Chapter 4
It was May 12, the beginning of a new workweek. Kiara sat at her desk and tried to rub the sleepiness from her eyes. Tony Fu entered her office without knocking. He was holding his cell phone. His earbuds were plugged in his ears. He was bobbing his head and singing to himself.
“Tony!”
He started doing the Schmoney dance.
“I swear to God you are black.”
“What you say?” He finally unplugged the earbuds and lowered the volume.
“I said you’ve got good taste in music and that’s a fact.”
“Sure, you did. Now, what do you need?”
“Oh, Tony, I’ve been having trouble with SharePoint all afternoon. Can you help me out while I sit at my little table over there and review some paperwork?”
“No problem. Anything for you, Mrs. Eason.”
She grinned. “It’s been a long time since anyone called me that.”
“We haven’t seen your hubby in a minute. When is he coming back up here?”
“Oh, shoot. I don’t know. He’s been very busy. Like super busy. Like ‘who are you’ and ‘what’s your name again’ busy.”
“Uh oh.”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just that we both hustle our asses off. Like every Sunday, Rashad leaves in the dark and comes home in the dark. And I don’t totally complain because, you know, a lot of times, after I’m done with doing laundry, doing a little gardening, and cleaning the house, both Myles and I are up here. My little boy runs up and down the hallways getting into stuff while I’m here at my desk slaving away. And I feel guilty because little Myles needs me. He needs both of us. And my husband works so hard, I feel he needs me too.”
“What does he do to show you that he needs you?”
“What do you mean?”
She moved out of Tony’s way so he could get to her computer.
“I was just wondering. Guys act pretty helpless when they want something.”
“Well, if my man needed anything, I hope he’d tell me.”
“So it sounds like he hasn’t asked you for anything lately.”
“Tony, don’t play with me. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m not saying anything. I’m trying to fix your problem.”
“My problem?”
“Your SharePoint problem.”
“All right, Tony, I know you aren’t thinking about SharePoint. I trust your judgment, so if there’s something I ought to know, spill it.”
A loud rapping noise interrupted them. Tony looked up. A man in a brown hat, brown shirt, and matching shorts stood at the door.
“Sorry. My schedule got way off today. No one else is around. Here’s a delivery for Kiara Eason.”
“I’ll sign for it.” Tony jumped up and scribbled his signature on the electronic device that the delivery man thrust at him.
“Thanks. Cool,” Tony said. He set the massive bouquet of flowers on Kiara’s round office table. The mixed arrangement sat in a tall vase and was made up of all Kiara’s favorites: roses, daisies, mums, and spray roses in full bloom. The fragrance filled Kiara’s nostrils as she pressed her nose against the exotic flowers and inhaled.
“These flowers are beautiful. That man is amazing.”
“You gonna read the card?”
“What for? Rashad knows what I like.”
“I just thought you’d want to know what he said. Maybe he’s been a bad boy.”
“Nah, he’s just trying to be a better husband. I’ve been hounding him lately. That’s what this is about.” Kiara kicked off her heels. She leaped up and down and grabbed Tony by the hand. They did a little dance and Kiara couldn’t stop laughing.
“Oh, he gone get some tonight.”
“Hush, Tony. I just get very happy when Rashad listens to me. I told him that’s what he needs to do. And these flowers prove all my hard work pays off—eventually.”
“If you’re hIllustrationnh phúc, I’m hIllustrationnh phúc.”
“Yes, Tony. I am happy.” It was an expression Tony used all the time around the office and Kiara knew exactly what he meant.
 
That night when Kiara got home, she was in a good mood. Rashad may have slipped up in the past, but as long as he was doing everything he could to keep Kiara happy these days, she’d look past his minor indiscretions. So she made last-minute arrangements to drop Myles off at Mama Flora’s, who said she welcomed the company.
She rushed home and got ready for her husband.
And when Rashad trudged into the house after parking his van in the driveway, she met him at the door.
Kiara grinned and stretched out her bare leg so it was the first thing he saw when he got near the front door.
“What’s this?” He stared her up and down and smiled his approval. Rashad loved when Kiara wore sexy lingerie. She was dressed in all white. He could see her cleavage. Her feet were bare. Her bob looked messy and unkempt just the way he liked it.
“It’s me. And I’m all yours, babe.” She handed him a glass of red wine, then pointed to a tray of ice-cold beer.
“This is dope. What’s up with all this?”
“I want to be as good to you as you are to me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“C’mon, babe. Stay with me. Please don’t kill my vibe.”
“You’re cray cray, woman.”
“That’s not helping either, Rashad.”
He lugged a heavy toolbox into the house and lowered it onto the floor in the hallway.
“Did I get any mail?”
“Babe, forget about work. Forget about mail. Forget about hammers and pliers and paint. Tonight is all about us.”
“Where’s little man?”
“That’s what I’m telling you. I found a sitter. It’s just me and you for the next twenty-four.”
“Whoa, you’re pulling out all the stops.”
She beamed at him as she grabbed his hand and led him into the media room. The entire room was lit up by fragrant candles. The aroma of roses and vanilla permeated the air.
Bump and grind music played in the background. The water from the aquarium bubbled. Everything felt homey and very sexy. If Kiara was honest, she knew that she hadn’t been the most flirtatious with her husband as much as she claimed. She actually thought that if she sexually served it up to him, then whatever she did should last for weeks. But in reality, she knew that a strong marriage needed much more frequent romanticism.
Kiara threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“I’ve missed you, and I’ve been thinking about the man that I first met when we fell in love. Just hold me.”
He hugged her too and was impressed. Kiara could be hot and sensuous, and everything she was doing turned him on. He knew she’d cooked a great meal too because he could smell the aroma drifting through the house.
“You’re amazing. So dope. You really know how to take care of a man.” He picked her up and carried her like they were walking over a threshold for the first time after getting married.
He gently laid her on the sofa and after she scooted so that her head rested on the big throw pillows, he knelt beside her and gazed into her big brown eyes. She grinned with happiness and sighed.
“You do love me, huh?” he asked.
“You know that already.”
“S-sometimes I don’t feel the love.”
“I know and I’m sorry about that. I stay on your ass because I do love you, in spite of everything.”
“You’re too good to me,” he muttered.
“And you’re good to me.” She was thinking about her flowers, which were wonderful. But she wanted more than just flowers.
“Hell, I’m not as good as I ought to be. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying.”
“That’s what’s important. If we both keep trying, we’re going to make it. I believe that.”
Her voice caught in her throat and she started sniffling.
“Aw, damn. Here it comes.” He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Can’t help it. I may bitch from time to time but when I think about my life, I know I’m mostly blessed. I have a beautiful, bright son who is my world. I feel I don’t even deserve him half the time. And I saw a little baby today after work when I went to pick up groceries, and it made me think.”
“Think about what?” He sprung back.
“Rashad, I know we haven’t talked about having another baby in years.”
“Kiara, you know I got a lot going on already. It’s not a good time.”
“I know, but when is having a child ever a good time? Sometimes these things are not in our hands.”
“If we keep a condom in our hands and always roll it on this dick, it is in our hands.”
“You’re so silly. But, well, if you don’t think we’re ready this year . . . to try again, I guess I will accept it.”
“Look at you. I thought you were so busy trying to be Ms. Super Executive at the j-o-b.”
“I am and I’m doing great. I guess I feel I’m at the point where if I took a short leave of absence to have a baby, it wouldn’t hurt. But sometimes after a woman has a kid, she ends up quitting her job. Or the job forces her out because they think her priorities have shifted.”
Kiara knew her proposal stunned Rashad. But he was a good father, and perhaps having another child would strengthen the weak parts of their marriage. But if it didn’t work out, she couldn’t totally lose. They made great babies, plus she knew she’d be guaranteed hefty child support for at least eighteen years.
“Whoa whoa whoa. All this talk about babies.” Rashad looked like he had morning sickness and was about to vomit.
“Look, silly, I definitely don’t have any of those scenarios in mind. I was just thinking of Myles. I’ve never wanted him to be an only child.”
“Hmmm,” was all Rashad could say.
Kiara reached up and pulled Rashad closer. He responded to her aggressiveness and gave her a long, sincere kiss.
“If that’s what you want, we gotta talk about it and make that decision together, all right?” he asked.
“That’s fine.”
Kiara closed her eyes as Rashad kissed her. She thought that if he did everything she wanted, then the money she’d been saving up could be used for Myles. But if Rashad resorted to his old ways and messed over her, the cash could serve as her rainy-day divorce fund. In her head, it would be a retainer fee for a good-ass lawyer who could help her get everything she deserved for any marital hell she endured.
Kiara came up for air. “I just want my life with you to be good, Rashad. I mean it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I want that, too.”
She led him to the bathroom.
“Damn, you already got the bubble bath ready?”
She smiled and went over to stick her tongue deep in his mouth. Rashad loved to kiss.
He started to get aroused.
He unbuckled his belt and let her pull down his pants. He grabbed her boobs and held them like two coconuts. Then he bent over and began to suck her nipples. She tilted back her head and moaned. When he was done, she kissed him on his neck and sucked his earlobes. By the time he penetrated her, Rashad forgot all the baby talk. He was into his wife. He laid her on the floor.
“Hold on a sec,” she said.
Kiara got up and ran to get a condom first and rolled it on him. Then she inserted his dick inside her. It had been a minute since they made love. This reconnect felt so good. Kiara hoped the intimate moment would remind Rashad of the blessing he had at home.
 
After a decent evening, Kiara returned to work the next day and politely greeted everyone on her way to her office.
When she sat down at her desk and powered up the computer, she barely had time to check emails before her extension rang. The ID said it was Eddison Osborne.
She picked up and placed the call on speaker. “Hey, my friend. How was your evening?”
“Probably not as good as yours.”
“My night was wonderful. But how did you know?”
“So did you like the surprise?”
“What surprise?”
“The delivery you got yesterday.”
“Um, yeah, but how did you know?”
“I checked the delivery status online . . . Oh wow. Awkward.”
Kiara bolted from her chair and ran over to her small conference table. The card that she neglected to read when her bouquet arrived was still there.
She grabbed the note card. It read:
Thanks for a job well done. You are magnificent. E.O.
 
“Oh, no.”
“What was that?”
“Eddison. I am so embarrassed. You did that.”
“Mm hmmm.”
“You did that.” She couldn’t help but laugh.
Then she giggled hysterically.
“Is everything okay, Kiara?”
“I wish you could see me right now.”
“I wish I could, too.”
“No, seriously, Eddison. You are a sweetheart. That’s number one. And yes, I got the beautiful, wonderful flowers. That was so thoughtful of you.”
“You deserved them. I appreciate how you came through for the kids recently when you presented at the Career Day Event.”
“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it was nothing.”
Career Day was last Thursday. Kiara was so accustomed to finishing her projects and moving on to the next thing, she had forgotten all about it.
Kiara slowly walked back over to her desk and plopped down on her seat. I gave all that loving to one man, when it was really another man that made me feel special. And he called me “magnificent.” Rashad has never called me that.
“You still there?”
“Uh, yes, sorry. There’s so much going on. In fact, let’s meet up. How are you for lunch today?”
“I had something but it can be rescheduled. Anything for you, boss lady.”
“I’m not your boss.”
“Not yet!”
She gasped and lifted up the handset and spoke into the phone. “Eddison, what are you saying?”
“I’m just being respectful. You’re a hard worker and you deserve the kudos. I’d love for you to be my boss.”
Eddison’s words made Kiara’s heart completely fill with warmth. She always enjoyed speaking with her work colleague. He was an academic advisor within their division and sometimes acted as a mentor. When Kiara really thought about it, she appreciated how he was positive and encouraging no matter what. He reminded her of . . . herself.
Not to mention Eddison was also hot. He had the most beautiful redbone complexion—it reminded her of a café latte. He wore a neat mustache and beard, had the perfect size lips, and his hair—Eddison’s brown hair was twisted in short dreadlocks. He was like the hip professor on campus that every staff person wanted to know and every female student fantasized about.
“I’ll bet you’re dressed very nice today.”
“Oh, this old thing. I just reach in my closet and grab whatever is available.”
“I don’t believe that for a second. As a matter of fact, I know you’re the type of woman who cares about her appearance, about all the details. That’s you.”
She swallowed deeply. She tried to think of Rashad. What was he doing right then? Was he thinking of her? Or was he knee-deep in work and she was the furthest thing from his mind?
“Eddison, I gotta go. And I will see you today. Say twelvish?”
“Not a minute too late.”
 
Kiara and Eddison met at a popular Vietnamese restaurant. They were shown to a booth by the window. The sun’s brilliance poured into the room and made the atmosphere feel happy.
Eddison pulled out Kiara’s seat. She gave him a pleased look and sat down. He was dressed in a nice gray suit with a polka dot tie. His black leather shoes were polished to perfection.
Eddison tried not to stare at Kiara while he reviewed his menu. He thought she looked pretty as usual, but this time there was something in her eyes that made him want to comfort her.
“First things first, Eddison. Thank you for the flowers. Again, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Did you like them?”
“They were pretty. They made me feel really good, too. You know just what I like.”
They locked eyes.
An incredibly warm feeling flowed through her. His innocent flirts were something she always ignored. But right then, Kiara thought that maybe Adina was on to something. It wouldn’t hurt to keep Eddison around.
“How’re things going? Did you need anything?”
“Oh, no, we’re good right now. But I did want to mention that I made an offer to Nicole Greene. Remember her from all the candidates we brought in for that job interview? I’m so glad you sat on the interviewing board for our department. Anyway, she will be starting this week.”
“Right . . . I’m glad to hear that you filled your position.”
“It’s a shame that we can’t pay a media coordinator more than sixteen dollars an hour. And it’s sad because she’s new to town and is starting over by herself with no family.”
“And you know this how?”
“I got a chance to talk on a more personal level with her. She seems a bit introverted but it’s okay. Nicole’s very qualified. And the rest of the loud-talking staff will make up for her shyness.”
“You’ve figured it all out, haven’t you? You’re so good at that.”
“Ha! I wish my home life were as easy to manage as my work life.”
“What’s going on? How is Rashad? The man whom I always hear about but have never met in person.”
“Eddison, I feel a little awkward telling you this, but hey, I definitely know your background. I can’t believe you’re still single years after your wife died.”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, look at you. You’re—” She stopped herself as their waiter approached the table.
Service in the restaurant was a little behind since there was a huge lunch crowd. Kiara started to place her order. She could feel Eddison’s intense stare, but she pretended not to notice. As soon as their waiter left, he probed. “You were saying? You said I’m so something, but then you stopped.”
“Oh, Eddison, there’re so many things I just don’t understand.”
Kiara could feel it coming. She looked him in the eyes and her voice grew quieter. “I lied to you. Kind of. Okay, I thought my husband sent me the flowers that you actually got for me. So I went home and I put it on him. I practically seduced him and it was cool, you know. It’s been a minute and I know this is TMI, but, hey, it is what it is. Right now I need a male perspective.”
He stared at her with concern in his eyes. “Go on, dear.”
“I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. Even though we had a great evening, I noticed that before I left the house this morning, he was acting a little cold and indifferent. When I tried to get him to open up, he shut me down. But then he warmed up a little later and it seemed like things were normal. But this hot-and-cold stuff . . . I try to pretend like whatever his problem is has nothing to do with me, but now I’m starting to wonder.”
“It’s normal to wonder. How do you feel about what he’s doing? What do you want?”
“I want him to know I feel disrespected.”
“Have you told him that?”
“He should know.”
“No, he won’t know. A man isn’t a mind reader. Tell Rashad how you feel.”
“I will. I have to. But I’d hate to think that I am driving my husband to not want to be around me for any reason. I’ll try to make things right until I get sick of trying, if that makes sense.”
All she wanted was to be comforted and understood.
Eddison discreetly placed his hand on top of hers. “Kiara. It’s not you. You are the type who puts everything she has into a project to ensure its success. You are doing your very best and probably aren’t getting the results you think you should. Am I right?”
“Yes. I have been like this since I was a kid. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
“Kiara, take it from me. Ambition is a good thing, but it can be a terrible master.”
“What does that mean?”
“The things that we desperately want and are committed to getting sometimes take us down roads we shouldn’t travel. We are driven to the point of getting ourselves in a jam.”
“And I can’t stand trouble. So what should I do?”
Eddison told her, “You can either have patience, keep doing what you’re doing, and hope that eventually things will work out.”
“Or?”
“Or you may have to figure out a different plan. If Plan A isn’t working, go to Plan B.”
“Dammit.” Kiara was torn. “I’m actually already there. I hate when I’m right.”
“I don’t know everything that’s going on with your relationship, but when I sit across from you, I see a young, beautiful, smart, sexy woman.” He whispered the word “sexy” and the chills she felt caused her to tremble like she was cold. But Kiara was far from cold. Eddison’s ability to notice her, to see her, and make her feel alive and valued, stirred something she hadn’t felt in months.
“Me? Sexy?”
“You. Very very sexy. I don’t know why you can’t see it.”
Eddison and Kiara’s relationship was always sincere and friendly. She’d known his wife, Nina Osborne, who had been a strong woman who loved her husband. After Nina passed away, Kiara offered her support but he told her he wanted to grieve in private. But now it seemed like he was returning to himself. He became more open and transparent with her. He seemed happier, engaged, and trying to cherish each day. She felt he deserved all the happiness that life could offer him.
“Eddison, you’re just being nice, and I appreciate your confidence in me, but—”
“But what? You don’t agree with me?”
“It’s not me that I’m concerned about.”
“I see something that maybe he doesn’t see. And if he can’t see, then he’s a fool.”
“Eddison, I don’t like how this conversation is going and—”
“You may not like it, but all of us have to come to the point in which we must face the truth. I had to face it when the military told me that Nina died. I did not believe it. I kept texting her. And she didn’t text back. I never spoke to my wife again. I had to snap out of it. In truth, I just recently boxed up her clothes, her shoe collection, her cosmetics that had been stored in an upstairs room. Took it all to the Salvation Army. I had to let go of that life. Kiara, I hope you’re hearing me. Let me say it again. As hard as we may try . . . sometimes we must face the truth.”
Kiara heard him. And she felt scared. Right then, things felt way too personal. But she blamed herself for opening up. Eddison’s implications were too much for her to think about in that setting. She felt relieved when her plate of hot food arrived. She quickly changed the subject and was able to lighten the conversation.
Eddison continued eating and loved it when he could make Kiara forget her troubles, loosen up and laugh.
“Hold on a sec, Eddison. I’m going to call Rashad.”
“All right.”
She retrieved her cell and dialed his number.
The call went straight into voice mail.
“Told ya. No answer.”
“How you feel?”
“I’m over it. My happiness will not be based on whether or not anyone answers their damned cell phone. That’s crazy.”
“That’s more like it,” Eddison told her.
She picked up her fork and ate some shrimp and chicken.
“Now this,” she said, and laughed, “is living.”
“That smile, though,” he said, and stared at her plump lips.
“Eddison, how does your food taste?”
“It’s good. And yours?”
“It’s great. I love it. And I love yours, too.” She winked as she scooped up some of the vegetables off his plate and laughed as she ate them.
He picked up one of his egg rolls and held it high. “Kiara, one day you’re going to do something totally different. Like dip my egg roll in your sweet and sour sauce . . . and lick it.”
They both laughed.
Kiara figured Eddison was being flirty and she took it with a grain of salt. As they finished their meal, she decided no matter how peculiar her husband was behaving, she wanted to give their relationship her all.
Eddison could just be her handsome, minor distraction.
 
That night Kiara prepared dinner and helped Myles with his homework as she waited for Rashad to come home. But after waiting for an hour, she called Myles to the kitchen.
“It’s about time. I’m starving. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. And a pig. And a whale,” Myles said.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but none of those animals are on the menu, son. Tonight we are eating spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and corn on the cob.”
“Is that all?”
“I did my best. I just want you to eat it and like it. Eating will make you big and strong.”
“Strong like Daddy?”
“Yes, if you eat all your food, you’ll be big and tall just like him.”
“Where is Daddy?”
“Working.”
“When will he be back from work? Will he wake me up and play in my room like he did last time? I want Daddy to help me put together my toy copter.”
“I know, sweetie. I know.” Kiara recalled how Rashad swore up and down he’d help Myles assemble the radio-controlled helicopter that he obsessed over ever since they bought it for him last month. Rashad promised they’d go out to the neighborhood park and fly it all day. But weeks had passed with Rashad offering every excuse imaginable.
“Men work, Myles. And your daddy is a man.”
“He’s a good man.”
“A good man . . . is an accessible man.”
 
When Rashad finally stepped into the house around nine-thirty, Kiara met him at the door.
“Hey,” she said in a crisp tone.
“Hi.” He looked past her and saw his brown polyester upright luggage bag. It was opened and set on the floor. Kiara had purchased the complete set for him years ago. “Why is my favorite suitcase sitting in the middle of the hallway? Are you going somewhere?”
“I’m not, but you might be.”
“Kiara, what’s wrong now?”
“I’ve wanted to talk to you about something, but you’re always gone. Or you don’t have time. Or you’re sleepy. You’re sick. Always something.”
“We were just together yesterday.”
“That was then, this is now. How about tonight, Rashad?”
“I’m only one person. And after I get myself situated in a minute, I’d like to go play with my son.”
“Do you know what time it is?”
“Myles won’t care. Trust me. I’m going to be a good daddy no matter how much time I spend in the streets.”
“I just want to know if you’re doing anything else besides working.”
He sighed and moved past her toward the kitchen. “Kiara, aren’t you the one who said you don’t mind me working like a slave?”
“That’s true, Rashad, but you are doing more than slave work.”
“Huh?”
“Hand over your cell phone. I need to make a phone call.”
“Woman, you must be tripping. You got your own phone and then there’s the house phone, too.”
“Why can’t I use your phone? Where is it?” She started toward him.
He began to back away. “You do not want to do that.”
“You’re right. I don’t. I just want you to answer this. Are you fucking another chick?”
“Really, Kiara.”
“I ain’t joking. Answer me.”
“You’re so loud you’re going to scare Myles.”
Kiara stared at Rashad. He looked like he was ready for battle. She leaped at his pants but fell to the floor instead.
“You need to stop. This ain’t a good look. You know my work ethic. You ought to trust me.”
“Where’s that going to get me?”
He reached down and pulled her up. He removed his cell phone from his back pocket. He handed her the phone.
“Who do you want to call?”
She paused but refused to take his phone. “One day you’re going to find out.”
He put his phone back in his pocket. “Kiara, just know that I-I don’t want to hurt you. I want our family to be okay and I need you to be the good wife that you always are. You are dope, Kiara. And I-I’m sorry for neglecting you sometimes. But no, I don’t have another woman.”
Then he walked away from her.
“I didn’t ask you if you had somebody, I asked you if you’re fucking somebody,” she yelled at him.
He ignored her and kept going till he reached their master bathroom. The walls and flooring boasted decorative diagonal beige tiling. His and hers vanity sinks were topped with granite. The room was dark but he saw that their Roman tub was filled with popping bubbles.
“Damn. Kiara still thinks about me even when I act like an ass.”
Rashad quickly got undressed. He noticed the glass of red wine and the flickering candles on the side of the tub, which made him feel worse.
“I owe this woman.”
Soon Kiara stood in the doorway watching him.
“Um, Rashad—”
“You gonna join me, babe?” he asked. He had already stepped into the tub, sat down, and was leaning back and relaxing.
“Nope. Looks like tonight this bath is just for you.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I know. We don’t always get what we deserve, boo.” She smiled at him, folded her arms across her chest, and flicked on the overhead lights.
As soon as Rashad picked up his favorite white bar of soap, he knew something was wrong.
“Why does this soap look blue?”
She shrugged.
Rashad grabbed a wash rag and began wiping his body. He closed his eyes and moaned. The hot water felt good. Kiara burst out laughing. Rashad opened his eyes and looked down. Large dark blue streaks were all over his chest and arms.
“What the fuck?”
“I meant to tell you, sweetie, I accidentally put blue dye in the water instead of that aqua blue bubble bath. I kind of got it mixed up with Myles’s Mr. Bubble container. Sorry! But I did find the real bubble bath and squirted as much of it in the tub as I could.”
“How could you do this? Is this your way of paying me back? ’Cause it’s not working.”
“Then I guess I will keep trying until I find something that works.”
 
The next night, Rashad came home promptly at six. A car that he didn’t recognize sat in his driveway.
When he reached the living room, it was empty. So was the kitchen. Then he heard two voices. They were coming from his bedroom. He heard Kiara say, “Girl, he was the very definition of a man having blue balls.”
Rashad heard shrieks of laughter. He headed for his bedroom and burst through the door.
The room smelled of Pine-Sol.
Kiara was leaning over the bathtub holding a soapy sponge in her hand.
Adina Davis looked up and smiled. She held a sponge, too.
“Well, if it ain’t Rashad Fucking Eason. Long time no see.”
“Kiara, what is she doing here?”
“She’s helping me get back on your good side.” Kiara began vigorously cleaning the blue blemishes from the tub.
“Did you put her up to this, Adina? Because that shit wasn’t funny.”
“Oh, wow, you blame me . . . and I’ve only been in your presence for less than two minutes. Rashad, you need to give your wife a little bit more credit. She can make decisions on her own.”
“Shhh, Adina. Just help me please, girl.”
“Y’all two crazy chicks won’t be able to clean out that dye. I’ll have to replace the entire tub. I hope you had a good time trying to get me back.” He gave Kiara an angry look and walked out of the room.
 
A week later, in the middle of the workweek, Kiara was driving down a feeder road on her way back to the campus. She and Eddison had attended a Board of Regents meeting at one of the satellite campuses. He was tailing her in his dark titanium Chrysler 3000. He picked up his cell phone and voice-dialed Kiara.
“Yes.”
“Hey, I want to talk to you about something important. Can you pull over in the next big parking lot? See that little park up ahead? It won’t take a minute.”
Kiara said okay and drove until she could make a right turn into a driveway of a moderate-size city park. She made the car come to a stop. Eddison parked next to her. He waved at her to come and sit in his passenger seat. She slid in the seat next to him and asked, “Hey, what’s up?”
“I noticed you at the meeting.”
“And?”
“You looked distracted, Kiara. I was a bit concerned. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is great, Eddison. Just . . . just great.”
“Can you truthfully look me in the eye and tell me that you’re happy?”
“Eddison.” She placed her hand on the door handle.
“No, hear me out. Maybe I’m overstepping boundaries but, Kiara, I think you know . . . you know how I feel about you. I respect you and I’d never want to hurt you. But when I see you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re faking it and taking it. And you really don’t have to take it.”
She waited.
“Like, if you ever get to that point where you want something better, consider me.”
Eddison grabbed her hand. He squeezed it.
“Every marriage doesn’t work out. Not to say that yours won’t, but if you’ve given it all you got, and you still aren’t satisfied, weigh your options.”
“Are you telling me you’re a good option?”
“I’m telling you that I’m here for you. I’m not trying to break up your relationship, but I won’t sit back and watch your spirit sink to nothing, either. You have way too much going for you.”
Kiara told Eddison about the most recent events. About how she tried to get Rashad to open up to her but it backfired; and how she tried to get his attention with the blue balls joke and how her actions hadn’t necessarily made things better between them since then.
“No woman can permanently change a man’s ways. Basically, most men will do what they feel they want to do.”
“I now realize that.”
“Kiara, I’m just going to put it out there. Keep me in mind.” He squeezed her hand then let go. “Think of me when you’re feeling down.”
Kiara could only smile and acknowledge the happiness he wanted to offer to her. “If I were to leave him, you’d be my option, Eddison. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve already thought about it.”
“You have?” He looked pleasantly surprised.
“See, that’s what I like about you. You do not take anything for granted.”
Eddison lifted her chin and gently pulled her face near his mouth. When their lips meshed together, the warmth of his touch made Kiara instantly feel like she was being swallowed up by a warm, soothing blanket. He gently and lovingly pressed his lips against hers. Kiara didn’t think about it. She automatically opened her mouth and let Eddison in. He extended his tongue and kept reaching till his touched hers. She widened her mouth and let even more of him in. Kiara wanted Eddison’s kiss. Their tongues bathed each other’s in urgent fashion. She felt like his tongue was making tender love to her entire body. She’d never been kissed that way before. The more she kissed him, the more her vagina got wet. And hot. And she felt she needed to stop. To slow things down. But she couldn’t. Eddison felt too good and he smelled even better. She loved his scent and it turned her on so much that she let go of all logic.
Kiara noticed the second her hand wrapped itself around Eddison’s neck as if it were a snake. She shut out warning thoughts and pulled him closer to her. She longed to feel him, to be as close to him as humanly possible. Little by little, she noticed her nipples grow rock hard. She wondered how it would feel if his hands rubbed her breasts. She couldn’t believe she was sitting in a man’s car in broad daylight with her tongue deep inside his mouth as if she didn’t have a husband back home. That man may have been at home but what was he doing when he wasn’t at home? That’s what had been worrying Kiara lately. Her gut vexed her daily. She didn’t know if she was losing this fight. All she knew was her marriage was in trouble.
When they finally let each other go, Kiara had tears in her eyes.
“Don’t cry. I’d never want to hurt you, my love.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I’d like an honest chance. If fate allows it, I want to be your man.”
Kiara didn’t say a word. She just opened his car door and let herself out. She drove back to work wondering how on earth she got into this position. And how on earth would she get herself out of it.