by Ivy Symone
She let out a heavy sigh and continued massaging his neck. “Okay.”
In silence, her hands caressed, rubbed, and kneaded his skin and muscles. She started with his neck working down his shoulders, biceps, and forearms. The more she had to lean down, the more she had to press her breasts into him. The smell of her had him hypnotized. Her skin against his was so soft. And the feel of her breasts against his neck had him rising.
Nola slowly made her way back up and continued with massaging his pectorals while keeping her eyes on the manifesting tent in his loungers. Without much thought, she bent down and placed several sensual kisses along his neck, while her hand snaked down his abdomen to rub his manhood through his pants.
Bebe groaned. “Nola, don’t start.”
“You need this; now hush,” she whispered closely in his ear before she licked his lobes.
That drove him crazy!
Everyone speculated that they maintained a sexual relationship, but no one knew for sure. Whenever asked, Bebe neither confirmed it nor denied it. However, after the birth of Yanis, everybody assumed they had been sexing the whole time, which wasn’t true. Bebe refused to succumb to Nola’s sexual prowess back then because he didn’t like how he felt when it came to her. It was something he wasn’t ready for.
He had done a good job of sustaining their friendship boundaries until about two years ago. It was actually her that crossed the boundary. Bebe had been minding his business trying to get some sleep when she came over to the house one night. She had walked her sexy ass into his bedroom and locked the door. He was already startled by her presence, and he was more worried about what she was doing. She started undressing in front of him.
“What are you doing?” he asked. He sat up in his bed to get a better look at her naked body.
Instead of responding with an answer, she pounced on him. He could call it rape, but at some point, he became a willing participant. He tried to without success resist her at first.
“Nola…stop,” he begged. He pushed her off of him.
“Bebe, please,” she quietly pleaded. “I need this; I need some dick. It ain’t nothing but sex. Just help me out.”
He looked at her like she had lost her mind, but he had already expanded to its full length. His attempt to resist temptation flew out the window when her mouth swallowed him down to the base of his dick. Needless to say, she got more than she wanted that night.
He started “helping her out” on a regular basis. Then it turned into this mutual agreement that was never vocalized. It just naturally occurred this way. Eventually, he found himself tossing and turning in his bed some nights. If he couldn’t find sleep, he would get up and go to her house needing a fix. And she was always ready and willing. She didn’t become clingy. She didn’t try to make it more than what it was. She continued to respect him as Mikael’s father. She never showed any jealousy of other women around him. She actually liked Nephia and expressed that if he had to be with a woman, she thought Nephia would be a good choice. Honestly, he didn’t think Nephia had any greater chance of being with him than the others. His heart was already where it wanted to be. That wouldn’t be fair to Nephia. He knew he was incapable of loving her the way she deserved.
She was right though. He needed to relieve some tension. He didn’t oppose when she walked back around to the front of the sofa and kneeled before him. He watched her, except for the few times he threw his head back in complete rapturous bliss, as she sucked and jacked him until he was spilling over the sides of her hand.
He whimpered out unable to take much as she continued to jack him, her fingers colliding with the hypersensitive rim of his dick. She always overdone it just to get this type of reaction out of him. She would do it until he was having convulsions and on the brink of popping her upside her head.
Without saying anything, she walked away to clean up. She returned a few minutes later with a washrag to wipe him off.
As Bebe watched her delicately clean him, the thought of loving Nola forever entered his mind. She was everything a woman represented in this world for him. So very different from Miki; almost opposite. And it took him a while to see it but the most significant difference in the two women was Miki came into his life because she needed him to love her to find her strength; Nola came into his life because he needed her to love him to find his strength. And no woman had ever loved him as selflessly as Nola.
“Nola, you’ve always said that you and Dorian were just friends. Would you honestly tell me if there was more between y’all?”
Nola chuckled as she finished cleaning Bebe off. “I would, just like you have no problems with telling me you’re doing you.”
“What if I tell you I want you to stop seeing him?”
Nola laughed. This was preposterous. “I guess you were right.”
“Right about what?”
“Us not being sexual anymore,” she commented as she headed back to her hall bathroom.
She would throw up some of his past points to his face in this moment.
She walked back into her living room but remained standing. “You always either want to control me or ignore me altogether. Quite frankly, I’m tired of your shit, Bebe.”
Bebe’s mouth dropped open in exasperation. “What?”
“You heard me. I just did that for you as a favor. But after today, I quit. So you can have all of the other bitches you keep wanting to talk to while I’m over here being a whole fool for you.”
Still perplexed, Bebe asked, “Where is all this coming from?”
She released a weary sigh. “I’m just tired of us. It’s emotionally draining for me. I know you’re not affected because you just go on about your damn way. I wanna be that way too.”
“You don’t know how I’m affected,” he countered angrily. He couldn’t understand where her attitude was coming from. It pissed him off even more because he was finally coming to terms with how he felt about her and mustering up the courage to give in to love.
Nola rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Oh yeah. How are you affected, Bebe? Are you gonna tell me how you can’t love anybody ever again because of Miki?”
That struck a nerve. “Now wait. Why you gotta bring her up?”
“Because I’ve been loving you for years. I’ve given you two kids. I’ve been everything you need. I’ve been here the whole time just trying to love you.”
“And I appreciate it, Nola. I do, but you knew I was emotionally unavailable. You knew how much Miki meant to me and I thought you always understood, or at least you done a good job at pretending you did.”
“I do understand, but it’s been four years!” she argued. “Are you not over it now?”
Incensed, Bebe stood to his feet. “Over it? I was about to marry that woman the day she died. She was pregnant with our son. I was in love with her and when she died, it fucked me up. But you don’t have a right to tell me to get over a goddamn thing. You’ll never know a loss like that, and until you do, I suggest you shut the fuck up.”
Nola was taken aback. “Really Bebe? You’re not the only person that’s been through shit. We’ve all been through shit that has brought us down to our lowest. Some of us just know how to move on and live again.”
“I have and I am living again, Nola. It’s taken me a while, but—”
“To be a thot because you can’t love again. Wow, that’s living alright,” she said sarcastically.
Vexed, Bebe through his hand up dismissively. “You know what, fuck this shit. I’m taking my ass back to my house.”
As he walked back toward the kitchen, she called out to him, “You shouldn’t have never brought your disabled ass over here in the first place.”
He paused long enough to pivot around to face her. “You right. I shouldn’t have. And from now on, I won’t anymore.”
As he made his way back over to his house, much to his surprise, Shadow was trotting right next to him. Shadow must have sensed that Bebe needed him more than Nola. Knowing her, she was probably
pissed and cussing Shadow out for leaving too.
I can’t stand that woman, was all Bebe could think.
Chapter 6
I t was always nice getting out of the house, and away from the kids for Nephia. Even if it was just to catch a movie and a quick bite to eat. She enjoyed it more when she was spending time with one of her favorite people.
Walking out of Regal Opry Mills, Dinky said, “You owe me big time for that one, Nephia. That was the worst movie I’ve ever seen. That was pure bullshit.”
Nephia giggled. “Hey, I thought it was gonna be good. It still kinda was, but it was weird.”
“What they say…It was the scariest movie of the year? Bullshit.”
“Nothing scary about it at all. Like I said…just weird.”
He placed a comforting hand at the small of her back. “So what’chu wanna get into now?”
She shrugged as she looked out toward the clutter of mall shoppers.
“I know something smell good, and I’m hungry than a mothafucka,” he said. “You feel like grabbing something to eat?”
“I can eat. Are we going to the food court?”
Dinky teased, “Yo’ ass probably wanna shop.”
She looked at him sneakily. “I do kinda want to go check out the Coach store.”
“I knew it. You wanna do that first, or after we eat?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said softly.
They decided to shop around before settling at the food court of the mall to eat. There was a long wait for the restaurants, so they settled for a fast food spot.
“Dinky, can I ask you a question?” Nephia asked as she punctured her drink’s top with a straw.
“Ask away.”
“Where’re your kids?”
Dinky’s face screwed up in a grimace. “I ain’t got no kids.”
She giggled. “That’s what I’m talking about. How come there aren’t any? Most men your age would have at least two.”
“Well,” he started followed by a heavy exhale. “I can’t have any, I guess. I ain’t never been able to get a girl pregnant. So, I just accepted that I must be shooting blanks. I’m cool with it though.”
“Have you ever gotten tested?”
“Nope. Don’t want to either.”
“Well, what about kids? How does that make you feel? Like, did you ever want any of your own one day?”
“Nah, not like that. I mean, if it happened, it just happened. I ain’t never sat up and just wished for a life full of my own kids. I like them or whatever. I got nieces, nephews, and lil cousins I’m crazy about. I’m even a godfather. And like I said, I’m cool with that.”
“I can’t have any more. Is that a problem?”
“You good. It actually works out for the best. Shit, I’m glad you have yours cause I probably wouldn’t be able to give you any anyway.”
“There’s ways around that though.”
Dinky retorted, “That shit expensive too. Ma, we good. I ain’t into you for your baby making abilities anyway.”
Nephia smiled. “You’re not?”
He shook his head. “I just think you’re a cool ass woman. I’ve been scoping you out since I first saw you dance at that little recital thing. Then Bebe introduced us and it was a wrap. I was crushing from afar while you and Bebe figured out whatever the fuck it was y’all was doing. I wasn’t gonna cross my cousin like that.”
“It took you long enough,” Nephia joked.
“Yeah, but if your ass was feeling me too, you coulda made the first move, ol’ shaky ass.”
She laughed. “I just didn’t know how Bebe would feel about us.”
“He might feel some type of way because we ain’t let him know what was up, but he’ll get over it.”
“You know what he asked me one day…It was last month. He asked if I thought you and Nola would sneak behind his back.”
Dinky was astounded. “Are you fucking serious? See what I’m talking about. Him and that damn Nola. When it comes to her, he don’t even want nobody to look at her ass too long. Now why would he think some shit like that? I know what that girl mean to him. Shit, it was why I knew it was cool to go ahead and pursue something with you.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious,” Nephia agreed.
“That nigga don’t want nobody else but that girl but he pretend like he don’t cause he don’t want us to be right. Or the nigga just got some real fucked up issues,” Dinky laughed.
“So, if he’s that crazy about Nola, why do he keep up ‘friendships’ with other women instead of just being with Nola. Having all those women in her face hurts Nola. And I don’t care how strong she acts, or how much she seems okay with him dating other people; but it stings.”
“Honestly, I think it’s his way of avoiding his true feelings. Then two, that nigga feel like he can’t love another person the way he loved Miki.”
“Anyway,” Nephia sighed. “Bebe’s my friend and I want him truly happy. I hope he realize what needs to be done before it’s too late. But enough about him.”
“Yeah, we’ll have a Bebe intervention another time,” Dinky joked. He asked, “So, are you okay with us and where things are going?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
“Yeah, just waiting on you to take the shit to the next level.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “And what’s that?”
“Make this shit official and let everybody know what it is.”
“We are soon,” she assured him.
Dinky got up from his seat. “Man, I gotta piss so bad. I’ve been holding the shit, but I gotta go. Don’t eat my food lil greedy.”
Nephia laughed. “Me lil greedy? Really?”
Dinky walked off in laughter.
Nephia was munching on a French fry and about to slurp up half her drink, when literally a minute after Dinky left, Bebe and a female companion of his appeared out of nowhere.
Nephia had to do a double take and blink a few times to make sure it was him. Bebe and his friend seemed to have entered the food court entrance and was walking around to get to the main shopping area. She wanted to speak, but she wasn’t ready for him to know about her and Dinky yet, so she pretended to be into her phone.
Unlucky her, Bebe spotted her anyway. He walked over to her table all smiles.
“Hey Nephia. I didn’t know you’d be out here today. I woulda told you to go shopping for me.”
“Hey Bebe,” Nephia smiled as if she was pleasantly surprised. She stood up to give him a hug. In doing so, she glanced back down at her table and could clearly see that she was in the company of someone else. How was she going to explain that?
“Who you out here with?” Bebe asked, eyeing the table himself.
“A friend,” she answered. She looked past Bebe at his companion. “Who is this, Bebe?”
“Oh, this is my friend, Keyma. Keyma, this is my friend and Kennedi’s dance teacher, Nephia.”
Nephia and Keyma exchanged a friendly handshake.
“I love your haircut,” Keyma complimented.
“Thanks,” Nephia said.
“So what friend is this?” Bebe inquired.
“Nobody special,” Nephia answered nonchalantly. “So, what are you out here shopping for?”
“Nothing in particular, but it seems like Kennedi done grew two inches in just a month. I need to grab her tall ass some shit.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you get Nola to take her shopping?”
“Nola ain’t talking to me right now. You know how she do,” he said.
With Bebe and Keyma facing Nephia, their backs were to an approaching Dinky. Nephia saw him and tried to discreetly deter him from coming over. Ignoring her silent, request, Dinky walked over anyway.
“Ay! It’s a reunion!” Dinky cheered. He placed a brotherly arm around Bebe’s neck. “What’s up, cousin?” He looked at Nephia and smiled. “You out here too, Neph? Who else out here?”
“Nigga, you didn’t tell me you were coming out here to the mall. You ain’t no type
of friend or cousin,” Bebe joked.
“You didn’t tell me either,” Dinky said looking over at Keyma. “You look like you got who you want with you anyway. What’s up? How you doing? My name Alton, but folks call me Dinky. Who you?”
“Keyma, this is my goofy ass cousin Dinky. Dinky, this is Keyma. You know who she is,” Bebe said.
“Aw! Keeeyyymmmaa. Yeah, I know who she is.”
Nephia shooed them away. “Okay, it was nice to see all of you, but can y’all get away.”
“Damn, it’s like that?” Dinky asked, pretending to be insulted. “Bet. I gotta meet this lil honey at the movies anyway.”
As they walked off, Bebe asked, “What honey? Nigga, you keeping secrets.”
“Nigga, no you didn’t,” Nephia could hear Dinky say.
She sat back down and sighed with relief. Then she laughed at herself and Dinky. Why were they lying and making up stuff? They were grown and could do whatever they wanted to do.
A few minutes later, Dinky came back snickering. “We stooooopid!”
Nephia laughed. “Did he see you coming back this way?”
“I don’t know. You wanna take your stuff to go?”
He didn’t have to ask her twice. She gathered her food quickly and followed Dinky out of the food court.
Once out in the parking lot, Dinky said to her, “Shit, if you ain’t gotta go home right away, follow me out to my place.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“We can chill the rest of the night.”
“Sounds cool,” she smiled.
When she got in her car, she sent her kids a quick text: I won’t be home no time soon. If you need me, just text or call. Love you!
~~~~~~~~~~
Even with time passing, and giving Bebe his space, nothing had improved. She was officially back on Bebe’s shit list. It felt like her pregnancy with Mikael when they didn’t speak at all. Under normal circumstances, Nola would have tried getting his attention or throwing a joke his way or even teasing him forcing him to have to respond and interact with her. But this was different. This time she was fed up. This time she was done being treated like shit. Fuck Bebe.