Two's Enough Three's a Crowd

by Brenda Hampton

  When Friday night came, I didn’t feel like being bothered with Paul or Damion. I took a hot shower and decided to go to The Loft. The women at work bragged about how they be having so much fun there, and this one lady named Shirley invited me to her birthday party. It was time for me to get out.

  I put my braids in a bun and let two single ones dangle on the sides of my face. Then I slid into my coal black satin mini-dress with a V-dip in the back. I added silver accessories and put on my high-heeled black satin sandals that tied up just below my knees. My eyebrows were a little bushy, so I quickly arched them, and then put on the new Oh Baby lip-gloss I picked up at the MAC counter. I looked so good I couldn’t even stand myself.

  The Loft was packed, and I had a difficult time finding a parking spot. When I did, I looked in the mirror and slid some more lip-gloss on so I wouldn’t have to keep running to the ladies’ room. I made my way to the door, and this attractive older man with gray hair stopped me.

  “Say, beautiful, are you coming in?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’m supposed to meet some of my girlfriends from work.”

  “Then you don’t mind if I escort you in, do you? I have a VIP card, so you don’t have to pay. And when we get inside, if you’d like a drink, let me know.”

  He walked to the door with me, and I was flattered to enter the club with this man. He had clout, and, I could tell, money. Not only that, he must have had every woman up in there before, because when we walked in the door, many eyes started to roll.

  I went right over to the bar with him, told him my name, and got my drink. After that, I planned to stay away from him for the rest of the night. I had enough drama already and definitely wasn’t looking for more.

  I found my girlfriends in the party room, sitting at some tables that were reserved for Shirley’s party. When they saw me, the fakeness began. I’m sure they really didn’t expect me to come.

  “Felicia!” Shirley said, running up and giving me a hug like we were the best of friends. “I’m so glad you came. And your dress, girl, where did you get it? It is nice.”

  I hugged her back and didn’t tell her nothing. She introduced me to some of her other phony friends, and they all gawked at me with jealousy in their eyes. I pranced over to the buffet table to get some chicken wings.

  After I sat at a table and talked to this brotha whose breath smelled like garbage, I searched the dance area for a dance partner. The DJ was on point with the latest hits, and I was ready to get my party on.

  The floor was crowded, hot, and musty. Somebody had definitely forgotten their deodorant before they came, but the brotha I danced with had his act together. He broke it down to the floor, and I tried to keep up with him. I could tell he was a little younger than I was, but what the hell? If he was setting it out like that on the dance floor, no telling how good he was in the bedroom.

  We laughed with each other as we left the dance floor. I danced so well that several men grabbed on me for another dance. I declined, and my dance partner went to the bar to get us some drinks. I checked out his front and backside and surely thought about taking him home with me; however, when I looked up and saw Stephon at a table with some of his boys from the shop, my plans changed. He looked downright workable. He had it going on way more than my dance partner.

  I went to the ladies’ room to make sure everything was still in place. Then, I freshened my makeup and hiked my dress just a tad bit higher. When I came out of the bathroom, I headed straight to the table where Stephon sat. I swayed my hips from side to side and worked my ass so they’d be sure to notice when I walked by. I saw them checking me out from a distance, but I continued to look forward as if I wasn’t paying them any attention. As I neared the table, one of Stephon’s friends grabbed my hand.

  “Say, baby, why you moving so fast? Why don’t you have a seat and holla at a brotha for a minute?”

  I smiled; my plan was already working well. I eased myself between Stephon and his friend.

  “What’s up, Felicia?” Stephon said, smiling at me with his pearly whites.

  “Hey, Stephon,” I said then quickly turned to talk to his friend.

  His friend gazed at my breasts and licked his lips. “So, uh, what did your mama name such a pretty woman like you?”

  “My mama wasn’t the one who named me; my father was. My name is Felicia. Felicia Davenport.”

  “Felicia, huh? I got one question for you Felicia. How does a woman get as fine as you? You are definitely a sight for sore eyes.”

  He put it on too damn thick for me, and I tuned him out. I tried to figure out how I could kick up a conversation with Stephon, who sat next to me smelling like Gucci Envy. When he got up to dance with this other chick, I gazed at his tall, nicely cut body that showed through his light blue silk shirt and jeans. The front of his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal the thickness of his chest. The light-blue round glasses that covered his hazel eyes had me melting like butter. Brotha had it going on, and it was hard for me, along with many other females, to keep our eyes off him.

  The brotha I danced with earlier came over to the table and handed me my drink.

  “I was looking for you. Why did you leave?” he asked. As I put the drink on the table, I noticed the crookedness of his teeth.

  “Sorry, my man came in,” I said, rubbing my hand on Stephon’s partner’s back. “I’ll pay you for the drink if you’d like.”

  Cheap motherfucker stood and waited for me to give him the money. I reached into my purse and gave him ten dollars. He snatched it and walked away.

  After he left, Stephon came back to the table with this light-skinned chick who wasn’t giving him any room to breathe. There wasn’t any room for her to sit, so she stood behind him and talked. I could tell he wasn’t interested because he conversed with other women as she stood talking to him. She finally got the picture and walked away.

  And when she did, I picked up where she left off.

  “So, how have things been going, Stephon?” I crossed my legs so he could get a glimpse of my oily thighs. His eyelids lowered and he looked at them like he wanted to see what was between them.

  “It’s going pretty good, Felicia. Can’t complain.”

  The DJ was right on time with a slow song. I interrupted as Stephon talked to one of his boys.

  “Say, Stephon, would you like to dance?” I already pulled the chair back because I knew he wasn’t going to turn me down.

  He didn’t say yes or no. He just got up and followed me as I strutted with sexiness to the dance floor. When he put his arms around me and leaned his head down close to my shoulder, I lowered his hands and slid them over my butt.

  “Felicia, what you doing?” he said, grinning and keeping his hands where I’d put them.

  “What do you mean, what am I doing? I like for a man to have his hands on my butt when we’re slow dancing. Not on my back.”

  He gave my butt a squeeze and pulled me closer to him. I felt his goodness press against me. “Is that better?” he asked.

  “Yes. A whole lot better.”

  “So, what are you doing here? I didn’t even know you still hung out at places like this.”

  “I don’t. I came tonight because it’s my coworker’s birthday. And now that I’m here, I’m so glad I came.”

  “And why is that? Would it have anything to do with me?” he whispered.

  “As a matter of fact, it does. I got a feeling something good... very good is going to happen to me tonight.”

  “Oh yeah? Something good like what?”

  “Something good like my place or yours.”

  “Felicia, are you trying to get me in bed with you?”

  “Stephon, I don’t try at anything I do. I’m known for being a success. So, like I said, my place or yours?”

  Stephon quit dancing before the music stopped and looked at me.

  “Meet me outside in five minutes. I have to take care of something before I leave, so just give me five minutes.”

&nb
sp; I walked off the floor and went back to the table to get my purse. His friend asked where I was going, but I kept on walking.

  I was outside talking to a police officer when Stephon came out. “Come on,” he said, grabbing my hand and walking me to his car.

  When we got in, he sat for a minute before he started the engine.

  “Are you having second thoughts or something?” I asked, rubbing his bald head.

  “Nope. Just thinking about something.” He backed up.

  “May I ask what?”

  “No, you may not. And put your seatbelt on. I don’t like people riding with me without a seatbelt on.”

  I buckled myself in, just so I didn’t have to hear his mouth. “I guess since you’re driving, we’re going to your place, huh?”

  “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No. I didn’t know if you wanted to take me there since Nokea might decide to show up.”

  “Felicia, if you came with me tonight to talk about Nokea or Jaylin, I can drop you right back off at the club. I don’t play games like that, baby, all right?” he said sternly.

  “I didn’t come with you to talk about them, but I thought it was a legitimate question. And since you don’t want to answer it, then so be it. Ain’t no trip.”

  We were quiet the rest of the way to his house. By the time we got there, I’d almost fallen asleep from boredom. I hoped his sex was good, since he seemed to have no conversation.

  As soon as we got inside, Stephon picked up his phone and checked his messages. I stood by the door until he gave me the go-ahead to have a seat. When he came back, he’d already taken off his shirt.

  “Come on, let’s go downstairs,” he ordered. I walked behind him as he led me to the basement. He had the damn hook-up downstairs. It looked like a nightclub, unlike his upper level that wasn’t much to brag about. His basement had a beige leather sofa that circled the room, huge beveled mirrors that covered the walls, a diamond-shaped bar in the middle of the floor with wine glasses that hung down above it, and beige leather bar stools surrounding the bar. The floor had shiny beige, black and white tile that looked like it had never been stepped on before. His entertainment center covered one complete wall. Jaylin’s name was written all over his basement. I knew he had to be responsible for financing this sucker because there was no way Stephon could afford to live like this.

  Stephon went over to the bar, while I took a seat on his sofa, which was amazingly comfortable. When he walked over to me, he didn’t waste any time. He set a bottle of Moët on the floor next to him and kneeled in front of me. He rubbed his hands on my hips and slid them up the sides of my dress, raising it up a bit.

  “Felicia, I don’t want you having no regrets after I fuck you,” he said, already pulling my dress over my head.

  “No regrets for me.” I started to unbuckle his pants. “And definitely no complaints,” I said as I got a glimpse of what was seconds away from going inside me.

  After he took off the rest of my clothes, he picked up the bottle of Moët and poured it all over my body. I trembled as he had the pleasure of slurping it up. It burned a little between my legs, but he had no problem cooling it off with his tongue. Then he stood up and flipped me upside down so he could get a better taste of me. I wrapped my legs around his head so I wouldn’t fall. He held me tight around my back, and I worked his goodness on the other end.

  My hair fell down as I pulled it from the excitement of him working me so well. He backed up to the couch and lay back with my legs still straddled across his face. He fondled me with his fingers, and I slid my body down and sat on top of him. I put my pussy to major work, which caused him to tighten up and grip my butt.

  “Felicia! Slow down, baby. I ain’t ready to come yet.”

  I cut Stephon no slack. I was showing him something Nokea probably didn’t know how to. He squeezed my hips tightly and eased himself in deeper so I could feel the full effect of him. I was in another world with him. We seemed to click so well together, almost better than Jaylin and me—but right now, Jaylin was the last thing on my mind.

  Stephon and I finished up in the middle of the bar. He had emptied the second bottle of Moët on his body, and this time, the pleasure was all mine. I hopped down off the bar and plopped my naked body on the couch. He joined me, and I lay against his chest.

  “I had no idea you had it in you, Stephon. I mean, I’ve always noticed how nice looking you was, but I guess I couldn’t see past Jaylin.”

  “Well, I knew it was good because Jaylin told me it was. But he didn’t tell me you could work it like that.”

  “I only work it like that when I have to. Besides, it was hard for me to keep up with you. You’re packing a load down there, aren’t you?”

  He laughed. “Something like that. But I’m sure you’ll be good company for it.”

  “So, does this mean this isn’t a one-night stand? I know you told me not to ask about Nokea, but won’t this interfere with your relationship with her?”

  “Nope. Because what she don’t know won’t hurt her. Besides, I’d like to keep this on the down low as much as I can. Jaylin and me kind of just settled things after what happened with me and Nokea, and I don’t want to do anything to mess that up.”

  “Stephon, please. If Jaylin finds out we’re sleeping together, he’d laugh. He doesn’t care about me. He could care less who I have sex with.

  “I was really surprised to find out you and him went at it over Nokea. Her friend Pat told one of my girlfriends at work what happened and she told me. I knew he liked Nokea, but I thought I’d never see Jaylin fighting over a woman.”

  “Well, he’s happy now, Felicia. He’s doing what he wants to right now, and so am I.” Stephon rose up and moved me away from his chest.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, not wanting him to leave my side.

  He turned on his CD player and sang a song by Luther Vandross. He moved from side to side with his hands on his chest like he was slow dancing with himself. His eyes were closed as he sang, “Let me hold you tight, if only for one night.”

  I laughed, as his voice didn’t sound anything like Luther’s.

  Stephon grinned and held out his arms for me. There was no way I could resist holding a sexy naked body like his. This man had charmed the hell out of me, and had me leaving with a serious smile on my face.

  32

  NOKEA

  I was so ready to have this baby. My doctor had me on maternity leave early because my blood pressure was high. I tried to remain calm and focus on the positive things, but I was worried about how all of this would work out. Stephon told me about his conversation with Jaylin, and I felt bad that he had to lie to Jaylin about us having sex right around the same time as him. But I guess everything was for the best.

  Jaylin’s birthday was just around the corner, and no matter what, I always spent it with him. Even when he was in the orphanage. My mother and I went to see him and took him some toys both years he was there. As we got older, we met each year at Café Lapadero, where we laughed and talked about the crazy college life. When I turned twenty-one, he was all mine. I always went out of my way for his birthday, just to let him know that somebody still cared about him.

  This year would be different. I wanted to do something nice for him, but things were going so well with Stephon that I didn’t want to go behind his back and cater to Jaylin. Stephon was a charm, just what I needed during my pregnancy. He satisfied all of my physical and mental needs. Problem was I still didn’t love him. Couldn’t kick these feelings I still had for Jaylin.

  Every time Stephon left, I cried. He had no clue how I felt, and I hoped to overcome my misery soon.

  I wondered if Jaylin would show up at Café Lapadero on his birthday. Then I thought about calling him to make sure he would be there. Finally, I decided to just show up without calling.

  The morning of Jaylin’s birthday, I searched my closet for the nicest maternity outfit I had. I decided on a pink blouse with bi
g white flowers on it. My white linen shorts were loose enough for me to get my fat butt into, but my hair wouldn’t cooperate. I put on a white straw hat with a pink ribbon around the rim, and dolled up my face to perfection.

  We usually met up around 1:00 P.M., and I got there an hour early so I could make sure we had a seat, just in case he showed up. The sun shone brightly, and there was a nice comforting breeze, so I asked the waiter if he could seat me outside. I asked him for an ice-cold glass of water with a lemon, and some rolls. I hadn’t eaten anything all day because I was so nervous.

  I pulled out the Black Expressions card I had bought him and signed the inside. I still had thirty minutes, so when the waiter came over again, I went ahead and ordered a salad. I didn’t want to sit there doing nothing and looking anxious.

  By quarter after one, my stomach felt queasy. Another fifteen minutes zoomed by, and I felt like a complete fool. Why would I think Jaylin would put forth any effort to meet with me? Especially on his birthday. He probably had plans with his other woman. Plans to make love to her and make her smile like he’d done to me over the years. Stupid me, I thought. Always setting myself up for disappointment.

  Almost in tears, I stood and dug in my purse to pay the waiter. I wiped my eyes and hurried to leave the restaurant. Then, a soothing wind picked up and blew my hat off my head. I quickly turned to pick it up, and that’s when I saw Jaylin behind me with my hat in his hand.

  “Were you getting ready to leave?” he asked, handing my hat back to me.

  “Yes,” I said, still wiping my eyes.

  “Why are you crying?” He put his hand on my cheek.

  I sat down in the chair and chuckled. I wanted him to know how happy I was to see him, but didn’t want to go overboard with expressing my feelings. “Since I’ve been pregnant, I tend to get emotional for no reason.”

  “I wouldn’t know nothing about that.” He pulled back a chair and sat next to me.

  He looked amazing, and those addictive grey eyes behind his tinted glasses pierced my heart. His glowing tan was in full effect, and his tailored suit had me screaming naughty things silently to myself. No doubt, life seemed to treat him well.