Free Fridays (17 page)

Leela was so angry with Samantha, because she knew better and that Riley would have a fit if he caught a glimpse of what was going on.

“Not tonight for me, guys. I'm really tired. I think I should go home, turn in early,” Leela pressed.

Kent's brown eyes fixed on her through the rearview mirror. “You know, I think Leela's got a point. She's probably not in the mood to be out on the town. How about we get some takeout, grab a movie from one of those Redboxes and chill at your place, Sam?”

“Oh, that's a great idea!” Samantha quickly added. “You're so thoughtful, Babe.” She leaned over and kissed Kent's cheek.

Leela wanted to throw up a little in her mouth.

“Yeah. That's probably much better anyway,” Malone chimed in. “Sweetness, your grandmother is gonna be okay,” he said, and pulled Leela even closer. “I just feel it. Trust me, I'm usually right about this sort of thing.”

Later, as Kent pulled up in Samantha's driveway and hopped out of the car, Leela didn't move a muscle. She waited for Malone to hop out, like she knew he would. Then she quickly reached up and yanked on Samantha's weave!

“Oouch!”

“What is your problem? You know I ain't got no business hanging out with this man!” Leela said quickly.

There wasn't enough time for Samantha's response, before both of their car doors opened.

“Ladies,” Malone said, as he extended his hand to help Leela climb out of the backseat.

Leela felt like such a fraud. She watched as Samantha sashayed up the walkway and unlocked the front door.

Inside Samantha's house, the men moved around like they were daily fixtures in her space.

“Can I talk to you for a sec?” Leela asked Samantha.

“You guys go ahead. I'm gonna fix the food, and Malone is about to whip up some drinks,” Kent said.

“You sure you don't need me to help?” Samantha asked as she tried to make her way toward the kitchen.

“We got it covered in here, Babe. Go talk to your girl,” Kent said. He used his hands to shoo her away.

Tired of waiting for permission, Leela grabbed Samantha by the shoulder and gently shoved her toward the back bedroom.

“He says they've got it under control,” Leela said.

“But I can…”

“You can come back here so I can talk some sense into you!” Leela said, as she led Samantha toward the bedroom door.

The minute they were behind closed doors, Leela pulled in a deep breath. Her eyes narrowed as she focused her stare on Samantha. “What the hell are you trying to do?” she asked.

Samantha shrugged. “I dunno what you're talking about.”

“Don't play stupid with me. Why do you keep making it so easy for Malone to get to me? You know good and well that you needed to tell me you were with them!”

“Why are you trippin'? Malone knows your situation. He really likes you,” Samantha said. “Girl, why you trippin'? The man knows the job is dirty. If he ain't afraid, and is still willing to sign up for the position, why not sit back and reap the benefits?”

“Sam! I am married! I can't be keeping company with some sexy man just because he likes me!” Leela screamed.

Samantha laughed.

Leela frowned.

“What's wrong with you? What's so funny?”

“You! So you admit, you think he's sexy,” she said.

“Sam! I'm serious. Things are strained with Riley and me. I don't need any distractions right now.”

“But Malone is so sweet. He simply adores you. Leela, when you're with him, I don't know what it is; but you're like a completely different person. He's a perfect gentleman, he's handsome, and he has a great job. What's there not to like?”

Leela stood with her arms crossed at her chest.

“Oh, I don't know. How about my husband? Samantha, I am married! You're right, Malone is all of those things and more, but I'm not trying to get caught in a love triangle. Besides, if he's that damn perfect, why is he still single?”

Samantha cut her eyes at Leela and a sly grin spread across her face. “See, I knew you were feeling him. You two are so cute together!” she squealed.

Leela looked at her friend like she had really lost her mind.

“Leela. We have hit the jackpot with these two. Kent is everything! He's a perfect gentleman, he's so considerate, and I think I'm falling in love,” Samantha admitted.

“Well, I'm happy for you! But this is not a double-date, and I need you to respect the fact that I'm already married and I'm not trying to get a divorce!”

The smile fell from Samantha's face.

“You know what, you're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't encourage Malone, regardless of how he feels about you. It's just that he's so sweet and the two of you are so adorable together. But I'll stop. After tonight, when he asks about you, I'll shut him down.”

Leela gave Samantha a knowing look.

“I'm serious,” Samantha said.

Leela was unsure of what she feared more: her lying friend or the feelings she had developed for Malone.

F
ree Fridays was a recipe for disaster. There was nothing good about a married woman being able to do whatever she felt like, no questions asked, no worries about guilt. Leela looked into this man's eyes and wondered how she had lost herself so quickly.

She needed to put a stop to this before everything she knew became completely unrecognizable. After the delicious meal Kent and Malone had prepared, they were sitting around and about to watch a movie.

“Sweetness, would you like more wine?” Malone asked.

All evening long, he'd been the perfect gentleman. He was everything Samantha had described and the fact that he knew and understood her situation, but didn't seem to care, gave Leela a sense of danger and adventure.

There was the part of her that understood that if Riley ever found out, he'd break both her and Malone in two, probably with his bare hands. But Malone didn't seem like a push-over, either. Leela had a feeling he would be able to hold his own.

“No more wine for me.”

Leela caught the look Samantha had tossed her way, but she didn't care. How could she get her girl to stop acting like they were two high-schoolers on a double-date? Samantha was completely comfortable despite the fact that what was going on in her house was wrong.

“Hey, Sweetness, come back here for a sec; I wanna show you something,” Malone said. He stood near the hall.

All eyes followed him there even though he was only talking to Leela.

“Umph. You scared?” Samantha asked.

Leela rolled her eyes. She giggled because while they'd been curled up together on the sofa, Malone had allowed his hands to wander all over her body. It felt good. She and Riley only really touched when it was time to have sex. Their cuddle moments had vanished years ago. And Leela never realized how much she missed that kind of touching until Malone came along.

Playing along with him, Leela eased up from the couch and followed him down the hall.

The minute he pulled her into the spare bedroom, which had become something like their love nest, and closed the door, he pinned her up against it and smothered her with a wet and sloppy kiss.

Leela could barely catch her breath as he pulled back and sucked her neck.

“Malone, you've gotta stop,” she purred.

Her fingers spread wildly against his bald head and seemed to pull him in closer. Everything he did to her felt amazing.

Their fingers laced together as he held one arm up and used his other hand to work her left breast out of its lace cup.

“Jesus, Malone!”

He filled his mouth and suckled her nipple like he needed whatever his lips pulled from it. Leela squirmed; she breathed hard, and tried to pull herself free.

“You're gonna make me,” she whispered.

It was hot in the room. Their coupling generated the scent of sex before any penetration occurred. Leela wanted him; she wanted to
let him do whatever he wanted. He felt good. Her hands traveled along his muscular back and again, she pulled him closer.

“Wait, let's move to the bed,” she said.

Leela couldn't believe she had made the suggestion, but she had.

When Malone released the hold he had on her, their eyes connected.

“You sure about this, Sweetness?”

That question brought Leela to her senses. She shook her head. “No, I'm not. I'm so sorry. I got caught up in the heat of the moment.”

“No, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I couldn't resist. Here, let's go back out there and watch the movie. I'll be on my best behavior. I promise.”

“Okay. I think that's a great idea. But I need a moment.” Leela motioned toward his crotch. “It looks like you do, too.”

Malone looked down. “See what you do to me?”

•  •  •

“What do you mean you looking for Leela?” Riley asked into the phone. He had gone from zero to sixty in less than a minute, and he was pissed. This was more than embarrassing. What did it look like, his mother-in-law calling the house to find his wife?

Where the hell was she if she wasn't with her grandmother like she was supposed to be? From what he knew, they were all supposed to be at the hospital. That was what Leela had told him she was doing after work. Now Linda, who was at the hospital, was calling and looking for her?

“Well, let me figure out where she is and get back with you,” he said, as calmly as he could. It was all he could do to hold his composure as they talked. The last thing he needed was Linda's nosey ass all up in his business.

“I called Samantha, but she ain't answering, either, so I figured she'd be home with you by now.”

“Yeah. I got that, Linda. Look, lemme holler at you in a few. I'll tell her to call.”

“Okay, but is everything okay over there, Riley?”

That's exactly what Riley was afraid of. He knew how people thought. His wife was out late at night, not answering her phone, and of course it looked like the man had lost control. Oh, not on his watch! He'd get to the bottom of this crap and put Leela back into her place where she belonged.

“Yeah. It's all good. I'll have her call you,” Riley said.

But his nosey mother-in-law just wouldn't shut up! She kept yapping and yapping and all he wanted to do was get her off the phone so he could find his wife.

“Linda. I said I'll have her call you.”

That firm voice finally did the trick. Riley was so pissed he could draw blood. What the hell was Leela thinking?

Minutes after he finally wrangled Linda off the phone, he called his wife's cell. She answered by the fourth ring, far too long for his taste.

“Hello?”

Riley didn't respond right away. He tried to listen to hear whether sounds from the background would give an indicator of where she was and what she was doing.

“Hello?” She sounded frustrated.

“Where the hell you at?” Riley asked.

“Uh. What's wrong?”

“Damn, Leela. How many times do I have to tell you about answering my questions with another friggin' question? Where are you?”

“I'm just trying to figure out why you're so pissed off, that's all.
I tried calling you earlier and you didn't answer. I needed you to pick up my grandfather and bring him to the hospital.”

“Don't even try to act like you're at the hospital because I know you're not there! Leela, I'm not for this bullshit!”

“Riley, cut it out!”

“Who you talking to like that?”

Leela lowered her voice. “I'm sorry. I'm on my way home now,” she stammered.

“That's beside the point. I asked where you are now. I didn't ask whether you were on your way home.”

Leela sighed.

“This shit has got to stop! I'm not tolerating this kind of behavior. It's damn-near one-o-clock in the damn morning and I'm calling all around the city looking for my wife? Got your mama questioning me when you're supposed to be at the hospital with her? Shiiiit. You got me messed up!”

“Riley, I said I'm on my way,” Leela repeated.

“You bet your ass you are!”

Leela didn't have to tell him where she was, because he already knew. Once she hung up the phone, he dug up his iPad and logged on to the app to confirm his suspicion. Yeah. Things needed to change in the Franklin household and that change needed to happen like yesterday.

T
houghts of Malone stayed on Leela's mind way more than she wanted. Oftentimes, she caught herself comparing Riley to him, and she knew that wasn't fair. But it was so hard for her to stop.

Riley was so rigid at times. Malone was carefree, like a dreamer. While Riley helped out with anything physically related to her grandparents' breakup, Malone was there emotionally. He seemed to get it. He understood the craziness of a divorce after such a long marriage.

On date night with her husband, Leela sat inside the darkened theater and zoned out on the previews for upcoming movies. Her mind started to drift to thoughts of a perfect world. Malone was an all-around sweetie, but Riley exuded strength and took control when she needed it. Was there a way she could have them both?

“Oh, Jesus! I want him,” she muttered aloud.

She quickly glanced around to see if anyone had heard her confession. The theater was full, but the loud Dolby sound system had drowned out her voice. Her declaration was still safe. It was the first time she had verbalized it, but not the first time the thought had crossed her mind. When she noticed no one had paid any attention to her, Leela eased into the bucket seat.

She felt pathetic. On date night, she couldn't stop thinking about her sidepiece. Leela jumped, startled, when her cell phone vibrated after a text message came through.

When she saw the name “Mary” pop up on the screen, she smiled.