Karmen

Next Day… Noon

Fighting for Don had me losing my mind. I had never and when I say never in my life chased a damn thing. That just wasn’t me, but Don serving me those papers was an eye opener. I never thought he’d do it, but he for sure proved my ass wrong. I loved Adonis and always had, but that saying never missing something until it was gone was nothing but the truth. I never realized how much his presence meant to me until now.

I had been vying for Don’s time and attention for three months now, hoping that he and I could reconcile. Showing up at his job, the gym and his frequent hangouts did me no good because Don didn’t bite the bait I was dangling right in his face. I wore my most seductive clothes and took lunch from his favorite eateries, but all he said was, “I appreciate it Kar, but I’m done, so please let it go.”

Those words… they ate at me and ripped my heart in two. He was really over me and I had to step my game up. There was no way I had been with Adonis all these years and would just allow another chick to swoop in and take what belonged to me. I had no proof that there was another female in Don’s life, but on looks alone he was a great catch, let alone his drive, ambition, and go-getter attitude. He was a definite catch and as soon as it got out that I had let him go, I knew the bitches would be flocking like bees to honey.

Just thinking of his voice and the way he no longer made eye contact with me when he spoke, I knew we were over, but my heart couldn’t take it. The sad part was I wasn’t sure if I couldn’t take it because I truly wanted my husband back, or if I couldn’t take it because I had never been rejected. Without a doubt I loved Adonis. I knew it, but I also knew I was afraid of rejection.

That’s another reason I had my outside activities. Those men needed me and made me feel superior and in control. It was my call what I did with them, if anything, and I lived for the thrill, but once I stopped drinking and decided I wanted my husband back, I knew I had to let go of my extracurricular activities, as I liked to refer to them.

Of course Maddox had been blowing me up apologizing about the stunt his wife pulled, but I told him I would no longer be seeing him. There was no way I could handle dealing with a damn scorned wife at this time in my life. My other lil’ friends, as I like to sometimes call them, were put on hold too. I vowed that if I got Don back, I would never entertain those random men again, but I couldn’t quite tell them all that in case my marriage didn’t work I’d need their income. So instead of cutting them off completely, I told them work was intense right now and I had no time for anything else.

Finally getting a response from Don agreeing to meet me at the house today, I knew this would be my only shot at winning him back. He hadn’t been responding to any of my other efforts so I pulled out all of the stops today. I called in an order for lemon pepper wings and fries from Smoking Wings in the mall, got his favorite banana milkshake from Brewster’s, and had him a nice cold Corona waiting for his lunch. It was almost noon so I pulled my long weave into a bun in the top of my head and threw my blue jean romper on that hung off the shoulders and some brown wedges. Finishing my look with some large diamond hoops that Don purchased for our fifth anniversary, I gave myself a glance over in my full-length mirror. Pleased with my look, I heard my front door open. Rushing out of my room and down the stairs, Kash was coming in the door with her purse, a backpack, and some bags that were almost about to hit the floor. Rushing to her aid, I was able to catch one of her bags before it actually hit the floor.

I hadn’t seen my sister in a while. Kash claimed she was staying with Meesha and school was keeping her busy, but I swear the glow that graced her face was from dick and unless Meesha had something swinging between her legs, she wasn’t the reason for this newfound attitude my sister held. Being honest, my sister had changed since our parents had been away, but this current change wasn’t just an outside glow. It was the way she talked, the way she walked. Shit, it was just everything. She was different. I couldn’t explain it.

“Thanks sis.” She smiled, grabbing the bag from my arms.

“No problem. So, you staying?” I asked since I was really hoping to be alone with Don today while we talked things out.

My sister had been M.I.A. but of all days, she decided to show up today.

“Umm, why?” she questioned, still walking up the stairs with all of her things in her arms without turning around.

“No big deal, but Don agreed to come over so we can talk and I kind of wanted to be alone. You know how long I’ve wanted this chance.” I stopped at the entrance of her bedroom as she plopped all her bags on her bed.

Swinging around in my direction, we were now facing one another.

“Oh, I’m sorry, and that’s great sis. It’s what you wanted, right?” She half grinned, turning back around to tend to her things.

I didn’t know what it was, but it looked sort of fake. Nah, she was my sister. What was I thinking?

“Yea, it is. Is everything ok with you? I mean with school and all. I know I’ve been distracted with the Don situation, but I’m still your big sister and you know I got your back. Right?”

“Yea, sure, and I’ll be in here with my door shut minding my own business. I promise I won’t even come out.” She faced me again and there it was.

That smile.

That yea whatever, I couldn’t care less smile plastered across her face.

“Ok cool, no problem. Thanks.”

Letting it go for now, I eased away from her bedroom door. As I headed back down, I heard the doorbell and I knew it was Don. Since splitting, he was respecting my privacy. He would only come to get his things if I wasn’t home or if Kash was here, so he hadn’t been using his key. I appreciated it, but it made this separation thing seem a little too real. I had been asking where he was staying but he told me he thought it was best I didn’t know since he needed his space and time to think. Responses like that made me wonder if he had already gotten involved with someone, but when I opened the door and Don was standing there with a dozen red roses, which were my favorite, all thoughts of another woman having my man went out the window.

Flowers and a smile had to be a good sign, and I thanked God for that because not only was I about to tell Don I wanted us to give our marriage another shot, but there was more news on the menu this afternoon that would for sure make my husband come back to me.