Life After a Balla (21 page)

The receptionist looked up at Skye and turned up her nose then looked back at the computer screen.

“Well, today’s visit has to be paid before I can set up anymore appointments.”

“Not a problem. I’m going to pay with cash.”

“Today’s visit was $700.00,” the receptionist informed. It was almost as if she expected Skye not to have the money.

Skye threw her brand new Balenciaga purse on the counter, reached inside and pulled out a stack of money. She peeled off some of the bills.

“Here’s $4000.00. That should cover her bill for today and the next couple therapy sessions. Now schedule her appointments so I can get out of here and go shopping please,” Skye said.

The receptionist looked at Skye once more before counting the money and passing her a receipt. It felt good to be able to pay her daughter’s bill this time.

“What time do you prefer, morning or afternoon appointments, Mrs…I mean Skye?” Her entire attitude had changed.

“Mornings, please. I usually like to schedule my spa appointments in the afternoon,” Skye said, rubbing her new found status in the woman’s face.

The receptionist continued to look in the computer before printing off Payton’s monthly schedule and handed it to Skye. “Thanks, we’ll see you next week.”

Skye gave her a fake smile and headed out the door. However, before they could leave the building she was surprised to see Cruze walking toward them.

“What are you doing here?” Skye asked.

Payton instantly lit up when she saw Cruze. She smiled and reached out for him.

He grabbed her from Skye’s arms. “Hey, pretty girl, I missed you,” he said, kissing Payton on the cheek. He looked at Skye. “I’ve missed you, too,” Cruze uttered with a sad appearance.

Skye rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “How did you know where I was… are you stalking me?”

Cruze chuckled, “No, Jordan told me where you were. I was hoping to take you to lunch so we could talk.”

I’m going to kill Jordan
, she thought. “Hey, I just thought about something. Have you talked to Kareem? He called me about an hour ago and asked for your number.”

“No, not at all. What did he wanna talk about?”

“I don’t know, he wouldn’t say.” Skye rubbed the back of her neck where a brick of tension had suddenly formed.

“I’m not hungry and there’s nothing to talk about.”

As Cruze stared at her, their eyes locked. Skye could see the regret and knew that another apology was approaching.

“I’m sorry that I hurt you, Skye. You have no idea the pain I’ve felt over these past few weeks.”

“Yeah, well you should’ve thought about that before you chose to lie,” Skye countered.

“So, can you at least go to lunch with me? Haven’t you been avoiding me long enough?”

Skye took a deep breath. “Look…I gotta go,” she said, grabbing Payton and walking out of the door. She ignored Payton’s cries as she continued to hold her arms out for him.

Cruze walked behind her checking out her new clothes, new designer purse and the diamonds blinging everywhere as they approached the lobby. When they walked outside and he saw Skye stroll over to her brand new Bentley, jealously quickly consumed him.

Who am I kidding, I’ll never be ever to compete with Sandino’s money
, he thought.

“Damn, you rolling like that now,” he said, admiring the subtle twenty inch rims.

“Can you believe that bitch Asia slashed all four of my fucking tires the other day? She even pissed on it. Look.” Skye pointed to a small dent on the hood. “That’s from her standing on it. Now, I gotta get my shit fixed.”

Cruze seemed shocked. “Pissed on it? Get the fuck outta here. How do you know it was her?”

“Because Sandino’s nurse saw her from the window. By the time I knew what was going on, that bitch had left. He didn’t know who the woman was, but who else would be crazy enough to do some shit like that? Asia better hope I don’t run into her ass on the street.”

“Maybe it was one of Sandino’s other women,” Cruze suggested.

“I seriously doubt it. Did you forget that Sandino is in a wheelchair? All the groupies have moved on. Ain’t nobody thinking about his crippled ass anymore.”

As they both laughed, Cruze grabbed Skye’s arm and turned her body around to face him. “Can I please get a few hours of your valuable time?”

Skye laughed and shook her head. “Alright Cruze, follow me to Prime 112.”

“Bet.”

Cruze walked to his car hoping he would be able to get Skye to take him back this time. He was trying to give her some space, but he missed her like crazy and needed to make things right between them.

About fifteen minutes later, they pulled up at the restaurant. He observed as Skye got out of her new whip giving her keys to the valet. She had a different look about her; even the way she walked was different. She definitely had a slight arrogance about herself now

“I have to admit though, she looks sexy as hell.”

Skye was wearing a Rachel Roy knit tunic, a pair of jeggings and some sky high Christian Louboutin platform pumps. She certainly wasn’t the same girl he’d been with in the past who constantly rocked oversized t-shirts and fake Ugg boots. Cruze even noticed the new confidence she had about herself, which was such a turn on.

I love the way her ass is sitting up in those pants. She definitely has lost some weight
.

When Cruze got out of the car, he followed Skye and Payton into the restaurant. As they stood in the front area waiting for the hostess to return, Cruze stared at her the entire time but she purposely looked away in the other direction. When the hostess finally came back, he walked behind the desk and looked down at the list.

“Sorry for the delay. What’s the name on your reservation?” he inquired.

“We don’t have a reservation,” Skye replied.

“Oh, well I’m sorry but we’re only seating reserved guests at this time. The restaurant is packed because of a nearby convention,” the hostess quickly informed.

Cruze became irritated. “Mannnn, let’s get the fuck up outta here. They probably don’t have shit Payton can eat anyway.”

“You wanted to go to lunch, and this is where I wanna eat,” Skye demanded.She reached inside her purse. “I know you can make an exception this one time,” she said, slipping him a hundred dollar bill.

The man looked around before grabbing the money then took his crooked finger and skimmed down the list again.

“Oh yes, I see your name right here. Follow me this way,” he said, escorting them to a table.

“Would you like a booster seat for the little one?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Skye replied.

Cruze continued to observe Skye. She slung her hair from side to side as they were being seated. Then when the hostess came back, he watched as Skye pulled out more money and passed it to him.

Cruze waited for the man to leave. “Damn, Skye how much were you gonna give the muthafucka? That’s his damn job to get the seat. I can understand giving him some money for letting us up in here without a reservation. But the other money wasn’t necessary.”

“Look Cruze, do I tell you what to do with your money?”

Cruze shook his head. “No, but it’s not your…” he paused.

“Then what gives you the right to try and tell me what to do with my damn money? And yes, I said my money!”

Skye’s new cocky attitude was starting to piss Cruze off. He held his composure as the waiter walked up.

“Hello, welcome to Prime 112. What can I get you all to drink?”

“A Hennessey and coke for me,” Cruze said.

“And a peach Ciroc and mango juice for me,” Skye added

Cruze was shocked that she was drinking. He could never get her to take a drink with him before.

“Damn, you drinking now, walking around all fly…jeweled up with your red bottoms on. I see you love being back in Miami,” he joked.

“I’m doing what I had to do for my family.”

“So, how is your family? How’s Sandino? I saw the pictures of him on the news and I hear he’s gonna be a new dad.”

Skye rolled her eyes. “I guess you’re trying to be funny, huh? If you must know, I’m not even gonna get involved with that paternity test shit. Sandino was just swabbed for his DNA a few days ago, so who knows what the results will be. His trifling ass probably got even more women out there claiming to have his baby.”

“Help me understand something. It’s obvious that you’ve changed now that you have money again. And all that shit you have on is the type of things you deserve, so I get that. But what I don’t get is why the hell you can’t forgive me for trying to go out and make some real money to give you those things?”

Skye sat there for a minute before speaking. “You just don’t get it do you?”

“Get what, Skye? I love you. I miss you and the kids. I want us back the way we used to be.”

“Cruze, it will never be back to the way it used to be. You lied to me. The trust was broken. We vowed to always be honest to one another no matter what. But you fucked it up.”

“I know I fucked up, but I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if that’s what you want. I’ve never loved anybody the way I love you.”

Skye looked at him and gazed into his warm brown eyes searching for signs of bullshit. But all she saw was sincerity. She tossed the thought of forgiving him in her mind.

She really did miss Cruze and wondered if she could get through the rest of her life without him. But Skye also made herself a promise that she would never be hurt by a man again.

Suddenly, Cruze reached over and kissed Skye on the cheek. Surprisingly, she didn’t stop him.

I’m breaking her down
, he thought.

When the waiter came over with their drinks, Cruze pulled away. “Thanks, but we need a few more minutes before we order,” Cruze informed him. As soon as the waiter walked away, Cruze grabbed her hand. “So, baby can you please forgive me and allow us to move forward? I know you miss me.”

While Skye sat there in silence, Cruze’s phone began to ring. Thinking whoever it was would definitely have to wait, he ignored the call. Not even three seconds passed before it started ringing again.

“Don’t you think you should get that?” Skye questioned. “It might be Kareem.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Cruze replied. But once he grabbed his phone and realized that he recognized the number, he put the phone away.

“Guess it wasn’t Kareem, huh?” Skye questioned.

“Nah…nah it wasn’t.”

“So, who was it…your drug connect?” she replied with a smirk.

“Funny,” was all Cruze said.

As Cruze phone rung yet a third time, suddenly disappointment washed over Skye’s face. It was as if the thought of him lying to her all over again resurfaced.

“I can’t do this,” she said, pulling her hand back.

“So, you can put up with all that Sandino bullshit, but you won’t give me another chance?”

Skye stood up from the table and grabbed Payton out of the booster seat. “I’m sick of giving chances!” she replied just before walking out.

CHAPTER 22

“He didn’t answer!”

“Well, dial the muthafuckin’ number again!” Dre yelled at Kareem while pushing the gun deeper into the back of his head. “If you try that dumb shit again, the next shot will be in your head instead of the ceilin’.”

“Alright,” Kareem said while wiping the tears from his eyes. He constantly put on an act trying to be hard, but in reality he wasn’t anything but a spoiled little rich boy.

He waited several minutes as the phone rang for the second time, then looked at Dre. He favored Justice so much it was scary. He turned his attention back to the phone when Cruze finally picked up.

“Who’s this?”

“What up, Cruze? It’s me…Kareem.”

“Damn, Kareem what’s going on? Your mother told me you asked for my number.”

“Umm…yeah I really needed to holla at you. How is everything going?” Kareem tried his best not to sound alarmed.

“I’m trying to maintain. I miss your mom so bad though. I’m glad you called me. I want to apologize to you. You know the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you guys.”

“Yeah, we all make mistakes. But you need to try and make this right things right with my mom because we miss you.”

Cruze paused before speaking. Kareem’s remark had sent up a red flag.

Kareem never wanted me around and now suddenly misses me?
Something doesn’t sound right,
he thought.

“Cruze, I need to see you. I have something to talk to you about.”

“What’s wrong? Is it something that can be talked about over the phone?”

“No, I need to talk to you in person. It’s really important though. I hear you’re back in Miami.”

“Yeah, I’ve been out here for a while now, trying to win your mom over.”

Kareem looked at Dre to make sure he was listening. “So, you’re back in Miami?”

Cruze hesitated for a second. “Kareem, what’s up man? Is everything okay? I just answered that question.”

“Everything’s cool. So, where are you staying?”

Feeling like something wasn’t right, Cruze decided not to tell Kareem his whereabouts just yet. “I’m floating around. Just call me when you wanna hook up.”

“Okay, so you want me to call you?” Kareem mimicked.

“Why are you repeating everything I say? Is something wrong, Kareem?” Cruze asked once again.

“Yes, I’ll call you back once I’m ready. Good talking to you,” Kareem replied before the phone went dead.

Dre pushed Kareem out of the bathroom into the living room were Felicia was pacing the floor. She was pissed off that Dre had shot his gun into her expensive Solistone ceramic ceiling tile.

“Dre, I’m not so sure about all this now. I think we should just let him go,” she complained.

“Let him go? Go look in the mirror at your damn face, Felicia. If I hadn’t rushed over here when I did that nigga woulda killed you! You crazy if you think I’m doin’ all this shit for nothin’.”

Kareem looked at Felicia hard and long. He really had no intention on hurting her like that. He was so hurt that she’d betrayed him, he ultimately lost it. At that moment, Kareem realized that he did have a lot of his father’s ways instilled in him. The thought of being anything like Sandino made him feel terrible. When Felicia noticed the way Kareem was staring at her, she looked away. Dre also noticed.