Broken (Endurance) (38 page)

"No, just words, but it was funny and by the end of it we were all laughing," Max said, peeling off his sweaty T-shirt and throwing it in the hamper. "Did you eat yet?" Max asked, walking past his wife to the bathroom.

"No... not yet." Mei gently dried off her son while she stood him next to the bed.

"Well, Tamarius is throwing a bachelor party for Dad tonight. I figured me and you, maybe baby, could go get something to eat and hang out before."

"Yeah, I think Makayla is throwing a party for Cressida so it would be cool."

"I need to be back before eight to get ready."

"Okay, I think we’re leaving later, but that will be good," Mei replied. "That’ll give me time to get him ready for bed so Anna won't have too much of a hard time with him."

Mei dressed her son as he fell asleep for a nap. She laid him in his crib, asking Max to watch over him while she got ready. After getting dressed they all left for lunch, stopping off to get Uriel for his very first professional haircut.

In Max's tradition they didn’t believe in giving babies haircuts under one year old. Max and Mei waited, giving him his first haircut on his first birthday. This being Uriel's first professional haircut was pure drama for Mei and Max. They had to fight him to get him to sit in the chair. It eventually got done, but Uriel stayed in his father's arms.

They returned home just in time to be a part of the chaos. Anna greeted Mei at the door, taking Uriel out of her arms. "Don't worry. I will take care of him. Go get ready."

"Thank you, Anna," Mei said as she kissed her son on his cheek.

"Max, get ready," Tamarius said as he passed by, stopping to kiss his little nephew.

"Where are we going?" Max asked.

"Ah, this really cool place. I'll tell you on the way."

The men left before the ladies, eager to get the bachelor party going. Max was happy that Nelson and David could come along, knowing they wouldn't want to miss it. Max got into the limo and sat next to his uncle.  "Hey, where are we going?" Max asked.

"They built this new club in town. It’s upscale and classy; kind of a cross between a strip club and a night club. It's called, Club Ice," Tamarius said.

"Does Makayla know?" Maxwell asked.

"I don't think I would be sitting here if she did," Tamarius replied.

"Ooo!" Everyone yelled then laughed at each other.

"We will all be at your funeral tomorrow," Maxwell said.

"Don't worry, I think I will be buried next to you," Max replied.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Hickey." Tamarius laughed. "I'm not helping you this time."

Max laughed to himself. "I still can't remember that night," he mumbled.

"Did you ever figure out who did that to you?" Tamarius questioned, already knowing the answer to the question.

"No," Max responded.

"Taisha."

"Taisha Ledell?"

"That's the one."

Max was speechless as he thought back to that night. He’d never realized the extent she was willing to go to to stop his wedding. Max's mind quickly ran to Mei. Did she know? he wondered.

***

Mei stood in front a full length mirror wearing a black mini dress with gold and black high heels. She placed her hand over her stomach. "In a few months I will not be able to wear this dress," she said to herself.

Makayla knocked on the door. "Come in," Mei called out. "Hey, girl, you ready?" Makayla asked as she walked to Mei. "I'm freaking hungry."

"Yeah, you better eat before you drink tonight," Mei replied.

"I know or I’ll be on the floor." Makayla began to look at her outfit in the mirror. "I swear I gained like ten pounds."

"Yeah, I wasn't going to say anything." Mei giggled.

"I blame that man," Makayla said.

Mei laughed as she grabbed her purse. "Is Cressida ready?"

"Yeah, she’s downstairs with Cora and Jasmine. Let’s go." Makayla headed out the door.

All the ladies looked stunning wearing outfits that would get them stares all night long. When they arrived at the club Makayla met with the club owner who led them to the private room she had requested earlier that week.

They walked past another bachelor party already in progress. They could hear the men in there laughing loudly. It brought a smile to Makayla's heart as it reminded her o
f Tamarius'
signature laugh.

"Here we are ladies. I tried to switch your room with another party, but the staff told me you’d requested this room?" the manager questioned.

"It didn't matter." Makayla smiled while everyone walked into the room and headed straight for the buffet table which was filled with all sorts of food and bottles of champagne.

"If you need anything there is a house phone in your room."

"Thank you," Makayla said, smiling at him.

The manager left the room and made sure to take a good last look at all the women. He grinned, delightfully liking what he was seeing. Makayla walked over to Cressida. She took her hand and walked her to the center of the room beside the stripper pole.

"Please tell me this is not where you tell me to swing this pole." Cressida laughed.

Makayla laughed. "No, crazy, I hired a stripper to do that."

"Serious, you do know our men will kill us." Cressida smiled.

"I know." Makayla smiled back.

"Oh, death wish... gotcha," Cressida replied.

"It's your bachelorette party. I want you to enjoy it."

"Makayla, I didn't pick a maid of honor for my wedding. Would you do the honors?"

"Really?  You want me? I would be honored," Makayla said, giving Cressida a hug.

Mei pulled out a chair from the corner and placed it behind Cressida. "Have a seat. The show is about to begin," Makayla said.

"I'm scared." Cressida laughed. She sat down and Mei placed a blindfold over her eyes.

Jasmine and Cora found a seat next to Mei. "This is going to be fun," Jasmine said to Mei.

"I know. Makayla planned it out," Mei replied.

"How is the baby?" Jasmine asked.

"He's getting big." Mei smiled.

"How is Max handling fatherhood?"

"Max is a good father and husband. I got lucky."

"We all did." Jasmine smiled and looked at Cressida who sat, anxiously fidgeting with her hands while Makayla left the room to find out why the stripper was taking so long.

"Speak for yourself, Mom," Cora replied.

"Cora, give that boy a chance. He still calls the house every day," Jasmine said to her daughter.

"I just can't stop being mad at him," Cora replied.

"Cora, maybe you’re mad at yourself for still loving him," Mei stated.

Mei's words struck a cord with her. She was mad, but lately it had shifted. She still loved Nelson. It was getting harder to return his unopened letters. Cora even turned him away when he tried to visit her at college two weekends in a row. It hurt her, but she figured eventually he would just give up.

Makayla was on her way back from speaking with the manager. She wanted to meet the dancer who would be performing for them. Dressed in a cheesy Viking costume with long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, he was tall and muscular and would put on a great show. 

As Makayla passed the room before theirs, a dancer walked out giving Makayla peek inside. She laughed as she caught a glimpse of a man getting an unwanted lap dance. But she froze when she realized the man was Tamarius.

When Tamarius pushed the unwanted dancer off his thighs, he glanced up and saw Makayla.  Surprise reflected in his eyes a brief second before the door closed on his gaze.

Makayla took off to her room. The dancer waited outside for her to announce him.

Makayla leaned against the door to catch her breath and calm herself down. She decided she would not tell the girls their men were right next door. She pushed open the door and sauntered in.  "Okay, ladies, get ready." Makayla tried to sound excited. She turned around as she heard a knock at the door and two men arguing. She opened the door to see her husband and the Viking dancer ready to fight. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

"Tamarius!" Makayla yelled, grabbing her husband
'
s arm.

"Hey, beautiful," Tamarius said, quickly dropping his arm and pulling Makayla close to him.

"You know this jerk?" The male dancer asked.

Makayla stood in front of Tamarius as he prepared to leap forward. "They are ready. You can go ahead," Makayla told the dancer.

"You’re not coming?" He grinned as he winked at Makayla then glanced up at Tamarius who was giving him the dirtiest look. He walked into the room and began his performance.

Makayla turned around and took a step away from Tamarius. "Just go back to your room and enjoy your party and try not to get pink eye," Makayla snapped, not looking at him.

"Makayla, I didn't want that..."

"I know," Makayla said, cutting him off. She turned away and entered the room.

Tamarius banged his head back against the wall before returning to his room. The rest of the night was spent with Tamarius trying to figure out what was happening in the room next door. He tried to use his telepathic abilities, but Makayla would not respond to him.  It was one in the morning when everyone had had enough. They headed out to the valet and waited for their limo to be pulled around.

"Is that my wife?" Max asked, as he watched Mei being stopped by a guy who seemed to be trying to pick her up. Max couldn't control the smile that rose across his face. Mei looked beautiful wearing a black mini dress. Her hair was up in a long pony tail and she wore gold bangles and hoop earrings with black and gold shoes. She held her wedding finger up in the guys face and he let go and stepped back.

Makayla and Cressida came into view along with Cora and Jasmine. Men seemed to be swarming around them as they waited for their limo. Max started to walk towards them when Tamarius stopped him.

"Where are you going?" Tamarius asked.

"Those guys are swarming Mei and Makayla."

"What?" Tamarius looked at Max as he stormed off then turned in the direction he was heading.  Some guy was trying to pick up Mei.

Nelson passed them both when he spotted a drunk guy trying to take Cora's hand. The entire group was over there, stepping behind each of the girls. Nelson stepped in between Cora and the drunk man who didn't seem to understand the word ‘no’. Nelson glared at him. "You need to leave," he growled.

"Why can't I ask her?" The man swayed as he spoke and tried to step around Nelson.

"I said leave!" Nelson yelled.

"Hey, sexy," the man said, grabbing Cora's arm and yanking her roughly.

Nelson grabbed the man by the collar and punched him in his face, knocking him to the ground.  He quickly grabbed Cora, stopping her from being tossed down with the drunk man.