Read Unraveled - A Short Story Collective Online
Authors: KR Bankston
Unraveled - A Short Story Collective (12 page)
“You stay the fuck away from Chriss,” he angrily told Lathan as he was escorted outside.
Devon got into his car headed to Lathan’s to remove his stuff. He’d rent a room for a week or two while he found a place. He called Chrissalyn after he’d packed and she invited him over. He didn’t tell her anything about his conversation or altercation with Lathan. Devon sighed contentedly, as he held her in his arms while they slept. Lathan was still furious from earlier. He’d discovered Devon’s things gone when he’d gotten back to the condo. He sighed deeply not surprised, but saddened nonetheless.
Damn, this is so messed up,
He thought as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. He’d tried to call Chrissalyn but got her answering machine.
Feeling completely sorry for himself, he’d made another call. Lathan sighed deeply as he entered his bedroom and lay down beside her. She immediately stirred and put her arms around him.
“You okay?” she asked softly.
Lathan was in pain and all he wanted was pain relief, as he began kissing her, touching her body gently. She immediately responded and they made love, their bodies intertwining and her moaning her pleasure, as Lathan’s mind shut down and his animal lust took over, bringing him the release he desired and the sleep he desperately sought.
“Mm, that was wonderful as usual,” she murmured softly as he kissed her gently once more, and they both drifted off into their own lost consciousness.
12
"G
irl I'm so excited about tomorrow night," Alisha told Kina as they ate lunch. Kina loved Fridays and today was no exception. It was casual day and they got to wear jeans, which made work just a little more tolerable. She too was excited about Saturday night, for an entirely different set of reasons.
"Why?" Kina threw back trying to pick Alisha for information. "It's just another office function with a bunch of phony ass folks," she added for good measure.
Alisha chuckled lightly before answering her. "Trust me, its gonna be a great night, full of surprises," Alisha told her friend mischievously.
Kina almost burst into laughter thinking just how right Alisha was. "What are you up to girl?" Kina tried again.
Alisha giggled again and told her she just had to wait and see.
"You bought something new?" Kina asked giving up on getting any information out of Alisha.
"Yeah, I bought this sexy red number, with the matching shoes," Alisha told her, "I’ll be looking good as hell, girl," she added confidently.
Kina simply grunted as she continued to eat.
"You bought something?" Alisha asked back and Kina told her no, she had several nice outfits in her closet and would simply wear one of those.
"So am I finally gonna meet your mystery man?" Alisha asked giving Kina a look.
She'd been slightly offended that Kina hadn't introduced her to her new boyfriend before now, but dismissed it, not wanting to cause any undue drama between herself and her best friend.
"Yeah, I guess you will, considering he's coming with me," Kina chuckled, her other plans for Saturday immediately coming to mind. Yes this was definitely going to be a night to remember for everyone involved.
"Come on girl, our lunch is over," Alisha told Kina as she rose. "And I don't want nothing making me stay here longer today, I got things to do tonight," she added laughing once more as Kina smiled back.
"Yeah me too," she replied, wickedly plotting ahead to making sure her plans for tomorrow were still secure.
Alisha smiled at Lathan as she passed his office. He simply lowered his head and went back to his work.
After tomorrow you and I will be on track again
, Alisha thought. Lathan sighed deeply after she'd passed. It was Friday and he still hadn't told her it was over between them. He'd decided not to rock the boat until Saturday at the employee appreciation gala. He would put up with her until everything was over and then he would tell her on his way to drop her off at home. That way any scene would only be between the two of them, not the entire company.
Lathan knew if he told her today, she would make his life miserable tomorrow. Alisha was very prone to public outbursts and Lathan was trying to be as discreet at possible. He still had to work with the people at the company and he didn't want Alisha's stupidity to damage his reputation and cost him respect among his co-workers.
Thank goodness Chriss won't be there
, Lathan thought to himself, the small of ray of light shining in his mind. There was no way she would understand or believe he was breaking up with Alisha if she saw them arrive together at the event. He was only taking Alisha because he'd promised well before he'd talked to Chrissalyn. Lathan sighed again thinking about his friendship with Devon. He hadn't
talked to his friend since their fight. Devon either ignored his calls or answered and hung up on him. Lathan sighed again simply ready to have all the drama over and be with the woman he loved.
His phone ringing broke his thought. "Hey, Wassup," the caller greeted him.
“Nothing much,” Lathan returned.
"Oh, sorry" they laughed and Lathan chuckled with them.
"You free Saturday? There's 2 for 1 drinks over at Harrigan's," the caller asked. Lathan told them he was sorry but he already had plans. "Oh it's cool, maybe next time" they replied and ended the call.
Lathan rose and left his office heading for the break room. Alisha noticed the slight smile on his face and immediately frowned having a pretty good idea who he'd been talking too.
Calm your nerves girl, tomorrow is your night
, she told herself breathing deeply to push the anger away.
*****
"What'd you decide on?" Devon asked Chrissalyn as they relaxed together.
It'd been a long day at work today and he'd relished coming over and spending time with her. She'd made dinner and he'd enjoyed as usual.
"I'll show it to you," she replied instead of telling him and rose, heading to her bedroom. Chrissalyn returned moments later with the dress in her hands. "See," she told him as she unzipped the garment bag.
Devon looked at the dress and smiled, telling her how much he liked it. It was cerulean blue, halter back, deep V plunge and sequined. The sequins sparkled and made the dress come alive.
"Mm, I bet you're gonna look real good in that," Devon told Chrissalyn as he imagined her in it. Chrissalyn smiled and told him thanks.
"Sure, wassup?" Chrissalyn returned waiting for him to speak again.
"Do you ever think you could bring yourself to love me, like you love Lathan?" he asked calmly.
Chrissalyn was completely astonished at the question.
"Devon, I honestly don't know how to answer that right now," she told him earnestly.
Devon smiled slightly and told her it was fine. They didn't have to talk about it right now. "I'm just glad you agreed to come with me tomorrow," he told her as he kissed her softly.
Chrissalyn smiled. "I'm sure the crew will be there, so I'll definitely have a good time," she added and Devon told her he was sure it would be a night to remember.
"Did you get settled?" Chrissalyn asked.
Devon shared his move with her, not the circumstance though. He simply told her he felt he needed his own space. "Yeah, I'm pretty settled," Devon replied. "You wanna come see it?" he asked and Chrissalyn told him sure. Devon thought as they headed to his place. Chrissalyn made him happy but she couldn't see past all the drama that was Lathan. That would all change after tomorrow night though, he surmised.
"We're here," Devon announced shaking his thoughts for now. Once inside Chrissalyn took in the decor. He'd bought a dark teal grouping and accented it with hints of black, white, and fuchsia. The room was relaxing stimulating all at once.
"Want something to drink?" he asked amiably and Chrissalyn accepted.
She sat deep in thought as Devon prepared their drinks her mind still pondering the question he'd asked her earlier. Truth was she cared very deeply for Devon. She supposed she could fall in love with him just as deeply as she loved Lathan if she gave herself that chance, but it was a moot issue now considering Lathan was ending his relationship with Alisha so they could be together. Chrissalyn sighed gently and pushed the thoughts away as Devon returned and they began to talk again.
"You can stay over you know," Devon told Chrissalyn never taking his eyes from hers. Chrissalyn chuckled slightly and told him that was fine, as long as he promised to take her home early. Devon laughingly agreed and they went back to their conversation.
*****
"You take care of that business?" Sammy fired at Alisha as they talked. He hadn't heard from her in a few days, so he'd called.
Alisha sighed gently and gathered herself. She had to tread carefully right now. She was too close to her goal to allow Sammy to mess it up now.
"Tomorrow night," she replied and heard Sammy suck his teeth.
"I gave you time, why the fuck you ain't do it earlier this week?" he threw at her growing angry again.
"Because I knew we had this event to go to, and Lathan would have been acting stupid with all our co-workers there," Alisha lied.
Lathan was very private and she knew wouldn't cause a scene, not that she had any intention of breaking up with him anyway.
"Yeah, whatever" Sammy told her and Alisha hurriedly began trying to defuse his anger.
"Baby, please, I know its been hard, but I'm trying for real," she told him using her sweetest tone.
"I think you tryna play my ass is what I think," Sammy told her still not budging an inch. Alisha tried again.
"Sammy, you know I love you baby," she told him. "I'm just tryna do this right so none of it comes back on me at work, ya know what I mean?" she finished.
She heard him sigh deeply and hoped it meant he was calming down some. "I need you to be with me tonight," Sammy told her, his tone no nonsense.
Alisha knew exactly what that meant. She didn't want to sleep with Sammy again but she had to do something to appease him and keep his mouth shut until tomorrow. "OK baby, I'm on my way over," Alisha returned keeping her voice light in spite of the annoyance she felt.
"Pick up some beer," he ordered and disconnected.
"Shit, this cannot be over soon enough," she murmured to herself grabbing her bag and throwing in some clothes. She would leave Sammy's and go straight to her hair appointment in the morning.
Lathan baby, the things I'm doing for our love
, she thought to herself as she closed and locked her door heading over to Sammy's.
Sammy was thinking about his conversation with Alisha.
She thinks I'm playing still
, he thought angrily. He was a man of his word and obviously Alisha had forgotten that. He took another deep breath and relaxed. She was on her way over and he didn't want her to know he didn't believe the lies she'd told him earlier. Sammy had plans of his own. He knew Alisha didn't want to be with him anymore and was simply pacifying him to keep her indiscretions a secret.
Well, I might not have her, but her ass is gonna be sorry as hell she ever crossed me
, Sammy thought ominously as he heard her car pull into the driveway.
13
“H
ey Lathan,” Jackie greeted him as they talked.
He’d called this morning to see if she needed anything while he was out picking up his suit from the cleaners.
“No, I picked up everything yesterday,” Jackie replied. “I’ll see you tonight,” she added and Lathan told her that was fine as they disconnected.
He picked up his suit and stopped by the mall to pick up new cologne he’d gotten a whiff of yesterday. Lathan couldn’t explain it, but he had a deep knot deep in the recesses of his gut. As far as he knew everything was fine.
He’d talked to Chrissalyn earlier and she had been cordial as they conversed. Even though he hadn’t wanted to, he’d even talked to Alisha who was of course thrilled about tonight.
Hope her dumb ass don’t get all sloppy drunk and embarrass me
, Lathan thought sighing deeply as he made his purchase. With that last bit of business taken care of, he headed back to his car still deep in thought. He barely noticed Devon until he was almost well past him headed into the store he’d just left.
“Wassup man?” Lathan ventured trying to be civil with his friend.
Devon turned and regarded him for a moment before returning his greeting.
“You comin’ tonight?” Lathan asked.
Devon almost smiled at the thought of tonight but managed to control himself. “Yeah, I’ll be there” he replied instead.
Lathan grunted slightly and nodded he understood. Devon hurriedly ended the encounter by throwing up a peace symbol at him and turning away.
Lathan sighed gently after Devon’s departure. It was still awkward but at least they’d spoken.
Maybe tonight at the party he’ll loosen up
, Lathan thought again. Actually tonight would probably end his friendship with Devon permanently, considering he would end it with Alisha once and for all, finally allowing him and Chrissalyn to be together. Lathan pushed all the thoughts out of his mind and concentrated on making it through the party, and through what he knew was going to be one hellacious scene with Alisha when he broke the news that he wanted out. As he headed down GA 400, Lathan turned the CD up to blast and sang along, increasing the cars speed and trying to distance himself from the demons that were currently tormenting him.
*****
“I want it be swept up in the front, but down in the back” Alisha was giving instruction to her hairdresser.
She’d added just a couple of tracks to the back of her hair to give it a little more length and a temporary rinse for color. She knew Lathan didn’t really care for weave but she figured with only a couple of pieces he wouldn’t mind that much. Thinking of him made Alisha smile to herself again thinking of her plans for the evening.
This is going to be a night he’ll never forget
, she chuckled slightly before her mind opened the door she’d tried hard to keep locked, and Sammy appeared. Alisha sighed deeply. He’d called her earlier this morning and threatened her once again. She’d finally been able to calm him down and get him to relax and believe that she was actually going to end her relationship with Lathan tonight. Alisha had a plan but in order for it to work, she needed Sammy occupied for the evening. She’d sent him on a fool’s errand for her, swearing it was an urgent matter that had to be taken care of today. She had him moving furniture from one storage unit to another because if it weren’t moved they would sell it.
Of course, Sammy didn’t know it was a lie, so he agreed to do it. Alisha knew the amount of furniture; boxes and miscellaneous goods in the unit would keep him more than occupied. She’d told him the storage facility wouldn’t let him in until after 4 p.m. That way she was assured that Sammy would still be moving furniture well into the gala celebration hours. Alisha smiled to herself with satisfaction that she’d covered all her bases.
After tonight and her plan being put into action, it wouldn’t matter what Sammy came to Lathan rambling about. Their relationship would be cemented and he would simply come off as the jealous ex that Lathan already thought of him as.
“Come on, dryer time,” the stylist told Alisha, breaking her out of her thoughts. She obediently rose and followed the woman to the dryer, sitting down as the hood was placed over her rollers.
Tonight Lathan, tonight is the night
, She thought smiling once more.
*****
Chrissalyn was leaving the hair salon when her cell rang.
"Hey beautiful," Devon greeted her cheerfully causing a huge smile to spill onto her face.
"Hey Devon, Wassup," she returned.
He told her he'd just returned from the mall picking up some last minute stuff for tonight. "You ready to get your party on?" he teased and Chrissalyn told him she was.
"Don't forget to take your geritol," she teased and Devon burst into laughter.
"Oh that sounds like a challenge missy," he replied and she laughed telling him to bring it on.
They enjoyed cheerful conversation for a few moments more before Devon's line beeped and he told her he'd call her later.
Chrissalyn was still chuckling thinking about their conversation as she drove to the store. She needed to do a little grocery shopping this morning. Her mind inevitably fell on Lathan and whether he had actually ended things with Alisha yet. He'd called and left her a message the other evening but she hadn't been moved to call him back.
Tonight is it,
Chrissalyn thought to herself.