by Skyy
He got up, and I watched his sexy chocolate ass go into the bathroom. When I heard the water running, I had a teenage fit in his bed. It was one of those fits of excitement, though I held in my squeals. I had settled for too long, and the past few years with Chez had been so unhappy. Now that time was over. I wanted more than ever to be divorced, so I could move on with my life.
I closed my eyes and dozed off. The smell of food woke me, and I got my lazy ass up and went in shower. After showering, I put on the robe that was hanging on the door, and I headed downstairs. To my pleasant surprise, there was a spread of food on the island. Waffles, omelets, sausage, bacon, fruit, and carafes of cranberry juice and orange juice.
“Have a seat, baby.”
“You cooked all this? Chez never cooked for me. No, wait. Once, for my birthday. He called himself serving me breakfast in bed, but he ate all of it before I came out of the bathroom.” I laughed to myself. Chez was definitely a zero compared to this lovemaking hero in an apron, who had prepared breakfast for me.
“Well, let’s not talk about our exes. It’s about me and you,” he said and leaned in to kiss me.
I sat at the island, and a couple of minutes later he joined me there. We ate and chatted, and then I headed home to change. He headed to work.
* * *
Hours later I showed up with lunch for him. When I was leaving, I ran into Chez, the last face I wanted to see.
“Lynn,” he called out.
“Chez,” I replied.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to, um . . .” While I hesitated, Will ran out with my keys.
“Baby, you forgot these,” he said, and then I figured he noticed Chez.
“Baby?” Chez’s brows furrowed. “What’s going on, Lynn?”
“Chez, this is Will. Will—”
Chez cut me off. “I know who he is. How do you know him?” he asked in his baritone voice deeping.
“Baby, I’ll call you later,” I said to Will and took my keys. He gave me a nod and then gave me and Chez some privacy. “Listen, I came by here with your boxes the other day, and Will helped me out, and now . . .”
“What now? You’re fucking him?”
“Hold on, Chez. Don’t even.”
“Don’t even what? I’m calling it like I see it.”
“You know what? I don’t owe you shit, a’ight. Not even an explanation. You and I are done, so boom. I’ll see you later.” I walked away.
He yelled after me. “Lynn, get your ass back over here!”
I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. “Who in the hell do you think you are talking to, Chester? You cannot possibly be concerned with what or who I’m doing, so don’t pretend to care.”
“Fine. I knew you were hoeing around.”
I laughed. “Think what you wanna think. Good day, Chez.”
I hurried to my SUV and pulled away. A few moments later, my phone started to ring nonstop. It was Chez.
Damn!
* * *
I stood in the mirror, thinking and admiring myself at the same time. I was not the average woman, but I had a lot going for me, and I didn’t mean this in a conceited way at all. I knew my eyes, my high cheekbones, and my winning smile were my best features. I had always been told I was beautiful, gorgeous, and pretty, even breathtaking. Back before the pounds, I’d had to fight men off with a stick, and then I’d met Chez. In the beginning he’d told me how perfect I was and that I was his type and an ideal mate. He’d said I possessed the look and the heart of the woman he knew he’d one day marry.
He wasn’t a spontaneous romantic guy, but he had had his moments when he made me feel so special. Not long after the marriage had started, however, was when it all stopped. The compliments, the sex, the dinner dates, and the lazy afternoons on the couch, watching movies all day. We’d enjoyed pool, cards, dominos, and sports, but that had been just like two friends hanging out and doing something fun, not a husband and wife thing. There’d been nothing intimate or romantic about it. He’d been away most of the time because he was a pilot, and I’d known that us being apart a lot came with the territory, but I had thought he’d be happy to be home when he was, but that hadn’t been the case.
In my opinion, everything but me had made him happy. Sports, video games, the news, movies he knew I didn’t want to watch, just everything but me. We used to go out, but then we’d turned into an “order in” couple. I’d asked him tons of times if it was my weight, he had assured me it wasn’t, but I hadn’t believed him. I still didn’t know. It was too late even to begin to think about it anymore.
I got up from my seat at the vanity. “It’s done,” I said out loud, and then the doorbell rang.
I looked at the digital clock on my nightstand and wondered why Will was so early. I didn’t expect him for another hour.
My hair and my makeup were done, but I was still in my underwear. I grabbed my robe, slipped it on, and hurried downstairs. I did a quick peek through the peephole and saw it was Chez. “What in the hell is he doing here?” I said aloud to myself.
I opened the door. “Can I help you?”
“Hey, can I come in?”
“Yes, but you can’t stay long. I’m expecting someone.”
“Who? William Daniels?” he asked as he took two steps inside and closed the door. “You might as well go up and wash all that paint off your face, because he’s not coming.”
“Excuse me?”
“I had a little chat with him and told him that he needed to stay away.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did,” he said with a smirk on his face. “You and I are still married, and I don’t think it’s wise for my wife to be galloping around town with another man.”
“Chez, please. You know you couldn’t care less who I’m with. What? You’re jealous? No, no. Did you realize you love me and want me? Oh, no. Do you want to, all of a sudden, work this out? What . . . ? Tell me, Chez. Why, after all the no love you’ve shown me over the years, would you care for a moment who I see?”
His jaw tightened, and I was really confused at that moment. He knew he wasn’t in love with me, and I knew he knew we were a done deal.
“I’ve told you over and over again that I love you, Lynn.”
“Yes, that’s what your lips have said a hundred times over, but you don’t treat me like a wife, Chez. We fell into this friend mode, baby, and it wasn’t me, because I tried everything I could to turn you on, to put some fire in this cold ass marriage, but you didn’t want me, Chez. So please don’t try to sabotage things with Will and me. He’s not you, and he treats me like a woman. I feel alive with him, and I’m not going to stop seeing him, so please stay out of it. I’m sure you’ll be flying the friendly skies in a day or so, so just act like you have no idea what I’m doing and who I’m doing it with. I’m over you, Chez.”
He stood there, looking at me, with no words. His eyes glossed over. “That fast, huh?”
My brows vaulted. I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean, Chez?”
“We broke up a minute ago, and already . . .” He paused. “Already you’re seeing someone new.”
“We physically parted long before that. It’s been days, weeks, months since you checked out of this marriage, so please don’t pretend otherwise. And don’t come up in here acting like you care, Chez, because I know you don’t love me.”
He didn’t speak for a few moments. He just stood there looking at me.
“Chez,” I said.
“I do love you, Lynn, and I’m sorry I couldn’t love you the way you deserve to be loved. Call your friend and talk to him. I’m sure he won’t let me stop him from being with you.” He turned to face the door. He put his hand on the knob and then said, “By the way, you look stunning, and I hope he makes you happy.” He opened the door and left.
“Me too,” I whispered as I closed and locked the door.
I turned to head back upstairs, and then I ran up when I heard my cell phone r
inging. It was Will, so I hurried to answer. “Will, baby, I’m so sorry about Chez.”
“Hello to you too, sweetheart.”
I smiled. “Oh, hi,” I gushed. I sat on my chaise. “Listen, baby, please don’t let Chez scare you. He’s all talk. He’s not a threat.”
“I’m not afraid of Chez, Lynn. I don’t scare easily. I’m not concerned with him. I just want to make sure that you’re okay with us. I want to know if you are certain you’re ready to move on, and I need your word that there is nothing between you two anymore. I mean, the last thing I need is to fall for a woman who is on the fence. Is this divorce really happening? Is there a chance that you and your husband will reconcile?”
I heard the urgency in his voice and acknowledged to myself that his questions were legit. I totally understood his position. I took a deep breath and tried to sound as convincing and as honest as I could. “Will, baby, I can guarantee you that there is nothing left to reconcile between Chez and me. We were done long before we split, and I love him, yes, but not the way a woman should love a man she desires or wants to be with. He and I are over, and there is no going back, Will. Chez and I had already decided that even before I met you. This tantrum he’s having right now is because he didn’t expect me to move on so fast, but it has absolutely nothing to do with him wanting me back. You have nothing to worry about. I’m all in.”
“All in?”
“All in. You’ve awakened things inside of me that I’d forgotten existed. Making love to you last night was full of the passion and fire I’ve longed for forever, and this is the road I want to travel on. I mean, you’ve done something to me in a matter of days that neither of my husbands was able to do in years.”
“Husbands?”
“Yes. Chez is my second marriage.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” My brow arched.
“No, no, no, not at all. It’s just a little surprising that two let you get away.”
I laughed. “Yes, they both did, and the ones in between.”
“Well, I plan to be around for a while. So far there isn’t one thing I can say I don’t like about you.”
“Give it a couple more weeks, and then let’s revisit this conversation.”
“What? Really? What are you hiding? What evil ways have you kept hidden from me?”
“None that I know of. How about you come over like we planned and we can talk when you get here?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there soon.”
We hung up, and I went to get dressed.
Chapter Seven
Lynn
My kitchen was a disaster. The demo had started, and I was super excited. Will had assured me that the kitchen would be functioning in two weeks and that he and his guys could knock out the front area in a matter of a weekend. He had an efficient team that seemed loyal, and when I had the final numbers for the project, I was blown away.
“No, Will. This can’t be right. I mean, I know we are, like, involved, but I know this is way too low.”
“Lynn, my guys are doing this for half price for me, as long as we have plenty of beer and wings. I’m not even taking a cut, and a lot of the items you picked out, I did some hunting and got you a better deal. Come on. You still have money to invest in paint, lighting, and furniture for the front, and I heard you talk about a new FIRE AND ICING sign, so this is the damage, baby.”
I looked at the final number, and it was fifteen grand less than I had thought it would be, so I hugged his neck tight. “Baby, I’ll sling a hammer. I will do whatever you need. Just teach me, and I will do it.”
He smiled. “I will. Since my other contract is complete, you and I can work during the day, and my guys can come by in the evenings, when they are done with whatever they are working on.”
“So your crew works for other companies?”
“No, but during their downtime, they do their thing, like home projects or drinking or whatever they want to do during the day. Some of them will be in and out during the day, if they like, but I asked them for evening help, and that’s all I’ve asked for. Half the pay. I can’t ask for much more, but my guys are good, and I promise we’ll have you up and running on time, baby.”
I smiled at him and then gave him a soft kiss. That night I cooked for him. Gave him a bath, a massage, and head all night long. He begged to slide inside of me, but I said, “Baby, tonight it’s all about you.”
He said, “If that’s the deal, open up.”
And I did. I let him have his way. The next day I didn’t want to move. We slept in late, made love again, ate, got it in again, and then met the evening crew and worked.
* * *
That was a week and an half ago, and my kitchen finally looked like a kitchen, and Will and I started on the dining area. Will predicted we’d be done with everything in a couple of days, but that was just positive thinking, I reasoned.
But Will was right. The last two days of the renovation, he made me stay away. I was counting down the minutes to the reveal, and he didn’t let me down.
“Oh, my God, baby. It’s amazing,” I said when I met him at the bakery once the work was complete. “It turned out better than I could have ever imagined.” I was shocked and overjoyed. He had even given the bathroom a face-lift. The place was beautiful. I mean, it was like a dream. “Will, baby,” I said, wiping my eyes. “You did this for me? Baby, this is . . .” I paused. “I’m speechless.”
“You really like it?”
I just wrapped my arms around his neck and decided to let the tears of joy flow. “I love it. You are the sweetest man I’ve met in my life.”
“Am I?”
“Yes,” I said, drying my face. I moved around the space, touching everything. “The purple is just beautiful, and the glass cases are so elegant. Will, I mean . . . How, baby? You’ve outdone yourself. I knew it would be nice, but this is above and beyond what I expected.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Oh, baby, I’m . . . I’m . . .” I stuttered. “Come and let me bake something for you.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. You’ve showed off your skills, so now I want to show off mine, and I’m dying to turn on my new oven.”
“Okay. Lead the way.”
He followed me into the kitchen. It took me a minute to get all the ingredients together for my signature red velvet cake, because everything had a new home, but once I had everything I needed, I fired up my brand-new oven and began to mix all the right things in my mixing bowl to blow his socks off. We normally did red velvet cupcakes, but my man deserved a cake. Once the three layers were in the oven, Will ran to the store two doors down for a bottle of wine. He was back in a flash with the wine, a corkscrew, and two glasses, which I washed with a quickness.
We talked laughed and sipped, and the aroma of red velvet cake graced the entire bakery. He joined me as I made the icing, and I gave him a taste from my finger. His smile was confirmation that it was perfect. Out of the oven to the cooling station went the cake layers, and I cleaned the prep area while we listened to Will’s phone play R & B from Pandora. He showed me a few of his moves, and I took off my apron and slow danced with him to Avant and Keke’s “You & I.” I was falling fast, and I didn’t want to stop. Hell, I wouldn’t know how to if I did want to.
“Time to frost the cake,” I said after he gave me a deep kiss. His lips were so delicious, and I loved kissing him.
“Can I help?”
“Of course.” I took the first layer of three from the cooling rack and put it in place to be frosted. I was excited to use my frosting spinner. I started it, and he laughed.
“So that’s what that’s for,” he noted.
“Yes, and I am so glad to have one now.”
“I bet.”
He stood behind me. I spooned a generous amount of icing on the center and took my spreading spatula and put it in place. I pressed the pedal with my foot to spin the cake, as I held my spatula in place. I smoothed
and he put his finger on the side to remove some of the icing I had added.
“Baby, stop it.... You said you’d help.”
“I did, but I meant that I’d help myself to this delicious frosting,” he quipped.
I laughed at him. “Listen, go refill my glass and sit so I can finish this.”
“As you wish.”
I finished the cake, cut him a slice, handed it to him with a fork, and waited for his reaction.
“Baby, this is the best cake I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
“Don’t lie.”
“No, I’m serious. I’m dying to try all your desserts.”
“Thanks, Will. My place turned out beautiful.”
“You’re welcome.”
We kissed. I wanted him. It was time to go. “Baby, my place or yours? Because I’m ready.”
“Ready for what?” he joked.
“Don’t play. I’m ready to scream.”
“Yours is closer.”
“My place it is.”
Chapter Eight
Lynn
Six months had passed, and we were inseparable. Will was my match, my mate, my heart, my love, my joy, my source of happiness. He was romantic, sensitive, loving, and spontaneous, and he was a beast in the bedroom. He had learned that I was a big, needy baby, and he was okay with that. He was okay with the fact that I required a lot of attention, and he wasn’t afraid or too busy to give it to me. He enjoyed being with me as much as I enjoyed being with him, and we were in love. Well, I figured we were. No one had said it yet. I had come close a zillion times, but I had vowed I’d never say it first to a man again.
“Are you still working?” I asked him on the phone one night. The new project he was working on had him working later and later.
“Yes, baby. I’m so sorry. These city codes and inspectors are slowing this process down completely, but the owners still want us to hit this deadline, and it’s a bunch of weight on your man’s shoulders, babe.”
“I know, Will. I just miss you so much. My bed is starting to be cold.”