Scandalicious (20 page)

“I can dig it. It’s all good. We don’t have to put labels on nothing, baby.”

“I know. Let’s just live in the moment, and enjoy the time we spend together.” Solay knew from experience that the minute she got too comfortable, the most beautiful situation could turn ugly. She had a string of bad romances, and so whatever she and Deon had going on was too good to mess up with labels.

“Damn, I don’t wanna get outta bed, but I gotta piss.” Deon threw his legs off the bed and stood up. Solay had to avert her gaze or she’d be all over him—stroking his curved dick while licking his sexy-ass tattoo. She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Why you closing your eyes like that?”

“If I look at you, it’s gonna be a wrap.” She sniggered.

“Look, don’t put nothing else on. Stay just like that. I’ma piss right quick and then I’ma beat that pussy up.”

“Nooo,” she hollered as he walked past her.

He came out of the bathroom. “Ready?”

“We can’t, Deon. I don’t have enough time. I have a rush order. It’s getting picked up in a few hours. My baking assistant has to handle all the other work by herself.”

“Aye, I’ma get outta your way. I don’t even know why I’m acting all stupid like I’m in high school. This ain’t even my style.”

“Well, I like the way you act, but I’m in a rush this morning. Okay, Deon?”

“Yeah, ma. It’s all good.” They smiled at each other for a long moment.

“Am I going to see you tonight?” she ventured to ask, feeling brave enough to deal with rejection.

“Do you wanna see me tonight?”

“Hell, yeah.”

She had skidded around the kitchen, frantically trying to get the order ready for a birthday party at an adult day center. A 100th birthday celebration. Miraculously, Solay had pulled it off. Late nights spent with Deon was really starting to affect her productivity. She had to figure out a way to juggle her business and her love life. She could use some rest tonight, but she also wanted to be with him.

By three o’clock, the lunchtime rush was over and Solay was finally able to sit down for a moment and catch her breath. She checked her cell, looking for texts from Deon, but there weren’t any. Disappointment hit hard. He usually texted at least three or four times a day.

She heard the jingle of the doorbell and sighed. Vidal would have to handle the trickle of late-afternoon patrons by himself. Solay didn’t have an ounce of energy left.

“They’re beautiful. For me?” she heard Vidal squeal.

“They’re for Solay Dandridge. Can you sign here?”

“No one ever thinks about me,” Vidal complained.

Solay looked at Melanee with questioning eyes. Melanee responded with a shrug and continued wiping down the counters and tables, puttering around the kitchen without any interest in anything outside of her inner world. But Solay was curious. She eased off the stool. Before she made it out of the kitchen, Vidal pushed through the kitchen door, carrying a huge bouquet.

“If thug loving gets you all this, I must be doing something wrong.” Sighing, he placed the vase on top of a table.

Solay gaped at the gorgeous flower arrangement. She ripped open the tiny envelope and silently read the message inside.
Just a lil’ something to brighten your day!

“What’s it say?” Vidal asked impatiently.

“That’s personal.” She tucked the card inside the pocket of her apron.

“Well, who sent ’em—a grateful client?”

“No, they’re from Deon,” Solay responded, breaking into a big smile.

“It’s like that between y’all?” Vidal looked both surprised and somewhat miffed.

Beaming, Solay nodded her head.

Vidal fanned his face. “Whew, Lawd! Now I’m starting to become a believer of all those dire 2012 predictions. Any time ruffians have started sending elegant flowers, I know this world is about to come to an end.”

Listening to Vidal had Solay’s shoulders jerking with laughter as she texted her thanks to Deon. Vidal was such a comedian, even Melanee was giggling.

Tomorrow was going to be just as hectic. The woman from the mural event was coming to sample cupcakes…again! Throughout the day, Solay had debated whether or not she should cancel getting together with Deon tonight. Bone-tired and weary, her body was demanding a full night’s sleep.

After she closed and locked up the shop, she called Deon. “Hey, I should have called you earlier, but I kept debating with myself. Listen, I have to cancel tonight. I’m sorry, Deon, but I’m really beat.”

“Yeah, I feel you on that. I’m being selfish and not taking into consideration how many hours you have to put in.”

“Thanks for being so understanding.”

“I have to be. I gotta realize that it’s not all about me and what I want. You calling the shots, baby. All you gotta do is let me know when…and I’m there.”

“My sleeping habits are more like an older person than a twenty-six-year-old woman. I wish you could come over and just hold me while I go to sleep.”

“I wish I could, too. Times like this is when a foot massage is necessary. I could do that for you and then lightly rub that ass ’til you drop off to sleep, but who am I fooling—I know I can’t control myself. My dick gets stupid when it’s around you—won’t stay inside my drawers.”

Solay laughed; she was flattered.

“My dick acts like it has adult ADHD. I be tryna keep it from wandering outta my drawers—I get it in a chokehold and I be like—‘Yo, what I say? Settle down. Stop fuckin’ with her.’ But the minute I close my eyes, my dick is standing up straight, tryna start some shit. True story, baby. I’m innocent. My dick is crazy.”

She laughed harder. “Oh, my God, you’re so funny.” Solay needed a good laugh.

Deon’s voice took on a serious tone. “Next time we get together, I’ma make sure that I rock you to sleep by eleven o’clock. No more keeping you up until the wee hours. True story, baby.”

“That’s thoughtful.” She wore a wide smile of appreciation.

“So get yourself some rest, okay, baby? And I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Good night, Deon.”

B
y nine-thirty Solay was calling it a night. She raised the window in her bedroom, letting in the chilled autumn breeze that would lull her into a peaceful sleep. Under the covers, she let her mind drift. A million fleeting thoughts filled her head, until her thoughts settled on Deon. She clicked on the bedside light to get one last look at the enormous bouquet of lilies, roses, snapdragons, and elegant tulips before she went to sleep. Set in the center of the dresser, the romantic flower arrangement faced her, promising a night filled with sweet dreams.

Solay rose a few hours before dawn, fully rejuvenated. It was a pleasure to go through her morning routine at a leisurely pace. All that skidding around her apartment in a race against the clock, had taken a toll. But the downside to feeling invigorated was that she missed Deon like crazy. She missed waking up cuddled next to him. She wondered how he felt having to sleep without his arm wrapped around her. She knew that he was knocked out cold at this hour of the morning, but before she could talk herself out of it, she picked up her phone and sent him a text with a heart emoticon before and after the words,
I miss you.

She held her phone for a long moment, secretly hoping to hear the ping of a return message from him.
What am I doing?
Deon wasn’t the kind of man a woman should get too attached to. His profession prevented that. For all she knew, he could be lying up with someone right now.

Furthermore, what would she tell family and friends about his
occupation? There was no way to explain it. Since it wasn’t possible to take their relationship to the next level, why was she putting in so much time and effort with him?

While she showered, Solay reasoned that it would be wise to put some space between her and Deon. It was time to start weaning herself off of him. They were supposed to be only fuck buddies, but something had changed along the way, and now she had to lay down some ground rules before one of them got hurt.

There was no joy in her heart as she went through her daily routine. She usually baked with a passion, but not today. Going through the motions, she whipped and blended ingredients, dreading having to tell Deon that whatever it was that they were doing, was over. Well, not over…but drastically changed. She hadn’t signed up for a boyfriend when she’d called Rent-A-Man, and she only had herself to blame for confusing lust and passion for something that could evolve into a meaningful relationship. She started to call Deon and tell him what was on her mind, but that was an immature way to handle the situation. Acting like a mature woman, she texted Deon, telling him that she needed to see him tonight to discuss an important matter.

In her small but cozy living room, Deon set his helmet on the bookcase and then bear-hugged Solay. She tried to hug him with the same intensity, but didn’t pull it off.

“What’s wrong?” Deon asked, after releasing her. His expression went from bafflement to enlightenment. “I know you didn’t ask me to come over here so you could tell me, deuces?”

“Not exactly.”

“Aye, whassup?” He took a seat on the couch and looked at Solay intently.

It was extremely uncomfortable for Solay to voice her concerns; she had to force herself to be completely honest. “Deon, I know that we’ve been having a good time and everything. And I’ve caught feelings for you.”

“Same here,” he admitted.

“This isn’t easy for me because I dig you. I really do. But I think we need to slow down, and think about what we’re doing.”

“I thought we were on the same page. What’s wrong? Are you afraid of being happy…is that why you suddenly want to pump the brakes on us?”

“I did some self-analysis, and came to terms with the fact that being young and female, it’s in my nature to view the men that I get involved with as potential mates—husband material—father of my children.” She laughed nervously.

“Wow! You took it there?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“I gotta give you credit for keeping it one hundred.”

“So, that’s the dilemma I’m facing. We’re getting really close. But there’s no future for us.” She paused for a beat. “You know, as a serious couple.”

He scowled. “Why isn’t there? I can have children; I’m not sterile.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean…the man I get serious about should be someone that I can rely on. Someone who is career-oriented and financially stable. The kind of work you do, Deon…that’s not something that I can tell my mother.”

He moistened his lips and looked down. Solay had struck a nerve.

“I’m sorry, Deon. I wasn’t trying to be hurtful.”

“I know you’re not. But what you don’t realize is that I’ve cut back on the amount of clients that I deal with. The work I do with the agency ain’t always about sex, you know.”

“I know, you told me that you mainly escort career women to important events, but that’s still not the kind of work that I can openly discuss with my family.”

“Babe…” He let out a sigh. “I do other things. A lot of my money comes from personal training.”

“How do you find those clients?” She hated putting him on the spot, and getting all up in his business, but it was best to learn all she could about Deon and his clients—now as opposed to later.