Chapter 7
Malcolm
I listened to Pete drone on and on during the teleconference. A last-minute emergency conference call on a Saturday. It was times like this I hated newbies. So many questions about things already discussed. I was just waiting on Jay to tell me I was going to have to accompany Pete on his trip to China next month, since I was his direct supervisor. I was pulling double duty making sure he didn’t fuck up the relations I spent years building with our overseas partners.
I was Gillad Pharmaceuticals best account executive. My record for maintaining those business relations, plus getting new ones had been unmatched. Now as the department manager, I was responsible for ten reps, most of whom I’d worked with, and they knew their jobs well. Pete was a different story and a major headache. Although being a supervisor was great since it meant less travel, it also had its downside; this call being one of them.
Picking up my cell, I stared again at the blinking voicemail indicator. Brenda had called me an hour ago, and I was anxious to hear what she had to say, hopeful that my offer had been accepted. I’d low-balled a bit, offering only 1.8 million with the listing price being at 2.2 million. The house was nice, but it wasn’t two million nice. Finally, I heard Jay asking for final comments; the end was near.
The moment I disconnected, I dialed into my voicemail.
“Good morning, Malcolm. Give me a call when you get this message. I heard back from the sellers today.” Brenda’s voicemail gave no hint to what their decision was. I would think if they’d accepted, she would have left a congrats message instead. I dialed her number, and she picked up on the third ring.
“This is Brenda, how can I help you?”
“Hey, Brenda, Mal here.”
“Malcolm, dear, how are you today?” she asked, sounding cheerful.
“Well, that depends on what you have to tell me,” I replied, leaning back in my chair.
A pop-up thunderstorm had hit. The blue skies that welcomed me this morning were now dark and ominous. The heavy rain pelted my windows as I waited for her to respond with what I hoped was good news.
“I think your day is going to be brighter than this weather. They accepted your offer. Congratulations! You’re a homeowner.”
That news did brighten my day. We talked a bit about arranging for the home inspection and other next steps. When I hung up, I got ready to call Ginger, but my phone rang. My buddy Gerald’s number flashed across the screen. It had been a few months since we talked last. He told me he’d been clean for about six months and had just gotten picked up by the Tampa Bay Storm. His inability to get clean and stay that way for long had led him to blowing his shot in the NFL.
“G, man, what up?” I asked when I answered.
“Not much, dude. What’s your address? I’m in the city, and I’m crashing with you.”
“What the hell? How do you know I don’t have plans this weekend?”
“Because yo black ass don’t make plans any more than I do. Besides, you said when I was in the city to stop by. I’m here and stopping by.”
I laughed. We’d been friends since high school, and he hadn’t changed much in all that time. He was a good guy at heart, but he liked to party. What started out as recreational dabbling in drugs at college parties took over to become a bigger demon for him to battle, which was ironic since he was the one to call my parents after my accidental codeine overdose. I’ll never forget the look of sadness and disappointment that was on Mom’s face when I woke up in the hospital.
I rattled off my address before hanging up. If G was in town, that meant he was looking for some wild nights out clubbing and trying to pick up women. Something I didn’t mind as long as he kept his partying clean. Last time we went out, he ended up scoring some ecstasy and tried to dry hump me as I attempted to get him home. I thought I was gonna have to slug his ass and knock him out. I didn’t wish for a repeat of that night. Hopefully he was joking about crashing with me, because there was no way I was going to listen to him and some hoodrat defile my couch all night.
After picking up my coffee cup, I went to take a drink only to find it empty. I popped another K-cup into the machine before heading to throw on some sweats and a shirt. I’m sure G didn’t want me answering the door in my underwear. By the time I was dressed, my coffee was brewed. Man, I loved that machine. I laughed to myself, remembering how I thought Macy was crazy when she bought it for me, but now I couldn’t live without it.
My phone buzzed, with an email from Pete asking for the same information I’d already given him three fucking times. I swear I had no clue how he managed to get hired. I was convinced he was friends with someone in HR that gave him the hook up. After I finished forwarding him the previous response I’d already sent, I again started to call Ginger only to have a knock at my door interrupt. I opened it to see G’s smiling face.
“What up, man?” he said, giving me a hearty slap on my back as he walked in. “Like the place, dude.”
He dropped his bag as he fell down onto my couch, making himself at home.
“Thanks, it’s only temporary.”
“Why? You moving yo ass back to Charlotte?”
“Nah, just bought a house,” I replied, settling into the chair.
“Nigga, please. A house? That sounds too much like a domestic thing,” he said with a snort.
I let out a laugh and shook my head. “Just call it a wise investment. This place runs me eighteen hundred a month. I’m tired of paying someone else’s mortgage.”
He whistled through his teeth as he pushed himself off the couch to look around my small one-bedroom condo. “Eighteen hundred? What the fuck are you paying for? That stuffy, old ass doorman downstairs?”
“Yeah…that among other things, mostly location. And that view that you can’t see currently because of the clouds. Anyway, man, you want something to drink?”
I walked into the kitchen as Gerald took a seat on one of the barstools. He burst out laughing when he saw the Keurig machine. “Seriously, man...”
“What? Macy got it for me.”
His eyes lit up at the mention of my baby sister. “How is that fine piece of woman doing?”
“Don’t even go there.” I leveled my gaze at him. He’d been after Macy for years and I made sure he knew in no uncertain terms she was strictly off limits.
“Married,” I replied, pointing to the picture sitting on the corner of the counter.
Shaking his head in disbelief, he picked up the wedding photo. “Damn, I missed my chance.”
“Nigga, you never had a chance.”
We spent the rest of the day catching up while I kicked his ass on Madden. He was excited about getting picked up by the Storm. He wouldn’t be making the millions he’d hoped for, but he was at least back in the sport he loved. I hoped he would stay clean this time and keep his life on track.
By eleven, we were all set to go out. I’d decided on taking him to Reign, figuring it was a good mix of what he was looking for.
“Dude, a car seat?” Gerald remarked as he climbed into my Land Rover. “What girl tricked you into knocking her up?”
Shit. His comment about the car seat reminded me that I’d never called Ginger. Taking a quick glance at my watch, I saw it was too late to call now. I’d have to do it tomorrow and let her know about the house.
“Not my kid,” I replied as I cranked up the engine. “You remember Calida right? Macy’s friend?”
“The shy red-head?”
“Yep. That’s for her kid.”
“Just hers?”
I nodded.
“What? She let somebody hit that? I thought for sure she’d be a virgin for life. But hey…if she’s not as uptight—”
“Stop now if you know what’s good for you.”
Gerald looked confused for a second before a big grin spread across his face. “You hittin’ that.”
I shot him a glare. “For your sake, let’s drop the subject of Calida.”
He threw his hands up in surrender then cranked up the music as we drove to the club.
The place was packed, as expected on a Saturday night. G had already zoned in on some chick with a blonde weave and gray contacts, and I was expected to play his wingman to get the friend out of the way.
Keeping Sasha occupied while G tried to land her friend was easy enough. She had no problem talking about herself, and even less issue dropping not so subtle hints about how she thought the night would go. In need of a refill, I left the dance floor in favor of the bar. I felt hands in my back pocket and turned to see Sasha had attached herself to me and gave my ass a squeeze in the process. She was tipsy but not totally wasted. However, the alcohol made her extremely forward. Well, at least I hoped it was the drinks. I smiled politely as I removed her hand, and moved her so she walked in front of me.
“Would you like another Sex on the Beach?” I asked, signaling for the bartender.
“For now,” she replied with a wink. “Hoping later I’ll have sex on a few other things.” I jumped when she reached out and rubbed my crotch.
I grabbed her wrist and turned her toward the bar to keep her wandering hands in sight. I shuddered from the violation and wondered if this was how women felt when guys grabbed on them while out at the club. My dick on the other hand enjoyed the attention; it had been too long since it had gotten any. That reaction gave her some false hope as the smile on her face grew bigger.
I stood behind her as I ordered our drinks. That only made things worse as she pushed back, and shook her ass against my crotch to the beat of the music. I stepped back, putting more space between us. G needed to hurry up and close the deal with the friend and get an invite to go back to her place.
I stayed by the bar, drinking my Jack and coke, with Sasha unfortunately staying close. She kept trying to get me to dance, but I politely declined each time. That didn’t deter her. She stood in front of me, continuing to dance along. I kept my body at an angle, leaning against the bar to keep from having a repeat incident. I’m sure she expected to get lucky like her friend, but no matter how much my dick had reacted, it wouldn’t be happening for her. At least not with me. To keep her somewhat happy, I kept her drinks flowing while I switched to drinking just coke. The more she drank, the bolder she got, and my patience wore thin. Gerald and the friend finally made their way off the dance floor to us. She was just as bold as the friend, leaving no questions about her intentions for the night.
“Ready to go, man?” he asked over the blaring music.
“You going with them?”
“Nah, party’s at your place. I was tellin’ Brandy about your million dollar view. She’s just dyin’ to see it.”
He had to be fucking kidding me. I didn’t want to be a cock blocker, but I was over having to entertain this chick. I had no clue which one of them was the DD for the night, since they both appeared to be way too far gone to drive, and that meant I had to play taxi as well.
Shit! I had two options. One, take them all and burn my furniture tomorrow. Or two, leave them stranded and have G cuss me out for bailing. Reluctantly, I led them out to my SUV. The blonde chick made some comment about the car seat, but G climbed in back and she quickly sat on his lap. The other one happily jumped in the front seat. When we got to my place, I pulled up to the curb instead of in the parking deck. I gave my key to G and told him to take them upstairs. I opted for option one, and G could have a great time with both of them for the night.
∞∞∞
The next morning, I ate my bowl of cereal, ignoring the death glares Macy gave me. She was still pissed I showed up at her house at almost three a.m.
“You better be glad you didn’t wake London,” she commented as she sat down to feed my niece.
“Did you want me to sleep in my car?”
“I wanted you to sleep in your own place instead of leaving it occupied by that sleazy friend of yours and his hoochies.”
“Babe, it’s not that big of a deal,” Mitch interjected. “I think he was being a good friend by letting his boy get some action.”
Mitch quickly dropped his head and finished his eggs when Macy shot him the same death glare.
“You know, sis, I’m feeling mighty unwelcomed with this attitude of yours.”
“You’re plenty welcome…during decent hours.”
“Next time I’ll sleep in my car.”
“Or maybe you should tell that sleazeball he can’t be bringing his piece-of-ass back to your place. Cheap bastard…you live in a one-bedroom. He should have gotten a hotel.”
I laughed as I got up to wash out my bowl. Macy had never liked Gerald, even back in high school. She liked him even less when she found out he was the introduction to my short stint of drug use.
“Or better yet, go to your girlfriend’s house,” she added, shoveling more of that foul-smelling baby food into London’s mouth.
The thought of going to Ginger’s did cross my mind, but I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about me being there.
“You live closer,” I answered, and leaned down to kiss Macy on the head. “And I called first.”
“Whatever, jerk,” she replied, but then gave me a smile. “So…how are things going with you and Lee?”
“It’s been two days, Mace, not much has changed. But, oh, I did get the house. Brenda called yesterday to tell me.”
“Congrats, man,” Mitch said.
Macy also offered congrats, and London clapped her hands like she understood what was going on. We talked awhile about the highs and lows of homeownership. Mitch joked about the lows and some highs of having a woman come in and take over your space which got him threats of being kicked to the couch by Macy. Watching those two interact, and seeing Macy with London, I was amazed at how domesticated my baby sister had become.
“Well, thanks for the hospitality, Mitch. I think it’s time for me to go see how much damage has been done to my place and hope nothing’s stolen.”
“Mitch? Um…excuse you. I’m the one that let your ass in,” Macy said, frowning in my direction.
“Yes, yes you did, but he’s nicer.”
“Next time, I’ll leave your ass outside and call the cops,” she muttered as she picked up London. “Good riddance to you. London and I have a playdate at the zoo anyway.”