Player Haters (15 page)

The second I pulled in the driveway Diane jumped out the car and ran in the house, leaving me to carry my son, Teddy, upstairs and put him to bed. We’d spent about five hours in the emergency room and barely said anything to each other that didn’t pertain to Teddy. I guess Diane’s conscience was still bothering her. And now after what happened at Mimi’s last night, mine was bothering me, too. Although I must admit part of me just wanted to think up an excuse to get out the house so I could go see Mimi. The last thing I wanted to do was be in the same house alone with Diane.

I kissed my son good night, then said a quick prayer of thanks. Teddy had come out of this with just a nasty black eye and a fractured wrist. I was really scared there for a while. Originally the doctors were trying to get us to let him spend the night because they thought he had a concussion.

I left my son’s room, then stepped into my daughter’s room. She was already asleep so I assumed my sister, Melanie, must have put her to bed hours ago. Thank the Lord for Mel. It was times like this that you really needed family, and she always came through. She’d left work early and had gone to my neighbor’s house to get Katie right after Diane called her and told her what happened.

I kissed my daughter, then went downstairs to offer my sister a lift so I could get out the house. Just as I walked past the bathroom, Diane came out. The two of us stared at each other without a word until she broke our silence.

“Is he ’sleep?” She walked over and, surprisingly, wrapping her arms around my waist, sighed deeply. It felt so good to be held by her. I wanted to hold her and stroke her hair but I couldn’t. She may have forgotten what happened last night but I sure as hell didn’t.

“Yeah, he’s ’sleep. So is Katie.”

“Good,” she whispered, then pressed her head against my chest as she held on to me tighter. This time I gave in and wrapped my arms around her.

“Wil,” she whispered, “I’m not fooling around with the mailman.”

“I know that, Di,” I answered back.

She lifted her head and looked up at me with surprise. “You do?”

“Yeah, me and the mailman had a little talk this morning.”

“You did?” Her eyes widened.

“Uh-huh. But what I wanna know is, if he didn’t send those flowers, who did?”

She reached for my hand and gently caressed it as she stared in my eyes. “I honestly don’t know.”

I pulled away from her with a scowl on my face. “Come on, Diane. Do you really expect me to believe that? Now I wanna know who you’re having an affair with. And I wanna know now.”

“Wil, I’m telling you the truth. I’m not having an affair.”

“Yeah, right. What you’re telling me is a bunch of bull!” I rolled my eyes. “I thought you said you had a guilty conscience.”

“I do have a guilty conscience,” she said quietly. “I’ve had one for quite a while now. But it’s not about cheating. It’s about…” She stopped herself in mid sentence. “It’s just hard. It’s just hard to admit.”

“Admit what, Di? That you’re fooling around? I already know that, I just wanna know who it is.”

She looked up at me with these sad eyes, filling up with tears just as my sister turned the corner.

“Hey, guys, do you need me to do anything for you before I go home?” Melanie stopped in her tracks when she saw the two of us standing there. She glanced back and forth between me and Di. “What’s going on? Diane, why you crying? I thought the doctors said Teddy was going to be all right.”

“This isn’t about Teddy, Mel. This is something personal between me and my wife,” I explained.

“Well,” said Mel, “I know you two must be going through a rough time right now. Is there anything I can do to help? I can take the kids for a while so you all can spend some time alone. As long as you don’t mind if Prince stops by.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Mel, unless you can tell me who my wife’s been cheating with.” I couldn’t hide the disgust in my voice when I thought about my wife’s betrayal.

“Cheating?” Melanie shouted at me. “Have you lost your mind?” Then she looked over at Diane who hadn’t said a word since Melanie approached us.

“Oh, my God. You haven’t told him yet, have you?” she asked Diane.

“No.” Diane sounded so sad.

“Tell me what?” I demanded.

“Jesus, Diane!” Melanie said. “No wonder the man is acting all funny. Wil, your wife is sick.”

I looked at Diane. “What is she talking about, Di? What’s wrong with you?”

Diane’s voice was so weak when she finally answered me. She couldn’t even look me in the eye. “I’ve been to see the gynecologist a few times already.” She started to cry. “Wil, I have to have a hysterectomy.”

“Hysterectomy? Oh, my God. Baby, what’s wrong?” I pulled Diane toward me and wrapped her in my arms. My anger was now concern.

Diane was so upset she couldn’t even answer me, so Melanie told me, “She has severe fibroids.”

“Fibroids? What does that mean?” I was confused and starting to get scared.

“Fibroids are tumors,” Diane answered between tears. “I’ve got one the size of a grapefruit in my uterus. That’s why I haven’t been having sex with you, Wil. It’s just too damn painful and I’m always bleeding.”

I closed my eyes briefly. Silently scolding myself. It was all starting to make sense. My poor wife had been suffering this whole time and I’d only been making matters worse. “Is it cancerous?”

“No. It’s benign.”

“How long have you known?”

“I’ve known something’s been wrong for about three months. I found out about the fibroids about a month ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Di? You know I would have stuck by you.”

“I tried, Wil. I must have tried a dozen times but each time I’d stop myself because I was afraid you’d look at me as less than a woman.”

“Diane, I love you. I could never look at you as anything other than my woman.” I held her tight. “Come on. I need you two to explain everything you know about these fibroids.”

It was after three in the morning when I finally went to bed. I’d dropped my sister off at her new boyfriend’s and came home. Diane was ’sleep so I got on the Internet and started to research fibroids. It was a real eye-opener because I had no idea so many black women were affected by them. Hell, I didn’t even know what they were until tonight. I wanted, no, I needed more information. I even ordered a book called
It’s a Sistah Thing
by a woman named Monique R. Brown, to learn more about my wife’s condition. I wasn’t about to let Di have a hysterectomy if she didn’t have to.

When I finished my search on the computer I went upstairs and got in bed.

“Wil,” Diane whispered. I was surprised she was up.

“Yeah, Di?”

“Come here. I want you to hold me.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up close to her. I wrapped my arms around my wife and snuggled up close, stroking her hair. “Wil, I have no idea who sent those flowers.”

“Neither do I, Di. But those flowers were no worse than the pictures so let’s forget about them.”

“I love you, Wil Duncan.”

“I love you too, Di. And I’m gonna stick by you no matter what. We can do this, we’ve been through rougher times before. We just have to stick together.”

“I know that now, Wil, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all this before.”

“You don’t have to apologize anymore, Di. It’s all right, but no more secrets. Okay? We’re a team and there’s no I in the word
team
.”

“You’re right,” she replied as we snuggled up closer. “Wil?” she whispered.

“Yeah, babe?”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“Who?”

“Your secretary. Did you sleep with her last night? Or any other night? You can tell me. I’m not gonna get mad.”

“No. I didn’t sleep with her.” I could feel her let out a long sigh of relief. “But…but I’m not gonna lie to you, Di. I did kiss her.”

There was a silence between us. “Do you wanna be with her, Wil? If you do I’ll let you go.”

“No, Di. The only woman I wanna be with is you.”

“Then you know she’s gotta go. If we’re gonna survive, she has got to go. You understand that, don’t you?”

I kissed her neck. “Yeah, Di, I understand.”

But the question is, will Mimi understand?

“What’s up, baby? You wanna dance?” I looked up at the tall, handsome brother who’d tapped me on the shoulder and smiled politely. He was probably the best-looking of the five men who’d asked me to dance. But I’d promised myself I wouldn’t dance with anyone until I had a chance to dance with Prince first. Only problem was Desiree. She’d dragged Prince on the dance floor before we could even get our seats warmed up. I was starting to wish I’d never suggested we bring her with us. Desiree had been acting like a real ass almost the entire three weeks Prince and I had been going out. She always had a smart comment or sarcastic look whenever Prince did something romantic or sweet. She would even bang on the walls when we were having sex, telling us to keep it down. This was something I could have done to her a thousand times before, but instead I would always turn up my radio or TV to block out the noise. I knew it was just a jealous phase she was going through after what happened with her and Tim, but Prince was starting to get sick of it. And I didn’t wanna lose him because of her. So I figured if we took her out with us instead of leaving her in the house to sulk, she wouldn’t be so evil when we got home. The club we were at was always full of plenty of handsome men to shower her with attention. So why did it look like she was trying to spend all her time with my man?

“So what’s up? You wanna dance or what?” Mr. Tall and Handsome asked again.

“No, thanks. Maybe later.”

“What about a drink? Can I get you a drink?” He pulled out a chair like he was about to sit down. I lifted my recently refilled apple martini glass.

“I already have a drink, thanks. And if you don’t mind, please don’t sit there. I’m here with my boyfriend. I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate finding you in his chair when he gets back.”

“Boyfriend?” He leaned over, getting up in my face with an attitude. “Where the fuck he go to? Siberia? Baby, I been watching. You been sitting here alone for almost forty-five minutes.”

Forty-five minutes? Damn, had it been that long? I glanced on the dance floor where Prince was trying to dance conservatively. I say “trying” because Desiree looked like she was auditioning for the lead in
Dirty Dancing II
. She was all over him. If she had been anyone else I would have dragged his ass off the dance floor a long time ago.

“You know what? You bitches ain’t shit. If you don’t wanna dance, why the fuck you come to the club?” I was about give him a piece of my mind when someone else beat me to it.

“Yo, player, if I was you, I’d get the fuck outta her face unless you wanna be wearing this bottle.” I looked up and there was Trent brandishing a Corona bottle like it was a deadly weapon.

“Aw’ight, man. I was just asking the sister to dance.” He pushed in the chair and walked away with an attitude.

Trent pulled the chair out and plopped down next to me.

“I could have handled that, Trent.”

“I hear you, Mel,” he said sarcastically. “Where the hell is Prince anyway? I shouldn’t have to do his job.”

“He’s over there dancing with Desiree.” I pointed to the dance floor.

“Dancing? Don’t look like they dancing to me. Looks like your girl’s trying to fuck him.” Trent shook his head. “I told you about that chick.”

“Don’t start, Trent. That’s just Desiree,” I told him, glancing toward the dance floor with a little more concern.

“Aw’ight, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“So what’s up with you?” I decided to change the subject. “You don’t look like your regular self. Something bothering you?”

“No, nothin’s bothering me.” His nothing was definitely something. I could always tell when something was bothering either of my brothers.

“Don’t lie, Trent.”

“Look, Mel, it’s nothing. I’m just mad at myself.”

“Mad about what? What you got to be mad about?”

“I got engaged last week.” He made it sound like it was the worst thing in the world. I wasn’t sure if I should congratulate him or feel sorry for him. I did tell him not to ask that girl Indigo to marry him.

“So I guess you’re having some reservations now, huh?”

“Nah, I really love Michelle and the baby…”

I cut him off. “You asked
Michelle
to marry you?” I couldn’t believe it. He might not have been happy, but I was elated. Michelle was my girl, and I loved my nephew Marcus to death.

“Uh-huh. I asked her.” He shook his head. “But—” I cut him off again.

“Then why you mad at yourself? Trent, that’s great news. I love Michelle. And so do Momma and Wil.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “And I know she loves you.”

“That’s the problem. I love her, too. I mean I really love her, Mel.” It was good to hear him say that because it meant he was finally growing up.

“Why’s that a problem? Now you, her and the baby can be a family. Trent, I’m so proud of you.” I hugged him again.

“Well, as Paul Harvey would say, save the accolades until you hear ‘the rest of the story.’”

Uh-oh. I didn’t like the expression on his face at all. “There’s more?”

“Oh, yeah, there’s more.”

“Like what?”

“Remember when you was over my house a couple of weeks ago and I told you I was thinking about asking Indigo to marry me?”

“Yeah, I remember. Thank God you didn’t do that.” I smiled.

“I did do it, Melanie. I asked her to marry me and she said yes. We’re supposed to be getting married next month.”

It took me a few seconds to totally comprehend what he was saying but when I did my eyes became huge and my jaw felt like it had hit the ground.

“You gotta be kidding me. You’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you?”

He lowered his head. “Yeah, I am. As of last night I became engaged to two women. And I’m supposed marry one of them in less than six weeks.”

“Oh my God! Are you fucking crazy? What is wrong with you?” I couldn’t help myself. I hit him. Not hard, but enough to get his attention.

“Hey, why you hit me?” He leaned back as he rubbed his shoulder.

“Because you’re stupid. Why would you ask Michelle to marry you if you were already engaged to Indigo?”

“I don’t know. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.” He gave me this stupid ass expression.

“The right thing to do at the time?” I raised my hand like I was gonna hit him again.

“Yeah, but now she’s bugging me to set a date.” He started to explain to me the confrontation between him, Ray and Michelle. I didn’t agree with it, but I did understand his rationale, because I knew how Trent’s mind operated, as sick as it was. He did love Michelle, that I was sure of, but he’d asked her to marry him more out of spite for Ray than love for Michelle.

“You can’t do this, Trent. You have to make a choice. This is not right. Those women love you. This isn’t some game.”

“I know that, Mel. It’s just hard.”

“Well, you can’t marry both of them. So which one do you want?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I want them both.”

“What do you mean you want them both? I thought you said you love Michelle.”

“I do.”

“So if you love Michelle so much, why don’t you just break things off with Indigo?”

“I can’t. I’ve got love for her, too.”

I was surprised to hear that. “Do you have love for her or do you have love for her money?”

“As a wise friend of mine told me recently, ‘who’s to say that loving her money isn’t loving her?’ The way she treats me, I can’t have one without the other. I’ve run game on a lot of women, Mel. But none of them treated me like Indigo has and that includes Michelle. She gives me anything I want and I don’t have to ask. If things go right with her music I’ll be set for life. Then I’ll be able to take care of Marcus and Michelle properly.”

“I can’t believe you, Trent. She’s not just doing those things out the kindness of her heart. She’s doing those things because she loves you. And when she realizes you don’t love her, you better watch out. That girl’s a little more ghetto than you think.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve been doing this for a while. She’s not gonna find out.”

“You better hope she doesn’t,” I told him flatly, turning my attention to the dance floor where Desiree was grabbing Prince’s hand, trying to get him to slow dance with her. I was about to get up outta my chair until I saw Prince refuse the dance and pull his hand free from Desiree’s grasp. He walked toward me.

“I need a drink,” Prince declared, placing his hand on my shoulder and standing behind me. If I didn’t know better I would have sworn he was trying to put some distance between himself and Desiree. “Anyone else want one?”

I reached up and held his hand. “I’ve already got one, boo.”

“Yo, player. Get me some cognac. Doesn’t matter what brand, just make sure it’s top shelf.”

“I’ll go with you. I don’t know what I want.” Desiree smiled, walking over and grabbing his arm. Evidently, she didn’t see the look I gave her or she would have let go of him.

“Well, I gotta go to the bathroom first,” Prince told her. It was obvious he’d seen the look I gave her and was making sure to avoid my wrath.

“Yeah, so do I,” I cut in. “Why don’t you go with me, Dez?”

Desiree must have sensed trouble because she said, “That’s all right, I’ll stay here with the fellas till you get back.”

“No, I insist. I need to talk to you.” I pulled her arm off Prince’s and stood up.

“Oh, shit. Looks like it’s on.” Trent laughed.

“Shut up, Trent,” I snapped before I tugged at her arm and pulled her toward the bathroom.

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Desiree asked when we got in the bathroom.

“You! You’re what’s got them in bunch!” I placed one hand on my hip and pointed with the other.

“Me?” she asked innocently. “What did I do?”

I was all attitude now. “Don’t play stupid with me, Desiree. You know what the fuck you did. Why were you all over my man?”

She rolled her eyes as if I’d offended her. “Is that what this is all about? You mad ’cause I danced with Prince? Melanie, he ain’t all that. Besides, what’re you worried about? You the one who’s going home with him. Jesus, I don’t believe this shit.”

“Believe it, ’cause your ass was doing more than dancing. Everybody in the club could see you were trying to seduce him. Damn, why don’t you get your own fucking man instead of trying to steal everybody else’s.” I regretted saying that right after it came out my mouth because her facial expression told me I’d hurt her more than I wanted.

“Fuck you, and fuck them, Melanie! I’m your fucking best friend. I don’t want your man. I was just trying to have a good time. I always dance like that and so do you.” She was so upset she looked like she was about to cry. I was starting to feel bad. Maybe it was just innocent after all, but friend or no friend, I had to get my point across.

“That’s the only reason I’m talking to you instead of going upside your head.”

“Goin’ upside my head?” She took a step toward me like she was gonna do something. “You know what, Melanie? This conversation is over. Matter of fact, you don’t have to worry about me dancing with Prince again ’cause I’m going home and I ain’t ever going out with y’all again. I can be miserable all by myself.” She turned toward the door and I watched her, unable to think of anything to say.

When she got to the door she spoke again, making me feel even worse. “You know what’s really pissing me off, Melanie? I never thought a man could come between us.”

She reached for the door and I called out her name. “Dez.”

“What?”

“Don’t leave. I’m sorry.” I gave her a weak smile. “I must be PMSing.”

She let herself smile at me, just a little. “You must be, girl, ’cause you was trippin’. All I was doing was dancing. I know Prince is fine, but I would never do anything to hurt you, Melanie. I love you too much for that.”

I walked over and wrapped my arms around my friend, feeling like a fool. “I love you too, Dez. I’m sorry. You can dance with Prince anytime you want. You’re right. I know who he’s coming home with.”

When we got back to the table, Prince and Trent were in deep conversation. Probably about Trent’s double engagement.

“Oh, my God. That’s my song,” I shouted when Fifty Cent’s “In Da Club” came on.

“Mine, too,” Desiree replied, swaying from side to side in her chair. “You wanna dance, Prince?”

There was a silence before he answered. He glanced at me as if he wanted me to answer for him. “Well, I haven’t danced with Melanie yet.”

“Oh, don’t worry, you can dance with her later. She don’t mind. Do you, Mel?”

All eyes were upon me now and I’m sure I surprised both Prince and Trent when I said, “No, I don’t mind.”

“You sure? I mean, I haven’t danced with you yet.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Go ’head and danced with her.” I gave him a little shove in her direction.

Prince stood up reluctantly. “Aw’ight. Come on, Desiree.”