Chapter 27
Act like an adult, have an affair for once.
-Mýa featuring Jay-Z, “Best of Me (Remix)”
“Oh my god,” Farrah peeked out of the window at the paparazzi, who swarmed her house.
“They’ve been out there all day. You would think they would’ve found a better story to write about by now.” She closed the blinds.
“They will,” London said, drily.
She was on the living room couch, eating popcorn and watching 106 & Park. She was hardly in the mood to hear Farrah whine about the drama she’d created.
“This shit is getting out of hand, though,” Farrah replied, oblivious to her friend’s attitude. “Everywhere I go, they’re there. I can’t stay cooped up in this house forever. I have to get back to work.”
“You sure in the fuck do. I’m tired of picking up your slack,” London shot.
“You act like me missing work is my fault.” Farrah sat beside her on the couch.
“Umm . . . bitch, it is,” London said, mad as hell.
“How? It’s not my fault that some nosy muthafucka took a picture of me and Mills leaving the party together.”
“That’s the thing. You shouldn’t have been leaving with his ass in the first place. I told you not to fuck with him, but noooo, yo’ big-head ass is hardheaded. Now look, your ass can’t even leave the house and our business—” London pointed her hand back and forth between them—“is suffering. Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
“London, it’s easy for you to say leave him alone and don’t fuck with him,” Farrah mocked her voice. “’Cause you’ve never had a husband.”
“And bitch, neither have you,” London snapped. “When are you going to get that Mills is a grimy person and definitely not the person for you? I’m so tired of seeing women try to make shit work with fuckin’ niggas that ain’t even worthy enough to tie they shoes. Like I told you before, nothing about Mills has changed. Hell, he probably has got worse because now he sees how big of a dummy you are.”
“Whoa-whoa-whoa! Flag on the field. “ Farrah signaled her hands like an NFL referee. “Your ass is going too far. You just violated the friendship code, my nigga. I’m dumb now? That really hurt my feelings,” Farrah said, genuinely hurt.
“I’m sorry friend.” London reached over and patted her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you are stupid, though.” She cracked up laughing.
“Fuck you.” Farrah threw up her middle finger. “Who knows, I probably am—”
“You are,” London interjected.
“But I can’t for the life of me escape these feelings I have,” Farrah continued on. “I love J.R., I do and I would give anything to make it work, but he’s made it crystal clear that he ain’t fuckin’ wit’ me.”
“And he shouldn’t,” London agreed.
“Make me feel worse, why don’t you.”
“I’m just saying, you lost one,” London mimicked Chrisette Michele’s voice.
“I know I did.” Farrah stared off into space somberly. “I don’t know . . . it’s just something inside of me that’s confused and fucked up. I want to be happy, but I don’t know how to get there.”
“Maybe this is why things didn’t work out between you and J.R. Maybe you have to find your happy before you can truly be with him.”
Mills had only been put of the house a little over a week, but for him that was a week too long. He didn’t realize how much he’d grown to love his family until he was forced to be away from them. He hadn’t been able to wake up and see his daughter’s beautiful face or be able to roll over and sample some of Jade’s sweet nectar. He couldn’t say that he was madly in love with Jade anymore, but he did care for her greatly.
No matter how you cut it, she was permanent fixture in his life. At one point they had a solid relationship, then she cheated and everything turned to shit. Mills hadn’t been the same since. He would never put himself in the position to be hurt again. After Jade played him to the left and treated him like shit, a piece—if not most—of his heart died.
Mills realized that the world was a cold, selfish muthafucka and that you could truly trust no one. He loved Farrah when they were together and really didn’t want her to leave, but by the time they got married Mills had already spiraled down the rabbit hole of only giving a fuck about himself. It sucked that everyone around him had to be a causality of his selfish ways, but Mills wasn’t here to pacify feelings anymore.
The only thing he cared about was securing his own happiness and if that meant he had to lie or cheat, then so be it. Mills knew that in order to get back into the house peacefully he had to tell Jade what she wanted to hear. On that cold night he escorted her out to a lovely, romantic dinner at Scape. Scape was his go-to spot when he was trying woo chicks. Jade pretended as if she wasn’t going out, but secretly she was doing cartwheels inside.
The fact that she could put Mills out of his own house and he still came running back to her was a turn-on. Mills’s constant attention made her feel special and wanted. But she could never let him see how weak she truly was. She had to continue to show him her poker face. For it to have been a Friday night the restaurant wasn’t as packed as it normally was. Mills sat across from Jade and ordered a nice bottle of wine from the bar. While they waited he and Jade began to chat.
“I wonder, is Jaysin asleep yet?” Jade looked at her watch. “I should call the babysitter and see how she’s doing.” Jade reached for her phone.
“Naw, chill. She’s a’ight. If she wasn’t we would’ve received a phone call by now.”
“Okay.” She put her phone up. “I just get so nervous whenever I leave her.”
“That’s natural. You’re her mother, but right now you’re with her father and Daddy needs some attention.”
“That’s Daddy’s problem. It’s always about what Daddy wants, fuck everybody else.”
“Not true. None of this tonight is about me. This is all about you.”
“Who do you think you’re fooling, Mills? My ass wasn’t born yesterday. This is about your ass wanting to come home.”
“You do realize that I can come home anytime I want. It is my house,” Mills said, sarcastically.
“You love throwing that shit up in my face, don’t you? We all know that’s your raggedy-ass house.” Jade curled her upper lip.
“I’m just stating facts so you can understand it’s not about that. Me taking you out to dinner is about me trying to show you that I love you and that I care.” Mills gazed deep into her eyes.
“What I did with Farrah wasn’t cool. It was a one-time thing and I shouldn’t have done it, but I can’t take it back. What I can do is tell you that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done you like that. You’ve been nothin’ but good to me since we started back fuckin’ around.”
“You can say that again,” Jade agreed.
“Straight up.” Mills reached across the table and took her hand. “I love you and I choose you. I don’t want anybody else. All I want is you and Jaysin. Y’all are my family. Farrah or no other broad can come between that.”
Jade wanted to react joyfully about Mills choosing her, but what kind consolation prize was that? Sure, he wanted her ’cause being with her meant he’d have access to his daughter, in- house pussy, a clean house, and a home-cooked meal everyday. Jade was no fool. She knew Mills’s MO. The sad part was she didn’t care. At that stage in her life she was content with the bullshit.
She understood that men were incapable of being with only one woman. In Jade’s eyes all men cheated. It was the nature of the beast. No matter how hard a woman tried, a man just couldn’t be tamed. They only knew how to be savage beasts. Being a woman you had to learn how to adapt to their environment or be left behind. Jade chose to adapt.
She was the kind of chick who thoroughly enjoyed the perks of dating a rich and successful man. Motherhood hadn’t curbed her appetite for the finer things in life. Balmain, Lanvin, and Jimmy Choo stayed calling her name. She loved living a lavish lifestyle. Being with Mills afforded her the ability to be a stay-at-home mom. She didn’t have to lift a finger if she didn’t want to. Jade could be pretty and fly at all times.
Besides, her life now was a far better cry then how it was when she first met Mills. Suddenly Jade got a flashback of being in Atlanta at the infamous Magic City strip club. The year was 2002. Mills and his crew were seated right by the stage in brown leather chairs, getting fucked up. Mills was higher then a muthafucka. He’d just won his first race and he was out celebrating. All the ATL playas were out that night.
Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, and T.I were there showing him love. Mills had already wasted five grand buying out the bar and throwing money on stage. To him the night couldn’t get any better. Then the in-house DJ got on the mic and announced that the feature dancer of the night was about to hit the stage.
“Yo’ watch this bitch that’s about to come out,” his boy Buck said.
“Please welcome to the stage Xtacy!”
Then through the speakers the words, “All the chronic in the world couldn’t even mess wit’ you, you’re the ultimate high. Here what I’m saying baby, Now check this out.”
Focusing his eyes on the stage, Mills watched as Xtacy crawled to the middle of the stage like a feline. Jodeci’s “Feenin’” was playing as she eyed the crowd through her piercing black, slanted eyes. Immediately Mills was drawn to her. Xtacy wasn’t like most strippers. She didn’t come out pussy poppin’ and sticking bottles in her coochie. She had a sense of sensuality about her. All of her movements were slow and catlike.
Unlike the other strippers who performed in the usual stripper attire of nothing but leather and spandex, Xtacy wore an all-black lace halter baby-doll top with matching black G-string panties from Agent Provocateur. Her hair and makeup wasn’t wild or crazy-looking either. Everything was tastefully done. Just a simple wrap, smoky eyes, and Chanel lip gloss for her. To complete the ensemble she wore bronze body butter and black five-inch stilettos. The men were awestruck, to say the least. She looked like a naughty angel sent from heaven.
While K-Ci sang the words, “Take my money, my house and my cars” Xtacy twirled around the pole wondering who would be her victim that night. The club was filled with ballas so she had a lot of men to choose from. Making eye contact with Mills, she smiled. He was the perfect prey, dripping with ice, high as hell, and drunk as a skunk. Rolling over onto her back all the while still holding her gaze, Xtacy parted her legs.
Mills was in the high-rollers’ section so she made sure to give him all she had. With her head arched back she looked at him and ran her wet tongue across her glossy upper lip. Rotating her hips, she began to play with her pussy. Mills didn’t know if he was high and trippin’ or was it the yak taking its effect, but he could have sworn she was staring at him. He had to make sure what he was thinking was true so he winked at her. Sure enough, she winked back.
He couldn’t believe it. The girl was actually getting off on stage just by looking at him. Rolling back over onto her stomach, Xtacy took both of her legs and placed them into a Chinese split. Now sitting up, she humped the floor while her booty bounced in the air, all the while still staring at Mills. Then, out of nowhere she stopped, flashed a wicked grin, and got up.
The song was over and Mills didn’t even know it. He never wanted the moment to end. Xtacy didn’t even pay him any mind as she collected the twenty, fifty, and one-hundred-dollar bills from off the stage and left. To her it was nothing but a job and her shift was over.
Mills, on the other hand, wasn’t through yet. He had fallen right into her trap. Something inside of him had to have her right then and there so he got up from the table and headed toward the back. Just as he was entering the back, Xtacy was exiting the stage and heading for the dressing room. Clearing his throat, he stepped to her.
“Yo can I holla at you for a second?”
“How did you get back here? Shank, come get this nigga!” Xtacy yelled, irritated with his presence.
“Ay, calm down shorty I ain’t out to harm you. I’m just tryin’ to talk to you, see what’s up.”
“Look, get yo’ ass away from me! I don’t know you like that! Shank!”
“It’s cool Xtacy. This is Mills. He’s a friend of Ted,” the guard Shank assured.
“Oh.” Xtacy calmed down and looked Mills up and down.
She liked what she saw. He was tall with braids and smoldering brown eyes, but his looks didn’t faze her one bit. What was in his pocket was her main concern. Giving him one last look she flung her hair over her shoulder and walked away. No, this bitch ain’t tryin’ to play me, Mills thought, but that thought went out the window once he caught a glimpse of her ass again. Xtacy had a big ol’ voluptuous ass. Looking at her butt jiggle as she walked made Mills’s dick even harder.
“Slow down mommy. I know you ain’t gon’ do me like that!” he yelled as he ran to catch up with her.
The girl could walk fast in some heels.
“Look!” Xtacy quickly turned around, stopping him dead in his tracks. “What happened on stage was just an act. Don’t take it seriously, homeboy.”
“Trust me, I know how to put on an act too, but what you did up on that stage wasn’t no act. Yo’ ass was for real,” Mills countered.
“You think so?” Jade said, smirking.
“I know so.”
Giving him the once-over again, Xtacy knew that she could trick at least a grand out of him, maybe more, so she placed her finger up to his lip, winked, and motioned for him to follow. With a walk made for the catwalk, she escorted him to the champagne room. Mills couldn’t take his eyes off her ass. He was sprung off sight.
Xtacy held the door open for him and told the other guard Boo to give them some privacy. Boo knew the drill. Xtacy was about to put her thang down. The room was dimly lit. One brown leather couch sat up against the wall and a silver pole was placed in the middle of the floor. Two glasses and a bottle of Hennessy were already in the room so she poured them both a drink. While Mills wasn’t looking, she dropped two E pills into his drink. He wanted a show and a show was exactly what he was gonna get.
“Here you go.” She smiled deviously while handing him his drink.
“Thanks, ma.”
Mills drank the whole thing in one gulp. Xtacy was happy to see him drink it all up. Now all she had to do was stall until the pills took effect on him. Holding onto the pole, Xtacy bent over and shook her ass while looking at him through her legs. Then she took her hand and slid it down the crack of her ass. Still bent over, she began playing with her clit again. Mills was in a trance. The girl knew how to move her body. Swiftly, without taking her eyes off of him, she dropped to the floor, got back up, and made her booty clap.
With a look of lust in her eyes, she turned around and unsnapped the top of her top. As the top fell to her waist, she bit down into her lower lip and massaged her breasts. Mills was on cloud nine. For some strange reason, he wanted to touch her real bad. Xtacy continued to massage her breasts and lick her nipples as she wound her hips to the beat of R. Kelly’s “Seems Like You’re Ready.”
“Come here, ma.” Mills couldn’t take it anymore.
Smiling from ear to ear, Xtacy strutted over and straddled him. Not wasting any time, Mills took her breasts into his hands.
“Uh, ahh nigga no hands,” she ordered while slapping his hands away.
Not missing a beat, Xtacy continued to wind her hips. Grinning, she bit down into her lower lip. Mills’s dick was rock-hard and she could feel every inch of it. Smiling at a job well done, she ran her hands through her silky hair and slid them down her body slowly while rolling her torso like a belly dancer. Xtacy was in absolute control and loved every minute of it.
Swinging her hair over to the side, she made sure that he had a good view of her caramel-colored breasts. “Fuck this,” Mills thought. His dick couldn’t take it anymore so he placed his strong hands onto her wanting breasts again. Her nipples reminded him of Hershey kisses. Gently, he took one into his mouth and licked. The feel of his tongue on her nipples was sensational. Xtacy herself couldn’t even deny the feeling.
Flipping her over onto her back, Mills gazed into her eyes and said, “State your name?”
“What?” she asked, caught off guard.
“Tell me your name,” he demanded.
“Xtacy.”
Knowing she was lying, he ignored her and made his way down. Normally he wouldn’t go down on someone he didn’t know, but tonight was different. His body was commanding him to. With her legs pushed back, Xtacy’s pink clit was staring him in the face, begging him to lick it. She had to have the prettiest, juiciest pussy he’d ever seen. Burying his face in between her thighs, Mills licked her clit until she creamed.
“Damn you taste good,” he whispered into the lips of her pussy.
“I know,” she moaned as he licked faster.
In a matter of seconds Xtacy’s thighs began to shake.
“Oooooooooooh . . . shit! Goddamn muthafucka, I’m cumming!” she screamed, cumming all over his lips.
Wiping his mouth, Mills made his way back up and said, “Now answer me. What’s your name?”
“Xtacy,” she panted, still reeling from her orgasm.
“Stop with the games. What’s your real name?”
“Xtacy, what I just—”
Mills had rammed his ten-inch dick inside her warm, wet slit, hitting bottom.
“Now tell the truth,” he groaned pumping in and out.
“Okay, okay, it’s Jade!”
Jade hadn’t meant for things to go this far. She figured she would get him buzzed, dance a little bit, then rob him of his wallet, but somehow Mills had flipped the script on her. She wondered if the pills she had slipped in his drink were defective. Truth was, there was nothing wrong with the pills. They hadn’t worked on him because Mills and his peoples at the time popped pills on the regular, so two little E pills had no effect on him.
“You wet than a muthafucka!” Mills roared.
Ready to bust his first nut, Mills came long and hard inside of her. They didn’t even use a condom. Once they were done, Jade got up and placed her clothes back on. Mills wanted to see her again, but he didn’t want to seem desperate, so he went into his pocket and handed her ten one-hundred-dollar bills. She didn’t know it then, but a month later Jade would be using some of that very same money to get an abortion.
A part of her did want to keep the baby, but she was in no position to have to raise a kid. She was barely taking care of herself as it was and besides that, she never even got his name or number to tell him or take him for child support. There was no way in hell that Jade was going to raise a child on her own, so she did what was best for her at the time and aborted the fetus.
Now, years later, the two were sitting and having lunch with one another. Even after all that time, the chemistry was still there. When she wasn’t with Mills for the brief period of time they were broke up, Jade hated the struggle of having to fend for herself again. She didn’t like it one bit, so if it meant she had to put up with a side bitch or him coming home at all times of the night or not coming home at all, then so be it. It was the nature of the beast, the call of the wild. Jade would be damned if she was left behind.