Wednesday’s Wrath

Opting to sleep in the extra bedroom, I awoke on Christmas morning to find Franklin sitting at the foot of my bed. Scaring the shit out of me, I yelped, “What are you doing in here?!”

“Merry Christmas, Sexy,” he said, facing away from me.

Realizing what day it was, I quietly replied, “Merry Christmas.”

“You didn’t come to bed,” he said, sounding almost as froggy as he did a few days ago. “I thought you left me.”

Rolling my eyes, I fully sat up in the bed, allowing the sheets to fall and expose my naked breasts. “I’m probably not gonna sleep with you when you’re upset with me. I apologized but I’m not gonna kiss your ass through this whole pregnancy…” After a moment of silence, I said, “I’m giving up Leon and smokin’ so you’ll have a healthy baby.”

Turning to face me, Franklin’s eyes temporarily lit up when he saw my exposed nipples. “You ended it with Leon?”

“No. I said I’m giving up smokin’,” I corrected him.

Crawling closer to me, Franklin said, “Sexy, you said you’re giving up LEON and smokin’ so you’ll have a healthy baby.”

“Only temporarily,” I thought to myself as I remembered the look on Leon’s face when he handed me a box with copies of his apartment and car keys.

“I’m sorry for my behavior yesterday but this is my first baby and I don’t want anything to happen to her or her mother,” Franklin said as he slowly covered my body with kisses.

“I’m not in the mood, Franklin,” I stated bluntly.

Sitting straight up, Franklin stopped kissing me. “Something on your mind?” he asked.

“I didn’t appreciate how you treated me yesterday, Franklin,” I said as I threw the covers off me before I exited the bed. Stretching my naked form, I admired the body I had now as it would transform vastly over the coming months. “For an independent spirit to suddenly be on lockdown takes some adjustment. I didn’t realize EXACTLY what you expected from me but I didn’t expect to bring out the Warden in you!”

“I guess it’s too late to discuss that but I don’t know how to handle when you’re gone for hours,” Franklin said, sidling up behind me, sliding his hands around my waist to my tummy.

“The same way you did before I was pregnant. You don’t have to give a damn about what I do when I’m away from you,” I reminded him, suddenly not wanting to feel his touch.

“I do as long as you’re carrying my baby,” Franklin said, sounding dejected.

“What are you going to do when my apartment is ready and I move out of here next month?” I asked, turning to face Franklin.

“Unless you’re living rent free over there like you are right here, I don’t see that happening or did you forget you quit your job Monday?” Franklin said before walking out of the room.

Fuck!! Me!! In my excitement of accepting Franklin’s offer to crash with him while I waited for my apartment to be ready, I heard him say he was covering my expenses during the pregnancy. I know there’s no way in hell that means he’s gonna pay my rent too?!

Fuck!! Me!!

RIIINNNGGG!! RIIINNNGGG!!

I’m beginning to hate my cell phone!

“Oh THIS should be entertaining,” I said as I rolled my eyes at the name on the caller ID. “Hello Mackenzie.”

“When are you coming to get your stuff?” he asked blandly.

“Do I have a time limit?” I asked, curious to know why he needed my belongings out of his residence so soon after our breakup. If he needed to move Sabrina in, he can pack my shit and ship it over but I’ll be damned if I’ll rush over there to clear drawer space for his next bitch!

“No I just didn’t want to be here when you are. It’ll hurt too much to watch you pack up and walk out of my life, Babe.” Boyz II Men’s “Please Don’t Go” was playing in the background.

Oh, wow! Really Mackenzie?!

“Hold on. Let me ask my fiancé when we can stop by to get my stuff.” Not even covering the receiver, I called out to Franklin. “Baby, Mackenzie wants to know when we can stop by to pick up the rest of my stuff at his place.”

“Fiancé?! What the fuck?!” Mackenzie exclaimed on the other end.

I’m milking that lie til I don’t need it no mo’!!

To my surprise, Franklin appeared in the doorway and said, “How about now?!”

“Now?!” I asked to confirm with Mackenzie.

“Y-yeah s-sure! You still have your key, right?” Mackenzie asked nervously.

“Of course I don’t. Obviously you haven’t looked on top of the dresser in the bedroom.”

“Oh… So I’ll have to be here to let you in,” Mackenzie said, sounding happier.

“Yes, Hubby and I will be there shortly,” I replied, suppressing the urge to laugh at the image of Mackenzie’s foiled attempt at reconciliation. Did he really think I would go back to him?!

Disconnecting the call, I looked at Franklin. “I guess you get to meet my ex.”

“How are we playing this?” he asked, knowing that Mackenzie would be less inclined to make a move with Franklin around.

“You’re the father of my child and you want to do the right thing so we’re engaged to get married before the baby is born,” I smiled at my cleverness!

Smirking, Franklin said, “Shouldn’t I give you a ring?”

“Um… Um…” Thrown off by the question, I said, “What difference does that make?”

“This might be a fake engagement, but I’m using a real ring,” Franklin said as he walked over to me. Slipping a ring onto my left hand ring finger, he said, “So that we can look the part, are we doing full-on PDA?”

Seeing that Franklin was enjoying this a little too much, I said, “Franklin, we’re just getting the rest of my stuff, not auditioning for Broadway. Call a few of your boys if you don’t want me lifting anything.”

“Give me Mackenzie’s address and I’ll have them meet us over there,” Franklin replied, stepping aside as I exited the guest room to get dressed in the master bedroom.

An hour later, Franklin and his brothers, Jackson and Grant, were taking my bulky belongings out to Franklin’s car while I was inside Mackenzie’s house directing traffic. Shortly before we arrived, Mackenzie sent me a text stating that he had to step out but he left a key under the welcome mat.

“So he just left his house unlocked. What if you decided not to come over today?” Grant asked me before Franklin, his brothers and I headed back home.

“I’m sure he was nearby. Knowing him, he didn’t want to meet the man that could get me away from him,” I said as I used Mackenzie’s spare key to lock his door.

What I didn’t know was whether Franklin had told his brothers about our pregnancy so I resigned my responses to “If you ask about it, I’ll talk about it”.

“Now are y’all gettin’ married before or after she has the baby?” Jackson asked his brother.

I guess that answered THAT question!

“We’re not getting married,” I replied quickly to avoid any confusion. Glancing over at Franklin, I watched his facial expression to see if he planned to clear up this story because my little lie was getting out of hand!!

“But you’re wearing Granny’s ring! That’s the only ring Frankie said he’ll use when he proposes! Congratulations, Frankie and Clarissa!” Jackson exclaimed as he hugged us.

“Franklin…” I said, squeezing his right hand.

Kissing my hand, he said, “Yes, my Love.”

Looking from Franklin to Jackson and back, I felt trapped. For whatever reason, Franklin wasn’t telling his brothers the truth about our baby and now I’m his “fiancée”?!

Oh this shit has to stop!!

When we arrived back at the house, I was surprised to see Leon sitting on the top step!

WHAT IN THE HELL?!

“Who the fuck is that?!” Franklin asked as he took my hand to walk into the house.

Taking a deep breath, I said, “That’s Leon.”

Standing to greet us, Leon stretched his hand toward Franklin. “Hi. You must be Franklin. I’m Leon, a good friend of Clarissa’s.”

“Hey Leon,” Franklin said as he shook Leon’s hand. “Clarissa has mentioned you before.”

“I understand congratulations are in order. For the baby and the engagement,” Leon said as he looked from Franklin to me and back as he took my left hand and kissed the ring Franklin had given me earlier.

Damn!! I forgot I still had the ring on!!

“Thanks,” said Franklin, once again neglecting to correct our shared news. “We’re very excited about everything!”

“I can’t stay long. I just stopped by to check on my girl,” Leon said as he stroked my cheek.

I didn’t know what kind of game Franklin and Leon were playing with me, but you can best believe I’ll end up the winner!

“Franklin, do you mind if I talk to Clarissa for a bit?” Leon asked, tugging me away without waiting for Franklin’s response. Once we were sitting in Leon’s car, I snapped, “What the fuck are you doing?!”

“You’re fuckin’ with my head Shorty! It’s bad enough I can’t see you til you call me but now with you bein’ knocked up, who knows when I’ll get some of your good-good again!” Leon lamented.

“Are you serious?! You drove all the way over here for a booty call?! I just fucked you yesterday!!” I reminded him.

“Did you open the box I gave you?” Leon asked in a soft voice.

Confused by Leon’s suddenly sensitive side, I replied, “Yes. Why did you give me keys?”

“They’re keys to my spot and my ride,” Leon smiled at me. “I don’t wanna share you with him anymore. I want you to be my girl.”

WHAT THE FUCK?!

“Leon…”

“I know it’s his kid but I don’t care. I love you and I’ll love your little baby as if she were mine,” Leon said as he rubbed my tummy.

My pregnancy was turning all of my men into mushy lumps!!

Hold up!! Did he just say he loved me?!

When I noticed that Franklin and his brothers were done taking my things into the house, I said, “You love me??”

“Yeah, girl. I love you,” Leon professed again. “I hate it every time you leave so I gave you keys so you can come home.”

“You know I don’t do relationships, Leon,” I pointed out.

“What the fuck you call what we got?! You’re the only one I’m givin’ this dick to!” he exclaimed.

Looking up at Leon, I smiled. “We’re lovers. We provide each other mind-blowingly awesome sex in the craziest locations. And that was your choice to only be with me. I told you what was up when we started this.”

Taking my hands into his, Leon said, “Clarissa, I didn’t expect to fall in love with you but I did. It didn’t hit me until you told me you were pregnant. When I realized that I might lose you, I had to do something quick. I was trynna wait til Christmas but when you came over yesterday trynna end us, I knew I had to make my move. I won’t stop him if he wants to see the baby but you two don’t have to be together to raise her, right?”

“Leon…”

“Do you love him?” he asked bluntly.

“How I feel about Franklin is none of your concern,” I said, suddenly feeling feverish.

“You’re right,” Leon replied. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Do you love me?”

Although I was taken aback by the question, I instantly replied, “No.”

Watching Leon’s facial expression drop almost broke my heart.

“I’m sorry you fell in love because now we are completely done, Leon. It was fun while it lasted. I’ll drop your keys off later,” I said before I exited the car.

“Clarissa, wait!” Leon said as he caught me halfway up the walkway toward the house. Pulling me into his arms, Leon gave me a long passionate kiss! “Keep the keys in case you change your mind. Love you, Baby!”

As Leon sprinted back to his car, Franklin and his brothers came storming out of the house. Grant and Jackson ran after Leon’s car while Franklin came and checked on me.

“What the fuck was that about?!” Franklin snapped.

“He was saying goodbye, Franklin,” I said as I looked in the direction Leon drove toward.

“For good I hope!” Franklin said as his brothers joined us as we walked into the house.

Without a word, I went into the extra bedroom. Franklin and his brothers had piled my belongings onto the bed, no doubt Franklin’s attempt to keep me from sleeping in here. Pushing my clothes off the bed onto the floor, I laid down looking up at the ceiling.

“What have I done? Now Leon loves me?! What the fuck?!”

Knocking lightly on the door, Franklin poked his head into the room. “You ok, Sexy?”

Sitting up as Franklin sat next to me, I said, “Everything is falling apart, Franklin. Nobody is playing by my rules!”

“What do you mean?” he asked as he rubbed my back.

“I just ended it with Leon because he said he loves me,” I said before dropping my head into my hands.

Quietly, Franklin said, “Do you love him?”

Standing up, I exclaimed, “Hell no!! I just wanted to fuck him and the bastard falls in love with me?! I don’t need that shit!!”

Looking confused, Franklin asked, “You don’t need love?”

“No! I have everything I want and need without it!” I declared. “Loving Mackenzie got my heart broken so the last thing I need is to set myself up for that heartache again!”

“Just because one man broke your heart doesn’t mean we all will,” Franklin stated as he rose to pull me into a hug. “And I have to tell you that I’m in love with you. You are the only woman I have ever loved, Clarissa. None of my girlfriends made me forget you. No matter how many one night stands I had, I only wanted you. And now that you’re blessing me with a baby, I love you even more!”

Pulling out of Franklin’s arms, I said, “I can’t take this! I need some air.”

As I headed for the door, Franklin caught my arm. “Sexy, where are you going?”

With Franklin in Baby Daddy mode, knowing he wouldn’t let me out of the house without a full itinerary, I said, “I’m going for a walk in the park, OK?”

“Oh! OK.” Kissing me lightly on the lips, Franklin said, “Be careful.”

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes in front of him, I smiled back before turning for the door.

Once I was back outside in the cold winter air, I felt no desire to go anywhere. Sitting down on the top step of the front porch, I went over the events of the past few days, trying to figure out where I went wrong. Scrolling through the contacts in my iPhone, I stopped at my entry for Mackenzie.

“My mistake with Mackenzie was thinking he wanted what he asked for. HE wanted the relationship then turned around and sabotaged it! Fucking idiot!!’

DELETE!

Scrolling to the “L”’s, I paused on Leon’s entry.

“You don’t love me. You love this pussy you were fuckin’ and got that shit confused! Thinkin’ he can put me on lockdown with an ounce and some keys. What-the-fuck-ever!!!”

DELETE!

Scrolling up to the “F”’s, I stopped at Franklin’s name.

“‘And I have to tell you that I’m in love with you. You are the only woman I have ever loved, Clarissa’. Well, let me put an end to that right now!”

When I walked into the house, Franklin, Jackson and Grant were all talking and laughing but the instant they saw me, the room fell silent.

“Franklin, we need to talk,” I said as I took off my coat before walking into the kitchen to fix myself a mug of hot cocoa.

After escorting his brothers to the door, Franklin tried to play romantic by playing our favorite After 7 CD.

“Sexy, I know exactly what you need: a nice hot bubble bath and a baby oil massage. You finish your cocoa while I…”

“Franklin.”

Stopping him in his tracks, I continued.

“I can give you a pass only because you’re all in your daddy-to-be feelings right now but once this baby is born, I’m gone!”