The Reality
I woke up the next morning in my bed. I didn’t remember anything after Jason put the gun to my thigh and told me he would kill me if I messed with Kev. I didn’t know where Jason went, but he wasn’t there with me. I looked over on my wall at my beautiful crystal clock that was in my momma’s house when I was a little girl. It was two-thirty in the afternoon and I must have been tired. I thought about how I felt: tired . . . Tired of all the drama that had begun. Tired of Jason and everything that came with him; just tired!
I didn’t have a minute to think about my boys or myself anymore. Everything had started revolving around Jason and what he needed, wanted.
I looked for my cell and saw I had a few missed calls. Kev had called and texted. He told me to give him a call when I got his message. He said Shy called him and told him what Jason did to me and he was so sorry.
I was still a tad bit upset with Kev for not telling me about them being drug dealers, so I definitely wasn’t gonna call him and tell him what was going on between me and Jason. Those days of leaning on him for support were over! The way I was thinking, if Jason thought I was messing with Kev, he might as well have been in the back of that car beating me too.
I got up slowly because my body was sore from the beating. I laid my clothes out for the day and decided to get out and go to the movies or something. I needed some space. I needed to get my mind clear and for me that meant dinner and a movie.
After I took my bath, got dressed, and was about to walk out the door, I heard Jason turning the key, coming in. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know where his mind was after last night, but I was ready to face him.
He walked in the house and looked at me.
“Hey, babe. You okay?” He had bags from the mall in his hands. “I left you sleepin’. You looked so peaceful I didn’t wanna wake you. Reese, fo’ real, I am so sorry for what I did and wha’ I been doin’ to you. It’s not cool. I owe you an apology, babe.”
He walked over to me and hugged me, rubbing my back. He looked down at me and asked, “You forgive me, babe? You wit’ me?”
I stood there. I didn’t know what to say or do. I wanted to forgive him; after all, he was all I had known for quite some time. He hadn’t always been that bad, just here lately.
I grabbed his face, closed my eyes, and kissed him. “I forgive you, Jay.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “I love you, Reese, I do. I don’t wanna lose you. I know I say a lot of foul things sometimes, but I know it won’t be as simple as gettin’ another pretty face. Babe, I’m sorry.”
He threw his hands up and continued. “I’ve just been under all this pressure lately. We got these new shipments comin’ in. I’m tryin’ to flip the business and make it legit, and Kev sayin’ he wanna walk away; he can’t do it no mo’! He ain’t the same since his moms died. No heart fo’ it.”
I thought about what he was saying about Kev. I wondered if he was gonna be okay and if him wanting to leave had anything to do with me. I hurried and fixed my face before Jay noticed any concern I was having. I didn’t want a replay of the night before.
“Reese, go ’head, babe, and get dressed. We have a reservation.”
“Okay, but can I open my gifts first?” I smiled and stood there in front of Jay like a little girl waiting patiently for the go-ahead as if it were Christmas or my birthday.
“Of course, baby.” He nodded toward the bags. He sat on the couch, leaned back, and lit up his cigar and watched me.
I reached in the biggest bag and pulled out a shoebox. I looked over at Jay sittin’ there, smilin’ at me. It was a pair of Red Bottoms.
“Thanks, Jay, love ’em.” I smiled and went to the next bag fast. He knew it took more than a pair of shoes to impress me; after all, I was married to an athlete at one time, with mad cash.
I went in the next bag and there was a small box from Tiffany’s. I looked over at Jay and he laughed.
“Yeah, I bet that got yo’ attention.” He got off the couch, put his cigar in his ashtray, and came over to me. He took the bracelet out the box; then he put it on my wrist. “I love you, Reese,” he whispered and held me tight.
“Jay, this is beautiful.”
“It was made just fo’ you, it better be. Seven carats enough for you, Miss Fancy?” he asked.
“I love it.” I went to open another gift but he stopped me.
“Baby, come on. I got somethin’ special for you a little later. But we have reservations now.”
I smiled, took my new stuff, and went up the stairs to change. I grinned and looked at him.
“What? Why you lookin’ at me like that?” he asked.
“This is the Jay I love. Where he been?”
We both laughed.
I was happy that Jason and I were back on track. We had an awesome time at dinner and now we were headed back to the house, when Jason got an important call. I didn’t hear who was on the other end.
“Hello? Today, oh man.” He looked over at me. “Hold on a second, baby. I gotta make a quick stop.” He smiled.
I laid my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes. I was comfortable and didn’t have a care in the world. Shoot, I was out on the town with my fine boo!
Jason drove to Miller Avenue. I didn’t know who had called or what it was about. I was just glad to have my Jay back.
“I gotta handle this real quick. Just sit back and enjoy this ride.” He smirked.
I looked up and asked Jason, “Where are we going?” I never got a response from him.
He pulled out his cell and dialed a number. “I’m here.”
A minute later Shy came out of an apartment. He was all smiles when he saw me. He walked over to my side of the car and I rolled down the window for him and smiled.
