Playthang (15 page)

Authors: Janine A. Morris

BOOK: Playthang

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“Jayon, I hear you. I hear and accept your apology, but I am not ready to forgive you,” she said as she began to break free from his hug. She walked toward her bedroom door, heading back downstairs to apologize to and sit with Marcus. Before she walked down the hallway, she turned to see if he was following,because she wanted him to leave.

He just looked at her. He had given all he had, it looked like. Then again, so had Jordan. They were finally in the same place, realizing that it was over for good.

J
ayon had walked by Jordan and Marcus sitting on the couch as he headed to the front door. In an attempt to save face, he gave a head nod to Marcus as he walked by. He walked past Marcus's CLK that was parked directly in front of Jordan's house and opened the door to his Audi across the street. He wasn't happy with the way things happened, but he was quite clear that Jordan was in a different place from where he thought she was. He hadn't seen her like that in all the years he knew her; he guessed it was as she used to say “when a woman's fed up.” He never thought she would choose another man over him, but when he walked out the door and that handsomemuscular dude was still sitting on the couch, it was obviouswho she wanted to be there with her, or at least who she had chosen.

Truth was, deep down inside, Jordan wanted Jayon there. She wanted him to lie beside her and tell her everything would be OK, and she wanted to believe him; but she knew that wouldn't be possible. She didn't want to allow some man she had only known a couple of months come before a man she knew damn near half her life, but she had been the good girl long enough.

Jayon hadn't made it two blocks before he called his boy Bill to tell him how terrible things had just gone. Billy was the one who told him he needed to put his pride aside, go talk to Jordan, and at any cost let her know how he felt. Billy didn't tell him what to do in case there was another man on the way over. Billy didn't pick up the phone, and Jayon left a voice mail.With the silence in the car, Jayon got to thinking about all that Jordan said, and he remembered the part when she said Randi had been hinting at stuff when she saw her, and the crazy stuff she said in the e-mail. Jayon got mad that he'd risked his relationship with such a dumb chick, but then he got even madder thinking about how she was trying to mess things up between him and Jordan by doing that. She knew he had a girl.
Why all of a sudden was she acting like a woman scorned
, he thought to himself. She knew the deal.

Jayon had been keeping his distance from Randi these past few weeks. Suddenly, she was a huge turnoff to him; she wasn't as exciting now that he didn't have his main girl. He had slept with her one time since him and Jordan broke up, like a few days after. He was still all messed up over it, and Randi had called saying all these things he needed and wanted to hear, and somehowhe ended up staying the night with her. That was the last time, though. Since then, he'd barely even spent twenty minutes on the phone with her. He had things on his mind other than going back and forth to check on her. That was before, though. Now he had a whole lot of stuff to say to her.

Randi answered on the third ring.

“Hey, hun,” she said.

“Randi, why did you say all that to Jordan?” Jayon started out immediately.

“Say all what?” Randi replied, losing her initial sweet tone.

“All that stuff you put in an e-mail.”

“She wrote me first, calling me a home wrecker and shit, so all I said was it wasn't much of a strong foundation because it wasn't hard to wreck.”

“Randi, I don't need you making the situation worse for me.You know things ain't good right now, and you saying stuff and adding stuff that ain't true isn't making it any easier on me.”

“Seriously, do you think I care about you and Jordan's relationship?”

“I know you don't, or you would have never got with me, but that's between me and you, so don't go saying nothing to her.”

“She says something to me, I'm going to respond. Besides, what did I lie to her about?”

“She said you said we were together now or something like that,” Jayon said.

“I didn't tell her that. If you don't want us speaking, then you tell her to leave me the hell alone. She's the one that hit me up, like I owed her something. I didn't.You did.”

Hearing those words that he owed Jordan reminded him of what Jordan had just said at her house, that she didn't owe him anything. It reminded him again that she was at her house with some dude, and all he wanted to do was go back there and kick him out of there. He knew he didn't have any place to do that, but he was wishing he hadn't known that Marcus was there with her. It was just making the whole thing worse.

“I gotta go,” Jayon said before he hung up the phone. He couldn't talk to her anymore; she was a part of the reason he was in this mess. She would tell him that he had never had anything like her before and say all this perverted stuff in texts to get him to give in to the temptation. He knew that there was no excuse that he went ahead and went through with it, but she enticed him for at least a month before he gave in. She would tell him she wasn't trying to come in between him and his girl; she just wanted them to have some good sex.When he tried to resist when they worked together she would lean over in front of him and say all this slick stuff. She knew what she was doing. Now, all of a sudden, she was this coldhearted chick that was just out for hers and talking like she could care less what happens to his relationship.

Jayon hung up and drove back toward Jordan's house; he wanted to see if Marcus's car was still parked outside. As he was turning down the street that led to her block, he began to slow down, unsure if he should go through with it in case they were outside. Then he figured it was unlikely, so he turned down the block anyway. From the corner he could tell that Marcus's car was still parked outside, and when he drove by the house he could see that the lights were still on. As he reached her corner,trying to peek back in his rearview mirror, his cell phone rang. It was Billy calling back.

“Hey, man, you're not going to believe how the whole thing went down,” Jayon said.

“What happened?”

“First I get there, she ain't trying to hear me. Then when I almost get her to hear me out a little bit, some dude comes walking up to the door.”

“What? Some dude? Who's the dude?”

“Some dude Marcus; I still don't know what's going on with that or where he came from.”

“Damn, son, so what happened?”

“Nothing. She asked me to leave. I asked him to leave.”

“You asked him to leave?” Billy said, laughing.

“In so many words, but Jordan wasn't having that. So he went in the living room to wait. It was crazy. Then as I'm tryingto tell her that this whole thing is getting to me, I must've said the wrong words, because she got all upset talking about how bad I hurt her and how this bitch Randi e-mailed her telling her all kinds of stuff.”

“Stop playing,” Billy said.

“I'm serious. Just spoke to Randi. She's bugging. Talking about she don't care about me and Jordan's relationship, not that that is a surprise. It don't even matter, though.”

“So what happened with Jordan?”

Jayon had no intention of telling him that he just rode down her block like a stalker, at least not yet. He wasn't sure if he was going to be driving through looking for that car again, so he left that out for now.

“She went upstairs crying. I was so stressed I start to talking to homeboy on the couch for a second, and then he gets ready to go upstairs behind Jordan. I can't stomach that, so I go up there, and when I get up there I can tell she was getting all sexy for this dude downstairs. It was tearing me up, being the outsider like that. When she came out of the bathroom, I just held her, and I told her I was sorry. She finally let me hold her for a second, but she's through. She told me she can't forgive me. She gave me this look when she walked out of the bedroom,and I can tell in her eyes she don't see me the same no more.”

Billy could hear the pain in Jayon's voice, and he really didn't know what to say. “Damn, man,” Billy said.

Billy was usually one with many words of advice, but even he was at a loss for words. What could he do? If she was done, he was done. Billy knew that just a little over a month ago, Jordanwas happily in love with Jayon while he was creeping and crawling, trying to keep Jordan happy and sneak in time with Randi. At the time it was just an interesting and exciting game; neither of them looked forward to this day, when the game was over.

J
ordan was happy that Marcus had handled her little situation the other night so well. Once Jayon left, he pretended like it didn't happen. He told her there was no need to apologize and settled down to a television program with her like it was nothing.Jordan wasn't really in the mood for sex after Jayon left, and Marcus didn't try anything because he probably figured the groove was ruined.

It was Friday, and Jordan was getting ready to head out to meet Donovan, Eddie, and Tayese. She was wrapping things up around the office, closing programs on her computer, and straighteningup her desk. Jordan had worn something she could transitionout of easy, so she could have a professional look by day and with a twirl be fit for a night on the town. She changed out of her gray skirt suit with the white-collared bodysuit and gray pumps, into a more dressed down in the city look, and she released the bobby pin from holding her hair up. Once she was done shutting down her computer, she headed to the bathroomto freshen up and reapply her makeup.

As she was heading out, her office phone rang and she glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Marcus. Jordan felt a slight flutter and answered the phone.

“Hey, how did you know I was still here?” she answered.

“I didn't know. I just figured I'd try.”

“Why didn't you just call my cell phone?” she asked.

“I don't know, I just dialed the first number that popped up in my address book. Why, is there a problem?”

“No, not at all.”

“So when am I going to see you again?” Marcus asked.

“I guess whenever, you tell me,” Jordan said. “I live right around the corner, so I'm only a hop, skip, and a jump.”

“Well, I'll hop, skip, and jump over there tomorrow night when you get home.”

“OK, I'll call you when I get home later,” Jordan replied.

She wasn't sure if she was 100 percent comfortable with that, but she knew she could always make up an excuse to get out of it if she wanted to.

“OK, see you later,” he responded.

It was seven thirty when Jordan headed out of her Manhattanoffice and into the street to wave down a taxi. She walked toward the corner as she waited for the banana-colored car to come into sight. Jordan hated when a cab didn't come quick and easy. She made it to the corner, and when she spotteda taxi coming in the other direction, she frantically waved her hand. She leaned into the street slightly so the driver would definitely see her, and just as it looked like it was too late, the driver pulled over. Thankful, Jordan walked across the street towardthe taxi. Just as she was heading there, a man was walking up to the car door as well. Jordan gave him a look to let him know that she was getting in the cab.

“Oh, this was for you?” he asked.

“Yes, I waved him down.”

“Actually, I waved him down,” the man said, pointing a few feet away.

The taxi driver was just looking without saying anything.

“He was way past you when he stopped, which means he didn't see you.”

The man looked back to where he was and looked quite annoyed at the ordeal.

Jordan ducked her head into the cab. “Which passenger did you stop for?” she asked.

“I saw both of you,” the older gentleman replied with an accent.

“How about we just share the cab.Where are you going?” the man said.

“I'm going to Times Square,” Jordan said.

“That's fine; I'm going uptown as well.”

The gentleman took his seat and scooted over. Jordan wasn't in love with the idea of strange company for the ride, but she wasn't in the mood to give up the cab or fight any longer. Jordansat beside him and gave her destination to the driver as she whipped out her BlackBerry. She began typing to Tayese that she was on her way, and the funny story that she was sitting in a cab feeling real uncomfortable with this strange man.

Midway through her text, the strange man said, “I'm sorry about this, by the way. I would've been a gentleman and let you have it alone, but I am running so late for a business dinner,and I have been waiting twenty minutes for a cab.”

“Sorry to hear that, but it's OK. I would've let you have it as well, but I'm on my way to a business dinner too, and these heels are not the most comfortable.”

The guy began to laugh. Just then, Jordan noticed how attractivehe was. His smile brought his face to life.

“I understand,” he said. “The ride will be short and painless.”

The sound of a phone ringing came from the guy's pants. He pulled out his BlackBerry and silenced it.

“I won't bother you with conversation that you don't want to hear. That's the least I can do,” the guy said as he put his phone away.

“You can take the call,” Jordan said.

“It's too late,” he said as he put the phone back in his pocket.

“My name is Jordan,” She said as she put her hand out for a handshake.

“Shakai,” the gentleman said back as he shook her hand in return.

For a moment, Jordan didn't know what else to say. She didn't want to bother him with small talk, but she was interestedin the strange man beside her now. She finished her text to Tayese and then sat there a few moments looking out the window. She looked back toward the front and was trying not to look too much at him. Shakai was about six feet, two hundredpounds. He had a very lean body build and broad shoulders.He was dressed in black slacks with a green collared shirt. His cuff links read “S.” on them, and his black loafers were intact.He wore a black cap with gray and green stripes through it. His green shirt went well with his medium brown complexionand light brown eyes. Jordan was eager to look back at him and take in more of his physical features, but she didn't want to look as though she was interested.

“So, where uptown are you headed?” Jordan finally asked.

“The Shark Bar,” he responded.

“Oh, wow. I haven't been there in a long time. Great food.”

“Yes, their food is some of the best in the city. I have most of my business meetings there,” he replied.

“That's nice. I'd weigh three hundred pounds if I ate there that often.”

Shakai must have found that funny, because he began to laugh a real laugh.

“So what do you do, if you don't mind me asking?” Jordan asked.

“I'm an accountant,” he responded.

Jordan immediately thought of how Jayon was an accountant,and that was one strike against him.

“That's interesting. How do you like it?” she asked.

“I've always liked numbers, so I love it.”

“That's great.”

“What do you do?” he asked.

“I am an attorney,” she said.

“Oh, OK,” he said, not showing his opinion.

“Where is your business dinner tonight?” he asked.

“Just meeting some colleagues at Olive Garden in Times Square.”

“Oh, that's nice.”

They were close to Forty-second Street; the streets began to get wider and more crowded with people and cars. The hustleand bustle of New York City close to the holidays was like no other. Jordan glanced up at the meter and began to reach in her bag to get her wallet.

“Please, let me handle it,” Shakai said.

Jordan looked at him, expressed a look of hesitation, and then put her wallet away.

“OK, thanks, but you really don't have to.”

“It's the least I can do for being so rude,” he said.

Jordan reached into her wallet anyway, but she pulled out her business card and handed it to him.

“Well, keep in touch,” she said.

Shakai reached in his back pocket and pulled his business card out as well.

“You do the same,” he said.

The cab had pulled to the side of the road, and Jordan opened the door to step out. She waved good-bye to her new friend and walked toward the Olive Garden. She walked in and went straight upstairs to look for Tayese, who had said she was already there. She spotted her sitting in the back with both Donovan and Eddie at a booth. Jordan made her way through the tables and toward them.

Once she reached the booth, Donovan scooted over to make room for Jordan. She looked around the table, and noticedthat on Donovan's other side was Tayese, and beside her was Eddie. Jordan sat down in the room that was made for her and wondered if this gesture from Donovan was once again a hint as to who he was interested in. She assumed if he was thinkingthat Eddie was there for her, he would've waited for or told Eddie to move down, or better yet scooted away from Tayese so she could move down, leaving room for Eddie to scoot down and make space. Regardless of what could've happened, Donovan made room for Jordan and was now sandwiched betweenher and Tayese.

“We ordered appetizers already, but if you want to add something, it's not too late,” Donovan said.

“I'll just pick at what's coming,” Jordan said.

“Oh, and I ordered you a piÃ±a colada,”Tayese said.

“Thanks,” Jordan replied.

For a second she felt her heart skip a beat. PiÃ±a coladas were her and Jayon's thing. He used to make her one all the time when they were having movie night or just relaxing at home. He made a mean piÃ±a colada, and she knew she would miss them just as much as she missed him.

“I did want to talk to Jordan here about my business ventures,but she didn't feel safe unless her best friend Tayese was here,” Donovan oh-so-boldly added.

Tayese and Eddie laughed as Jordan dropped her mouth open in disbelief.

“Oh, it's like that? You trying to blow me up?”

“Nah, I'm just kidding,” Donovan added.

“I wasn't afraid in the least bit.You obviously don't know me,” Jordan said, trying to sound tough.

“Well, I know her,” Tayese interjected, “and that is somethingshe would do.”

“What?” Jordan said, humored by the sudden attack.

“I mean, you just met him a little while ago, at a club at that.You don't play those games,”Tayese added.

“True, but if it was business, I can handle my business.”

“That's true,” Tayese said, backing off.

“Well, I guess she just wanted to make sure it was business first,” Donovan said.

Jordan was all confused. She was now feeling conceited, like she didn't want to seem. Then she realized that it was in her head. She was tempted to blow him up as to the things he was saying to make her question his intent, but she still didn't know what was said before she got there between him and Tayese.

“All you had to say is you wanted to discuss business and you would've preferred that I didn't invite her, but instead you said you would invite Eddieâso don't even try it,” Jordan said.

Donovan laughed. “That's true. Get out of here, guys,” he said, laughing.

They all laughed. Jordan didn't realize that Donovan had such a feisty and humorous side about him. She couldn't say she didn't like that in a guy, but at this point she didn't know what to think. She didn't know if he was trying to let her know he was only interested in a business relationship, and wanted Tayese to know it too, or if he was just being funny to break the ice again.

By the time the waiters finished taking all of their orders and brought their drinks out, the four of them had broken all the ice there was to break and were laughing at and discussing the night they met at the club. Right after they finished laughingat Eddie and Tremaine, their other friend, for going to the wrong club, most of them began to pick at the appetizers.

“We are not getting any business done,” Donovan said out of nowhere.

Jordan was taking a sip of her drink, and she looked up. She looked at him, trying to read what the feelings were behind his words.

“How about this, Donovan,” Jordan said as she placed her drink down. “We will deem tonight as business in the sense that we got to know each other and make a decision if we want to do business together, and if we choose to do so, we will have a meeting at my office.”

Donovan seemed unprepared for that comment.

“OK, that sounds fair,” he replied.

“So don't worry, my time tonight will be free of charge.”

Tayese started laughing, and so did Eddie.

Donovan couldn't help but drop his head in defeat. “OK, you got that one,” he replied.

“I'm just saying, in case that's what you're worried about, getting a bill for three hours and all we did was talk and eat.”