Drunk in Love 2: An Original Love Story

by Tiece D Mickens

Three beeps sounded off on her phone indicating that she’d gotten three text messages. She opened up the envelope to see that the first text message was from Zoe.

  Hey Sis. I’ve tried to call you twice already. Now, I’m figuring that your phone is off since you have company. Anyway, I think it would be wise for you to call mom and talk with her. She’s worried sick. I know she works our nerves, but you know she’ll be the first to have our backs. Don’t make her suffer like that. Call her please. Zoe

  Mom always has a way of getting under your skin, Zoe. Olivia thought, feeling like Zoe was always the weakest link. “But, I’ll call her.” She said going to the next message which was also from Zoe. She pressed on the message and started reading it.

  Hey Sis. I wish you’d turn that phone on. Anyways, Mark called. He really misses you and says that you need to call him ASAP. His number is 706-555-6869. I hate what he did to you, but maybe you shouldn’t walk away from your marriage so quickly. Okay well, I love you. Call me when you turn this phone on. Zoe

  “Zoe, when did you become Dr. Phil?” Olivia questioned with a shake of the head. She strolled down to the next message and it was from Zay. It was a bitter, sweet smile on her face as she read it.

  Hey love. I know I’ve only been gone a couple of hours, but I miss you already. I want you to know that whatever you do or don’t do that I’ll always be here for you. We’ve become close for a reason and even if we end up being just friends, I want you to be happy and okay. Call me whenever you’ve had time to clear your thoughts.

  Olivia wiped the tears from her eyes. She was hurt, but she had to set him free so she could take her vows more seriously. If her marriage had a chance at working, she had to at least put in more effort. She strolled back up through her messages, stopping at the one that Zoe had left with Mark’s number. Three seconds later, his phone was ringing.

  __________

  Mark leaned over on the nightstand and picked up his ringing cell phone. He looked at the caller ID not recognizing the number, but he answered it anyway.

  “Hello,” he said in a raspy, heavy tone. Nothing was heard on the other end. “Hello,” Mark spoke again.

  “Uh hey,” Olivia spoke. Instantly hearing his voice caused her stomach to turn. Deep down she loved Mark, but it was so much missing in their relationship. Trust now being at the top of their list.

  Mark was quiet for a moment. He rubbed his eyes like hearing her voice was part of a sick dream. “Hello,” he said.

  “Baby, it’s me.” Olivia said.

  Mark sat straight up in the bed. Just hearing her say baby gave him a glimmer of hope. “Hey baby,” he spoke back, trying to clear his throat. “How are you? I’ve been worried sick.”

  “I’m good. I’ve just been clearing my mind and trying to unravel some things.” Olivia responded.

  “How is that coming along?” Mark asked, hoping that this is when he’d get the good news that she wasn’t leaving him.

  “I’ve come up with only one thing and it’s that I don’t want to give up on our marriage just yet. I mean, I’d like to at least give it a chance.” She said to his surprise.

  “I promise to not let you down. I love you.” He said.

  “Don’t think that things will be like they used to be. Not just yet, because it’s so much that I have to process. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and see where this will lead us.”

  “I understand,” Mark said.

  “I take my vows serious and somehow if our marriage has a chance then I need to put forth an effort to at least try.”

  “I’m glad that you decided that. I won’t let you down.” Mark said.

  “I hope not,” Olivia said. “Whatever happened in the past, we’ll need to leave it there if this is going to work.”

  “I know. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make us work. I just needed to hear that you hadn’t given up on me.”

  “I wanted to, but I can’t.” She said then cleared her throat like she wanted to say more, but didn’t know how to proceed. “Uh,” she said then thought. Fuck it. “You said that you and Felisha only slept together once, right?”

  “Yeah,” Mark lied. He knew that if he was honest his marriage was sure to be over; no ands, if’s or buts about it. “It only happened once. I don’t know what got into me. I don’t believe she even knows what got into her. It just happened. It was quick and it just happened. I can’t apologize enough. I know it was wrong, but if I have to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, I will.” He sincerely said.

  Olivia sat quiet for about a minute before responding. “We’ll both have to make some things up to each other.” She said, feeling bad that she wasn’t the ideal wife herself. “I’ll be home some time tonight.”

  Mark smiled from ear to ear. “I can’t wait to see you,” he said, not caring where she was as long as she’d said that she was returning home. “I’ve been staying in a hotel room, but we can look for an apartment or something quick until we find another house.”

  “Yeah, we’ll think of something.” Olivia responded, having second thoughts and jitters all of a sudden.

  “Baby,” Mark called out. “I know you may not want to hear this, but please call Felisha. Y’all have to talk about this at some point.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready,” Olivia stated.

  “Don’t forget about Lil Romeo.”

  “I haven’t,” Olivia said. She couldn’t forget about him. He was like her baby. She was there when he was born and she’d always made it her business to try and get him on most weekends. He literally looked to her like a second mother. Half the shit he had was because of her and Mark. She felt bad thinking that she’d neglected him because of the foolishness her husband and best friend had started, but it wasn’t his fault that they fucked each other.

  “You there?” Mark questioned since Olivia had gotten quiet.

  “Yeah, I’m here. I was just thinking a little.” She responded with a deep sigh. “Look, I’m gonna get off this phone so I can get my flight booked and head back home. Did you check on the salon?”

  “Honestly I didn’t since calling the first day you were gone and finding out that Mama Jackson had made herself at home inside your office until you returned.

  “Yeah, I heard about it, but Zoe messaged me to remind me so that I’ll call and talk to her.”

  “Are you going to tell them about us, about what happened?” he pondered.

  “I don’t know,” Olivia said. “I don’t’ even want to think about it right now to be honest.”

  “I understand,” Mark said. “Well, handle your business and call me as soon as you make it back here.”

  “I will,” she responded.

  “Hey,” Mark called out. “I love you.”

  “Okay,” Olivia said and with that, she hung up. Just because she’d decided to stay with him didn’t mean it was going to be easy. He had certainly better know that he was going to have to work hard to get back in there good.

  __________

  Mark felt good to know that his wife was returning home. He looked over to the right of him and again felt like shit that this had happened again.

  “So, she’s coming back and I’m once again left alone.” Felisha stated with a roll of the eyes.

  “Please don’t start this shit.” Mark said. “I didn’t know what O’ was going to do. I thought she’d left me for good.”

  “Well, now that she hasn’t.”

  “I’m leaving,” Mark said and quickly got out of Felisha’s bed. “I need to be gone before Lil Romeo wakes up, anyway.” He put his shirt on. “I think you need to make peace with Olivia. She is the majority holder in your nail salon, she looks out for Lil Romeo like he’s her own, and she has been nothing but a good friend to you.” He slipped on his pants. “You should forget about me and what we had. This was the last time. It can’t happen no more.” He slipped on his socks then his shoes.

  “So, it’s like that?” Felisha asked always feeling used by
him.

  “It has always been like this. You just choose to see and feel what you want too, but that doesn’t mean that’s what it is.” He bluntly stated.

  “I don’t know if you’ll get bold and want to tell the full story on our background, but before you do you better think long and hard about what you got and how easily that can be snatched away from you.” He grabbed his wallet and stuffed it in his back pocket.

  “Is that a threat?” Felisha asked with a frown on her face.

  “No, I’m just speaking the truth. Olivia would snatch everything away from you and if she has just a little bit of sympathy; trust me, her mama won’t.” He said in hopes of actually scaring her to keep her mouth sealed. He felt like an ass for allowing himself to go there again with her, but it had happened and now once again he’d suppress those memories like it never happened. He grabbed his keys.

  “So, that’s it? You’re gone?” Felisha asked, sitting up in the bed feeling like a fool.

  “Yeah, we’ll talk later.” Mark said, and with that he quietly made his exit.

  Chapter 11

  The next morning Olivia entered her hotel room. It felt good to be back in the states and most importantly back in Augusta, GA. She’d gotten a room downtown at the Marriot. All she wanted was to shower, get dressed and head out to handle some business. She’d left her salon unexpectedly, putting a strain on a couple of people and she definitely wanted to tie up those loose ends by letting them know that she was back.

  Being that she was still torn about returning at first, she relaxed the remainder of the day in Montego Bay then caught a midnight flight out. She slept most of the flight back home, not wanting to have one single thought of how things might play out once she returned. While slipping out of her pink and black Nike’s, she dialed Mark’s number.

  He quickly answered. “Hey babe, are you back?”

  “Yeah,” she responded, taking off her Nike t-shirt and throwing it in the chair.

  “Are you on your way to the room? I miss you. I wanna see you.” He anxiously asked.

  “About that,” she cut in. “I’m actually in my own room for the moment. I needed to shower and prepare myself for the day. I have to return to the salon and face my employees along with my mom. I know they are probably speculating, especially with the house burning down all over the news. They are gonna want answers and I’m gonna, of course; make up something to keep them out of our business. I can’t very well be too honest.” She said, while turning on the shower water and pulling off her Nike jogging pants.

  Mark instantly felt disappointed. “Will you make time to see me today? I just want to see you.”

  “I’ll make it my business to see you today. However, it will be later today. I don’t need any distractions right now.” She explained. “I hope that you understand.” Mark knew that when his wife was in business mode, that’s just what it was and right now she was definitely in business mode. “I have a lot of things to catch up on.” She added.

  “I understand,” Mark said. He was just happy that she was back. He figured since she was back and would be coming over later that he’d set the tone for the meeting by surprising her with a few things. He got up and headed for the shower as well. Ready to get his day started. “We’ll talk later. Just call me.”

  “I will,” Olivia said as they ended their call.

  __________

  Two hours later, Olivia was pulling up to her salon. She looked across the parking lot to see her mother’s white Range Rover parked up front in her parking space.

  “She’s here,” she said as she pulled up beside her and sat in the car for a moment, getting her thoughts together. Quickly she picked up her cell phone and called Zoe.

  Zoe answered, sounding perky and anxious. “What’s up, Sis?”

  “Heyyyy, you sound happy.” Olivia spoke, ready to be nosey.

  “I just woke up energized.” Zoe explained, feeling very good about herself and her morning.

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m at the boutique,” Zoe answered while folding up some shirts and stacking them on top of one of the display tables.

  “You’re at the store early. You normally don’t go in until around noon.”

  “I’m gonna start coming in early so I can close early.” Zoe said, feeling like she needed to start making a little time to see her new lover.

  “You sure that’s all it is?” Olivia asked now trying to probe. “Have you been getting some dick?”

  “Nooooooo,” Zoe quickly responded. “Why would you ask me that?” She asked, almost sounding embarrassed.

  “I just asked.” Olivia smirked, knowing her sister quite well.

  “Well,” Zoe said, continuing to fold the designer shirts, stacking them on a different display table now. “Have you made it back to Augusta? Have you seen Mark or spoken to Zay? Have you seen Felisha with her grimy ass yet? Hell, you’re the one with the juicy life right now and I wanna hear all about it.” She said with a wide, bright smile on her face.

  Olivia shook her head, taking in a deep breath. She could only handle Zoe in doses at times. Zoe didn’t realize how much she acted like their mother. “To answer your questions nosey, I am back in Augusta. No, I have not seen my husband. No, I have not spoken to Zay. And, no I haven’t found Felisha and stumped a mud hole in her ass… yet” She added.

  “Well,” Zoe smacked her lips. “Ain’t nothing juicy about none of that.” She commented with a turn of the lip like she smelled something stank.

  “Well, if this takes the juice radar up a few notches,” Olivia said with sarcasm. “I’m parked by mom’s Range right now in the salon’s parking lot. It’s time to face the heat.”

  “Oh shit, the juice radar just rose a bit.” Zoe grinned.

  “You think this is funny?” Olivia asked almost like she was teasing, but with a serious pout on her face. “This is my life,” she said, slumping down in the front seat of her car like she was highly confused and still not ready to face the music.

  Zoe popped her lips. “My gracious Sis, calm down. That’s everybody’s life. It’s just different circumstances and situations.” Zoe got distracted as she looked up from hearing the chimer on the boutique’s door sound off, letting her know that someone had entered. She smiled like she was overjoyed to see the person that walked in.

  “What’s up?” Dillon spoke almost in a whisper. As always he looked fresh to death in a plain black pair of Akoo jeans, a black and white Akoo shirt and a new pair of white Air Force One’s. He had that cool, laid back swag about him that morning and it definitely turned Zoe on.

  She held up her index finger then whispered. “Hold up.”

  Dillon nodded, and then started browsing around the store.

  “Zoe,” Olivia called out.

  “Yeah,” Zoe answered, all distracted now as she watched Dillon checking out the items in her boutique. He looked so good standing there with his back almost turned to her.

  “What are you doing? I’m just talking to you and you ain’t saying nothing.” Olivia griped.

  “I’m sorry, Sis.” Zoe said, still smiling just from Dillon being in her presence. “I’m gonna have to hit you back. I’m the only one working this morning and I have a customer that just walked in.”

  “Okaaaay,” Olivia dragged like she didn’t want to hang up.

  “Get it over with, Sis.” Zoe added before hanging up. “You just gotta get it over with.”

  “I know,” Olivia said.

  “O’, I forgot to tell you.”

  “What?” Olivia asked.

  “Welcome back to Georgia!” Zoe said with a cheesy smile on her face.

  “Get off my phone,” Olivia snootily said, and with that they ended their call.

  __________

  Zoe played in her hair a little just in case it was out of place as she walked up on the back of Dillon. “Hey,” she spoke, wrapping her arms around the back of his waist.

  “Hey,” Dillon spoke back, turning to face h
er. His handsome smile did something to her. “I can’t believe you want to hug in public.” He teased, looking around.

  Zoe smacked her teeth. “Ain’t nobody in here, but us.” She said with a light grin.

  “You’re right,” Dillon agreed. “For a minute I thought you were getting mushy on me.”

  Zoe backed up off of him with a playful frown. “Zoe never gets mushy,” she uttered.

  Dillon chuckled. “I hear you.” He walked around the store, browsing the items they sold. Zoe followed him foot to foot like she was looking for his approval.

  “You have it set up really nice in here,” he complimented. “I can see this boutique making you some really good money. The high end gear you sell alone will make you a substantial profit.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been open for a year now and I’m just starting to see it. Like right now, it’s pretty quiet because I usually don’t open until noon. But, since I’ve been in a much better, energized mood, I’ve decided to start coming in earlier.

  “I wonder what has you in this energized mood.” Dillon pondered while walking up on her.

  “It’s not a what, it’s a who,” she said smiling.

  Dillon’s pearly whites glistened, causing her pussy to feel moist. “Well, I wonder who has you in this energized mood. I know it can’t be me, because the way I lay it down you should still be in bed.”

  She laughed, enjoying the tingly feeling that could be felt deep down in her spirits when he’d come around or she’d hear his sexy voice. “You play too much,” she grinned almost falling in his arms as her hands gently wrapped around his waist. He leaned his head down toward her pretty face and kissed her.

  “I am tired for the record, but you make me feel good.” She said. “When I feel good, I feel motivated.” Thoughts instantly surfaced about Dillon staying the night with her, and then completely turning her out. He was definitely a bad boy that did very good things to please her in every way.

  “I see the perks of getting good dick have just climbed the charts,” he teased, smacking her gently on the butt.

  Zoe hit him in the side with a light laugh. “Whatever,” she said as they kissed again.