Somebody Else's Man Read online

  “The transmission in my brother’s truck went, and he need to be able to get around, so I told him he could hold my car. Plus, my mom has to go to the market in the morning.”

  “Your mom don’t drive?” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice.

  “I told you, she don’t drive. So why are you mad?”

  “’Cause you always saying ten minutes and take twenty-five. That’s not cool. You need to be on time.”

  He apologized and kissed my cheek and said he was turning off his phone for the rest of the weekend and he was going to give me all his attention.

  “The whole weekend,” I said as I twisted my lips.

  “Yeah, the whole weekend.” He pressed down on the red button on his BlackBerry and his phone powered off.

  Saturday morning we drove to the King of Prussia Mall. We were invited to Dre’s friend Syeed’s get-together. Dre wanted to get something to wear. Before we shopped for Dre we made our way into Frederick’s of Hollywood. Inside the store I picked up some hot-pink crotchless panties that barely covered any of your ass. And I picked up cute boy-shorts. Dre slapped them out of my hand and hit me on the butt and whispered, “You shouldn’t be hiding my sexy ass in cotton underwear.”

  “Your ass?”

  “Yeah, it’s mine,” he said as he kissed me on my nose and gave me a hug.

  We let go of one another when the salesgirl came up smiling. “Do you need any help?”

  “I don’t, but he does,” I said, giggling.

  “I’m jealous, y’all are such a cute couple. How long have you been together?”

  Her asking that made us both burst into laughter. I shook my head a little and walked to the register. We bought three different crotchless panties and boy-shorts. We shopped the rest of the day. He bought a few jeans and he bought me a dress and these cute sandals.

  We stopped at the beer distributor’s to pick up cases of beer and coolers for Syeed’s get-together.

  “Dre, do we need to bring anything else besides liquor? Won’t you call and see if they need us to pick up anything else?” I asked on the way home.

  “No, I’m not buying anything else. Syeed’s girlfriend is real particular. She doesn’t eat a lot of things—she is a vegan. She is a little different, a real health nut. But if she start talking to you about you changing your eating habits, just grab me.”

  “Okay. How he meet her?”

  “Through his sister, like a year ago. Sherrie is very nice, but you’ll see. She thinks Syeed doesn’t eat meat. But he eats everything. I don’t know why he lies to her.”

  Our plan was to get dressed and leave out for Syeed’s get-together by ten. We had walked the mall all day and we both were drained. I didn’t know his friend, and he said the girlfriend was a little nutty. So I wasn’t in a rush to meet them. I saw Dre slow-walking getting dressed, so I did the same. By twelve I knew we weren’t going anywhere, and I just went and took a steamy hot bath. Dre joined me. His tub was big enough for two. I sat between his legs and we just fell back. I sat so comfortable between his legs and the hot water calmed us both.

  “So what are you going to tell Syeed?”

  “I don’t know, probably that I forgot. My phone been off all day. So he is going to think something was up with me. I’ll think of something. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Well, you should have been turned that phone off.”

  “You right, but that thing is how I pay my bills. All my money comes through there. So you going to have to get used to it.”

  “I guess I’ll get used to it.”

  “But I needed this break. Thank you,” Dre said as he relaxed even more.

  Sunday afternoon I was still at Dre’s house. He had kept me hostage and I can’t say that I minded at all. He made me breakfast, but not in bed. I came downstairs and he was putting our plates on his glass table. I sat down at the table and stared at my plate like there was a problem.

  “I like my eggs sunny-side up. What’s this?” I said as I frowned at the wheat toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs in front of me.

  “What? You better eat my food that I slaved over,” Dre said playfully.

  “I’m only playing. I’m just happy you can make real food. I thought I was going to come downstairs to chocolate cookies and maple syrup.”

  Breakfast made me sleepy again. I got back in bed. Dre put on the Discovery Channel and began watching Man vs. Wild. It was a show about some crazy man encountering the elements. It was not that interesting to me. So, I nodded back off and napped.

  I awoke groggy, and Dre wasn’t in the bed with me. I got up and stretched and walked down the hall to find him. He was on the computer in his office. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I tiptoed back to the bedroom. I began gathering all my clothes to get ready to take them home.

  “Where are you going?” Dre asked as he entered the room.

  “Home. I still have to wash clothes and get ready for the week.”

  “Why are you in a rush to go home?”

  “I haven’t been home since Friday night. It is time for me to leave.”

  “Get back in this bed. Just go home in the morning. Give me the entire weekend.”

  “Okay.” I didn’t want to leave Dre either. I was getting what I had desperately needed for years: undivided attention and lots of love.

  By Monday morning, we had been together three days nonstop. The weekend went fast, and I had to hurry up and get out of there. As much as I hated to, I said good-bye to Dre. He walked me to the door. I walked out his house, down his driveway, and was shocked to see my car sitting lopsided, with broken windows. My driver-side window was smashed in. Pieces of broken glass were scattered all over the ground. I opened the door and I dropped my phone when I saw my radio missing and my steering column broken. Amongst all the glass on my seat, I saw wires hanging from what used to be my radio. I walked back to Dre’s house and bammed on his door.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Look what somebody did to my car!” Dre came outside and gawked at my bashed-up car. “What the fuck is going on?” I asked him.

  “Listen, I am so sorry. I know who did this,” he said as he walked toward my car. “Don’t worry, I’m going to get your car fixed.”

  “This is a mess. So who did this shit to my car?”

  “My kids’ mom probably got her brother to do it. She is into this. She is crazy. She is supposed to be moving. I wish she would so I can get rid of her drama. She is real crazy.”

  “Oh, she’s crazy. She did all of this and you are not even together?” Yeah right, I thought.

  “No. We’re not together. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

  “I have to get to work, Dre.”

  “I’ll drive you, and don’t worry, I’m going to get your car fixed.” All I could think about was that my mom was going to be all in my business. She was going to want to know why I needed her car, and I couldn’t go get a rental because I couldn’t go to work late. My mind was elsewhere. Dre was still stuttering through his apology. “I am so sorry, you just don’t understand how she thinks.” He went into the house and came back out with a broom and dust pan. He swept up the glass and put a plastic trash bag over my window. He called, I guess, his baby mother. Because I heard him arguing and fussing with someone, saying, “Why did you do that? I don’t care if I don’t answer my phone or not. You don’t do that. You are crazy, and why would you send him? You need to grow up. I talked to my children, I don’t have to talk to you.” I could hear her screaming through the telephone at him. He looked at me and said he was sorry again and I just looked the other way.

  “Listen, I’m going to take you to your house to get your clothes and then I’ll drop you off at work. Okay?” I didn’t respond. I think steam was coming from my pores, literally. I just stood in silence. Dre, seeing he couldn’t win, left me alone and he called his brother to get his car back. He then drove me home. I went in the house and showered. I hadn’t washed my clothes, and had nothing to wear. I thr
ew on an old black suit that I didn’t wear anymore. It was a little faded, but I didn’t care. I was so angry. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t.

  I made it to work on time, but I was still too furious to look at Dre or say anything to him. He kept saying calm down, he was going to handle everything, but his car wasn’t the one that was vandalized.

  I couldn’t concentrate at all. It was only a car, but technically that’s all that I have. Who does something that malicious? By lunchtime, I was so confused and sad, I guess my bad mood was written all over my face.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Maritza asked.

  “Nothing,” I mumbled.

  “You look like something’s wrong.”

  I couldn’t keep it in. I needed to confide in somebody and maybe get some advice. “Girl, the guy I’m dating…well, he got baby mama drama. His baby mom got some guy to come over Dre’s house and break out all the windows of my car.”

  “Seriously?”

  I nodded. “Ripped out my radio. Messed up my steering column and flattened a couple of tires.”

  Maritza reared back. “For real?”

  I nodded. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Make them pay for your shit. And press charges against that bitch.”

  “He’s getting the car fixed for me. And I can’t press charges against his kids’ mother.”

  “Humph, please, I would.”

  The rest of my day moved in slow motion. As much as I was feeling Dre, I wasn’t trying to get caught up in all that kind of madness. What was next? A bullet through my windshield?

  By the time I was off of work Dre was at my job. His brother, Brandon, was in his car and Dre was standing next to mine. Blue tape was holding my new window in and I had all new tires. He handed me my keys and opened the door for me.

  “Thank you,” I said as I got in and noticed my new radio.

  “Okay, so listen. Don’t take that tape off that window for another twenty-four hours. The window has to set.”

  “Okay,” I said, looking around for any other damage.

  “Can we talk?”

  “No. Thanks for getting my car fixed and I know it’s not your fault, but I don’t have time to deal with somebody who has unresolved issues.”

  “I don’t have unresolved issues.”

  “Dre, listen. You are a nice guy, but I just don’t think you and I should be together. You have drama that I don’t need. I’ve been in a situation with drama before and it is not good.”

  “I told you what was going on.”

  “I know what you said, but I can’t believe everything that comes out of your mouth. I’m done,” I said as I pulled off. I left him standing in front of my work building. I really liked him and was having a wonderful time with him, but he was lying and I don’t need that. I was tired of the same old story. Damn, now I was back to square one. All alone, again.

  CHAPTER 15

  Since Tia was out of my life and Reshaun was off to suburbia, I had to find a new BFF. I didn’t have a boyfriend. Even though me and Maritza weren’t super tight, we were starting to get close. All the madness that was going on in the hotel was pushing us together. She was my eyes and ears on the job, but she did like to hang out. We went out a few times, but it wasn’t like being with my Tia and Reshaun. I missed laughing and joking with my real friends. Maritza was a little younger than me and didn’t get all my jokes.

  And then there was Dre. He wanted to keep calling my phone. I’m good. No thank you. Every time he dialed my phone, I didn’t answer. If I called him the way he called me, I would be in jail and labeled as a psycho chick. He called all times of night, like we were cool or something. I guess he didn’t understand what “I’m done” means. I didn’t have no tears for anyone. Especially not Dre. He took me through too much, too soon. I felt like he was the new Malcolm and I couldn’t get it right.

  Me and my sister, Candice, were still keeping in touch. She was supposed to come down here for our father’s birthday and we were going to go to his grave. I still felt funny saying “father,” but it was good having her in my life.

  Maritza invited me to her boyfriend Vincent’s twenty-fifth birthday party. It was being held at some cabaret hall. She told me to get dressed up because it was going to be nice and sophisticated. I don’t know how sophisticated it is when everyone has to bring their own bottle and food.

  Maritza called me from in front of my door, letting me know she was outside. I triple-checked myself in the mirror. I still wasn’t excited about going, but I didn’t have anything else to do. She bought me a ticket and volunteered to come pick me up and take me home, so there really wasn’t any excuse for me to not go. I got in her car and thanked her for coming to get me.

  “Hey, I’m so glad you came. I thought you were going to tell me you couldn’t make it at the last moment. As soon as we get to the party I want you to meet Vincent’s cousin, Tony. He is an accountant and works downtown at the new Comcast building. And he doesn’t have any kids.”

  “I don’t need to meet anybody. See, if I knew you were bringing me to set me up, I wouldn’t have come.”

  “Yes, you do. And he is good guy—y’all would be perfect for each other. All he do is go to work and come home.”

  We made it to the party in forty-five minutes—it was on the other side of the city. Twenty tables were spread out all around the room, with Happy Birthday balloons everywhere. Music was playing and everyone was dressed up and looked really nice.

  “Is this an all-black party?” I asked, noticing all the girls dressed in black.

  “No, but don’t it look like it? Get something to drink and help yourself to the food. I have to find Vince.” I poured a glass of Grey Goose and added a little pineapple juice. I wasn’t driving, so I could drink as much as I wanted. Maritza came back shortly with her boyfriend, Vincent.

  “Hi, Nicole. Nice to finally meet you. I’m going to find Tony for you,” he said as he extended his hand. He left and came back with Tony.

  Tony was nice-looking, but so very drunk. He stuttered, “How you doing?” And this is who Maritza thought would be a good match for me? No, ma’am. After they introduced us I walked away and went back to sit at the table. Maritza came back with some shots for us.

  “What’s this?” I asked as she handed me a shot glass.

  “It’s good, a shot of liquid cocaine.” She wasn’t used to drinking and after only a little bit of liquor, she was stumbling. The name of the drink sounded crazy, but I still threw it back. She went and grabbed more drinks and I sat, sipped, and enjoyed the atmosphere. Tony, the guy that Maritza thought would be a good match for me, was still stumbling around the party with a bottle of Moët in his hand. I looked over at him and shook my head. He began shaking up champagne like he’d just won a championship. Champagne was shooting out and spilling everywhere. He had the bottle in one hand, shaking it, and the other hand was going back and forth like he was rolling dice, doing some stupid dance. It was liquid everywhere. He kept screaming “Pop Champagne.” It was funny at first, until it became contagious. His friends began joining in, jumping up and down in a huddle. They picked up bottles and began shaking up more champagne. Sudsy bubbles were splashing out and going in every direction. Maritza asked him to stop and then he sprayed her. It splattered on her black dress. For some reason, drinking champagne had made them think they were in a music video. Some of their champagne splashed on me, too. At first I didn’t mind, but when it started getting in my hair, I knew it was time to go.

  “Let’s go, Maritza,” I yelled as I yanked her up from the table.

  “I’m not ready to leave,” she said.

  “I am. I need your keys—my cell phone and keys are in your car. I can call a cab.”

  “Vince took my car keys,” she slurred. She was out of it. I couldn’t believe I had champagne dripping down my face.

  I had to go to the bathroom to wipe it out of my hair and off my clothes. By this time I was so mad, and I still couldn’t find Vi
nce. I was fuming, but what was I going to do? I was stuck at this ghetto celebration. I sat back at the table, disgusted. I wanted to leave. I noticed Tony and all his friends were out of champagne, but now were posing for the camera with empty bottles. Before long the celebration had ended. Tony was out of it, so they sat him at the table with me. Again, I thought, And this is the guy they wanted me to talk to. I was going to kill Maritza. His friends splashed water on him and then carried him out the party, because he had passed out.

  Vincent came up to the table, asking me did I see Maritza. I told him no, and told him I needed Maritza’s keys so I could leave.

  “Come on, why you acting like that? Have some fun, mami.” Once he saw I was serious about leaving he added, “Sorry about Tony being drunk. He doesn’t usually act like that.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m ready to go,” I said as he continued to try to convince me to stay. I wasn’t having it at all. Then he brought his other cousin, Emanuel, over to me and introduced us. I stood up and shook his cousin’s hand. Vincent had to yell over the music, “This is my cousin Emanuel. We call him Manny. He is not acting like that fool Tony.”

  “Hello,” I said pleasantly. Emanuel was so, so cute. I mean the kind of man who looks so good you would consider paying his bills. He could just walk around the house and do nothing except look good. He wasn’t dressed right, though. He had on a bright red-and-white suit.

  “How you doing?” he asked, eyeing me down.

  “Good.” I could feel myself blushing. His body was chiseled and he had a clean-shaven bald head. He was absolutely gorgeous.

  “You have to have a drink with me, then you won’t want to leave.”

  “Maybe, I might. What are you drinking?” I asked.

  “These apple martinis and punch shots they came up with. They taste good. You should try it,” he said as he handed me a shot.

  After three apple martini shots, I was feeling better. Emanuel asked me to dance. I lowered my guard and joined him on the dance floor. I was nervous because Lolo always said I couldn’t dance. He pulled my hips close to his and we danced like a married couple in our own private space. I didn’t know any of these people and I wouldn’t see them ever again. The shots made me not have a care in the world.