Authors: Brenda Hampton
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #African American, #Urban
Naughty by Nature (5 page)
“Well, don't stay up trying to wait for me. Sometimes, I get real busy and I don't want you losing your beauty sleep, okay?”
She smiled.
Leslie looked me up and down before saying anything. “You look cute,” she said in her ghetto, but sassy voice. “Maybe I need to go to Jay's today since all the men are going to be following you.”
“Girl, please. Ain't nobody gon' be following me nowhere. Especially, if I put on my don't-fuck-with-me mug.”
We both laughed.
The kids were out of school for the summer, so Leslie said she'd take them to the zoo today. The good thing about having her around was Mackenzie got a chance to spend time with her cousins rather than being cooped up with me at Jay's.
“I'll see y'all later,” I said on my way out. “If anybody needs me, you know where I'll be.”
I gave Mackenzie another kiss and I was finally on my way to see what I'd been missing.
SHANE
4
J
ay and I sat on two stools by my designer's table and cracked up at the pictures he'd shown me from Nokea's surprise birthday party. I'd gotten messed up and had passed out on the beach.
ay and I sat on two stools by my designer's table and cracked up at the pictures he'd shown me from Nokea's surprise birthday party. I'd gotten messed up and had passed out on the beach.
“I can't believe you took a picture of me under those conditions,” I smiled and continued to look through the pictures.
“Hey, don't blame me, my brotha. Nokea was the one with the camera. I suggest you take your beef up with her.”
We laughed and when I'd gotten to a picture of Jaylene, his baby girl, he was all over it.
“Ain't she beautiful, man,” he said, standing up like a proud father.
“More than beautiful. I can't understand how a Negro as ugly as you pulled off something like this.”
Jaylin snatched the pictures from my hands. He rubbed his goatee with the tips of his fingers. “Fuck you, fool. Both of my babies got me written all over them. LJ and Jaylene are a spitting image of this handsome brotha that stands before you today.”
As we were talking, Felicia came in. She wore a soft white suit with a skirt that had a major split in the back. The suit tightly hugged her hips and showed off her hour glass figure. Her braids were in a bun and I could tell she went out of her way to impress Jaylin.
“Hello, boys,” she said, wiggling her fingers in the air and trotting into her office. She placed a bag on her desk and then came out to join us.
Jaylin opened his arms to embrace her. “Good morning, Miss Lady. I see that life is treating you well.”
She pulled herself back and looked up at Jaylin. “Well, it must be treating you extremely well. Nokea knows better than to let you come to St. Louis alone. Is she crazy!”
Jaylin let loose of Felicia and smiled. He didn't say anything because he'd already known how to handle sexual advancements. They started as soon as he got off the plane. The reservationists tried to jump his bones, the chick at the rental car facility was trying to get fucked, and the receptionist in the lobby had thrown herself at him, too. The Jaylin I once knew, no doubt, would have handled his business and handled it well.
“So, how long will you be staying?” Felicia asked him.
“Not long. I'm gonna head back as soon as we get finished with the Mayor's Group.”
“Negro, I thought we were having dinner tonight? Andâ” I cleared my throat.
“And what?” he said.
“And, I'm having a li'l somethin-somethin for my cousin, Trey, tomorrow night. Nothing extravagant, but I invited him and his friends to Davenports for a li'l celebration.”
Jaylin held out his hands. “Well, why you ain't say nothing? I don't mind staying.”
“Wait a minute,” Felicia said. “Did you ask me if it was okay to invite those thugs over here?”
“Thugs? Trey and his friends ain't no thugs. And even if they were, I don't have to ask you nothing, Felicia. This is my place and yours.”
She looked at Jaylin, “Do you see what kind of monster you've created? Shane is just . . . He's out of control. He talks to me likeâ
“Whoaâwait a minute,” Jaylin said. “I'm out of it, baby. If anything, y'all need to learn how to get along. Every time I talk to Shane y'all fighting over some bullshit.”
She smiled. “I know, but that's because we love each other, don't we boo?” She kissed me on the cheek.
I wiped my cheek and joked with her. “Get away from me. Don't be trying to butter me up, alright?”
She held her hand up to my face and trotted back to her office. She threw her hips from side to side, and didn't have to worry about Jaylin or me looking because our eyes were glued to her butt.
Once we came out of our trances, Jaylin leaned on my work table. “Man, how do you work with her everyday and not have the desire to fuck her?”
I laughed. “Because I've been there and done that. And, she hurt me. Once a woman hurts me as bad as she did, then I'm able to look at her in a different way. That doesn't mean I can't look at her ass, though.”
We slammed our hands together. “I guess that makes sense. But, I honestly don't know how you do it.”
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to break the news to him about Scorpio coming to see him. It was already 10:15
A.M.
, and since she said she'd be here by 11:00
A.M.
, I knew my time was running out.
A.M.
, and since she said she'd be here by 11:00
A.M.
, I knew my time was running out.
“If you don't mind,” he said. “I'ma hit up your phone and tell Nokea I won't be back until Sunday. Then, I need to let out my leakage I've been holding since I got off the plane.”
“Go do your thang,” I said. Jaylin grabbed his Brooks Brothers suit jacket from the back of the chair and headed off to my office.
Felicia came out of her office and stood next to me with her arms folded. Her eyes were locked in on Jaylin through the glass windows in my office.
“He is still so fucking fine,” she confessed. “Body all tanned, grey eyes glowing, goatee and beard neatly trimmed. All I can think about is those multiple orgasms he gave me and running my fingers through his thick curly hair when he screwed me.”
She was in a daze.
I cleared my throat. “Felicia, I don't care to hear about your sexual experience with Jaylin. Do you mind?”
She reached over and rubbed the side of my face. “Don't be jealous, boo. You fine as hell, too, but that man is in a category all by himself.” She gazed at him again. “Shane, look at that suit.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “So, what about it?”
“It justâjust clings to his muscles. And, the way he's showing off his chest with his button down crisp shirt, a tie would murder that outfit.”
“Yes, Felicia. He has on a very nice suit. Now, would you please go take your mother her present so you can be on time for our meeting?”
“Damn, I almost forgot.” Felicia stood for another moment, gazing at Jaylin until he hung up the phone. “Peep the square-toed shiny leather shoes,” she said, underneath her breath. “If you don't learn nothing else from him, you've got to learn how to dress.”
I smacked her ass hard and she laughed. “Girl, get your butt out of here. I got my style and he got his.”
She rolled her eyes and walked off. Jaylin walked over and shook his head. He sat on the stool next to me.
“What's up with all the ass smacking, man? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you've been lying to me.”
“Trust me, I ain't got nothing to hide. I'm satisfied with Sam, and I will not let Felicia or any other woman fuck that up for me.”
“How's Sam doing anyway? Whenever we chat, you don't talk much about her.”
“She cool. She just got back from handling this modeling gig in New York, and she's going back in a few more weeks. She's been talking about moving there, but I don't see that happening for me.”
“Yeah, New York is a busy place. But, if you love her, then you'll do what you gotta do.”
I nodded and wasn't up to talking about Sam.
Felicia told us she'd be back and Jaylin suggested that we go get something to eat.
“Yeah, that sounds good, but, uh, I need to talk to you about something.”
“What?” Jaylin said, standing with his suit jacket thrown over his shoulder.
“I got a call the other day and it was from Scorpio. She asked me to meet her for dinner and I did.”
Jaylin looked interested in what I had to say and laid his jacket on his lap before sitting back down. “So,” he said. “What happened?”
“She wants to see you. I told her you were coming in town and she said that she wanted to see you.”
“See me for what?”
“Honestly, I don't know.” I looked at my Rolex. “She said she'd stop by around eleven. It's a quarter-to right now.”
Jaylin gripped his hands together and looked down at the ground. He then raised his head and made direct eye contact with me. “I'm kind of uneasy about seeing her. Did you tell herâ”
“Yes. I told her about you and Nokea being married and I told her about Jaylene. For the record, I told her you were a completely fulfilled man and had no desire to be anywhere else.”
“How did she take the news?”
“For the most part, she did alright. She knows how much you love Nokea, but she still wants to see you.”
Jaylin stood up and slowly walked over by the tall windows, gazing out at the view. He put his hands in his pockets and didn't say a word.
“Hey,” I said. “If her coming here makes you uncomfortable, I'll callâ”
“Naw,” he said with his back facing me. “It's okay,” he nodded, “it's definitely okay.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the door came open and Scorpio sauntered her way in. She looked at me first and smiled, and then looked at Jaylin's back since he was still turned.
“Hi,” she said, walking up and giving me a hug. I squeezed her tightly, just to get a feel of her nipples that were hard and poking through her red fitted shirt. I rubbed my hand on her bare back and desperately wanted to remove the string that was tied in a knot.
Even while hearing her voice, Jaylin still hadn't turned around. Scorpio broke our embrace and walked over to him. I bit down on my lip as I glimpsed at her silky smooth fat-free back and ass that looked downright delicious in her hip-hugging jeans.
As she stood next to him, Jaylin turned his head and stared her up and down. Nervous, she moved away the bangs on her forehead that nearly covered her eyes. He said nothing, and neither did she. He then leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest. She placed her arms around his neck and tightly closed her eyes. When I noticed his eyes closed too, I knew there was some deep shit between them.
Scorpio broke their embrace, backed up a bit and smiled. I had never seen Jaylin look so nervous, but he managed to smile as well.
“What's up?” he said, in his deep masculine voice.
“Hi,” she softly replied.
Trying to ease this uncomfortable situation, I intervened. “Why don't y'all come take a seat,” I said, pulling up another stool for Scorpio to sit. She walked over to it and Jaylin followed closely behind. His eyelids lowered and zoomed on her backside until she took a seat.
I wanted to excuse myself so that they could be alone, but by the way Jaylin admired her, I didn't think the two of them being alone was a good idea. Jaylin quickly spoke up.
“How's my baby doing?”
“Mackenzie's doing well, Jaylin. She's grown into an even more beautiful little girl, and she still asks about you from time to time.”
Jaylin stroked his goatee. “I'm curious. What do you tell her?”
“I told her the truth. That things didn't work out between us and you had to move on. You always said she'd someday understand and you were right. I know she misses you, but she's learned how to adjust.”
Jaylin nodded. “And, what about the dog? Does Barbie miss me, too?”
Scorpio smiled. “She . . . we all miss you, but, I'm glad to hear that you're doing okay.”
“Yeah, I'm doing fine.”
“Shane told me that you had
another
baby?”
another
baby?”
Jaylin looked over at me. “Yeah. I have a baby girl.” He slightly leaned over on his stool and pulled out his wallet. He proudly pulled out a picture of Jaylene and handed it over to Scorpio. “That's my baby right there. That little girl means everything in the world to me.”
Scorpio looked at the picture and forced out a smile. She told Jaylin how beautiful Jaylene was and quickly handed the picture back to him.
He looked at the picture, then put it back in his wallet. “So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about? Shane said that you wanted to see me?”
I stood up. “I'm gon' allow y'all some privacy. Can I get y'all something to drink?”
Jaylin pulled on my arm. “Sit. We ain't looking for no privacy.”
I lowered myself back on the stool.
“I . . . I really just wanted to know how you were doing,” Scorpio said. “Lately, for whatever reason, you've been on my mind. I thought that something bad happened to you andâ”
“Naw, I'm good, baby.” Jaylin spoke with confidence. “Actually, couldn't be better. How about you? You're looking good and things must be going well.”
“Yes. Things are going remarkably well. I finally got my business degree, and last year, I opened up Jay's. I haven't done much with my playwriting, but I hope to get back to it soon. For a thirty-two-year-old woman, I'd say I'm doing pretty well.”
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