Full Figured 12

by La Jill Hunt

  I stood beside him and stared at what was inside. “What the hell? Whose is this?”

  “It was Ephraim’s, but now you can use it,” he said, pulling a brown tarp off of what I now saw was a black Honda Accord that looked practically brand new.

  “I can’t use this,” I said, still stunned that Josh would even be willing to do this.

  “Why not?” he asked with a puzzled look.

  “Because it’s not . . . I can’t . . . this isn’t . . .” I didn’t have an exact answer, but I knew I couldn’t use that car.

  “You sound ridiculous, Zen.” He opened the car door and got in. “The key is right here under the seat somewhere.”

  “You keep the key in the car?”

  “Yeah, so I won’t lose it,” he said, just before the engine started up, letting me know that he had found the key. “I start it up once a month so the battery doesn’t go dead.”

  I shook my head. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  Josh got out of the car and asked, “What’s the problem now? You don’t have to get a rental, and you can use it as long as you need to. The car just sits here covered. It’s no big deal.”

  “Because I’ll still be back at square one driving someone else’s car.”

  “Trust me, I would never pull a bitch-ass move like your ex did.”

  “I’m not saying that you would do that, but you would still have the ability to. It’s time for me to position myself so that I will have my own. You know what I mean? I appreciate the offer, Josh. Really, I do. But I can’t.”

  He looked disappointed as he turned the engine off and covered the car again. “Well, in case you change your mind, it’s yours to use. I’m just trying to help, that’s all.”

  “I appreciate it, but you can really help by taking me to the airport to pick up this rental.”

  He finally agreed and took me to the rental car agency, where I picked up a car to use for the next week. When I came out with the keys, he looked at me and said, “You sure about this?”

  “Yes.” I nodded. “I really appreciate you.”

  He stepped out of the car and gave me a hug. I enjoyed the feel of being in his arms a little more than I wanted to, and based on the length of time he held me against him, he enjoyed it just as much.

  “You don’t have to get a room, Zen. You can stay with me,” he said, leaning his chin against my head. “I want you to.”

  I stepped back so I could look at him. “Josh . . .”

  “And this doesn’t have shit to do with your being locked out of your house. I want you to stay with me because I enjoy talking with you and being with you.” He pulled my face close to his and kissed me, softly at first; then when our lips parted, his intensity increased. His mouth was as warm and inviting as I remembered from the first kiss we’d shared. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me closer. When he finally released me, he smiled and said, “And I enjoy kissing you.”

  “I see.”

  “Stay with me, Zen.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  I stepped off the elevator and continued down the corridor until I got to room 1521. My hands were full with bags of items I’d purchased from Walmart to get me through the weekend: toiletries, a phone charger, socks and underwear, pajamas, two pair of leggings, and a couple of cute T-shirts. I fumbled with the bags and my purse as I used the keycard to open the door.

  The Westin was one of my favorite hotel chains, and the king-sized room was spacious. I put my bags down on the dresser and closed the curtains, pausing to take a view of the city lights. It looked so peaceful. I sent Josh a quick text, thanking him again and telling him I would talk to him in the morning, sent Bailey a text telling her where I was, and then I took a much-needed, long, hot bath.

  I had just climbed into bed and was searching for something to watch on television when Var called my phone. My first instinct was to cuss him out as soon as I hit the ANSWER button, but I was the one who had tried calling him earlier, so technically he was just answering my call.

  I quickly counted backward from five before saying, “Hello.”

  “Hey, Zen. I got your text.”

  “I sent several texts,” I said, not trying to hide my attitude.

  “Well, you can come over and get your stuff. I ain’t realize I had your car keys. Sorry about that. You wanna come now?” he asked as if he were doing me some kind of favor. “Or I can come to you. I don’t have the code to get into—”

  “Var, I’m not even home. I couldn’t get into the house because you have my fucking keys and Bailey is out of town,” I snapped.

  “Oh,” was his weak response.

  “Oh,” I repeated mockingly.

  “Well, where are you? Are you with that dude?” he snapped.

  “I’m not dealing with this tonight, Var. I’ll come by in the morning and get my stuff.”

  “You’re acting like this is all on me. All I’m asking you to do is be honest with me. If you got somebody else, then just say it.”

  “Good-bye, Var.” I hung up the phone. It rang again, and thinking it was him calling back, I answered, “What?”

  “Damn, I’m just making sure you’re okay. Calm down.” Bailey laughed.

  “I thought you were Var. My bad.”

  “Var? What the hell does he want?” she asked.

  I lay back on my comfortable pillows, grabbed the jumbo bag of M&Ms that I’d gotten from the store, and shared the details of the day.

  “He offered you a fucking car? And you didn’t take it?” she gushed.

  “No, I didn’t take it. Are you crazy? Why would I put myself in the same situation and risk the car I’m driving being taken away by a dude with a bruised ego?” I asked.

  “Well, you do have a point. But I would’ve taken him up on his offer to stay at the crib. Especially after the great time y’all had the last time you ended up over there,” she said playfully. “So, where are you staying?”

  “I’m staying at the Westin. I sent you a text telling you where I was and my room number a little while ago. Are you drunk?” I laughed.

  “I didn’t get a text from you. The last text I got was the one you sent earlier, asking where I was,” she said.

  I looked at my text messages and realized what I’d done. “Shit.”

  “What?”

  “I sent Josh both texts. The one for him, and the one for you.” I groaned.

  “That’s funny as hell. Are you drunk?” She laughed.

  My phone beeped, and I saw Josh’s name on the screen. I told Bailey I would talk to her later and answered the phone without even saying hello.

  “I’m sorry. I meant to send that text to Bailey.”

  “Oh, damn, so that wasn’t an invitation? I was on my way,” he said.

  “You were not,” I said; then added, “Were you?”

  “No, I wasn’t. But I’m glad you’re safe and sound.”

  I didn’t know if I believed him, because I could tell that he was in his truck.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “Nowhere, really. I was bored, so I decided to ride out. You wanna join me?”

  “No, I’m in for the night. Thanks for offering. I’ll give you a call tomorrow,” I told him.

  “A’ight. Talk to you then. Enjoy the rest of your night, Zen.”

  “Josh?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t hung up.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks for everything. I really appreciate it.”

  “Naw, I should be thanking you,” he said then ended the call.

  I put the candy away, put my phone on the charger, and pulled the covers around me; then I tossed and turned for about an hour, unable to sleep. Every time my eyes closed, I thought about Josh and the kiss we’d shared. I rolled over and reached for my phone, only to put it back down.

  What are you doing? Calling him would be insane. Things just became normal between you. Do you want to mess that up? What is wrong with you? I tried to reason with myself, and again asked,
What is wrong with you?

  I sat up, and this time when I picked up my phone, I didn’t put it back down. I dialed Josh’s number. When he answered, I simply said, “Come over. I want you to stay with me.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. As soon as I opened it, he pulled me to him and kissed me as he walked inside. I tore at his clothes, pulling his shirt over his head as he stopped in the middle of the floor to take off his pants and shoes. He kissed me as we continued the remaining ten feet across the room until we reached the oversized bed.

  He went to lay me down, but it was my turn to take control. I pushed him down on the bed and then kneeled in front of him. We smiled at one another just before I took his hardened manhood in my mouth. A groan escaped, and his fingers softly entangled my hair as my lips went back and forth, sucking and teasing the tip of his slightly curved penis, taking it farther and farther into my mouth until I nearly gagged. The sound of him moaning my name over and over caused my already moistened pussy to become even wetter.

  “Stop,” he said, then pushed me away gently and stood up. He reached for his pants and took out a condom, then slipped it on. He walked back over to the bed and lay on his back. “Get on top.”

  I smiled and obliged, straddling him and guiding him into my welcoming wetness. It was my turn to moan now, enjoying the feeling of him inside me. I rode him, slowly at first, as his fingers teased my clit. Then his hands made their way around my body and gripped my ass, encouraging me to go faster. I leaned over, and he took my nipples into his mouth and sucked them, driving me closer to climaxing.

  “Oh, shit,” I panted. “That’s my spot.”

  “Damn, Zen,” he said, smacking me on the ass.

  I felt myself getting wetter and wetter, and then he gripped me so tight that I knew he had arrived at the same destination I had, and we released simultaneously. I collapsed onto his chest. He kissed my collarbone and moaned my name again.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered, exhausted and satisfied.

  “That was fucking amazing,” he said.

  We lay for a few more minutes, both of us hot and covered in sweat and enjoying the moment, until he finally got up and went into the bathroom.

  “Hey, Zen,” he called out a few minutes later.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you come here a sec?”

  Thinking something was wrong, I walked to the bathroom door. “What is it?”

  He opened the door and pointed to the steam-filled shower. “Can you come in here and scrub my back?”

  I laughed, and he pulled me into the bathroom with him. We showered, then had another round in bed, leaving both of us satisfied and exhausted. I fell asleep with my head on his chest and his arm around me.

  * * *

  “Did your family come to your wedding?” I asked the next morning while we lay in bed.

  “Huh?”

  “Did they come to your wedding?” I asked again.

  “Oh, yeah, they did. But it was like this whole production, so big that I can’t even remember them being there. I mean, they were in the pictures, but for real, it didn’t even feel like a wedding. Shit, it didn’t even feel like a marriage.” He sighed.

  “Why? Weren’t y’all together for a while before you got married?”

  “Yeah, we were, but, man, most of the time while we were dating, I was on the road. We dated two years before I proposed, but I didn’t really know her. I don’t think I ever did.

  “Don’t get me wrong, she was cool, but I think I loved her ambition more than I loved her. This chick was determined and driven. I liked that about her. And she made me feel like we were gonna be this amazing team. She had the plans, and I had the finances. It made sense. So, we opened Amelia’s, and she was right. It was a hit,” he said.

  “The Amelia’s?” I asked, realizing he was talking about one of the hottest restaurants in the Southeast, where the “who’s who” in sports, music, and media dined.

  “Yep, that Amelia’s.”

  “Wow.”

  “So, I poured everything into making her dreams come true, and she shitted on me. Now she’s about to open her second location with the divorce settlement and marry the love of her life. And I have . . . nothing.”

  I touched the side of his face and said, “That’s not true. You have a life and the same opportunity to live your own dreams and make them come true. Her leaving you was probably the best thing that happened to you, because you don’t have to live on her terms or follow the plans she has. You can make your own plans.”

  As I said the words, I realized that they weren’t just for him, but for me too.

  “Remember when I told you that Var and I broke up when I found out he had a baby with someone else?”

  “Yeah.” Josh nodded.

  “I found out right after I’d had a miscarriage. It was the most heartbreaking moments of my life, and I felt like I had nothing else to lose. Until I lost my job,” I said.

  Josh kissed the top of my head and said, “Zen, I’m so sorry.”

  “But now I realize that if all of that hadn’t happened, I would be married and have a baby with a cheater, working at a job I hated because he wanted me to work there, living in a house I didn’t want to live in. And knowing me, I probably wouldn’t want to leave because I would have stayed to keep my family together.”

  “That’s deep. So, I guess we should both be glad that we’re losers, huh?” he asked.

  “The biggest.” I laughed and kissed him.

  * * *

  Later that day, I drove to Var’s house to get my keys. I sent him a text to let him know I was there, and then waited by the car for him to come out of the house.

  “You could’ve come inside, Zen,” he said.

  “I’m good,” I told him.

  “Whose car is this?”

  “It’s a rental. Can I get my keys, please?” I stood straight with my hand held out.

  “You didn’t have to get a rental. You know I’m not keeping your car. You can take it.”

  “It’s not my car, Var. It’s yours. You made that clear yesterday, and you were right. I should’ve given it back to you a long time ago. I don’t know why I didn’t. Wait, that’s a lie. I do know why.”

  “I know why too, Zen. It’s because you know deep down we’re supposed to be together,” he said.

  I shook my head. “No, that’s not why. It’s because I was too afraid to let go of you, of us, completely. I think that having this car was like a security blanket that made me feel like I still had you if I needed you.”

  “You know I’m there for you, Zen.”

  “No, Var, you’re not. You proved that yesterday. And I’m glad you did, because you know what I realized? I was miserable for a long time when I was with you. I thought going back to school and taking that job and putting away those things that I loved to do was important because, as you put it, you were helping me be the best me I could be.”

  “And that’s right. You know I encouraged you to be better, Zen, because I love you.”

  “No, you controlled me. You never supported me and the things I wanted to do. Never. But this isn’t about you. It’s about me. Because despite not having what you call a good job, and living with my best friend, I am the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m finally able to follow my dreams and pursue goals that I know will make me the best me I want to be, not the me someone else wants. So, Var, you can keep your car. But first, give me my keys so I can get my stuff out,” I told him.

  “So, it’s like that?” He shoved the keys at me. I ignored his hostility and thanked him as I took them out of his hand. I cleared everything that belonged to me out of the car and then took his key off and gave it back to him.

  “It doesn’t have to be like this, Zen. I swear, I’m sorry,” he pleaded.

  I looked at him and smiled. “It’s okay, Var. Like I told a friend of mine, God has a way of taking things away from us to make room for something better. We’ll both be fine.”

/>   Var sat in the driver’s seat and pulled down the visor. A card fell out, and he handed it to me. “You forgot this.”

  I looked at the card and saw that it was the number of an attorney. It was the card Tam had given me, encouraging me to call. I assumed it was the lawyer who had helped her win a settlement from the realty firm. I took it from him and tucked it into my pocket, just in case someday I decided to give her a call. After all, I didn’t have anything to lose, did I?

  Epilogue

  “Zen, I gotta say, you outdid yourself with this house,” Bailey said as she walked into the kitchen where Georgette and I were taking tops off trays of appetizers that the caterer had dropped off.

  “Isn’t everything gorgeous?” Georgette grinned. “I walked in, and it took my breath away. She and Josh refused to let me see it until today.”

  “Well, it wasn’t just me. It was Caldwell too,” I told her.

  “Where is Caldwell? I didn’t see him,” Bailey said.

  “He’s in the backyard with Josh. They’re grilling,” I told her.

  “You guys need any help?” Bailey offered.

  “Sure, wash up and grab a tray and bring it on out,” Georgette told her, picking up a tray of fruit and heading to the backyard, where a tent and tables had already been set up, along with a deejay. It was a gorgeous day, and people had already started arriving.

  “Well, she sure is pleased. I’ll bet you a hundred bucks you’re gonna get a hefty bonus. You did a hell of a job on this house—and her son,” Bailey teased.

  “Stop it. I’m just glad we got everything finished in time.”

  “I don’t know why you were worried. Y’all have been working nonstop. Unless y’all were working on something else that you ain’t tell me about.” She winked.

  “Shut up. And Caldwell was putting in just as many hours here as we were. We all wanted to make this party happen for Georgette.”

  “Well, bestie, it looks great, and you did an amazing job. I’m proud of you,” she said, picking up a veggie tray.

  “I’m glad you think so, considering that now that it’s finished, I’m back to working at Loehmann’s. So, I’m gonna have to have my rent reduced until I come across another design job.” I laughed, picking up a tray, and we both headed in the same direction as Georgette.