He was still smiling so that was a good thing. “No and yes. No to second thoughts. Yes to the idea of someone we know. Honestly Mark, I don’t think as an expectant mother I would be comfortable with our surrogate living apart from us. Is that crazy?”
“No, it’s not crazy, but having her live with us is a little weird. A stranger having access to our inner sanctum,” he said waving the waitress over for the check.
“Umm, I think you’re forgetting the bigger picture, our baby. We can get a place out in California with some kind of extended space. Are you prepared to rent a house for an entire year? I know you mentioned getting something for six months, but—”
“Regina, whatever you want I’ll make it happen. Now, I have to get back to the office for a meeting. Will you head back home or do you have to check on the building?”
“Actually, I’m going to try to meet up with Amanda. Hopefully she’s available. See you later at home.” I gave him a quick kiss on the lips before he walked out. I stayed seated at the table and pulled out my phone, scrolling through his calendar. He doesn’t have any other appointment. Why is he lying? I dialed Amanda.
“Hey, chick, what’s up? I’m on my way into a meeting.”
“We have to talk. There are some serious situations I need advice on. When can we talk?”
“I can’t today. I have a thing tonight. How does breakfast sound tomorrow?”
“Are you sure you can’t stop by tonight? It’s really important. Can’t you reschedule your little booty call?” I was disappointed by her pushing me to the side.
“I can’t, Regina. Listen I have to go. I will call you in the morning.”
She hung up so fast I didn’t get a chance to plead my urgency anymore. I tucked my phone back into my purse and left the restaurant. I wanted to head straight to Mark’s office to see what he was up to, but decided on going home to finish up some paperwork on the new tenants who would moving into one of the buildings we owned.
It was six o’clock and Mark wasn’t home yet. I decided on ordering in some Thai food. It was Mark’s favorite. I had to make sure it was all perfect. Just then he walked through the door.
“Regina?” he shouted as he door shut.
“Hello, baby.” I kissed him on the cheek.
“What’s this? I thought we were going out for dinner.” He placed his satchel onto the kitchen countertop.
I set the table and placed the food in serving plates. It was still warm. “I thought eating in would be better. It seemed as though your day wasn’t going good when we met for lunch. Do you want to tell me what happened?” I didn’t want to badger him with questions. I thought I would ease into it.
“What are you talking about?” I could feel the attitude building.
“I don’t want to upset you. Why don’t we just have dinner while the food’s still warm? Here have a seat.” I pulled out a chair, took a seat, and started to dish food onto the empty plates.
“Thai food?”
“Yes, it’s your favorite.”
“I know, and I also know if there’s something on your mind we eat Thai food, especially if you’re not certain of my reaction. So just go ahead and ask me.” He shoveled food into his mouth.
“I’m going to ask Amanda to carry our baby,” I said almost in a whisper.
He dropped his fork. His eyes widened. He stared at me as if I booked a one-way ticket to Mars for the both of us.
“Stop looking at me like that. It’s not a bad idea.”
“Regina, you are crazy. I’m not having her carry our baby. That’s like having Satan carry our baby.”
I was floored. I knew he didn’t like her, but to think she’s evil that was off the wall.
“She’s not carrying our baby. She only cares about herself. She doesn’t even have the instinct to be a mother. How could you even suggest that?”
“She’s my best friend, Mark. It makes a lot of sense to me. I trust her. I don’t trust those profiles. How is it so easy for you to pick a random stranger instead of someone who’s close to me?”
He pushed his plate to the side. “Regina, if this is what you want”—he looked into my eyes—“I can’t go through with it. Any of it.”
I was crushed. Tears formed in my eyes. Any of it? What is that supposed to mean? No marriage, no baby? What?
“Mark, you can’t be serious!” I said as tears rolled down my face. Had I now destroyed the only thing I ever wanted? “I thought you wanted all this. I thought you wanted me to be happy.”
“I do want you happy, but that doesn’t mean I have to just go with whatever you want. Yes, I want to marry you. Yes, I want to have our baby. She’s not the one. How do you not see that?”
I was crying like a baby. He came over to me, pulled me up into his arms, and held me.
“I’m going to tell you something. It’s going to be hard to accept it. But I need you to stop crying. Let me open a bottle of wine. Go to the bathroom, wipe your tears, and meet me in the bedroom, okay?”
My body went numb. What was he about to tell me? Was it about Amanda or that woman I bumped into today? I was scared, but open to what he had to say. I nodded my head yes and walked to the bathroom in our bedroom. When I entered the bathroom I closed the door and looked into the mirror wiping my eyes. “Listen to him. Don’t react. He’s the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. Be the good woman you want to be,” I said out loud and repeated in my mind when I walked out into the bedroom.
Mark was seated on the lounge in front of the fireplace with a look of defeat on his face. “Here.” He held the glass to me. “Have a seat.” His tone was upsetting.
“Mark, you’re scaring me. You act as though you’re about to tell me something awful. Please just spit it out!” My voice turned loud.
“Regina, know that I love you and will and have done everything for you. Amanda shouldn’t be your friend or the woman carrying your baby.”
“Mark, I know you and she don’t get along, but she’s very opinionated and she just doesn’t see things from your prospective all the time. You can’t be mad at her for having an opinion, she’s a lawyer for Christ’s sake.” I laughed and moved closer to him.
His eyes were giving me a bad sign.
“Regina, I slept with Amanda long time ago.”
My heart stopped beating. My world was crashing before my eyes. Was I hearing correctly? Did he just say he fucked my best friend?
“First, I knew her before you met her at that party. When you guys became friends I didn’t want to ruin what we had over something that meant absolutely nothing. It happened once. That is why we never got along. I never wanted her in the house when I was around. You may not believe me, but she’s your friend because she wants to be you. She’s jealous of you, what you have, and the life you live. I’m sorry, I should have told you that night of the party. I’m sorry, Regina.”
My head was spinning. My life was flashing before my eyes. I finally decided on being the best woman I can be and he reveals this! What am I supposed to do now? All these plans, our future, is it over?
“Regina, say something.” He emptied his glass and poured another.
I couldn’t. Words weren’t forming. All I did was stare. Tears fell from my eyes.
“Regina, I don’t feel anything for her. I never did.”
After minutes of just staring and tears falling my hand reached to his face smacking him.
“I deserved that.” He rubbed his face.
I said nothing. My hands were shaking. I put my glass down on the small side table.
“Regina, say something please.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “I can’t lose you. I couldn’t keep it from you anymore. When you asked for her to carry our child, there was no way I could move forward without telling you.”
“I can’t believe you. If it happened before me and her were friends, why didn’t you just tell me then? It would have saved me a whole lot of heartache and pain. You know I don’t have many real friends, an
d for you to look the other way when I allowed her into my life, our life, how can I forgive you? I don’t care about the sex. It was once and never thought about again. But you kept it from me even after you saw me and her becoming closer.”
“There’s more, but before you start bashing me, which I deserve, you should know she’s the one who told me you were seeing other men. Not one man, but men. Think of how I felt when I heard that.” He downed half his glass. “She still wants me and tries every chance you’re not around.”
What the fuck was happening? I didn’t know how to respond to the bullshit he was trying to feed me, but could it be factual? Listen to him. Don’t react. He’s the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. Be the good woman you want to be. I took a deep breath. There was only one person to set this all straight.
27
Tony
“Are you there yet?”
“No, just a little more.”
I’d been thrusting in and out for the past forty minutes with my mind on Regina. It didn’t matter who I was doing, my mind was solely on her. I watched her today. It took strength not to approach her. Not to hear her voice. Not to smell her scent. Not to touch her soft skin. She was serious about not seeing me anymore and I couldn’t stand it.
“Are you there yet?” I asked again forcing myself to stay hard. I pumped harder with conviction. This wasn’t a new client, but she was a paying top dollar for me to make her cum. I thought taking a client would get my mind off Regina, but it just reminded me of how much I needed her.
“Do you have to be somewhere?”
My dick went limp. I pulled out of her moist pot and removed the condom. I stood at the edge of the bed and tossed the condom in the garbage. I should just apologize, pay for the room, and go the hell home! I mulled over the backlash I would get and the money I would lose. Did it matter?
“Tony, are you okay?” she asked in her sweet tone.
“I’m sorry, it’s not you. We can resched . . . Actually, I won’t be available anymore. If you like I can refer you to someone. I’m really sorry.” If giving up this life proved to Regina that I wasn’t giving up on her then so be it. I had to start sometime.
“Refer me?” Her voice wasn’t so sweet anymore. “I’m not going for that. I’ve paid you five grand every time we met for the past seven months. I’ve seen you no less than ten times. Now you want to take yourself off the market. I’m married, do you think I want to start this shit with someone new, again? Come on, Tony, I can’t teach another young pup how, where, and when to touch to make me cum. Is it the money? I’ll pay double the amount. Let’s just chalk this up as a bad night on your part.”
“Yes, let’s do that. Don’t worry about the room. I will take care of it.”
“Are you asking me to leave right now?” She looked at me as if I had two heads.
“Yes.” I walked into the bathroom, shut the door, and locked it. I didn’t care anymore. I made my decision. There was no more of this. No more selling my body for the pleasures of other women. I’m going to be the man she deserves.
I opened the faucet to the shower and got in. I stood under the streaming hot water thinking of my future with the woman I was going to spend it with.
I arrived home greeted with a manila envelope shoved under my door. It brought a smile to my face. I knew what it contained. Diana better have done a good job. I needed this. I ripped the envelope open. I held my breath hoping it was good. I pulled out the pictures. Yes, yes, this will work. I took my phone out my pants pocket and dialed Diana.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Tony, I’m on my way to you now. Did I do what was needed?”
“It could have been better, but it’ll work. It will have to work.”
“You’re still going to help me out tonight right?”
“I really don’t think it will be a good idea. She knows what I look like and she’s been causing a headache at my boy’s restaurant.”
“You have to or at least let me tell you what I’m doing.”
“The tape should be enough to get what you want. I’ll see what else you need to do.”
“Open the door, I’m downstairs.”
Diana had a problem with getting just enough; instead she fought for more and beyond. She caused more harm to herself because of her greediness. I buzzed the front entrance open and soon there was a knock at my door. I opened it and turned my attention back to the pictures of her and Mark.
“Hello.” My back was turned to her as she stepped over the threshold.
“Hey,” I answered still showing her my back.
She wrapped her arms around me and kissed at my neck. “What are you looking at?”
I showed her the pictures.
“Who is this guy to you?” She took the picture and pointed to Mark.
“No longer a problem from the looks of these pics. Thanks.”
“So I guess I’m not the only one trying for a payday.” She laughed.
I snatched the picture out her hand. “Unlike you, my goal is not money. It’s a future with the woman I truly love.”
Her face showed surprise from my words. “I hope you’re not talking about the same woman you showed up at the event with. It seemed to me she had other plans and you were far from being included.”
“Why don’t you just shut up! You don’t know anything.”
“Oh, but I do. I know that every time she treats you as a toy or what you really are you seek me out. Is that the woman you want? I thought we were more than sex.”
“You are no more to me than the bitches I fuck for money!” I was angry so I cut her with my words. Although, she was meaningful to me regardless of how I felt at this moment.
“Fuck you, Tony! You’re a piece of shit! I’m trying to get this money for you and this is how you want to treat me. If this isn’t some shit after you’re the one putting me to shit to benefit your ass!”
“What are you trying to get at?” I wanted her to leave immediately. I wouldn’t care if it was the last time I saw her. I didn’t need her anymore.
“You think I’m stupid? Just some dumb, pretty chick you could manipulate. Hell, no! I knew from the start what you had in your mind.” She paused with a smirk on her face. “Did you forget who approached you? Did you think it was because of your dick?” She belted a hearty laugh.
Now, I was confused. She had nothing on me. If she reported anything to anyone she would be held accountable too. All the info I had about clients was given to me by her.
“You’re just as stupid as the dumb bitches who pay you to fuck them. I admit you were good, shit sometimes you were more than good, but trust me you’re not the best. I think you forgot I never paid your ass for anything. That Web site shit you allowed me to take control of was only the start. You allowed me into your life. Tell me who else knows where you live? I mean what is this? Where the hell is all this shit coming from? For the past few months we’ve been seeing each other every other day. I thought we were more.”
She was right. I’d been leading her on; making her my crutch for when Regina tucked me back into the closet. I dropped my head. “Listen, Diana, we helped each other. We used each other. Now, we just have to go our own way. There was never an ‘us.’ You must’ve known that.”
Her body language changed. Her hands were on her hips. Her eyes filled with water fighting to bust through. She paced the floor, thinking of how to rebut the truth.
“Is that how you really feel? Just like that? I wish I could turn the switch as easy as you. I don’t believe this. I may be giving up everything when I go meet Amanda tonight. As a friend, are you going to leave me hanging?”
Oh, my God! Really was she trying to tug on my sympathy strings? It didn’t matter. I needed her gone. “Diana, we can’t go on like this. This life is over for me. This—you, me—wasn’t going to last forever. I’m not that guy. You had to have known that.” Was she being naïve or just plain ol’ dumb? I was beginning to lose my temper again.
&nb
sp; Diana put her fingers under her eyes trying to push her waterworks back.
It was over. “I did you that one solid with Amanda. You shouldn’t have any more problems with her. Just make sure you don’t give her all the copies. I’m not going with you. I’m sorry, Diana, but you have to go.”
She said nothing as she walked toward the door. Diana looked back to me with hurtful red eyes.
I just shook my head and turned my back to her. That was it. If I wanted a clean slate, I had one. Feeling bad for her was not a part of me. I gathered the pictures back into the envelope and pulled my phone out my pants pocket.
Regina need 2 see u. Important.
Minutes passed with no reply. I sent the same message to her Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail accounts. An hour had passed and I did everything under the sun to get a reaction from her, leaving messages starting off sweet, but with the more time passing it ended nasty each time.
Nothing.
I started to pace the floor and replay my options. Going over there at this moment wouldn’t solve anything. It would only cause more hurt to Regina. Besides I would never be able to get past the doorman. She would hate me for displaying his so-called infidelity like a trophy. It would have to be private, by herself with no one in earshot or to interject their two cents. I took a breath and reached for a glass to pour a stiff drink.
After drinking one glass after the other of whiskey, I must’ve passed out on the sofa. I woke up the next morning feeling like shit. My stomach started to bubble, my mouth was building with saliva, and my head felt like a jackhammer was working on my skull. The rush of me standing up put me on auto spin like a washing machine. I threw up immediately all over myself and the sofa. There was no time to get to the bathroom. The smell alone made me empty whatever was left in my stomach again. “You stupid asshole! You know you had shit to handle today! Fuck!” I cursed at myself using my sleeved arm to wipe my mouth. I saw my phone on the floor with the indicator light blinking. “Oh shit,” I said slowly easing myself to all fours to retrieve the phone.
Sharing the Sheets Page 14