Get Somebody New Read Free Page B

placed
Nadiah on an allowance because I vowed never again to let her manage our
household finances. We tried that and it was a disaster. When I knew anything, pink
notices for all the utility bills were rolling in and late fees began to appear
on my credit card statements. Yet, she always came home with a new dress, piece
of jewelry, or expensive gadget. The last straw was when I tried to use my cell
phone and it had been turned off. Without saying a word, I paid the bills up,
opened new bank accounts, and took control of the finances.
    Zeke and his
coworker decided to play hooky from work and came back to his house.
    “Hey Alton,
this is my coworker Rachel. Rachel this is my cousin Alton.” Zeke said.
    “Hi, so
you’re the famous Alton, huh? Zeke has told me a lot about you. It’s nice to
finally meet you.”
    “Uh, same
here, so what are y’all about to get into Zeke?”
    “We’re gonna
get good and drunk. Then we’ll take it from there.”
    “I’ll get out
of your way then.”
    “Join us. All
of us are in the same boat. We are all dealing with good-for-nothing, chicken
shit S.O.’s, Nadiah, Elias, and Jamal. I say we get liquored up, call the no
good bastards, and tell them to pucker up and run their lips past our asses!”
Zeke responded.
    We started
out with tequila shots and before I knew it, I had already downed 3. We talked
about our horrible relationships until we got tired. Zeke got a call and went
into the bedroom, leaving Rachel and me in the living room alone.
    “Why do
people treat you like shit when you try so damn hard to please them?” I asked.
    “Alton if I
had the answer to that one, I could make billions selling the solution.”
    “You seem
like an amazing woman. You’re fine, smart, and funny. For what it’s worth, any
man lucky enough to have you is stupid to take it for granted and not see how
blessed and highly favored he is.”
    “Wow, thanks
Alton. Umm, I am speechless after receiving a compliment like that.”
    “I’ve been sitting
here looking at you, thinking how could a man not see what a gift you are?”
    “Well Alton,
I’ve been wondering the same thing about you. It is refreshing to meet a man
like you. I didn’t think your kind still existed.”
    “My kind?”
    “Yes, an old
fashioned man who still practices chivalry, and more importantly, actually
mentions God in a conversation. For the record, I think you are um, what’s the
word I’m looking for… fine!”
    “Aww thanks.”
I blushed.
    “That was my
friend Jazz. I told him that we were chilling over here so he is on his way.
You two can meet him and tell me what you think.” Zeke said as he entered the
room.
    “Uh oh, I
know that glow. You’re digging dude hard aren’t you?” I asked.
    “Well, he is
nice and fine as hell, but I think he is straight. I can’t tell one way or the
other about him. He is really protective of me though. If somebody even looks
at me the wrong way, he will be all over them with a quickness. I don’t quite
know how to take that. Sometime it makes me feel like he pities me and needs to
protect me from something. Then sometimes it just seems like he is just
fiercely loyal and protective of anyone is his circle. He is a good friend and
I am happy with that.”
    “We’ll see
what’s up when he gets here.” Rachel said.
    “Okay y’all
be good now.” Zeke joked.
    We continued
shooting the breeze and decided to move from tequila shots to margaritas. Jazz
arrived about 10 minutes after Zeke talked to him. Rachel suggested a game of
Charades. None of us could have imagined the wrecking ball of drama that would
come barreling through the rest of the evening.
    When Jazz
walked in, Rachel and I looked at each other. Jazz looked like anybody’s
typical street thug. Something looked familiar about Jazz but I couldn’t place
it. Judging from his hard posturing, he probably wouldn’t take too kindly to
anyone thinking that he was even remotely gay.
    After a few
shots, Jazz