Checkmate 3: Playtime's Over

by Tiece

  Chapter4

  Monty sat on the back patio at Catherine’s house. He had a blunt in one hand and a glass of Armadale on the rocks in the other. He was heartbroken. MiKayla leaving him was not even as close as bad as Candy leaving him. After all the smoke had cleared he realized that MiKayla was someone he loved, but she wasn’t the one he was in love with. It was definitely something about her that was intriguing. She was sexy, beautiful, independent, and had this mysterious grace about her. It was something about the not knowing that gave him a rush. He couldn’t put a finger on it and that’s what kept him there.

  Candy was his heart. He’d known her forever. He knew what made her smile, what foods she liked to eat, and what things that turned her on. He liked how she would scream out loud during scary movies. She even spoke to the people as if they could hear her. Things like that made him smile to himself. Her loud laughing always tripped him out. She was one of the realest chicks he’d ever met. She was crazy, fun, cool, and most importantly she was loyal.

  It hurt him to know that someone else could possibly take his place once Candy moved on. How could he fathom the thoughts of her wrapped in another man’s arms? He couldn’t. The thought nearly killed him. He sucked in the smoke from his blunt. He held it in as long as he could then he blew it back out, turning up his Armadale. His thoughts still stuck on the woman he loved.

  He picked up the Armadale sitting next to him to pour him another drink. The freshly opened bottle was half empty. He couldn’t believe he had drunk so much. He was sluggish, but didn’t care. He just wanted to forget everything concerning Candy because she was the reason why he was in such a fucked up head space anyway.

  “Damn I miss her,” he said turning up the glass of liquor. He hit the remaining piece of his blunt again then put the roach out. He couldn’t get Candy’s beautiful face out of his mind, but the ringing from his phone helped distract him. He answered.

  “What’s up, Bruh?”

  “Hey dawg, you sound throwed.” Rico commented.

  “I am my man.” He slurred. “I feel pretty good right now, but at the same time I feel like shit.”

  “Damn, Bruh you sound like shit. Do you want me to come over?”

  “Nah, I’m good.” He paused. “I wish Candy would come over though.”

  “Yeah, that may not happen Bruh.”

  “I know, but I miss her already. I don’t know how I’ll get over her.” He slowly shook his head.

  “I know it’s hard, but maybe you have to let go and if she comes back then take that as a good sign and run with it. Just don’t give up.”

  “I’ve already fucked up, man. She ain’t having that shit. The only good thing that has come out of this is that MiKayla’s not pregnant.”

  “What did you just say?”

  “You heard me… She went to the doctor and he told her that she was never pregnant. I don’t think she would make up a pregnancy so I’m not trippin’ on that. I’m trippin’ on all the other unnecessary shit that caused me to be in this fucked up situation right now.

  “Well that’s a relief. Candy should be happy to hear that.” Rico said.

  “That’s the thing. That may make her happy, but the fact of me still messing around with MiKayla behind her back is the thing she’ll hold over my head.”

  “Yeah I feel you,” Rico responded.

  “How are my sister and niece doing?”

  “They’re doing great. We’re blessed man. Our daughter is here and she’s healthy. Who could ask for more?”

  “That’s how I felt when my boy was born. Speaking of my boy; how is your boy?”

  “He’s okay, Bruh. Monica knew what she was talking about, because she said he had an ear infection and he did.”

  “Monica’s not that bad after all, huh?” Monty asked.

  “She’s not when it comes down to my boy. Plus, she’s been acting like a changed person. Reminds me of the Monica back in high school,” Rico reported.

  “Damn just saying that shit sounded funny because that Monica back in high school was the love of my life.” Monty thought about it. “Now my Bruh got a baby by her. Man, life will throw you some unexpected shit.” He slurred.

  “Yeah, it’s crazy as hell. Even when I’m around her I think about that shit.”

  Monty’s mind went back to thinking about Candy. “Aye man, was Candy still there when you left?”

  “By the time I made it back up to the room she and MJ were gone.”

  “Oh,” he commented.

  “She was going home though I know that. Your mama decided that she was gonna stay the night with Mona so I left and came home.” Rico explained. “That’s why I thought you may need some company since you were chilling alone. I know you got a lot on your mind.”

  Monty drank his fifth straight glass of Armadale. “I wouldn’t mind the company, Bruh but its only one person I wanna see right now.”

  “Understood... maybe you need this alone time to gather your thoughts and shit. I’ma get out and hit up a bar or something.”

  “A’ight and be careful out there because it just started raining.”

  “Yeah, I can hear it and it sounds like it’s pouring too.”

  “It is. I’m standing out on the patio watching it come down. Well, I’ll holla at you later. You know where I’ll be.”

  “A’ight, Bruh. Don’t get too fucked up.”

  “It’s too late for that.” Monty stated and they ended the call.

  Monty wanted to smoke another one, but couldn’t think of where the cigarillo was. His plans were to get so fucked up that he would numb any feelings he ever had for Candy. He knew this would work, but only for the time being. He thought about it for a moment then remembered that the cigarillo was still in his Tahoe.

  “Damn I’ma have to run out there in the rain.” He said, but he didn’t really care. All he wanted to do was get fucked up. He grabbed the umbrella which sat by the front door but then decided that he didn’t need it.

  “I’ll just take a run for it.” He said. He ran outside, getting quickly soaked, and jumped inside his vehicle. He felt over on the passenger seat and picked up the cigarillo. The rain seemed to pour harder as he attempted to exit his vehicle. He sat there waiting for the moment that the rain would slow down some before he made a run for it.

  **********

  Candy turned into Catherine’s long driveway that led up to her house. The sky was lit from the full moon and the rain was pouring, but all Candy could think about was Monty. She was hoping that he wasn’t home because she wasn’t planning on staying.

  It looks like his whip is home, she thought.

  Monty looked in his rearview mirror and saw the lights from a car creeping up in his driveway. Who the hell could this be? He thought.

  Candy stopped her car almost directly behind Monty’s vehicle. Damn I hope he’s with Rico. She thought.

  Monty noticed that the car was Candy’s as he looked through his rearview mirror. “Why is she over here?” He asked, confused a bit. “Maybe she wants to talk now.” It really didn’t matter at that point why she was there because all he wanted to do was see her.

  Candy sat impatiently inside the car, hoping for the rain to slow up, but the rain poured harder. “Damn, maybe I should make a run for it. All I need is to get my baby’s medicine and leave.” She said opening her car door. She stepped out as her feet hit the soggy grass and she ran as fast as she could up to the front porch. The rain had soaked her just that quickly. She felt under the rug for the key.

  Monty watched her enter the house. He wanted to get out and talk to her. Maybe he could say something, anything that would make her feel better about believing in them. He wasn’t ready to give up on their family. He knew that whatever he said or did had to be on point or this might’ve been his last chance to win her back.

  Candy immediately made her way down the hallway. A beam of light from the full moon outside shined dimly through the windows of each room she passed making it easier for her t
o see without hitting the light switch. If Monty was home maybe he was sleep, but if that was the case she didn’t want to wake him. She knew that she was still weak for him, always had been and if he showed his face no telling what would happen. She was very vulnerable and the weather wasn’t making it any better. She made it to Catherine’s room and grabbed MJ’s medicine off of her dresser and quickly turned to leave.

  Monty stepped inside the house; his body dripping water from the rain. He immediately took off his shirt and started down the hallway in search of Candy. He wanted to call out her name, but he didn’t want her jumping into defense mode from just the sound of his voice. He stopped quickly in his tracks as she appeared directly in front of him.

  “Damn,” she whispered. The mere sight of his muscular frame standing there gave her chills.

  “It’s now or never,” he whispered as he stared at her. Both took steps toward each other at the same time. Monty’s heart was thumping from the unexpected and Candy’s heart was trembling from the anxiety of trying to get pass him without stopping. Candy attempted to ease by him swiftly but he lightly grabbed her arm pulling her close to his damp body. He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt no need to fight it and rested her head on his warm chest. It was a bitter sweet moment for the both of them as they stood there in silence, arms wrapped around each other.

  Candy had held back the tears long enough and before she knew it they were streaming down her face. She was still beyond hurt, but the same man who hurt her was the same man she needed comforting from.

  Monty held her close to him not wanting to let go. She was someone in his life who he wanted to always keep around. He didn’t know how long this moment would last, but he was going to cherish it for as long as it did. He kissed her lightly in the top of her head trying his best to soothe her tears and her broken heart. He was very sorry for what he’d done but maybe sorry, this time around, showed up a little too late.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. Candy continued to cry. She knew in her heart that he was sorry, but this time she didn’t have to forgive him as easily as she had done in the past. She backed up a little, drying her tears.

  “I have to go.” She said. “I only stopped by to get MJ’s medicine.”

  “Is he in the car?”

  “No, I stopped by the house since Dee had made it home. She missed him and wanted to get him ready for bed.”

  “Oh ok,” he said as she attempted to walk past him. “Please, don’t go.”

  “Monty,” she said as her knees buckled at the sincerity in his voice.

  “Please baby… I know I fucked up. I’m sorry.” He pressed his forehead gently up against hers, staring in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” He whispered then kissed her lightly on the lips. Temptation never felt this good in Candy’s life as she reluctantly gave in. The smell of alcohol on his breath gave her an insight about the mood he was in. The sad thing is that it turned her on more to know that he was truly regretting the pain he’d caused her.

  Monty palmed her ass walking her back to the guest bedroom.

  “I need you.” He passionately kissed her around the neck laying her back on the bed. “I need you.” His intoxicating state was enticing to her as he took total control. She knew that the morning would bring a totally different set of feelings, but she was for sure moving on this time.

  Monty was determined to leave his mark, because deep in his heart he knew that once this was over no telling when he’d get the chance to ever be this close to her again.

  **********

  Rico went to Rinehart’s on Washington road and sat at the bar. He ordered Svedka and a splash of cranberry juice. He turned his mixed drink up and thought about Mona and Caylin. They were now two of the most important people in the world to him. He knew he was no saint but all he wanted is for Mona and the baby to be happy.

  He turned up his drink and ordered another one. Thoughts of Monica and Aiden crossed his mind. He loved Aiden with all his heart and soul, but he could never see himself being with Monica like that. She was a sweet person now but he couldn’t forget how she had scarred and tricked him in the beginning. The funny thing was that he really had begun to like her as a person. She was funny and treated him kindly. He never thought in a million years that he would have this type of connection with her, but now he do. Aiden would always have something to do with them being cordial to one another, but he didn’t want to take it any further than that. The honest truth was that he wanted to keep fucking her as long as she let him in hopes that Mona would never find out.

  That would be great, he thought. He knew that somewhere down the line there might be consequences but right now he was just going to have to take his chances. That night with Monica made him want to see more of her and he was going to continue it as long as he could get away with it.

  He sipped out of his glass and felt a tap on his right shoulder. He looked back and it was Karen. He smiled at her sexy ass.

  “What’s up?” He asked her as she sat next to him on the empty bar stool.

  “Last time I saw you, you stood me up.” She grinned.

  “It wasn’t like that. I just had some unexpected shit that came up.” He responded.

  “Well it must mean something for me to have seen you twice in one week. What do you think?” She asked.

  “I think you could be on to something.” He grinned turning up his drink. He couldn’t help but get a good look at her ass because it hung off the sides of the bar stool. She had a big fat juicy booty and he loved it. Karen ordered her a Gin on the rocks.

  “Damn girl, you tryna get fucked up?”

  “Yeah, you can say that. I had a long day and want nothing more than to relax.” She responded.

  “I feel you. My day was pretty long too.”

  “Oh yeah… what happened today that’s got you in here taking a load off?” She asked.

  “For starters my fiancé gave birth to our daughter and my two month old son has an ear infection. I needed this down time.”

  “No wonder.” She responded. “Dang, look at you Mr. Daddy with your little ones,” Karen teased. “You didn’t have any children when we were kicking it. Now you have two and apparently by two different women.”

  “I know, but a lot of things can happen in so little time.”

  “Yeah, you’re right about that. Just like you saying your fiancé. What’s up with that?” She questioned.

  “Yeah, I’m engaged to your ex’s sister.” He taunted.

  Karen thought about it for a moment. “You’re engaged to Mona?”

  “Yep,” he said with pride.

  “Damn, it’s a small world. I didn’t know that y’all were kicking it, let alone like that.”

  “Now you know,” he said feeling himself from the drinks he kept turning up.

  “Hush with your silly self,” she teased. She turned up her Gin on the rocks and asked for another one followed by another one.

  “A’ight, you betta slow your roll. Don’t try to hang with the big dogs, because you might find your ass running back on the porch.”

  Karen laughed. “Nigga obviously you don’t know me that well, because I can certainly handle my own.” She turned up her fourth Gin on the rocks. “See, I’m done now because I also know my limits.”

  Rico laughed. “You crazy girl,” he said. She admired his laid back swag. He had on a black Rocawear long john with a white tee underneath it and a pair of black Rocawear jeans. His black and white Timberland boots looked good with his outfit and she loved it.

  She smiled at him. “You know you are one good looking man.” She candidly said. “I ain’t gon’ lie; I had really started to like you.”

  “Girl stop,” he responded. “Your ass just feeling that alcohol.”

  “No, I’m for real.”

  “What about my boy? He used to be up in your bed before I did.” He said.

  “Monty,” she said with a smile. “I can’t lie; I really liked him too, but he left a sister hanging. Wha
t was I supposed to do? You couldn’t have started coming around at a more perfect time. I needed everything you were giving me.”

  “Is that right?” Rico nonchalantly asked.

  “Yep it sure is.” She said. She could sense that Rico was a little pre-occupied. “Is everything good with you?” She asked

  “Things couldn’t be better. I feel pretty good.” He said. “Aye when the last time you talked to Big Bruce’s punk ass?”

  “I don’t fuck with him. I don’t even allow our son to visit him. That nigga tried to kill me.” She said.