Single Husbands (26 page)

“Ivory, will you marry me?”

All thirty-two of her teeth appeared as she responded with a resounding “Yes! Yes! I will marry you, Herschel Henderson.”

Herschel needed a firm yes from Ivory before asking Nikki for a divorce. But there was one person he had to tell his decision
to, face-to-face. Putting on his shorts and T-shirt, Herschel kissed Ivory, then said, “I’ll be back tonight. Ask Kwan—I mean,
ask my son—where he wants to go for dinner tonight. I want to be the one to tell him his daddy is coming home for good.”

If Herschel was going to raise a child, it was going to be his own. Nikki was not going to have him babysitting some other
man’s kid while she traveled the world.

Ivory followed him to the living room and stood in the doorway until he could no longer see her in the rearview mirror. Driving
to the condo he shared with Anthony, Herschel hoped he’d find Anthony there.

Sliding his key into the hole, Herschel closed the front door behind him. Going directly to Anthony’s bedroom, he knocked
on the door. No answer. He knocked again. No answer.

“You looking for me?” Anthony asked, walking up behind Herschel with a smoothie in his hand.

Herschel turned around to face Anthony’s naked body. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”

“Well, damn, you don’t have to sound like the police unless you’re planning on frisking me,” Anthony said, dipping his fingers
into his beverage, then sprinkling Herschel’s face.

Herschel took the smoothie from Anthony, dipped his dick into the glass, handed it back to Anthony, then said, “Lick me.”

“No, you didn’t. You gon’ make me another smoothie,” Anthony insisted, “’cause I ain’t drinking that.” Smiling, he knelt before
Herschel. “But I do love me some strawberry-covered chocolate dick.”

Herschel closed his eyes. His throat tightened. A tear escaped the corner of his right eye. This was his last blow job from
the only man he’d ever loved. Glancing down at Anthony, Herschel watched Anthony suck his dick like he was slurping the smoothie.
Anthony’s strong hands traveled up and down his shaft. His jaws tightened, tighter than Herschel’s fuck buddy from the gym.
What or who was she doing this morning?

Anthony stood, gargled, spat in Herschel’s face, then said, “You taste like pussy! That’s why you dipped your dick in my drink
first? You thought I wouldn’t notice? You could’ve washed that nasty shit off!”

Fuck.
There was no arguing the point. “I hadn’t planned on us doing anything. I came here to tell you I’ve made my decision. I
came here to tell you it’s over. I’m leaving Nikki, and”—Herschel paused—“I asked Ivory to marry me.”

Anthony started laughing. “This is too much for me so damn early in the morning. If I weren’t laughing”—Anthony laughed louder—“I’d
beat your fuckin’ ass,” he yelled. “How dare you come in here, stick your nasty, stank-ass dick in my mouth, then tell me
you’re marrying Ivory, when I was the one who stood by you when you were depressed. I was the one who held your ass in my
arms when you couldn’t sleep ’cause your wife was gone. You, my lover, my friend, are confused and need to get the fuck outta
my face,” Anthony said, slamming his bedroom door.

Herschel didn’t bother following Anthony—and, no, Herschel was not confused. Not anymore. He headed home to pack a few things
and tell Nikki of his decision.

Parking in the driveway, Herschel entered their bedroom from the patio.

“Oh, yes! Fuck me harder,” he heard his wife scream. “Harder!”

The locks bounced against the man’s back as he slammed his dick into Nikki. Her hands were locked onto the headboard. She
thrust her ass against Lexington’s dick. Watching his best friend fuck his wife should’ve pissed him off, not turned him on.

Herschel massaged his erection through his pants. It wasn’t Nikki that turned him on. Nikki’s baby was probably Lexington’s.
Let him take care of it,
he thought.
Yeah, right.
If his wife’s baby was Lexington’s, then Nikki was destined to become a single mom, because all Lexington was going to do
was write Nikki a check she didn’t need.

Damn. Lexington’s fine, sexy ass was beating that pussy up!

“Don’t just stand there. Do something.”

What the hell?
Herschel turned around to face… Donna?

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s me. I knew you two were fucking! I knew it!” Donna yelled, fucking up the mood for everybody, including
Herschel.

“Oh, my God!” Nikki screamed, hiding behind Lexington.

God? She knows his name?
Herschel thought. He hadn’t heard her call on Him outside of having sex.

“Herschel, what are you doing here?” Nikki asked.

Donna entered their house, then disappeared. Which way did she go?

“Um, I live here,” he said, squinting his lips. “Well, I used to. I’m moving out today. I just came back to get a few things.
Don’t stop on my account.”

Donna held her right hand behind her back. She ran toward Lexington. He tried to move in front of Nikki, but he couldn’t reposition
himself fast enough.

“Donna, are you crazy?” Herschel yelled, diving in front of Nikki.

Nikki may not have loved Herschel the way she loved Lexington, but Herschel was no punk. He was man enough to die for Nikki.
The object in Donna’s hands stabbed Herschel in the heart.

“Ahhh!” Nikki screamed.

“Bitch, are you crazy?” Lexington yelled.

Raising his hands to his chest, Herschel looked at the object, then threw the piece of plastic in Donna’s face. “Crazy bitch!”
It would’ve been better if she’d stabbed him with a knife than putting that nasty-ass urine-stained pregnancy test on him.

Donna picked up the test, then tossed it on the bed. Tears streamed down her face. “Yes, I am crazy, and I’m pregnant. The
one time I decide to let you make love to me, I end up pregnant again.”

Oh, shit. The test wasn’t Nikki’s? Something isn’t right.
How did Donna end up leaving a pregnancy test in their bathroom? Fuck! Herschel had proposed to Ivory because he thought
Nikki was pregnant with some other man’s baby. Fuck!

“Y’all get the fuck outta here,” Herschel demanded. “And take that nasty-ass piss stick with you, Donna. You got a lot of
nerve coming up in our house taking your damn test.”

“And you got a lot of nerve letting a man fuck you in your ass,” Donna said, stomping out the door.

Lexington stared at him, waiting for a denial that never came. “Nikki, you need to divorce him,” Lexington said, turning his
back to Herschel.

Okay, there was an equitable solution to all of this mayhem, Herschel thought, looking at his naked wife. Before he spoke,
Nikki said, “Baby, I’m sorry,” climbing out of bed.

Was she apologizing to Lexington or him? At this point, it didn’t matter. Ignoring Nikki, Herschel packed a suitcase with
enough work and casual clothes for a week.

“Herschel, don’t,” Nikki said.

“Yes, Herschel, leave,” Lexington insisted.

Kissing Nikki on the lips, Herschel said, “Since you may be pregnant with my baby or Lexington’s, we should all swing tonight
until we get fucking up one another’s lives out of our systems.”

Nikki’s jaw dropped.

Rolling his suitcase toward the door, he looked at his wife, then said, “Nikki, you deserve better. I don’t want any money
from you. I don’t want anything from you. I’ll call you later.”

Herschel missed Anthony already. He sat in the driveway outside their condo and texted,
I love you,
then drove away with a lump, not in his pants but in his throat. This time, Herschel didn’t hold back his tears. He cried.
Not for Nikki. Not for Ivory. But for the love he’d lost with Anthony. Anthony deserved better, and he was right. Herschel
was confused.

Instead of going to Ivory’s, Herschel cruised down Interstate 10, all the way to New Orleans to chill with his mom for a while.
Herschel was convinced his lack of parental love and guidance had fucked him up emotionally. If he didn’t ask his mother the
hard questions that had bothered him since he was a child, Herschel would live his entire life not knowing the meaning of
true love.

Did his mother have the answers?

One thing was for sure. Herschel certainly didn’t.

L
exington did not want another baby by Donna. She’d trapped him once more. That shit wouldn’t happen to him again. He knew
she wanted him to go to New Orleans with her.

Picking up his cell phone, Lexington dialed the man with the hands that could make his dream a reality. “Yes, may I speak
with Dr. Davidson?” Lexington asked.

“May I ask the reason for your call today?” the woman responded.

“Absolutely. In a word… vasectomy,” Lexington said. “Give me the first available appointment.”

Nikki having his baby was cool, but how did he know if it was his? Damn, with her showing up at the sex club, getting her
groove on, letting a dude bend her over the chair. Dude’s seed could’ve spilled out of the condom. Lexington wasn’t sure if
the dude
had
worn a condom that night. She hadn’t worn one when she was with him. What if her baby was from Herschel’s gay ass?

Lexington helped Donna pack her things. It was time for her to get out of his house.

“Ten years of marriage and this is how we end it,” Donna said, sitting down on the job. She sat on the edge of their bed.
“If anyone would’ve fast-forwarded our lives to now, I would’ve thrown myself down at the altar and said, ‘Lord, I can’t do
this!’”

“Donna, what are you talking about?” Lexington asked, staring at their wedding picture on the wall across the room.

Donna softly said, “Nothing, I suppose. Nothing that matters anyway. I’ve decided not to have your baby. I’m having an abortion
today.”

“You’re not killing my child, Donna,” Lexington protested.

“I’ll be done packing in a moment. I don’t need your help,” she said peacefully.

“Donna, I’m serious. You are not killing my child. I’ll take you to court. I have parental rights,” Lexington insisted.

Donna laughed, then seriously said, “And you call yourself a man?”

Forget Donna. There was no way he’d let her destroy his seed.

Donna stood before the mirror, glazing on that raspberry lipstick. She combed her hair, then dressed in a pair of white low-rise
slacks, a white tank top, and slip-on heels. Suddenly Lexington saw the woman he’d made passionate love to reappear.

“Donna, you think I’m kidding,” Lexington said, holding his phone in his hand. “All I have to do is press one button.”

His wife walked over to him and kissed his cheek. Her eyes narrowed so close to his eyes, they damn near touched noses. Donna’s
lips grazed his as she whispered in his mouth, “You want to make that decision. Go right ahead. I’ll let you do that. But
before you decide, I want you to know. I’m either going to abort your baby, or I’m going to kill you,” she said, walking away.

“You’re crazy, Donna!” Lexington yelled, following her out the front door to her limo.

Donna didn’t look back. She didn’t respond. Damn, was that the way he’d treated her, leaving her at home almost every night?
Forget Donna. Lexington went into the bedroom, slipped into a pair of shorts, no T-shirt, then walked over to the nightstand
to get his Bluetooth. Donna had left the title to the restaurant he’d bought her in South Beach on the bed.

“Whatever,” Lexington said, shaking his head.

Lexington needed someone to talk to, so he walked over to Nikki’s. Herschel was gone, so he didn’t need to call first. Nikki
was in bed. Lexington lay beside her. “Hey, you,” he whispered.

“Huh? What are you doing here? Oh, hell no. Take your ass home. I do not want your crazy wife over here ever again. Leave,
Lexington. Take your married ass home,” Nikki said, sliding to the edge of the bed away from him.

Damn, was he that bad of a husband? A friend?

Lexington said, “I sent Donna on her way. She’s gone to New Orleans for good. Now we can be together without her interfering.”
Lexington kissed Nikki’s lips. “I want to be here for you and my baby. I want us to have what Brian and Michelle have.”

“Brian,” Nikki said, laughing. “Are you serious? As much as he fucks around on Michelle, are you serious?”

Frowning, Lexington asked, “How do you know that?”

Nikki laughed harder, holding her stomach, then said, “Everybody knows he fucks around, including Michelle.”

Lexington placed his hand on Nikki’s stomach. “Seriously, baby. I’m going to be here for you. I’m going to be here for our
child.”

Nikki asked, “Where’re the girls? With Donna?”

Oh, shit! He was so concerned about Donna, Lexington hadn’t noticed that Donna left the girls with him. How was he supposed
to take care of them by himself? A child’s place was with the mother.

“Just what I thought. Go home, Lexington,” Nikki said, rolling over. “You’re confused, just like Herschel and Brian.”

Lexington reached over her arm to touch Nikki’s breasts. “Baby, please. I had no idea Donna would be so careless and leave
the children.”

“Lexington,” Nikki whispered, “don’t ever touch me again. I want you out of my house right now. I’m not marrying you. I don’t
want to be with you, and I’m not having your baby.”

“Baby, wait. You know me better than this. You mean to tell me you’re going to get rid of my baby? You’re going to ruin a
perfect relationship over something that’s not my fault.”

“No, Lexington, I didn’t ruin our relationship. You did.”

“Nikki,” he pleaded, then said, “I’ll do anything to make this right. Don’t leave me. You’re my best friend. Baby, please
… teach me how to love.”

“Is that like teaching an old dog new tricks? You don’t even know how to leave when I tell you,” Nikki said, rolling over
again.

“The girls are fine. I’ll leave in a moment. I need you, Nikki.”

Lexington kissed her from her lips to her clit. Tossing the sheet out of his way, Lexington spread Nikki’s thighs. He did
know how to please her. Once her pussy was nice and wet, he eased on top of her, penetrating Nikki real slow so she felt all
of his dick,
her
dick, sliding inside her.