Raging Blue (7 page)

Chapter 13

Blue

Blue arrived at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport with two hours to spare before her flight back home to New York. Getting through security was a breeze, leaving her with well over an hour to wait before boarding. She busied herself in the shops near the boarding gate to avoid thinking about her plight. Earlier that day
, she had painted a facade with foundation, eyeliner, and shadowy eyes, but when she looked in the mirror, her pain still managed to seep through the veil.

She
looked at the magazines in one of the shops and picked up a few to read during the flight home. The cover of her favorite fashion magazine caught her eye just as someone called her name. She hoped it was her imagination. She didn’t feel like playing masquerade. Blue’s eyes locked with Peyton King, wife of Kendrick King, who was a fellow NBA ball player and former friend of Jay. Peyton was smiling and waving wildly. Blue hoped Peyton wouldn’t see past the veneer she’d carefully constructed.

Peyton trotted toward Blue, excitement steering her forward. She pulled Blue into a warm embrace, and the sweetness of her fragrance charmed the air.

“Hey, honey! Long time no see. How have you been?” Peyton asked in her thick Southern drawl. “Are you on your way back home?” Peyton’s words linked together like a slow melody.

Peyton’s blue eyes sparkled, and her naturally curly blonde hair bounced as she smiled and pulled back to look Blue over. For a petite woman, Peyton’s sweet demeanor made her presence larger than life, and her warm smile was the picture of Southern hospitality.

“Give me some sugar, girl!” Peyton said as she leaned in, gave Blue another hug, and kissed her cheek.

“Hey, Peyton. It has been a while.” Blue smiled, genuinely happy to see her old friend.

Kendrick and Jay had played on the same team in Atlanta for a short while before Jay was traded to New York.

“Girl, what are you doing in Atlanta, and why didn’t you call me? We could have had dinner together,” Peyton said
, one hand on her hip. “Looking sharp as always on the outside. Not so hot on the inside, huh, baby girl? Your eyes are looking kind of worn,” Peyton surmised. “Want to talk about it?”

Blue turned from Peyton’s concerned countenance.

“There’s a lot going on. How’s Ken doing?” Blue asked, diverting the attention from her telling eyes.

“Oh, he’s doing just fine. He’s sending me to New York for a quick weekend getaway to do some shopping and get a little R and R. I can’t stand shopping with him, so I’m going first and he’s going to meet me out there in the morning so we can spend the rest of the weekend together. Things have been so crazy,” she said, stretching out the word “crazy” as she flipped her hand in the air. “Couldn’t wait to get out of Atlanta, even if it is just for a minute. I’m happy to say that life has gotten much better for Ken and me.”

“Wow, Peyton. I’m so happy to hear that. Too bad I can’t say the same for me and Jay,” Blue said and paused. She caught the look of concern in Peyton’s eyes. “Let me pay for these magazines, and we can get out of this store. How long before your flight? Maybe we can get a drink,” Blue offered.

“Honey, I got more than an hour before my flight takes off. Check your ticket,” Peyton said, examining her own ticket and then looking at Blue’s. “Well, looka here. We’re on the same flight. Maybe the agent can seat us together. I can ask.” Peyton paused for a moment
before continuing. “That’s if you want me to.”

“Works for me,” Blue replied, even though she preferred to sit alone.

The more she thought about it, she reasoned the company would do her some good. She would manage to avoid the vengeful thoughts that clouded her brain if she chatted with Peyton during the flight. Maybe the tears would stay at bay in the face of company.

Together they browsed a few more shops before sitting down for a bite to eat.

“So what’s up with Jay now, Blue? That look in your eyes tells it all,” Peyton asked as she pushed a French fry into her mouth and sipped on a Diet Coke.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Blue responded, not sure if she wanted to tell anything at all. She looked down at her tray of uneaten food and pushed her fries around.

“I know. Ken has put me through some crazy ordeals since we’ve been together. But, one day, things just changed.” An amazed expression appeared across Peyton’s face. “He stopped hanging out as much as he used to. I don’t hear any more crazy stories about him out there running around with all these different women. And can you believe that after all these years, he finally decides he wants to have some babies.” Peyton’s southern lilt laid heavily on her last sentence.

“Wow! What’s gotten into him?”

“I don’t know, but I hope this time its permanent. The funny thing is I’m not sure how to take it. I’ve lived with so much mess for so many years. I never really knew what it was like to have a real relationship with a man who was solely focused on me. Seeing all the other wives dealing with this same mess, I simply assumed it came with the territory. Now don’t get me wrong,” Peyton waved her hand, “we fought like cats and dogs. I may have accepted all his behavior, but I never really wanted to. It’s sad, but spending money was my solace. But now, I can finally say I am truly happy.”

Peyton’s smile made Blue happy and envious at the same time. Now that she and Jay were done for good, she’d never know the feeling Peyton just described. A lump grew in her throat as she sipped her drink.

“That’s good to hear. I wonder what triggered the change,” Blue said, her voice and thoughts trailing off.

“Oh!” Peyton said, like she just remembered something. “What’s up with your little heifer-friend?”

Blue busted out laughing. She knew Peyton was referring to Mia, whom she'd never liked.

“Is her conniving ass still living in your place here in Atlanta?” Peyton asked, taking another sip of her Diet Coke.

“Not anymore.”

“Good! Are you still friends?”

“Not anymore.”

“Whew! As my preacher-daddy would say, ‘There is a God!’ I knew it would only be a matter of time,” Peyton said, shaking her head and raising her hand in the air. “Let’s get our behinds to the gate,” she suggested, looking at her watch. “They should begin boarding our flight soon.”

Blue and Peyton grabbed their belongings, threw their trash in the bin, and headed to the gate. Peyton worked on the attendant and was able to get her and Blue’s first-class seats changed so they could sit next to each other.

“Let’s get back to heifer-girl,” Peyton said. “I hear she’s pregnant now. I just wonder whose husband that baby belongs to.”

Blue looked surprised. Did everyone know about Mia’s trysts but her?

“What makes you say that?” Blue asked.

“That woman has been through just about every man in every sport throughout Atlanta, including the sportscasters. When she’s done with that mattress, it needs to be burned!” Peyton said. “She went after Ken for a while. That’s when we fell out. I told her that she better sniff after someone else’s man. The wives can’t stand that girl. And the worse part about it, she would pretend to be your friend while sleeping with your husband. She’s so conniving.”

“Believe me,” Blue said, “I know what she’s capable of.”

Peyton’s eyes grew big. “No, Blue. Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, Peyton.”

“That bitch!” Peyton said, sitting taller in her seat and looking around to see if anyone heard her outburst. “I can’t believe that.” Peyton paused and shook her head. “And
you
…were truly her friend. I guess it’s true what they’re saying.”

“What are
they
saying?” Blue asked.

“Another one of her former friends––or rather one of her latest victims––said she thinks Mia got pregnant so she could collect a guaranteed check. You know all these men give her money. It’s because of them that she lives so well. That’s just crazy to me.”

It didn’t sound so crazy to Blue. Mia must have been in jeopardy of losing her lifestyle, so she decided to pull out all the stops. The baby could belong to Jay. Then again, it could be any one of the men she’d been sleeping with. Blue figured it out. If Mia’s baby belonged to Jay, then Mia could gain access to her and Jay’s money—actually her money. She'd just never expected to be a part of this wily scenario.

The flight attendants asked for their attention to communicate the flight’s safety precautions as Peyton continued to witness about Mia’s scandalous ways. Blue couldn’t focus on either. Her thoughts were consumed with the idea of being a target in Mia’s get-rich-for-eighteen-years scheme.

All of Atlanta had come to know what Mia was up to, but Blue didn’t live in Atlanta. How could she have ever known the truth all the way in New York?

Blue knew the truth now, though.

Chapter
14

Gavin

Gavin took a deep breath before dialing Lisa’s number. Ever since Blue’s call the night before, Lisa had been giving Gavin the cold shoulder. He'd
taken his conversation with Blue into the living room, but realized that didn’t look good. He didn’t want Lisa to think he was playing games with her just as their union was heating up.

“Hi,” Lisa answered casually, devoid of her usual enthusiasm.

“Hey. How are you?” Gavin asked cautiously.

He’d called her several times throughout the day, but after the first call, she'd ignored the rest. He recognized the clipped rings when his calls were being forced to voicemail. The fact that she answered this time surprised him a little.

“Fine.” The edge in her voice was ragged. She sucked her teeth in the receiver.

“What are you doing…later? I want to take you out to dinner. I know a nice sushi place. They have good food and a cool atmosphere. I can meet you at your job after work, and we can head over there together.”

“I don’t know,” Lisa said.

“Lisa, come on.” Gavin wasn’t interested in playing the game.

“What?” she asked.

“How long do you plan to keep this up?” he asked, getting bored with her act.

“Until you tell me what’s really going on with you and your damsel in distress,” she said with a drizzle of emotion and a typhoon of attitude.

“Finally! I got a rise out of you. Now what do you mean by
my
damsel in distress?”

“That was not the first time we’ve been together when she’s called and you forget
that I was there. After what we did last night, I don’t want to… I don’t feel like discussing this right now.”

Good!
Gavin thought. “Listen! It’s not what you think. Blue is my friend’s wife. They are going through something right now, and I’m just being a friend like I’ve always been.” Gavin drew himself in and huffed. “Are we going to dinner or what?” Gavin asked with a smile in his voice, hoping to lighten her mood. He didn’t feel like discussing Blue anymore. “What are you wearing?” he inquired, trying to change the subject.

“Why?”

“I just want to know.”

“Work clothes. What do you think? I’m at work, aren’t I?”

“Well, what are you wearing under those work clothes?” Gavin asked in a lower octave. He could almost hear her smile.

Lisa sucked her teeth but didn’t respond right away. Gavin could tell her tenacity was waning.

“Underwear. What do you think?” She said.

“Damn. Why!”

“Oh my goodness, I’m at work! What’s wrong with you? “She said through her titter.

Gavin was sure she was smiling.

“Well, I can’t take you out like that? You need to go home and get rid of those things. Don’t you know they’re bad for dates?”

Lisa shrieked. Gavin had successfully fused the icy distance between them with sexy banter. His load was heavy enough. There was no need to add the weight of Lisa’s reproach.

“I’ll pick you up at seven. Be ready. And remember, no underwear. They’re bad for your health!” Gavin said with mock concern. “Get sexy for your man. I’ll see you later.”

“Oh, my man, huh! Now you’re my man?”

Gavin wished he could take back those words. She’d read too far into his statement. Women always did.

“Just be ready at seven. I've got to run, so I’ll talk to you later,” he said, rushing off the phone, hoping that part of the conversation didn’t resurface.

“Well, don’t be late. Your
woman
will be waiting,” she replied.

He hung up without saying goodbye and then pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd listened to himself say the words “my woman.” It had sounded innocent enough to him, but he knew the words carried more weight when Lisa heard them. Gavin liked Lisa and hoped his ‘claim’ wouldn’t turn into an obstacle, along with the other thing that stood in his way. Gavin tried to force the second complication out of his thoughts. At least he tried to by attempting to refute the idea of being there for Blue.

Gavin didn’t want to abandon Blue in her time of need. He knew how much of a jerk Jay could be. She didn’t have many friends, and the one woman that she was closest to had betrayed her. She couldn’t reveal this mess to her family because of the possible repercussions. Her brother would surely end up in jail for retaliating on behalf of his sister. He was the only person in Blue’s corner. Either he would have to get Lisa to understand that or simply keep her in the dark about his interaction with Blue.