New Title 1 (23 page)

“
Sure,” Jordin said, but was wondering as well what he was going to say. Her wild mind ventured and she briefly hoped that he wouldn't tell Noelle anything that had to do with them and their growing friendship. Jordin felt horrible just thinking about how much time they had been spending together, what was she thinking? She enjoyed Julez and for some reason being around him made her happy, but this was her best friend's husband. And that was that.

As she grabbed McKenzie’s hand and headed for the door, she looked up at Noelle and saw that she looked worried. Her eyes traveled naturally to Julez's and she saw complexity all over his face. Jordin wondered what this talk would be about but she knew it wasn't her business. It was between wife and husband.

“
What's been going on, Noe?” Julez wasted no time.

Noelle shrugged nervously and bit her lip.

“
Nothing, baby...what's going on wit' you?”

Her voice was light, and sexy. Her face was beautiful. But she was rotten inside, she wondered if Julez could tell.

“
Come over here. Come sit next to your husband.”

Noelle's insides shuddered. She was scared to get next to him, she wondered if he would punch her in the mouth as soon as she sat down. However, she reluctantly took a seat on the bench with him.

“
What's up, baby? You scaring me papi.” Her words were more true than he could realize. Julez looked at his wife and shook his head before saying.

“
You know...you know I'm disappointed in you Noelle.”

This was it, she could feel her tears coming. She couldn't even respond.

“
I mean, you know I'd do anything for you mami. You know that, right?”

Noelle nodded and as her face became red with shame, she looked down at the ground. She felt like shit.

“
So, I mean, I'm not even comprehending the way you carrying yours right now, Noelle. You supposed to be my wife. I made you my
wife
.”

Noelle kept her head down and the tears began to run down her face, tickling her nose and meeting her lips. She trembled in sadness, pain, regret. Julez was a good man, like Kira had said, what
was
wrong with her?

“
I'm sorry,” she whispered.

“
I'm saying though, I don't even know how many times...”

So many times,
Noelle thought to herself as Julez continued.

“
I don't even know how many times..you...you actually came up here to visit a nigga. I see everybody more than I see you. My mother, your mother, Jordin...”

Noelle took a quick and deep breath of air as she realized what he was saying. Could it be? Could that be what this talk was about? Noelle looked over at him slowly and she could see that he was looking at her sincerely, yes disappointed, but not as hurt or as angry as she thought he was.

“
So...so that's what you wanted to talk about? 'Cause I don't come here often enough?” She held her breath for his response. When he nodded, she exhaled in relief.

“
Yeah ma. I mean I tried to say fuck it, and not bring it up. But it was fucking with me. I just didn't understand.”

An overwhelm of emotion came over Noelle as she reached over and hugged him tight, her tears falling down.

“
I'm so sorry Julez! I'm sorry...I know...I'm a bad wife.”

Julez was shocked, he could tell she was crying. She was holding on for dear life. This was not the Noelle he was used to. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back.

“
Ssh, it's okay ma. It's alright, it's not that serious.”

Noelle cried harder, guilty tears replaced by happy tears.

“
No, it is. It is Julez. And I'm gonna make it up to you. I promise.”

She kissed him on the lips and then nestled her head in his neck as she spoke softly. “I'm gonna be a good wife.”

“
She's crying.”

“
Get back over here, Kenzie,” Jordin ordered. “Come sit down and stop spying on your mother.” Jordin shook her head at her goddaughter although she wondered what Noelle could be crying about. She secretly appreciated the blow by blow from McKenzie.

McKenzie dragged her feet from the doorway of the gym and took a seat next to Jordin, popping open a bag of fruit snacks.

“
She's always crying now,” McKenzie whined.

Jordin was half way listening as she remained deep in thought about her own situation. She was alone, she couldn't believe that Slim had left her. And she was also battling a demon that she would have to destroy if she wanted to remain a good person, a demon of hidden lust. She tuned in McKenzie.

“
Huh? What you mean Kenzie?”

McKenzie sighed and popped in a strawberry fruit snack before proceeding.

“
She was crying last night, and now she's crying now. And uncle Slim had to pat her like daddy's doing now.”

Jordin's stomach twisted slightly as she spoke. She needed clarity.

“
What do you mean, when did you see uncle Slim, McKenzie?”

“
Last night.”

“
And he was with mommy?”

“
Yeah...”

Jordin furrowed her brows in confusion, Slim had left. She urged McKenzie to explain to her what she had seen because it just didn't make sense.

McKenzie looked up innocently at Jordin and told the story of the night before.

“
Daddy!”

Silence.

“
Daddy!”

“
Mommy!”

No response. A long pause, and then...

“
Jordin! Jordin!”

Still nothing.

McKenzie let out a sigh of frustration before overcoming her serious debate. It was dark, the night lite was not on. No one was answering her, she was striking out like crazy, but she had to pee.

Although she was scared of the bad man who had shot her daddy coming back to shoot her, she was even more scared of what her mother would do to her if she peed in the bed on her expensive mattress again. She heard Julez's voice in her head telling her to 'man up' and that 'there's nothing in the dark that's not in the light'. She took a deep breath and slowly threw her chubby legs over her pink sleigh bed.

“
Everything in the dark, is in the light,” she whispered, standing up and walking slowly.

“
Everything in the dark, is in the light. Man up,” she said to herself. “Man up,” she repeated trying to mimic Julez's deep voice. She missed him.

McKenzie crept through her door and out into the hall, and before she knew it, she had made it to the bathroom. She was incredibly proud of herself as she relieved her little bladder and thought of just making it back to the bed. Flushing the toilet, she hit the switch and moved swiftly back down the hall. She passed Jordin's room and saw that she was out cold.
Boy oh boy if those monsters were real Auntie Jordin sure couldn't save me.

Just as she had passed the stairs, almost at her doorway, she heard muffled cries. McKenzie halted and stared down the steps, her little heart racing.

“
Mommy,” she called.

The more she listened, the more she recognized her mother's voice. She began tip toeing down the stairs to make sure that everything was okay. What if the bad man had come back for her mommy?

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Slim had Noelle on the counter, feet dangling and crying out in passion. She was trying to be quiet, but it was so good, too damn good, she had missed him since he had moved out.

“
Oh, Slim,” she whispered. “Oh it feels so good, papi. Ooh shit, ooh I love you.” As Slim continued to move in and out of her, Noelle couldn't help this horrible part of her that got off on Jordin upstairs sleeping while Slim fucked her brains out. She didn't want her to catch them, but it did add to the excitement. Slim hit another spot that made her moan and he brought his mouth to hers to silence her with a kiss.

“
Mmm,” she moaned as her nut coated his dick. Her pregnant pussy was extra wet for Slim and he couldn't get enough. He brought his mouth to her ear and told her for the hundredth time.

“
Damn mami, I love you. I wish you would just have my baby, Noe. I'll take care of you, just have my baby.”

Noelle's dilemma, along with the orgasmic sex, brought tears to her eyes as she continued to allow her body to be pleasured. So lost in contemplation and sexing, neither of them heard the tiny feet creeping up behind them.

McKenzie rubbed her eyes, trying to see through the dark. Her instincts, even those of a child, told her they were doing the grown up stuff, but her mind wouldn't allow her to believe it. Because mommy could only do that with daddy, so there had to be an explanation.

“
Mommy,” she whimpered, sounding wounded.

They immediately stopped moving together and Noelle hopped off of the counter and ran up to McKenzie. McKenzie couldn't see in the dark how frightened Noelle's face was and she definitely didn't know how fast her mother's heart was beating. She couldn't even see Slim fixing his pants and buckle with his back still turned to her.

“
Heyyy baby, what are you doing up?” Noelle asked, sounding way too normal. McKenzie didn't answer that question, she had questions of her own.

“
Uncle Slim? What are you doing here? I thought you had a new house?”

“
He does Kenzie,” Noelle shot back before Slim could respond. “He just came by to get some stuff he forgot, that's all. Go back to bed sweetie.”

McKenzie stood there reluctantly. Her stomach turned because she just knew that she had witnessed something that her young eyes should not have. But she didn't have proof.

“
But why...Mommy, why were you making those sounds? Like uhh, ahh, ooh...”

Slim shook his head to keep from laughing, he found the situation a little humorous. But Noelle did not see anything funny at all.

“
McKenzie!” She said in a harsh whisper, not wanting to wake Jordin. “I was not making those noises. You're still sleepy little girl. I was...I was crying. And Uncle Slim was just trying to calm me down, that's all. I was crying, mama.”

McKenzie remained silent as she contemplated on what her mother said. Maybe she was crying, maybe that's why Uncle Slim was rubbing her and stuff and they were all close to each other. She accepted the answer and retreated back to bed, but even as she stood telling Jordin the story, a small part of her knew there was a little more to it.

“
What were you and Slim doing downstairs last night?”

Dropped. Like a free fall. That's what happened to Noelle's heart when Jordin busted through the gym doors with those words on her tongue.

“
Huh?”

“
Last night,” Jordin replied rapidly, walking swiftly up to Noelle with McKenzie heavy on her heels. “Kenzie says she came downstairs and you two were down there, you told her you were crying?”

Noelle stood up off of the bench and looked at Jordin like she was crazy, then she glanced down at Julez who was also waiting on her response. Now was the time to give her best Academy performance.
Play it cool, Noelle. Play it cool.

“
Uhm, yeah...I was. I was upset about something, and he was downstairs. He had come by to get something, I was already down there...I had come to get some water. And then...yeah, he came by to get some stuff, that's all. Kenzie came down and saw us just as he had come in.”

“
But you said-” McKenzie started.

“
Yeah, baby,” Noelle said, cutting McKenzie off and wrapping her in a tight hug. “Yeah, I know I said I was crying. I was. I was upset about some things.”

“
Some things like what?” Julez asked, his voice sounding peculiar. Jordin just remained silent as she just stared at Noelle, but more like through her.