Player Haters (12 page)

I glanced at Mimi before I lied. “Nah, I’m not over there.”

“Good. Why don’t you meet me at the Roadhouse before you do something stupid and lose your family?”

His words were a quick dose of reality. I was so angry at Diane that I wasn’t thinking straight. If Mimi had said the word, I would’ve been in bed with her in a New York minute. But Kyle’s words reminded me that I at least owed my family the effort to work this out. “All right. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I hung up.

I could see Mimi still wanted an answer to her question. But she wasn’t gonna get one now. I needed to talk to my boy. Sort things through. If I had talked to him first I never would have come over here.

“Look, Mimi, thanks for the drink, but I gotta go.” I put down the glass.

“You sure? You never answered my question.” She looked disappointed.

“I know. But I can’t deal with this right now, Mimi. I have to get my shit together and decide if this marriage is gonna last.” I turned and walked toward the door. She followed me and opened it.

“You know what, Wil? I think the real reason you never acted on your feelings is because you were afraid of what my answer would be.” She placed her hands on my shoulders. “Well, this is what my answer would be.” She pulled my head down toward hers and kissed me. My mouth opened for her tongue, and we stood in her doorway making out like two horny teenagers. I guess Diane was right after all. Mimi did like me.

I had just taken a quick bath and dried myself off before rubbing White Diamonds lotion all over my body. Once I was all lotioned up I slipped into a sheer black negligee and posed in the mirror. I looked pretty damn good if I did say so myself. Usually I spend over an hour in the bathroom preparing myself for bed, but tonight I cut things short because I had company waiting for me in my bedroom. God, just the thought of getting some was making me moist. So I hurried into my bedroom.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” I smiled bashfully, striking another pose as I entered my bedroom. He was still lying naked in the same spot I had left him. I dimmed the lights, trying to shake off the nervousness I was feeling. When I finally calmed down I walked over to the CD player and hit the “play” button. A few seconds later Alicia Keys’s “Falling” filled the room. Swaying erotically, I made my way over to the bed.

I had never been much for foreplay so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Reaching across the bed, I gently took hold of him, rubbing my thumb along his smooth, mushroom head. Little Wil was much bigger than I would have given him credit for, and all I could do was smile as I ran my hand along his long, thick shaft. He was the kinda brother a big-boned sister loved, because he had enough dick to hit it from the back or let you climb aboard and ride it from the top.

I climbed over top of him, positioning him right between my legs. Taking a long, deep breath, I closed my eyes and slid downward onto him. I couldn’t help it. I moaned his name for the entire building to hear when he hit the bottom. Now that’s what I call some dick.

I must have hit the right buttons, ’cause he was jumping around like a man on a mission. I rode him for the better part of twenty minutes, and I’m not ashamed to say I screamed his name quite a few more times. I’d always been a very orgasmic woman, but the way he was moving around inside me had taken me to new heights. I was on the verge of busting one of those once-every-blue-moon super nuts but unfortunately the phone rang, breaking my concentration.

“Damn it! Hold on, baby,” I whispered, but he wouldn’t stop and I really didn’t want him to. I had to answer the phone, though, because it was probably my sister, Keisha, or her husband, Antoine. They were watching my son, Tyrell. I hadn’t checked in with them since I went to pay Miss Marge a visit. I was on my way to pick him up when Wil knocked on the door. After that I completely forgot about everything else. So reluctantly I slid off him and ran into the kitchen to answer the phone, praying that he would still be in the mood when I returned.

“Hello?”

“Mimi?” It was my sister, Keisha, just like I thought.

“What you want, Keisha? Is Tyrell all right?”

“Yeah, he’s fine, and what you mean what do I want? I thought you was coming to get this boy.”

“To be honest with you, Keisha, something came up and I had to run out. Do you really need me to come get him right now?”

“No, it’s too late now. He’s in the bed ’sleep with Tony. Just bring some eggs and bacon in the morning when you come over.”

Thank God,
I thought.

“Maxine, you all right? You sound like you’ve been running or fighting. Oh, Lord. Harris isn’t over there, is he?” Harris was Tyrell’s father.

“No, he’s not. I haven’t heard from him since he brought my car back the other day.” I hesitated for a second, because I wanted to tease my sister and tell her what was going on. She was a pain in the ass, but we were close like that. “But if you must know, Mrs. Keisha, I’m about to hang this phone up and finish getting my groove on. Bye!” I hung the phone up and before I could count to five it was ringing again.

“Hello?”

“Maxine Natasha Graves, don’t you hang this phone up like that without telling me who’s over there.” I loved it when I had her dangling on a string. “Now who is it?”

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me, anyway.”

“Dear Lord, it’s your new boss, isn’t it? What’s his name? Wil?” Keisha exhaled through the phone. I let my silence be my answer, but my grin was so big she could probably see it through the phone. “Mimi, what is wrong with you? Aren’t you ever gonna learn from your mistakes?”

My smile turned upside down. “What do you mean, what’s wrong with me? I thought you liked Wil.”

“I did until I found out he was married.”

“Who told you that?” I hated when Keisha snooped around my business. Unfortunately she made a habit of it.

“Don’t act like you didn’t know. Antoine told me he saw Wil’s wedding ring when he dropped you off last week.”

“Okay, yeah, I know he’s married, but so what? He’s gettin’ a divorce.”

I could hear Keisha sigh skeptically. “And you believe him?”

“Yeah,” I said weakly. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“What are you, the stupidest woman in Queens? Damn, Mimi, didn’t you learn anything after what happened with Philip? Leave these married men alone.”

“I don’t wanna talk about Philip, Keisha.”

“Okay, then, let’s talk about this Wil. He told you he was getting a divorce?”

“No, but I know he is. Trust me, Keisha. His wife’s a real bitch. You know, she won’t even have sex with him. As fine as that man is, she won’t have sex with him.”

“I can see why, if he’s fooling around with his secretary. She’s probably worried about catching something. Are you using protection?”

I got silent. I never even thought about using protection.

“Oh, my God. Maxine, this is not a good idea. That man is going to hurt you.”

“No, he’s not, Keisha! His wife is the one who’s gonna be hurt. He’s going to love me. And you’re wrong. This is a good idea. I never felt like this about anyone before. You should see the way he looks at me. The man wants me and I want him. Why shouldn’t we be together?”

“Because the man’s married, Maxine. That’s why.”

“So what? You never know. Maybe his wife will have an accident and die like Philip’s wife.” The line went silent for a second and I was afraid she’d hung up.

“Don’t play, Maxine. That’s nothing to play with. You hear me? People don’t just have accidents.”

“That’s not what the Nassau County D.A. said,” I told her confidently.

“Maybe, but you still didn’t get Philip, did you?”

“Fuck you, Keisha.”

“Look, have you been taking your medicine? Maybe I should call Doctor Stanley.”

“Will you stop with this medicine shit? I’m sick of you always trying to tell me to take my medicine. I don’t need that medicine. I’m not sick. I’m just in love. God, why can’t you stop hatin’ and just be happy for me?”

“I’m not hating, Maxine. I’m worried. I’m worried that you’re making more out of your relationship with Wil than it is. I’m worried that your mind is playing tricks on you like it did before, and you’re confusing a one-night stand with a long-term commitment.”

“I don’t wanna hear that shit. If you don’t have nothin’ good to say then don’t say nothin’ at all.”

I hung up the phone and walked back into the bedroom, shutting the door. I could hear the phone ringing in the background, then Keisha’s voice on the answering machine begging me to pick up. I wasn’t about to go back and answer it. I had shit to do. I was still horny and was hoping Wil was, too. Unfortunately, he was far from being turned on. He was lying on the bed motionless, probably pissed off that I just jumped up without a word. I walked over to the bed and shook him.

“Wil, come on, baby. Get up. I’m sorry. Momma wants some more.”

He didn’t even budge. Damn, I should have never left him turned on like that. I should have just handled my business and called my sister back later when we were finished. At least then I wouldn’t have to go buy new batteries. I looked down at the new lifelike vibrator that I’d affectionately named Little Wil and threw it across the room.

My sister was right about one thing. I needed to take my medication, because my mind was playing tricks on me. For a while there I thought I was with Wil and not some battery-operated rubber toy. I still don’t understand why the real Wil left me to go be with his friend after the way I kissed him. I mean, damn, it was obvious he liked it. Didn’t he understand that we were meant to be? That I was sick of playing with toys and wanted the real thing?

No, it wasn’t his fault. I couldn’t blame this on him, not after the way he kissed me tonight. It was his wife’s fault. She was the one who was in my way. As long as she was in the picture he’d never be able to concentrate on us without worrying about her. So it was time to take her out the picture. I walked over to my dresser and picked up a photo of Wil and his wife that I’d stolen from his desk. I ripped the picture in half so that the two of them were separated. First I taped Wil’s half to my mirror, then I took out a lighter and lit his wife’s half on fire.

Watching her disappear into flames I whispered, “Good-bye, Diane. I’ll take good care of Wil and the kids.”

It had been a long time since I’d been to Michelle’s house in Hollis, Queens. It felt strange walking up her steps and knocking on the door, because at one time I had a key. Back then I came and went as I pleased and nobody questioned me.

“Who is it?” Michelle’s mother asked through the door.

“It’s Trent, Mrs. Williams. Is Michelle home?”

“Who?” she yelled back.

“It’s Trent!” I repeated a little louder.

“That’s what I thought you said!” The door flew open after a few more seconds, and there was Michelle’s mother, Rita, holding a black cast-iron frying pan.

“What the fuck do you want, you no good piece o’ shit? If you don’t get off my steps, I’m gonna bust your head wide open!” Rita spat angrily, backing me down the steps as she waved the frying pan. Both her tone and her attitude surprised the hell outta me because Rita and I had been real close after Michelle’s father died four years ago. Hell, I paid for his funeral. Well, at least this married woman I was messing with did. The way Rita was pointing and flaring at me with that frying pan, you woulda thought she wanted me dead. Then again, maybe she did. I guess she didn’t take very well to me leaving her daughter in that delivery room alone that night.

“How you doing, Mrs. Williams? How has life been treating you?” I tried to act polite as I backed away from her. I mean, after all, she did have a reason to be upset with me. But I was coming over there to get all that straightened out. So that she and everybody else would leave me alone.

“Don’t you ‘how you doing’ me, you son of a bitch. Not after what you put my baby through.” She swung the frying pan and hit the railing on the steps. It echoed loudly, and I was glad she’d connected with the steps instead of me.

“Now, Mrs. Williams, why don’t you put down that frying pan before someone gets hurt?” I had to jump away in a panic as she swung again. “Someone like me!”

“Git your ass off my property!”

I scrambled to her gate, opened it and ran through. I closed the gate behind me just in time. Rita stood on one side huffing and puffing while I stood on the other side, watching the frying pan.

“What you doing here, Trent?” She was trying to catch her breath.

“I came to see Michelle. Is she home?”

“What you want with her? I’m not gonna let you break my baby’s heart again. You hear me?”

“I’m not trying to break her heart, Mrs. Williams. Honest. I’m just here because she asked me to stop by.” Rita glanced at me skeptically. It’s funny, now that she stopped trying to beat my head in with that frying pan, I could see Michelle in her mother. Rita was an attractive woman to be in her fifties and she and her daughter both had the same hazel eyes that attracted me to Michelle in the first place.

“You know, Trent, I used to like you. I used to like you a lot. But what you did to my baby in that delivery room was the coldest thing I’ve ever seen. Your own momma talks bad about you.”

“Well, Mrs. Williams, I’m sorry you and Momma feel that way. But Michelle knows the deal. She knows that baby’s not mine.”

“That baby’s name is Marcus and he is your son.” I could see the anger in her eyes as she tightened her grip on the frying pan. So I took a step back, keeping myself at arm’s distance from her. “Go on and get outta here, Trent, before I knock you in the head with this thing. Michelle don’t need you. You already said the baby ain’t yours. Besides, she’s got a new boyfriend now and a new life.”

“I need to see Michelle, Mrs. Williams,” I told her defiantly.

“I’m not letting you on my property.”

“Then call her out here. What I got to say won’t take long.” I guess she could see I wasn’t going away easily, because she turned toward the house and yelled, “Michelle! Michelle! Get out here!”

“Damn, Momma, you ain’t gotta yell. You gonna wake up the b—” When Michelle poked her head out the doorway she stopped dead in her tracks, then pointed. “What’s he doing here?”

Rita looked at her daughter, then turned to me. “He said you told him to stop by.”

“No! I told him to come see his son. And that was almost a month ago.”

“He just told me Marcus isn’t his son.” Rita twisted her lips as she rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, well, Momma, Trent says a lot of things but we both know he’s
full o’ shit.
Now come on up here and watch Marcus for me while I talk to his daddy.”

“Don’t you come on my fucking property! You hear?” Rita waved the frying pan at me, then walked toward her daughter, trying to shove it in her hand. “Here, if he lays one foot on my property, knock his ass out. And don’t let him leave without giving you some money.”

“I don’t need that, but don’t worry. He gonna give me some money,” Michelle stated flatly before she approached me.

She might not have come near me if she’d noticed the way I’d been staring at her ever since she poked her head out the door. And the closer she got the more I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I hadn’t seen Michelle in over eight months and just the sight of her brought back feelings I’d been trying to suppress. I felt like a little kid. There was something about that girl that just did things to me. Like Big Mike said, “You know you love her.” I guess deep down, I really did.

“What the fuck do you want, Trent? And why you staring at me like that?” I guess she did notice.

I took a breath, trying to retain my cool composure. “I forgot how pretty you were, Michelle. Motherhood agrees with you.”

She sucked her teeth. “Yeah, well I wish father-hood agreed with you. Did you bring any money for your son?” She placed one hand on her hip and the other one out like she wanted me to put money in it. She really was insistent on this son crap, wasn’t she? “I brought some money to take you out. Why don’t we head over to Ghetto Seafood? They’re having Lobsterfest.”

“Nigga, please!” She sucked her teeth. “I got a man. And he’s about to come over here and take me out to City Island, not some cheap ass Red Lobster. Now, can I have some money for your son?” She stuck her hand out again.

“You’re not going out with that chump ass Ray, are you?”

“The only chump I see is the one who’s not taking care of his baby. Any idea who that could be?” She smirked.

“Michelle, Ray is just using you.”

“Please, Trent. Let’s not talk about using people. You used me for years.”

“I ain’t use you,” I replied adamantly.

“Yes, you did, Trent. You cheated on me our entire relationship. I was just too stupid to see it. Love will do that to you sometimes.”

“Michelle, I never cheated on—”

“Don’t, Trent. Don’t!” She lifted her hand, cutting me off. “You know the one thing you find out about a relationship once you break up with someone, Trent?”

I just stared at her. I didn’t answer ’cause I didn’t know what the fuck she was talking about.

“Dirt! You find out all the dirt. All the dirt nobody wanted to tell you because they didn’t wanna hurt your feelings or didn’t think you’d believe them or didn’t wanna get involved because they didn’t think you cared. The funny thing is, even though you’re broken up with the person, it hurts even more because you realize how stupid you were.”

“Michelle, I never cheated on you. Them people out there are just hating. And I’m telling you, that nigga Ray, he’s gonna fuck you over. He’s no good.”

“Well, at least he brings Pampers when he comes by. I don’t see you with anything in your hands.”

“I don’t give a damn how many diapers he brings over!” I pointed a finger at her. “I’m not gonna let him fuck over my girl!”

“Your girl?” Her eyes got wide. “I’m not your girl! I stopped being you girl the day you walked out that delivery room.”

“You’re always gonna be my girl, Michelle.” I took a step closer to the fence and stroked her face gently. She leaned her head in the direction of my hand. She always loved when I stroked her face. “I love you, Michelle. And you know you love me. Don’t you?”

A smile flickered across her face but she quickly replaced it with a frown. “Trent, I…” She hesitated before continuing. “I just want you to take care of your son.”

I didn’t reply but I did exhale purposely, showing my frustration with her mentioning her kid.

“You should see him. He looks just like you.”

“Too bad he don’t look like you. ’Cause you’re beautiful.” I reached out and touched her face again. This time she moved her face away.

“Stop trying to flirt with me, Trent. I want you to see your son.” Michelle turned toward the house. It was very obvious now that I wasn’t the only one who was getting frustrated and impatient with our present conversation. “Momma, bring Marcus out here!”

“Michelle, I love you. But you know that baby’s not mine.”

“I’m sick of fighting with you about this, Trent. Take a look at him, then tell me he’s not yours.”

Rita came out the house carrying what was not such a little boy over her shoulder. I know he was eight months, but for some reason I thought he would be much smaller. Even from a distance, he wasn’t as dark as I thought he was. He was more the color of a caramel than the chocolate bar I’d expected. I still hadn’t seen his face until Rita handed him to Michelle, glaring at me the entire time.

“Marcus, this is your daddy.” Michelle turned him toward me and I had to do a double take. That boy looked just like me. I mean he was the spitting imagine of the baby picture my mother kept on the mantel in her house.

She was right; there was no doubt about it, he was my son.

I glanced at Michelle and she smirked. “I told you he was your son.”