Tony was constantly blowing up Paige’s phone, but she refused to answer. When it rang six times and went to voice mail, he tossed the phone across the room. He was pissed because he knew he was being purposely ignored. He wanted to see his daughter, and he was getting angrier and angrier that Paige was keeping Tonaya from him.
Paige contemplated answering his calls yesterday, but she did a drive-by to Sharise’s place and saw that his car was still there. Crushed that he wasn’t fighting harder for his family, Paige made her mind up that she was really and truly done with him. He went too far with Sharise . . . Spending the night over there. Openly parking his car in the driveway. He was being extremely disrespectful. She felt as if he was saying, “So what if Paige knows what I’m doing? It is what it is.” The situation had gotten out of control in her mind, and she tried to force her heart to let Tony go.
Paige decided to go out and have a drink to clear her mind. She left the house alone. She didn’t bother her girls to come with her. They would always watch Tonaya if necessary. They’ve always had each other’s backs. When she walked into the Truth-Be-Told Lounge, she went straight to the bar. Not expecting to see anyone special, she didn’t take the extra time to get dressed up. She had on a simple pair of blue stretch jeans, a baby tee, and knee-high black rider boots. She sipped on her Sex on the Beach, and that’s when she suddenly spotted Mad-Dog. He was sitting at the table across from the bar with a girl. A beautiful, stunning girl at that. She immediately regretted coming out, and even more so, how she looked. She waved over the bartender and quietly paid for her drink. She cancelled her order of wings. All she could think about was getting the hell up out of there.
“Shit!” she said out loud to herself. He was seated in such a way that he faced the door. There was no way to make it out of there without being seen unless she walked extremely fast and didn’t hesitate. She waited until he was deep in conversation with the mystery chick, and that’s when she made her move. She got up, praying not to be noticed, but it was too late.
“Ay, yo, Paige!” Mad-Dog said, calling out to her. She stopped in her tracks and spun on her heels. A fake smile found its way to her face. She watched him as he left some money on the table and got up.
“Are you coming back?” the girl he was with said with a screwed up face.
“Nah. Have a good night, baby!”
She stood up in silent protest and put her hand on hip. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. The girl got the message and finally left. Just like that. Mad-Dog was very attractive. Everything from the way he walked . . . the way he bit his bottom lip sometimes when he smiled. He exuded control. Mad-Dog didn’t look back once he saw the girl headed for the door. He was completely focused on Paige.
“Don’t you have a date?” she said to him.
“Nah, I was just killing time until I ran into you or you called me back,” he said. Paige was flattered. “You’re even prettier under your makeup. For real, you don’t even need to wear none,” he said touching her cheek. “Can I kick it with you for a little while?”
“I really have to get back home to my baby.”
“You just walked in here. You’re not fooling nobody, Paige. Relax. Let’s just chill for a minute.”
Chill they did. And that went on for a while, starting something special. Every day Mad-Dog was either taking Paige out, buying her something, talking to her on the phone, or taking her out to eat. Something different each day. And each time was better than the last. He did not try to come at her sexually; he was being a real good friend, and he had a different energy than her girlfriends at home. He brought that masculine swag into her life, and she adored every second of it. So when he finally invited her over to his place to swim in his pool, she was more than willing.
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“Mad-Dog, I gotta be real with you; you’re a good man. You’ve been wining and dining me, and I definitely would love to be more than your friend. But your lifestyle is too much for me. I’m already worrying about you at night, and we’re not even together,” Paige said as she and Mad-Dog stood in front of each other. They were enjoying the warm night air in his pool. They’d been sipping Cîroc and Ace of Spades all night. They were both tipsy.
His arms were wrapped around Paige’s waist, and his face was buried in her neck. “This is all I know, Paige. I’m not new at this. I’ve taken many precautions, so you have nothing to worry about. You gotta accept me as I am. If you can do that, I can cut down my list of females to just one.”
The two of them had been spending a lot of time together, and they were both feeling the intense, rapid growth of feelings for each other. It was undeniable. He took Paige shopping a few times and laced both her and her daughter on several occasions. He was the perfect gentleman, and Paige was falling for him.
“You think you can really be with one woman? Are you convinced of that?” Paige asked.
“I’ve been convinced, ma. The real question is, how sure can I be that you’re not still holding onto Tony? I mean, y’all got almost 10 years in, and I’ve never had a serious relationship before.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I still love Tony. I’d be lying if I said didn’t. But I also know I gotta let him go. He forgot where his loyalty was supposed to be and turned his back on his family.”
“Why do you think he turned his back on you? You told me what happened, but you haven’t even spoke to dude.”
“There is nothing to talk about. And to be honest, that shit was weak, and I cannot be with a man as weak as Tony.”
“And now you’re feeling me, huh?” he asked talking into her ear.
“Yes.”
“You wanna know what I think? I think your heart is broken, and I’m just the guy that’s been here to keep you company.”
“In some ways that’s true, Maddie. But I’m really liking you now. A lot,” she said. She then turned to face him and kissed him for the first time.
“We can stay friends, Paige, until you’re ready. I don’t wanna push you into something, and then find out later that it is not what I thought it was.”
“Shhh!” Paige said, putting her finger to her lips. “That’s my song right there.” The song “Take My Time” came on by Chris Brown. Paige began dancing sensually while she was in Maddie’s arms.
“Baby, you gon’ make a nicca wife you up for real. That’s the only thing I’m missing in my life, for real.”
“So don’t talk about it; be about it.”
He smiled. “You are something else.”
“I try to be. Oh, and I told my big brother about you. Well, he’s not my blood brother, but has always been like one to me. Soulja.”
“And what did he say? I value his opinion. That’s a real thoroughbred, right there. I bet he think I got a thousand females and wouldn’t be no good for you.”
“Actually, he said the opposite. He said you’re a real man, and if I was serious about leaving Tony, that you would be a good man to be in me and my daughter’s life. He said to tell you whattup.”
“That’s love. I’m glad he feels that way. Tell him I said keep his head up.”
“You glad he feels that way, huh? Well, what about how I’m feeling?” Paige asked seductively. Maddie looked at the beautiful, yet vulnerable woman in front of him. He wasn’t sure how to move, but his emotions got the best of him. He leaned in and kissed her. Passionately. He could feel that she was hungry for more of him.
Paige jumped up and wrapped her legs around Mad-Dog’s waist. And the kiss continued. Long and passionate.
“Do you want me, Maddie?” she asked.
“Just as bad as you want me,” he said. He could feel his hardness advancing in the direction of her vagina.
“How you know I want you so bad?” she asked.
“Because I can feel your body trembling, baby. And you’re breathing heavy. And your nipples feel like marbles,” he said, touching them ever so gently.
“Well, since you know so much, why am I out here with you and not in your bed?”