Rapture 2: a BWWM, Alpha Male Romance

by Perri Forrest

  As much as he had always loved Rush, and as many times as he had frequented his clubs, business was business, and so T had to do what he had to do. He replied to the sender and let them know that he’d run the story. Immediately after hitting the send button, he proceeded to format the post, and then set it go live at eleven o’clock that evening.

  “Fuck”, he said aloud to himself, before deciding to run to Starbucks for a sweet tea and morning bun. These hoes ain’t loyal!

  TWELVE

  Alika

  “How are you holding up, girl?” Gigi asked me, on the other end of the line.

  “I’m good, Gi. What are you doing today?”

  “Working. What else? I have so many emails to answer and phone calls to return. Luckily, my man is out of town for a few days because I’m gonna be in a raggedy ponytail, no makeup, and beat up shorts for the next two days. Working from home today, and then tomorrow is a holiday, so I’ll be here lounging for real!”

  “I heard that. Maybe we could get out for some eats and drinks tonight or something. Maybe even tomorrow.”

  “That’ll be good. Because then when you’re in my face, you can’t lie to me about being fine, with everything that’s going on.”

  I swear there were times I would be talking to Gigi and know without a doubt that she could read my mind. We had to have been connected in another life. When I became quiet, Gigi used that as an opportunity to dig a little bit.

  “Struck a nerve, huh?”

  “Uhh, no,” I lied.

  “Yeah, right. So let’s cut the shit. Your boyfriend just found out that he has a child…with another girl. If you’re not affected by that, then you’re a special kind of woman. Unfortunately, I don’t think that chick exists any fuckin’ where. I hope you’re not thinking that you don’t have a right to feel a certain way because that’s bullshit. Do you hear me, Alika? That’s bullshit!” she exclaimed.

  “I don’t know, Gigi…”

  “Yes you do. You know exactly how you feel. And I know the you that I’ve come to know is more concerned with being there for Hunter than paying attention to your own feelings.”

  Damn this girl with her fuckin’ insight!

  “You’re right,” I confessed.

  “I know I am. That’s a lot of the time,” she playfully boasted, causing me to laugh a little.

  “I just don’t want any detection from him that I’m bothered because he might take it the wrong way and I can’t afford for that to happen, Gigi. He’s been through so much in a short period of time. I have to be there for him right now. I just do.”

  Out of nowhere tears began to swim out of my sockets and trickle down my cheeks. I didn’t even realize that my emotions were running as high, and so close to the surface. I quickly jumped from the bed with the phone still in my hand and ran into the restroom. I couldn’t risk Rush coming back and finding me in tears. Not on the day that he was so excited to meet his daughter.

  “I’m sorry, Gigi,” I remarked, through sniffles. “I don’t know where that came from.”

  “I’m coming over there, Alika.”

  “No, Gigi. Don’t. Rush’s daughter and her mother will be here in a little bit.”

  “That’s fine. And while they’re spending time, you can spend time with me. I’m not gonna leave you alone. Were you going to hang out with them?”

  “No. I was thinking that the group of them need this time together. She’s just meeting her daddy for the first time. She doesn’t need to meet his new girlfriend too. I think that’s a bit premature.”

  “I’ll be there in a little bit. We can even hang out at your old spot if you want and make some drinks and eat and laugh and all that good stuff. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I agreed.

  After Gigi and I had ended our call, I took the opportunity to hop in the shower. There, I allowed myself to sob just a little bit more to fully cleanse my soul. I don’t know how I found myself thinking about it, but Curtis came to mind. I was here with a great guy because of him, and in some twisted kind of way, the revelation about Rush’s daughter paralleled. Rush had been surprised with finding out he had a daughter just like he had been surprised with finding me in the backseat of his car. I couldn’t help but smile just a little getting a quick visual of that moment. And it was only because of Rush and the way that he was with me that I could even look back on that time and not want to die. A whole lot of bad, ultimately led to something good for me—because of Rush. And his daughter was about to have the same experience. Not that her life was bad; I had no way of knowing that. But what little girl doesn’t need her daddy? I know I did. Had I had one, I probably would never have been looking for love in all the wrong places. And with Curtis of all people! A low down, dirty pimp! Yet for as bad as he was, it was because of him that I was even connected to my new beginning at all. As the tears continued to fall, I couldn’t help but wonder if at the end of it all, there would still be a Rush and Alika.

  There has to be, God! I love him. There has to be!

  Close to half an hour later, I was emerging from the shower all cried out and with a fresh attitude outlook. I rounded the corner pulling my braids through an elastic band once more, and wrapping it around itself into a bun atop my head. “Ahhh!” I shrieked, when I spotted Rush standing there with a boyish grin on his face. “That’s not cool, you! Scaring people and stuff!”

  Seeing him smile, prompted one from me as well.

  “You were in that shower for a while, baby.”

  I leaned up on my tiptoes to kiss him on the lips. “I know,” I said, moving past him to get into the jeans and hoodie I had laid across the stand in my closet. “How are you feeling? Not that I need to ask, I’m looking at your face.”

  He followed me into the closet and leaned against the door’s opening. “Are you okay, Alika?”

  I was turned away from him tying my scarf around my head so that I could slide my hoodie on.

  “Oh, babe…yeah, I’m good. Just getting dressed so that I can head down to the guest house and hang out with Gigi for the day.”

  “Some girl time, huh?”

  “A little bit.”

  “Okay, well after you get dressed, I’ll walk down there with you.”

  “Sounds good. Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be ready like Freddy,” I laughed.

  “Baby, Freddy’s dead, remember? Jason killed him,” he laughed.

  “Pssh! You wish! Freddy gave Jason the business!” I exclaimed, turning to him fully dressed.

  “Damn, you’re hot even when you’re dressed down, girl.”

  I playfully swerved my hips side to side. “You like, huh?”

  “Hell yeah, I like. Later on I’m gonna show you just how much too.”

  “Action speaks!” I teased, walking past him and out of the closet.

  “Oh, you’ll see,” he commented, swatting his hand across my butt.

  “You really shouldn’t do that. You just awakened all kinds of desires with that shit. You might wanna keep your hands to yourself,” I grinned.

  On the way down to the guesthouse, we joked around a lot and I subtly threw in that Jamie had called, and Rush quickly ushered the conversation right out of the way. He still had no interest in visiting anything that had to do with her or his father. I didn’t fully know the family dynamic, but I knew Rush, and if what I knew about him was true, then if he decided to take those people back into his life, it would take a whole hell of a lot. I was actually surprised when he was so forgiving of Bart after all that had happened.

  Of course Bart no longer worked as his business manager, but he came around often. I figured it was more about Bart having been left with so little after the dust settled. Jillian left him for good, he no longer worked for Rush, and a few of his other clients had opted out of working with him as well. On top of that, he barely escaped charges of distribution of a controlled substance. He only made his way out of that because he helped take Jacob Lawson’s operation down. So, he really did need all t
he friends he could get.

  “Well, baby, here we are,” Rush said, pulling me close to him. “I really hope I get to see you again. This was the best date ever.”

  I began laughing hysterically. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

  “I’m just reenacting. Since we never had the official guy takes girl out on date then brings her back to her place and tries to act like he doesn’t wanna come in, I figured now was as good a time as any.”

  “You’re so special,” I kidded with him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling his lips to mine.

  And though I knew I’d see him later, I let that kiss linger until I couldn’t feel my lips anymore and until my middle screamed so loud for his touch that I had to do a few kegel exercises to calm the scream.

  After we kissed, my head was spinning like it was the first time I’d been kissed by him. I didn’t want it to end, but we both had things to do. I leaned my head into his chest trying to settle my equilibrium.

  “Okay baby,” Rush whispered into the top of my head. “I better get going before neither of us makes it outta here.”

  THIRTEEN

  Rush

  When I came through the entrance off the side of the pool, Hannah, my housekeeper, was there to notify me that I had company in the living room. She smiled at me and bowed her head as she departed. I hadn’t shared anything with her, but something told me that she knew already. “Thanks, Hannah!” I called after her, smiling to myself. My nerves were now in charge. With each step I took toward the front of the house, my heart raced loudly. I had to take a deep breath to see if that would provide calming to the situation.

  Nope. No such luck.

  I rubbed my palms, then clasped my fingers together, and brought my hands to my mouth and blew air between the openings. I stopped in my spot, took a few deep breaths, and then rolled my head a few times and shook my hands by my side to increase circulation. I felt like the first time I stepped up to the plate! My nerves were in major attack mode! I kept trying to regulate my breathing by taking slow, deep breaths. I felt as though I was in one of those deep-breathing exercise classes.

  Dude! Calm yourself. It’s gonna be fine. Just breathe and go!

  This is it! Go!

  As I released a big gush of air, I spotted them in the distance, and tried to put on as much bravado as I could. I couldn’t have my little girl thinking that the person she would know as her father one day was a wimp! But at that moment, and seconds away from meeting her, that’s exactly what I was.

  “Hello,” I greeted, coming into the room.

  I tried to play it cool, but I was like fuckin’ putty on the inside. Both Janae and Michaela turned in my direction, in unison…except my eyes were only on Michaela. When my eyes locked with hers my heart skipped a beat…probably several. Knowing that she existed was one thing. Seeing her on a picture was another. But seeing her in person, was bordering on indescribable. The closer I got to her I was able to see that she was smiling, which caused me immediate relief. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but I will admit a smile wasn’t it. Not for a stranger. I was ecstatic.

  I walked near the area where they sat and nervously headed straight for Michaela. She, in turn, stood to greet me.

  She extended a perfect little hand. “Hi Mr. Cambridge,” she greeted. “I’m Michaela. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Oh my God.

  I was speechless. I looked down at the little girl with the beautiful brown skin, and the dark green eyes, and lost every last one of the cool points I had ever been born with. She had me, and I was lost. She was probably the only girl in the world to ever silence me, and I was okay with that.

  I cleared my throat. “It’s very nice to meet you too, Michaela,” I said, just above a whisper.

  I glanced over at her mother, whose emotions were spread all over her face. Even from where I stood, I saw the glisten in her eyes. She wanted to cry. I knew the feeling. I was right there too.

  Michaela reclaimed her seat and crossed her hands over her jean-clad lap. “Your house is huge and so pretty,” she complimented, sounding far beyond her years.

  “Thank you. It is really big, huh? Probably a little too big.”

  “No. When I get big, I want a big house just like this for me and my puppies. Then when I get bored, I can always have other places inside the house to go.”

  I chuckled slightly. “Funny you should say that. It’s the exact same reason I wanted a lot of space too!”

  When she smiled at me, I saw pieces of myself and my mother in her face. Although I hadn’t seen my mother since I was five years old, her smile was something that I never forgot. My daughter for sure wore it. I was falling deeper and deeper the longer she sat in my presence. I wanted to hug her, but felt that would be inappropriate. I wanted to tell her that I loved her, but didn’t want to scare her away. I wanted to tell her that I was sorry for all the time missed, but I didn’t even know how much she knew yet. Just, wow.

  “So, Rush…” Janae addressed. “I’m not sure how you wanted today to go, but—”

  “Can I tell him, mom?”

  “Of course,” Janae answered, playfully waving her hands at the air. “Go for it, little girl.”

  Michaela turned toward me and tilted her head slightly before speaking, and she had my full attention.

  “Well, my mom was gonna tell you that I know the truth about you, and how we had a long talk about how you wanted to meet me.” Then she turned to look at her mother and breathed out a gush of air, which caused me to smile at her delivery. “…But…” she stalled.

  Janae looked at me and hunched her shoulders in confusion, and I was on edge wondering what Michaela’s hesitation was.

  “Michaela…” Janae prodded. “Go ahead, baby.”

  “Ummm…okay. What my mom doesn’t know is that I didn’t find out from her that you’re my dad.”

  “What!” Janae shrieked, in astonishment. “Michaela! What do you mean you didn’t find out from me?”

  Janae looked from me to our daughter, just as confused as I was.

  “Cadence told me a while ago,” she confessed. Then she reverted her attention back to me to let me know who Cadence was. “Cadence is my favorite cousin, and we talk about a buncha stuff.”

  “But that kinda stuff, Michaela! You never told me that!” Janae yelled. “Don’t you think you should’ve said something about that? And Cadence…! Oh my God!”

  I wanted to tell Janae to calm down and to not yell at her, but it wasn’t my place…yet. I was just as stunned as she was. I didn’t know what the hell to say, but I think the look on my face said it all because Janae addressed me next.

  “Cadence is Jacob’s daughter. She’s fifteen and she babysits for me a lot. I’m pissed. I’m officially pissed.”

  “Don’t be mad at Cadence, Mom. We both hear a lot. She heard Uncle Jacob and Grandma talking about it a few times in grown people code. They were talking about it because Grandma wanted to know why uncle and Rush weren’t friends anymore. She wanted to know if it had to do with me and him being my daddy. And then Cadence said that she was curious so she Googled Rush’s name and that it was just like mine—Hunter Michael. Just because we’re kids doesn’t mean we’re dumb.”

  “I never said you were dumb, baby. It’s just that I’m confused about why you never said anything to Mommy,” Janae expressed, on the verge of tears.

  Michaela abandoned her seat and walked to her mother. “I’m sorry, Mama. I don’t want you to cry. I really don’t. I was gonna tell you. She only told me not too long ago. She said that she heard Grandma and uncle yelling about it a lot.”

  “So, are you telling me everything about what Cadence heard, then?” Janae asked, rubbing her hand along Michaela’s back. “Because if there’s more now is the time to tell me.”

  I already knew where Janae was going with her interrogation and I was becoming more and more uncomfortable by the minute. I was hoping that it was the extent of what was said, because if not
, it could pose a potential threat to anything I had planned as far as a relationship between Michaela and myself. I was on pins and needles awaiting her response.

  “Michaela…?” Janae gently nudged, after moments of silence. “Baby…?”

  “Michaela, it’s okay. Is it something to do with me?” I asked, surprised that I’d finally found my voice.

  “Rush’s dad doesn’t like black people, so he paid you to keep me from his family. Cadence said that her mom’s family is like that too and stopped talking to her mom when she had a baby with Uncle Jacob.”

  “Oh my God,” Janae gasped, before pulling Michaela’s small frame close to her chest, and smothering her with kisses and a tighter hug.

  And me…well, I sat there seeing red. I couldn’t believe that I was in a place where I was going to have to explain to someone who was a part of me that I’d love her no matter what.

  What the fuck?!

  How was I ever to even hold Janae in contempt for doing what she did? At this point, I absolutely could not. I was in utter shock, and disgust. There was a trickledown effect starting with my father and that had reached the ears of my child. My heart was breaking, and quite honestly I was feeling regret for not beating the shit out of my father when I had him in my face. If there was any time in his life where he deserved to have his ass mauled to the fucking ground, it was now.

  “Why didn’t you tell me, baby?” Janae cried. “Why?”

  “I don’t know,” Michaela responded. “I didn’t wanna get Cadence in trouble.”

  “Nobody’s in trouble. I promise. I just hate that you had to hear anything like that.”

  I chimed in. “I do too, Michaela. I’m very sorry. And I promise you that if you give me a chance to be in your life, you won’t ever have my father to deal with. I would never have anyone around you who could bring you harm or make you feel bad. You don’t know me yet, but I protect the people I care about. You’re one of those people.”

  Michaela smiled at her mother, and I could see her little frame relax from the state that she had sunk to. She felt more comfortable, and that mattered to me. I was happy that she trusted me enough to believe what I’d said to her.