BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (72 page)

, Amber Swann Publishing inc. - All Rights Reserved.

~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~*

Wisconsin, Saturday night...

He was off work for the weekend, the first weekend in some time. Pocket full of money and no where to go. No one to be with, missing Crystal and the boys. They were off in California and it was starting to piss him off, his patience was wearing thin. Now that he'd made up his mind on what he wanted, he wanted it now, he resented having to go through this waiting game, he still couldn't believe that she'd taken off to California. He was incredulous that she said nothing to him, not asking him could she take his boys off there. Just for the heck of it, he called information asking for the L.A. info line. With that in hand, he dialed it, asking for the number of Shawn McPherson. He waited a moment and then the message that it was an unlisted number.

He hung up, "This is bullshit!" He grumbled, flopping back on the sofa, flipping through channels on TV, the light from it and from the bathroom the only illumination in the house. It was Saturday night, he was alone. He wondered what she was doing. "Probably out having a good time. Screw this man!" He shot up from the sofa, headed for the bathroom and turned on the shower, as it ran, he splashed his face, lathered it up and shaved. That done, he stripped down and stepped into the shower washing his body down. He was restless and feeling randy. He hadn't had sex since Jeanine. So intense was his need that scrubbing his groin area gave him an erection. With his heart pounding, he ignored it, which wasn't an easy thing to do. No way, was he going to just sit around, bored and do nothing, lonely. It didn't help being estranged from his family, that made it worse. Still irritated at her, he grumbled and huffed because finally, he'd stood up to his mother, stormed out of her home only to find himself alone and waiting on Crystal. Finished with his shower, he stepped out, grabbing a towel, dried himself down. Snatched up the deodorant, sprayed his pits, and then the palms of his hands, setting down the can, he pat carefully around his hanging testicles and hairy scrotum. Observing himself in the mirror, he brushed his teeth, rinsed his mouth out, grabbed his favorite after shave, slapped that on his face, grabbed the hair mousse and dabbed a palm full of it into his hair styling it with it his fingers. Leaving the bathroom, he went into his bedroom, took out some nice clothes, his Tommy Hilfiger, powder blue shirt, which he left hanging outside his jeans of the same label, and then, went out.

He cruised to La Crosse, heading for his favorite hang outs. Parking, he went to the one he was most often found frequenting, sure enough, he spotted some friends, waving to them, he parked at the bar, ordering himself a drink with the loud music blaring and the dance floor packed.

"Victor, Victor, Victor, what's up dude?! Where you been?" One of the guys he knew from college approached him.

"Working, just working dude."

"Still married? How's the kids, two boys right?"

"Yep, two boys, they're doing fine."

"You mean your ol'lady let you out tonight?"

"We're ah, sorting through some issues right now. She's back with her folks, temporary."

"Oh dude, is that good news or bad news? Talkin' divorce already?"

"Did you hear what I said,
temp-or-rary
, that's all."

"If you say so, I know it ain't easy, that's for damn sure. Me? I couldn't do it - know what I'm saying? You only live once, why get bogged down too early with all that - commitment trauma, know what I'm saying? Hell with that, my life, is about
me!
I'm doin' all I can for
me
- fuck the rest, know what I'm saying?"

"Yeah - I do."

"Hey, to each his own, long as you're happy I guess." He saw someone else and took off, calling back, "Check you later dude!"

Victor stood nodding his head, thinking about what had just been said. In a way, he knew that he was right - life
was
too short. Here he was, working his ass off, at two jobs and for what? She was off in L.A. no doubt having a good time while he stood there alone. It was starting to piss him off the more time he had to think about it all. He was tired of all this thinking taking him back and forth, up and down, regretting and then, resenting. Trying to think of what to do with himself from one day to the next until they returned. He'd been willing to go so far as to take the blame for what had happened between them, now - he wasn't so sure. Why should he? Regardless of the reasons, she was the one who had all the emotional problems, he did his part. He quit school, he got a job, he used his money in the bank to set them up, he let her continue school, he even let her younger brother move in and had treated him good, not that it hadn't been easy to do. Had it not been for Mundo, he might have not hung in there as long as he had. He was starting to feel a little taken advantage of, if his mother knew what was going on right now, he'd never hear the end of it.

"Hey you - what are you doing here? Who let you out?" Omiyah walked up asking.

The question broke into his thoughts. Victor turned to see a very familiar face next to him.

"Hey, what's up?" He asked, thinking he must be lonely, Omiyah wasn't one of his favorite people after he and Crystal got together, even though they'd known each other for sometime.

"I ask you first, where's the white girl you where with? She joining you here?"

"No, that' over - that was no big deal."

"Really, what happened?"

"Nothing permanent that's all."

"I see, so how is Crystal and the boys doing, what's up with that?"

Victor turned away, sipping at his drink once more, after a couple of swallows, "They're out of town."

"Ohhh, so that's why you're here drinking all alone, nothing better to do huh?"

"Guess not, what can I say?" He glanced at her following that statement.

"Nothing obviously; buy me a drink."

Victor stared at her a moment giving it some thought, he decided in her favor and turned back to the bar, signaling the bartender over, he laid some money out, "Whatever she orders." He instructed. Smiling Omiyah ordered herself a drink and couldn't help the surprise on her face.

"Wow, you're in a different kind of mood, almost - back to your old self again, pre-Crystal. I remember when, you were one wild and crazy white boy, would dare anything."

"Hmph," He shrugged, grinning, "I haven't changed that much." He challenged.

"Really?" She returned. Her drink was set before her, she lifted it, took a few sips from it. Sitting it down her next thoughts, spoken out loud were, "So, you came here all alone huh? All by your lonesome?"

"All by my lonesome."

"That's terrible."

"That's life isn't it? It happens some times."

Standing side by side as they were, unmistakable vibes passed between them. Grinning, she asked, "Wanna dance?"

"Finish your drink first." He advised.

Hearing one of her favorite songs come on, Adina Howard's -
Freak Like Me,
she downed her drink in no time. Victor tucked his money back in his pocket, leaving only a bar tip and turned leading her onto the dance floor, she approached it moving her body seductively with rhythmic steps before they got to their chosen spot. Omiyah got her freak on, rocking her hips, and rolling back against him. Victor was not the best of dancers, but he wasn't shy and he knew how to move enough to enjoy the action on the dance floor. True to his old self, the Victor that could pull a girl in an instant, bumped and grinded behind her, staying right with her through the song, letting his groin touch her every other move or so, they stayed out there when that song was followed by Blue's -
Too Close.
Feeling his drink, Victor leaned back making the move to spank it - as Omiyah offered it up. They stayed through the last song for them, dancing to Nelli Fertado's,
Party
with Omiyah turning to him, her eyes on his as she gyrated up against him; he reciprocated getting into the music. Grinning she boldly stated, "Shi-i-it, you ain't changed at all." She could see it in his eyes, yes, he'd been drinking, but she knew the old Victor. Granted, to a certain extent, she and Crystal were friends - even so, she'd known him before she knew Crystal. And anyway, she'd seen Victor first, screwed with Victor first before Crystal came along playing little miss goody two shoes and snatched him up, letting herself get pregnant by him. Omiyah consoled herself in what she was doing because she wasn't the reason they'd broken up, it had nothing to do with her. Besides, all bets were off when he'd been dating someone else, already - Crystal had seen him with her, the white girl and she let that slide, so hey, he was fair open game to pursue.

With a sure expression on his face, Victor knew a reply was not required, his only need was to keep moving with her until the song came to an end. Once it did, they walked off the floor together back to the bar. The guy that had spoken to him earlier, sitting at a table with a few other guys, were laughing and slapping each other's hands in high fives. They knew Victor as well, and they knew what was soon to follow.

A little bit down the bar from where they had been standing, Victor bought them another round of drinks as Omiyah expressed her thoughts, "That was nice, you still got them moves."

He smiled placing his money on the bar.

"So tell me, what's next? What's the rest of your evening going to be like?"

He shrugged.

"You and Crystal over for good? Divorcing?"

"I don't know, half the time, I don't know what the hell I want to be honest with you. Or what the hell I'm doing." He commented honestly.

"You still love her?"

"Yeah - I do - I love her, she's the mother of my boys."

"Em, I see." That threw Omiyah, she hadn't expected him to admit that, especially after moving on the dance floor with her the way he had. Still, she was there with him, right there and then, Crystal was not, and she wanted this, she wanted him. "Well, until you figure out what you want, wanna go somewhere, fuck a while? Would that make you feel better?"

"Let's go."

*

L.A....

Shawn, Sylvia and Mama JoJo were sitting out on the patio, enjoying the evening, clear skies, stars out, lovely breeze. Mundo volunteered to do clean up, allowing the adults an easy night of relaxation. Shawn sat silent thinking after Sylvia brought up Corliss' revisit - asking Mama JoJo to tell him about it - she was reluctant but told him everything except Corliss' wanting her to ask him for money. He finally turned to her, leaning past Sylvia who was sitting between them, "Once the house is done, I'm coming to get you. But until then, why don't you move in here?" He suggested.

Mama JoJo's head and eyes rolled to look at him as if he was crazy, "What I'm gone do here? Chile, all these whites folks ain't gone want to be seein' me here every day."

"Do you think I care about all these white folks around here? As for what you can do, you can do the same thing here, that you do where you live now. Which you can leave for Corliss, or make her pay you rent."

"Who you talkin' 'bout gone pay some rent?" Mama JoJo rolled forward and back as if posturing ready for a battle, "Corliss don't pay no rent, ain't gone pay
me
rent, ain't gone pay no bills in that house, ain't gone pay no taxes, she be done loss that house fo'the year over."

"Then that's her loss, you'll have someplace to live, here. When the house is done in Wisconsin, you'll have there!"

Since Sylvia sat in the middle, it was as if she watched a tennis game, turning her head from one to the other listening, it was Mama JoJo's serve.

"I ain't work all this time, to get me no house, just to let her move in and lose it. I'mo keep my house, long as I can, I ain't ready to leave it yet. When I do, it's going up for sale!"

Sylvia turned to Shawn, it was his turn.

"Godalmighty Josephine Daniels! Okay fine, sell the house, but it don't make a bit of sense to be so stubborn! I don't know what the heck I've done to be surrounded by so many stubborn women, never thought any would be worse than this one next to me, you got her beat!" He grumbled.

Sylvia smiled with the lift of a brow, trying not to laugh at him and turned back to Mama JoJo.

"This one here between'us is yo'wife! She need to be a bit stubborn to deal wit'you. You just like Jesse, ya'll wants everythang yo'way!" She fussed right back.

Smirking, grinning, Sylvia turned back to him, resisting temptation to roll a fist into the air with a loud,
'Woo woo!'
Biting into her bottom lip at the look on his face.

"We want everything the
right
way! And when Jesse was alive, he took care of you, now that he's gone, my turn!"

Sylvia turned to hear Mama JoJo's argument.