Pretty Fly for a White Guy: The Complete Series Collection (5 page)

“Well that should be interesting, what are you going to say?”

“I’m going to tell him the truth. We had a good time and you’re amazing. Anything else that happened between us isn’t his business,” he said as he went to the guest bathroom.

Hmmm, you might just be growing on me Joshua Crocker.

#Chapter4

“
He said what?!”

Jasmine

Well it happened, I slept with Joshua and I had a great time.

I could already hear my friend’s voices in my head. They were going to be supportive of my decision but I knew that they wouldn’t approve. It was partially the reason why I hadn’t told them about any of it yet. I didn’t want to hear any negativity regarding my decision. Joshua is a wonderful man, we like each other, and that’s all that matters.

I did a quick version of my morning regimen, got dressed, and headed for the door. Joshua was already waiting for me there.

“We have to do this again and soon,” he said.

“I agree.”

“How does tonight sound? There is this restaurant that is doing a wine tasting tonight.”

“I can’t, I have an event to attend. But you can come with me, and there will be free wine flowing all night,” I recommended.

“Now that sounds like a plan. When do I pick you up?”

“Nope, I’ll pick you up at 7 and the dress is after 5.”

“See you then,” he said as he planted a kiss on my lips. The kiss turned into something more as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and molded my body to his.

“You better stop playing, or I’ll drag you back to bed,” he slapped me on my ass.

“Don’t you threaten
me
with a good time. I’ll see you tonight Mr. Crocker,” I said before I kissed him on the lips and ushered us out of my apartment.

*

The month after that night was a complete blur. Joshua and I talked and texted each other every day and all day. We were like two teenagers that can’t get enough of one another. He wined and dined me every chance that he got. We have painted the town red and word has gotten around that I have a new man in my life. We actually ended up running into Kenneth and Amelia and it was weird at first but we got through it. Kenneth took it all in stride and I was learning to do the same with his relationship even though it hurt.

My emotions were pretty conflicted for the first few days because I wasn’t sure about how I felt. Talking to my friends didn’t help make the situation any better. They referred to Joshua as a rebound and didn’t think that I was making a sound decision. I got where they were coming from but all it did was upset me.

I mean is Joshua really a rebound? It’s been over a year since I’ve been with Kenneth, and so I would hardly classify him as someone that I’m using to get over my ex. But I will say that he is making it easier for me to move on with my life. He’s showing me what I’ve been missing. I haven’t had someone as sweet and as caring as him since my first boyfriend in high school.

I’ve brought all of these points up to Patrice and Jasmine but they said that my rebound has been delayed. They believe that even though I’ve been single for a year I haven’t really let go of Kenneth. They have a point about my holding on to Kenneth, but seeing him with Amelia made it all too real for me. I couldn’t sit and pine over him while he was dating one of my ex best friends.

*

Wine was once again my friend for the night. Joshua was going to come over but he got caught up with work. I miss him but I understand that work has to be a priority. He and I have been slacking a little because of our budding relationship and we decided that we have to refocus. We can enjoy each other and still maintain productivity, sex doesn’t pay the bills unfortunately.

It was time for me to take my wine party to the bedroom. I wanted to veg out in front of the television and fall asleep while watching some episodes of Breaking Bad. I danced my way to my room with my bottle and glass in hand. It had been a while since I drank alone and was happy, it felt good. As I put my bottle and glass on my nightstand I heard my door buzz. I wasn’t sure who would show up at my house without calling because that usually doesn’t happen.

I looked out my window and saw Kenneth’s car outside of my apartment. I completely panicked on the inside. What in the hell could he possibly want? He probably left something here that he wanted; he was good for dropping by at weird times and asking for his shit. Wait until he figures out that I threw all of his stuff away after I saw him with Amelia. I did it during my depressive drunken three day binge. It didn’t do much to make me feel better, and it actually made me feel worse. Now, I felt like it was the greatest thing to do because I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when I told him that his Armani watch was smashed and in the garbage, I didn’t even pawn it.

I slipped on shorts over my panties, and decided that my tank and shorts were enough. I buzzed him in and opened my door. He walked into my apartment and he had an odd look on his face.

“
Hey Nikki.”

“Hi Kenneth, is something wrong?”

“No nothing is wrong; I just wanted to know if I could talk to you. Is now an okay time?”

“Now is as good of a time than any,” I responded.

He blew out a gust of breath, “Can we have a seat? This is pretty important.”

“
Ummm okay,” I said and went to take a seat on the couch; he sat next to me and turned his body towards me. He looked deeply into my eyes and opened his mouth to speak and closed it again before words came out. “Tell me what’s going on, you’re not a shy man, so spit it out.”

“How are things going with you and Josh?”

I smiled at the mention of Joshua’s name, “We’re good, he’s treating me really well. Please don’t tell me that you’re here to tell me some bad news about him. Did he do something that I won’t like? If he did, please don’t tell me, I don’t think that I could take it coming from you.”

“It’s nothing like that; he’s not doing anything wrong that I know of. But believe me, if he was I would be the first to tell you.”

“That’s funny,” I retorted, “You would tell me if he was doing me wrong but you never once mentioned when you were stepping out on me. What a huge double standard there.”

“I didn’t come here to argue, I came here to…”

“What?”

“I came here to say that I’ve been seeing your pictures up on Facebook with Josh and your statuses. I’ve tried to not look at them but I can’t help it, they keep popping up in my damned news feed. It’s like every time I log in, your faces are plastered everywhere.”

“
Seriously? Then delete me as a friend, it’s as simple as that. I’m not going to stop posting because it makes you feel uncomfortable. How do you think that I feel seeing you and Amelia’s photos on your account? I’m not bitching and whining about it.”

He had a lot of balls to come to my place and speak to me the way that he was. He was trying to talk to me about a social media account. Men can be so incredibly ridiculous.

He sighed, “No that’s not how I meant it to come across at all. It’s just that everyone is talking about how happy you are with my best friend. I don’t know how to take it.”

“You gave us your blessing; I came to you respectfully and gave you a chance to say no. You decided to be macho man and act like it wasn’t a big deal. I asked you and you said that you didn’t care. So I really don’t understand where all of this is coming from.”

“Look, I know what I said before, believe me I do. I’m sorry that I acted like such an asshole about it. I honestly didn’t know how to respond to what you were asking of me. I didn’t feel like it would be fair to tell you that you couldn’t date Josh when I’m dating Amelia.”

“Well, you’re right about that. It wouldn’t be fair and it would be hugely hypocritical. That’s why I’m glad that you did the right thing. But now it seems like you’re trying to take it back. It’s too late, I’m already dating him. You don’t get to break us up and still date Amelia. Am I supposed to just be alone while I sit back and watch you and her betray my trust?”

“That’s what I’m trying to say. I want the both of us to try again. I made a huge mistake letting you go and I figured that you wouldn’t want me back after my last fuck up so I moved on. Baby, I’m so sorry. I love you.”

He rocked my world off of its axis with his admission. He said the words that I’ve been longing to hear him say for over a year. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes and I blinked them away. I wanted to believe his words but my gut was telling me that it was all lies, yet again. He’s lied to me time and time again and this time I wasn’t going to fall for it, especially now that I have someone special in my life.

“Where is this coming from Kenneth? You treated me like shit and now you want me back. You only want to try again because you see that I’m happy, and not only am I happy, but I’m happy with your best friend. Karma is a bitch, and now you know how it feels,” I stood up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. I needed to get some space away from him. I had to fight the urge to take him back.

I leaned against the counter and placed my hands over my eyes. I was trying to block out all of the thoughts that were racing through my head. He followed me into the kitchen and stood directly in front of me. We were silent for a while until he spoke, “I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But you can’t tell me that you don’t miss me. I know that you love me, and love just doesn’t go away,” he said in a soft tone.

I shook my head as if it would make his voice go away. This is what he does to me, he comes over and talks his way right back into my life. I felt my resolve softening and he could sense it, he took one step forward and caressed my face. I leaned into his hand and closed my eyes, I missed his touch.

“See, we belong together,” he said, “You miss me just as much as I miss you,” he leaned in to kiss me. I opened my eyes and saw his face coming closer to mines. I quickly stepped to the side; I couldn’t allow this to happen.

“No! You don’t get to interrupt my life with your bullshit. You had your chance to be with me and you decided that you wanted to be with someone else. You always choose other women over me and you think that I’m just supposed to be here waiting for you.”

“It’s not like that…”

“Listen to me; listen to me for once in your life. I’m with Joshua and he has been nothing but good to me. I’m not about to ruin what we have to be your damned concubine. He actually respects me and would never put me through the things that you have. So you need to just leave,” I said as I walked towards the door. I had to do this quickly before he talked his way back into my life.

“
Okay, I’ll respect your wishes for now. Just know that if he ever does anything to hurt you, I’ll knock his ass out,” he joined me at the door that I opened for him. “I’ll see you around, and I meant everything I said,”. He leaned in to kiss me on the lips and I turned my face so that he kissed my cheek instead.

“Goodbye Kenneth,” I said sternly as he walked out of the door.

I headed back to my room to pour myself another glass of wine. A much bigger one then the last. Where in the hell did he get off pulling a stunt like that?  I silently patted myself on the back for my behavior even though I wish that I didn’t let him touch me. I’m sure that Joshua wouldn’t have liked that all, but I did the absolute best that I could, considering the circumstances. I picked up my phone and texted and Patrice and Jasmine.