I Heard It All Before

by Chenell Parker

  “Excuse me,” Demi said, genuinely confused by what he was saying.

  “You paid for my food a few weeks ago when you were in here and I just wanted to return the favor,” Cam replied.

  “If I had an appetite, I would take you up on your offer,” Demi said as she smiled politely.

  She was sure that she looked a hot ass mess, with no makeup on and her hair in a ponytail. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying and she saw that before she got out of her car. IHOP didn’t have a drive-thru, so she had to get out to get her coffee. Once she got in there, Demi decided to sit down for a little while. She didn’t have any reason to rush.

  “You good?” Cam asked as he took in the sad expression on her face. He could tell that she had been crying, but he didn’t want to get in her business.

  Demi wanted to break down and cry again, but she held her tears in as best she could. She felt her eyes water, but she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Demi said as she looked up and made eye contact with him. “You look so familiar. Where do I know you from?”

  “I just told you. You paid for my food a few weeks ago,” Cam replied as he took a seat at her table. Although Demi never invited him to sit down, she didn’t mind the handsome stranger’s company.

  “No, that’s not it. I didn’t even pay attention to who I paid for that day. You seem so familiar to me for some reason,” she noted.

  “I don’t know, but the name is Cam,” he said while extending his hand for her to shake. He knew why she kept saying that he looked familiar, but he was trying to move away from that subject. He didn’t want to be associated with his father in any way if he could help it.

  “Demi,” she replied while shaking his hand.

  “Pretty name,” Cam noted as he spied the wedding ring that graced her finger.

  “Thanks.” She smiled as she continued to stare at him. She was trying hard to see where she knew him from, but she was coming up empty.

  “You sure you don’t want anything to eat Demi? It’s my treat,” Cam offered.

  “Maybe I’ll have some strawberry crepes,” Demi said when her stomach started to growl. She hadn’t eaten anything since the night before, and she was starving.

  “Coming right up,” Cam said as she waved a waitress over.

  He ordered his omelet and Demi’s crepes, along with a fresh new iced coffee for her to enjoy. They made small talk until the food came and they both dug in as soon as it did. Demi tried not to stare so much, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “What? I got food around my mouth or something?” Cam asked as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin.

  “No, you’re fine. I’m sorry for staring, but you just look so familiar. I know it’s weird, so I’ll stop,” Demi replied.

  “No, it’s cool,” Cam said, deciding to come clean with her. “You were at my father’s funeral, but I don’t think you saw me.”

  “Your father?” Demi questioned.

  “Camden Blaire,” Cam spoke up, as Demi’s eyes damn near bulged from their sockets.

  “Yes! That’s it! You were on a picture with him in the program. That’s the picture that he had put up in the lobby,” Demi said excitedly.

  “What lobby?” Cam questioned.

  “I work at the Blaire Law Firm. Not too long before he passed, Mr. Blaire had a picture blown up and framed to put in our lobby. That’s where I recognized you from. That’s the first thing people see when they walk in,” Demi informed him, happy that she could stop wracking her brain.

  “That’s a shock,” Cam said.

  “What’s a shock?” Demi asked.

  “That he put a picture of me anywhere. I wasn’t the favorite subject in his household. I’m just the product of his affair with a black woman.” Cam shrugged.

  “Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. Are you a Blaire too?” Demi questioned.

  “Davis, my mother’s last name,” Cam replied.

  “Oh, so, Carrington Blaire is your grandfather?” Demi questioned.

  “Yeah,” Cam replied.

  His grandparents had been calling him like crazy for the past few days, but he never answered for them. He didn’t know what they wanted and he really didn’t care.

  “He runs the law firm now, since your father passed away. His wife Amy is a bitch, so I’m happy that she’s not in charge,” Demi replied.

  “That’s probably why the picture is still up. If it were up to her, it would have been taken down the same day he died,” Cam admitted.

  “So, you and your father didn’t get along?” Demi asked.

  Cam wasn’t scared to tell his story, so he told Demi everything about his barely-there relationship with his father. Demi listened intently, as he told her about his many trips to prison, as well as the illegal activities that landed him there. Cam was like an open book, leaving no pages from his story unread.

  “So, that’s my story, what’s yours?” Cam questioned after he’d laid everything out for her.

  Just like Demi did with him, he listened as she told him about her career as an attorney at his father’s law firm and her failing marriage. She told him about her father being murdered and how she didn’t want that for her husband. He and Demi had just met, but it felt like he’d known her for a while. She was down to earth and easy to talk to. That was a plus in his book. Demi wasn’t the type to tell strangers her business, but she felt the need to vent.

  “Damn man, it seems like your story is the exact opposite of mine. I got somebody who’s in my ear begging me to start back selling dope and you’re begging your husband to stop,” Cam said, chuckling at the irony.

  “That’s so crazy to me. Why would any woman want her man out in the streets like that? I’m just scared of getting a call saying that my husband is in jail or worse. That’s why I always told him that I have no problem holding us down while he went to school. He did it for me and I don’t mind returning the favor.”

  “That’s what’s up. You don’t find too many women who think like you do. I don’t have the money like I used to, but I’m not looking over my shoulder for the police or another nigga trying to rob me. I’m content with my life, broke and all.” Cam shrugged.

  “You can’t put a dollar amount on peace of mind. That’s something that I just don’t have right now. I don’t even feel comfortable sleeping in my own house anymore.”

  “Yeah, him bringing that shit into your house was a bad move. Nobody might know where y’all live, but it ain’t nothing for a nigga to find out,” Cam replied

  “I agree,” Demi sighed.

  “I don’t think y’all problems are big enough for y’all to get a divorce or nothing like that though. That arguing shit ain’t gon’ get y’all nowhere. Just sit down and talk about it and see what happens,” Cam suggested.

  “Look at you, giving out advice and stuff. Let me find out I have a new best friend,” Demi laughed.

  “I can be that too,” Cam smirked.

  It felt good for Demi to smile and genuinely mean it. It was crazy how a total stranger had her feeling better about herself, after her own husband made her feel like shit. She didn’t care if she never saw Cam again; she appreciated him for being a listening ear.

  “What about you and your situation? Do you think you and your girl can come to some kind of agreement and make things work?” Demi questioned.

  “Man,” Cam said while scratching his head. “It is what it is. I’ll be good either way.”

  “You must come here a lot,” Demi said, moving on to another subject.

  “Yeah, most of time before I go to work,” Cam answered.

  “I’m not holding you up, am I? I understand if you have to leave,” Demi said, hoping that he could stay just a little longer.

  “No, I’m good. I work at my best friend’s shop, so he doesn’t really hold me to a schedule,” Cam replied.

  “What do you do?” Demi questioned.

  Cam pulled out his phone and showed her some picture
s of his cars, as he described his job duties. Demi was impressed at his knowledge. Cam’s eyes lit up as he spoke, letting her know that he was doing something that he loved.

  “How often do you come here?” Cam asked.

  “Maybe two or three times a week. I fell in love with their drinks and the food is okay too,” Demi answered.

  “Will you be here tomorrow?” Cam asked.

  “Only if you’ll join me, my treat,” Demi offered.

  “I usually get here around nine. Does that work for you?” Cam asked, accepting her offer.

  “That’s perfect,” Demi replied.

  Cam ended up going to work at one that evening, after talking to Demi all morning. She agreed to go back home and talk to her husband, just like Cam had said she should. Demi would have never put her business out there like that, but she was happy that she did. Cam gave some good advice and she took heed. Demi had no way of knowing that their first encounter was only one of many. The beginning of a beautiful friendship that she had come to depend on.

  Chapter 11

  Over three months had passed since Cam and Demi’s first encounter and that was only the beginning. They saw each other every single day and the IHOP was their designated spot. Demi had gone back home the following day after their first meeting, and she and Kamari had a long talk. He swore to her that he was giving up the drug game once he got rid of what he had and Demi, once again, had to trust her husband. It only took a week for him to get rid of it all and he was officially done. She was even happier because he’d found a job and was making an honest living. Kamari didn’t want to go back to school, so he’d started working at the courthouse doing transport, the same job that Demi had tried to get him to do before. Things were looking up and she was happy for that.

  “Your high yellow ass is late. I’m on my second iced coffee,” Demi fussed when Cam came swaggering into the restaurant. He looked too handsome with his dark blue Levi’s, royal blue and black Jordan t-shirt, and matching Jordans on his feet.

  “My fault, man. That stupid ass girl was getting on my nerves,” Cam replied as he leaned over and gave her a friendly hug.

  He loved spending time with Demi, and she felt the same way. It was nice to have a friendship with someone of the opposite sex with no strings attached. He was attracted to Demi and he let her know, but it never went beyond them giving each other a few compliments. She thought that he was handsome too, but she was still a married woman and he had a girl.

  “What happened? Was she trippin’ about you leaving?” Demi questioned.

  “That and everything else. Where did you tell your hubby that you were going?” Cam asked her.

  “To the nail salon. I really am going there when I leave from here though,” Demi replied, right as the waitress walked up.

  She and Cam were only friends, but there was no way that they could tell that to their significant others. Cam already told her how his girlfriend always accused him of messing around with his ex. She was almost sure that she would be accusing him of messing with her too. And Kamari would have a fit if he knew that Demi was meeting up with another man, no matter if they were just friends or not. She looked forward to her daily talks with Cam, so she wasn’t willing to risk their friendship by telling her husband about it. They didn’t have a problem hooking up on the weekdays because they both worked. It was the weekends that were the hardest.

  “How has it been going with y’all since he’s legit now?” Cam asked, once their food arrived and they started eating.

  “It’s been going good. He made a month on the job a few days ago, so that’s a blessing. He complains all day, but he goes to work faithfully”, Demi replied.

  “That’s what’s up. I understand how he feels though. It’s hard coming from making thousands every week to only making a few hundred,” Cam noted.

  “Yeah, but you did it,” Demi reminded him.

  “It wasn’t easy though Demi. Shit, I’m sitting here stressing over bills now. I never had that to worry about before.”

  “I know it’s been rough on you friend, but I applaud you for doing the right thing. You could have easily called your father for help or turned back to the streets, but you did it on your own. And don’t worry, it’s my turn to treat, so the food is on me,” Demi laughed.

  “I see you got jokes early this morning,” Can laughed with her, right as his phone rang.

  “Wifey calling to check up on you,” Demi assumed

  “Nah, this is my moms. What’s up Ma?” Cam asked, answering his mother’s call.

  “What’s going on Camden and don’t you even fix your mouth to lie to me?” Nora said as soon as he answered

  “Lie to you about what?” Cam questioned in confusion.

  “Some man came knocking on my door for you early this morning. He looked like a damn bounty hunter or something. Now, if you’re in some kind of trouble, you better tell me right now. I don’t need no surprises,” Nora fussed.

  “I’m not in no trouble Ma. I go from work to home and that’s it,” Cam swore.

  “I hope you’re not out there in those streets again. I can’t take no more of you going to jail Camden,” Nora continued.

  “Did you just hear what I said? I’m not doing nothing besides working. I bust my ass for that lil change that I make, but at least it’s legal. You think I would be struggling to pay my bills if I was still selling dope?” Cam replied in anger.

  “I’m sorry for upsetting you, baby, but you know how much I worry. You think you might have a warrant out for your arrest or something? You know that happened the last time when you missed court.”

  “I don’t have a warrant and I never had a court date. I’m not on no papers or nothing.”

  “Okay, but I still wanna have Courtney look in her system, just to be sure,” Nora replied.

  “Did this person leave a number or something?” Cam inquired.

  “He left a card, but it didn’t say where he’s from. It only has his name and phone number on it,” Nora answered.

  “Alright, well take a picture of it and send it to me,” Cam requested.

  “Okay, but I’m still calling Courtney,” Nora informed him before she hung up

  “Is everything okay?” Demi asked when Cam got off the phone.

  “Yeah, that was just my mama with her paranoid ass,” Cam said as he repeated to her everything that his mother had just said.

  “Do you need me to do anything? I can tap into a few of my resources if you want me to,” Demi offered.

  “Nah, man, but thanks anyway. I don’t know who it is, but they’ll have to catch me if they want me,” Cam replied while finishing up the last of his food.

  “I love IHOP and all, but we need to switch it up sometimes. We’ve sampled just about everything on the menu here,” Demi said, changing the subject.

  “What do you have in mind? I can’t eat everybody’s omelets,” Cam noted.

  “Why does it have to just be omelets? You can try something different,” Demi suggested.

  “I like what I like, but I’m willing to take a chance somewhere else.” Cam shrugged.

  “My friend told me about this place on Magazine St. It’s called Another Broken Egg,” Demi said.

  “I’ll pass. It’s sounds like some white people shit,” Cam replied, waving her off.

  “Exactly what do you have against white people?” Demi asked

  “I love melanin, but I don’t have nothing against white people. Besides, I like seasoning on my food,” Cam noted.

  “That is a stereotype Cam, trust me. One of my good friends is white and she can throw down in the kitchen. And just in case you forgot, half of you is white too,” Demi reminded him.

  “Yeah, but only the bad half.” Cam winked.

  “You’re too young to be so racist. You usually see that in older folks because they remember how things were back in the day. You don’t have a reason to feel like you do, aside from your issues with your father.”

  “What are you g
etting into after you leave to the nail shop?” Cam asked, changing the subject.

  Demi chuckled because she already knew that he would. Cam had a way of bypassing a subject that he didn’t feel comfortable talking about, and it didn’t take her long to figure that out. She and Cam were learning a lot about each other, the more time they spent together.

  “Nothing much. I have a few cases to prepare for next week, but my husband and I might go out to dinner or something. What about you?” Demi asked.

  “I’m hooking up with Randy and Kobe for a while. It’s been a minute since we did anything together. They got a local car show that we’re trying to catch.”

  “When am I gonna see your cars? I know the pictures don’t do them justice.”

  “I don’t need my mama asking me a million questions about who you are. I gotta wait until she’s staying the night with one of her sisters or something. She’s nosey as hell,” Cam told her.

  “Tell her that I’m your friend. It’s the truth,” Demi replied.

  “You know that and I know that, but my mama ain’t trying to hear it,” Cam laughed.

  “Why not? Aren’t you best friends with Courtney too?” Demi quizzed

  “Yeah, but we were in a relationship first,” Cam noted.

  “I see your point,” Demi laughed, as the waitress came over with their bill.

  “I got it,” Cam said, reaching for the piece of paper.

  “No,” Demi said, slapping his hand. “You paid the last two times.”

  “That’s what a real man is supposed to do Demi,” Cam said.

  “No, Cam. I know that things are kind of tight for you financially. I don’t mind taking turns with the bill,” Demi assured him.

  “Girl, this food is cheap as hell. This shit ain’t gon’ break me like that,” Cam laughed.

  “Still, it’s only fair that we both do our part. I want to pay the tabs for those three tables over there, along with ours,” Demi said to the waitress, pointing to a few tables with small kids seated at them all, along with their parents.

  “That nigga just don’t know what he got,” Cam said, shaking his head while referring to Demi’s husband. If Asha was anything like Demi, he would have put a ring on it a long time ago.