Lyfe Changing (21 page)

I stood frozen in place
unable to do anything. I sighed throwing my stuff back on the grass
and sat back down at the picnic table. I felt so conflicted inside,
I was one foot on solid ground and another one somewhere else. It
frustrated me that I was stuck in this rut where I couldn’t be the
man I once was, the Derrick that was strong, confident, that was a
boss. This Derrick…I didn’t know who this was. I got up from the
picnic table not wanting to be consumed in my own thoughts
anymore…when they arrived. Four big burly dudes made their way to
the backyard of the church looking like full grown linebackers
dressed in all black and for some reason they seemed oddly
familiar. They all had wicked grins on their faces like wolves that
had just cornered their prey. Never one to be easily intimidated I
stood toe to toe with my unwelcomed guest. “May I help
you?”

I said sternly and unfazed.
One of the huge gorillas stepped up in front of the rest, his hand
grazed his chin bringing attention to the platinum grill that was
in his mouth and sadly he looked the least literate of all of them.
“Well what’s good playboy…we have been looking for your little
pretty ass all over this place…never would have guessed to find you
up in a church.” He said smiling but looking at me coldly. “Well
you found me…what’s up?” I said clearly not backing down. The four
of them seemed a little impressed, damn near shocked that I wasn’t
running for my life especially riding solo with no strap. The ring
leader of the monkeys eyed me suspiciously. “C’mon Mr. Lyfe…you
know very well why we are here bruh.” As my memory came back to me
I finally remembered where I had seen these cats before.

They were the same dudes
that were there at Julio’s house when I cased the joint. I sighed
as I removed my work gloves and eyed my adversaries. “So the boss
sent some more trained puppies to do is work huh?” The first one
swayed his hands. “We have come to collect but you are clearly
looking broke as a joke…so since we can’t bring the boss his papers
were going to bring him your fucking head. I think he has room for
it right on the mantle.” They all chuckled and sneered as if they
had me right in the bag. I nodded, still not fazed by the talking
monkey.

“
Hmmm…out of all the
places… y’all want to do this at a church?”

“
Well if you rather we take
you out to the middle of the street and kill you that’s cool
too.”

I watched as they spread
out surrounding me like vultures, slapping each other five … little
did they know. Soon as the first one came at me I grabbed the
nearest ratchet handle and swiped him across the face sending him
wailing back in pain gushing blood. His nearest partner started
swinging like Frankenstein letting my easily clip him in his
trachea. The next one snuck up behind me putting me in the choke
hold while the only one left standing Mr. Platinum grill, clutched
a sharp box cutter in his hand. “Don’t you love it when they fight
back…” He gnarled laughing. “Makes it so much more fun.”

As he walked toward me with
the box cutter I managed to land a kick to his face and quickly
elbowed his partner in the ribs. While he grabbed his side he
failed to see my size fourteen boot coming up sending him down into
the dirt. I may not have a majored in accounting but I had a full
on PHD on how to kick a muthafucka ass. Mr. Platinum grill got back
to his feet, face a little jacked due to a broken nose but he still
stood toe to toe with me.

“
You muthafucka…you really
think you slick huh?”

“
Try and watch your mouth
bruh…” I chuckled. “This is a church.” I spread my feet out in the
dirt and paced myself. He did the same as he prepared to come back
at me with the box cutter. “Then I hope you done said your prayers
man.” He lunged at me again but he was too slow, I moved out the
way and landed a right hook to the side of his face. I didn’t see
it coming when countered with a left hook sending a shock of pain
to my cheek. He caught me by the throat and I grabbed his as well.
We struggled for the longest time until I felt like my eyes were
going to bulge out of my head. I decided to end the struggle by
throwing in a vicious head-butt, the box cutter ran across my
shoulder blade slicing me up but I was still good. When he saw I
was bleeding a smirk fell across his face.

“
Looks like you leaking
buddy.”

“
Leaking aint
dead.”

He charged at me again and
this time I was smart enough to grab his hand twisting it, back
putting him on his knees until he released the knife. After
subduing him I landed a solid punch to his face knocking him out
cold. I eased up against the wall feeling out of breath and
clutched my still bleeding shoulder. I didn’t even notice when
Pastor Wallace came out with two officers. “Derrick what happened…I
heard commotion going I thought you might need help.” He said
leaning me up against the wall. I smiled a little as he helped me
up. “Well Pastor you thought right.”

Destiny

“So you might as well go
ahead and tell us the truth… because we know damn well you didn’t
go home from the charity ball alone.” Cat grilled me. We were at a
local diner finally able to do some catching up on some much needed
girl talk when the subject of my disappearing act from the charity
ball came up. I rolled my eyes while taking a bite into my chicken
salad. “Fine…fine…I don’t even feel like lying today. I saw Derrick
at the party, we got into this huge fight and before I knew we were
back at my place having sex…Happy.” “Whoa!” They screeched out.
“Just like that girl…” Lucy nudged me. “I knew it was going to
happen sooner or later.” Alayah gave me a pat on the back. “Good
job girl… so how was it?” We all hung our heads down knowing what a
sexual deviant Alayah was. “Seriously Alayah. Did you really have
to go there?” Cat playfully scolded.

“
But since she did how was
it?” I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at my friend’s
nosiness. They all sat back and were waiting for my answer. “It was
descent…I mean it was…oh hell it was good.” I finally just came out
and said it. Derrick was the best sex I ever had and I was thinking
about him like crazy and was sadder than ever at the way I treated
him the morning after. “What…not beating around the bush…I have
never seen this Destiny before.”

Meg grinned. “Meet the
right penis it will bring about changes…” Alayah said, clinking my
wine glass with hers. Everyone chuckled while I sighed at my
dearest friend’s vulgarity. “Look I told you hefas everything now
can we just drop it?” “Well no you didn’t tell us everything…what
were you two fighting about?” Lucy chimed back in. I looked down at
my plate then back up at them. “He saw me with James at the party.”
Suspicious looks and groans passed among the table at the crazy
situation I had put myself in. “Oh and as for our good friend James
whatever happened to him?” Cat asked inquisitively. I rolled my
eyes at the thought of him. “Oh he is out indefinitely…that bastard
tried to pimp me out to his business partners?” “What!” they
exclaimed.

I shook my head in anger
reflecting back on that night. “Yeah, talk about social climbing
…it will be a cold day inn hell before we go out again.” “Damn Des…
and what about Derrick?” Lucy asked. I was surprised at how much my
heart ached at even the sound of his name. I missed him so much and
it made me angry with myself. “Derrick…I don’t know, I think he has
had enough of my back and forth.”

“
What do you mean Destiny…I
thought you two were good, didn’t you go home together?” Meg asked
confused. “Yeah but the next morning I just went off and told him I
didn’t want to be with him…I was scared. And now I don’t think he
will ever talk to me again.” My friends saw my dower expression and
sympathized with me. “I’m sure he can’t be that mad at you
girl…just give him some time he’ll come around.” Lucy tried to
soothe me. I nodded and continued to eat wanting to believe her
words were true. I really didn’t want this to be the end between me
and Derrick…not yet. I noticed certain uneasiness when I looked up
at Cat.

“
What’s wrong
girl?”

“
Girl hide your wine
glasses hear come Pastor Wallace.”

“
What!” We all
exclaimed.

We looked back to see
Pastor Wallace making his way inside wearing some powered blue
outfit. We quickly gulped down our glasses and changed the subject.
“Yes girl the Lord is good all the time…I can’t count all the
blessings he has brought into my life.” Alayah loudly protested.
“Amen.” We agreed hoping Pastor Wallace would not come over and
give us the disapproving glare. Instead he seemed rather shaken up
and somber. “Hello sisters how y’all doing today?” “Fine pastor is
something wrong?” Lucy asked for all of us. Pastor Wallace just
sighed. “Oh nothing that the Lord can’t fix…I’m just here to pick
up some food for Brother Derrick, that poor man.” My ears perked up
and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. “What happened?” I
asked. The Pastor just shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe it if
I told you…some hooligans came to the church and attacked him.”
“What!” I nearly fell out of my chair. “Oh yes…” The Pastor went
on. “Cut his shoulder up and everything, but you wouldn’t believe
he actually…” Before he could even finish his sentence I was out
the door and jumping into my car. I was so frantic I thought I was
going to lose it; I quickly pulled out of the parking lot until the
main road and was on a desperate attempt to find
Derrick.

After much begging and
pleading at the hospital with the doctors they finally gave me an
address as to where to find Derrick. I drove a little way out of
the city to a lovely home that belonged to his grandmother and late
grandfather. I spotted the truck I normally saw Derrick in and was
happy to know he was home safe. I parked my Mercedes in the
driveway and slowly got out with my heart pounding every step I
took toward the door. I took deep breathes before knocking, not
really knowing what to say or why I was there but determined to see
this through. I knocked three times on the door before I heard
Derrick’s voice. “Who is it?” I opened my mouth to speak but the
words were just not coming out, it was like I had lost my voice or
something. “Who is it?” He repeated more sternly this time.
C’mon on Des say something
, I thought. I felt like a brick was in my throat and it
wouldn’t allow me to talk, my nervousness was getting the best of
me. It was not long before I heard his thunderous footsteps making
his way to the door. I stepped back as he opened the door roughly.
Derrick seemed surprised to see me there but that didn’t change the
annoyance that was on his face. “What are you doing
here?”

He asked less sternly but
still stern. I finally swallowed and looked him square in the eye.
“I…I heard about what happened and I wanted to see if you are ok.”
I tried to flash a nice smile at him but he still seemed
unwelcoming. “Well as you can see I’m just fucking peachy…” Derrick
turned back into the living room leaving the door open for me to
decide whether to come in or not. I gently closed the door behind
me as I made my way in. I looked around the house, I could tell it
belonged to an older lady; it was so nice and clean with a Martha
Stewart vibe and old perfume smell. I smiled when I saw pictures of
Derrick when he was younger, in one of the photos there was a man
standing next him that could have been his father if he wasn’t so
aged. Clearly it must have been his grandfather who appeared to be
full blood Native American with his long hair in one braid behind
his back. But one photo in particular held my focus; it was of a
young woman with a fair complexion, long dark hair, almond eyes,
and plump shaped lips. In her lap was a small child who looked more
like her than she probably ever realized.

“
My mother…” I turned and
realized Derrick was standing behind me. “That’s my mother…” He
said again pulling up a chair and sitting down. “I figured she
looks just like you.” I said with a nervous laugh. Derrick just
tilted back in his chair and stared at the ceiling as if he was
trying to figure something out in his head. I just watched for a
minute wondering what I could say to him to make him feel better.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” “Nope…” He said still
looking at the ceiling. I sighed then crazily giggled at the
situation. “You’re really not going to make this easy for me are
you?” Derrick finally brought his attention to me. “Make what easy
for you?” I just shook my head at his stubbornness. “Derrick I’m
sorry…” I finally came out and said. He looked at me and just
sighed.

“
No you’re not…and you
don’t have to be.”

“
I didn’t mean what I said,
I just was uneasy about our relationship.”

“
Look Destiny I really
don’t want to do this shit with you again…especially not
today.”

I walked closer to him
fiddling with the buckle of my purse. “Look I know I have been
playing hot and cold lately but I really want to see where this
goes….” “Well I don’t…” He said boldly. I felt like a knife was
thrown at my chest at the sound of his cruel words. “Were obviously
are two totally different people and I can’t deal with your ass any
more than you can deal with me so just…” Without a moment
hesitation I tackled him back and captured his mouth with mine. I
didn’t care what he said, I didn’t care what anyone else thought, I
wanted this man and I was going to have him. Our tongues continued
to mingle together building up the magic and passion that we
shared. Derrick finally stopped resisting me and soon picked me up
and took me to his bedroom. I laid down on the bed and watched him
as he removed his shirt and jeans along with boxers. My mouth went
dry once again focusing on the full length of his glorious manhood.
He smirked a bit looking at my expression and came down to me
slowly finding my mouth again.