His Sexy Bad Habit

by Cheris Hodges

  Jade rose to her feet and shook her head. “Keep being sour and I’ll send Kandace and Alicia over.”

  Serena waved her hand as she stretched out on the sofa. “You know your way out. And Jade.” Her friend turned around and looked at her. “Thanks for caring about me, but I’m not the one who gave up on Antonio. He gave up on me and I’m not going to allow my feelings to get hurt again.”

  Before Jade could reply, Serena’s cell phone rang. “Yes?” she said without looking at the CALLER ID.

  “Serena, it’s Antonio.”

  “Antonio,” she said as she heard the front door close. “I’m surprised to hear from you.”

  “I know,” he said. “Listen, I owe you a chance to explain that picture and I want to hear what you have to say.”

  Serena closed her eyes and expelled a breath. “It’s not something I think we should discuss over the phone,” she said.

  “Neither do I. A.J. and I will be in Orlando at Disney World for three days and when I return, we should meet.”

  “If I’m still here, then that will be fine,” she said, knowing that she’d be right there waiting for his return.

  “Are you planning a trip?” he asked.

  “I’m going back to Atlanta. I’ve done all I need to do at the restaurant and it doesn’t seem as if I have a reason to stay in Charlotte.”

  “If that’s what you want to do,” he said.

  Serena felt a chill tear through her system. “That’s what I want to do,” she snapped. “I can tell from your tone you don’t really want to work this thing out.”

  “Really? Since you can read my mind over the phone, tell me why I would’ve called you if I didn’t want to work things out? Serena, I’ve been cheated on before and yes, I allowed my past to cloud what I saw. But I’m not going to pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.”

  All I want is to be with you, she thought but held her tongue. “I haven’t made any plans so, I can wait. It’s not a problem.”

  “Serena, I … I’ll see you when I get back,” he said bringing their tense conversation to an end.

  “All right. I hope you and A.J. have a good time at Disney World,” she said with tears welling up in her eyes. Serena could feel things were coming to an end between them. When he returned to Charlotte, it would be official.

  Antonio looked at his cell phone and shook his head. Was what he’d found in Serena worth saving? Hell yes, a voice inside him screamed. She’s a woman who has been hurt so I shouldn’t have expected that she was sitting around waiting for me to call her. He climbed into bed beside his son and closed his eyes. He loved Serena and he couldn’t let her go. He wasn’t going to let her walk away and go back to Atlanta. But what about that kiss with Emerson? Was it just as she said it was and Casey was using it to her advantage?

  Damn, I should ‘ve known better than to take Casey at her word. I know she doesn’t like Serena and she wants to be with me. What was I thinking? By the time he drifted off to sleep, Antonio knew he had to make things right with Serena. He didn’t want to have a life without her in it.

  Early the next morning, A.J. woke up and poked his father in the arm until Antonio sat up. “Are we there yet?” A.J. asked. “Are we going to see Mickey Mouse today?”

  “We sure are. But first, let’s get out of here and get some breakfast.” Antonio was glad to have his bubbly son with him. It forced him not to think about Serena that much. When they checked out of the hotel and got on the highway, Antonio stopped at a Waffle House on the Florida/Georgia border. A.J. talked about Mickey Mouse and how many pictures he wanted to take with his favorite cartoon character. As the waitress brought their waffles and eggs over, A.J. said, “I wish Miss Serena could’ve come with us. Do you think she likes Mickey Mouse?”

  “I’m sure she does,” Antonio said, masking his hurt with a smile. “Everyone loves Mickey Mouse.” And I love Serena. That’s why I’m not going to let anything come between us when she has shown me that I can and should love again. I can trust her because she isn’t Marian.

  “Did you hear me, Daddy?” A.J. asked.

  “No, what did you say?”

  “I said you can take some Mickey Mouse ears back to Miss Serena,” the little boy said with a laugh.

  “We can do that,” Antonio said as he and A.J. dug into their breakfast.

  After eating, Antonio and A.J. drove nonstop to Disney World. While he was focused on the road, every now and then he thought about Serena and how his son really liked her. Allowing her to move back to Atlanta wouldn’t just hurt Antonio, but A.J. as well. He couldn’t and wouldn’t let that happen. He knew that when he got back to Charlotte, the first thing he was going to do was tell Serena in no uncertain terms that she was a habit he couldn’t let go. He wasn’t going to allow her to leave when he loved her so much.

  Serena woke up still sprawled on her sofa with an ache in her lower back. Rolling her eyes, she sat up and ran her hand across her face. She hadn’t liked the way she and Antonio ended their conversation. Had she been wrong about his feelings for her or was she overreacting? He had said he wanted to see her when he returned but she felt there was still an accusatory tone in his voice. She wanted to bash Emerson and Casey until they were bad memories. But as much as she wanted to blame them for Antonio’s change of heart, she had to accept that he was a grown man and if he wanted to forgive her, it would be his choice.

  “Just what in the hell is he forgiving me for?” she mumbled. “I didn’t do anything wrong and have no reason to kiss his behind.”

  She rose from the sofa and started upstairs to take a shower when her cell phone rang. Serena nearly tripped over her feet rushing back to the sofa to grab it, hoping Antonio was on the other end. “Hello?” she said.

  “Serena, it’s Kenya.”

  “Hi, Kenya,” she replied, struggling to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

  “I have some good news and some bad news,” her attorney said.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Serena muttered. “Just lay it out for me.”

  “Well,” Kenya began. “We can’t stop the release of the movie because Emerson has all the rights to the film. However, Lionsgate is starting to back away because a few women’s groups are calling it a sexist film.”

  Serena chewed on her bottom lip not knowing if she agreed with that assessment of the movie, but if protest would keep it off the big screen then she was all for it. “I guess that is good news,” she replied finally.

  “That’s not the good news,” Kenya said and Serena could almost hear her smile though the phone. “I spoke with the credited screenwriter and he confirmed that more than ninety percent of the screenplay’s rewrites were done by you. That means if the movie is released you will be paid for it.”

  “I don’t want his money,” Serena said.

  “It’s not about his money. It’s about getting what you are due for all of your hard work,” Kenya said. “It won’t be his money. Unfortunately, the movie will be a hit. I saw a rough cut of it and it’s pretty good.”

  “Damn it.”

  “Emerson will profit from it and leave you alone. He wants to get his career back on track, but I have enough media contacts to spread the true story about him.”

  “No,” Serena snapped. “I don’t want any press and I don’t want credit for the screenplay. Just the money, since that seems as if it’s the only thing I can get from this. It’s not as if I’m trying to become a screenwriter anymore.”

  “All right, but you should let image-conscious Hollywood know what kind of snake he is and how little talent he has.”

  Serena paused and considered it, but then Antonio flashed in her mind. How would he feel about that? What does it matter? Serena’s cynical side said. He’s not worried about my feelings right now. “I’ll let you know about that. I just want this to go away.”

  “Well, for good measure and possibly to keep the studio even more leery about releasing this movie, I’m going to file another in
junction and an intent to sue,” Kenya said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Antonio will understand what this is really about,” Kenya said as if she read Serena’s mind.

  “Not that it matters,” Serena said in a near whisper that Kenya didn’t hear. “Thanks for everything.”

  “I was glad to help. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be sure to tell everyone I know not to go see the movie.”

  Serena smiled despite herself, then said goodbye. Feeling a little less depressed, Serena headed upstairs to take her shower and prepare for her day. She was going to go into the restaurant, then prepare for her move back to Atlanta. Should I at least hear Antonio out before I go back to Atlanta? she thought as the warm shower spray poured over her. Before she knew it, Serena was thinking of the moments when Antonio kissed her the way the water rained down on her. She remembered how tenderly he made love to her and how seeing his face sent her heart into overdrive.

  Serena shut the water off as it became ice cold. She could give up those desires and the passion she shared with him. After all, he was only a man.

  The man you love, she heard Jade’s voice telling her. And if you try to pretend that you can walk away from this man and be fine with it then you’re a damned fool. Serena stepped out of the shower and toweled herself dry trying to remember the woman she was before Antonio. The Ice Queen.

  Serena soon realized the Ice Queen had melted. In her wake was a blubbering, emotional woman who wasn’t going to allow the man she loved to get away from her that easily.

  Chapter 27

  Though Antonio enjoyed seeing Disney World through A.J.’s eyes, he was ready to get back to Charlotte and talk to Serena. A.J. was talking a mile a minute about how much fun he had and how cool it was to finally see Mickey Mouse. Antonio noticed that A.J. held Serena’s mouse ears carefully as they drove.

  “We had so much fun,” A.J. said. “Can we do this every summer?”

  “I think we can,” Antonio said. “Maybe next year we’ll stay at the Animal Kingdom.”

  “Anywhere but Cinderella’s castle. That’s for girls.” A.J. made a face as if he’d tasted sour milk.

  “All right, no Cinderella’s palace,” Antonio said with a laugh.

  “Dad, can we stop and get McDonald’s?”

  “No. We can stop at Subway and get some veggies today.”

  “Aww man,” A.J. said as Antonio took a highway exit.

  When they made it to the restaurant, Antonio’s cell phone rang. He hoped it was Serena, but when he saw it was Casey, he groaned. “Yeah?” he said into the phone.

  “Is everything all right? Mother has been looking for you and A.J.,” she said frantically. “Where are you guys?”

  “A.J. and I are fine. We’re actually on our way back to Charlotte from Disney World.”

  “I thought you were … Did you take Serena with you?”

  “Casey, I’m not going to talk to you about Serena. You’ve done enough.”

  “Would you rather not know what kind of woman you were dealing with? I know how hurt you were when you found out about Marian and her affairs.”

  “I don’t want to have this conversation with you. Be aware, Serena will still have a place in my life.”

  “How do you know she isn’t with Emerson Bradford right now?”

  “Good-bye, Casey.” Antonio hung up and turned back to his sandwich.

  A.J. looked up at his father. “Are you and Aunt Casey still fighting?”

  “No, just having a disagreement. Adults do that sometimes,” Antonio replied. “Come on and eat up.” The last thing he wanted to do was put his son in the middle of what was going on between himself and Casey. At the end of the day she was still A.J.’s aunt. No matter what Antonio thought about her, his son loved her.

  “Do you think Aunt Casey is going to be upset because we didn’t bring her some Mickey Mouse ears?” A.J. asked.

  “We’ll make sure we get her a set next year,” Antonio said in between bites of his sandwich.

  After finishing their meal, they were back on the road and A.J. soon drifted off to sleep. As they crossed into South Carolina, Antonio smiled. There were less than one hundred miles between him and Serena. His mind was conflicted as he wondered if she had spent the last few days alone or with Emerson. Antonio forced those thoughts out of his mind and replaced them with images of Serena wrapped up in his arms. The first thing he had to do when he saw her was apologize for the way he’d acted before he left. Then he’d hope that she would accept his apology by kissing him in the way that made his libido rise like the sun in the east. He could feel the warmth of her breath dancing on his neck as she kissed him. If he was lucky and Serena was in a forgiving mood, his fantasy would become reality.

  “Emerson,” Luther said in an exasperated tone. “You’re not listening to me. We’ve spent a good portion of the marketing for this film in court answering all of these motions Serena Jacobs and her attorney filed. The best thing for us to do is to either have the movie released straight to DVD or in theatres as a limited release feature.”

  “I’m not some chitlin’ circuit director who wants to get a movie released to the masses.” Emerson groaned. “You know this movie deserves to be on the big screen.”

  “I also know we can’t go broke trying to release this movie. I implored you to get Serena Jacobs’s cooperation and you did everything you could to make her want to sue you and everyone tied to your film.”

  “The public wants this movie,” Emerson said as he looked at the YouTube clip again. “Do you know how many people have watched the movie clip on the Internet?”

  “I’m well aware of that. Emerson, listen. The decision has been made. We’re doing a limited release or nothing at all. You’d better hope those millions of people who watched that clip go to the theatres where the movie is going to be shown.”

  “You’re going to regret this.”

  “I’m already there,” Luther said, then hung up the phone.

  Emerson growled like a wounded bear as he looked at his phone, realizing he wasn’t going to get what he wanted. Fine, he thought. If Serena wants to play it this way then I can make her life hell, too.

  Serena scratched her head as she looked over the press release Kandace had sent for her to approve. Tonight was the relaunch party and they had a few media outlets that wanted a statement for the evening news. Serena wasn’t at all surprised they had gotten some national exposure for the party—due to Solomon Crawford and the fact that Kandace was his wife. Not to mention Maurice Goings’s involvement with the party.

  While she was happy they were getting so much exposure for the event and the restaurant, Serena couldn’t wait until the party was over and she could leave. She had thought she was going to be at the party enjoying Babyface’s sweet love songs with Antonio by her side, but that was looking as if it wasn’t going to happen. He’d told her that when he returned to Charlotte he was going to talk to her, but she hadn’t heard from him and assumed he’d changed his mind. Well, her mind was made up and she was going back to Atlanta.

  “Are you excited about tonight?” Alicia asked when she burst into the office.

  Serena ignored her question and handed her a letter. “This came for you.”

  Alicia took the letter from her friend’s hand and looked at the return address. “Ugh, you should’ve tossed this.”

  “Isn’t that from your high school? Either it is reunion time or they want money.”

  Alicia rolled her eyes. “I don’t care. High school was not good to me and I’m not looking forward to going back over there.”

  “Then don’t. Send them a fifty-cent check and call it a day,” Serena said as she watched Alicia open the letter. “Well, what is it?”

  Alicia scowled. “Fifteen-year reunion. They want me to come and receive a special award.”

  “Are you going?”

  Alicia shook her head. “I hated high school. I’m in no hurry to go back and see those people.”

/>   Serena was surprised by the venom in her usually calm friend’s voice. “Who did enjoy high school? Go back and show those assholes what a success you have become.”

  “Let’s talk about our party. Will you be attending with Antonio?”

  “I’d rather talk about the guest list and who’s going to be working the door,” Serena said, tossing her head back.

  “So, it’s true?” Alicia shook her head.

  “What’s true? I know you heffas have not been talking about me behind my back,” Serena raged.

  “This is why we talk about you behind your back—because you fly off the handle. Is that what happened with you and Antonio?”

  Serena eased back in the chair and tossed her feet up on the desk top. “It doesn’t matter what happened between Antonio and me because he’s—”

  “Standing right outside the door,” Alicia said as she watched Antonio walk down the hall.

  “What?” Serena scrambled to her feet.

  Alicia glanced at her. “Hurry up and do something with that hair—like pull it out of that ponytail.”

  Serena snatched her ponytail holder out of her hair and smoothed her skirt, then shook her head. “What am I doing?” she muttered as Alicia opened the office door all the way.

  The moment Antonio stood in the doorway, Serena realized why she cared about her appearance.

  Antonio took a deep breath as he drank in Serena’s image. She looked sexy … and confused to see him standing there.

  “Hello, Antonio,” Alicia said. “Well, I have to go. Serena, we’ll work on the guest list later.”

  “Hello, Serena,” Antonio said when they were alone.

  “Antonio,” she said, her voice cool and detached. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

  He crossed over to her and stood inches from her, struggling not to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they were both dizzy from passion. “I told you I wanted to talk to you when I returned from Disney World.”

  She shifted as if she could feel the heat brewing between them. “This really isn’t a good time for me,” Serena said.