“His money saves the company and gives us a cushion. Helping this company expand helps us thrive. Now, personally, I’ve been thinking that with the child support Freedom owes, we can probably get that house out in McKinney if we can afford a manager or buy something in Atlanta.”
I turned the faucet off without using it. “We’re not pimping Jamie out.”
“Why do you have to be so dramatic? That’s his son, and since he wants to be involved after all these years, he owes us fourteen years of child support. And with what he earns, we are set.”
“So, you’re good with allowing Freedom to meet Jamie now?”
“No, but I don’t have a say so since I never officially adopted him. I can go with the flow since we’re going to be working closely with Freedom. We break ground in a month.”
His nonchalance irked me. At the same time, I also recognize that if I continued to see Freedom even if it was on a professional level, we would fuck and probably fuck again. If I wanted a chance at preserving my marriage, I had to be honest and deal with the fallout.
“I’m not sure we should be working with him if we want to keep our marriage.” The butterflies were bee stings in my stomach as I took another deep, calming breath. “We were together last night after you and I got off the phone, and things went a little too far. It won’t happen again.”
He chuckled without waiting a beat. “Stop trying to make me jealous because you’re still mad I’m not there for the reunion.”
My head jerked back. “I’m not trying.”
“If you say so…” Kody retorted. “Last night, it’s all over social media how he left the reunion with Teyanna. The way they used to fuck back in the day, no way, he was giving her up for you. No offense. She’s hot, single, and loves sex.” He chuckled. “You’rea wifey and a mother. A single man ain’t trying to holla. If he flirted with you or said he still has feelings, I told you he’s just fucking around.”
“Are you saying I can’t get Freedom back if I wanted to?” I indignantly asked. Freedom better not be fucking with Teyanna anymore. She caused issues between us back in high school. So jealous about the possibility that Freedom might still be messing around with Teyanna, I forgot that I had no claim on Freedom. I gathered my racing thoughts and reminded myself that my husband was on the phone and not in a hotel penthouse.
“Babe, I remember how much you loved each other back then. Freedom wanted you when he didn’t have anything. He has the world now. Men like him, with his level of success, want women who’ll do whatever he asks, a badass woman who looks like she belongs on his arm. You’ve seen the women he’s been with, and that’s not you. We’ll let him see Jamie, build his home and studio, and then we'll keep moving forward. You’ll see as time goes on that he doesn’t want to be domesticated, and whatever fantasies you have about him will die. I’m not mad about you trying to get me jealous. I deserve it for abandoning you this weekend.”
Angry and hurt tears pricked my eyes that he didn’t believe that Freedom could possibly want me again. Maybe that’s how my husband felt deep down about me. I slid down the wall to the cold, marble floor. “I guess I was just trying to make you jealous. I need to go now. I’m late for the barbecue.”
“Surprised you’re not there already anyway. I’ll be home in the morning before the boys come back. We can spend a little time together then, okay?” His tone sounded chipper and bright, utterly clueless that he’d insulted me.
“Okay.” I clicked off the cell, pulled my legs up, and rested my head on my bent knees. My gut shouted louder than my ears wanted to hear. Kody hadn’t changed at all. He was still cheatingon me and living it up in Atlanta with some side chick who may or may not know about me. He claimed he lost his wedding band earlier this year, and I planned to buy him another one on our anniversary in September. I couldn’t automatically assume whoever she was knew he had a wife and two children waiting for him at home.
Lori was fucking right. Time for me to go for mine, like my husband had probably been doing for most of our marriage.
Pushing off from the floor, I stared at my reflection, fully embracing every scar, curve, or what others may see as imperfections, and tossed out any other reservations about having sex with Freedom Cade.
“Free, did you hear me?” Maurice, my band director, asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, though I didn’t hear anything he said. We were due on stage in a couple of minutes, and my mind had been preoccupied with Jamaica all day. Being near her and sexually with her electrified my senses and stirred my creativity. After she left, I pulled out my guitar and wrote a song, Rhapsody Nostalgia.During the soundcheck,I shared the song with my band, who loved it from the first twang of my string and believed it could be my comeback hit after the poor performance of my last CD.
He laughed loudly. “Then you’re good with Spooky having a solo. Can’t wait to tell him.”
I frowned. “What?” Spooky was a roadie who traveled with us who couldn’t play any instrument to save his life, though he begged to join us on stage every chance he got. “He can’t even hit a damn tambourine on rhythm.”
“Now that I have your attention. Your brother is already in the private room.”
“Oh, shit. I forgot he was coming.” I brought a balled fist to my mouth. I’d told Jamaica that she would be alone in the suite and no one would know. My brother would definitely know what was up once she joined him in the suite.
“Everything cool?” Maurice asked, looking around the area before whispering, “If you don’t want him here, I can arrange for him to sit somewhere else.”
For a second, I contemplated his suggestion, and then, about how pissed Peace would be with me, I shook my head. “It’s fine. It’s fine. Forgot a lady friend who I invited wanted privacy. They know each other, so it’ll be cool.”
“You sure?” He opened his palms to me.
“Yeah…yeah,” I said, though I hope that if Jamaica did show, she wouldn’t feel like I manipulated her or something. “Do you hear that crowd?”
The audience had been packed out shortly after the doors opened two hours ago. I didn’t have an opening act. It was just them and me.
He grinned. “You’re home.”
I picked up my black cowboy hat and returned his smile. “I am.”
