Somebody Else's Man

by Daaimah S. Poole

  “But you just met him. Why can’t you just date him a little longer and see how it works out?” I asked.

  “No, I’m getting married. He wants to marry me. I’m done with all that princess stuff…sitting around wasting time, waiting for Mr. Right. Y’all can keep waiting for your soul mate. ’Cause I’m done waiting.”

  “It can happen,” Tia said.

  “Well, how come it didn’t happen to none of us yet?” Reshaun asked. Me and Tia looked at each other, curled our lips up, and got quiet. She did raise a good point and she continued her testimony.

  “Since I broke up with James, all I have had is a stream of forty-eight-hour boyfriends. It seems like you need three men to make up one good one. And I’m tired of this shit. I’m tired of y’all being my dinner dates every weekend. This is how I feel…I’m thirty years old and at this point in my life, I think that if you meet somebody who loves you more than you love him, you marry him and go on with your life. Since I’ve been with Michael, I’ve had a sense of peace. He makes me feel like someone else is in this fight with me. Everything has changed. No, I don’t love him with the kind of passion I’d like to feel, but knowing that he loves me and would do whatever for me, makes me appreciate him and love him in my own way. So y’all can be my friends and accept it or not,” Reshaun lashed out as she got up from the table. With tears falling, she walked toward the bathroom. I gave Tia a look that said Now, look what you did. She shrugged her shoulders and took another sip of her drink.

  I got up and followed Reshaun to the bathroom. I walked into the two-stall, cramped, and dimly lit bathroom.

  “You okay, girl?”

  “Yeah, I’m all right,” she said as she flushed the toilet and exited the stall. She went over to the sink and washed her hands and splashed a little water on her face.

  “Listen, if you like him, I love him. Sorry if I sounded like I was hatin’. Okay?” I gave Reshaun a big smile and said, “Congratulations!”

  “I hate Tia sometimes. She thinks she knows everything, but her life is not together, either.”

  “She doesn’t mean to act like a know-it-all,” I said.

  “Yes, she does. But before she starts pointing her fingers at other people, she needs to get rid of her boyfriend. How she sound, talking about me? At least I found someone who can hold it down. Her man don’t do shit for her.”

  I knew Reshaun was right, but I didn’t say anything. The funniest thing was that we all had answers for each other’s problems, but couldn’t solve our own issues.

  We walked back to the table and Tia apologized, too. After three more rounds of drinks, all was forgotten. We both congratulated Reshaun again, even though we still didn’t agree with her decision.

  As I left to drive home from the restaurant my only thought was that I just wished we could all find good men. Then I wondered what Malcolm was doing and I thought about calling him. I fought the urge to give in. I couldn’t. It was time for me to find a love of my own.

  On the way home, I started feeling those margaritas. I almost fell asleep at every red light. I only had four blocks to go and hoped I could make it. When I finally made it to my block, I was so happy. I looked over at my house. The downstairs lights were still on, and that meant Ernest was still on the sofa, watching television. I didn’t want him to see me stumbling in the house, so I decided the trek from my car to the front door was too far to go. I was sleepy and it was warm in the car. I figured I would just close my eyes for a few minutes. I made sure my doors were locked and leaned my seat all the way back.

  A loud knock awoke me. Damn, it was now morning and I was still in my car and the engine was still running. My mom was looking at me through the thick glass window. The morning sun rays were shining directly in the car. I squinted up at her and rolled the window down.

  “You slept in this car. You know somebody could have stole you and this car. Are you crazy? Something’s wrong with you. Were you drinking?” My mom looked at me with disgust. “Why are you so damn irresponsible?”

  She was asking too many questions at once and her voice, along with the glaring sun, was making my head hurt. My mouth felt dry, and the rest of my body was being taken over by dizziness and nausea. I lied and said, “I just pulled up.”

  “Nikki, I’m not stupid. You look like shit. You better slow down on all that drinking. It is a problem when you can’t even make it inside the house.”

  I continued to try to convince her that I didn’t sleep in the car all night and I had just pulled up a few minutes ago. She finally left me alone and got in her car and pulled off. As I turned my car off, I saw the Check Engine light on. I made a mental note to take the car to my mechanic on Monday morning. I went in the house and slept off my hangover. Saturday came and went. I slept the whole day away.

  CHAPTER 4

  It has been three months since I declared that I was not dealing with Married Man Malcolm anymore. Every time I saw his number appear on my phone screen I ignored the call, but I couldn’t help but wonder what he really wants. Was he calling to say that he was really ready this time? If so, was I missing my chance to be with him? I would love to hear Nikki, I’m getting a divorce. That would be music to my ears. That was the only way I would take him back. And he can’t just say it. He would have to have some proof that he had really filed for a divorce. I wanted to see the divorce decree and the judge’s signature. Or at least that’s what I thought it would take. I knew Malcolm was married, but I also knew he was so unhappy. I just wished he could get the strength to leave her.

  I was debating if I should just pick up the phone or send it to voice mail. A little voice kept telling me not to answer the telephone each time he called. And I was doing good being strong, until Malcolm left me a message on the answering machine. He was practically crying on there. And as soon as I heard his voice I lost it. My rock-hard exterior turned right back into a soft pillow. After listening to his tearful apology on my voice mail, I did something I hadn’t done in three months. I called him. Malcolm didn’t have to provide me with anything but an I really miss you, an invitation to meet up with him, and I was all his again.

  “I miss you so much, Nikki. I got a few hours. Can I please see you?”

  I wanted to tell him I didn’t want a few of his hours, I wanted all twenty-four or nothing at all. But I didn’t have the strength to play hard-to-get anymore. So, I called my hotel’s sister property that’s located downtown, and reserved us a hotel room, using my associate discount rate. I’m so damn dumb, I thought as I made the reservation. But, I think every woman has one man she will never give up hope on, who she dreams one day will change.

  After I reserved our room, I showered and unwrapped my hair. I put on a lavender bra and thong set. I threw on a pair of blue jeans and a pink sweater, and gold-and-pink earrings. I couldn’t wait to meet up with him. I told him to meet me at the hotel on Walnut Street. I was ready in less than fifteen minutes, because I didn’t want to waste any of our time together.

  “Mom, you going back out?” I asked my mother.

  “No, why?”

  “Can I hold your car? My Check Engine light is on in my car.”

  “I don’t care, as long as you fill up my tank. The keys are on the kitchen counter.”

  I made it downtown in ten minutes. I pulled into the parking lot, and I saw Malcolm flashing his lights at me. I parked, locked my mom’s car up, and walked over to his red Dodge Intrepid. He got out of the car and gave me the warmest hug, like he really missed me. I looked up at him and he turned me around and leaned me against his car door and planted kisses all over my neck and right cheek. My entire body warmed up. Oh, I missed him so much too. I loved him. I couldn’t wait to get upstairs in the hotel room and let him fuck me nonstop.

  “You look so beautiful.” He pulled away from me, smoothed his hands over my hair. He took another look at me and then kissed me again. And said, “Please don’t stay away from me. I need you. You know that, Nikki.” He actually had me feeling guilt
y and emotional, like I was wrong for staying away from him.

  “Come on, let’s go inside.” I grabbed his hand to lead him inside the hotel.

  “Hold up, let me grab Tyler.”

  “Tyler? You didn’t tell me you had your son with you.”

  “I had to pick him up. She is at a baby shower.”

  My excitement gauge went down from a ten to a minus two. How could he fuck me nonstop with his son sharing a room with us? I looked in the car. Tyler was asleep with his coat on him. Malcolm’s wife probably thought if he had the baby with him, he wouldn’t cheat. I knew that’s what her stupid ass was probably thinking. She was trying to ruin our evening, but I wasn’t about to let her do that.

  As he got Tyler out the car, I went to the front desk and began checking in. Malcolm had a seat on the lobby sofa and began unbuttoning Tyler’s coat.

  “Do you need a crib?” the front-desk clerk asked, looking over at Malcolm and the baby.

  “No, but do you have any suites at the associate rate?”

  “We have suites, but not available at the associate rate.”

  “How much is the regular rate?” I asked.

  “With tax included, it is two hundred and fifteen per night.” I pulled out my cash and handed eleven twenties over to her. She made me a room key and said, “I hope you and your family have a great stay. The elevators are to your right.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I got my change. Malcolm and Tyler followed me to our suite. I was a little mad that the baby was there, but I wanted to make the best out of the situation. I wasn’t mad at his son, but I was mad at his stupid mother.

  We went into the suite, where there was a queen-size bed and two night stands in one room and a living room with a pull-out sofa-bed in the other. I turned the television and light on in the bedroom. Malcolm took Tyler’s clothes off and laid him on the sofa. Then he came in the bedroom with me and shut the door.

  “I still feel bad with Tyler being in here,” I murmured.

  “He is asleep, he can’t hear or see us. You’re wasting time. I missed you. Why have you been neglecting me for all these months?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that I need to know how long we’re going to be playing this game. I’ve been patient for three years, Malcolm. Come on,” I said as I turned and walked a few steps away from him.

  He grabbed me and turned my body around to face him. He put his finger up to my lips and said “Shhh” because he knew where I was going and he didn’t want to hear it. He tilted my chin and kissed me. As soon as I tasted his lips, all my defenses were gone—once again.

  He knew how to work me. Very softly, he stroked the side of my face. My entire insides began to warm up. Malcolm had the blueprint and the key that opened every door on my body and there was nothing I could do about it. He quickly undressed and then seductively peeled down my jeans and then pulled my pink top over my head. His naked six-foot-two, dark brown, wood-grain-colored skin stood in front of me. I love you so so much, I thought. I couldn’t help the way I felt. Malcolm was perfect and I wanted to kiss every centimeter of his gorgeous, sculpted body.

  His legs, chest, and stomach were full of ripped muscles. I kissed him as he slowly removed my bra and then began to let his tongue wrestle with the hardened tips of my nipples. His tongue won as I squirmed and tried to enjoy the moment and not scream out his name. I didn’t want to make too much noise with Tyler in the other room.

  He then left my breasts alone to go and play with other parts of my body. He shimmied my panties down, inch by inch, until they were hanging around my ankles. I flung them off. Malcolm kneeled down in front of me and took his thick, moist tongue and began wagging on my clitoris like he was thirsty and my insides held the water he desperately needed. With every lick, I could feel my knees getting weak. The sensation of his tongue had me winding my hips. I was now ready for him to enter me, but before he placed his hardness inside me I had to return the favor. He had done such a good job pleasing me, he deserved it. I began sweeping my lips back and forth, covering what I missed with soft kisses. I licked his shaft up and down, and then started making little circles around the head of his dick with my tongue. Then I pulled him inside my mouth. I couldn’t help from moaning as I felt his manhood grow in size and power. I stopped midway because I wanted him to release inside my body.

  Malcolm threw me on the bed and turned me over so my ass could point directly up at him. I was on top of the bed with my legs spread apart, each foot touching the opposite side of the bed. Forcefully, he entered me. And once again I wanted to scream from pleasure. But I was forced to control myself and hold it in. I grabbed the white bed sheets as my tightness bench-pressed him, pulling it in and out. He twisted his pelvis from one side to the other, trying to knock out each wall with his stroke. He worked it from side to side, and then switched to a straight stroke, hitting my G-spot each time. I could feel that his body was about to climax and it felt so good, I didn’t want it to end.

  “You want this?” I asked him.

  “Yeah, baby,” he mumbled.

  “Does it feel good?”

  “Yes, your pussy is so fucking good and you know it.”

  “Then don’t cum yet. Try this time to hold back,” I said. I really wanted to say, Is it good enough to leave that bitch? Is it good enough to be with me, every day? But of course, I kept those thoughts to myself.

  “I can’t hold it, Nikki, it’s too good,” he groaned as his body jerked back and forth into mine until he couldn’t move anymore. And that’s when I clenched together my insides and wrung every ounce of fluid from his body.

  “Baby, don’t do that. Stop! For real. I love you, Nikki. You about to make me cry,” he said as he collapsed on top of me and panted in my ears, telling me over and over how much he loved me.

  When his heart rate calmed down, he put on his underwear, went to the bathroom, and checked on Tyler. Then he came back and we just lay in the bed and held each other. The sex was always so good, so beautiful and great. But being held by Malcolm afterward was my favorite part. I loved resting my head on his chest and hearing our heartbeats playing drums back and forth, together. This was true heaven and it always ended too soon.

  We took a brief nap before Tyler awoke. Malcolm gave him a snack and turned the Cartoon Network on and came and got back in bed with me. He left the door open and Tyler sipped on his juice cup and ate Cheerios from his container. We both dozed off again until Tyler began crying. When I opened my eyes I saw my pocketbook, keys, credit cards, and makeup scattered all around the room.

  Malcolm jumped up and said, “What are you doing, Tyler? Stop crying.” Then he stared at his cell phone. “She called me nine times!” he yelled. Suddenly, he jumped up and began dressing Tyler. His phone started ringing again. He answered and I walked in the bathroom to give him some privacy. I hated hearing his conversation with her. She must have asked him where he was, because I could hear him say, “Getting something to eat.” Then he said, “He’s fine. He took a nap. Yeah, we went to the movies. I’ll be home shortly.”

  His last words made my heart hurt, and that familiar feeling of being all by myself crept up on me once again. Before I finished washing my face, he came inside the bathroom and said, “Let me get in here real quick.” I turned off the faucets. My feelings were hurt, but I didn’t say anything. I tried not to let my emotions show. I left the bathroom with my game face on, trying to act like there was nothing wrong.

  Tyler knew me. He smiled as I played with him while his father showered, washing away what we just did.

  “You a daddy’s boy. You love daddy?” I asked him as he smiled and playfully slapped my cheek.

  Malcolm came out of the shower smelling of soap and cologne. He dressed quickly. I couldn’t help feeling sad as I walked him and his son to his car. He hadn’t even pulled off yet and I was missing him like crazy. I watched sadly as he put the baby bag and Tyler in the car. Next, he threw his duffel bag in the trunk. I gave him a hug. “I don’t w
ant you to go,” I whispered, holding on to him with all my might.

  “I don’t wanna leave you, Nikki. But you know what it is. I have to go.”

  “When am I going to see you again?” I asked as he got in the car. I hated that I had allowed myself to be pulled right back into the same messed-up situation.

  “I don’t know, but I got to go, I don’t want her tripping.” He saw I was about to tear up so he said, “It is not going to be that much longer. I promise you.”

  I managed to hold back my tears and said “Bye,” as he pulled off. I waved at the car as it traveled out of sight. I couldn’t help being upset. It’s just that I wanted him so bad. I wanted him to get a divorce and marry me. We could buy a house and his son could come and live with us. I would be a good stepmom. I just wished we could wake up together every morning and he would be at my beck and call.

  I went back to the suite, showered, and then threw my clothes back on. I knew he was going to have to leave me, but I didn’t expect him to leave this early. It was only seven and it was still early, so I decided to stop by Tia’s. I hadn’t been able to reach her for a couple of days.

  CHAPTER 5

  Tia lived in a big house that her parents gave her and her brother. Her brother got married, so now the house belonged to Tia. She had so much space and was so lucky. If she didn’t have Lamar’s bum-ass around all the time, I would be trying to stay with her instead of living with my mother.

  “You look cute. Where you coming from?” Tia asked.

  “The hotel with Malcolm and his son.”

  She didn’t say anything right way, but I knew what was on her mind. She wanted to say something, like I was wrong, but I knew that already.

  “You a bold bitch,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Whatever, you going to stop disappearing? Who you creeping with?”

  “Nobody, Lamar just be on some ish. Every few days he wants all of my time and I got to give it to him.”