to check my messages. Been busy and I really don’t want to be bothered with anyone else’s issues”
"Well your two o'clock court appearance has been canceled until next week."
"That's great, I could use a little bit more time with that case"
"And also Lena and some guy named Malik has been calling and calling."
I feel my left brow moving upward. "Malik who?"
"Malik Shaw. He says that he needs for you to call him, it's urgent" Pam says ripping a piece of paper out of her pad. “What’s that look for?”
“What look?”
“That look on your face” She says and hands me Malik’s number.
“I can’t believe that he has the audacity to call me after all of these years.”
“Let me guess he’s an ex-boyfriend?”
“A lying, sneaky, cheating ex-boyfriend that broke my heart into a million little pieces.”
“Well maybe he’s calling to apologize”
“Well maybe he shouldn’t” I say. “It’s a little too late for that.”
“I don’t agree with you. I think that an apology from him is just what you need”
“I disagree. The last thing that I need from that cheating bastard is a freaking apology.”
“Stacy I’ve been your assistant for what? Three years?”
“That sounds about right”
“And I’d say that we’ve gotten pretty close. You’re more of a friend than a boss. So as a friend I’m going to be honest” She said and got up out of the chair “You need a man”
“A lot. For three years I’ve listened to you complain about not being able to find a man. And how depressing it is to have that part of your life incomplete.”
“What’s your point?”
“My point is, maybe if you forgive Malik you’ll allow yourself to truly love someone else. You’ll never be able to love another man even if God were to put the perfect man in your life because you’re carrying around hate in your heart. Let’s face it girl, judging from your body language today, you need to get laid. And the rate you’re going it’s not going to happen”
“Even if you were right. And you’re wrong by the way. I would never know because I’m never going to forgive that cheating asshole.”
“Well, I’ve tried to help you.”
“And I appreciate the gesture but help me by going to make me a few copies of this file” I say and hand her a folder.
She walks towards the office door. “I can definitely do that” She says over her shoulder. “But promise me that you’ll at least think about it”
“I already did and it’s not going to happen”
****
I could really use an alcoholic beverage, straight, with no chaser. What in the hell could Malik possibly have to say to me after all of the years? Damn, I hate he has me like this. I’m pacing this office like a paranoid lunatic. I’m thinking hard. Contemplating whether or not I should call him.
Nope I’m not going to call him. I’ve moved on with my life. He and I have absolutely nothing to talk about. I ease back down into my chair and listen to my voicemail messages over the SPEAKER. When I hear Malik’s voice I feel a chill run through me. I’m shocked. I haven’t felt this way since.... damn, I haven’t felt this way since college. This is not fair.
No, no, no...I’m not supposed to have these feelings. I’m over him. For years I’ve made myself believe that I hate him. He’s been dead to me.
Could I really forgive him? Should I forgive him? This is not fair...this is not fair...this is not fair. I hate to admit that maybe Lena is right. I must still have feelings for Malik. If not, why am I acting like this?
Unfaithful Ties Page 23