Around the Way Girls 9 (8 page)

 

“Hold on, Marie, slow down. What's going on? Who is there?” Butter was showering, it was just past seven in the morning, and I'd just gotten done going over the itinerary for today's schedule of meetings. I'd stroked her sleep then woke her up with my stiff pink penis in her mouth so of course until Marie's call I was gliding on cloud nine. My plan had been to hit Bare Faxxx for another afternoon of Butter's loving once the business part of my day had ended. But of course family drama was throwing daggers in all of my preconceived plans.

“I'm at your parents', they're arguing, no one will tell me much of anything. I just know me, Josh, and Jill walked up on your dad fussing with a black woman. Can you come home? Please! And where have you been? Why haven't you been answering any of my calls?”

“Why are you at my parents'? Get the twins and go home. I told you I was staying at the hotel to get some work done, Marie. You know your father has a slew of meetings planned all day and tomorrow. I can't come home just yet but stop worrying yourself over my parents' drama.” In the back of my mind I knew the black woman Marie probably saw was a mistress of my father's. He liked to act like his temptation and dirty desires were repressed but me being just like him, I knew better.

“Please try to make time. I'll get the kids and head home.”

“Don't worry, Marie; for you and those kids you know I'll try.” Hanging up the phone I knew I'd just lied through my teeth. I didn't have any true intentions of going home maybe the whole weekend. If Butter would give me my way, she'd be laid up in this room all night playing a sex slave to me.

“Okay, Jay, don't forget you promised to call me after your slew of meetings.” Butter appeared from the bathroom with the hotel's white fluffy robe on.

“Don't worry; you'll be seeing me after those meetings. Save a VIP room for me.”

“Aren't we the big spender.” She smiled, placing a kiss on my slender lips. “Even though you worked me over last night, my rates still stand.”

Winning me over with her smile, I was falling hard for Butter in the worst way. I didn't care about how Marie felt, my father's disapproval, or my mother going bat-shit crazy because I was risking our family's financial stability for a stripper; this one seemed special enough to go on the wild ride with.

“So why are you rushing out of here?” I could've paid for any pussy I wanted to. I craved hers.

“I promised a friend we could meet up for breakfast.” Grabbing the hotel lotion from my open suitcase, she started rubbing it all over her body, making my dick stand at attention.

“A friend at seven in the morning? Must be some special friend.” I didn't like to be turned down, plus the prize I'd been paying into wasn't getting ready to be given to someone else. I'd paid enough cash into Butter to own her as far as I was concerned.

“It's not like that, sweetheart. He's the DJ at the club. We're just grabbing a bite to eat so he can fill me in on all the drama that went down at last night after I left. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“I can't say that I'm not deflated to hear the news. I would've loved to come back to this room after those boring business meetings to find you stark naked ready for some wood. How much is he paying you to grab a bite to eat anyway?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” No longer moisturizing her skin, she stopped to look up at me, confused like she didn't charge me for my time. Money made the world go 'round as my father taught me, so Butter could be bought too.

“Whatever he's paying you for your time, I can pay you more. It's nothing.” Money was of no object. Doing business with Marie's father secured my financial security so I blew money whenever I felt the urge.

Letting out a breath of air in exasperation, I could tell she was thinking twice on my proposition. “Wow, this is going to be harder than I thought.” She sighed. “My friend and I had a crazy night so this breakfast meeting is a must. I promise it's nothing more than that, but I'll call you right when we're done, my word.”

“Just make sure this pussy come back just how I left it.” Pushing her back onto the bed, I opened the robe and made love to her sexy body until sending my seed deep inside of her. I knew I should've been strapped up or at least pulled out to jack my nut off onto her stomach, but I couldn't deny the love my dick had for her warmth. I was in sexual heaven.

 

 

I heard Jay up talking on the phone to his wife, girlfriend, significant other, whoever—I didn't care. I had my hand deep in my pockets after really peeping what he was worth so ya better believe the chick on the phone's role was compromised already. He hadn't strapped up not one time of us fucking like rabbits so if my period came up late, I'd come up knocked up and keeping it. After getting sexed, paid, and sent out the door, I was climbing into my whip tipping the valet one of the tens I'd made last night.

Keeping it real with ol' boy, wasn't nothing about my story fabricated. I tried adding a cherry on top by letting him work me out before having to leave, so hopefully that helped not to sour his mood; but I had to hook up with Dazz so we could discuss what went down last night. He'd been one of the many calls from early this morning I couldn't answer but via text he let me know that we needed to hook up ASAP before I went into work.

“Thank you, and have a good day, ma'am.” The attendant waved, happy that his day started off the right way.

“Oh no doubt. And you do the same.” Pulling off toward Big Boy, I had to meet up with Dazz for breakfast. Jay was throwing major shade about me hooking up with another guy but he had some nerve having a girl with twins at home. Men weren't shit but at least Jay paid me enough to overlook it.

Riding down Jefferson, everything was much different than it was last night. All of the partiers were probably still knocked out as nothing but trash was left in the parking lots running over into the streets. Many business owners were out sweeping, cleaning up, and prepping for their Saturday morning patrons.

The phone rang. Reaching for my phone thinking it was Dazz, I answered without checking. Big mistake! “Hello.”

“Hi, Shannon,” a deep voice spoke back.

Pulling the phone back, looking at the number, I didn't know anyone from that area code prefix so it must've been a bill collector. “Yeah, who is this? I ain't got no job, money, or nothing; plus it's too early to be calling my phone about some bill shit.”

“Your father.”

I hadn't heard from this man since he'd told me to have a nice life on my eighteenth birthday handing my mother the final child support payment. I didn't know she faithfully received. He looked at me as his daughter then turned and walked away. Why in the hell was he calling me now? Absolutely speechless, I didn't know what to say. “The only father I know of wouldn't be calling me.” What else could I say to the stranger who'd chosen to stay away?

“Your tongue is just as sharp as your mother's.”

“Yeah, well, and so? I was raised by her.” He'd woken me up with his criticism like I had any other choice but to be like the woman I hated to the core of my soul.

Dazz pulled up, blowing the horn. “Ay, yo, Butter baby, c'mon, girl!” Waving for me to jump in his ride, I was glad Dazz was there because I needed more of a reason to end this call. I wasn't interested in entertaining him or Shawntay. Why were they surfacing anyhow?

“Look, James, my friend just pulled up. Can we rush this conversation along?”

“I'll be free again around lunchtime. Please call me by then or I'll call you.”

“How about you call me? We both know how it goes when it comes to me trying to reach out to you. I'm too old for that letdown shit.” I looked over at Dazz who was holding up our morning breakfast: a plump swisher sweet.

“I'll be calling you around noon. Talk to you then.”

Staring down at my phone's blinking call duration, a boatload of memories rushed into my mind. The whole life I'd steadily pushed down was starting to come back at me full force. I couldn't understand why, 'cause the people I pushed away were the same people who isolated me in the first place. I felt like everything around me was spinning. My heart was racing, I couldn't catch my breath, and for a moment I completely zoned out.

Dazz blew the horn once more.

“What up? You straight?” Dazz asked as I jumped in his Yukon still dazed from talking to my dad.

“I'm good. That phone call just shook me up a bit.” Not wanting to get too deep into my personal business with Dazz, I kept my answer short and sweet hoping he got the point.

“I can tell. G'on and light this up. It'll get ya mind right. Let's get this wake and bake session started.” Passing over the blunt I'd been eyeing since getting in, I grabbed the lighter from the cup holder, taking my orders with no reluctance.

“Don't mind if I do.”

“So what you get into last night? You and white boy you did a private with hookup?” Dazz wasted no time cutting into me as soon as I hopped into his Yukon Denali.

“Damn, you must have a LoJack recording device hooked up to me somewhere,” I joked, buckling up as he pulled off.

“Oh please believe I keep tabs on everything I have an interest in. And from the looks of it, you should be happy that I do. Them bitches were gunning for your head last night.” Looking over to make sure I was listening, I had a feeling Dazz really wanted to say more.

“No doubt, no doubt! I'm more than appreciative. Frank wouldn't have wasted a moment firing my ass had I pulled out my .380. You came out looking like a savior by keeping the peace between our wild asses. It was about to be a murder mayhem up in the club please believe me!” Taking a few puffs before passing the tightly wrapped packed cigarillo, I welcomed the calming buzz it brought over my overworked body. “So what's the word? What all went down last night? I'm pretty sure I've gotta walk around watching over my shoulder.”

“Well as long as I'm around, you ain't never gotta worry.” Reaching over me popping the glove compartment, he pulled out a Ziploc half full of marijuana tossing it onto my lap. “Roll up so we can get this real right and kick it before hitting Big Boy.”

Catching a whiff of the loud green before even fully opening the bag, the funk spread throughout the truck like a wildfire once I opened it to sneak a whiff. “Damn this is some hella loud right here!” Picking up one of the many fliers that were spread throughout his truck, I broke down a few of the corned popcorn buds, making sure this would be a fat one. “I've gotta buy a few grams of this fire up off ya. This would save me the trouble from having to make a stop.”

“You know I ain't about taking your money, Butter. A real nigga don't have his hand out. Take you a handful on me then roll up another fat one. You straight.” Gripping the wheel turning the radio back up, I followed my commands not questioning his boss status.

Riding across the bridge to the park, I was feeling hella high already but that didn't stop me from pulling super hard. Between Kush and alcohol, that was the only time I had peace and comfort. I couldn't wait to get a drink up in me. Rolling down the window to let the thick smoke seep out into the air, my long, wavy hair flowed in the wind as I stared off into the sky. Something just wasn't sitting right in the pit of my stomach. With so much unraveling in my life at the same time, I couldn't pinpoint where the uneasy feeling was coming from. So much had gone down the last twenty-four hours. Deciding to keep quiet not to kill the vibe, I bobbed my head to the Jeezy song trying to shake the irking feeling.
Chill out, Shannon, you only tripping about your dad. Get it together so you can get faded the right way.

Pulling into a parking space by the water, Dazz shut the ignition off then pulled a blanket from the back seat. “Bring that choke with you; we're going to sit by the water.”

 

Having a cup of coffee, listening to my mother-in-law vent, I couldn't believe J.T. had kept so many family secrets from me. I guessed had he told me the dark truths of the Schultz men I would've questioned his loyalty to me as his wife.

“Would you like another cup, Beth?” I held the mug up after filling my mug to the brim. I hadn't slept a wink and from the looks of it couldn't plan to catch any rest for hours to come. Luckily the twins were asleep.

“No, I'll be needing something stronger. I can't believe that home-wrecking whore showed up to my house! Pour me a glass of wine from that open bottle in the fridge.” Beth was on a rampage. Since being introduced to her as a child, I always met the mild, sweet, docile, mothering woman who always took me and J.T. on play dates. Now she was shivering mad pouring every problem out that she and the second man I called dad had since before my time.

“I don't know what to say, Ma.” Handing her the whole bottle, she poured her own sorrows as I sipped what I hoped would give me enough energy to deal with what she was about to lay on me.

“I do! His ass better not come back to this house after crossing me. All those years of sneak visits . . . What did he call himself doing? Bonding? I warned him.”

Mrs. Schultz was speaking babble. The more she drank the more she went on and on about family secrets I could've never fathomed. My father-in-law had a daughter out of wedlock with a black woman and Beth refused to acknowledge the little girl. As the hurt feelings spilled out more, I pieced together that me and my father were just ploys to ensure the Schultz financial bottom didn't fall out. The woman who I thought was more passive than my mother uncovered her masked face of deception. She was the furthest thing from weak, resembling more of a mastermind than any of the money-hungry men I'd seen my father do business with.

“Does J.T. know he has a sister?” Too intrigued by the skeletons in their closet, I was nothing but all ears. Pouring my cup of coffee down the sink, joining Beth in drinking in the wee hours of the morning, the drama she was putting on the table was more than a reason to get lit.

“Of course not! What type of mother would I had been if I let my only son be raised with a black girl? I did what any well-educated, respectable white woman would've done and got my husband back in line. I'd worked too hard at training my husband on how to provide. No nigger woman or her child was gonna reap my riches.” The more Beth talked, the more scorned she sounded. Instead of controlling the situation and keeping the family she thought was so sacred to her, Beth had been pushing down resentment for James for over twenty years.

“I wonder what my mother would've done if dad put her in the same situation. And, hell, what would I do if J.T. followed in his father's footsteps?” Staring at Beth I really wanted to know what her honest response would be.

“Your mother would've kept her family together by any means. Your dad is a very prestigious man, he has women paying to suck his dick. So I'm sure your mother stands in her corner of the ring with a list of demands of her own. We as the wives of successful men must know how to play our part.”

Mrs. Schultz was in rare form. I'd never heard her speak so brash.

 

 

Speeding down the highway doing about a hundred mph, I was spitting bullets mad. All my life I'd been fighting against the odds, coming up short each time. I was tired of the struggle, I was tired of losing, and I was tired of never at least being the runner-up. Shawntay Jenkins ain't never been shit! Calling Shannon over and over again, each call was going straight to voicemail. My faith was starting to waver as I felt hopeless. “Oh, God, please stop punishing me. Can I have another chance at having a relationship with my only daughter?” Screaming out, hitting the steering wheel in anger, my frustration was boiling over. Nothing I was doing was enough. No path I was walking was getting me closer to forgiveness from Shannon. I might've been a demon in my earlier days but I was walking as a saint in my eyes today. When would my punishment end? Why me?

He and his racist wife slandered even the saved name I'd been diligently working on. I knew I was nothing more to Jimmy than a quick nut but I hadn't expected him to still be so cold even after telling him I was diagnosed to die. At some point in my life before it was all over, I guessed I was still expecting more than a cold shoulder.

There was no reason for me to hold on to hope anymore. Snatching from my nightstand drawer the bag of medications my doctor said would help prolong my life, or at least keep me out of pain while my immune system ate away at itself, I swallowed a mouthful of pills then drank a full glass of water. The rest I dumped down the toilet bowl then flushed. “I'm over this life! Ain't shit been happy about my ever after!” Walking with determination into the living room, I grabbed the bottle of Absolut I'd successfully walked past for three years and unscrewed the top. Drinking my first sip, I'd missed the hard, harsh taste, the burning sensation going down my throat, and the immediate buzz liquor brought me. “I'm sorry I ever left your side!”

Giving into my temptation, this was the only thing that ensured my mind didn't have to deal with how pitiful I actually was. Tilting it back, drinking the whole fifth down nonstop, I didn't care that my body was starting to negatively react from the mixture of alcohol and prescriptions. Once done with the first bottle, I grabbed another fifth then drank it straight down too. I was weak, wobbly, and barely breathing. They say a recovering alcoholic should get rid of all their liquor in their house to help lessen the chance of relapsing. I guessed my walk to recovery was just as much of a joke as my walk with the Lord. Feeling my chest starting to hurt then tighten up, I fell to the ground gasping for my last breath. This was it.

 

 

I was finally about to do right by Shannon and Shawntay; well, at least until her final days. Neither one of them deserved to be shunned when I was the one who'd made them a reality in my life in the first place. All of these years of allowing Beth and Sally to dictate how Shannon was raised was the worst mistake of my life. No matter how many days I tried denying it, my heart had a place for Shannon and I didn't want to end up burying her like she was about to have to do her mother. Reaching down on my hip, grabbing my phone from the holster, I saw it was my mother calling again, probably on behalf of Beth. The puppet master games were over.

“Hello.” I spoke calmly into the phone, turning down the street I last knew Shawntay's house to be on. “If you're calling to berate me, Mother, you've wasted your time.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind? I called your house to speak to Beth but she's a drunken mess. She told me about that nigger lover you've called yourself running after. You need to turn that car around, get home to your wife, and pray to God you haven't ruined my opportunity to die a rich woman!” Screaming into the phone ol' Sally was still the same bitter old woman my dad grew to resent.

“Beth better prepare the guest room because I'll be bringing Shannon home to meet the family she should've grown up with. It'll be nice if you're there.” I taunted her with my words knowing it was getting under her skin.

“Over my dead body, James Theodore Schultz III.”

“Then I guess the first family function Shannon will attend will be your funeral.” Hanging up, I was moments away from knocking on Shawntay's door. I owed her a few apologies and, from the looks of this shabby, half-standing house, a few dollars to upgrade herself. Over all the years of death wishes I'd begged God to curse Shawntay with was finally unfolding. I wouldn't say God was the one responsible for shortening her lifespan because I was the one busy praying against her existence and today I knew it was too late to wish all of those words away. All of that time and energy could've been put toward helping Shannon have at least half the life afforded to my son. Shawntay's only request of me was to help her and Shannon mend their relationship; that was the least I could do.