SHORT STORY: If Only You Knew - PART 7

Laila

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Call me petty for the song that the band played, but I don’t give a damn. I wanted to send a message to Jimmy’s ass loud and clear that I’m not to be fucked over. It’s cool if you want to play games with my life and my feelings, but be prepared to wrath that comes with it. My heart went cold when I found out about the baby that my ex-boyfriend had on me. It crushed me because I thought he and I were on the path heading towards marriage. I guess that was just wishful thinking. I should have left my heart on ice, but Jimmy gave me a feeling of comfort. He made me feel wanted again, but look what that got me. The same damn results that I always get…alone. When I’m finally feel as though justice on Jimmy, I am going to be single for a while. I need to get to know myself again. I need to be attentive to my own needs and learn to enjoy my own company. Maybe in doing so, I will ---. I couldn’t even finish that damn sentence due to laughing at myself. You know that’s a lie and I know that’s a lie. But what I will say is that the next n***a I get with, I will be conducting a background check on his ass. I’m not trying to serve my heart to no one else on a silver platter. They will have to work for it.

I sat in my seat across from Shon and James enjoying the moment. He looked like he was ready to take my damn head off, but it wasn’t a damn thing he could do. If he made the wrong move, he would blow his cover. I blew kisses at him from time to time while Shon sat there in confusion. The kids were laughing and talking about the dolphins that they saw earlier; totally oblivious to the grown folk shit that was happening right before their little eyes. Samantha was tossing her hair and saying “baaabbbee!” Samantha’s New Orleans accent was thick, but I loved it. It was just something about people from Louisiana. They could talk to me all day about nothing. I just loved hearing their accent.

After the song was over, I looked at Shon and it took everything in me to keep from laughing in her face. She was so naïve. Or maybe she was just that in love and didn’t want to take those rose colored glasses off. I don’t blame her though. I would still mine glasses on if life hadn’t ripped them from me.

“What’s the matter Shon?” I asked innocently. I knew damn well her issue was, but these jabs were not for her. They were for our man so I hope she stays in her place so she doesn’t get hurt.

“Why in the hell were they playing that song? Don’t get me wrong. The song definitely fits this set up. I’m just trying to figure it all out. Is there something that I’m missing?” Shon asked as she laughed causing the entire table to begin laughing with her.

I shrugged my shoulders and then said “Why don’t you ask James?” I replied with a devilish grin while sliding my foot in between his legs only to feel his manhood come to attention. Jimmy was begging me with his eyes to spare his life. He looked so helpless and turned on at the same damn time. I sort of felt sorry for him a tiny bit. If he would have just been man enough to steer my feelings in the direction that he wanted it to go, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Instead, he got caught up and started basking in the sloppy mess we made right along with me.

“Umm umm.” Jimmy was stuttering as he used the cloth napkin to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

“Just tell her the truth James!” I instigated even more. By this time, Shon was starting to get agitated.

Figuring that he was busted, Jimmy went to confess. “It’s like this baby, I have to confes—.”

I interrupted him and said, “Girl, this is a surprise for you. James asked if I could help him put together a nice dinner for ya’ll anniversary so of course I said yes.

“Huh? What anniversary are you talking about?” Shon stood up from the table with her hands on her hips.

Samantha was watching Shon’s every move. She felt sorry for Shon, but at the end of the day, she had my back and was ready to pounce if Shon got froggy.

“Your proposal. Tomorrow makes two years since he proposed to you and he wanted it to be special. With you being my best friend, I wanted to be a part of the dinner so I convinced James to have the dinner today since I know ya’ll want to have alone time tomorrow.”

Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief and threw back the shot of Hennessey that was placed in front of him by the waiter. He interjected and went on to explain further. “Yes baby. Christmas makes two years that I asked for your hand in marriage. I know that I have been extremely busy lately, but I wanted to show you how committed that I am to you…to us. Let’s set the date. Let’s make it official and finally start planning our wedding.” Jimmy kissed Shon as sweat was still dripping down his forehead.

Samantha gasped extremely loud and clutched her pearls. If you haven’t figured it out yet, she is very dramatic. Even though everyone had their eyes on attention on Samantha and her crazy ass antics, but eyes were burning a hole right through Jimmy’s head. I wouldn’t ever wish death on anyone, but I have to be honest. If I had a gun next to me that was cocked and loaded, I would not have hesitated to empty my clip off in his no good ass. His ass was drowning so I offered him a life jacket and this is what he does to me. This muthafucka should have never entered my kitchen because I’m about to turn up the heat on his lying ass.

After that bullshit ass dinner was over, Shon excused herself so that she could put the kids to bed. Jimmy told her that he was going to the bar for one last drink and he would be up soon. I winked at Samantha and she automatically knew what time it was. Before we got to dinner, we agreed that when I wanted her to leave all I had to do was wink. Samantha excused herself and went back to the room. Even though Jimmy was pissed off at me, I knew that his dick wasn’t.

I got up from the table because I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention on myself.

“Meet me in the bathroom in five minutes.” I whispered in Jimmy’s ear before heading back into the hotel lobby.