Who Do I Run To?

by Black, Anna

  “Well, if you don’t change the locks, you’re going to always worry about him popping in on you or being at your place when you and that fine-ass Isaiah come in from a romantic dinner. Or when Isaiah may want to stay late to massage places that you need to be massaged ...” she teased.

  “All right, I get your point. I’ll get my key back.”

  “No, damn that—change your locks. Do you think he’s going to just hand over the key?”

  “Yes, I do,” she said, fooling herself. Deep down, she knew it wasn’t going to go that smooth, but it was worth a shot.

  “Whatever. As I can see, you still live in Jai-land, the land of the nutcases,” she said in jest.

  “See, there you go, minding my business.”

  “I’m only suggesting. Now go, get off the phone, call Isaiah, and invite him for dinner and make something slamming.”

  “Okay, I’ll call him, and if he refuses to talk to me?”

  “Hey, well, that’s his loss.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay, babe, good luck.”

  “Thanks, bye now.”

  “Bye,” she said, and they hung up.

  Janiece scrolled through her caller ID to find Isaiah’s number. She called him, and it went to voice mail. She didn’t leave a message; just decided to try him a little later. She went back to bed but couldn’t fall asleep. She got up and put a movie in the DVD player to watch. After two of her favorite movies and a shower, she called Isaiah again, and still, he let her call go to voice mail. She declined on leaving him a message again and decided to order some Chinese food from her favorite spot a few blocks down the street from her place.

  Normally she drove down, but since it was a nice day, she decided to walk. She was looking radiant again in case she ran into Isaiah. She walked back slowly, ignoring all the honks and guys trying to holla’ at her on the street. She had only one man on her mind, and she was disappointed to still not see his truck outside of their building when she got back.

  Janiece went inside and put her food on the counter, then decided she’d go over to his sister’s place. She went in the bathroom to comb her hair and reapply her lip gloss.

  She was a little mad that Isaiah didn’t bother to call or say anything else to her. She knew the night before had gone badly, but she thought he liked her. When she got to the door to go across the hall her phone rang. She was relieved and thought finally he called her back, but it was K.P.. That was odd and shocking for a Sunday afternoon, because that was his so-called family day.

  She hesitated for a moment, because she wasn’t thrilled like she usually was to talk to him. He was not occupying her thoughts, at least not the past couple of days. She wasn’t missing him in the worst way like before. He wasn’t the HNIC anymore, and one date made her realize she was beautiful and important. That was one of the reasons she didn’t want to answer the phone, but she did anyway.

  “Hello,” she said in a monotone voice.

  “Damn, baby, what took you so long to answer the phone?” he asked sounding cheerful, like she was the love of his life.

  “Nothing, I couldn’t find the cordless,” she lied quickly.

  “So, what’s up with you? I haven’t heard from you since—” he tried to say, but she cut him off.

  “Since you left my house mad at me for taking too long at dinner with my sister and leaving me that funky-ass note,” she said expressing to him how much she didn’t appreciate what he had done.

  “Well, I was pretty pissed off, but now, I realize that I should not have acted that way. Did you get my note and the roses?”

  “Yes, I got your roses and sorry-ass apology card,” she barked. She hated when he just acted like a simple sorry was going to make it all better.

  “What’s wrong, Jai? I tried to call you last night, but you didn’t pick up. I figured you were out with Janelle, so I came to apologize to you in person. I waited for you, and I got there about seven. After eleven you know I got pissed when you didn’t answer the phone and I called you a million times. So where were you, Jai?”

  “That’s none of your business,” she said before she could stop herself.

  “None of my business? What do you mean none of my business? I’ma be there in a minute,” he said and hung up. She tried to call him right back to tell him she was on her way out, but he was already pulling into the parking lot. Damn, damn, damn is what she thought to herself when she saw his truck pull into the parking stall.

  She opened the door just in case Isaiah came up; she didn’t want him to see K.P. using a key. She stood in the kitchen waiting for him. He was taking an awfully long time, so she looked out the window. He was on the phone. Probably lying to his wife again, she thought.

  He finally got out of the truck and as soon as he started up the steps, her phone rang. It was Isaiah. She wanted to pick up so bad, but K.P. was walking in the door. She quickly walked over to her answering machine and turned the volume completely down in case he left her a message. She was disappointed that she couldn’t talk to Isaiah, because that was who she had been impatiently waiting on to call her.

  “Where were you?” K.P. asked first. She didn’t answer. She just looked at him, rolled her eyes, and walked away. He followed behind her into the living room. “Who were you with last night, Jai?”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked trying to play the role.

  “Don’t play games with me, Janiece. Who were you with that you couldn’t answer your damn cell phone!” he snapped. “Now tell me what’s going on with you. Where were you last night!” he yelled.

  “I was out,” she snapped back.

  “With whom … your hair’s all fixed and you looking like a superstar for some new cat, but when I’m around, you act like you need me to give you money to fix your hair and nails. What? Some other dude got your hair fixed and got you looking and smelling all good?” he asked, and he was angry as hell.

  “No, I don’t have a man doing nothing for me. Why are you so worried about how I got my hair and nails done? You didn’t care on Tuesday when you were too busy being an asshole to get it done for me. You were so mad at me for nothing, K.P., and you disregarded the fact that you promised to give me money to get my stuff taken care of. I called you a million times last week, and you just ignored me, and now you wanna come up in here and question me about whom, what, and where? Man, please …, gon’ with that,” Janiece said with attitude. She was tired of him treating her like she was a doormat. It was bad enough she played second fiddle to his wife and kids.

  “Jai, you betta not be fucking around on me. I swear to God if—” he said, but she abruptly cut him off again.

  “You swear to God what? And don’t be swearing to God in my house,” Janiece said, getting up off of the couch. She wanted to get in his face. She wanted things to get ugly so she could get her key back and send him on his way.

  “Jai,” he said, calming himself. “Look, I know I didn’t have to go to the extreme with you last week, and I’m sorry, but please don’t go throwing away what we have. Come on, babe, we can work this out,” he said moving closer to her and that was definitely a bad idea. She was mad but not over him, and he had a way with her.

  “Stop it K.P.! It’s not gonna be that easy this time,” she said putting up her guard. She had to fight him with force, because he was slick, smooth, fine, and the man she was still in love with. She wanted to get to know Isaiah, but her feelings for K.P. were not yet gone. She was just angry and tired of the way things were between them.

  “So what are you saying, Jai? Come on, babe, I’m sorry. Don’t make this bigger than what it is. I missed you,” he said touching her arms. His touch was gentle, and she missed him too.

  “Look, K.P., I know you said you were sorry, and I do accept your apology, but I’m tired of going through the motions with you. You have so much control and power over this relationship. Not to mention you abuse your power, and I’m tired of it.”

  “Wha
t do you mean, Jai? I don’t mistreat you.”

  “Yes, you do, K.P.. You come and go as you please, and I have restrictions. You call and expect me to answer. If I don’t, all hell breaks loose, but if you don’t pick up, I’m just supposed to ‘understand.’ You get mad or upset and go away for a few days and just leave me out there, and then when you feel good and when it’s convenient for you, you come around.

  “I’m getting fed up with that. Like last week, even though you knew I was out with Janelle, still you got pissed off. Went off, didn’t say nothing to me for a week. Damn how Janiece felt all week. Now you’re calm and can stand to be around me again.”

  “I’m sorry, Jai, and I know that was messed up. I am sorry for being an asshole to you, Jai. My temper gets in the way, and I’m sorry. Just know I love you, and I’m not perfect. I fucked up, okay? That wasn’t cool, and, yes, I was the one who promised to take care of your hair, and I should have done what I was supposed to do,” he said pulling out his wallet. He took three hundred dollars from it. “Here, baby, here’s the money for your hair and stuff and for whatever else you need,” he said. She didn’t take it so he put it on the coffee table.

  She was touched by his attempt to make things right, and she stood there and let him charm her, and before long, he was kissing her passionately and touching her body. She allowed him to take her body again. They ended up in bed, and she gave him what he wanted, and he gave her what she thought she needed. She wished that she and K.P. could have been that perfect couple, but there was nothing perfect about their relationship. Now there was no way she could get up the courage to ask for her key.

  After their session of lovemaking he was sleeping while she lay awake in the dark. She thought about her food on the counter and got up to go fix herself a plate. She put the plate in the microwave and peeped out of the window and saw the Avalanche parked on the street. That made her stomach jump. How long had he been next door—she wondered. Damn, she knew he saw K.P.’s truck and must have figured out that she was seeing someone.

  She opened the fridge and thought about how she was going to tell K.P. to leave so she could at least call Isaiah, but she didn’t have to, because he walked in the kitchen fully dressed. Although she wanted to kick him out, she instantly got an attitude because reality kicked in. Sex and then he had to bounce, and that was what she hated.

  “I see you gotta go,” she said while rinsing a wineglass. She didn’t look at him, because she knew it would cause her to address the hit-and-run routine again, and she simply didn’t want to go there.

  “Yeah, I wasn’t supposed to be out this long,” he said and walked over to embrace her from behind.

  “Jai, things are going to be different—”

  “Different? How?” she interrupted him with attitude. She had heard it all before, and that was the last thing she wanted him to say.

  “Things are going to change—”

  “Change when?” she snapped, cutting him off again. She knew that change was coming soon for her. She knew she was going to have to leave him alone soon; that was a change she was sure was going to happen.

  “Look, baby, I love you. Please don’t do this, Jai. I don’t want to leave you upset,” he said and turned her to face him. “Please, baby, give me a smile.”

  She gave him a fake smile and thought to herself that she was definitely going to have to move on. At least if she was with Isaiah right now, he wouldn’t have to run off and go home to his wife. “Do you love me, Jai?” he asked. She hesitated.

  “Yes,” she finally whispered.

  “Don’t worry, babe, things are gonna be different soon. I promise you. You won’t have to be fighting for my time anymore,” he said, and she looked puzzled. What did he mean? What was he trying to say? Were he and Kimberly having problems—she wondered?

  “Just give me some time, babe, and you’ll see. Please don’t go and start trying to replace me. You’re a beautiful woman Jai, and I want you for me, and if I have to give everything up to have you—I will,” he said and kissed her passionately. She was so mesmerized by his words she didn’t ask another question.

  She just let him leave. She stood and watched him from the window get into his truck. Once he closed the door and pulled out of the stall, she bounced back to reality and realized he was jealous. He knew she was getting some attention elsewhere; he wasn’t slick, she thought and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

  She was getting ready to get in when her cell phone went off. It was a text from K.P., saying I love you. She tossed her phone on the bed and went to shower. When she came out she tried once again to call Isaiah, but he didn’t pick up. She left him a message finally, asking him to call her. After that, she heated up her food and by ten thirty he still hadn’t called back so she went to bed.

  Chapter Ten

  The next day she went to work and hadn’t heard anything from Isaiah, but K.P. certainly made it clear that he wasn’t going to let Isaiah have an easy win. He sent Janiece flowers and made a surprise visit to her office to take her to lunch. After getting at least five calls from him that afternoon, he went that extra mile and picked her up from work. This was madness, Janiece thought to herself, when he told her he was downstairs waiting for her. She was floored when she got off the elevator and he was standing there at the information desk like a model fresh outta Jet magazine.

  He didn’t have on his wedding ring, and she smiled because it would have embarrassed her in front of her coworkers who had heard the name K.P. a million times but never had the pleasure of meeting him in five years. They had no clue she was seeing a married man. So taking off his ring was a brilliant decision, Janiece thought to herself when she approached him with three young ladies that she worked with on her floor.

  They had ridden down on the elevator at the same time and were anxious to meet what they thought of as the imaginary boyfriend. He was the office joke when they whispered rumors about Janiece and K.P. behind her back. Now he was standing in the lobby looking fine as hell. He had on a suit that hung on him like a tailor-made masterpiece. It was name brand, Janiece was sure, but she had no clue who the designer was.

  The closer they got to him, the finer he looked. She was proud that he was tall and dark and, as always, well groomed. No matter if he was in sweats, jeans, or a sharp suit, he looked good. She was anxious to introduce her nosy-ass coworkers, who always want to think a sister lying about her fine-ass man. The mortgage broker that she had bragged about finally was real, and her face was glowing when she introduced him to everyone.

  She had asked him to company picnics and parties, and he’d always declined in fear that one of his clients or someone that knew him or Kimberly would be there, so this was the first time that she had an opportunity to let anyone from her office meet him. They chatted and made small talk while the ladies checked him out. They all flirted, and it didn’t bother Janiece because she knew that K.P. was a stud. She was flattered that he was getting the type of attention that they were giving him.

  Two of the ladies knew how far to go, and they said their nice-to-meet-yous and bounced, but Shawnee Williams acted like she didn’t know how to stop running her big mouth. All the eye batting and fake giggles made Janiece want to slap the taste right out of her mouth. She was flinging her fake-ass weave and batting her flake-ass lashes like she was Beyoncé or somebody. Janiece kept her cool though, and when Shawnee asked K.P. for a business card, he politely told her that he didn’t have any on hand, and if she wanted to get in contact with him, to go through Janiece.

  Then he grabbed Janiece by the hand, and after taking one last peep at Shawnee’s big tits, he told her that they had to run because of a dinner reservation. Shawnee’s jaw almost dropped. He kissed Janiece on the cheek and asked if she was all set, and then they walked out of the revolving doors.

  Shawnee was standing in disbelief, thinking to herself, how did fat-ass Janiece Hawkins catch such a big fish? She readjusted herself and ran to the ladies’ room just to make su
re she didn’t have a monster in her nose, because it wasn’t often a man didn’t notice her. Even if he was with his woman, she knew that she could turn heads.

  Janiece walked hand in hand with K.P. up the block to his truck. She was glowing and felt more special that day than any day ever. She had pictures of her and K.P. on her desk, but still the girls on floor thought she was making him up. They would always say, “Damn, girl, who is this fine-ass brotha?” while they examined one of the photos on her desk, and when she’d say her man, of course she’d get the look of disbelief. Now she knew tomorrow she would be the topic of the office chatter, that the guy in the pictures was a real guy and looked as good in real life as he did in the photos.

  They got in his truck and went to Lawry’s Prime Rib restaurant for dinner. K.P. was outdoing himself, because going out to dinner, let alone to a nice restaurant, was something that never happened. Not only a lunch date, but dinner too. She was in awe. Although she was having a good time, the thoughts of Isaiah still invaded her mind. She had her cell phone on vibrate to keep the peace between her and K.P., but she checked it every five minutes to see if he called.

  By the time they made it back to her condo, there still hadn’t been one call from Isaiah and that disappointed her. All the while she was with K.P. she was hoping Isaiah would at least call, so that she would know that he was thinking of her, but he failed to do that. It was getting late that Monday evening, and she was wondering how K.P. was managing to still be out. She didn’t ask; she just went along with it and tried to enjoy him, because she knew that it was not going to happen again, not real soon anyway.

  She went into her kitchen and peeped through her window curtains to see if Isaiah’s truck was outside, but the Avalanche was nowhere in sight. Finally, she went into the bedroom. K.P. was sleeping peacefully, so she got her cell phone from her bag. It was after ten and she wanted to call Isaiah while K.P. was sleeping. She went into the bathroom and sat on the side of the tub. After scrolling through the numbers in her phonebook, she hit the talk button when she landed on Isaiah’s name, but the phone didn’t ring. It went straight to his voice mail.