Choose Wisely

by Michele V. Mitchell

“Sure you can come up. But you know I have to work in the morning,” I reminded him.

  “That’s cool; I have an early meeting in the morning myself,”

  We made our way upstairs to my place. I lived on the second floor. My father always told me and Sandy to find apartments on either the second or third floor. He said; if you get an apartment on the first floor any crazy person could climb through the window. My father was very over protective. I couldn’t blame him. Especially after the way he had lost our mother.

  I opened the door and turned on the lights. I was glad I had straightened up this morning. I normally didn’t clean until Saturday. I told Tyrone to get comfortable while I fixed us some drinks. We decided to order Pizza since all we had ate was movie popcorn. I turned on the television to see if I could find a movie. I got lucky and found my favorite movie on BET.

  I placed the remote on the coffee table and sat next to him. He pulled me closer and put his arm around my neck. It felt so good to be in a man’s arms again. I laid my head on his chest while he played in my hair. He lifted my chin and stared into my eyes.

  “Can I kiss you?” He asked.

  “Yes,” I replied shyly.

  He laid me down and started kissing me passionately. His lips were soft like butter. He then placed his right hand under my shirt and gently caressed my breast. I immediately pushed his hand away.

  “What’s wrong?” I sat up and fixed my hair.

  “I like you. But I’m not ready for sex just yet,”

  He rubbed his head and picked up his glass from the table.

  “Baby if you’re not ready it’s okay. I can wait until you are,”

  I was about to respond when I heard my doorbell. He handed me the money to pay the delivery guy. I sat the pizza on the table and we dug in. We ate in silence and watched the rest of Love & Basketball. We both must have been tired because when my alarm went off. I woke up in his arms and it was daylight.

  I removed his arm from around my shoulder and eased my body away from his. He looked so peaceful sleeping. I picked up my cell from the table. It was six o’clock. I also noticed I had three missed calls from Darius. I checked my call history. The last call from him was around four in the morning. I figured if it was an emergency he would have left a message.

  I placed my cell back on the table and tried to wake up Tyrone. I quickly found out he was a hard sleeper. I tried shaking him, calling his name and he wouldn’t budge. I didn’t have to be to work until nine o’clock. So I settled in my kitchen and started preparing breakfast. I made fried potatoes and onions, bacon, cheese eggs and toast. The aroma of the food must’ve hit him like a ton of bricks. Before I could set the table he was standing behind me snatching a piece of bacon off the plate.

  I turned and playfully tried to retrieve the bacon. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.

  “Good morning beautiful,”

  “Good morning to you too,” I smiled.

  He bent down and kissed my neck.

  “Everything looks great. Can you make me a to-go plate?”

  “What? You’re not staying?” I whined.

  He lifted my chin and gently touched my hair.

  “I would stay. But I have a meeting to get ready for,”

  I didn’t want to seem like a big baby. So I sucked up my true feelings and asked him what he wanted me to put on his plate. After I was done, I found some foil to cover his plate. I silently put the food away and handed him his plate.

  “Are you okay?” He asked.

  “I’m fine,” I lied.

  I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Why didn’t I want him to go? We had only been out on three dates. Was I falling for him? Or was I just happy someone was finally taking an interest in me? I had to be honest since I gained weight. It wasn’t like I had men knocking down my door. I was lucky to have him walk into my life. He had a career, my family liked him, and most importantly he made me smile and feel beautiful. I prayed for a good man and God had answered my prayers.

  I strolled towards him. Making sure I gave him my most confident look.

  “Baby I’m fine. I know you have business to handle. I’ll talk to you later,”

  “You sure?” He asked.

  I placed my arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. I opened my eyes to find him grinning at me.

  “You like me don’t you?” He questioned.

  “Maybe I do,” I smiled.

  I knew I was feeling him. But I wasn’t going to come right out and say it. If he wanted to know my true feelings he was going to have to show me he wanted me first. I looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. I only had an hour to get ready for work. Before I could say another word my doorbell rang.

  “Well I guess that’s my signal,” Tyrone stated.

  I hated for him to go. But I also wanted to know who was coming to my crib so early in the morning. Tyrone and I put on our coats and headed downstairs. I was shocked when I got to my door. There was Darius standing outside with an even more shocked look on his face. I opened the door and let him in. He nodded to Tyrone, which I assumed was his way of saying hello.

  Tyrone passed Darius without uttering a word. He asked me to walk with him. Once we reached his truck he grabbed both my hands and squeezed them tight. I tried to pull away. But it only made him squeeze harder, which intensified the pain.

  “Stop you’re hurting me!” I yelled.

  “Girl ain’t nobody hurting you!” He whispered while gritting his teeth.

  He looked over at Darius inside my building, who wasn’t paying either one of us any attention.

  “What’s the matter with you?” I asked.

  He let go of my hands and started pacing back and in forth in front of me. I knew seeing Darius first thing in the morning made him uncomfortable. But I already told him that he was my best friend and nothing more.

  “Listen I know dude is your friend but if we’re going to work he can’t be just popping up anytime he feels like it. Did you even know he was stopping by?”

  “No I didn’t,” I admitted.

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards me.

  “I’m sorry. I want this to work. I will talk to Darius okay,”

  He leaned down and eagerly kissed me.

  “Alright I trust that you will handle your business. Plus I’m sorry if I got a little rough with you earlier. I just don’t like any other man sniffing around my woman,”

  He patted me on my butt and walked around to the driver’s side of his truck.

  “I’ll call you later remember handle that,” he said motioning his head in Darius’s direction.

  I waved goodbye and turned to walk back to my building. I was dreading the conversation I was about to have with my best friend. But I deserved to be happy. He was just going to have to understand that some things were about to change.

  Darius

  I watched as Melissa made her way up the concrete steps, which lead to her building. The expression on her face worried me. I hope ole boy ain’t say nothing to get her upset. I stood when she entered through the glass door.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. But we need to talk,” she said frankly.

  I followed her up the stairs to her apartment. I sat in my favorite leather recliner chair and waited for her to speak. I had some news of my own. But I wanted to hear what she had to say first. My eyes followed her thick body as she headed into the kitchen. She came back with a cup of coffee and handed it to me. I couldn’t deny it anymore. I was in love with her. She knew better than anyone. I took a sip of my hot coffee and smiled. She even knew how I took my coffee she was definitely a keeper.

  Melissa sat across from me on her leather sectional. She looked nervous.

  “So what’s up? I asked.

  I wanted her to say whatever she needed to say so I could finally tell her what was on my mind. She started twirling her hair, which she often did when she was uncomfortable.

  “You know I love you right?
” She asked softly.

  “Yeah I know,” I assured her.

  “I think I’m falling in love with Tyrone,”

  The room went silent. Was I hearing her right? How could she be falling in love with someone she barely knew? I was certain my entire circle were losing their minds. First Dontae now Melissa, I didn’t know what she wanted me to say. All I knew was I had come over to tell her how I felt and I wasn’t leaving until I did.

  “Melissa I don’t know what you want me to say,”

  “I don’t want you to say anything. I just need you to understand things are about to change between us and I need you to be okay with that,”

  “Change how?”

  “Well for starters you can’t just come over here unannounced. I have a man now and I need you to respect that,”

  I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “So he’s your man now?”

  “Yes and what’s so funny?” She pouted.

  I stood and made my way across the room to sit next to her. I tried to move closer but she pushed me away.

  “Stop playing boy! I don’t see nothing funny. What you think I can’t get a man?”

  I reached for her hand and looked into her eyes so she could see I was serious.

  “I never said you couldn’t get a man. I just think you’re moving too fast. You don’t really even know this dude,”

  “I know enough,”

  “You know what? I didn’t come here to talk about him,”

  “Well what did you come here for? I don’t want to rush you. But I have to get ready for work soon,”

  She wasn’t making this easy for me. I wasn’t good at expressing my feelings and now she wanted me to hurry up and just spit out what I had to say. I took a deep breath and the words I had been holding in just started rolling off my tongue like a car speeding on the highway. Once I started talking I just couldn’t stop.

  “Wait a minute! You’re in love with me?” She asked.

  “Yes I’m in love with you. I don’t know when it happened. But it did. Seeing you with dude is killing me. I know I just sprung this on you. But I’m praying you will think about giving a brother like me a chance. I love you and I’m not afraid to say it,”

  I could tell I was making her uncomfortable. But I didn’t care. She needed to know before it was too late.

  “Are you going to say anything?” I asked.

  I prayed she would say something. I just put everything on the line and to be rejected would kill me.

  “I don’t know what to say. I mean how you feel right now is how I use to feel. You never showed any interest in me before. Why now? Do you really want to be with me? Or is it because you think I won’t be there for you anymore? You don’t have to worry about that. I will always be there for you no matter what,”

  ‘Damn she wasn’t getting it. What can I do to make her understand’? I thought.

  I moved in closer. I was so close I could feel her breath on my lips. I touched her hair gently and, kissed her beautiful glossed lips. Kissing her felt so right, she was my queen and, I wanted to be her king. I wanted to give her the world. She deserved a good man. A man who knew her inside and out and, that man was me.

  Melissa backed away and jumped up.

  “We can’t do this. I love you. But this is happening to fast,” she picked up her cell phone.

  “Oh God, I’m going to be late for work!”

  “Do you want me to take you?”

  “No I’m good. I just need some time to think. Okay?”

  I knew this was her way of trying to get rid of me. I decided it would be best to give her some space, and time to think. I picked up my jacket and, kissed her forehead.

  “Go ahead to work I’ll call you later,”

  She followed me out. I listened while she locked the door behind me. I just put all my cards on the table. It was now up to her to decide if, she wanted to pick up the deck and play.

  Sandy

  I loved Saturday mornings. This was the only day I could actually sleep in. I had to get up early during the week to go to school and, Sundays I helped my father with Sunday school. This Saturday however; there would be no sleeping in. I had my nephew, and sleep was the last thing on his mind.

  “Auntie are you up yet?”

  I pulled the covers over my head, hoping he would give me at least another hour.

  “Auntie I’m hungry!” He whined.

  I knew there was no winning with him. He wanted me up and that’s what was about to happen.

  “Okay David let me put some clothes and I’ll be right out.

  “Yeah!”

  I watched him run into the living room. I said my morning prayer and slipped on my robe.

  “What do you want for breakfast little man?”

  “Cereal, but not that nasty stuff you eat,”

  I did a pose in front of the television he was watching.

  “Special K isn’t nasty. Plus it keeps your auntie looking good like this,” I smiled.

  “Okay but I still don’t want that stuff yuck!”

  “Whateva come in the kitchen and pick out the box you want me to open,”

  I already knew he would be staying the weekend. I made sure I brought all his favorite foods. He was my only nephew. So it was my job to spoil him. I made us both a bowl of cereal. We ate and I tried to figure out what do with him for the rest of the day.

  I gave David a bath and got him dressed first. He watched television, and I searched my closet trying to find something comfortable to wear. As I was searching I ran across a sweater that I had meant to return to Macy’s. My sister had purchased it for me as a gift and it just wasn’t my style. I loved her. But her taste in clothes was worse than Dontae’s new choice of women.

  I explained to my nephew that once I returned the sweater in the store that we would go to the Family Fun Center inside the mall. It was basically an arcade that had enough games to keep him busy for a few hours. I spoke with the store clerk. She said leave the sweater up front and see if I could find something to exchange it with.

  David and I made our way to the women’s department. I went to the first rack of sweaters that had a sale sign, I was about to start looking through the sweaters, when I noticed a women about to put a sweater in her purse.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  She quickly put the sweater back on the rack.

  “I’m not doing anything! Why don’t you mind your damn business?” She hissed.

  I was about to give her a piece of mind until I realized who I was talking too.

  “Wow! Really Dontae ain’t hooking you up enough?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. I picked up the sweater Lexi had just placed on the rack.

  “So you’re going to stand here and act like I just didn’t see you?” She snatched the sweater back.

  “Look you can say what you wanna say. But I haven’t done anything wrong. Why don’t you just admit you would say anything to try to get me caught up? I’m sorry your ex wants to be with me. If I was you I would just move on,”

  I moved closer and put my finger in her face. I was about to speak when I felt someone pulling my jacket. I forgot David was with me.

  “Auntie who’s that?” He pointed at her.

  “Nobody that matters,”

  I picked him up and assured him everything was fine. I turned and quickly made my way to the counter. I was pissed. I took my sweater and headed to the Family Fun Center. I couldn’t believe I just let her take me there. I was a good Christian woman. But I was also human.

  I glanced at my cell phone to check the time. It was two o’clock and we hadn’t had anything to too eat since breakfast. I instructed David to finish up his last game so we could eat lunch. We took the elevator to the food court, which was on the second floor. I didn’t bother to ask him where he wanted to eat. McDonalds was straight ahead and that was is favorite restaurant. I ordered our food and removed the tra
y from the counter. I turned and scanned for a table.

  “Auntie isn’t that lady you were arguing with?” He pointed to the table where Lexi and her brother were sitting.

  It looked like he had his hand on top of hers. I grabbed his hand so I could get a better look. They must’ve had noticed us because her brother stood and made his way over to me and David.

  “How you doing Sandy?” Lou asked.

  “I’m fine and yourself?”

  He took my tray and followed us to our table.

  “I’m good. Do you think we could get together sometime soon?” He asked.

  I picked up my cell phone and looked through my contacts.

  “I still have your number. I’ll give you a call okay?” I glanced over at Lexi who was giving me the mean face.

  “I think you need to get back to your sister. It seems like she has a problem with you talking to me,”

  “She’s cool. I’m grown. Who I choose to spend time with is none if her concern,”

  I was trying to hurry him along. I had no interest in him. It was time to find out what was going on with him and his sister. I opened David’s Happy Meal and pulled out his burger.

  “Well I’ll talk to you later. I have to get my nephew situated,”

  He smiled and strolled back to his table. I watched as he sat down with Lexi. It was something off with those two. I just knew it. David and I finished our food and headed to bathroom. I had to force him to go. But I knew it was best he went before we left the mall.

  I opened the bathroom and he ran into one of the stalls.

  “Do you need any help?”

  “No I’m a big boy,”

  “Okay I’ll be waiting right here until you’re done,”

  I went over to the sink to wash my hands. I turned when I heard the stall door open. I thought it was David. But to my surprise it was Lexi. She tried to hurry and put her sunglasses back on. But it was too late I had already seen her swollen black eye. Suddenly I didn’t see her as this woman from hell. I saw a woman who looked like she needed help.

  “Are you all right? Who did that to you?” She walked over to the sink and washed her hands.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about I’m fine,”