The Wrong Husband 2 Read online

  Polo’s.

  His car was facing in the opposite direction but I was sure that he was staring at me out of his rearview mirror.

  He must have followed me to the hospital.

  Just as I reached for the door handle, his car started and he pulled off. I guess this was his way of keeping his word to Eddie, but still satisfying his need to be Polo.

  But you know what?

  I didn’t care if he watched me from afar; as long as he kept his distance and as long as he left me alone.

  I was baby-free and now my only focus was getting my husband back. Thanks to the woman from the hospital, I was focused and nothing was going to keep me from trying everything that I could to make Eddie fall back in love with me.

  And I needed Polo as far away from the situation to make that possible.

  I got into the car to find that there were roses on my passage seat. I really needed to remember to lock my doors. I was sure that Polo had put them there. As I drove down the street, I threw the roses out the window and I entertained my thoughts.

  There just had to be a way to get rid of Polo for good.

  But how?

  I didn’t have a clue.

  ****************************

  Chapter 2

  “Hey Mama,” I rubbed my eyes as I turned away from the door and she walked inside.

  “Look at that booty. Your Mama gave you that chile,” she commented.

  Immediately I became uncomfortable because I was still gaining weight, although I was barely even eating.

  “I thought I told you to call me when you left the hospital that day.”

  “I forgot.”

  She looked around the house as I sat on the couch.

  “You need to clean up.”

  “Tell me about it. Or better yet, could you clean up for me?”

  “Those days are long gone. Where are the kids?”

  “Still with Eddie.”

  “Are you and Eddie…”

  “No Ma. He still hates me.”

  “Of course he does. Well, he doesn’t hate you. He hates your loose booty as he called it,” Mama laughed.

  “Not funny Mama.”

  She continued to chuckle as I pouted.

  “Oh yes it is. But trust your Mama. He still loves you. Chile, ten plus years of love doesn’t go away overnight or even in a few weeks or months. And real love surely doesn’t go away just because you’re angry or because you want it to. You just have to make him remember. Make him remember why he fell in love with you in the first place. Make him fall in love with you again.”

  “You make it sound so easy. And funny, you didn’t try this approach with Daddy,” I teased knowing that my comment was going to get under her skin.

  “Your father was a…let’s not go there. He didn’t deserve my love and after a while, I no longer wanted his. But you and Eddie are different. You both still love each other.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “So, you’re here…what is it?”

  “Um, nothing. I just came by because you didn’t call me.”

  Yeah right.

  “So you’re pregnant ain’t you? That’s why them hips spreading like that. How far along?”

  “I lost it Mama. And please don’t tell anyone. I wasn’t even going to tell you.”

  “You didn’t have to. I already knew. A mother knows sweetie. Was it Eddie’s? Or Polo’s?” Mama frowned as she asked the question.

  I shrugged.

  “I don’t know. And I don’t care. I’m only happy that it’s gone.”

  “Yes, because that surely would have started World War III.”

  “Honey you don’t have to tell me. And I mean it, don’t say anything to anybody Mama. Not even Eddie. You know how you tend to forget that you are my Mama, and not his.”

  “I don’t forget. I just wanted you to do right, that’s all. And I won’t say anything. You have my word.”

  Mama got extremely quiet for a second too long. I could tell that something was on her mind and I waited patiently for her to finally say it.

  “Did I ever tell you about the conversation between Patrice and I? Before she died?”

  At the mention of Patrice’s name, I sat up straight and gave my mother my full attention. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about Patrice. No matter what, she had been like a sister to me, and no matter how angry I was at her for not telling me that she’d slept with Eddie, I loved her and I wished we’d had those last moments to reconcile. I wished that she’d told me that she was sick.

  “At the hospital right? What about her?”

  “Uh, yeah. There was more between her and your father other than the lie that she told wasn’t it?”

  I looked at Mama. I mean, there wasn’t anything that she could do to ether one of them now. They were both dead. I might as well go ahead and tell her the truth.

  “Yes.”

  Mama waited on me to finish my sentence.

  “Patrice and Daddy had an affair Mama. She didn’t only lie on him, but years later, they started sleeping together. And there’s something else. She even got pregnant by him and she had an abortion by him.”

  Mama cringed and I could tell by her facial expression that she was as hot as hen piss by the truth. But I could also tell by her breathing that the truth had hurt her, whether she wanted it to or not.

  “Wait a minute. Didn’t Patrice tell you the whole truth? At your hospital visit before she died?”

  Mama shook her head.

  “No. When I saw her, she just apologized and I assumed it was about the lie. She talked in circles and she didn’t even mention any of the other stuff, but I knew there was something more. I’d known for years that your father was screwing somebody. That somebody just happened to be her. I started to think about it the other day, and I figured that I would ask you.”

  Hell I was surprised that anyone would have wanted my Daddy and his drunk ass. He disgusted me. Even though I’d found out that Patrice had lied on him and had hated him for years for nothing, even though he wasn’t a pervert, he was still a drunk. And the worst kind at that.

  And of all people, I was surprised that Patrice had even allowed my Daddy to even look at her, let alone touch her. She was so stuck-up, and uppity, so it really didn’t make much sense to me.

  I shivered in pure disgust.

  Ugh.

  My phone started to vibrate and I saw that it was a private call. Of course I automatically assumed that it was Polo so I ignored it as Mama continued to talk.

  “I sure hope that she’s somewhere in hell, burning, right beside your father. They both deserve it.”

  Mama seemed to dwell on her statement for a second, and then she started talking again.

  “So, what did Patrice do with all of her money? She didn’t have kids or a man to leave it to,” Mama said as though she was making fun of her.

  “She left some to me. And to Micki.

  “Oh really? How much did she leave you?”

  “Twenty million dollars.”

  “For real?”

  “Yes. But it comes with stipulations.”

  “What kind of stipulations?”

  “It’s not important.”

  There was no point in mentioning the guidelines for receiving the money. As much as Mama loved Eddie, she would have been trying her best to force us back together so I could receive my share of the money.

  Wait…

  That might not be a bad thing since Eddie respected her and her opinion. Maybe things would go smoother with Mama whispering in his ear on my behalf.

  “Well Mama since you asked…”

  ~***~

  Talking to the woman at the doctor had really changed my way of looking at things with Eddie. I had to follow my heart, and not to mention that my heart would lead me to more money than I would probably be able to spend in a lifetime.

  With Mama now onboard, I was cooking up scheme after scheme to wow Eddie and make him fall in love with m
e again.

  After all, the woman that was one cough away from her death had a point. If a man loyal and faithful then everything, anything else, could be fixed.

  So I was going to fix it.

  My phone vibrated again with a private call.

  That was the third one that day.

  I looked at it and so did Eddie but he didn’t say anything about it. I knew that it was Polo and he probably figured that it was too.

  “What did the doctor’s say?” Eddie asked.

  “Nothing. They assume that it’s just backed up from it being late for a little while.”

  “It was? Your period? When was it late?”

  “A while ago. The doctor said that it was probably a result of stress. No worries. Everything is fine,” I lied.

  “Oh,” Eddie said.

  He attempted to leave but I grabbed his arm. He looked at me as if to say stop touching him but he just stood there. I stared at him as though I was trying to get him to see the love that I still had for him in my eyes, but it only seemed to make him uneasy.

  “Eddie.”

  “What?”

  “Make love to me. One time.”

  Eddie looked at me.

  “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

  I ignored his comment and came closer to him.

  He didn’t move away so I knew that meant that in some way he wanted me too. Slowly, my lips made their way closer and closer to his and just as I puckered up my lips, a car horn wailed and scared us both half to death.

  Eddie stepped back.

  “I gotta’ go.”

  What?

  He opened the door and I watched him head down the sidewalk…to Polo’s car.

  He got in and hurriedly they drove away.

  Bullshit at its finest!

  He was in the car with Polo?

  Why?

  I found my phone and called Polo, but he didn’t answer. I was sure that was him that had called me private only minutes ago, but he still sent my call to the voicemail.

  I threw my phone on the couch and folded my arms.

  Who did they think that they were fooling?

  Best friends huh?

  There was something more going on between Polo and Eddie. There was something that they were keeping from me or maybe I had just been too blind to see it all of these years until now.

  Either way, I was going to find out just what it was.

  Even if I had to sleep with Polo again to do it.

  ~***~

  “You asked Eddie to talk to me about “harassing” you, but then you show up at my house,” Polo said and turned and walked away from the door.

  I sniffed the air.

  Um huh, Eddie had definitely smelled like Polo’s cologne lately, every single time that he came by the house to be exact.

  “His talk obviously didn’t work because I know that it has been you calling my phone private again Polo. And I saw you that day that I went to the hospital.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about Sassi,” Polo said behind him.

  “Yeah, I bet you don’t. Polo, we need to talk.”

  He sat on the couch and I sat in a chair across from him.

  Being there was a bad idea. I knew it. I could feel it.

  But I was on a mission. Something just didn’t seem right.

  It didn’t seem normal for their friendship to be able to bounce back after what we’d done yet Eddie was giving me such a hard time. There just had to be more.

  “Talk about what Sassi? Me, you and that pus---”

  “Ah!” I screamed before he could finish his sentence.

  Polo started to laugh.

  “Look at him. He knows that you’re here,” Polo nodded down at his swelling penis.

  I didn’t want to look, but my eyes looked without my permission. I almost licked my lips, but my bloody vagina reminded me of all of the trouble Polo and his penis had caused.

  “Touch it. You know you want to. I know I want you to,” Polo said slyly.

  “So, what huh? You’re playing some kind of roll with Eddie?”

  “I’m not playing anything. I’m just staying away from you like I said that I would.”

  “Why won’t you stay away from Eddie too then?”

  “Why would I do that? Like I told you before. We will always be friends Sassi.”

  “But why? That’s what I don’t get. Why is it so easy for him to forgive you but so hard for him to forgive me and give us another chance?”

  “That’s something that you’re going to have to ask him Sassi.”

  “But I’m asking you Polo. Is there something kind of, you know something going on between you and Eddie? Like on a different kind of level or something?”

  “Bitch…excuse me. I didn’t mean to call you that but I know you aren’t trying to ask me if we’re gay.”

  “Well, it seems like,”

  “It seems like what? You and I both know that I love pussy and pussy loves me too. Period. Don’t ask me no stupid stuff like that. I’m all about the kitty cat. By the way, do yours still get wet when you think about me?”

  He was such a jerk.

  “I don’t think about you. I only think about Eddie.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Because I want you to help me get him back.”

  Polo chuckled.

  “I’m serious.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Because you love him. And because you love me,” I said to Polo softly.

  “And what about me? What do I get out of all of this? Can I still hit that on the side?”

  “No Polo. That’s why we are in this mess now.”

  “You were supposed to be mine Sassi. We would’ve been so good together. Hell, Eddie and Patrice would have made a better couple. You should’ve been mine.”

  “What? How do you figure that?”

  “What?”

  “About Patrice and Eddie?”

  “It’s just my opinion.”

  “So they messed around more than what I was told?”

  “No. But in my opinion, she always had a thing for Eddie. Hell, look at me. I’ve always had a thing for you. I wouldn’t have put it past her. He is my best friend, and I’m in love with his wife. Well, ex-wife. She was your best friend and I’m willing to be that she probably always had a thing for your husband. Maybe she was just better at pretending.”

  I wondered if Polo was trying to tell me something, without actually telling me. Or if he was just screwing with my head. But Patrice was dead and gone, so I definitely couldn’t ask her. And really that didn’t even really matter.

  “Well, I would like to think that you are wrong. Besides, in her will, she encouraged me to work it out with Eddie. So, if your opinion was right, I’m sure that she wouldn’t have made me working it out with Eddie a part of her stipulations in order for me to receive what she left behind for me. If she’d really wanted Eddie for herself, all of those years, she definitely wouldn’t have told me to get my husband back. Right?”

  “Do I look like a psychic? Dig her up and ask her. But I can tell you this, friends, family, no one, is loyal these days.”

  “You would know now wouldn’t you?”

  “Our situation was different. You wouldn’t understand. I loved you first.”

  “No you didn’t. You didn’t even know me.”

  “Doesn’t mean that I didn’t love you. I believe in love at first sight.”

  “Well, I don’t.”

  “You should. Every time Eddie told me about the phone conversations between you two or every time I would sit beside him as he talked to you, got to know you, and as I coached him to be the man that you needed him to be, I feel for you more and more. Just like he did. But oh well. The problem is that my best friend in the whole world loves the hell out of you. Even now believe it or not. But the even bigger problem is that I still love you too.” Polo made sure to add that part.

  “Eddie doesn’t love me. Not
anymore he doesn’t.”

  “Yes he does.”

  “How do you know that Polo?”

  “Because I do.”

  “He said that to you?”

  “He says it every day Sassi.”

  “Then why does he act like he hates me?”

  “Because we both agreed to leave you alone,” Polo said and immediately he bit his bottom lip and shook his head.

  He hadn't meant to say that part.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “What do you mean you both agreed to leave me alone?”

  Polo didn’t respond.

  What kind of crap was that?

  “Are you going to answer my question Polo?”

  He shook his head.

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because.”

  Why would Eddie even agree to something like that?

  With an attitude, I smacked my lips and stood to leave.

  I started to walk away, but Polo stood up and grabbed me from behind.

  “I miss you.”

  “Get off of me Polo.”

  “I love you and miss you so much Sassi. It’s killing me to stay away from you.”

  “Take your hands off of me. Now!”

  “You don’t miss me? Not even a little bit?” Polo grinded up against me and knees buckled.

  My mind didn’t want him.

  My heart damn sure didn’t want him.

  But she seemed to be begging, yearning for his touch and a few of his long, forceful strokes.

  I was sure that after forcing myself to sleep with Polo the last time that the desire would be gone. But I was wrong.

  I was oh so wrong.

  “No I don’t Polo.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “No I’m not. Let me go.”

  “I want you.”

  “People in hell want ice water, but I can assure you that they don’t get what they want either. Now let go of me.”

  “Don’t forget, you came over to my house. I could do something to you, anything to you, and who do you think they are going to believe?”

  “Try me.”

  “Is that an invitation?”

  “An invitation to get your ass whooped. Try me.”

  Polo snickered but he loosened his grip and I turned to face him.

  “Who were you and Eddie talking about on the video tape Polo?”

  He looked at me.

  “Who was it that both of you were talking about? It wouldn’t have happened to be someone named Vanessa would it?”