Page 8 of Phase Two

Jada was happily married. My friend, Yohana was forty with a twenty-year-old son, and she was six months pregnant with twins. Her man was four years younger than her, and they had a beautiful love story. Everyone didn’t meet their forever person at the age of twenty or thirty. And sadly, there were those that never met their forever person. There was plenty I could say I did wrong in my marriage. The ending wasn’t just on him. But for the most part, it was always the freakin’ men that had to ruin things because being honest, loyal, and decent human beings was sometimes too much to require.

I was over men my age still trying to act like they were in their twenties and sleep around to inflate their bruised egos. They were getting older, bellies getting bigger, hairlines receding, and they wanted something young and pretty to stroke their egos. Women my age weren’t who they wanted validation from. They wanted the young girls, and that was their business. Dating younger was cool, but I wasn’t trying to teach anyone to love me correctly. That shit was for the birds.

More than anything I wanted Lauren to feel supported and loved. I didn’t want her to feel like a failure and let the stressors of life take her spark. She would be okay. We all would be okay.

I held one hand up in the air while I bounced to the beat with a drink in my other hand. I did very well for myself. I had a grown child, and I created content on social media for women my age and older that were trying to navigate through new seasons. And I could still turn up and get ratchet in the club. I loved Bossman D Low simply because of the way he popped his shit. When my daughter left home, I was super depressed. Not knowing what to do, I picked up my camera and started recording my journey of healing. It was never my intentions to share it with others, but when I decided to do so, it changed my life. The first time I saw a YouTube check for more money than some people made in a year, and it was just for one month, I knew then what the purpose for my pain was.

It was to help and inspire other women going through the same things as me. I had an entire community and most days, they didn’t even realize that they helped me get through the same way that I helped them. I had my girl, Alexandria recording me, so I could add it into my weekly vlog and my social media short stories. I didn’t know how long the social media wave would last, so that was the main reason I was investing in Airbnb’s. I needed a plan B always.

I was starting to acquire brand deals also, and that was extra income as well. The Bossman D Low song faded, and a Young Jeezy song came on.

“Oh, they going in,” I shouted bouncing harder. I didn’t know how to twerk, but I could slow wind and move my body with the best of them.

“Someone has been staring at you for the last five minutes,” Alexandria stated as she passed me my phone.

“Who?” my brows furrowed.

“Straight ahead beside the light-skinned guy with the bald head. He’s wearing a black shirt.”

I waited a few seconds then discreetly searched for the man that was ogling me. “Ew,” I groaned and mumbled under my breath when I noticed Trey.

“He’s cute,” Alexandria declared making me roll my eyes.

“I don’t mean ew as in his looks. I know him very well. I’ve also been ignoring him for like two months. I’m surprised he hasn’t made his way over here yet.” Inwardly, I prayed he’d just keep it at staring and not come talk to me. Better yet, I hoped he didn’t even call. I was tipsy, and some good dick would have been wonderful, but his dick came with aggravation.

“Oh Lord. Why are the fine ones always a waste?”

Trey was handsome. Dark, average height, cut full of waves, athletic build. His sex was just boring, and he didn’t know how to take a hint. My phone vibrated inside my clutch. I pulled the device out and saw that Carter was calling. The alcohol in my system prevented me from keeping a straight face. I bit my lip and smiled at the screen like an idiot. That was the person that I wanted to talk to, but I wouldn’t be able to hear him in the club. I waited for the phone to stop ringing, and I shot him a quick text message.

“Whoever that is calling you this late must be the reason you’ve been curving me.” The smile was instantly wiped off my face when Trey’s voice floated into my ear.

After sending the message, I glanced up at him with a slight frown. “Hello to you too.”

“Now you can speak.”

“You’re right in front of my face. Would you prefer I walk away?”

“I’d prefer it if you stopped ignoring me,”

“And I’d prefer it if you got the hint. I’ve told you more than once, more than twice that I wasn’t interested in a casual situation that called for sex two to three times a week. We aren’t in a relationship. We aren’t seriously dating. My sneaky links are just that. Sneaky. Not consistent. I’m not giving you all day everyday access to my vagina. We don’t even go out on dates.”

“Why would I ask you out on a date when you made it clear years ago that you didn’t take me serious?”

“And I still don’t. Which is why I’m good with having sex once every two or three months. That doesn’t seem to be enough for you, so feel free to go deal with someone else. My rules are mine.”

My phone screen lit up with a message from Carter. Trey chuckled angrily while glancing at the screen. “Yeah aight. Somebody getting that pussy. It’s just not me, and that’s cool. But don’t act like you just be sitting up at the crib not having sex.”

“Who said that?” I channeled my inner Porsha Williams. “I never said whether I did or didn’t,” I drew back. “Your issue is worrying about something you shouldn’t be worried about. I’ve never asked you about what or who you do when you’re not around me because I never cared. I hope the feelings are mutual.”

“Bye, Alise. You need to grow up.”

I laughed before my mouth hung open in shock. Did that nigga tell me to grow up? I had to have heard him wrong. He was really acting entitled to my vagina, and I didn’t like that. At all. My jaw was still slack when Alexandria walked over.

“Damn what did he say?”

“A whole lot of nothing.” I shook my head. “Looks like it’s time to go.” I watched as the birthday girl’s boyfriend held her hair back while she threw up in a trashcan in the corner. I had drunk and danced for two hours, and I was more than ready to go.

Even if Carter wasn’t fasting, I doubted I would have sex with him so soon but then again, if his fine ass was in my face I might fold like a lawn chair. I was in the era that I didn’t care too much what a person thought of me. If I was dubbed a hoe for having sex too soon that was fine with me. I wouldn’t even be mad at the name calling as long as the sex wasn’t trash. I waited for my friend to finish puking before I went over to check on her. Her boyfriend was ready to get her out of there, so we all walked out in a group. The moment I was in my car, I called Carter back.