Shawn

Gil is a damn fool I swear. Besides J, he is one of my favorite people. He is super sweet and always keeps me laughing. We made it to his apartment but after stopping by mine to pick up a few things.

"Really Gil? These are THE gayest chairs I've ever seen. What the fuck are these?!"

I laughed way harder than I should've at my own joke.

"Honey this ass don't sit on nothing but the best."

He turned on some music and went into the kitchen.

"Are you hungry boo?"

"Starving."

"I think I can whip something up for us real quick. Gotta get food in me before this drank and trade honey."

"Aren't you a regular old house wife in the making."

"Anything for you zaddy." He said and let out a high pitched and very girly laugh.

I laughed taking a look around his place. His crib was fucking nice. To be so young, he is doing extremely well for himself. I walked into the kitchen and hopped onto the counter and just looked at him.

"What bitch?"

"You said you had something to tell me..."

His face lit up.

"Oh yes! So Dunk and I had a brief moment to ourselves today at rehearsal. She told me about what happened in the bathroom. Smooth move."

"Fuck, she did? I'm so wack for that shit right?"

"I think so," He said. I scoffed.

"Shut the fuck up." I said and rolled my eyes.

"Buuut,you had her faucet dripping girl."

I hoped off the counter and stood next to him.

"Please don't ever use dripping and faucet in that context ever again." I joked. "Are fucking with me though? She said I turned her on?"

He smiled going into the fridge grabbing us both a beer.

"I swear girl. She said you must have sensed her nervousness because you apologized and left. But you clearly misread Dunk today."

I scratched my head thinking, damn. I have wanted her from the moment I saw her. That woman is sexy, classy, talented, smart... My list goes on. I try to act confident when I'm around her but there was never a time where I thought I had a real chance.

"Well what do I do now Gil?"

"Bitch you tread carefully. She is still married and even though they are having problems, she is still unsure of what she wants to do. Let her come to you on her own time."

He was right. I can't force this. Hell I don't want to force it. Besides I don't know if she even wants to pursue me. I didn't want to worry myself with this all night. I pushed the thought out of my head and held my hand out to Gil.

"Wanna dance sexy?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Janet

I opened the door and walked inside.

It was really quiet. The silence was a bit unsettling considering all the fights, yelling and crying that took place when I was still living there. I looked around, my attention focused on the empty end table where the vase Mother gave me use to be. I looked at the wall. The paint was ruined and the wall was cracked. I was standing there when he threw it in my direction. I traced the cracks in the wall remembering.

"Sweetheart."

His voice startled me. I jumped turning around quickly to face him.

"I'm so glad you're home." He said as he walked towards me. Muscle memory forced me to take a couple of steps away from him.

"Rene why did you send for me?" I asked.

I tried to keep calm. I didn't want to make him angry. Sometimes there is no way to prevent it. He reached for my hand, causing me to flinch.

"I wanted to see my wife. I miss you. You haven't been home for weeks."

I could barely look at him. There was a point in our relationship that I never in a millions years thought he would ever do anything to hurt me. He often talked about how he despised men who abuse women. I don't know what changed in him. Maybe it was the drinking, which used to make him loose and fun but it somehow shifted to aggravation and anger. I am afraid of my own husband. He stepped closer to me and sure enough I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"You've been drinking."

"I had one drink. I was nervous to see you. Nervous about what I wanted to say to you."

"And What is that?"

"Baby, I want things back the way they use to be. We were so in love,  we couldn't spend a moment without each other."

Tears swell in my eyes, I fought to hold them back as he continued.

"I'm sorry baby. I really am sorry. I want to fix this. I want you back baby. Please."

"René you really hurt me."

I couldn't hold my tears back anymore. I hid my face in my hands and wept. He embraced me as I sobbed in his arms. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. This man isn't good for me, but maybe he is sincere about wanting to change. Flirting with the idea of giving him another chance terrified me and made me cry even harder than before. What the fuck am I going to do? I asked myself over and over. 

It took a while for me to calm down but when I did Rene brought me a glass of water and took a seat next me on the couch.

"What do you think about what I have said?"

"I just need sometime to think on it Rene. I'm not saying no, I just need a little time please."

I expected him to be pissed but he held it together.

"Okay, that's fair. Do you have plans tonight? If so I can make us reservations for dinner."

"The kids actually invited me out to go dancing tonight."

"Then I will join you guys."

"I don't think you'd like it."

I didn't want him to go. The last outing with the friends didn't go so well. He embarrassed me by getting so drunk, he picked a fight with the bartender and passed out in the VIP section. I had to ask Gil and Shawn to help me carry him to the car.

"I haven't been out in a while. I would like to join you guys." He said.

He took my hand leading me to the bedroom. I stopped at the bedroom door. I didn't even want to go in. I grabbed my side and looked over at the bedpost. He nearly broke my ribs slamming me into it once.

"Uh sweetie, I promised Gil I would get ready at his house with him and Shawn. I'm gonna call my driver and head that way. Plus the outfit I want to wear is there."

"Shawn will be there?" He asked.

He hated her. He says that she looks like the type of woman who goes around stealing other men's wives. If he knew about the restroom incident today, he would probably kill us both.

"Yes she will be there. She is one of the kids and one of my closet friends. Can you please be nice to her René?"

He gave me a look and I didn't say another word about it. My driver was there within 15 minutes me calling and I felt a sense of relief.

"I will see you at the club." I tried to hurry and leave but he grabbed my arm.

"You can't leave without giving your husband a kiss."

I did it. I kissed him and it made my skin crawl. I gave him the most honest smile I could muster up and walked quickly to the car.
Preston, my driver, turned the mirror to face me.

"Are you okay Ms. Jackson?"

"I am now, can you just hurry and get me out of here please."

"Yes ma'am."