Hot Boyz (31 page)

“No, I’m just running errands. Why? Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not. My intuition told me something was up. I just figured out who Mason has been seeing.”

“Who?” Sequoia asked.

Mercedes unwrapped the snack package, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “A girl he travels with on tour. A white girl who reps the company he promotes.”

“A white girl. Oh, Mercedes, how do you know that?”

“I just know. I just saw her on TV. I know it’s her.”

“You’ve gone on tour with him recently. You never saw her there?”

“No. I’ve never seen her before in my life. He’s usually only with his caddy.”

“Is this about that red hair in his car you were trippin’ about at the pool party?”

“It’s her hair. Just as bright red and it is long.”

“That’s not enough proof, Mercedes. Does Mason know that you still suspect him?”

“Not yet.”

“Are you going to let him have it?”

“Would he really admit it anyway?”

“Why don’t you call her and tell her you know? Or better yet, set him up next time.”

“No, that’s not my style.”

“Well, it needs to be.” Sequoia could be heard disarming the alarm to her car. “Maybe you should just tell him you already know, just like you told me; he’ll probably think you know more than you really do.”

“I already confronted him at our party and I was wrong.”

“So? Confront him again.”

Mercedes looked at the oatmeal cake and decided she did not want it. She stood up and threw it in the trash. “Anyway, I’ve been bringing people into our bed for a long time now, with my fantasies
and wild imagination. I guess all of that imagery in my head turned out to be true.”

Sequoia started her engine and immediately spoke over the volume of the radio. “Mercedes, if he is banging this white chick, he’s doing it in reality. There’s a big difference.”

“Damn, girl. This makes me so freakin’ mad. And I’m always the one claiming how much I trust him.”

Sequoia replied, “Sounds like it’s time for you to take back that trust and get him to come clean for real.”

At the session with Dr. Little the following week, Mercedes spoke first.

“Baby, I know.”

“What do you mean? You know what?”

“Okay, here’s a hint. What’s red, white, and all over black?”

Mason looked at Mercedes like she’d lost her mind. “What’s
what?”

“Mace, may I call you Mace?”

Mason looked lost.

“Mace, I know. I know you’re an admired, desired, wealthy, popular stud and it’s difficult with all of your options, right?”

“Cedes,” he said, scooting forward without looking at her, glancing at Dr. Little’s face for help.

“I knew the rule, I just thought you’d be the exception. But, I guess we wives of famous men need to go ahead and resolve ourselves to the fact that we need to put up with the womanizing and appreciate what we have. We need to just get over it, huh? The bottom line is if you and I are ever going to stay together, I need to come to terms with the fact that I’m going to have to share you, right?”

“Share me? Where is this coming from?”

“Your redhead.”

“Are you trippin’ off of Heidi again?”

“Your white, redheaded business companion whose been assigned as your Titieist representative for the past year. I’m sharing my husband with her. Actually she is a little sexy but I thought I knew your type better than that.”

“Mercedes.”

Dr. Little took off his reading glasses. He decided to play referee. “Okay, now let’s slow down and get to the truth here.”

Mercedes kept her focus on Mason, noticing him fidgeting with his own fingers. “I am right at the truth and there’s no better place for Mason to admit his goings-on, next to the church or divorce court, than here and now.”

“Mason, are you prepared to get to the heart of this now?” the doctor asked.

There was a long pause and no reply.

Mercedes repeated herself. “Like I said, there’s no better time.”

Mason sat back. His gut panged with guilt. He spoke. “Natalie was just sex to me. She was convenient and available. She was no drama, no expectations, no requirements, and no emotions. She was just sex.” His own voice echoed in his head. He took a deep breath.

Mercedes voice remained the same, but her jaw grew tense. “She’s your out-of-town sex partner. My replacement?”

“No.”

Her voice grew louder. “So, I fuck the hell out of you in California, and she fucks you in the other forty-nine states, and abroad, right?”

“Cedes. It was only maybe every other month. It stopped before you started traveling with me last month. I told her it was over and that this past week’s tournament was her last with me.” Mason could not believe he was even agreeing to admit that. He looked around at the walls of the office as if the place was known for promoting the truth in people.

Mercedes grew more and more annoyed. “Oh, so that comes out to, let’s see, Mason, about a half-a-dozen times? How dare you use the word
only.
Once is still too much to use the word
only.
That’s my husband pleasing another woman.”

“Cedes. Please.” Mason realized that his confession did not feel cleansing in the least.

Mercedes’s brows arched with disdain. “Please, my ass. If pussy was all you wanted, I could have met you in every city when you were lonely, or sent you
a. Hustler
magazine. I wouldn’t have hesitated
if it meant saving my family. But here’s how it works, see—my husband is never supposed to have sex without me. After all, I never have it without you.” She looked to Dr. Little, sounding very fired up. “Doctor, did you know that? I have never fucked any man but my husband? I am a virgin to anyone but Mason Wilson, who took my virginity and put a ring on my finger when he promised to honor and cherish me until death do us part… or until he gets fucking horny.”

“I realize that I’m the only one, Cedes.”

“How about if I go and fuck Dr. Green? He wanted to, you know. Or how about your own brother, Torino, or his friend Kyle, or Dr. Little here?” Mercedes pointed to the doctor who stared back in complete silence.

“Okay, Cedes, that’s enough,” Mason said, feeling dejected yet defensive.

“That’s for me to decide if it’s enough or not. Not you. Maybe you can buy me a six-carat ring this time, huh? Do you think that will fix it? I was feeling lonely many times and I didn’t let some strange penis enter my body.”

Dr. Little found the strength to clear his throat. “Mrs. Wilson. This is a very critical crossroad in your relationship and I do think this is just the place to release this energy. I understand your anger and hurt. It is natural and expected. But revenge solves nothing and I know you don’t mean that.”

Mercedes gritted her teeth before she spoke and squinted her eyes. “I want him to know what it feels like to be betrayed. I go around proclaiming my husband’s fidelity—that I trust him no matter what. It feels like I’ve been stabbed in the heart.”

“What’s happening is that the two of you have come to terms with an issue that most couples deal with way before now. You’ve been married this long and now you find that infidelities have occurred.”

“Who knows when the first time was.”

“There was never a time before this.”

“Dr. Little. Maybe you can tell me. Why do men cheat?” she asked sarcastically.

“Well, usually for men it’s about sex and empowerment.”

Mason looked at him as though he was a traitor.

“Sex and empowerment, huh? After all this time he decided to look for sex and empowerment. Like he doesn’t have enough of both in his life.”

Dr. Little worked to bring clarity to the couple. “Sometimes it’s even harder when so many years have gone by. But, one thing is for sure; it’s not a reason to go your separate ways. Not when your family is making major breakthroughs toward improving relationships. Mason, do you realize it was a smart thing for her to wait until she got here? It must have been hell for her to keep this inside. I’ll be very honest with you, Mason. You screwed up and you’ve got to fix it.”

“I agree and I have fixed it.”

“What do you mean?” the doctor asked.

“I told you I already talked to her and told her that it can never happen again. Also, because I’m seriously thinking about retiring and severing ties with Tideist altogether.”

Mercedes looked sickened by his words. “Oh, please, spare me.”

“Cedes, she means nothing to me.”

She pointed her finger directly at his nose. He turned away. “Wrong. She meant about as much as our marriage did, and I would think that was a hell of a lot to risk. Besides, Mason, she’s only seven numbers away. What happens next time you catch a case of the hornies or some beautiful woman starts chasing you down? It’s just too easy for you to trip up again. You have way too many opportunities to pass up a cheap screw. You’re an adulterer.”

“I understand how you feel and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Dr. Little continued to run it down. “Mason, you mentioned that you’ve already fixed it. I want you to know that your work has just begun. You need to fix it with your wife; not just by telling her that the other woman is out of the way. You need to clear the clutter you’ve accumulated. You need to be accountable, loving, and understanding of her insecurities, even when it drives you nuts, and you need to be patient when she’s feeling jealous. You have a
long road ahead of you. Both of you. The big question is, does Mercedes want to stay?”

“You mean can I live with the fact that a rich, powerful man can never be faithful to one woman? Because that’s the real question. It will never stop. Doctor, should I settle for a broke ass faithful man, or live with a rich ass player?”

Dr. Little corrected her. “No, should you live up to the vows you made to your spouse before God?”

“Ask him that,” she said, pointing to her husband.

“Mason, can you?” asked Dr, Little.

Words tumbled through Mason’s mind. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing, yet knew exactly what he was feeling. “Yes, I can. I got married to grow with you, not grow our separate ways. Mercedes, I’m sorry.”

Mercedes looked betrayed. “You should have told me at the pool party instead of denying Heidi so tough. That’s some sorry ass shit.”

Dr. Little asked, “After all of this, Mercedes, can you live up to your vows?”

“I don’t know, maybe after some serious revenge fucking. Dr. Little, let’s go for a drink and talk about it.”

Mason looked stunned and discomfited. “Cedes.”

She continued painting a vivid scene for Mason to imagine. “I just don’t know. I’ll think about it. Picture some dick inside of me while you work though your own guilt. You put my health in jeopardy, you asshole. I hope you at least wore a condom. I feel no pity for you whatsoever.” Mercedes looked at an open-mouthed Dr. Little and said, “I’ll see you next week, Doc.” She stood and switched past them both. She headed to the door with weighted, yet quick-paced steps. “I hope she’s worth half of your money,” Mercedes yelled while entering the hallway.

Mason got up, shaking the doctor’s hand, and strode quickly to the elevator to catch his wife.

Later that day at home, Mercedes felt compelled to call Dr. Little for a one-on-one, just to hopefully hear him give her that glimmer
of a lecture that she might need to deal with the new little awakening in her life. Dr. Little answered his office phone.

“Dr. Little here.”

“Hello. It’s Mercedes Wilson. I feel like I’m about to lose my mind.” She sat on the sofa in her home office with her bare feet propped up to the side.

“Mercedes, I’m glad you called. I was just thinking about your situation. You know, you’re going to have to decide one thing. Do you want to stand by your man or not?”

“I’m not sure. I just don’t think I can ever trust him again. Doctor, these are feelings I never thought I’d have.”

He tried to sound calming. “Mercedes, you need to be careful in your case because it is very common for some wives to normalize stressful situations by virtue of being married to successful men. It’s not normal to cheat on your spouse, no matter what.”

Mercedes placed her hand behind her head. “I agree, but those women have to take responsibility for allowing these men that luxury. I have to be able to trust my husband. And you say ‘successful men’ as if because they have money they have a different set of allowances in life. Mason’s fortune is his wife and family, not his bank account. His incentive should be to make sure he doesn’t ruin what we’ve built together. I’m not okay with his career coming first and his wife second.”

“I understand, and all of your feelings are normal. There’s a process of trying to cope with being the primary parent in the family, handling finances, the possibility of having to relocate at the drop of a hat, and coming to terms with the possibility of one being unfaithful. It is true that most wives of celebrities reconcile with their husbands when they’re famous athletes.”

She tucked her knees into her chest. “Yeah. Well, he can have this house and these sorry ass rings if he thinks that all of these material possessions buy my tolerance. How can you buy someone when all of this infidelity creates these intense feelings of betrayal and confusion. Diamonds won’t make me stand by my man.”

“What will?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

“Until you do some more figuring out, I suggest you talk to Mason one-on-one. Bring it up and deal with it now before things get further along. You two need to do this in privacy, calmly, and you need to both put a vision together of how you want your life to be. Expect great things and know that your life can be better after something like this. Sometimes, infidelity is not the greatest reason to break up. Physical and mental abuse, financial improprieties and other issues are usually nonnegotiable. Is this negotiable in your eyes?”

“Like I said, I don’t know. I’m at a loss right now. I’ll see you next week.”

“Be strong.
And know
that it’s not all about you. It’s about a family.”

“Thanks.”

The kids were fast asleep. Mercedes closed the door to her and Mason’s bedroom and leaned her body up against it. She turned the lock from behind her. “You’re an asshole.”