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Authors: Brenda Hampton

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BOOK: Jaylin's World
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“They do. Thanks again.”
He nodded, and swaggered his way toward the door to exit. I stepped out of the kitchen and watched him.
“Also,” he said, turning to me before he got to the door, “I want you to start taking birth control pills. I don't want any more babies. As you know, I already have enough. Okay?”
I slowly nodded.
“Don't be lying to me, Scorpio, I mean it. I don't want you playing games with me.”
“I won't, as I do understand your concern. By the way, what about the name Justin Rogers? I already took care of that, so what do you think?”
He paused for a moment, then winked. “Good choice. Now, good night.”
“I love you,” I rushed to say before he walked out the door.
He turned those gorgeous gray eyes to me, leaving me in a trance. “I know. Me too.”
The door closed and I hugged my waist, squeezing it tightly with my arms. This had to work out for my children and me. Seemed like Jaylin had saved the day, once again. With Bruce leaving me with all of the bills and responsibilities, he very well could have left me broke. No way in hell was I going back to stripping or taking my clothes off for money. It could easily have gotten to that point, and I'm so glad it didn't. I dropped to my knees, thanking God for my many blessings, especially for Jaylin.
JAYLIN
Fuck all of the naysayers and outsiders. This was my life. For now, this was how I chose to live it. There was no other way for me to have contact with my kids on a daily basis. I had to make sure that I kept Scorpio satisfied. Even though I could feel some changes about to happen with me and Nokea, she couldn't deny that since we'd been married, our lives had been drama free. A big challenge was now facing us, and I was hopeful that we would pull through, as we had done so many times in the past.
For the last couple of weeks, I kind of noticed some things about Nokea. She had been very observant and seemed to question some of my moves. My routine had changed up a bit, so I intended to be careful. I wasn't trying to be slick. After all, I had planned to tell Nokea some of what had been going on.
The timing, however, just wasn't right. Scorpio and the kids came in last night, and I wanted to see them. I had thoughts about fucking Scorpio again, and, like always, slamming myself into her backside just always did something to me. I got home about one twenty-five in the morning, and I was lucky Shane hadn't made it home either. I called his cell phone, and he was just leaving Joy's house. We met up, and walked into the house together. Nokea didn't suspect a thing. I told her we'd been out for drinks, and she seemed cool with it.
My lies, however, were getting very much out of control. I felt bad about the shit. This was so unlike me, but there was a time and a place to spill the truth. I'd always done my best to be honest with Nokea, but this situation required some lies to be told. By all means, and there was still no doubt whatsoever in my mind ... I loved the hell out of my wife. Yes, through some people's eyes, I had made some bad choices, but nobody had to deal with my choices but me. It was hard for me to explain the deep need I had for my children, and that also applied to the love I had for their mothers. One love, of course, was stronger than the other. But the truth of the matter was, I cared deeply for them both. How I would ever get Nokea to understand what I was feeling, I wasn't sure. Some way, or somehow, I had to do it, and do it soon.
Shane had been questioning me about where I was last night, as well as my new attitude. He also knew my routine had changed, so I decided to come clean to him about all that was going on. As my true best friend and dedicated business partner, I needed his advice. Of course, I didn't expect for him to embrace what I had done. After all, he had been in love with Scorpio too.
After our morning workout in the weight room, we sat in the sauna with our shorts on and towels draped over our heads. The room was filled with hot steam, and sweat rolled from our bodies. I wiped my wet face with a soft towel, then placed it back over my hanging head. My hands were clenched together in front of me and I looked down at the floor.
“I need your advice about something,” I said to Shane. “But you've got to keep an open mind about it.”
He removed the towel from his head, placing the towel on his shoulders. “I'm always open-minded, especially when it comes to business.”
“This ain't about business. It's more personal.”
“Shoot,” Shane said. “I'm good with that too.”
I finally looked up and cocked my tense neck from side to side. “I've been seeing another woman behind Nokea's back.”
Shane's eyes shot open and he looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost. “You what?” he immediately shouted. “Nah, Jay, quit playing. Don't be fucking with me like that.”
My blank expression implied that I wasn't playing. “At times, I wish I were playing, but this shit is real. Real as it can get.”
Shane shook his head in disbelief. “I—I can't even comment. If I do, I will offend you. Man, you know better! Nokea ... some muthafucking men would lay their lives on the line for a woman like her. She has made you so damn complete, and I know you ain't that gotdamn selfish where you just gotta have yourself another piece of pussy. You risking all that you have over some pussy! There has to be something more.”
“I already feel like shit, okay? But this ain't really about that. It's about my child ... my children. I have another son, and I just found out about him.”
Shane's mouth dropped open. “Please spare me,” he spat. “You mean to tell me, Jay, that you've had a child on Nokea's watch? Is that what you're saying? You had a child during the course of your marriage?”
“To put it simple, yes. I fucked up, and my chickens have come home to roost. I don't even know how to tell her, man. What in the hell am I going to do if she leaves me?”
Shane just kept shaking his head. “Man, you had my ass fooled! I was bragging about you and shit. Negro, I was looking up to yo ass ... wanting to find somebody who could make me feel the way I
thought
Nokea made you feel. You still empty as a carton of milk. I cannot believe that you haven't been satisfied with the life the Man Upstairs has blessed you with. What about LJ and Jaylene, Jay? Did you think about them?”
Shane's words were harsh, but I can't say that I hadn't expected them. “Of course, I've thought about them, and they have always been my number one priority. Nokea has been too, and you can't even sit there and say that I am the man who I used to be. We're talking about one woman, not ten or twelve. I fight off women's advances every single day of my life, so give a brotha a little credit. This particular woman is somewhat difficult for me to shake.”
“Well, I can't wait to meet her. She must be a badass woman with money, a great personality, strong goals in life ... and values—obviously, she doesn't have them if she knows you're married. You did tell her you were married, didn't you?”
“She knows. She knows all about me, and loves me, just as much as Nokea does.”
“I doubt that shit. And there ain't no way I'm gon'let you sit there and even compare the love Nokea has for you versus the love another woman may claim to have. I thought you had more sense than that, Jay. You may need to see a psychiatrist for a psychiatric evaluation.”
Now Shane was starting to piss me off. His comments were going a bit too far. “Look,” I snapped. “I am human and I make mistakes....”
“That's a cop-out, and you know it. Human beings have brains, which they're supposed to use too. I don't even know why you're telling me this shit. If you think I got your back on this—honestly, I don't. You're going to tear your family apart, and Nokea, LJ and Jaylene do not deserve this.”
Yeah, the shit he said hurt. Just the thought of my family being torn apart disturbed me, but I had hopes that Nokea would see things differently.
“Calm your ass down. I'm not asking you to have my back. All I ask is that you listen. I have to tell Nokea about my son, and it is killing me because I need to get this shit off my chest. I don't know what her reaction is going to be, but just pray for me, all right? Can you at least do that for me?”
I hadn't seen Shane look this disgusted in a long time. He didn't even know yet that the woman in question was Scorpio. I was skeptical about telling him, but I wanted to get it out in the open.
“I'm always gon' pray for you, my brotha. In the meantime, you got some soul-searching to do. I can only hope that this woman ain't trying to get you for your dollars. Are you one hundred percent sure the child is yours?”
“A hundred and twenty percent sure. He looks just like me, even more than LJ. LJ is a shade darker than me, but he's almost identical.”
“What's his name?”
“Justin. Justin Rogers.”
“What about his mother? How did you meet her?”
“I've known her for a long time.”
“How long?”
“Years.”
“So you've been fucking around with her since you've been here?”
“Before that.”
Shane's face scrunched up and his head cocked back. “Felicia?” he asked.
“No,” I paused. “Scorpio.”
Shane shot up from his seat like a rocket. “Scorpio?” he shouted, then placed his hands behind his head. “How? When-”
“That night I left your house and talked to you about moving to Florida, I dropped by her house. We had sex, and several weeks ago, I found out she had my baby.”
Shane stood still, staring at me without a blink.
“I know this shit gonna take some time to settle,” I said. “But at the end of the day, I have to do right by my son. You know me, Shane, and you know I'm not going to turn my back on him.”
Shane finally blinked and rubbed down his face. “You weren't in St. Louis last night. Who were you with? Are you still fucking her, Jay?”
“I moved Scorpio, my son and Mackenzie here. They arrived yesterday, and yes, we have been intimate.”
At that moment, Shane walked out. I heard his footsteps go upstairs, and it was pretty clear that he was upset. Shit, if that was his reaction, I could only imagine Nokea's.
NOKEA
Something was going on between Jaylin and Shane, but Jaylin told me it was nothing to worry about. They were barely speaking to each other around the house. Shane was usually gone, more than he was here. They hadn't even been going to the office together, and I eavesdropped on a conversation they were having in Shane's bedroom the other day. They were arguing.
“And I don't need you judging my ass either!” Jaylin yelled. “I'm not expecting you to take my side, but some of your words have been insulting. As a friend, you can get at me better than you have. That's all I'm saying.”
“And all I'm saying is you are wrong! You hate for anybody to call you on your shit, but I have no problem doing it! I'm done trying to talk to you about what I think you should do, and the next time you find yourself in a jam like this, don't come to me with it! Especially, if you're not willing to listen.”
“I'm always willing to listen, but advice that is followed by attacks and harsh words go in one ear and out the other. Come to me correct, brotha. And whether you agree with how I handle my business or not, that's the least you can do. It's a respect thing, no matter what.”
Shane didn't respond to Jaylin. Before I got busted for listening in, I walked away from the door. I assumed their argument might have been about business. Just last night, I saw them standing by the outside Jacuzzi having a civil conversation. They both had drinks in their hands. When they slammed their hands together, I guessed they had reconciled whatever differences they'd had.
 
 
As for me, well, things weren't quite that simple. I backtracked Jaylin's steps from at least three and a half weeks ago, pretty surprised by what I found. First of all, whenever I stepped to Jaylin with my concerns, I always had to present him with the facts. He was the kind of man who would take the information I had and make it look like the opposite.
I wasn't sure how he could or would deny the reservation confirmation I'd found on his computer, clearly stating that he had taken a flight to St. Louis a few weeks back, not Chicago as he had told me. Then there was the receipt from the casino I'd found in his pocket. It was clearly from a casino in St. Louis as well, and so was the receipt I'd found for the hotel suite he'd paid almost $600 a night for. Lastly there was his Facebook page. He'd been discussing our business with a lot of women. They had plenty of questions about our relationship and about him. Some of the comments upset me, and Jaylin's arrogance had me shaking my head.
My main concern was about him admitting he'd spent some time with Scorpio. I couldn't read everything, because I heard him coming through the door. And when I tried to check his Facebook page later, his password had been changed. I had never been the kind of wife to search through his things; but surely if you seek, you will find. After finding all of that, I searched his cell phone records on the computer. Of course, I needed a password to log in to that too. After trying one password after the next, surprisingly, I was able to log in when I typed in
Mackenzie.
Not LJ, or Jaylene, or Nokea, or Nanny B, but ... Mackenzie. I went through his phone records. During the time he was away, I noticed one number in particular. I called the number anonymously, and it was no surprise who answered.
Scorpio
. I hung up, and since then, I had said not one word to Jaylin.
He was already running around here being fake, but I knew his fakery wouldn't last for long. He'd tell me what was up. If he didn't come clean after the weekend was over, I would.
 
 
Our neighbors down the street were having another one of their dinner gatherings, which we always looked forward to attending. The reason was simply because Jaylin and Shane always made more business connections, and those connections turned into more money. I didn't mind going, as I had gotten pretty close with the other wives in the neighborhood. Sometimes we'd shop together, take the kids out together, go walk together, etc.
Tiffanie was going to be there too. For the night, Joy had been put on the back burner. According to Tiffanie, she was okay with Shane seeing other people, and she decided to back off. She said that she'd started seeing other people too. I was happy about her decision to do that. Besides, it seemed like I had bigger fish to fry, so Shane and Tiffanie's issues were no longer my concern.
I wanted to look my best tonight. I had gone to the hairdresser and had my hair hooked up right. My right side was cut low, but my left side was cut into a hanging bob that crossed over my forehead and almost covered my eye. The hairdresser called it “Rihanna style.” My dress was a long-sleeved silk white minidress that had a plunging dip in the back. It clung to my curves all over and showed off my nicely toned caramel legs. The dress, itself, resembled the one Amber Rose wore at the music awards with Kanye West. Too sexy for my taste or not, when I saw it, I had to have it. I wore silver-strapped heels with rhinestones and had a purse that matched. My sweet perfume was working for me. When I looked in the mirror, I was delighted by what I saw. To heck with Jaylin, if he ever required much more than what I had to give.
I left the bathroom, only to find Jaylin and Shane sitting in the great room with their black suits on and white pressed shirts underneath. They had drinks in their hands, and I could tell they were waiting on me. Yes, they both looked gorgeous; and when I saw Jaylin glance at his watch, I stepped up my pace. I stood next to the tall, thick columns near the foyer, holding my tiny purse in my hand.
“Sorry it took me so long,” I said, smiling at the awed looks on their faces. “I'm ready whenever you are.”
Jaylin and Shane, too, continued to look at me as if I hadn't said a word. Shane slowly stood up, and Jaylin still hadn't moved.
“I—I'm going outside to get some fresh air,” Shane said. He walked past me with approval, yet some lust in his eyes. “You look nice, Nokea. Real nice.”
“Thank you,” I said, blushing. “So do you.”
Jaylin stood up and guzzled down his glass of Rémy. He kept his eyes on me, and then he placed the glass on the table.
“Do you... Are you wearing any panties?” he asked. “I can tell you don't have on a bra, and your nipple imprints are showing.”
“Thanks for noticing my hair. I had it done today. My nails were done too, and my panties are, indeed, on.”
Jaylin stepped up to me and took my hand. He placed it on his heart. “Can you feel that?” he asked.
“Yes. Now, why is your heart beating fast?”
“Because you are the sexiest, most beautiful, loving and dedicated woman I know. I don't know if I should send you back in our room to put on another dress, or be proud that I have you as my wife. You already know that if you keep that dress on, I'm gonna be all over you tonight. The men are not going to be able to contain themselves, and I already gotta go check that fool, Shane, for drooling at his mouth.”
“Do what you gotta do,” I said, turning around. “I'm not taking off this dress, and the only thing you can do is be proud to call me your wife.”
I stepped away, and Jaylin couldn't resist pulling me back into his arms and kissing me. His hands swayed all over my backside, and he couldn't help but take a squeeze.
“I have got to be the luckiest man in the world. My dick already leaking, and we need to hurry back from this party—soon.”
I took Jaylin's hand and we made our way to the car. We only had to drive about half a mile down the street. As soon as we parked, we could see how crowded the party was. Bentleys, Jags, Mercedes-Benzes—expensive cars were everywhere, and our neighbors definitely knew how to throw a party.
As soon as we got inside, everybody was being friendly. Along with Jaylin and me, and Shane and Tiffanie, there were only two other black couples there. We were very cool with them, so we stopped to talk to them first. Jaylin kept a tight grip on my hand, and that was a good thing. I didn't know if the dress was too much or not, but it was definitely bringing me attention, especially from the men. My neighbor's husband, Jerrod, who lived directly across from us, he was the first to pay his compliments. He looked me over; then he patted Jaylin on his back.
“You guys are so fucking awesome, man. Nokea looks magnificent.”
He leaned over to kiss my cheek and I proudly turned it up to him. “Thanks, Jerrod,” I said. “Your wife, Marsha, looks spectacular too.”
“Oh, not like you do. You remind me of that, uh, Nia Long chick. She is hot!” He calmed himself and straightened his suit jacket. “Have an enjoyable evening and do not leave until you've tried some of the dip over there. Marsha made it and it is
the
best.”
“I will,” I said, releasing Jaylin's hand so I could walk over to the bar and try the dip. Surprisingly, he let my hand go. When I walked away, my sexy walk was on point. I purposely strutted my stuff. No sooner had I tasted the dip, another one of my neighbors came up to me. His name was Charles and he was known as the playboy of the neighborhood. George Clooney was written all over him; and for many women, he was hard to resist.
“Nokeaaa,”
he said, dragging out my name while holding out his arms for a hug. I hugged him and he slowly rubbed up and down on my back. “You look lovely,” he said. “Where's Jaylin?”
I looked around Charles. As I had suspected, Jaylin's eyes were focused in our direction. Charles put his fist up at Jaylin, and all he did was nod. I was just about ready to walk away, but that's when I saw Tiffanie heading my way. She had arrived separately from us, planning to meet up with Shane at the party.
“Hey, you.” She smiled, making her way through the crowd. “I love, love, love your dress. Where in God's earth did you get it from?”
“I'll tell you later,” I said, looking her over. Tiffanie looked nice too. She had on a simple black strapless dress that gave her boobs an extra boost. “Did you see Shane?” I asked.
“I did, but he's talking to Mr. Milono right now. I know it's about business, so I stepped away to find you. Let's go get something to drink.”
I looked back to see if I could see Jaylin, but he had walked away. Tiffanie, several other ladies and I were standing around talking about reality TV shows. We laughed at all that was going on with the shows that we loved to watch, and talked badly about the ones that we couldn't resist watching. As one of the ladies was giving her input, I looked behind her and saw Shane standing alone on the balcony, looking at the amazing scenery down below. His suit jacket was pulled back and his hands were in his pockets. “Sexy” was the only word that described him. I excused myself from the ladies and walked up closer to him.
“Are you having a good time?” I asked.
Before he said a word, his eyes searched me up and down. “Yes, Nokea, I'm having a great time. I was looking around for Jaylin, but I didn't see him.”
“I saw him inside talking to Mr. Milono and some of his buddies. They sure do like you and Jaylin a lot.”
Shane laughed. “As long as you got the money to fit in their circle, everything is fine. You should know that by now.”
“I'm starting to get the picture,” I said, chuckling. “But, uh, I've been meaning to ask you, is everything okay with you and Jaylin? I've noticed some changes with the two of you, and I hope you're still excited about being here with us.”
“I'm good. Real good. Jaylin has been more than a friend to me, almost like a brother. We have our differences sometimes, but there ain't nothing we won't be able to work through.”
“That's good to know. I know how much he cares for you, and he's been so happy since you've been here with us.”
“I know how much he cares and loves you too, Nokea. I hope you know that he will do anything in the world for you and the kids.”
“Of course. Why wouldn't he?”
I could tell Shane knew what was going on behind closed doors. For him to say what he'd said, that was just another clue. Everything was starting to add up, and I couldn't wait to present Jaylin with the facts, along with what I had suspected.
Everyone talked and danced the night away. Jaylin and I had a wonderful time fast and slow dancing on the concrete patio full of intoxicated people. Jaylin and Shane kept switching partners; and whenever Shane would get too close to me, Jaylin would cut in. He was so protective of me. As numerous men asked to dance with me, he made it clear that wasn't going to happen. He kept complimenting me throughout the night, and many of our neighbors stressed what an attractive couple we made.
“Oh, I would pay millions to watch the two of you make love,” my neighbor Nancy said. “Jaylin oozes sex appeal, and so do you. I bet sex with him is
sooo
great, isn't it?”
Tiffanie and I looked at each other and laughed. I knew Nancy had had too much to drink, but what an inappropriate thing to say. When I didn't answer, she made a comment to Tiffanie.
“Stop laughing, you lucky bitch. Shane is just as gorgeous, and I hate you for nabbing that great piece of ass. Those two make me want to go black and never go back. My husband is such a lazy bum in bed. Boy, does that man need help in the bedroom!”
BOOK: Jaylin's World
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