by Stacy-Deanne
“Goodbye, Dex.”
“Do you want to marry me?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
“Bye, Dex.” She hung up the phone as Channing came into the kitchen.
“Hey, girl.” Channing put her purse on the table. “Ooh, it smells good in here. Aw. It’s so sweet you’re making me dinner.”
“Making a mess is more like it.” Sonjay washed her hands. “Got a few more pieces to go.”
Channing hugged her. “Thanks.”
“I love cooking for my baby sister.” Sonjay kissed Channing’s cheek. “I got potato salad in the refrigerator. I didn’t have time to make it myself. Garlic green beans are roasting in the oven.”
“I can’t wait to dig in.” Channing sat at the table and thumbed through Sonjay’s appointment book. “Just came from the hospital, and the media was everywhere. I could barely get in.”
Sonjay got more fish out the oil. “For real?”
“The press has gotten worse since Nate died. They call me constantly, email, send me texts begging for statements. If that wasn’t bad enough, Khadija was doing another march for Presley in the next block so it was a mess all around. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful all the effort she’s putting into things but I just don’t trust her.”
“You ain’t the only one.” Sonjay faced her, leaning on the cabinet. “Did you tell Klein? He can get the media off your back.”
“Please, he can’t even keep the press off the mayor’s ass.” Channing chuckled. “Anyway, the media has a right to go after the news.”
“But they don’t have a right to hassle people.”
“Zayden’s getting on my last nerves.” Channing moved the centerpiece aside and got a butterscotch sucker out the candy jar. “Been calling my phone and not saying anything but I know it’s him.”
Sonjay shivered, remembering how frightened she was when he approached her at school. “Did you go to the police?”
“Nah, I can handle it. He’s just a punk with nothing better to do.” Channing smacked, sucking the candy. “Can someone enlighten me because I still don’t know what I did to Zayden or Nate.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Sonjay sat at the table, exhaling. “Zayden came to the school the other evening.”
“What?” Channing stopped chewing.
“Yeah, I’d stayed late to work on my test.”
“You were alone?”
Sonjay nodded.
“Anderson didn’t say nothing to me about it.”
“I didn’t tell him or Klein. I didn’t want to get Klein worked up and cause more problems. Zayden didn’t do anything.” She rubbed her wrist. “Well, he grabbed me.”
“He grabbed you? What the hell? Sonny—”
“I’m fine. He was trying to bully me and he threatened you. When he did that I didn’t give a damn about myself. If he goes near you, Channing, he won’t go near anyone else.”
Channing sighed, clasping her hands in front of her face as if she were praying. “This is all my fault.”
“It’s not and Zayden’s just a punk like you said. He’s nothing but talk.” She stroked Channing’s shaven sides. “How long have you and Anderson been fucking?”
Channing almost spit out the candy. “What?”
“Girl, don’t play me. I can tell when something is going on with you. You’re glowing and he’s been dancing on a cloud for days. Details, details.”
“Yes, we’ve made love.” Channing nudged, Sonjay blushing. “We’re making love I should say because it’s definitely been more than once.”
“Ooh, you dirty whore.”
They laughed.
“I’m so happy for you, sis. I adore Anderson and him being here is what you needed. You’d given up on love.”
“I liked him when I met him but pretended I didn’t.” Channing beamed, propping her elbows on the table. “He’s handsome, and he’s so sweet but the way he protects me is what I love. I feel like I’m dreaming
though. Like this is too good to be true. You know my track record. Haven’t always been with the best dudes.”
“Enough with the negativity.” Sonjay got the mitt and took the green beans out the oven. “You deserve happiness and if Anderson does that for you then I’m good.”
Channing giggled. “Thanks, sis.”
Sonjay tossed the oven mitt on the counter. “So what’s the dick like?”
“Sonny.” Channing guffawed, covering her face. “Girl. I’ll give you the juicy details after dinner.”
“You better.” Sonjay tapped Channing’s nose. “I’ll get the potato salad. Whoa.” She got dizzy before reaching the refrigerator.
“Sonny?” Channing rushed to her. “You all right?”
“Got lightheaded.” She leaned over the sink, stomach twirling.
Channing felt Sonjay’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Think you caught something from the kids at school?”
“Pass me a paper towel please.”
Channing did and Sonjay wet it and placed it on her face.
“Is it dizziness or something else?”
“My stomach.” Sonjay spit up in the sink. “Oh, god. I’m sorry.”
“Girl, what’s going on? When’s the last time you been to the doctor?”
“About five months ago.” Sonjay rinsed out her mouth. “I’m fine.”
“Fine my ass. You just threw up five feet from the food. How long has this been going on?”
“About a month.”
“Does Klein know?”
“Oh.” Nausea crippled her and she threw up again.
“I’m worried.” Channing rubbed Sonjay’s shoulder. “Let’s set an appointment with your doctor. I’ll go with you. We gotta find out what’s going on—”
“Channing, I’m pregnant.” Sonjay closed her eyes, bracing for whatever Channing threw her.
Channing gaped.
“I took about four pregnancy tests and they all came out positive.” Sonjay flinched. “Say something.”
“I...” Channing made jerky movements. “Sonny this is horrible.”
“Gee thanks.”
“It’s Dex’s. isn’t it?”
Sonjay wiped her mouth. “Probably.”
“How can this be happening?” Channing slapped her forehead. “You should’ve told Klein the truth and you wouldn’t be in this mess. No, wait. You shouldn’t been fucking your fiancé’s best friend in the first place!”
“The last thing I need is a lecture.”
“No, the last thing you need is a baby. Damn, Sonny.” Channing walked to the island, shaking her head. “If you’re gonna fuck around on your man, you can at least use protection.”
Sonjay clenched her teeth. “We used protection.”
“Every time?”
Sonjay pouted.
“You cannot keep this from Klein. No damn way.”
“Dex and I are over and Klein doesn’t need to know.” She got plates out the cabinet. “Tell the guys to come in. I’m hungry.”
“Fuck dinner.” Channing turned Sonjay around. “Are you considering passing this baby off as Klein’s? I know you can’t be that stupid.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Are you serious? it’s a fucked up thing to do to Klein and Dex.”
“Oh, please. The last thing Dex wants is a kid cramping his style. Klein wants to be a father.” Sonjay touched her flat stomach. “He’ll be ecstatic. Should I take that away from him?”
“Yes if it’s not his damn baby. Look, I had your back with the cheating but I can’t let you do something like this. Think about the kid. Jesus, I could never do that to my child.”
“Course you couldn’t.” Sonjay got orange juice out the refrigerator. “You’re perfect.”
“Don’t start that shit. This has nothing to do with me. I kept your secret when it was tearing me up inside. I can’t do that anymore, Sonny.”
“Nobody’s asking you to.” She sipped from the juice
carton despite how much she got on Klein for doing the same thing. “Just don’t say nothing.”
“You think Klein wants to be your consolation prize?”
“Yes.” Sonjay drank, gulping. “That man worships the ground I walk on. He’d do anything to keep me.”
“Then tell him the truth if you’re so confident.”
“I don’t wanna hurt him.”
“It was your decision to have an affair and you need to deal with it the right way.”
“I didn’t plan to fall in love with Dex. I need my sister right now not to be blamed. Trust me, I hate myself enough.”
“Come here.” Channing hugged her. “I’m not trying to beat up on you but this isn’t like when we were kids and you broke something and hid it in the cabinet. This is a baby, Sonny. You gotta think about it and not yourself.”
“Please.” Sonjay held her tight. “Keep this between us until I have time to deal with it.”
“A lie can only last so long.” Channing let her go. “That baby will be born and then what? You can’t keep covering up secrets with secrets.”
“Sonny?” Klein charged into the kitchen with Anderson. “I got to leave.”
Channing got a piece of fish. “Going to the office?”
“Gotta get your daddy outta jail.” Klein got out his keys. “He was arrested.”
Sonjay and Channing yelled, “Arrested?”
“Yep.” Anderson straightened his belt, chuckling. “He was marching with Khadija by the hospital and a fight broke out.”
“Zayden and his friends showed up.” Klein looked through his phone. “Zayden snatched Boyd’s sign or something and Boyd socked him.”
Anderson snickered. “You go, Boyd.”
“Anderson.” Channing huffed. “I don’t condone violence.”
“Yeah, well I don’t condone assholes and Zayden deserved what he got.” He went into the refrigerator and got a can of grape soda.
Sonjay fixed Klein’s collar. “Daddy called you to get him out?”
“Hell no. You know Boyd can’t stand my ass. Your mother called me begging. If it weren’t for her I’d leave his ass in there.”
Sonjay swatted his belly. “You’re not leaving my daddy nowhere.”
He grinned and gave her a juicy kiss. “I’ll be back soon. Keep some fish warm for me.”
“Hurry back.” Sonjay crossed her arms, glancing at Channing. “We have a lot to talk about.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Boyd, you’re too damn old to be acting like this.” Odelia struggled not to wring Boyd’s neck when the deputy brought him to the front of the Sheriff’s office. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Why’s he here?” Boyd motioned his head to Klein, wiggling his hands in the cuffs.
“To get you out of this mess,” Odelia snapped. “If it weren’t for Klein you’d stay in here all night because I ain’t got no money to be paying bail on an assault charge. Now you got a record. Boyd, how could
you?”
“I ain’t apologizing, Delia.” He threw his nose in the air. “I did the right thing. They arrested Martin Luther King too!” He looked at the officers. “Didn’t stop him none and won’t stop me.”
“Stop it.” Odelia grabbed his T-shirt. “I knew this would happen if you kept hanging around Khadija Moore.”
Klein gripped his waist. “What happened?”
“We were passing out flyers by the hospital and Zayden and them two knuckleheads he’s always with, drove up.” Boyd swallowed, gaze darting. “We went on about our business then they took down the flyers we’d put up and ripped them.” He stuck out his chest. “Khadija told us to keep it calm because the mission was more important but then Zayden come snatching my sign. Hell no. You don’t grab nothing from me so I socked his ass.”
Odelia exhaled. “Lord have mercy.”
“Before I knew it, everybody was fighting in the street.” Boyd gyrated with his hands secured behind him, acting out the scene. “Signs were flying, women were screaming and Khadija had Tilly in a headlock.”
Odelia shook her head.
“Yeah, I hit Zayden. I’d do it again. Then the cops showed up and arrested me.”
Klein raised an eyebrow. “Where are Khadija and the others now?”
“Gone.” Odelia glared at Boyd. “Only your dumb ass is in here. You can’t depend on Khadija. She’s using all of you.”
“She said she’d be here.”
“Where?” Odelia spread her arms. “I don’t see her. You think starting fights with Zayden is helping Presley? You’re doing more harm than good.”
“I’m doing this because of our grandbaby. As long as Presley is in that hospital I’ll be fighting.”
“Zayden and his friends are dangerous,” Odelia said. “You see how they acted in our restaurant. Why you get them riled up again?”
“Did you miss the part where they messed with us first? I’m tired of people acting like I did something wrong.” Boyd rolled his eyes at Klein. “You can go.”
Klein grimaced. “How will you get out then?”
“I got someone to get me out.”
“Who?” Klein asked.
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, you’re part of the problem.”
“Unlike Khadija?” Klein asked. “The woman who’s gotten you arrested?”
“Shut up, Boyd.” Odelia stuck her finger in his face. “Klein’s getting you out and you’re not marching with Khadija again.”
“Oh, yes I am.”
Odelia waved her finger. “Oh, no you’re not.”
Boyd scoffed. “Oh, yes I am, woman.”
“Oh, no you’re not, man.”
Dex entered, scanned the room and headed toward the group.
Klein gawked at him. “What the hell?”
“You called Dex?” Odelia did a double-take at Boyd. “How could you call him?”
“Because I need an attorney on my side and he’s the best.”
“Boyd.” Dex nodded at him. “Mrs. Mills, you look great.” He kissed her cheek but instead of causing a scene Odelia accepted it. “Klein.”
“Hold up.” Klein waved his hand toward Boyd. “You don’t want my help because I work for the mayor but you’ll go off with the man who defended the guy who ran over your granddaughter in the first place?”
“I was mad at Dex at first, but he has the balls to stand up for what he believes is right no matter what others say. You’ve never done that a day in your life.”
Klein groaned, his wide cheeks tightening.
“I don’t want nothing from you, Klein,” Boyd said. “Not until you realize family is the most important thing.”
Odelia straightened her purse strap on her shoulder. “My husband is way more forgiving than I am, Dex.”
He faced her. “I never meant to hurt any of you, but I can’t change the past.”
“Do you regret defending Nate seeing how much it hurts us?” she asked.
He wiggled his briefcase. “No. I felt I was doing the right thing and I don’t regret it.”
“Man.” Klein grinned, looking at the ceiling. “This fool here.”
Dex ignored him, heading to the counter.
“See?” Boyd followed him, smirking at Klein. “Balls.”
****
“What’s the matter?” Anderson hugged Channing from behind while they looked through her bedroom window.
She reached back and touched his cheek. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“The Boston thing?” He perched his chin on top of her head as a car passed her house. “It would be great for you and Presley.”
“You were right before.” She rubbed her firm buttocks against him, his dick stiffening. “I’ve always been afraid to fail. Sonjay, she jumps into anything without fear. I envied her so much when we were growing up.”
“Why?”
“She made things happen in her life. You couldn’t stop her no matter what she wanted to do. I’d sabotage myself s
o I’d have an excuse not to try. It’s pathetic.”
“You’re not pathetic.” He kissed the back of her neck. “You’re a wonderful woman who can do anything she puts her mind to.” He caressed her thighs underneath her gown. “Anything you need, just tell me and I’ll do it.”
“I need this.” She moaned, pushing his hand inside the front of her floral-print panties. “I need you.”
Her aroma of Dark and Lovely had become a mating call to him. “I’m scared of my feelings for you.”
She gyrated, teasing his cock with her ass. “Why?”
“Because you’re the only woman, I’d ever let control me.” He stroked her curly, cunt hairs, peeling her labia apart.
“Mm.” She reached behind her and stuck her hands in his pants and underwear, gripping his aching shaft.
“Ah.” He swallowed, his groin swelling. “I’m gonna come.”
She jerked him faster, her stroke remaining soft.
“Yes.” He held her shoulders to keep his balance. “Touch the tip. Ooh, like that.”
“I love touching you.” She tickled the head with her fingertip. “I love imagining your cock bursting inside me.”
“You better stop.” He panted. “It’s right there, Channing. Oh.” He turned her around and got on his knees. “Remember, how you felt when we first made love? You liked how I opened myself to you?”
She lay against the windowsill with a sneaky smile. “Yes.”
“Well, you know what excites me about you?” He pulled down her panties and licked her oval navel. “That I broke you.”
She moaned. “Broke me?”
“What excited me was the challenge?” He nibbled her stomach, gripping her smooth buttocks. “You surprised?”
“No.” Her lips crept into a sensual smile. “It excites me. I’ve never been a challenge to anyone.” She grabbed his arms, and he rose. “I always felt like the predictable one compared to Sonjay. The good girl. With you I feel like the sexiest, most spontaneous, and powerful woman in the word.” She kissed him, resting the tip of her tongue against his. “That’s how I’ve wanted to feel my entire life.”
“I love you, Channing.” He shut his eyes, the words shocking him. “I love your daughter too.”