The Roof is on Fire

by Brenda Hampton

  “Oh my Jesus!” she shouted. “I…I think I broke somethin’!”

  Chase was unable to help because she was hollering from laughter. I kept shaking my head, but had to make sure Jada was okay.

  I reached out my hand to help her off the ground. “See, that’s what you get for playing.”

  She smacked my hand away. “I’m not playin’! I can’t move, so you gon’ have to pick me up and carry me.”

  “Like hell, baby. I told you not to get up there. You knew that table wasn’t sturdy enough to hold you.”

  Jada quickly sat up, seeming to be okay. “If it was Roc, he would pick me up. This the last time I put myself out there for you. You didn’t even catch me, and shame on you for allowin’ me to fall and scar up my ass. My head feel busted too.”

  “Your head looks fine to me. Since you’re so hurt, let me go inside and get Roc to come out here and help you.”

  “You do that,” she said as I walked away to go inside. “Jaylin!” she shouted.

  I turned. While still on the ground, she opened her legs wide and flashed her goodies. “I forgive you for bein’ so uncarin’, but you know you want this, don’t you? I can see it in your heavenly eyes.”

  “My eyes are known for implying things that I don’t mean, but if you shave that hairy bush we may have ourselves a deal. Until then, I want no part of the pussy.”

  “Screw you! That’s why yo dick crooked. Nah!”

  When I got inside, I had to snicker at Jada’s silliness. Chase was only a few feet behind me. She reached for my arm before I went into the bedroom.

  “Hey you,” she said. “We had a good time tonight, didn’t we?”

  “No doubt.”

  “And, uh, forgive me for being so blunt, but I’m the kind of woman who speaks my mind. I meant what I said about shaking things up with you. I don’t know which one of us will have to leave here first, but I hope that I get a chance to leave here with the same experience as Sylvia. Is that possible?”

  “Could be, but I’m not one to predict tomorrow. My concern is your desire to shake things up with Roc as well. And since I’m the kind of man who speaks my mind, I’ll say this. I’m not feeling you right now. You’re too pushy and way too aggressive. The plus side is you’re sexy as hell and I admire your confidence.”

  She moved closer, rubbing her body against mine. “Sexy, confident and truthful. So, for the record, Roc is on my hit list. But I have more than one man on that list. There is, uh, Obama, Daniel Craig, Michael Ealy, Drake, and even my cousin’s husband, Rico. All you need to know is that your name sits above all. Start feeling me and make it happen, Jaylin. I’ll be ready whenever you are.”

  She winked and swished her hips from side to side as she walked away. For now, I wasn’t impressed. If I was, it was only a little.

  I fell asleep with Chase on my mind, but the dream I slipped into was about the love of my life, Nokea. Marriage was the subject, but I was reluctant to go there because I was still bitter about her being with another man.

  “Would you please get over it?” She turned my chair around so I could face her. I was at work, trying to put more money into my pockets. Seeing her dressed in a flimsy, colorful dress, looking more and more like Nia Long every day, was very distracting.

  “I’m not going to get over it, so back the hell away from me and please exit my office. I can’t believe you let that fool take what was mine and do whatever he wished to do with it. I’m not interested in getting married, again, baby. I’m perfectly fine with the way things are.”

  I got up, causing Nokea to back away from me. I was dressed in a navy business suit and a soft yellow shirt was underneath. Annoyed by her presence, I eased my hands in my pockets and gazed out of the huge picture window in thought. She came up from behind me and secured her arms around my waist. She laid her head against my back and released a deep breath.

  “I don’t care who you’ve been with or who I’ve been with. We always find our way back to each other. I know you’re upset about my relationship with Tyrese, but please stop being so unfair. Lord knows I’ve had to deal with you and plenty of your women for years. But you know what, Jaylin? I don’t care anymore. Like you told me before, all of the sex in the world won’t wash away your feelings for me. You know that and I do too. So, whenever you put this bitterness behind you, I’m here. Like I’ve always been. Nothing or no one will ever change that.”

  I shut my eyes, thinking about why we couldn’t seem to get our shit together. Some people did fine with the marriage thing, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do it. I felt everything Nokea had said. She always knew how to put me at ease. I turned around to face her, trying my best not to reveal how excited I was to see her.

  “Marriage isn’t for us,” I admitted. “We tried and failed, but—”

  She placed her finger on my lips. “I agree. And so what? We still have each other, don’t we? At the end of the day, we will always have each other. Papers or no papers, I will always be your wife.”

  She was trying to sell me this bullshit because she knew I was upset with her. When things were hot and heavy between her and Tyrese, I barely heard from Nokea. She may have come to my office twice, but that was it. Most of the time, I had to call her. We did, however, get our freak on every now and then. Still, it wasn’t enough, and I had never been in a predicament where I willingly shared her with another man.

  My phone rang, so I went over to my desk to see who was calling. I didn’t answer because my eyes were locked on Nokea as she stepped out of her heels, leaving them at the door. She pulled her dress over her head and stood in nothing but a royal blue, silk thong. I didn’t want to look at her, so I sat at my desk and opened a drawer to look inside. She could tell I was pretending to be occupied, so she strutted over to my mahogany desk and sat on top of it. She opened her legs right in front of me, causing me to turn my attention away from what was in the drawer.

  “Stop being so mean to me.” She lifted my chin with her finger and leaned in close, brushing her nose against mine. “You’re so handsome when you try to be serious, but I’m determined to put a smile on your face before I leave here.”

  The direction of my eyes traveled from her pretty pussy lips that swallowed the thong, to her firm breasts that poked out at me. I hoped that she wouldn’t notice my dick stretching the fabric in my slacks. It was trying its damndest to get at her. I reached for the papers underneath her.

  “Your ass is on some important business proposals. Do you mind?”

  Nokea leaned over and lifted her ass so I could remove the papers. After I did, she took the papers from my hand.

  “I have a business proposition of my own,” she said. “Do you care to hear it?”

  “No, but from this moment on, I don’t care to hear anything you have to say, unless it’s a moan.”

  Unable to hold back all that I was feeling inside for her, I stood up. Nokea had won this battle for sure and there was no more fight left in me. I leaned in to seal a kiss with her. She tossed the papers over her shoulder and started to unbutton my shirt. I pulled on her thong, ripping it away from her strawberry-scented skin. She wasn’t moving fast enough for me, so I hurried to unbuckle my belt and unleashed my hard dick that was just about ready to aim and shoot. But like always in my dreams, when I got ready to crack the code and unlock her pussy, I woke up.

  My fist hit the bed. I was upset that my dream hadn’t come through for me, but something similar had gone down like that in my office a week before I arrived here. The sex part was out, and I wouldn’t allow her to serve me any leftovers. I wished that I could be as forgiving as I was in the dream. There was no doubt that I needed more time to see things her way. For now, Chase may be the one I needed to focus my mind elsewhere. Too aggressive or not, her approach was about to pay off.

  After two more weeks had gone by, I was having Desa Rae withdrawal. I couldn’t shake my thoughts about what she had been up to, and I needed to hear her voice. I would give anything right abo
ut now to be at home, watching her read one of her favorite books, cooking dinner, or yelling at me for doing or saying the wrong shit. Anything…to have her legs wrapped around my back while fucking her brains out. I could taste her sweetness on my lips. I could feel her sliding up and down on me, and at this point, I felt like I was going whack without her.

  I sat at the kitchen table, high as hell from some fire weed Prince had left behind. While in a daze, a vision of Desa Rae’s pretty face appeared before me. I saw her at work, handling her business and at home taking care of our daughter. I imagined her tossing and turning in bed, disappointed because I wasn’t there. I knew she was missing the hell out of me too, all in the name of Black Love. I don’t think I ever loved a woman as much as I loved her, and I hoped like hell that she knew it. Why? Because I was starting to get eager. Eager to get this over with, by any means necessary.

  By now, I thought Jeff would’ve swooped back through here to inquire about a vote. Jaylin and I agreed that Chase had to go. She had started to work her magic on him too. I noticed them getting closer. Their conversation seemed to pick up, and I knew lust in a man’s eyes when I saw it.

  Me, I was horny as fuck. Jada’s thickness was such a turn on to me, but her foul mouth and sassiness made me run far away from her. She probably had some of Li’l Roc’s mother, Vanessa’s, blood running through her, and that in no way worked for me. I didn’t like how bold Chase was, but truthfully, she was the next best thing to a good fuck. I felt myself slipping. That was why I wanted her to hurry up and get out of here.

  Lunch was over. After I ended a game of Spades with Jaylin, we changed clothes and went outside to team up for a game of tennis. Nobody really liked to play, but it wasn’t as if we had many options. Chase and Jada waited for us to make it to the court. When we got there, it was a pleasure to see them dressed in tight shorts and tanks, and ready to get started. Both of their hair was pulled back into ponytails, but with Chase’s being fake, hers hung longer. She rested the racket on her shoulder and squinted at me and Jaylin rocking our tank shirts and shorts.

  “How are we going to team up?” Chase asked.

  “I say pull names.” Jaylin looked at Jada from the corner of his eye. “That way, I don’t have to be on nobody’s team who ain’t willing to work.”

  Jada rolled her eyes. “Well, looks like you’re stuck with me, because Chase thinks she’s too cute to play. And you’re shit out of luck because I can tell Roc don’t know nothin’ about playin’ tennis.”

  “You may be right,” I said. “But I would put some money on it that you don’t know much about it either.”

  “I know more than you. That’s why I prefer to be on Jaylin’s team. He always comes off as a real winner.”

  Jaylin’s ego was stroked, so he was down with Jada being on his team. They partnered up on one side; Chase and I were on the other side.

  “Who gon’ serve the ball first?” I asked.

  Jaylin nodded in Chase’s direction. She bounced the ball with her racket, then served it over the net. Jada let the ball fly past her, even though it went out of bounds.

  “Wait a minute.” Jada placed her hand on her hip. “Wasn’t Chase supposed to say somethin’ like ‘one luv’?”

  Jaylin responded. “Just do your part in getting the ball over the net, all right?”

  Jada rolled her eyes again, and then licked her tongue out at Chase for hitting the ball out of bounds. They thought the shit was funny, but Jaylin and I waited with irritation displayed on our faces for Jada to stop clowning and serve the ball.

  “One luv, Jaylin. I bet’cha can’t have just one luuuuv,” Jada sang.

  Jaylin snapped. “Why don’t you quit playing so fucking much? Serve the ball. Damn!”

  Jada served the ball. It was a decent serve. I hit the ball back over the net and Jaylin followed with a good backhand that dropped in front of Chase. She swung, but missed.

  Jada couldn’t wait to comment. “She may be cute, but she sho’ ain’t no Serena Williams. Girl, you swatted that ball like it was a pesky fly.”

  She and Chase laughed; Jaylin and I didn’t. We were ready to get back to the game.

  For a while, we had a good routine going, as well as a competitive game. Jada and Jaylin had won the first set and Chase and I were about to win the next one.

  “Get yo game face on, Jada,” Jaylin suggested. “Come on, baby, let’s do this.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I got this.”

  I served the ball to Jada, thinking that she wasn’t on her game. Unfortunately, she was. She hit the ball back over the net and it bounced directly in front of Chase. She swatted at the ball, missing it.

  A frown covered my face. “Damn, ma. What you over there doin’? Get focused so we can win this.”

  “Not today,” Jada said. “The way Jaylin’s curls over there sweatin’, y’all won’t be winnin’ anything. That brotha is workin’ hard. Look at my boo.”

  She and Chased laughed again; we didn’t.

  “Do you have a problem with my natural curls?” Jaylin asked Jada.

  “No, but why they shinin’ and drippin’? They’ve gotten tighter too, but they still cute, though.”

  Jaylin tucked the racket underneath his arm and walked over to Jada. “If you help me win this, you can do whatever you wish to with my curls. But now ain’t the time to talk about how they look, even though the look of them may be the result of me sweating my ass off while trying to win this game.”

  “Anything?” Jada wiggled her fingers through his natural curls. “You say I can do anything I wish?”

  He grabbed her hand and squeezed her wrist. “Anything. Just not now.”

  “Okay. Then give me the ball. It’s my time to serve, since Chase fell asleep on the last serve and missed.”

  “No, Chase is getting tired,” she said. “I don’t like playing tennis, nor do I like that Roc keeps hollering at me.”

  My face scrunched as I looked in her direction. “Ain’t nobody hollerin’ at you. I just need for you to pay attention and hit the damn ball.”

  “See, there you go again. Jada, serve the ball and be sure to hit it toward me.”

  Jada served the ball. As it came down near Chase, she purposely yawned and ignored it.

  “Chase,” I shouted. “What the fuck are you doin’?”

  “I’m focusing, Roc. Focusing on making us lose this game because you keep yelling at me.”

  “What the fuck do you want me to do if you ain’t puttin’ forth no effort to win the game?”

  “I want you to apologize to me. Then I may put forth some effort to help you.”

  This shit was a wrap. I was mad as hell. She would get no apology from me, and it was safe to say that Jaylin and Jada had won. If I was forced to say anything else, I would offend Chase. I chalked it up as a loss and kept it moving. I dropped my racket on the ground and held out my fist to give Jada and Jaylin dap for winning.

  “Good game,” I said. “I guess y’all are the winners by default.”

  “We’ll take it!” Jada shouted.

  Jaylin pounded my fist and I cut my eyes at Chase as I headed off the court.

  “Fuck you too, Roc,” she spat. “I know what that look meant. Instead of acting like a spoiled brat, why don’t you man up and say what you really want to say?”

  “Ma, you’d better chill with that noise. If I say what I really want to say, you gon’ get your feelings hurt. It’s best that you pull back and not say another word to me, if you know what’s good for you.”

  “I can’t believe you’re getting all bent out of shape over a game. Why don’t you cheer up? You’ll be getting back to that slut you keep mumbling about in your sleep, so cool out.”

  Chase had touched a nerve. I thought she wouldn’t be capable of going there with me, but what did I know? Disrespecting Desa Rae and calling her a slut was the quickest way to make me show my ass. I cocked my neck from side to side and strutted up to Chase.

  “Bitch, you don�
�t know nothin’ about me or my woman. My suggestion, correct yourself before I pull a Prince Perkins on that ass. I’mma dare you to say one more offensive thing to me, and I can promise you that doin’ so will hurt you more than it will hurt me. Now, make a move with your mouth, if you dare.”

  As we stood face to face, sucking in the airspace between us, Chase stared at me without a blink. I gazed back into her eyes, watching as they grew with anger. Not once did she open her mouth, but Jaylin did.

  “Here we go again, huh? Roc, you know I’m not gon’ let you go out like that, so don’t even think about it. Chase, apologize to that man and go inside. It’s your turn to cook dinner, and after this workout, I’m starving.”

  For at least another minute, Chase didn’t move. She finally blinked and stepped away from me.

  “Apology my ass,” she mumbled, then walked off. “Jaylin, you need to get some order with your boyz from the hood. They need to learn how to respect the ladies.”

  “Ladies, I do respect,” I fired back. “Hoes, I will not. That’s on a for real tip, ma, you’ve been called out.”

  I wickedly laughed, watching as Chase and Jada went into the house. The whole damn incident left me with a bad taste in my mouth about Chase. I was going to get my apology, along with so much more than that.

  See, Roc had slipped, fell, and bumped his head when he brought up Prince’s name like it was a good thing what he had done to me. Didn’t he know that women were sensitive about that shit? I was a bit upset with him, but I was sure my anger would cease.

  As for the argument between him and Chase, that was a first. He got in her ass over a stupid game, but I was happy to see her stand her ground. I guess since we were the only two females in the house, we had to get along better. The fellas showed how they were willing to come together and boot out Sylvia, so we had to watch our backs.

  Now that the tennis game was over, I sat at the computer desk to answer some fan mail that I had gotten. Once I finished replying, I intended to deal with Jaylin and his curls.