In the Life (5 page)

"This time with you have been so wonderful. You got a brotha on cloud nine over here. And to show you how appreciative I am that you have come into my life, there is something I want to give you." He went into his jacket pocket to fetch a small black box.

"Baby, this is your night. Why am I the one getting a gift? It should be the other way around." I still reached out for the box. One thing I have learned from Curtis is when someone hands you a jewelry box, you better take it and raise hell if it turns your skin green.

"I know, but I bought it yesterday for you and thought that this is the best time to let you have it." I opened the box to see to brightly shining necklace with a heart pendant sitting on top of a small piece of red paper and white velvet. My mouth dropped. I looked up at Morris whose smile was almost brighter than the necklace. My gaze dropped back to the gift and I removed the red paper and I unfolded it. In big bold letters it read "I love you." By now, I am having a Lifetime: Television for Women moment. I feel like I am about to bitch up and cry. I tried to speak, but all that came out was "wow". I finally managed a "You shouldn't have" a minute later.

"It’s just some diamonds for your neck, you know." He pulled out an identical necklace from under his shirt. "Now, you have my heart and I have yours. My initials are carved on the back of yours and yours in mine." Sure enough, mine said MAE which stood for Morris Alexander Epson. I tried to compose myself as I put on my necklace.

"You know what?" I said once I had won my fight with the necklaces clasp. "Let's get out of here so I can get you in bed wearing only that heart." And with that, he waved to our waiter for the check. "And Morris," I said with a full heart, "I love you too."

Chapter 6

Morris and I spent every possible moment together before he left to go back to California for the movie. The time seemed to fly by so fast. On one hand, we both anxiously awaited the beginning of this new and exciting chapter in his life, but we knew that meant that we would have to be physically apart for an unknown amount of time.

Driving him to the airport had been bittersweet. Curtis and Jay had also come to the airport with us to see him off. And I admit it, I cried. As soon as Morris got on the plane, I bitched up and started bawling. Look, I am sorry for being a punk. I just loved him so much, damn it!

For the next few weeks, it felt that I was living by the phone. Morris was really good at keeping in touch, but he stayed busy. We wouldn't really be able to talk until 10 o'clock his time which was 1 o'clock in the morning my time. Despite the puffy eyes that I knew would be visible in the morning, I would stay on the phone with him for hours.

So far Morris' California experience had been phenomenal. His character in the movie was an aspiring actor who came from a Hollywood family. His parents, who are played by Alfre Woodard and Dennis Haysbert, are both popular and respected actors. During his quest to make it on his own, he meets an up and coming singer and they fall in love.

When Morris had told me that Lailiana had been cast to play that part, I became so star struck. I mean, I am one of her biggest fans and here he was in a movie with her. I loved her last album and couldn't wait for her to drop her new one. Morris promised me the chance to meet her. I just hope I wouldn't look like the biggest dork when that happened.

As time went by, I was really missing my baby. I felt like one of them old school house wives who had sent their man off to war. All I had was the television to keep me warm at night.

Sunday afternoon found me on the couch with a Charmed marathon. And it is really messed up that I almost had an orgasm when I saw it on television. Hell, you can get your kicks your way and I will get mine where I can. My phone interrupted me watching Piper, Phoebe, and Paige kick some serious demon ass.

"Hello?"

"Hey baby. You miss me."

"More than you will ever know." I muted the television and gave him my full attention. I decided that this might be a good time to break from the living room and go fix me a hot cup of peach tea.

"So what do you have on?" I couldn't help but laugh. This horny ass nigga here! I looked down at my fully clothed body and decided to play around with him.

"Nothing."

"Word? Not even any socks or anything."

"Yep, nothing. I just got out the shower so I am still a little wet."

"Is that right?" He said coolly. "Well, let me see then." Once again, I laughed.

"And how am I gonna do all that?"

"Well, you could start by opening the front door." I damn near dropped my phone. I stopped what I was doing and ran to the front. I tried to look out the peephole, but something was blocking the view.

I swung that door open and was face to face with my boo. I couldn't contain what I was feeling. I lunged forward and planted the biggest kiss on him. As we kissed, he backed me up into the house. He closed the door without breaking away from me. His lips tasted so good against mine. My soldier was at full attention below. Taking a more aggressive role, I maneuvered Morris towards the sofa and pushed him down on it.

"I take it that you are happy to see me then," he said breathlessly as I then started to unbutton his shirt.

"You could say that," I said back with a smile. And then, oops there went my shirt up over my head. Oh my. And my pants, drawers, and everything else soon followed. Morris still was clothed from the waist down, but I wasn't concerned with that. Hell, all that was about to come off too. It was time to show my baby what he had been missing out being in Cali.

As he started kissing me again, his hand glided down to my bare ass. His touch felt electric. He palmed and kneaded my booty. It had been too long. When I felt him smack my ass, I almost came all over him. Instead though, I went and undid his pants. Morris stopped me before I could let him feel the warmth of my mouth.

"Baby," he said lifting my head up so I could look him in the eyes. "We have all night." Morris sat up and took me by the hand. He then led me up to our bedroom where we then proceeded to wear out the headboard.

Chapter 7

"Damn, why you walking like you just got off of riding a horse?" Curtis asked as I walked up to him. We were meeting for lunch and he got there before me and already had secured a table for us.

"I did." And oh, boy had I! "Morris surprised me last night. He flew in and left right back out this morning."

"Oh, so is that why you have that certain glow?"

"Let me just say that, me and Morris had gone through all the condoms that we had in the house and then he had to go to the store to get some more."

"Damn, nigga! I am mad at that. Yall probably woke up the neighbors with all your moaning and shit too."

"Probably did," I laughed.

"Yeah, laugh now, but wait until you get home. There is going to be an eviction notice posted on the door talking ‘bout "Get yall's horny, loud, homosexual asses out of our establishment. And have a blessed evening." We started dying laughing. Soon, our waiter made his way over and we ordered. Since we were both pressed for time and trying to eat better, we both opted for the grilled chicken salad on the menu. Just as our salads hit the table, Curtis' phone went off. When he answered it, his whole demeanor changed. He got serious all of a sudden and I didn't know why. I knew it was Jay calling because I recognized his ringtone. Curtis hung up the phone and had the strangest look on his face.

"Tre?
You still have internet on your BlackBerry?" I nodded my head as I handed him my phone.

"What's going on, Cee? Is something wrong with Jay?" Curtis didn't answer me. He just proceeded to use my phone to look up whatever it was he wanted. I began to eat my salad as I watched him. When he found what he wanted, his eyes became the size of saucers. He started shaking his head. Now, I was real worried and curious.

"Ok," Curtis finally uttered. "That was Jay calling me. And it’s all over the news and I just had to see it myself."

"What is?" I can't take this suspenseful shit. Curtis passed me back my phone.

"The tabloids and all are saying that Morris and Lailiana are an item. The press is all over it quoting her and everything." I looked at my phone and saw a picture of the two of them cuddled next to each other. It didn't look too good, but I was not going to jump to conclusions. After all, my baby loves me.

"This picture doesn't mean anything. They were just probably… I don't know… going over a scene together. You know how the paparazzi are always trying to make something bigger than what it really is." My argument did not sway Curtis.

"Yeah, scroll down to the next picture and see if you still think that way." And that is when I saw a picture of them on the beach kissing. And what enraged me even more was the shorts he was wearing was something that I had bought for him. I know that was something small and insignificant, but it triggered a tear to come to my eye.

"Wow, okay." I was damn near speechless. I got up from the table and started walking to my car. "I gotta go."

"Tre!" Curtis yelled out behind me, but not too loud to bring too much attention to us. It probably would have looked like we were having some kind of lover's spat or some shit. I did not turn around. I dialed Morris' number and it went straight to voicemail. I hung up and tried again and then again. Finally, I left a message saying simply to call me back. I waited until I got all the way to the car to cry.

Chapter 8

If this isn't the worst sight, I don't know what is. I am sitting behind a computer screen flipping through the same five pictures of Morris and Lailiana online. The way he was looking at her was something that I thought that he had reserved for only me. He held her hand in some pictures. And then of course, the new bane of my existence was the picture in which they were kissing each other. The sight was so vulgar to me that I almost threw up in my mouth. My phone going off was what snapped me out of my daze. I didn't recognize the
number, but I picked up anyway.

"Hey baby. My flight just landed and I wanted to let you know that I made it in safe."

"What number are you calling from?" Oh, just let him say he is calling from that trick's phone.

"A pay phone here at the airport. My cell phone battery is dead, but I wanted you to know that I made it." I didn't know what to say to him. Should I bust him on what I now know? With his phone being off, he is probably still oblivious to the fact that his shit had hit the fan.

"Oh, okay. I am glad." I chose not to say anything. Why? I wasn’t ready to confront him. I didn't feel like yelling at him. I didn't feel like hearing him lie to me. I definitely didn't feel like crying again. But most importantly, if he told me that he loved her, it would crush me beyond belief.

"Well, I will call you once I get settled at the house."

"Okay."

"And baby, I want you to know that I really enjoyed being with you even for that short time. You know there is nowhere else I would rather be than with you. It kills me to be away from you, but you know that all this is for you. Yes, this is my dream, but if all goes well you will never have to want for anything again in life. It’s just you and me, baby."

"Uh huh." My eyes started tearing up, but I would not let him know that.

"I love you. And I will talk to you later on tonight."

"Ok. Bye." I tried to get him off the phone quickly, but Morris wasn't going to make it that easy.

"Oh, you not gonna to say I love you back? Come on, don't do me like that." And as much as I didn't want to say it, I knew I had to. If I wanted to get off the phone, I would have to say those words. And unfortunately, I still meant them.

"I love you too." I could imagine Morris smiling brightly on the other end.

"Bye baby." I hung up the phone without a goodbye.

Chapter 9