Three Is A Crowd Page 8

  “What kind of diet do you recommend?” Jersi asked.

  “Honestly love, I’m probably the wrong person to ask. I eat what I want and I don’t count calories. You only live once and I enjoy life,” he replied.

  “I guess you can do that since you work here. You probably burn more calories than you eat anyway. I’m not that lucky. I see a cake and gain five pounds,” Jersi said making him laugh.

  “Your size is perfect for your height though,” he noted.

  “Yeah, but I haven’t always been this size. I don’t want to gain back all the weight I lost. Even if I come after work, I have to make the gym a part of my daily routine. I can use your help though. What’s your schedule like most days?” Jersi asked him.

  “I don’t really have a set schedule. I work at all three locations, so it varies. But, if you let me take you to dinner tonight, we can discuss it,” he replied making her blush.

  “Seriously Memphis? I just finished working out and you’re trying to feed me,” Jersi laughed.

  “Well, maybe we can catch a movie instead,” he offered.

  “I’m just joking. Dinner is fine. Just let me know a time and place and we can meet up,” Jersi said.

  “I need your number first,” he replied.

  “Okay, let me go freshen up and I’ll come find you,” she said as she grabbed her bag and walked away.

  Jersi went to one of the private showers and washed all the sweat and dirt from her body. Once she was done, she threw on some legging and a t-shirt before putting her hair in a ponytail. After leaving the bathroom, she found Memphis showing another female how to work one of the machines. Jersi waited patiently as the woman flirted shamelessly.

  “Sorry about that. Here, put your number in my phone. Does seven tonight work for you?” he asked her.

  “That’s perfect,” Jersi replied as she put her number in his phone and handed it back to him. She saved his number too and was on her way soon after.

  A few minutes after she got into the car, Memphis sent her a text showing her that he’d made reservations for them at Drago’s restaurant. Jersi smiled as she drove home and thought about what she wanted to wear. Memphis wasn’t really her type but she didn’t mind giving him a chance. Maybe the old saying was true and opposites really did attract.

  “I feel like I’m dying,” Ariel huffed as she fell to the floor on her mat.

  True to her word, she started working out with Jersi the very next day. Cat was a lost cause and Jersi didn’t even bother calling her anymore. Three weeks had passed and she was still coming up with excuses.

  “You’re doing good though. I’m sure you’re seeing results,” Memphis replied.

  “Yes, I am and my boyfriend noticed it too. I’m tired as hell but I’m not giving up,” Ariel assured him.

  “What about you beautiful? You ready to give up on me?” Memphis asked as he looked over at Jersi.

  “Not at all. I’m all in,” she replied with a smile.

  It had been three weeks since their first date and they had gone on many more since then. They were getting to know each other and she was learning a lot about him. Jersi loved being with him because he knew how to have fun. He was a New Orleans Saints fanatic and she had accompanied him to a few games. He was also on the flag football team with some of his frat brothers and Jersi went to see him play a few times. She and Memphis went to comedy shows, movies and anywhere else that he could think to take her. Their relationship was strictly platonic but she would be lying if she said she didn’t like him. That was what was starting to scare her. She hadn’t had those kind of feelings for anyone since she broke up with Blake and she was unsure of how to handle them.

  Thanks to Talena, Blake now had her number and he used it too often for her liking. He had been begging Jersi to see her but she was firm on her decision. She had a plan and she was sticking to it. If he wanted to see her, he would make it happen.

  “Let’s hit the showers cousin,” Ariel said once she caught her breath.

  “Okay, I’m coming,” Jersi replied as she stood there talking to Memphis.

  “What are you getting into for the rest of the day?” Memphis asked her.

  “Since you’ll be too busy for me, I guess I’ll hang out with Ariel for a while,” Jersi pouted.

  “Don’t do me like that. Trust me, I would much rather be with you then out with them niggas,” Memphis replied.

  One of his frat brothers had purchased a home and they were all going to help him move and get settled in. Since they were all going to be drinking, he knew that they would probably be there for the entire night.

  “I’m just joking with you. But seriously, you need to just stay the night. Don’t try to drive once you start drinking. I saw how y’all get down,” Jersi said.

  “Look at you all worried about a nigga and shit,” Memphis smirked.

  It was crazy how Jersi didn’t find him attractive but she was attracted to him. The way he talked and dressed had her crossing her legs at the ankles when they were together most times. He had sex appeal that had lots of women intrigued. It wasn’t even about looks anymore and she was really feeling him.

  “I’m always concerned about my friends,” Jersi replied.

  “Friends huh? I guess that’s why I never got a kiss after three weeks of dating,” Memphis said.

  “Maybe you never got one because you never asked,” Jersi smirked.

  “Well, shit, I’m asking now. What’s up with it?” Memphis asked as he licked his thick, juicy lips.

  “Ask and you shall receive,” Jersi said as she walked up to him and gave him a peck on the lips.

  “I’m not your uncle or your grandfather Jersi. I’m a grown ass man and I want a real kiss,” Memphis said as he pulled her into him and bent his massive frame down closer to her.

  Jersi gasped when his soft lips collided with hers and his tongue found its way into her mouth. He was aggressive but gentle if that was even possible. His tongue felt like silk and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling. When he finally pulled away, she looked up and noticed that they were being watched.

  “Really Memphis? How unprofessional is that?” A woman scowled while looking at Jersi.

  “As if I give a fuck,” Memphis replied as he pecked Jersi’s lips one more time.

  “Are you training me today or not?” the woman asked impatiently.

  “Go handle your business and I’ll talk to you later. Call me the minute you leave out of here,” Jersi said as she walked away with his eyes following her until she was out of sight.

  “Yes indeed bitch. Y’all all in the gym with it,” Ariel laughed when Jersi walked into the ladies locker room.

  “It was just a kiss Ariel. Stop overexaggerating,” Jersi replied.

  “Bitch please. That was more than just a kiss. It looked like that nigga was about to rip your thongs off. And who is that rude bitch who interrupted?” Ariel asked.

  “I don’t know but I had to walk away before I catch a case. That hoe must be crushing on him or something,” Jersi replied.

  “And it sounds like you’re jealous,” Ariel smirked.

  “I have no reason to be jealous. Memphis is cool but he’s not my man,” Jersi pointed out.

  “No but I think he really wants to be. I like him. He’s down to earth and cool to be around. And despite what you think, he’s not ugly to me,” Ariel pointed out.

  “I’m good on that right now. Let’s freshen up so we can go get some ice cream. We deserve a treat after that workout,” Jersi replied.

  “Say no more cousin. I can use a banana split,” Ariel said as she grabbed her bag and walked away.

  Jersi put on a front for Ariel but she was curious as to who the other woman was. She watched discreetly as Memphis did with the other woman what he’d done to her when she first got there. He was a trainer, so that was his job. Still Jersi was a little salty about how the woman couldn’t seem to keep her hands to herself.

  “Snap out of it girl. That nigga
ain’t even all that,” Jersi said, checking herself mentally.

  She finally pulled herself away from watching and met Ariel in the shower area. Once they’d both freshened up and got dressed, Jersi grabbed her gym bag and followed Ariel out of the locker room to her car. When she was pulled from behind, her heart accelerated until Memphis whispered in her ear.

  “You smell good enough to eat,” he mumbled while nipping her earlobe with his teeth.

  “You better move before ole girl starts acting a fool again,” Jersi said, trying to fish for information.

  “That’s Lila. I told you about her already,” he replied.

  “No, you didn’t,” Jersi noted.

  “Remember I told you about my mama’s best friend who died and she took her kids in to live with us? She’s like a sister to me for more reasons than one,” Memphis replied.

  Memphis was the middle child of his mother’s three sons. They didn’t have sisters but Jersi remembered him telling her that his mother had raised her best friend’s two daughter like they were her own. Still, Lila seemed to want more than just a brother/sister type of relationship. Jersi knew the look of lust when she saw it.

  “I hear you. She was acting like you were her man a few minutes ago,” Jersi said trying not to let her jealousy show.

  “Your jealousy is cute as fuck,” Memphis said as he pinned her to the car with his body.

  “I’m observant, not jealous,” Jersi corrected.

  “You don’t have a reason to be though. I told you that I’m ready to take this to the next level whenever you are,” he noted.

  “Call me later and have fun,” Jersi said as she pecked his lips and got into her car.

  “Aww, y’all are so cute together,” Ariel cooed when Jersi pulled off.

  “Hush Ariel. You do too much,” Jersi said as she drove them to the ice cream parlor.

  “What are you afraid of Jersi? You’re pretty and have a lot going for yourself. Any man that you meet will want to be more than friends. You can’t keep up your arrangement with Carter forever. Y’all will both find somebody else eventually,” Ariel pointed out.

  “I don’t expect it to last forever. Memphis is cool but we haven’t been knowing each other that long,” Jersi said.

  “Is it because he works at a gym? I know it’s kind of hard when the woman makes more than the man. A lot of relationships have failed because of that,” Ariel noted.

  “You know that’s not even how I operate Ariel. I don’t care how much money he has or what he does for a living. I like him. I just don’t want to rush into anything. We talk and we know the basics about each other. I’m not ready to bring him around the family or nothing. It’s not even that deep,” Jersi replied.

  When her phone rang, she looked on her dashboard and frowned when she saw Blake’s number pop up. He still had the same number from when they were together but it was no longer saved. She declined his call without even thinking twice.

  “That nigga is disgusting. Talena was wrong for giving him your number,” Ariel frowned.

  “That’s exactly why I cursed her stupid ass out,” Jersi replied as she pulled up to Baskin Robbins.

  She was happy that the place was fairly empty with the exception of a woman and two small boys. They got out of the car and Ariel placed her order first since she knew what she wanted. Jersi was always undecided, so she went around the entire cooler trying to figure it out. The door chimed twice but she didn’t care about being skipped. She didn’t want to rush and get something that she didn’t want.

  “Are you ready to order yet?” One of the girls behind the counter asked her.

  “Not really. I see so much that I want. You can help somebody else and I should have decided by then,” Jersi replied.

  “Fat free yogurt is always an option. You wouldn’t want to gain all that weight back,” Mariah sneered as she looked over at Jersi with an amused smirk.

  Jersi never looked up when someone entered the establishment but Mariah was nobody to her. Her slick ass mouth was the reason why Jersi was about to drive her crazy.

  “My Blake…I mean, my boo doesn’t have a problem with my size. He loves me, big or small,” Jersi replied.

  “Your words don’t move me honey. I don’t sleep alone at night,” Mariah countered.

  “Not yet,” Jersi winked.

  “Not ever. The same man that you’re in love with warms me and my bed up regularly. We’re very happy over here,” Mariah said.

  “Genuinely happy people don’t need to broadcast it boo. I was happy on Christmas night but you don’t hear me talking about it all the time,” Jersi smiled as she finally placed her order.

  Mariah wanted to knock her on her ass but it wasn’t even worth it. She would be a damn fool to argue with another bitch about her husband. Jersi was jealous and it showed. Still, she had Mariah’s interest piqued when she mentioned Christmas night. Blake had lied about where he was going and she wondered if Jersi was the reason.

  “Yet, I’m the one with the ring. I’m sure you’ve seen his too,” Mariah smirked.

  “Girl bye. He barely wears that bullshit. See, my ring is permanent. He’ll die with it on his finger,” Jersi said speaking of his tattoo of her name on his finger.

  “Can I help you ma’am?” a worker asked Mariah before she could reply to Jersi.

  Mariah ordered her girls a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a pint for herself. When the worker asked her if she needed anything else, she nodded as she pulled her phone from her pocket.

  “Yes, let me pull up this text from my husband,” Mariah said putting emphasis on the last part of her statement.

  “No need, I can tell you. Give her a pint of chocolate and banana mixed. Put the banana at the bottom and the chocolate on top. In two separate containers, put some chopped peanuts and chocolate sauce,” Jersi rambled as Mariah turned red in the face with anger.

  She looked down at her husband’s text and it was exactly as Jersi had ordered it. It killed her to know that another woman knew her husband better than she did. She and Blake had never really dated before they got married so they were learning a little more about each other every day. When Jersi left, the worker looked at Mariah like she was waiting for her to say something different.

  “What the hell are you looking at? Fix the damn ice cream!” Mariah snapped angrily.

  “Bitch you are crazy,” Ariel laughed as she and Jersi drove away.

  “Fuck her. That bitch be coming for me like I did her wrong. Where the fuck they do that at?” Jersi fumed.

  “I can’t even lie, she make you wanna do her dirty with the way her mouth is set up. And you should see how she be acting when she comes to Tabby’s house with her kids. Bitch be acting like she’s too good to sit down and shit,” Ariel said.

  “She most definitely forgot where she came from,” Jersi replied as she pulled up to Ariel’s apartment complex.

  Once she dropped her cousin off, she talked on the phone with Memphis for a while before she headed home. As soon as she parked, her phone rang with a call from Blake. Jersi started not to answer but since his wife pissed her off, she was with the bullshit.

  “Yes Blake,” Jersi sighed when she picked up.

  “Damn. You’re a hard woman to catch up with,” Blake said.

  “Maybe I didn’t want to be found,” Jersi replied.

  “I want to see you. We need to discuss a few things,” Blake said.

  “I already told you what it is Blake. I’m not a hoe and I’m not about to let you treat me like one. Consider what happened on Christmas a present from me to you because it’ll never happen again,” Jersi argued.

  “Are you done or can I say something now?” Blake asked.

  “Speak your mind,” Jersi replied.

  “I got us a spot,” Blake blurted out happily.

  “A spot where?” Jersi asked.

  “Can I see you tonight?” Blake asked sounding almost desperate.

  “I need to know where before I agree to an
ything,” Jersi replied.

  “I’ll send you the address. I have a key for you too,” he noted.

  “Send me the location and I’ll be there in a little while,” Jersi replied.

  “Okay. I’ll be on my way too,” Blake said excitedly.

  Jersi smiled as she got out of her car and went inside. She took a quick shower and threw on a sundress, bypassing the bra and underwear. She already knew what was about to happen and there was no need for it. Knowing that she was about to put the wheel in Mariah’s back and drive her insane was all the motivation that she needed.