“Celeste, you want to tell me why you were burning so hot for me not even five days ago and now you’re icing me out?” I say, making it to her side, this time not touching her because of the hands-off vibe she’s emitting. I’d bet money my balls would be at risk.
“You think I don’t realize you’re a player?” She presses the button on her car remote, unlocking it as we make the short walk to it.
“What are you talking about?” I respond to her question with a question of my own. In my younger years, was that the truth? Absolutely. It’s also been well over fifteen years since that happened. College days, frat parties, you name it, I was there during those years of my life. After college, it was business. There was the occasional woman, but nothing like she’s accusing me of now. Vanessa was a business partner and friend of sorts; it was easier for her to go to a business event with me than some other guy who would make something out of nothing. One day, she’ll realize it’s okay to not like men, preferring women. If only she’d get her head out of her ass and tell her parents.
“You walked into my spa with another woman, Wylde, after practically dry humping me in an elevator. Why in the actual fuck would I use your number? If it was your intention to make a fool out of me, you succeeded. I won’t be the other woman, and I won’t ever do that to someone, so consider this conversation over.” She opens her door to get it then slams it shut, giving me barely any time to back away before she’s reversing out of her parking spot.
THIRTEEN
Celeste
“That stupid,stupid man. Did he actually think I would continue this ruse of what we started?” I tell Tyra face to face. There was no way I was going home. Plus, the little boy who’s currently cuddled in my arms, thumb in his mouth, and snoozing quietly is helping me calm down. I love the bond we share. We’re not blood, but that doesn’t mean shit to us.
“He’s a man, Celeste. I’m not sure they ever think.” Tyra got off earlier than me, obviously, since I decided to stay late. I didn’t even tell her that I was coming over, just showed up on her doorstep. Von was in her arms, crying for no apparent reason he was giving her. It was settled that I’d hang with him while she’d go take a shower considering her hair was every which way, a look of defeat written on her face.
“Uh-oh, I know that look and that tone. What’s wrong?” I ask. I’m sitting in the glider Tyra’s kept since Von was an infant. She’s in the corner of her couch, legs tucked beneath her, an old shirt on top of her head, wrapped around her hair. A trick we learned to help combat frizziness and breakage. A robe is wrapped around her slim form, and there’s an odd look in her eyes that I’m sure is not a good sign.
“It’s been six months. He shouldn’t affect me the way he does.” She takes a deep breath, tips her head back to look at the ceiling, unable to meet my eyes.
“What did he do, Ty? Do we need to buy some shovels and bury him deep in the desert?” I ask. We always joked that we’d have each other’s back no matter what, and this is one of those instances.
“He asked to take Von for a week straight. Since when does he take time off work? And to expect me not to see my boy for that long when he’s with me more often than not.” Oh boy, that is not what I thought would be the case. I figured it was more. I can’t take Von because I’m working later, but this takes the cake. Mace couldn’t make time for his wife and son, yet now he can. Something isn’t adding up. I’m not team Mace. There was a time when I was Team Family, but that changed when I saw what was happening before my eyes. Mace changed, and not for the better.
“Is that allowed, legally? When you have custody and the majority of time sharing?” I ask, at a loss for words, holding Von to me just a little tighter. He’s not my son; rather he’s my nephew, and there’s no way he could go a full week without seeing his mom at the age of four.
“Technically, no. It has to be agreed upon. There’s no way I’m going to, but if he pushes it, you know what that means.”
“Son of a biscuit eater, do you still have money on your retainer with the lawyer?” Tyra paid for the divorce, wanting it done and over with, since Mace wasn’t willing to scale back on hours.
“Nope, but I’m just going to ask him if we can do three nights instead. I already know he’ll probably back out. And you know I’d never keep him away from Von, but a week? When he hasn’t seen him for longer than thirty-six hours at a stretch on the best of times.” She didn’t have to explain that to me. I knew that already. Tyra has remained cordial this entire time, even when I’ve wanted to scream at her to toughen up and quit giving in.
“I know that. I’d see what he says. In the meantime, love on this little bundle of joy. My problem isn’t even a problem, not when you have Mace’s shit to deal with,” I tell her, because really, an innocent child is involved in this equation. Mine’s just a man who’s a bit of a dick for pulling the stunt he did.
“Yeah, I’m probably going to sit girls’ night out this weekend. Not that Mace is even taking him this weekend; that was another one of those gut punches. He wants him for a week but couldn’t take him this week to prove to me he’s putting Von first.” Von starts wiggling in my arms. I coo him softly, rubbing his back until he settles down again.
“Never an issue. You want me to hang out with you guys?” Some days, Tyra doesn’t mind having company, but there are those times when she just needs it to be her and Von. I respect it and understand that at the end of the day, she’s doing the best she can for herself as well as her son.
“Maybe Sunday? We can all go to Mom and Dad’s, swim in their pool, eat their food, and raid their liquor stash.” A hint of my best friend comes to the surface for the first time since I’ve been here.
“I’ll keep my calendar clear. Alright for me to lay him down for the night? If he keeps wiggling, we know what will happen. You’ll have a ball of energy running around all night.” I stand up, figuring I’ll be laying him down in his crib, which he won’t be in much longer, the little climber that he is. It’s only a matter of time until Tyra wakes up with him raiding the pantry.
“Yeah, but in my room tonight.” I look thoughtfully at Tyra. It’s like Mace is ripping her heart wide open again, this time using their son in order to do it.
“Alright, I can stay here. You know I don’t mind,” I offer, worried that she’s going to break down and have no one there to comfort her.
“I love you for offering, but I think I’m going to snuggle my boy and pass out. There’s less to think about when you’re sleeping.” She’s not wrong about that. Tyra follows me down the hall, having already dressed for bed after her shower, and don’t think I didn’t notice she’s wearing one of Mace’s old shirts, Army emblazoned across her chest, threadbare with a few holes around the collar. I’m going to give her peace right now, though. Waiting until she’s had a few drinks, a less heavy day, and things aren’t weighing on her shoulders is the key to really get her to open up.
“Get in bed. I’ll hand you him, then I’ll lock the door on the way out.” We each have keys to each other’s places, a buddy system to text when we get in for the night, and we both carry an alarm on our keychain just in case.
“Thanks, Celeste.” She moves the pink, yellow, and white decorative pillows off the bed, to a bench beneath the window, pulls the quilt and sheet back, then slides in. Once Tyra is settled, I hand her Von, kissing his cheek as well as hers.
“Welcome, honey. Love you guys. Call if you need anything, okay?” I walk towards her bedroom door, looking at the two of them together, my heart aching for what is going on, for Von not having a dad who is actively involved in his life, and Tyra, God, she deserves the world. Too bad her ex-husband doesn’t see what he’s doing to these two amazing people.
“Love you, too. Promise we’ll talk about Wylde another day, alright?” I nod, blow a kiss, and walk through the house, picking up the few toys that were left out and straightening blankets on the couch, turning lights off before I grab my keys and lock myself out for the night. I take a deep breath. Between this stuff with Wylde and now Tyra, sleep will be a long distant relative tonight.
FOURTEEN
Wylde