Drunk in Love 2: An Original Love Story (13 page)

“So, it’s like that?” Felisha asked always feeling used by him.

“It has always been like this. You just choose to see and feel what you want too, but that doesn’t mean that’s what it is.” He bluntly stated.

“I don’t know if you’ll get bold and want to tell the full story on our background, but before you do you better think long and hard about what you got and how easily that can be snatched away from you.” He grabbed his wallet and stuffed it in his back pocket.

“Is that a threat?” Felisha asked with a frown on her face.

“No, I’m just speaking the truth. Olivia would snatch everything away from you and if she has just a little bit of sympathy; trust me, her mama won’t.” He said in hopes of actually scaring her to keep her mouth sealed. He felt like an ass for allowing himself to go there again with her, but it had happened and now once again he’d suppress those memories like it never happened. He grabbed his keys.

“So, that’s it? You’re gone?” Felisha asked, sitting up in the bed feeling like a fool.

“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” Mark said, and with that he quietly made his exit.

Chapter 11

The next morning Olivia entered her hotel room. It felt good to be back in the states and most importantly back in Augusta, GA. She’d gotten a room downtown at the Marriot. All she wanted was to shower, get dressed and head out to handle some business. She’d left her salon unexpectedly, putting a strain on a couple of people and she definitely wanted to tie up those loose ends by letting them know that she was back.

Being that she was still torn about returning at first, she relaxed the remainder of the day in Montego Bay then caught a midnight flight out. She slept most of the flight back home, not wanting to have one single thought of how things might play out once she returned. While slipping out of her pink and black Nike’s, she dialed Mark’s number.

He quickly answered.  “Hey babe, are you back?”

“Yeah,” she responded, taking off her Nike t-shirt and throwing it in the chair.

“Are you on your way to the room? I miss you. I wanna see you.” He anxiously asked.

“About that,” she cut in. “I’m actually in my own room for the moment. I needed to shower and prepare myself for the day. I have to return to the salon and face my employees along with my mom. I know they are probably speculating, especially with the house burning down all over the news. They are gonna want answers and I’m gonna, of course; make up something to keep them out of our business. I can’t very well be too honest.” She said, while turning on the shower water and pulling off her Nike jogging pants.

Mark instantly felt disappointed. “Will you make time to see me today? I just want to see you.”

“I’ll make it my business to see you today. However, it will be later today. I don’t need any distractions right now.” She explained. “I hope that you understand.” Mark knew that when his wife was in business mode, that’s just what it was and right now she was definitely in business mode. “I have a lot of things to catch up on.” She added.

“I understand,” Mark said. He was just happy that she was back. He figured since she was back and would be coming over later that he’d set the tone for the meeting by surprising her with a few things. He got up and headed for the shower as well. Ready to get his day started. “We’ll talk later. Just call me.”

“I will,” Olivia said as they ended their call.

__________

Two hours later, Olivia was pulling up to her salon. She looked across the parking lot to see her mother’s white Range Rover parked up front in her parking space.

“She’s here,” she said as she pulled up beside her and sat in the car for a moment, getting her thoughts together. Quickly she picked up her cell phone and called Zoe.

Zoe answered, sounding perky and anxious. “What’s up, Sis?”

“Heyyyy, you sound happy.” Olivia spoke, ready to be nosey.

“I just woke up energized.” Zoe explained, feeling very good about herself and her morning.

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the boutique,” Zoe answered while folding up some shirts and stacking them on top of one of the display tables.

“You’re at the store early. You normally don’t go in until around noon.”

“I’m gonna start coming in early so I can close early.” Zoe said, feeling like she needed to start making a little time to see her new lover.

“You sure that’s all it is?” Olivia asked now trying to probe. “Have you been getting some dick?”

“Nooooooo,” Zoe quickly responded. “Why would you ask me that?” She asked, almost sounding embarrassed.

“I just asked.” Olivia smirked, knowing her sister quite well.

“Well,” Zoe said, continuing to fold the designer shirts, stacking them on a different display table now. “Have you made it back to Augusta? Have you seen Mark or spoken to Zay? Have you seen Felisha with her grimy ass yet? Hell, you’re the one with the juicy life right now and I wanna hear all about it.” She said with a wide, bright smile on her face.

Olivia shook her head, taking in a deep breath. She could only handle Zoe in doses at times. Zoe didn’t realize how much she acted like their mother. “To answer your questions nosey, I am back in Augusta. No, I have not seen my husband. No, I have not spoken to Zay. And, no I haven’t found Felisha and stumped a mud hole in her ass… yet” She added.

“Well,” Zoe smacked her lips. “Ain’t nothing juicy about none of that.” She commented with a turn of the lip like she smelled something stank.  

“Well, if this takes the juice radar up a few notches,” Olivia said with sarcasm. “I’m parked by mom’s Range right now in the salon’s parking lot. It’s time to face the heat.”

“Oh shit, the juice radar just rose a bit.” Zoe grinned.

“You think this is funny?” Olivia asked almost like she was teasing, but with a serious pout on her face. “This is my life,” she said, slumping down in the front seat of her car like she was highly confused and still not ready to face the music.

Zoe popped her lips. “My gracious Sis, calm down. That’s everybody’s life. It’s just different circumstances and situations.” Zoe got distracted as she looked up from hearing the chimer on the boutique’s door sound off, letting her know that someone had entered. She smiled like she was overjoyed to see the person that walked in.

“What’s up?” Dillon spoke almost in a whisper. As always he looked fresh to death in a plain black pair of Akoo jeans, a black and white Akoo shirt and a new pair of white Air Force One’s. He had that cool, laid back swag about him that morning and it definitely turned Zoe on.

She held up her index finger then whispered. “Hold up.”

Dillon nodded, and then started browsing around the store.

“Zoe,” Olivia called out.

“Yeah,” Zoe answered, all distracted now as she watched Dillon checking out the items in her boutique. He looked so good standing there with his back almost turned to her.

“What are you doing? I’m just talking to you and you ain’t saying nothing.” Olivia griped.

“I’m sorry, Sis.” Zoe said, still smiling just from Dillon being in her presence. “I’m gonna have to hit you back. I’m the only one working this morning and I have a customer that just walked in.”

“Okaaaay,” Olivia dragged like she didn’t want to hang up.

“Get it over with, Sis.” Zoe added before hanging up. “You just gotta get it over with.”

“I know,” Olivia said.

“O’, I forgot to tell you.”

“What?” Olivia asked.

“Welcome back to Georgia!” Zoe said with a cheesy smile on her face.

“Get off my phone,” Olivia snootily said, and with that they ended their call.

__________

Zoe played in her hair a little just in case it was out of place as she walked up on the back of Dillon. “Hey,” she spoke, wrapping her arms around the back of his waist.

“Hey,” Dillon spoke back, turning to face her. His handsome smile did something to her. “I can’t believe you want to hug in public.” He teased, looking around. 

Zoe smacked her teeth. “Ain’t nobody in here, but us.” She said with a light grin.

“You’re right,” Dillon agreed. “For a minute I thought you were getting mushy on me.”

Zoe backed up off of him with a playful frown. “Zoe never gets mushy,” she uttered.

Dillon chuckled. “I hear you.” He walked around the store, browsing the items they sold. Zoe followed him foot to foot like she was looking for his approval.

“You have it set up really nice in here,” he complimented. “I can see this boutique making you some really good money. The high end gear you sell alone will make you a substantial profit.”

“Yeah, I’ve been open for a year now and I’m just starting to see it. Like right now, it’s pretty quiet because I usually don’t open until noon. But, since I’ve been in a much better, energized mood, I’ve decided to start coming in earlier.

“I wonder what has you in this energized mood.” Dillon pondered while walking up on her.

“It’s not a what, it’s a who,” she said smiling.

Dillon’s pearly whites glistened, causing her pussy to feel moist. “Well, I wonder who has you in this energized mood. I know it can’t be me, because the way I lay it down you should still be in bed.”

She laughed, enjoying the tingly feeling that could be felt deep down in her spirits when he’d come around or she’d hear his sexy voice. “You play too much,” she grinned almost falling in his arms as her hands gently wrapped around his waist. He leaned his head down toward her pretty face and kissed her.

“I am tired for the record, but you make me feel good.” She said. “When I feel good, I feel motivated.” Thoughts instantly surfaced about Dillon staying the night with her, and then completely turning her out. He was definitely a bad boy that did very good things to please her in every way.

“I see the perks of getting good dick have just climbed the charts,” he teased, smacking her gently on the butt.

Zoe hit him in the side with a light laugh. “Whatever,” she said as they kissed again.

__________

Thirty minutes later, Olivia had made her way through her salon, stopping and talking with her employees. She was smiling like everything was just fine and making up the same story along the way. By the time she’d made it to her office door, all the staff members had been informed of the same thing.

Mark was taking a shower when one of the candles in the house caught fire to a curtain that had slipped off a broken rod. Leaving work for a few days to handle business was necessary for her and she was glad that her mother was able to step in while she was away upon such short notice. Once the story was told, she’d walked off continuing her charade of fake smiling and handing out lies.

She tapped on her office door while turning the door knob and walking inside it. Mrs. Jackson looked up from paperwork that she was revising to see her daughter standing there. A smile immediately spread across her face. She stood up from behind the desk, looking like a modern day Diahann Carroll, dressed in a form fitted, knee length, tan skirt and a white blouse neatly tucked inside it. A pair of white Louboutin pumps extended her nice legs as she pranced over to her daughter and immediately wrapped her arms around her. Her bouncy hair flowed in a beautiful black bob that they were very surprised that she’d gotten cut. As always, she looked sophisticated, about her business, and ready to interrogate.

“My God,” she said, kissing Olivia on the cheek. “It’s so good to see that you’re back.”

“Thanks Mom,” Olivia whispered. As bad as she hated to admit it, she wouldn’t rather be any other place than in her mother’s loving arms. “I’m glad to be back.”

Mrs. Jackson leaned back to get a good look at her. “You look like you need to eat something.”

Olivia shook her head. “I’m not hungry, mom.”

“Okay,” Mrs. Jackson said, knowing that she had to watch what she said or Olivia would shut down. She hugged her again with a sweet embrace for another minute. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes,” Olivia said. “I just needed to clear my mind.”

“Sit down,” Mrs. Jackson insisted. “I would like to talk to you.” She made her way back around the desk and sat down as Olivia sat in the empty seat across from her. “Everyone has been doing a great job since you left. They stepped up to the plate and I only was in here to make sure that no one slacked.”

“But Mom, you have your own practice. You didn’t have to. Brittany was going to handle that for me.” Mrs. Jackson didn’t seem satisfied with that so Olivia continued. “You do remember Brittany, right? She is one of my closest friends since high school. Not only is she the lead stylist here, but she’s also the manager.”

Mrs. Jackson softly rolled her eyes. “Don’t patronize me, O’. I hate when you and your sister do that.”

“Mom, I appreciate it. Really I do.” She said, but then paused as she thought about how good Mrs. Jackson really was to them. She may have been nosey, aggravating, stubborn, and strict but she loved the hell out of her family. There was no question whatsoever about that. “Never mind,” she said. “Thanks though.”

Mrs. Jackson smiled. Olivia’s retreat had definitely brought on a calmer change in her attitude. She studied her quickly, checking out her body language as she ran her nervous fingers through her natural shoulder length hair. Mrs. Jackson could see that something was troubling her and she knew exactly who and what was involved. Instead of going in on her daughter and causing her to shut down, she decided to approach the subject lightly and in a more sensitive way.

“I just want you to listen to me,” Mrs. Jackson said. “I don’t want you to answer me, because I’m not going to question you. I just want to give you some motherly advice. Don’t think I’m trying to run your life. I understand that I can’t, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be here for you.” She said, letting her guard down and seeing her child as someone that was need of her help and not in need of a mental session.

“I don’t know what’s going on in your marriage or your home. I’m not asking nor do I want to know if you’re not ready to tell me. You don’t have to open up, but I know you and I know that something is heavy on your heart.”