Drunk in Love 3: An Original Love Story (17 page)

“We are,” Olivia told her. “You are certainly missing out on a good time.” She said knowing how much Zoe loved those two. Uncle Craig was their Father’s brother and Skeet was their father’s best friend. The two of them together were pure clowns and would have them literally in tears from laughing at how silly they could be. Having them over was Mr. Jackson’s way of unwinding. Mrs. Jackson even enjoyed their company, because they were so crazy.

Zoe sat there contemplating if she should go over, but if she did; she didn’t want to go alone. “How do they feel about Zay? How is mom acting? Is dad cool with him, too?”

“Believe it or not, everything is great over here.” Olivia said as Mrs. Jackson looked back at her with a loving smile.

“Yes dear,” Mrs. Jackson called out. “Everything is great over here. You need to join us.”

“Myyyy,” Zoe sang. “She is like a changed woman.”

Olivia smiled back at Mrs. Jackson then said to Zoe, “Yes, she is. I think you should come and bring Dillon.” She whispered in the phone so Mrs. Jackson couldn’t hear her.

“I just don’t want her to be so judgmental.” Zoe said.

“Girl, you’re divorced. I’m still married and if they’re cool with Zay then I’m absolutely certain they’ll be cool with Dillon.” Olivia explained.

Zoe sat quiet for a moment and looked over at Dillon who was taking a nap since he was planning on going back to Atlanta later that evening. “You know what, Sis. I’m tired of hiding. I want mom and dad to meet Dillon. You haven’t told Zay have you?”

“No, I was either waiting for Dillon to tell Zay himself or for you to show up with him.” She said licking the icing off of her fingertip from the sweet, cream cheese icing that Mrs. Jackson was making for the red velvet cake that was baking inside the oven. “Oh and mom’s cooking your favorite cake.”

“We’re showing up,” Zoe quickly said. “We’ll be there soon.”

Olivia smiled. “Good, we’ll be here waiting.” She said and with that, they ended their call.

“So, your sister’s coming?”

“Yes ma’am,” Olivia answered.

Mrs. Jackson smiled at the thought of having the family all under one roof. For years, she’d pushed her girls away by being so judgmental and treating them more like clients than her daughters a lot of the time. She hadn’t heard them call her Dr. Jackson in a while and that felt good, because that was their way of being sarcastic, even though she deserved it most times.

“Mom, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing, I just want you to know that I approve of Xavier and from the looks of things,” she said looking behind her and out of the kitchen window that overlooked their huge backyard. “Your father likes him too.” I just want you to do things the right way and divorce Mark first.”

“I understand that’s very important. I’m just hoping that he doesn’t give me a hard time during the divorce. That’s the only reason why we chose not to press charges.”

“What exactly do you want out of this divorce?”

“I want my hair salon with no attachments to him. I want Felisha out of that nail salon. If she’s going to make it then she need to do that without my help. I refuse to continue to be a backbone to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“She definitely made her bed hard.” Mrs. Jackson stated.

“I’m not really into Mark’s dump truck business like that, but since I helped him get it started then I want a share of it. Every time he gets paid, I want in. Am I being greedy? Yes, very greedy because he didn’t have to do me the way he did with Felisha.” She said feeling like she needed to fill her mom in on Lil Romeo being Mark’s son, but she decided to wait as Mr. Jackson entered the house already talking.

“Hey honey,” Mr. Jackson said walking over and kissing Olivia on the forehead. “I think you should’ve brought Xavier home a long time ago then we wouldn’t be fooling with Mark’s mess.”

Mrs. Jackson laughed out loud. “We were not too long ago just saying the same thing.”

“We sure were dad,” Olivia chuckled. As Mr. Jackson went inside the refrigerator to get a couple more Corona’s the doorbell rang.

Olivia glanced back over her shoulder. “Zoe made it here quickly.” She said with a smile on her face.

“Oh baby girl is coming,” Mr. Jackson said. “I’ll get it.” He said walking out of the kitchen while heading to the front door. He chuckled. “I bet she’s misplaced her key again.”

Olivia looked over at Mrs. Jackson to prepare her for meeting Dillon. “Zoe is bringing company.” She told her with a smile.

“Company, like company, company?” Mrs. Jackson pondered with a giddy expression planted on her face.

“Yup,” Olivia grinned. The next voice she heard was Mr. Jackson’s voice at the door.

“You got some motherfucking nerves!” He said in an angry tone. Olivia and Mrs. Jackson looked at each other with baffled expressions on their face then both of them quickly ran to the front door. Olivia’s eyes widened as she stood there behind her father.

“O’ go back in the kitchen with your mom. I’ll handle this.”

Olivia couldn’t move, but she could speak and the only words that escaped her mouth were, “Mark, what are you doing here?”

Chapter 14

Angel sat on the king-sized bed inside the hotel suite she’d gotten at the Sheraton Hotel after arriving in Augusta. Her thoughts rapidly sped through her head as she tried to contain them. Running into Olivia at the hospital was definitely not expected. What was even more unexpected was having Zay speak to her in that way even after having a physical altercation with his lover. She was appalled and irritated at how things had gone down and somehow her only thoughts were to make them pay for her embarrassment of the whole thing.

She sighed thinking about her life and that she’d come a long way. There was a time when she was young, ruthless, and very cutthroat. Back in her early twenties, she and Zay was a hot item. He’d just signed his first NFL client and she’d become one of the hottest news reporters around. Together, they were a power couple. Zay worked hard the honest way. Angel fucked her way to the top. She’d accumulated a lot of well kept skeletons in the closet over the years, but the worst skeleton of them all was Zay finding out about her being engaged to another.

That day, some eight years prior, she’d been caught off guard by her then fiancé who’d just showed up from across seas serving time in the military. She had agreed to go out with him that evening, but their dinner date was supposed to include her breaking things off with him to be with Zay. However, she never got the chance to tell him that it was over, because Zay conveniently happened to be at the same place they were at. To her surprise, he didn’t hesitate to walk over to introduce himself. Thinking quickly, she introduced herself first while extending her hand for Zay’s in a friendly handshake just to tell her fiancé that they were working together. Zay was stunned to hear that she had a fiancé and didn’t even respond back. Instead, he walked off, changed his number, moved to another location and cut off all access with her. She’d regretted it since that day. He had a cousin that she was still very cool with and kept in constant contact with just to stay updated on Zay’s life and his well being.

Even to this present day, he still had a piece of her heart. She’d changed over the years for the better and always kept the thought of her and Zay being together close in her heart. However, she never planned that he’d treat her the way that he had since they’d been back messing around, regardless of what they’d gone through. Time supposedly heeled old wounds, but it was apparent that time only allowed Zay to get completely over her. Strange twist of fate, just when she thought she was making way with him without any knowledge of the side piece anymore, the bitch showed back up.

She was determined to find out what Mark was holding back in his phone. It was clear that it was something that could ruin Olivia’s image and that’s all she wanted. One way or the other, she’d get her hands on that video and when it was finally in her possession, Olivia would pay for ruining her chances with Zay. All she had to do was get Mark to cooperate. Instantly, she picked up her phone and sent him a message.

****

Meanwhile, back at the Jackson’s family home, Mark had talked his way into the family dining room in hopes of them hearing him out. Mr. Jackson was the only one in there with him since he’d sent his wife and Olivia in the kitchen until they had a chance to speak in private.

Mr. Jackson looked over at Mark with menacing eyes as he stood across from him with his arms folded. “So, what is this thing you act like is so important that you want to talk about?”

Mark looked over at Mr. Jackson feeling bad for what he’d done. He was hurt and had he been thinking clearer that night, he’d never shot at Olivia. Being caught up in his feelings had caused him to do some unthinkable things. After now getting inside the house to try and have a decent conversation, he had to make this good. It was either do or die for him.

 “Dad,” he started.

Quickly he was corrected with the words, “Mr. Jackson.”

Mark definitely knew that it wasn’t the same as he cleared his throat, and then he continued. “Look, I’m sorry for what happened. I know that doesn’t take back my actions, but if I could take it all back, I would. I never meant for any of this to get as out of hand as it has.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you brought a weapon into the picture,” Mr. Jackson quickly shot his way.

“You’re right. I wasn’t in my right mind.” He said almost with tears in his eyes. He was being as sincere as he could be.

“You could’ve killed my daughter, Mark and now I’m allowing you inside my home to explain yourself; against my wife’s wishes and my own. You better get to explaining,” he said with a very calm, but direct tone of voice.

“I don’t even know what to say. I’m hurt over this. I am. Do you think I ever wanted to lose my wife? Regardless of what you feel, I didn’t. I know it’s nothing I can say that will change anything, but because this has gotten so bad, so quickly I just wanted to try and see if there is something we can come to mutual terms on.”

Mr. Jackson raised a concerned eyebrow. “What do you mean mutual terms?”

“In our divorce settlement,” Mark just straight out said. “Let’s say that I’m no fool and I know they didn’t press charges, because they want me to bow out and agree to whatever her terms are.”

“And, what’s wrong with that? You don’t think that she deserves it?!” His voice raised a little.

“I’m not saying what she deserves, because she deserves a hell of a lot more than what I’ve given her. I just want her to be fair.”

“So, I guess you’re here at a time like this to negotiate some kind of deal for a divorce that you already know is in the making. And, why should we listen to anything you have to say, because you certainly don’t deserve it?”

“Because, I know I’ve done wrong, but so has she. I know I made a huge mistake, but your daughter is no saint either.” He explained.

“And, your point is?”

“My point is this,” Mark said pulling his phone out. “If she tries to make this divorce hell for me by bringing up some things that could affect my life forever then I’ll have no choice but to play dirty, too.” Mr. Jackson’s ears seemed like smoke was blowing out of them. It took every decent fiber in his body not to grab Mark around the neck and choke the living out of him. Unfortunately for Mark, before he knew it, Mr. Jackson’s hand was wrapped up in the collar of his shirt. As he was about to put Mark out of his house, probably on his face, Mark stopped him. “Please before you do something that you’ll regret. Just take a look at this before you say another word.”

****

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Mrs. Jackson asked pacing the kitchen floor.

“I don’t know, but Mark got some nerves. If Zay walks in here and sees him in this house, no telling how that is going to turn out.” Olivia said feeling anxious and tense.“He’s trying to squirm his way out of this, because he knows that I’m going to hang him in this divorce. I want him to leave this marriage with what he came with, nothing but hopes and dreams. I helped him become this successful man. You and dad helped him.” She said, biting on one of her fingernails. “He brought this on himself and I can’t sit here like he’s not in the next room. He gotta go, now!” she said, quickly walking into the dining room.

“Dad, don’t listen to this man. Whatever he has to say, we don’t want to hear it.” She said looking at her father as he silently stared at the screen on Mark’s phone. “Dad, are you listening to me,” she called out.

Mark felt a little better after seeing the blank expression on Mr. Jackson’s face as he watched the video. At that time, he figured that he’d address Olivia. “You’re gonna want to listen to what I have to say or better yet you can just see it after your dad is finished.” Mark said.

“I don’t have to listen to nothing.” Olivia said as Mrs. Jackson just stood behind her trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “Whatever Mark is showing you can’t be any worse than finding out that Lil Romeo is his son.”

Mrs. Jackson shockingly placed her hand over her chest as Mr. Jackson looked away from the phone for the first time. “He’s what now?” He asked through gritted teeth. Mark’s character was being destroyed right before his very eyes.

“Tell them, Mark. Tell them that Lil Romeo is also your son! Not to mention on top of all of that, this man tried to kill me a couple of days ago.”

“And, you didn’t try the same thing?” Mark directly asked.

“Winston, it’s time that he leaves. We’ll settle this in court. He doesn’t deserve a damn thing.” Mrs. Jackson stated. Mr. Jackson totally agreed, but there was no way that he’d let Mark leave their without trying to now save his daughter’s future. He looked over at his wife and passed her the IPhone. She looked at him strangely. “Surely Winston, you can’t be falling for this. I don’t care if he caught O’ in the act, he started all of this and we’re going to end it.”

Mr. Jackson disappointedly shook his head. “Look at the video.”

Olivia stood there with her arms folded, feeling some type of way about the whole encounter as she mean mugged Mark, hoping that Zay would come in and beat his ass now. Mark stood to his feet, he knew that the shit was about to hit the fan and all he wanted to do was make sure that he’d gotten their full attention before he made his exit.