Two's Enough Three's a Crowd

by Brenda Hampton

  “Before you go getting all upset, I’m just playing. Actually, he said you were a very good cook.”

  “You better had cleaned that up. Besides, don’t go talking about a woman’s cooking when she’s in the midst of cooking for you.”

  Stephon set the table, and then he took the garlic bread out of the hot oven so I wouldn’t burn myself. By the time the spaghetti was good and ready, I was tired from being on my feet. He pulled up a chair in front of the one I sat in, so I could elevate my feet. Then he served our dinners.

  I had questions about Jaylin, but I didn’t want to rush into it. Stephon went on and on about his job, how he was ready to do something different, and the women in his life. He and Jaylin had so much in common; only he seemed to treat his women with a little more respect than Jaylin did.

  As I sat listening to him, I observed his muscles tighten every time he lifted his fork. I couldn’t resist; I reached over and gave his arm a squeeze.

  “You’ve been really working out, haven’t you?” I said, sliding up his short sleeve so I could see the Q-Dog symbol on his arm.

  “Yeah, Jaylin and me both. We’ve been meeting at the gym every morning trying to relieve some of this stress we’ve been under.”

  “Really? What kind of stress? I thought you all searched for women to relieve that.”

  Stephon chuckled. “Now, you know that ain’t so, Nokea. A piece of ass doesn’t relieve stress. If you ask me, it only adds to it. If you took me in your room right now and fucked my brains out, I’d still be stressed.”

  “See, if I wasn’t pregnant with Jaylin’s baby, I’d take you up on that offer,” I flirted. “Stress is all in the mind. When sex takes your mind to a different level, you forget about it. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Depends on who you’re having sex with. Maybe if it’s somebody like you. But for the most part, I’m stressing no matter what.”

  “So, what are you trying to say? You sound like you got something on your mind.”

  Stephon was quiet. He stared at me while holding in his bottom lip. He got up and put his plate in the sink. I checked out his bulge as he walked back toward the table. Looked like he was hard to me, so I turned my head to look away. And if he wasn’t hard, some sistas know they be in trouble.

  He took my hand and led me into the living room. “Come here, Shorty. Sit. I have something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”

  His tone made me a bit nervous. I took a seat on the couch and he sat next to me. He still hadn’t cracked a smile. By the serious look on his face, I knew he wasn’t joking.

  He took my hands and closed them tightly with his. “Shorty, I think you’re a beautiful woman and I’m finding myself attracted to you. I’ve always been crazy about you, but recently, my feelings have been beyond my control. Since you and Jaylin have been apart for a while, I think it’s time you move on. You need to find happiness in your life; and not only that, you need a good father figure for this baby.” He reached over and rubbed his hand on my stomach.

  “I can give you both of those things and so much more. I’ve seen the way you’ve been checking me out too, and I say if you want to, then let’s do this. Time is of the essence. I don’t want to sit around wasting any more time not being with the woman I’ve always cared deeply for.”

  I blinked my long eyelashes and pulled my hands away from him. When I reflected on it, I realized that the signs had always been there. Stephon would always console me during my troubled times with Jaylin, and now I knew what he meant by, “If you ever need me, just call.” My mouth wouldn’t even open, and my body was still.

  He was right about me checking him out, but what was so wrong with a woman checking out a good looking brotha when she saw one? Maybe my interest in Stephon was due to the changes in my hormones during my pregnancy, I thought. I wasn’t sure, but one thing I knew: Stephon made me feel wanted.

  Before I could respond, he leaned forward and placed his lips on mine. I put my hand on the back of his head and pulled him closer to me. Our tongues explored each other’s mouths, and then I backed up and softly touched my lips.

  “Stephon, this isn’t right. I can’t do this with you.”

  Ignoring me, he stood up and removed his shirt. The sight of his dark brown skin, broad, thick shoulders, and tight six pack weakened me. His jeans hung low on his thick waist and fit him very, very well.

  He sat back on the couch, and before I knew it, I eased my way back so he could lie on top of me.

  “We can do this, Shorty,” he whispered as he leaned in close to my ear. “Just between you and me, we can do this.”

  I rubbed his back and closed my eyes as he kissed down my neck. He lifted my shirt and pulled it over my head. I needed this so badly, and at this point, there was no turning back. He put his mouth between my breasts and unhooked my bra with his teeth. I smiled as he dangled it in his mouth like a tiger and growled. He stared at my breasts, and then slowly manipulated them with the tip of his tongue.

  My insides steamed. I couldn’t wait to see what else he had to offer, so I unbuttoned his jeans, just enough to reach my hands down his pants to massage his butt. It was solid as a rock, but smooth as a baby’s bottom.

  When he stood up and took off his pants, I damn near fainted. Body was cut in all the right places and dick hung longer than Jaylin’s. I had no idea what I was about to get myself into, but I had some needs that had to be met.

  Stephon pulled off my jeans but left my panties on. He sat up on the couch and put me on top of him. He massaged my breasts with his strong hands and held them like they were the most precious things he’d ever held before. I closed my eyes as he sucked them and rubbed one of his hands on my back. Then he reached his hands inside my panties and rubbed them across my hairs. I moaned to let him know how excited I was.

  He took both sides of my panties and tore them. Then, with all of his strength, he lifted me and placed my goodness right on his face. I straddled his face and held on for dear life.

  “Relax, Shorty. I got you.” He soaked my walls. As I got more excited, it was hard for him to keep me balanced. He kissed my thighs and laid me back down on the couch.

  “You taste good, Shorty. I wish you would keep still, though, until I’m finished with you.”

  “Stephon, I...I can’t keep still. I’m just not used to all of this,” I said, looking into his hazel eyes.

  “Well, get used to it. I don’t think this is going to be my last time here.”

  As he pressed himself up against me, I reached down and put his thickness inside me. I tightened my eyes and felt every bit of him. He worked from side to side and continued to hold my legs close to his chest. I figured he was trying not to lean on the baby, but when he opened my legs and leaned in forward, I knew the baby felt him because he was in my guts. He rubbed my hips with his hands and lowered his eyelids, as my body responded powerfully to his. He sucked in his bottom lip and quickly changed to another rhythm—one I kept up with very well.

  “You feel good, Shorty. I knew it would feel like this. That’s why I couldn’t get you off my mind,” he whispered.

  “Stephon, what if Jay—”

  “Shhh...I don’t want to talk about Jaylin right now. We can talk about him later. Just for the record, I ain’t stressing at all right now. My stress is a thing of the past.”

  I held Stephon’s hips and stopped my motion.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, and then gave me a kiss.

  “Stephon, we don’t ever have to talk about Jaylin again. Feeling as good as I do with you, you’ll never hear his name come out of my mouth again.”

  Stephon smiled and the lovemaking went on. He was a gentle lover and definitely knew how to excite the heck out of me. By the end of the night, he’d taken me to my room and loved me all over again. I felt like a new woman. And by the time he left, which wasn’t until Monday morning, I never wanted to see Jaylin again.

  27

  FELICIA

  It had been mon
ths since I’d last slept with Jaylin, and I couldn’t believe how well everything flowed without him. Paul and I made the best of our relationship. I had even kicked Damion to the curb. His baby’s mama called here with some of that, “When’s the last time you seen him?” bullshit. After I told the bitch what he had on, he had the nerve to call and curse me out. I told him, “Don’t ever pick up the phone and call me again if you’re going to put this out-of-shape, baby-having skeeza before me!” Since then, I hadn’t talked to him.

  Paul, though, had been a true gentleman. He had done anything I asked him to do and had gotten a little better in the bedroom.

  There was no way to keep our relationship a secret at work. Since we spent so much time together, of course, people started asking questions. I wasn’t ashamed of Paul’s fine ass, so I didn’t deny nothing. And since I was like some kind of prize for the white men, he was definitely treated like the winner.

  For the weekend, we planned a fast trip to Chicago. Deep in my heart, I thought he would ask me to marry him because he hinted about having beautiful children together and about us living together. I didn’t know what my answer would be. I still had concerns about being with a white man, let alone marrying one. Plus, as much as I hated to admit it, Jaylin was still locked up in my system. Until I freed him, I wasn’t marrying anyone.

  When I was at home packing my things to go, I got a call. It was Jaylin, and it was definitely a setback for me.

  “I was just sitting here thinking about you,” he said softly. “I hadn’t heard from you in a while and I was wondering how you were doing.”

  I was so shocked to hear his voice I could barely get any words to come out. “I . . . I’m doing fine. I’d be better if you’d invite me over.”

  “Nah, not today. Maybe some other time. It’s good to know that you haven’t given up on me, and I apologize for how things went down.”

  On that note, I figured things didn’t work out for him and the Playboy bunny. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, so I jumped right on it. “Apology accepted. It’s obvious that you want to talk, so I’m coming right over.”

  “No,” he snapped. “Not today. I’ll call you soon, but just be there for me, all right?”

  “No problem.”

  He hung up, and when I tried to call him back, he didn’t answer. When I called him at work, Angela said he hadn’t come in that day.

  I was confused, so I put on some clothes and drove to his house. When I got there, I rang the doorbell but got no answer. His cars were in the driveway, so I knew he had to be there. After banging for a few more minutes, I left.

  I didn’t know where else to go for answers but to Nokea’s house. If anybody knew what the hell was going on, she would; she didn’t have the guts to stay away from Jaylin as long as I did. But if he really needed me, there was no way I would turn my back on him.

  I rang Nokea’s doorbell. She opened the door in her work clothes.

  “Felicia, why do you keep coming over to my house like we’re the best of friends?” She looked as if her face had swelled. When I looked down at her stomach, I could tell immediately what was going on.

  “You’re pregnant?” I asked, shocked.

  “Why? What’s it to you?”

  “I just want to know. If you are, then maybe that’s what’s troubling your man.”

  She walked away from the door and I walked in and shut it behind me.

  “Girl, look, I ain’t here to start no trouble. I came over to find out if you’ve talked to Jaylin. And evidently you have. Looks like you’ve done more than talk to him.”

  “So, now what, Felicia? Yes, I’m pregnant, but it’s not Jaylin’s baby.”

  “Girl, shut your mouth! Since when did you become a little hoochie mama?”

  “Since I learned from your trifling butt, that’s when. So, if you don’t have any more questions, would you please go?”

  “Ouch. Now, that hurt coming from a self-righteous woman who pretended to love Jaylin so much. If you did, you wouldn’t be knocked up by another man. I thought you had a little more class about yourself, but I should’ve known better. Once you lost your virginity, you just couldn’t get enough, could you?”

  “Felicia, why don’t you take your butt home? If you came over here to find out anything about Jaylin, I don’t have any answers for you. I haven’t seen or heard from Jaylin in months. And frankly, I don’t think I ever will. So, if information is what you’re looking for, I suggest you find Scorpio. I’m sure she’s got all the answers you want.”

  I shook my head as I walked toward the door and got ready to leave. “So, who’s the lucky man, Nokea? Is it anybody I know?”

  “No, Felicia, it’s not anybody who you’ve had the pleasure of giving yourself to.”

  “I don’t know, now, you never know. I do get around, bitch, so watch your back.” I slammed the door behind me.

  I jumped in the car and backed out of Nokea’s driveway. As I got ready to make a left onto New Halls Ferry Road, I saw Stephon in his white BMW. He looked directly at my face, but when he saw me, he turned his head like he didn’t see me. I looked in my rearview mirror and watched as he drove by Nokea’s house. I turned the corner like I was on my way out of her subdivision and drove around to another street.

  I could see the front of Nokea’s house, and I watched as Stephon pulled in her driveway. He got out with a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken in his hand. She opened the door, smiled, and let him in. Instantly, he leaned forward and gave her a kiss.

  My mouth opened wide and my eyes went buck. Where in the hell had I been? This bitch was pregnant by Stephon! No wonder Jaylin sounded upset; he probably just found out about the betrayal. Damn. Now would be the perfect time to get back with him. He would definitely need me now. My relationship with Paul would have to be put on hold.

  I drove back to Jaylin’s house. This time, I wasn’t leaving until I got some answers from him. I knocked and banged until he finally cracked the door to talk to me.

  “Jaylin, would you open the door so we can talk? I know something is wrong; I could tell by the sound of your voice. Please open the door. All I want to do is talk.”

  He cleared his throat. “Not right now, Felicia. I’m not in the mood for any company,” he said softly.

  “Then why did you call me? All you wanted to know is if I’d be there for you when you needed me, and yes, I’m here. So open the door.”

  I pleaded for a few more minutes before he finally let me in. I damn near melted when he gave me a hug. He had his shirt off and wore only some black Jockey boxer shorts that gripped his package. I could tell he’d just gotten out of the shower; he smelled delicious, his hair was wet, and so was his body.

  When he walked up the steps, I followed, wishing like hell he’d put it on me tonight. But the sadness in his eyes told me wasn’t nothing going on with us—tonight, anyway.

  Outside his room, I noticed that the glass doors weren’t tinted anymore. Looked like he had some new ones put in because they were clear, and I could see straight into his room. He held the door for me and I walked in. There was a cute little girl sitting on the floor with some dolls. She looked up at me and smiled. “Daddy, who is she? Is this your new girlfriend?”

  “No, Mackenzie. This is Felicia. Felicia, this is Mackenzie.”

  I said hello to Mackenzie, but I was busy thinking about how she’d called him Daddy. I’d definitely been away too long if this was his daughter.

  “Mackenzie, would you go in your room and watch TV? I’ll come in and read you a story in a minute,” Jaylin said. She picked up her dolls and went into the other room. I looked at Jaylin with wrinkled lines on my forehead.

  “What the fu—hell is going on?” I was careful to watch my foul mouth.

  “Look, Felicia, I know you got questions, but right now, I’m not in the mood for them. I just called you because I hadn’t heard from you in a while.”

  “Jaylin, don’t bull—mess around with me. Tell me what’s going on.
And is that really your daughter? I mean, she’s cute, but she doesn’t look like you.”

  “She’s not my daughter. She’s Scorpio’s daughter, and since we fell out the other night, she’s been here with me.”

  “So, what is she doing here with you? Did Scorpio just run off and leave her with you? I knew she was a trifling bitch.” That time, I couldn’t help myself.

  “No. Her sister came to get Mackenzie, but I didn’t open the door. I’ve really gotten attached to her, and I’m not ready to give her up yet.”

  “But you have to. That’s kidnapping. You can be in a lot of trouble for that.”

  “Yeah, I know. But she’s brought so much joy to my life these past few months. She reminds me of myself when I was little; how curious I used to be about shit. I can’t let her go. Besides, she doesn’t want to leave me anyway. She told me she wanted me to be her daddy and she wanted to live with me forever.”

  “But she’s just a kid. Before this stuff gets out of hand, you need to take her back to her mother. Where’s Scorpio at anyway? I thought she was here with you.”

  “She’s gone, but I don’t want to talk about her right now. I’m waiting to hear from my lawyer so he can tell me what I need to do. I know he’s going to probably tell me nothing, but there’s got to be something I can do to keep Mackenzie.”

  Jaylin sat on his bed looking pitiful. I couldn’t believe how much love he had for this little girl. I was kind of jealous. Four years with him and the brotha still didn’t have no love for me. I couldn’t offer him any advice because what I said to him, he wasn’t trying to hear. He was going to do things his way whether I liked it or not.

  It seemed like he didn’t know about Stephon and Nokea because if he did, he probably would’ve mentioned it. But maybe he was just trying not to talk about it. I had to dig for some answers.

  “Hey, have you seen Nokea lately?” I asked.

  “Ye—yes, why?”

  I could tell he was lying.

  “So, you know she’s pregnant?”

  Jaylin’s thick brows went up. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “She’s what?”