My Sister's Ex (32 page)

“Beautiful Girl, what’s with the bad attitude? I didn’t even get a hug, a kiss, nothing.” He laughs to himself like something is funny.

I roll my eyes and turn over so that I’m facing the other wall. I feel his eyes boring a hole in me. Then I hear the sound of his shoes being kicked off his feet. He unzips his slacks and they crumple to the ground in a heap.

“Can I lie next to you, please?”

I don’t say anything. He slides in the bed and places his arm around my waist. I feel his big lips touching the back of my neck. Small little I’m-sorry pecks that sprout tiny bumps on my skin.

“Jeff, no, stop.” I scoot over and ask him to remove his arm from my waist.

“Are you sure?”

I just sigh. He removes his hand from me and turns around to face the opposite wall. Minutes later I hear him snoring. I quietly slide out of the bed and tiptoe all the way around till I reach his slacks. I pick them up and tiptoe out of the room. I go to the kitchen, turn on the stove light, and start rummaging through all his pockets. Leather wallet filled with cash, four sets of keys, and six quarters in one pocket. The other has two cell phones. One I recognize. One I don’t.

I click a button so I may view the phone’s call record, but there’s a lock on it.

“That infuriates me,” I mumble to myself. I tap on keys and punch in several four-digit combinations (his date of birth, his home address, and the last four digits of his cell number) hoping to crack his code, but none of them does the trick. Just when I’m ready to return to my bedroom, the phone starts vibrating. It feels like an electric razor is buzzing between my hands. The caller’s name flashes on the display screen: Felicia.

Who the heck is Felicia?

I place his phone and other stuff back in his pocket and return to my room. I get back in bed, which causes Jeff to stir around in bed. He reaches over until his fingers come in contact with my leg. He starts making a tiny circle on my thigh with his index finger.

I stiffen and say in a steely voice, “Please don’t do that. I’m tired.”

“I am, too. But I can give you something that will give you a burst of energy.”

“Jeff, please.” I shift over in bed so that my back is facing him.

I feel him press himself against my shoulders. His body feels warm and cozy.

“Can I have some booty?”

“You have a lot of nerve.”

Jeff maneuvers his body until he’s sitting up in bed. He reaches over and turns on the lamp. “Why are you acting like this? You haven’t been acting yourself tonight.”

“I told you that I’m tired.”

“Okay, I’m exhausted myself. I had a long-ass day.”

I finally sit up, too. “No, I don’t mean physically tired. I am tired of you, period.” I hop out of bed and grab Jeff’s slacks, holding them up.

“Here,” I say and toss his slacks directly at him. They fall right on top of his head. “I don’t want you in my bed. So go on and get dressed … and get out.” I am so angry it’s like I don’t have any other emotions. I feel so dead inside. Maybe that’s what it’s going to take to get him out of my life.

Jeff pulls his pants off his head and stares at me, looking hurt and confused. “Little Mama. What’s gotten into you?”

“Who’s Felicia?”

“What?”

“I asked, who is Felicia? Why is she calling? Why are you so secretive?”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Why do you have a second cell phone?”

“What?” He snatches up his pants and starts getting dressed. “You’ve been snooping in my stuff again? I told you about that insecure shit.” Once he gets fully dressed he continues sitting on my bed like he’s daring me to say something.

“Jeff, I don’t feel comfortable with your being here right now. I think you should leave.”

“You don’t tell me what to do!”

“Well, I just did, Jeff.” My voice is loud but calm. “This is my house and as long as you’re in it, I’m going to tell you what to do.”

“Marlene, you’re crazy!”

“No,
you
are. You’ve been sneaking around behind my back—”

“Psycho bitch.”

I jump in his face and point toward the door. “Get out, Jeff. Now!”

He stares at me with such dislike that I feel like pushing him out of the room until he’s totally out of the apartment.

“Did you hear me?” I ask.

“Did you hear
me
? Well, in case you didn’t, let me say it clear. One, you don’t raise your voice at me. Two, I’m tired of you nagging me out, questioning my every move. I’m a grown-ass man, dammit. I can do whatever the hell I want to do. As far as I know I haven’t put a fucking ring on your finger.”

“Leave, asshole.”

“That’s it,” he sputters. “If you don’t apologize for acting like a nut, don’t expect to hear from me or see me again.”

“The day I apologize to you will be the day you apologize to me. You’ve been rude, disrespectful, lying to me, dating other women.” I am so upset that I feel myself breathing unevenly.

“There she goes again, talking crazy. Oh, am I dating Felicia? For your info, Felicia is a potential tenant, okay? She lives out of town and is looking for a place to stay.”

“Whatever. I don’t care anymore.”

“I don’t care anymore, either.” He gives me one last piercing look and walks out of my room. I don’t exhale until I hear the front door slam shut.

— 19 —
RACHEL

This Situation Needs Handling

I’m deep in sleep
, comfortably resting in my bed when my bedroom lights come on and I hear Marlene screaming at me.

“Rachel, get up. Jeff just left here and my purse is missing. My wallet, credit cards, driver’s license, cell phone. I know he has it.”

“Girl, what happened?” I hop out of the bed and look for a shirt and some blue jeans.

“He came by, girl, trying to do some booty-call mess, and I wasn’t having it.”

“Oh, okay,” I say, “you were actually able to resist him?”

“Girl, yes. Loretta told me that a smart woman uses sex to her advantage. That we don’t have to give it up every single time to a man just because he wants it. Well, this time I didn’t want it, and he definitely didn’t deserve it.”

“I guess he’s trying to pay you back by taking your belongings, huh? That is so wrong. Jeff is such an ass. I hate to say it, but all he cares about is himself.”

“Exactly. I may have looked at his cell phone a few times, but I’ve never thought about actually taking it. That’s stealing. He’s gone too far.”

“Let me call your cell phone.” I grab my own phone and dial Marlene’s number. It rings twice, then Jeff answers. “Hello, there.”

“Hi, Jeff,” I say calmly, even though I want to scream. “So you
did
take my sister’s phone. Why’d you do that?” I ask, trying to sound sweet and rational.

“I want her to know how it feels to be violated. She intentionally goes through my things. My pants pockets. You never did anything like that. I kind of regret hooking up with your sister. She’s as lame as they come. Nothing like you, Rachel.”

“I see, well, yeah, she probably shouldn’t have done all that. But, um, can I meet you somewhere so you can return her purse? Where are you now?”

It’s three in the morning. I’m sleepy and my eyelids are so heavy I probably look like I’m high on drugs. But he’s messing with my sister, and this situation needs handling regardless of how tired I am.

“I’m around the way. But I say we let her suffer.” He laughs. “What you think about that?”

“Oh, Jeff, be nice, okay. She’s sorry. She didn’t mean to go through your things. She’s just the curious type. Now, tell me where we can meet up so I can get her purse and phone, and we can forget this ever happened.”

“I’m not thinking about that girl. I’m not thinking about any girl. All y’all have issues.”

I don’t say a word. Let Jeff do all the talking. The more he opens up his mouth, the more I’ll find out everything I need to know.

Marlene leaves the room. I am fully dressed and ready to go, but I have no idea where to start, or where he could be.

“Women play games. They’re teases. Did you know that, Rach?”

“Well, every woman doesn’t know how to treat a man like yourself, Jeff. You’re in an altogether different league.”

“Yeah, you’re right. You know, I think you’re the only woman who really understood me and had my back. You never nagged me about my real estate stuff.”

What’s he talking about? Yes, I did
.

“You acted secure. Had your own thing going. I guess you just weren’t ready to jump that broom with a brotha. But I would have waited for you, Rachel. As long as you wanted to wait.” His voice catches. “I would have waited for you, only you, my dear Rachel.”

“That’s so sweet, Jeff. Maybe we can talk about this. Would you like to do that? Let’s meet at our spot. Do you know the place I’m talking about?” I grab my purse and jacket and turn off my bedroom light. When I get to the living room, Marlene is pacing the floor. She sees me gesture at her, and we leave the apartment together.

The night is chilly, and I can see white clouds hovering over the early morning sky. The stars are blinking brightly in the night, and it sounds so quiet right now it’s like we’re deep in the country.

“Jeff, we can talk about things and take care of unfinished business—”

“What do you mean?” His voice is sharp, cautious.

“Um, I mean that this is our time to straighten out any issues we’ve had. Air out our differences and make sure we part as friends, good friends. No hard feelings.”

“Hmm, okay. I am a bit hungry. It’s been a long, stressful evening.”

I keep talking to Jeff and listening to him say random things. Marlene and I get in my car, and I start the engine. Soon I’m on Highway 6. But one mile before I get to my destination, I pull over to an empty parking lot and let the car
idle. I make little sounds like I’m listening to Jeff talk, but I also signal to Marlene. I open up my purse. Right on top is a Taser gun that I got at a pawn shop last night. Even though I learned a few tips through my self-defense class, I’m not sure I totally know how to use it, but that doesn’t concern me. The second I get Marlene’s stuff from Jeff, I’m going to try my best to use the gun on him. I want to hear him scream like he’s never screamed before.

“Jeff, can I put you on hold for a second? Don’t hang up. I’m almost there.” I press the mute button and look at Marlene. “Okay, girl, here’s our chance. I hate to do this, but we’ve got to make Jeff suffer for everything he’s done. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, I do. I’m pissed at him, hurt by his actions. He disrespected me big time, and I won’t stand for it. I’ve never been treated so rudely by a man in my life. Never again.”

“I’m with you.”

Before I can reconnect with Jeff, Marlene touches my hand and gives me a small grin, “Thanks, Sis.”

“No problem. Now recline your seat all the way back so Jeff won’t see you. I don’t want him to know I’m up to something. You’ll have to sit tight while I handle things.”

I get Jeff back on the line. “Are you at Waffle House yet? Oh, I can’t wait to get some coffee, some of those grits, bacon. It’ll be like the good ole days.”

“Yeah.” He pauses. “Do you know I still have your ring in my pocket? That I never stopped loving you, Rachel?”

I wait to hear what else he has to say.

“Yeah, so, it’s like I’m carrying you around with me. Not like I got anybody else to carry around with me,” he says and laughs bitterly. “Yep, your sister is fucked up. She’s a fat fuck, but you know, it was my first time with a big girl. Big girls need love too, ya know?”

I grit my teeth and make a right turn, slowly driving into the Waffle House parking lot. There are a few cars in the lot, and the tiny restaurant is lit up. I drive all the way to the end of the lot and back into my space so I can monitor the area. Soon Jeff’s Mach 1 pulls into the lot. He flashes his lights at me. His car slowly creeps through the lot. I can tell he’s about to park at an angle, something he always does.

That pisses me off. The more I think about how possessive he is over a car, the madder I get. Why am I going through this? Trying to sweet talk him into giving me my sister’s purse. If it weren’t for both of them, I wouldn’t be in this mess. And seeing Jeff makes my stomach churn when I imagine how he put his lips on my mother. How dare he! I think about how badly he treated me and the anger I’ve felt lately even from the racial incidents that have happened. The lady who ignored me in the pharmacy, the waitress at the restaurant who accused me of being cheap. Who the hell does everyone think they are?

I glance at Marlene, who is leaning back in her seat. I reach in my purse and feel around until my fingers grab the Taser gun. Jeff steps out of the car. He’s carrying Marlene’s purse. He stands there. Looks like he’s reaching for his cell phone. I place the Taser gun in my jacket pocket and get out of the car but leave the keys in the ignition. Marlene sits up slightly so she can see what’s happening.

I start taking slow, measured steps toward Jeff. His cell is pressed against his ear. I see he’s on the phone, and I wonder who he’s talking to at this ungodly hour. He’s standing next to his car. His precious car. I walk a few steps in his direction and watch him. Take another step and wait a couple minutes to see if he’s going to eventually get off the phone. After a while I hear rubber burning. It sounds loud, like screeching
tires. Suddenly an SUV whips out of the parking space next to my car. It rocks wildly and heads straight for Jeff.

Jeff looks up and yells, “Nooo, Felicia.” He drops his phone. The driver of the SUV jumps out of the car and rolls on the ground. The SUV plunges directly into Ella, knocking it two spaces over. Soon I hear explosions. A tower of fire roars up and engulfs Jeff’s car. Jeff screams, “Nooo,” and runs right into the flames.

My legs hurriedly move toward the car. “No, Jeff, stay back. Noooo!” More explosions. I stop running. Bloodcurdling screams fill the air. Yelling and cursing and agony. The fire and smoke climb the air. The smell of death clogs my nose. The worst smell I’ve ever encountered in my life. Someone runs outside from the Waffle House. “Call the police,” he yells. I can’t move. I can’t think. I see a figure fall to the ground, next to the car. Remnants of cash dance in the fumes. Pieces of debris fly about. I fall to my knees. Close my eyes. Think about how Jeffrey Williams just lost his money, his car, and all his women.