Brick groaned and said, “Come on, Baron. Let’s go to school, man.” He told himself that from now on, he’d have to keep an emergency change of clothing in the car for his son.
After getting Little Baron strapped in the back seat, he noticed a late-model, light-blue car pull up across the street. The car moved shortly after he pulled off and proceeded to tail him to the expressway. Though the driver stayed three or four car lengths behind, Brick was certain he was being followed.
He wondered if he was being followed by someone working for Jacob Mendelsohn. Had the man’s wife taken a turn for the worse, causing him to want to seek revenge on Misty? Fucking around with Misty always brought chaos into Brick’s life. He bitterly recalled how his face had gotten carved up by a ruthless drug dealer back when he and Misty were teens. Misty had screwed the drug dealer over, going on shopping sprees with his money, but Brick had been the one to pay the cost. Having his face disfigured had turned him into a monster that people pointed at, and his reckless behavior had been a reflection of shame and self-loathing.
Thomasina had given him back his confidence; for that, he’d always have love for her.
Glancing in his rearview mirror, he could no longer see the blue car. Maybe he’d overreacted. With all the supernatural occurrences he’d witnessed with his own eyes, there wasn’t any wonder that he was edgy and somewhat paranoid.
The only drawback to his son attending school in Society Hill was the horrendous parking situation in that area. Forced to park several blocks away from the school, he cursed when he realized he didn’t have any change for the parking meter. Running super late, he had no choice but to lift Little Baron in his arms and speed walk to their destination. When they neared the school, he lowered his son to the ground and held his hand as they entered the building. The moment they arrived in his classroom, Little Baron let go of his father’s hand and scampered off with his classmates.
It was a joy to see his boy fitting in and enjoying the new environment. With all her faults and flaws, Misty made a good call when she suggested enrolling Little Baron in an exclusive nursery school.
With less than fifteen minutes to drive to work in the crawling, downtown traffic, Brick hustled back to his car. He was braced to see a ticket plastered across his windshield, but was totally unprepared for a sight that was so glorious and so surprising, he let out a shocked gasp.
The mysterious blue car was parked behind his, and standing outside the car was Anya, and her whole face lit up when she saw Brick. Fearing that his eyes were deceiving him, Brick rushed forward, arms extended, his groping hands anxious to touch and hold her. It was a dream come true when seconds later, Anya was in his arms.
“Baby, baby, baby! It’s so good to see you. I thought you were in Trinidad,” Brick said in a rush of words as he squeezed her tight.
“There wasn’t anything for me in Trinidad, and so I went back to Indiana, but that’s a long story. I know you told me to stay away, but I was in Philly, and I needed to see you before I left town.”
“Did you find your pops?”
Anya shook her head. “He’s dead. All my searching was in vain; he passed away from cancer a few years ago.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and Brick held her closer, rubbing her back as he comforted her. She wiped her eyes, and attempting to lighten the mood, she said, “I saw you with your son. He’s getting big; he’s handsome, and looks exactly like you.”
“That’s my little man,” Brick said proudly. He glanced down at his watch and realized he’d never make it to work on time. Fuck it, I’m calling in sick today.
“I didn’t know if you were locked up or not and I asked the private investigator who looked into my father’s situation to get me an address for you. I’m sorry if I seem like a stalker lurking outside your house and following you to your son’s school, but I was desperate to see you once more.”
“It’s okay. My wife and I aren’t together anymore.”
“You’re not?”
“No, we’re in the middle of a divorce. I have my own place. I stop by her crib in the morning to take my son to school.”
“What happened with Misty? Did she pull through?”
“Misty’s doing fine. Came out of the coma. Her story is so incredible, you’re not even gonna believe it.” Brick looked around as if suddenly noticing the passersby that were briskly walking up and down the sidewalk, and having to navigate around him and Anya. “I’m skipping work today, so let’s get out of here. I’ll tell you everything over coffee and breakfast. There’s a place I like that’s not too far from here.”
“Why don’t we go back to your place? I’d love to cook you breakfast. For old time’s sake,” she added with a bright smile.
• • •
Sitting on a kitchen stool, Brick couldn’t take his eyes off Anya as she bustled around the kitchen. “This can’t be real. I know my ass is dreaming, and I’m gonna be mad as fuck when the alarm clock wakes me up,” Brick said, grinning at her.
Anya returned the smile and then her expression went serious. “What’s going on with Misty? Is she able to communicate? Is she in a rehab facility?”
Brick inhaled deeply. “Man, I don’t even know where to start. Well, first of all, yes, she can communicate and, no, she’s not in a facility.”
“Where is she?”
“She was living here for a hot minute.”
“You’re kidding.”
“She had nurses taking care of her. But anyway, let me back up and tell you how it all went down. When she came out of the coma, I was so relieved that she was all right, my feelings got confused and the two of us sort of hooked up again.”
“Hooked up? In her condition?”
“It wasn’t about a sexual relationship. I was prepared to commit to her unconditionally, you know. Then weird shit started happening.”
“Like what?”
“First of all, she developed the ability to read people soon after coming out of the coma.”
“I’ve heard of people emerging from comas with new abilities.”
“It freaked me out.”
“I can imagine.”
“The way it worked with Misty…well, if she touched someone’s hand, she could see scenes from that person’s past and future.”
“Wow,” Anya said incredulously.
“There was a big write-up about her in the newspaper and people started sending her donations. Long story short, a dude from a rich family paid for cosmetic surgery to fix her face. After her surgery, we moved in this place together. Shortly after that, she had dental surgery, and when she came out of anesthesia, she had another ability.”
Anya raised her brows in curiosity.
“She was able to lay hands on her paralyzed arms and legs and suddenly she could walk.”
“Brick, that sounds impossible. Do you think she was faking her paralysis the whole time?”
“No. She had a severe spinal cord injury. As strange as it sounds, it’s true. Misty is making a killing healing rich folks. I work with her as her part-time bodyguard, and I’ve seen the miracles she can perform with my own eyes.”
“Okay,” Anya said doubtfully. “So, did you two end your relationship on good terms?”
“Kinda, sorta. We had some bumps in the road, but we see eye to eye now.”
With her back to Brick, Anya flipped pancakes and scrambled eggs in a frying pan. “I was in a relationship also. With a drug dealer. He got killed,” she said softly, leaving it at that. The pain was too raw for her to provide details, and Brick didn’t push.
Brick walked up behind her and embraced her from behind. “I’m sorry to hear that, babe, but on the bright side, I’m happy to have you here with me.”
Anya turned around and faced him. “His name was Sergio Travares, and although I had strong feelings for him and despite the fact that I miss him so much, I have to admit, that I never stopped loving you, Brick.”
“I feel the same way, and I realize I was foolish to let you go. But I thou
ght I was gonna get locked up, and I honestly believed that I was doing what was best for you.”
“Things worked out the way they were supposed to. If we were together when Misty woke up, what would have happened between us?”
“It’s hard to say.”
“I think you know the answer, Brick, and that’s why we had to go our separate ways.”
“But things are different now. Misty and I are over. Nothing more than business associates.”
“I believe you. I know you wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“You mentioned that you were only passing through Philly. Where are you going?”
Anya shrugged. “No idea. I’m gonna travel for a while, and maybe one day I’ll find a place to settle down in—a place to call home.”
“Home is right here with me, baby. If you give me another chance, I swear, I’ll never let you down again.”
Anya didn’t respond, at least not with words. She lifted her chin, offering him her lips, and Brick delicately pressed his lips against hers. The sexual chemistry between Anya and him had always been powerful, and he should have been prepared for the jolt of passion that shot through him, and the immediate hardening in his groin, but he wasn’t.
Not wanting to appear that he was trying to rush her into something she wasn’t ready for, he pulled away. “Is the grub ready, yet?”
“The food can wait, but I can’t,” Anya said, turning off the burners and covering the pots and pans.
CHAPTER 39
After a barrage of voicemails and text messages from her former nurse, Audrey, Misty finally allowed the desperate woman to visit her at the hotel. With David and the hunky bellhop taking care of her sexual needs, she didn’t have any use for Audrey, and she made it clear to the nurse that there’d be no lesbo action between them in the future. If she wanted to massage Misty’s feet or rub down her back, that was fine, but no more cat-licking. Misty had lost her desire for girl-on-girl activities. She’d only used Audrey when she was in a sex-bind, but she had plenty of good dick at her disposal, now.
“Hey, Four-Eyes, long time, no see,” Misty taunted when Audrey entered her suite. Audrey ducked her head down, self-consciously, and when she recovered from the slur, she began showering Misty with compliments.
“You look more beautiful than ever,” Audrey said worshipfully.
“I know, right. I was looking in the mirror this morning and thought to myself that I get prettier and prettier every day,” Misty bragged, flipping her wavy hair.
“I missed you, Misty. Why’d you make me stay away? I did everything you ever asked me to do. I don’t understand what I did wrong.”
Misty sucked her teeth. “If you get all mushy on me, you’re gonna have to leave. I was nice enough to let you come visit me, so don’t start whining and acting ungrateful,” Misty scolded.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful,” Audrey said, her face composed in humble contrition. Then her expression brightened, and her eyes scanned Misty from head to toe. “That blue nail polish looks good on your pretty feet.”
“Well, that shows that you don’t have any taste whatsoever,” Misty said contemptuously. “I hate this polish and plan on getting a different color later on today.”
“You’re right; that’s not your color at all. Do you want me to paint your nails for you?”
“No, I don’t have time for that right now. One of my fans—a dude who works here at the hotel, is gonna stop by for a quickie. You can help me get out of these clothes and get ready for him. I want to be naked when he gets here, and I want my body glistening with this handmade, scented lotion I picked up when I was in Mexico.”
“You’ve been to Mexico?” Audrey asked, looking dejected.
“Mexico and Hawaii. Girl, I’m so famous and in such demand, I’ve been traveling all over. I’ll be flying out to Japan soon to spend some time with a new fan,” Misty boasted.
“I wish I could go with you.”
“If you play your cards right and do the things I need you to do, you might get to take a trip with me one of these days. A working trip, of course. You won’t get to sit back and chill; I’ll expect you to take care of me.”
“I love taking care of you.”
“You’ll have to prove your worth.”
“I can start by helping to get you ready for your fan,” Audrey said, swallowing down a knot of jealousy as she followed Misty into the bedroom. Misty sat on the bed as Audrey kneeled down to remove her sandals. Misty stood while the nurse tugged off her tight jeans and top. Misty giggled derisively when the nurse pulled off her panties with trembling hands, her tongue darting out and inadvertently licking her lips.
“What’s wrong, Ms. Peabody? Why’re you shaking and licking your lips? Does seeing my coochie make you nervous and hungry?”
Audrey looked at Misty with a pitiful expression. “I miss what we used to have,” she uttered in a squeaky voice.
“Damn, you’re a needy bitch.” Misty flopped down on the edge of the bed and spread her legs wide open. “Come on, and eat some of this pussy, with your dyke-ass self. But remember, I got shit to do, so don’t get too comfortable slurping between my legs.”
Audrey removed her eyeglasses and squatted between Misty’s legs. She worked hard to please Misty, stretching her tongue as far as she could.
Simply for the sake of being spiteful, Misty repeatedly yanked on Audrey’s bang, pulling her head forward and causing the nurse to groan in pain. With each groan, she released a rush of hot breath that warmed Misty’s sensitive pussy in a freaky, new way.
In the midst of receiving oral sex, Misty made a sound of annoyance when a knock came at the door.
Audrey yanked her head up. “Is he here already?”
“Probably so. My fans are always so anxious to get with me.”
Audrey nodded in understanding.
“Go get the door and tell him I’ll be with him in a second.”
“Do I have to leave now that he’s here?” Audrey asked, looking gloomy as she put her glasses back on and tried to smooth down the front of her hair that was sticking out in different directions from all the tugging Misty had done to it.
“You can wait around if you want to.”
“I want to very much,” Audrey said eagerly.
“All right, you can watch TV in the other room while we’re in here smashing.”
“Are you gonna let me finish what I started after your fan leaves?”
Loving the idea of Audrey getting sloppy seconds, Misty gave her a big smile and said, “Absolutely.”
• • •
The bellhop had beat the box up to such a degree, Misty could barely move. All she wanted to do was sleep. And when Audrey came in the bedroom, trying to lick on her tender pussy, Misty berated the nurse, calling her all kinds of perverted names.
“Do you want me to leave?” Audrey asked unhappily.
“Actually, I want you to run an errand for me. I’m sick of this hotel food and I’m weary of the nearby places that deliver. I’m in the mood for an authentic cheesesteak from Jim’s on South Street.”
“What do you want on it?” Audrey asked enthusiastically.
“Extra cheese, fried onions, hot peppers, salt and pepper, and ketchup.”
“Anything to drink?”
“No, I have plenty of juice in the fridge. Now, get a move on. That bellhop wore my ass out and I’m starving.”
“I’ll be as quick as I can. Oh, can you call the steak shop and see if you can place an order for pickup?” Audrey asked.
Misty looked at Audrey as if she’d lost her mind. “I know you don’t expect me to call the steak shop.”
Audrey smiled sheepishly. “No, I don’t know what I was thinking.” She laughed nervously and said, “I’ll call them right now.” After finding the number online, she made the call and inquired about pickup. She hung up and wearing an apologetic smile, she turned to Misty and said, “They don’t take orders over the phone.”
“Two what?”
“Passionate Kisses; it’s the name of a cupcake. All of the bakery items have sexy names; I love the ambience in Scandalicious.”
“A cheesesteak and two sexy cupcakes coming right up for the beautiful lady,” Audrey said in a cheerful voice, seeming to somehow think that Misty’s desire for a cupcake with a provocative name was a reflection of the kind of evening they’d spend together.
Misty rolled her eyes at Audrey. “Would you please stop running your mouth and get your ass moving!”
Audrey pushed her sliding glasses up the bridge of her nose and grabbed her purse before swiftly departing.
A few minutes after she’d gone, Misty’s phone rang. Seeing Gavin’s name on the screen, Misty scowled. Gavin was drinking a lot lately and she had begun to consider him unnecessary to her fast-growing business. She’d gotten a call from Jacob Mendelsohn, telling her that the doctor had given his wife a clean bill of health, and that she was now cancer-free. Thanks to Misty’s magic hands, of course. Mendelsohn wanted her permission to refer her to one of his associates, a wealthy Japanese businessman. With word-of-mouth business from her satisfied clients, she definitely didn’t need Gavin anymore. And it was time to let him know that his services were no longer necessary.
“Hello, Gavin,” she said in a curt tone.
“You lying bitch!” he exploded.
“I beg your fucking pardon!”
“You told me you foresaw a future where Randolph and I ended up together and happy.”
“I did,” she lied.
“Then explain to me why Randolph is back in town. He’s out of the closet, openly gay, and has asked his wife for a divorce.”
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“He’s planning a commitment ceremony with a twenty-one-year-old. A vegetarian, Rollerblading, beach bum he met at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, while he was there trying to find himself.” Gavin spat the words with cold contempt.
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