If i cant have you, p.11
If I Can't Have You, page 11
part #1 of If I Can't Have You Series
“Look, man, I was on the phone with Loretta, and—”
“You mean the Loretta that you’re hooking me up with? Man, you’d better leave my woman alone.” Chaz laughed, then continued, “Y’all cool like that?”
“She’s my prayer buddy.”
“Your prayer what? Since when? I thought y’all just had that one conversation after you proposed to Madison. You weren’t sure about Madison then, and you’re not sure now. I know you. But back to Loretta. You know that’s how shit starts, right? One minute you’re praying, the next minute your dick is in her hand, then you’re fucking.”
I laughed. Chaz always kept it real.
“You know me better than that, man. I’m serious. I need you to go to Madison’s house right now while I’m on the phone and see if she’s there. If she’s not, go next door to Loretta’s. If you won’t do this for me, I’ll call and ask Mom.”
Chaz knew if I was willing to call our mom to go check on Madison, I had to be desperate. I was. I had to know before I could go to sleep. Otherwise, I’d be up all night.
“Obviously, you’re serious. I’m on it,” he said.
I loved Madison. One day shouldn’t have been that big a deal, but I sensed something was wrong. Would never believe she’d cheat on me. That wasn’t it. She always made time to text and call, so for her not to do either was unusual. It was probably the way she’d licked my ass that had me all messed up. When I got home, I was going to do the same for her. Lick her ass the way she’d done mine. Make her scream my name until she came. Then I was going to make love to her like never before, whisper in her ear about the $10 million, then pour champagne on her toes and suck it off. Maybe I’d buy her a diamond waist chain. Maybe she was doing one of those silent-protest things that females do when they want to know something their man won’t tell them.
“Chaz?”
“Yeah.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m almost there, man. Chill out.”
My brother lived at the Royalton too. Our condos were less than fifteen minutes from where Madison, Loretta, and Tisha lived.
“I just drove up. The lights are on, so that’s a good sign.”
“Go knock on the door,” I told him.
“Cool.”
I heard Chaz knocking.
“Ring the doorbell.”
“I did. She’s not answering.”
“Go next door to Loretta’s.”
“I’m on my way. Only for you, dude.”
I heard him knocking.
“She’s not answering either?”
“Nah, man.”
“Go to Tisha’s. She lives in the redbrick house with the green shutters on the other side of Loretta.”
“You’ve got it bad. Last chance, man, then I’m out.”
I heard him knocking a third time. I prayed she was there.
“The lights came on, so somebody’s home,” Chaz said.
I took a deep breath. My heart rate slowed. I started pacing again.
I heard Tisha ask, “Who in the hell are you? And why are you knocking on my door?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you this time of night, Tisha, but Chicago is worried about Madison. I’m his brother, Chaz.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that you don’t go knocking on strangers’ doors this time of morning. Loretta just called. They’re keeping Madison overnight for observation.”
“What the fuck!” I said. “Overnight for observation? Ask her what happened, and what hospital?”
“What happened? What hospital?” Chaz asked.
“Who are you talking to?” Tisha asked.
“Chicago.”
“Oh . . . wow. Um, it’s not that serious. I think she ate something she was allergic to.”
“Ask her what hospital,” I said again.
“Do you know where she’s at?”
“She should be home soon. I can’t remember where they went, but Loretta is with her. I’ll text Loretta to make sure Madison calls Chicago as soon as she can. Tell Chicago not to worry. Madison will be okay.” Then I heard Tisha say, “Good night.”
My heart pounded. I told my brother, “I heard her. Madison is at the hospital. Now the sirens make sense. Thanks, man. I’ll call around and see if I can find out which one she’s in.”
“If you need me, call me,” Chaz said. “But I suggest you get some rest. Even if you find out where she is, there’s nothing you can do tonight. At least now you know why she didn’t call.”
Chaz was wrong. I was sure the second Madison heard my voice, she’d smile, knowing I cared enough to find her.
“I love that woman.”
“I know. And I’m happy for you. But she’s not a dog. You can’t put a microchip in her ass and track her every move the second she doesn’t call or text. One day I’d like to feel that way about a woman again,” Chaz said. “But ain’t no way I’m turning into a private investigator.”
My brother was going to fall for Loretta. And when he did, he was going to be the same way, and then I’d remind him of his words.
“You will.”
I dropped to my knees. “Thank you, Lord, for keeping Madison safe. I don’t know what I’d do without her,” I prayed aloud.
“I can put a tracking device on her phone for you. That way you’ll always know where she’s at,” Chaz suggested.
“I’m not doing that. I trust my woman.”
“It’s not about trust. Think about it. Let me know if you want me to download a GPS on her cell.”
CHAPTER 12
Madison
Tisha coming up with my having allergies was a brilliant idea, but I didn’t have any that I knew of. The one food I’ve hated all my life was coconut. Knowing I’d never slip up and eat it, I’d tell my fiancé that’s what I had a bad reaction to. I was relieved Tisha hadn’t told Chaz which hospital I was in or the real reason I was there. Her loyalty gave me time to get my lie together.
Being in a small, cold emergency room for five hours, I’d spent most of my time waiting to get seen by a professional. Patients who were shot, stabbed, hit by a car, having or had a heart attack came first. Tired of feeling the blood dry, I ended up cleaning my own ass. Wasn’t as though they needed evidence for a rape kit. If I could’ve inspected myself, I would’ve done that too.
Finally, when a doctor did come in, he stuck his finger up my ass. Said he had to disimpact my stool in order to determine the extent of the damage. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream because the pain was more emotional or physical, but I let it all out on both ends. He recommended minor surgery with a few stitches. I refused. He suggested I stay a few days for observation. I declined. He wrote me a prescription for Tylenol 4 with codeine and said, “No vaginal intercourse for six days, and no anal sex for six weeks. You should be okay by then.”
I gave myself three days for vaginal and I’d try to refrain from anal, as he’d told me. The dress and shoes Loretta had sent in had to do. I’d put them on after the exam. I was happy the doctor didn’t say no sex of any kind for six weeks. I guess having my anal tissues slightly torn wasn’t as bad as having a baby. Tisha never waited long after having her kids to have sex, but I wasn’t taking any chances with my rectum. I might not have anal sex again until I was married.
When I was released at three in the morning, Loretta was waiting for me. She took me to the pharmacy to get my meds. I cursed out Loretta all the way home. Her apologies didn’t mean a damn thing. That bitch making that stupid bet because she was jealous of my engagement was one thing, but her befriending my fiancé had to come to an end. She’d fucked up my life enough already.
I got out of her car, slammed her door, went inside my house, and sat on the sofa. I wasn’t mentally prepared to go upstairs and see what condition my bedroom was in. I’d gone to the kitchen, taken two Tylenols, and retuned to the sofa. After an hour my body began to relax. Felt like I was floating and nothing mattered. I closed my eyes. My body was heavy and light at the same time as my back sank into the cushions.
My doorbell rang and awakened me. I had no idea what time it was. The sun shined through my front windows. Seemed as though I’d just fallen asleep. I’d awakened on the sofa. Now my ass and back ached.
“I’m coming,” I said. Dragging my feet, I placed my hand on my hip. I still had on the sundress and flats. As I opened the door, there stood the second to last person I wanted in my home. I left the door open, then walked away.
“Madison, we need to talk about what’s happening. I am truly sorry.” Loretta closed my door and followed me to the living room.
“Sorry enough to stop talking to my man? Sorry I’m the one who got screwed and fucked at the same time? Or sorry you lost the bet?” I said, reminding her I’d won.
“I came by to give you your camera before I go to work. That, and to see if you needed anything.”
I took the video recorder, but I didn’t have a thank-you for her. Had run out of curse words last night and I didn’t feel like repeating myself. I opened the camera.
“Where’s the tape? Did you forget to put it back after you watched it?”
Her eyes stretched north and south. “I didn’t take anything out, I swear, and you know I wouldn’t do that. Let me see.”
She reached for the camera. I pulled it back. At this point, in my opinion, Loretta was capable of anything.
“Then where is it? I don’t know who you are anymore.” I paused. Our eyes met. Loretta felt like a stranger who had come to my front door.
“Are you going to press charges against Granville?” she asked. “I’ll help you. I have an attorney processing my paperwork for a protective order. I can tell her to do yours too. We can go to court together. That’ll make our case stronger. I got you into this. Let me help get you out.”
She still didn’t get it. Or maybe this was exactly what she wanted me to do. Follow her lead.
“Hell no, I’m not pressing anything. If I do that, Roosevelt will start questioning me; and knowing you, I’m sure you’ll tell him everything and my engagement will be off. Is that what you’ve been praying for, Miss So-called Christian?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Get out of my house.” I escorted her to the exit.
She faced me. When she opened her mouth, I slammed the door in her face.
My cell buzzed, indicating I had a text message. I picked up my phone. It was from that asshole! It read: need me to bring you anything dear? you are my boss.
I called Granville’s supervisor and told him Granville had violated company policy; then I instructed him to send Granville to human resources. I called HR and gave them my instructions.
His ignorant ass had to go. Tomorrow, when he reported to my office, I’d personally reinforce what I’d instructed HR to do today. Thanks to Loretta, the wrong man was consuming my energy.
Roosevelt was worried about me and I had to keep it that way for six weeks, or until my rectum had recovered from the torn tissues. Something as simple as having a bowel movement was going to hurt like hell. I swallowed two more Tylenols with a large glass of water.
Sitting on the toilet, scared to push, I cried. The emergency doctor had advised me to make a follow-up appointment with my general practitioner. I had to consult with a woman, so I made myself an appointment with my gynecologist, instead. After what had happened, I had to have all my entry points checked out before letting Roosevelt make love to me. There was no telling what Granville had done after I’d passed out.
I’d learned the hard way that some men actually could tell when their woman had been with another man. With my intense anal pain, I couldn’t risk having sex and making it worse, or take a chance on losing my man if he found out the truth.
Too afraid to shit, I wiped myself, then flushed the toilet. What if the condom had come off while Granville was inside me? What if that fool took it off on purpose? What if Granville had a disease? At least the one thing I wasn’t worried about was having Granville’s baby. Maybe this was a good time to stop taking my birth control pills. That way if I got pregnant for Roosevelt, I’d give him a reason to marry me right away.
My phone rang. I smiled. Did a little dance. It was my baby.
“Hey,” I answered seductively.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m good. A little sick from the coconut.” I was scared to death. What if I had permanent damage? How could I explain that to him?
“I’ll make you feel better when I get in. I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much. Our next game is at home, so I’ll be around to take care of you personally. No more coconut for you, young lady.”
“Why don’t you call your concierge and give him permission to let me in,” I suggested.
“Soon as we hang up, it’s done. I have to board our plane.... Madison?”
“Yes, baby.”
He whispered, “I was worried all day and night. Next time, baby, answer your phone, send me a quick text, or have Loretta contact me.”
I was pissed her name kept coming out of his mouth. “Okay” was all I said.
“I love you.”
Making a kissing sound in his ear, I told him the truth. “I love you too.”
Soon as I hung up, I screamed, “Ahhh!” A sharp pain pierced my rectum forcing me to fall to my knees.
Between the anger about Loretta and the pain in my ass, I didn’t know which one was worse. The meds were making me sluggish, but I had to go. I showered, dressed, and left my house. I stopped at Rice grocery store, picked up a few things to cook, along with some Epsom salt, and then headed to Roosevelt’s.
I wanted to call Loretta and curse that bitch out again. Since she talked to God so much, she’d better pray this situation turned out okay or she’d be begging Him for me to stop beating her ass.
CHAPTER 13
Granville
When was Loretta going to learn that trying to get me arrested wasn’t working for her? Soon as she heard my voice, she started yelling and ran out of the emergency room to the police officer on duty. I calmly took a seat and waited. The cop came in; he detained and questioned me.
I explained to the officer it was an accident. I didn’t give him any details because I didn’t want Loretta to overhear. What had happened was between me and my woman. Not him. And definitely not Loretta. She was my ex. Didn’t miss a good man until I was gone. Now she was tripping because she’d never get any more of my big woody.
My dick slid inside Madison so fast that I had no idea I was in her ass until after I came the second time, pulled out, then saw all the blood. She was so small I was impressed that she could aggressively ride this old cowboy. I was her horse; she was my jockey. And she was much better in bed than Loretta.
After the officer checked with Madison, I wasn’t sure what she’d told him, but I was released immediately. I felt he owed me an apology, which I didn’t get. Why people kept doing me wrong, I had no idea.
Just in case Madison tried to act like Loretta and deny what we had was real, I’d rushed and installed a GPS tracking device on Madison’s iPhone before I’d ran out of her house. I registered her information, got the code from her e-mail account, which was open and running, confirmed myself as an approved person, and then hid the application in her utilities file. I barely got out in time. As Loretta and Tisha came running toward the house, I got in my truck and sped off.
Taking a quick break, I went to my truck to check on my woman. We weren’t permitted to have cell phones on-site, so I was risking getting a written warning if I got caught. If that happened, it would be my first. Now that I was dating the owner, I gave myself this special privilege, knowing she’d have my back.
Madison hadn’t called me since she’d left the hospital. My tracker indicated that she was at home, but how did I know for sure? I’m certain she didn’t have her iPhone at the hospital; because by the time I’d found her, I’d been to three different emergency rooms. Well, I couldn’t worry about that now. She’d get her phone eventually. Between home and hospital I’d find her when I got off work.
I called her. Pressed face time on my cell. Reading the message, I frowned. The option wasn’t available. Hmm. Gotta figure out why that didn’t work.
I texted her: need me to bring you anything dear? you are my boss.
Laughing out loud, I cracked myself up. What woman could resist my infectious humor?
My supervisor tapped on my window. “It’s not break time, Washington. Get your ass out your truck and report to me.”
He’d better be careful how he talked to me. After I marry Madison, he’d have to answer to me.
“Sure thing,” I said, checking for a reply to my text. There wasn’t one.
She was probably blowing off a little steam by ignoring me. I’d pick her up some flowers after I got off and take them to her house. That kind of stuff cheered women up. Dropping my phone in the middle compartment, I locked the door; then I trotted back to the site and got back to work. Didn’t want both of my bosses to be mad.
My supervisor walked over to me. I’d never seen that look on his face. His teeth were tight like a pit bull about to bite off my head.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” I curled my fingers tightly. If I didn’t hesitate to knock Beaux on his ass, I wasn’t going to let this dude catch me off guard.
“I should ask you that. I told you to report to me, not back to work. Washington, I’ve been instructed to give you the rest of the day off. Report to human resources immediately.”
I laughed so hard that my throat hurt.
“I’m serious, Washington. Leave now,” he said.
Removing my hard hat, I slammed it to the ground. “Be careful how you treat the people you meet on your way up, dude. You . . .” I scratched my head.
Wait a minute. This could be a good thing. Maybe Madison forgot to tell me last night that I’m getting promoted.
I picked up my hat and skipped to my truck. There were no messages from Madison, so this had to be a big surprise. I happily headed to HR.
When I arrived, they were obviously expecting me, for I was escorted to a conference room, with three women seated around the table. I wasn’t turned on by any of those females. I was so loyal to my woman that I didn’t even get a woody. Something good was going to come out of this, I felt it.
