Independent Women - the Complete BWWM Romance Series Boxset (33 page)

#Chapter8

“Just call me karma.”

Mimi

Reggie drove to Mimi’s house, he could have taken the train but he needed to see Mimi quick. He was blinded with rage, she ruined his life and it was time for them to have it out. How dare that bitch show up at his home, talk to his wife, and try to ruin everything that he held dear. He didn’t deserve any of the bullshit that she was pulling.

He’d given in to damn near all of her demands since he was an adult. She’d given him a lot but he gave her something in return, himself. He was way too young to be fucking around with her, she was a predatory cougar. He pulled up to her place and walked up her stairs without hesitation. He didn’t know what he was going to say to her, but he would figure it out when he got inside.

Pissed wasn’t even the word that she was going to be when she saw him at her doorstep, but he no longer cared about what happened to him. He’d lost the only woman that he’d ever loved thanks to her. She needed to know how in the hell he felt. It had been 2 days since the day that Tamika threw a damned lamp at his head. He had to work through the stress, and every day his contempt for Mimi grew stronger and stronger.

He rang the doorbell and soon Solomon came to the door, Mimi’s current boy toy. “Where is Mimi?” Reggie asked.

“Why? She’s not expecting you.”

“Man quit playing with me, where is she?” he said as he pushed his way into the house.

Solomon looked like he wanted to test Reggie’s power. He’d been wanting to stomp a hole in him since the day that Reggie showed back up. Mimi was his meal ticket and anyone getting in his way was a problem.

“Solomon, calm down baby, and go to the back,” Mimi said as she emerged from her room.

“You sure?” Solomon asked.

“Did you hear what I said?” she said again with more bite to her voice.

The fire in Solomon’s eyes simmered down to a low boil, he sneered at Reggie and headed to back, “If you need anything just call out for me and I’ll drop that dude.”

“Bye boy,” she laughed and slapped his ass when he walked past her. When he went to the room he shut the door behind him. Mimi focused her attention on Reggie, “May I help you?”

“Why are you so intent on ruining my life? Why couldn’t you just leave well enough alone?”

She laughed, “Just like you, blaming everyone else for your short comings. Poor baby, it has to hurt to be a constant victim.”

“Man, I’m not trying to hear any of that bullshit; I need you to answer my question. You talked to my wife; don’t you think that was crossing the line?”

“Since when have you ever known me to pay attention to a line? Just ask your brother about how I feel about lines.”

“Don’t talk about my brother, don’t even mention him,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Touchy subject huh?” she laughed, “You ruined your own life, that has nothing to do with me.”

“That’s funny considering that things didn’t get fucked up before you stuck your nose in my business.”

“You wanted me to be in your business and the most fucked up parts of your life have nothing to do with me. You’re so damned ungrateful. I came in to save your broke ass when nobody else did, and this is the thanks I get. You barging into my fucking house acting like you’re going to do something when we both know that you are not about that life.”

“You have no idea of what I’m capable of.”

“Oh, the baby cub has claws?”

“I’m far from a child, I’m a grown ass man.”

“Then act like one for once in your life. Take some real responsibility for your actions and stop trying to blame other people for your fucked up decisions.”

“No! You don’t get to place the blame at my feet. How about you take some responsibility for your actions. You’re one fucked up woman, do you know that? What kind of woman goes and finds kids to screw?”

“You were legal baby, and I didn’t hear you complaining.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t know what you mean. You weren’t complaining when I was paying your school fees, when you were driving that car, when I paid for your brother to stay in an apartment in college, or when I paid for that rock that was sitting on your wife’s finger. You were ‘grown’ then and you still weren’t complaining. You just want to blame me because your bullshit finally caught up with you.”

“I didn’t come here for this bullshit,” he said.

“Well you’re going to get it anyway,” Mimi said in an authoritative voice, “I’ve coddled you for far too long and for that I truly am sorry. However, you don’t get to play with everyone’s feelings around you without remorse. You led your wife on for how long? She thought that you were faithful throughout your relationship. You stood before God and made a vow to her and you broke it.”

“You can’t be serious right now? So you’re saying that you didn’t try to ruin my life? That you didn’t have my brother damned near killed? That you didn’t talk to my wife just to fuck with me?”

She grinned, “I admit that I do have a bit of a mean streak, but I only fuck with people that deserve it. Just call me karma.”

“You think this shit is a joke?”

“I’m not playing with your ass. I laugh and joke but I don’t play. So get your mind right, honey. The only reason that I’m entertaining your bullshit this evening is because I have nothing better to do. Nothing much ever happens on Tuesdays.”

“What is it going to take for you to leave me alone? I want you out of my life and pockets for good.”

“You’ve got it. I’m done with you now. I’ve had my fun. You’re living a shitty life and you’re on empty. You’re a washed up college football player that will probably be begging for cash on the streets of New York in two more years. You’re broken baby, and nothing good can ever come of that. You may have that brand new job, but you’re going to fuck it up and I won’t be here to save you this time. However, I may put a dollar or two in your cup if you dance for me.”

Reggie thought that all of the veins were going to burst out of his head. He’d never wanted to strangle a woman before, but he wanted to wrap his hands around her neck and squeeze until he felt all of the life drain from her body. She’d pressed his buttons, she hit below the belt. His failed football career was one of his major regrets. She threw it in his face as if she didn’t think that he would choke her.

“Face it baby,” she continued, “There isn’t anything that I could do to you that’s going to be worse than what you’re going to do to yourself.”

“Just shut the hell up,” he said as he rested his hands on his head and paced her house.

“You feeling froggy, baby? Leap. Give me a reason to put you down like a dog.”

“You think you’re a badass now because no one has ever put you in your place. Trust me, your time is coming. There will be a day when no one can save you, not your money or your goons.”

“That may be true because no one lives forever, especially in this lifestyle but you’re too much of a bitch to truly do anything. Now get your pathetic ass out of my house.”

Reggie nodded his head and gave her a sinister grin, “One day you’re going to get exactly what’s coming to you.”

“Bye boy.”

“Bye bitch,” he said before he headed towards the door.

“If I actually valued your opinion, that would have hurt,” she laughed as he walked out of the door.

He felt emasculated, it ate away at him. Reggie had hit rock bottom.

#Chapter9

“You can’t keep it in your pants to save your life.”

Kalena

Kalena sat at her mom’s kitchen table and ate some of her amazing cooking, “Oh my goodness, you’re going to make me gain weight.”

“Girl please, you couldn’t gain weight even if you tried,” her mom laughed, “Our genes just aren’t set up like that.”

“Sometimes I hate not having a booty,” Kalena laughed.

“You’ll get over it.”

“If I keep eating your cooking then maybe I’ll get one.”

“You’re going to need my cooking, prayer, and a great surgeon.”

“Oooh, I’m gonna get me a Kim Kardashian booty,” Kalena laughed.

“I would stick a pin in it as soon as you stepped through my door with that monstrosity.”

“What do you know about Kim Kardashian?”

“I’m Christian Kalena, that does not make me blind.”

“I see.”

“Speaking of Christian, I’ve found a new church, you should come with me.”

“I don’t know about that, mom. I’m happy with the way that my life is, I believe in God and everything but I don’t think that church is for me.”

“I can’t believe that I raised you sometimes. You need to get your butt back into church; it’s a great way to get some stability. I know that it’s made me feel better, and I think that you’ll really like it.”

“I’ll think about it,” Kalena lied.

“Mmhmm, sure you will.”

She gave her mom a knowing grin, “I gave you the politically correct answer.”

“I’ll leave you alone for now. I’m just worried about you and your soul.”

“My soul is intact, mom.”

“For now, what about when you die?”

“Wow, someone is being morbid.”

“I’m not trying to scare you; I just want to be honest with you. I wouldn’t be your mother if I didn’t tell you how I felt. I love you and I want to see you in heaven someday.”

“Is this the same heaven that dad will be in?” Kalena asked.

“Are you trying to press my buttons today?”

“Nope, I’m just inquiring about some things.”

Her mom gave her the death stare, then she was saved by the bell. The doorbell reverberated throughout the house.

“Are you expecting company?” Kalena asked.

“Nope.”

“I’m gonna answer it,” Kalena said as she jumped to her feet and went to door. She made her way through the dining room, down the hall, and to the door. She looked through the peep hole and her heart dropped. It was a face that she hadn’t seen in person in over a year and she could have gone much longer without it.

Reluctantly she opened the door and stood face to face with the person that she was trying to forget.

“Hey Baby girl.”

“Hi dad,” Kalena said, lacking enthusiasm.

“Wow, not even a hug for your old man?”

Her father wrapped his arms around her, she stood frozen.

“Kalena who is that?” she heard her mom say from the back. Her mother walked out and soon mirrored her daughter’s demeanor, “What are you doing here?” she said to her husband.

“I came to see you.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to talk.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about. Go home to your girlfriend.”

“I’m so sorry about what I’ve done to our family. I’ve been praying and asking God for guidance. I want my family; I don’t want us to be over. Will you come back home?”

“I’m done with you. You’ve made your decisions, now you have to live with them, I’m finished Henry.”

“Baby, I need you to really consult God on this one. Don’t throw away everything that we’ve built just because you’re upset.”

“I’m so tired of you. Just to let you know, I’ve been praying. Leaving you has been the best decision that I’ve ever made and I finally feel at peace.”

Kalena felt awkward as she stood in the middle of her parents. Their words were a blur, but it made her feel intrusive.

“Umm, I think that I’m going to leave,” Kalena said.

Her mom gave her a silent nod.

Her dad said, “Can I see you tomorrow? I’ll be in town for a couple of days.”

“I hope you have a hotel room,” her mom said.

“If that’s what you want,” he said.

“Knowing you, you probably have a woman here that you’re staying with. You can’t keep it in your pants to save your life. Did you consult God about that?”

Kalena grabbed her coat and purse and headed out of the door. When the cool breeze hit her face, she felt relief. Her dad had a lot of nerve showing up at her mom’s new place the way that he did. Her dad felt like he owned her and that she was always going to come back to him. Kalena said a silent prayer with the hope that it would strengthen her mother’s resolve. Her mom was finally starting to be happy again, her dad would only bring heartache and misery. She didn’t trust that man as far as she could throw him.

That was why she couldn’t stand men; they lied through their perfect teeth with a look of sincerity on their face. In the middle of that thought, her thoughts drifted to Tommy, the man that would literally fight for her. Deep down she knew that he would never treat her the way that her father did her mother. She was such a stupid woman. Not many women had a Tommy in their lives and she was about to throw hers away.

She felt extremely silly about getting so upset with him over what happened. He had every right to be pissed and that was the kind of man she claimed to always want. Also, he got arrested because of racism. There should have been two people in handcuffs that evening, it wasn’t right. She shook her head at herself; he probably never wanted to talk to her again after the way that she behaved. Even after she snapped on him in the car, he still wanted another chance. He said some hurtful things to her but they were partially true and he was pissed.

When she got in her car, she headed to Tommy’s house. The right time to apologize was in her face. Going with her gut seemed like the best thing to do, and the sooner she corrected her error with him the better.

He cared about her and stuck around through the toughest times. He watched her date other men even though she knew how he felt about her. She couldn’t get to his house fast enough. Twenty five minutes later and she was there.

She skipped up his steps and knocked on his door. The door opened however it wasn’t Tommy, instead it was a familiar face. It was the same girl that was at his house before. It didn’t take him long to pick back up with her.

“Who is it?” Tommy said in the background.

“It’s your friend,” she said without acknowledging Kalena’s presence.

Tommy walked to the door and looked surprised to see her, “Hey.”

“Hi, sorry, I came by to say something but never mind,” Kalena said quickly.

“No wait,” he said.

“No, I’m leaving.” she replied forcefully and quickly walked to her car.

Kalena didn’t want him to follow her; she didn’t want some big emotional showdown. She wanted him to wait for her. She wanted him to not go back to an old flame just because they had a disagreement. She felt stupid all over again. Maybe he wasn’t the kind of man that she should have been with after all.