Open Door Marriage

by Kai, Naleighna

  Katie flushed bright red. “Yeah, okay.”

  “Katie!”

  “Hold up,” she said, pulling something out of her attaché case. “They didn’t kick Tiger Woods to the curb, so you’ll be fine.” She flipped to a page of handwritten notes. “Sprite hasn’t said anything, and we’re getting close to off-season. The execs can let the current commercials play out. By the time the season starts again, this will all be forgotten.”

  Dallas leaned back in the seat and waited.

  “Spalding’s not shaking you down either.” She flipped to another page. “Avery autographed basketballs are going for three hundred dollars on eBay. People who collect sports memorabilia are keeping your name at the top of the list.”

  “Okay, so it sounds like we might lose McDonald’s,” he said. “You could’ve told me that over the phone.”

  Katie looked away and focused on the group of women who had their undivided attention on Dallas. “I wanted to talk to you about something else,” she said. “Your lifestyle—” Katie held up a hand when he opened his mouth. “Your former lifestyle,” she corrected, “might pose a problem when we try to negotiate new contracts or when it’s time to renew old ones. I have a feeling that with everything going on lately, endorsement contracts will get a little tighter on moral clauses. And that would mean that they’ll close their wallets and walk away from any kind of relationship that offends the moral majority.”

  Dallas pushed his plate to the side. He realized exactly what she was saying. The league became more concerned about its image since it had taken a beating following the Pacers-Pistons brawl, infamously named the Malice in the Palace. That game, which started between two players after a blatant foul, spilled into the stands, and eventually led to a few fan and player arrests, as well as nine players being suspended without pay for a total of 146 games and the loss of about eleven million dollars.

  “So what I’m saying is keep your dick in your pants when it comes to other women—or be a hell of a lot more discreet than your boys Tiger and Kobe.” She made headway on her meal. “If you stay with Alicia, you should marry her to get everyone off your back.”

  “You don’t think I’ve tried?” he snapped.

  Katie frowned and gave him a questioning look.

  “To get Alicia to marry me.”

  “Seriously?”

  “She says she’s done her time.” Dallas growled. “She sees being married as a prison sentence.”

  “Aw, Dallas!” Katie said, placing her hand on top of his. “Is that what she said?”

  “No, but that’s what she meant.” And that still hurt like hell.

  He had shown Alicia, time and again, how much she meant to him. She loved the new house; she was even reluctant to furnish it because she enjoyed the beauty of their sparse surroundings.

  “Dallas, you know I’ve been with you since day one ...” Katie said, halting when the waitress brought dessert.

  He nodded, bracing himself and hoping she didn’t say something that hit too close to home. The waitress smiled and left the table then Katie continued with, “What is it about this particular woman that’s so special?”

  Dallas pushed back at her solemn tone and expression. “When I look at her, I don’t see age or anything like that. I see class. I see style. I see a woman who has a calm and peace about her that I want for myself. It was easy to get to the love part because we’re not wading through a river of game-playing bullshit like I had to do with other women. Even Tori. Alicia doesn’t want me for my money. Not at all.”

  Katie placed her spoon on the edge of her dish and dabbed a napkin at the corners of her lips. “Speaking of Tori, I received a release from her publicist today. They need you to sign it so that she can appear on some reality show about exes, wives and girlfriends of ballers.”

  Dallas tossed his napkin on the table. “See? This is the Tori that I thought I knew, but I didn’t. Tori never loved me, Katie. It was all about the prestige, all about the money.”

  Katie gave him a sympathetic smile.

  He shook his head. “I’m not signing those releases, and I don’t care about the contracts. If I lose them, I lose them.” He put up a finger, silencing Katie’s protest. “Alicia’s going to be in my life, so fuck ‘em.”

  Katie shook her head. “You realize that this could significantly lessen the amount of money we’re able to rake in. And you’re the one who wants to retire early.”

  He thought about that for a hot minute. “But you know what? Being with Alicia has shown me that there’s more to life than cold hard cash.”

  A few years ago, Dallas would have never believed he would say such a thing. He had thought money was the beginning and end of things. But recently, he had learned that money had paled in comparison to being able to have the things that money couldn’t buy.

  He looked at Katie. “Are you happy?”

  “I married the love of my life.” She smiled at him, showing nothing but pearly whites. “Of course I’m happy.”

  “So, if you had to choose between having your husband or having the money, the cars, the houses, what would you do?”

  She didn’t even blink. “I can make money anytime, but I don’t think I’d ever find anyone as wonderful as Tony.”

  Dallas lifted his glass. “There you go.” His cell rang. “Give me a minute.” He stood and walked away from the table. “Mama, what’s up?”

  “Can you come over?”

  He heard the distress in her tone. “Mama, what’s wrong?”

  “We’ll talk about it when you get here.” She disconnected the call.

  Dallas nearly trotted back to his table. He signaled their waitress, saying, “Check, please!”

  Chapter 35

  10:11 p.m.

  Arlington, Texas

  Dallas walked into his parents’ house, and an eerie feeling hit him. “What’s up, Pops?”

  The man ground his teeth, but he didn’t speak as he kept his gaze on the blank television screen.

  Dallas froze and repeated, “What’s up, Pops?”

  An angry glare was as much as Pops would give him. Dallas peered at the man, wanted to question the sudden animosity, but continued his journey from the den to the living room where his mother sat on the sofa, her bags packed, her purse slung over her shoulder.

  The only thing that came to mind was, Oh, shit. Things just got real.

  “What happened, mom?”

  She slowly raised her head so her red eyes met his. “It’s time for me to leave,” she explained in a voice that was low and gravelly. “It’s time for me to leave this place before he does something stupid and I kill him.”

  “Did he put his hands on you?” Dallas asked, lowering to his knees.

  Her lips pulled into a frown. “He might be dumb, but he’s not stupid.”

  Only then could Dallas relax.

  “Whoremongers!” Pops shouted from the door, causing Dallas to get to his feet.

  “Man, who’re you talking to?” Dallas demanded, squaring his shoulders.

  “Both of you,” John said with an angry gesture toward them.

  “I’m confused.” Dallas looked from Pops to Anna. “What’s with all the name calling?”

  “She told me. She told me everything,” he yelled, shaking a fist at them. “How she’s been getting money all these years from him to take care of you. That what I’ve done was never enough. Even you,” he spat, with a disdainful look at Dallas, “putting that money in her treatment when she was sick.”

  “So you wanted her to die?” Dallas asked.

  Pops shifted his stance so that he was closer to Dallas. “She wouldn’t have died if it was God’s will for her to live.”

  “Then maybe it was God’s will that I did everything I could to make sure my mother’s still alive. I would’ve done the same for you, so get off it!”

  “And that’s what angers him,” Anna said softly from her spot on the sofa. “He hasn’t done anything to deserve your love, and yet, you
still give him respect.” She looked to her husband. “Quality comes through, John, no matter how much you try to shape it into something else. It’s in the genes.” Then she smiled a smile that sent a shiver of alarm through Dallas. “As beautiful and book smart as Carrie is, you can’t find an ounce of common sense in her. That must come from your side of the family.”

  Pops moved forward, his hands balled into fists. Dallas quickly blocked his father’s path. “Hey! Don’t lose your mind up in here.”

  Seconds ticked by while his parents did nothing more than glare at each other.

  “So what happened?” Dallas asked his mother when Pops gained whatever little hold he had on his senses. “Why are you packed?”

  “Tell him, John,” she taunted. “You were man enough to say it to me. Now that he’s here, be man enough to say it to his face.”

  Pops looked up at Dallas. “If you continue to do things that disrespect the Avery name, then you’re not welcome in this house.”

  “So why are you packed?” he asked his mother again.

  “Any place my son isn’t welcome,” she said, “is a place where I’m not welcome either.”

  Dallas shook his head and gestured to his father. “I mean, why isn’t he packed? You shouldn’t have to leave.”

  “I want to leave this place and him behind. I need a fresh start,” she said, with a haughty lift of her chin.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Dallas turned to his father. “I still love you as my Pops, and I’m feeling you on this whole name thing. Maybe you’d be a lot less angry if I wasn’t an Avery anymore. I’ll get with my lawyer and get rid of it as quickly as I can.”

  “She doesn’t have to leave,” John grumbled, turning to make his way from the room. “I’ll go.”

  “It’s what my mother wants to do. The least I can do is make sure you have a roof over your head. If you’re too pissed to take that, then that’s on you.”

  Dallas extended his hand to his mother. “Come on, Mama.”

  Chapter 36

  Sunday, January 27 - 5:32 p.m.

  Dallas stood at the door of the condo he and Alicia had vacated weeks ago, eyeing the man that his former fiancée had thought worthy of her time. Max Eaton, a man who had been Dallas’ nemesis since college days, was as arrogant as they came. He had been cut from the Houston Rockets after underperforming for a couple of seasons. Max was the only player on Katie’s list of potential clients that Dallas asked her to turn down. Thankfully, his agent was loyal to a fault.

  When Alicia and Dallas had walked in fifteen minutes ago, the man’s nearly seven-foot-frame was stretched all out on the sofa as if he owned the joint. He grinned at Dallas, giving him a head nod as a greeting. Before Dallas could get a word out, Alicia yanked him toward the back of the house, so he could get his things.

  Tori bypassed both of them and began serving dinner, but was halted by Max’s angry voice.

  “Hey, I don’t want none that fancy shit,” Max quipped, his golden skin peppered with sweat. “Make me something else.”

  “Right away,” Tori answered and hopped off to do his bidding.

  “And bring me something to drink,” he yelled.

  Seconds later, she appeared with a bottle of Dos Equis. The man didn’t even bother to say ‘thank you.’ He simply snatched it from her hands and peered at it as though it had offended him somehow.

  “This bottle looks dirty. Wipe it off,” Max demanded. Tori used the tip of her blouse to do as he commanded.

  “When did slavery kick in?” Dallas grumbled, which caused Alicia to give him a swift kick to shut him up. Dallas was only too ready to snatch the cornrows off the man’s odd-shaped head. This was still his house!

  Dallas shook off Alicia’s hands, and stood there, watching as Max continued commanding Tori as if she were mere chattel instead of an educated woman.

  Hanging on to his self-control required every ounce of willpower he could muster. After one too many nudges from Alicia, Dallas finally had enough and went toward the guest bedroom. He felt like going postal when he found a few of Max’s clothes in his closet next to his jerseys and suits.

  This fool—who didn’t have two dollars to fold in his wallet, and was in one hell of a bitter divorce battle—had practically moved into a house where Dallas was still footing the bill. “Tori has lost her fucking mind!” he growled and made a mental note to put an end to this as quickly as possible. How the hell had she gotten tangled up with his low class ass in the first place?

  Dallas snatched up the majority of his things, then returned to the dining room just in time to see Max stroke a hand across Tori’s buttocks. She froze and practically shivered with disgust. Dallas gave Max an icy glare. Only then did the man release his hold on Tori’s rear end.

  “So how’re things over in the Mav’s camp?” Max asked, chewing like a cow with a mouthful of cud. “You think y’all gonna hit the playoffs this year?”

  Dallas gave him a comedic lift of his left eyebrow. “We’ve got a better chance than some other teams I could name.” Dallas grinned so Max would know exactly which team he meant. Max’s former team had the same championship history as Dallas’ team.

  “Hey,” Max said to Tori, “get me some hot sauce.”

  “Was that a request?” Dallas snapped. Alicia placed her hand on his arm to calm him down.

  “Aw, man,” Max said, blowing him off with a flick of his scarred hand. “She knows what I mean. A woman should be taking care of her man’s needs. She wasn’t with that program at first,” then his lips lifted in a clever smile, “but she’s learning fast.”

  “Is that what you want?” Dallas asked Tori. “To be his servant?”

  Tori couldn’t even look at him. Instead, she quickly glanced at Max, who gave her a hard look before she scampered into the kitchen.

  She was afraid of him! When did Tori become someone’s mouse?

  “Is that your Maserati parked in my space?” Dallas asked.

  “My brother,” Max said with a shrug. “What’s your problem? You don’t live here anymore, right? Perfect time for a real man to step in.” Max chuckled, cramming in another spoonful. “Can’t believe you fell for that ‘let’s wait for marriage’ shit for a whole year. That’s definitely not how I roll.” He gave another head nod, and it caused Dallas to bristle. “Time’s up tonight and I’m tapping that ass.”

  Alicia glared at Tori, who had just returned and sat a small bottle in front of Max. She avoided her aunt’s gaze, along with everyone else’s.

  Max leaned back in Dallas’ designer dining room chair, rocking in it as though it had wheels as he said, “Bring some of that Royal, too, babe.”

  A stunning silence descended in the room. A vein throbbed at Dallas’ temple, and he closed his eyes against the anger building inside. Tori’s hand was trembling when she returned to the table with Dallas’ celebratory bottle of Chivas Regal Royal Salute. The fifty-year-old blended scotch was in a blue flagon that cost nearly ten grand and was only one of ten bottles that made its way into the United States. Dallas was waiting to break it out when the Mavs won another championship.

  Dallas swiped the bottle before Max could break the seal. “My man, I think it’s time for you to leave.” His tone was so low and deadly, it caused Alicia and Tori to stiffen. “You can reapply for your position as Tori’s man when you learn how to treat a woman.” Dallas said, keeping a solid hold on the flagon. “You act like you were raised in a cave somewhere.”

  “Man, you must be smoking something,” Max said, smacking his lips around a mouthful of food. “This woman sho’ can cook.”

  “I’m going to say it one last time,” Dallas growled. It was all he could do not to sprint toward the man, especially with Alicia’s grip on his arm. “You need to make a hasty exit. Now!”

  “What’s your problem?” Max asked, with a sly grin. “Oh yeah,” he snapped his thick fingers. “You think she still wants your ass.” He shook his head, chuckled and then shrugged. “It’s all good, brother
man. I’ma take real good care of her. Trying to make a nigga wait for marriage and shit. That’s where you went wrong, stud. You have to break them in early. Bitches gotta know their place.”

  Tori went crimson. Alicia’s mouth fell open. Dallas was around the table snatching Max from his seat in the time it took to draw a single breath.

  “Man, get the hell up off me,” Max yelped, struggling to get out of Dallas’ grasp. Dallas had the man pinned to the floor and in a chokehold within seconds.

  “I said get the fuck out of my house!” Dallas boomed.

  Max tried to grab at Dallas’ shirt.

  “Dallas, stop!” Alicia shrieked, trying to reach between the two men and almost tumbling to the ground when they rolled her way. “You’re going to kill him!”

  Dallas released Max. Tori lowered her gaze to the floor.

  “I need to holla at you for a moment,” Max said to Tori, while rubbing his neck.

  “The only ‘holla’ you’ll be doing tonight is from your own address,” Dallas snarled. “Get the fuck out!”

  “You didn’t tell him what’s up?” Max yelled at Tori while scrambling to get up from the floor. “I live up in this joint now.”

  Dallas flexed, and Max grabbed his leather jacket, then beat a hasty retreat to the door without even looking back. When he slammed the door behind him, Dallas focused on Tori. “Is that what you’re about now? Some low-life thug?”

  “He isn’t a thug,” she whispered, covering an arm that was beginning to show signs of bruising.

  A new wave of concern washed through him. “I know more about him than you ever will,” Dallas said, barely hanging on to his temper. “You wouldn’t let me come get my shit, but you let him put his shit next to my clothes? And he’s drinking my liquor, too? My best liquor? Tori you have lost your fucking mind if you thought that was going to fly.”

  “He doesn’t normally act like that,” she said so softly, they could barely hear her. “It was worse tonight.”

  “So this is how you’re rolling now?” Dallas said to her. “Is this what you really want?”