On the Line Read Free

She arches a brow and looks at me.
    â€œBeen here. Done it,” I offer as an answer.
    Macy tsks, tsks me. “Girl, one of these days you’re gonna get yourself hurt dragging strange men into your house.”
    â€œMakes life exciting. You coming in or you plan to reprimand me from the door?”
    She pushes past me like she lives there and I don’t. I shake my head and chuckle. That’s my girl.
    Macy is what is referred to by the fellas as a “brick-house.” She has what women pay for. She’s what I call HAT. Hips, ass and tits—with a pleasing personality, of course. She’s not all that great to look at in the face, kinda homely if you get my drift. But by the time she hooks up her weave, throws on one of her designer outfits and slashes some lip gloss on her big lips, you’d barely notice that she vaguely resembles a horse.
    â€œSo what were you doing when I so rudely barged in?” She tosses her purse on the couch.
    â€œIs that Prada?” I eye the bag with longing.
    â€œYeah,” she answers all nonchalant.
    â€œI’m definitely paying your ass too much.”
    â€œDon’t hate.” She glances around. “So what were you doing?”
    â€œMy usual. Going through some of those letters for tonight’s show.”
    â€œAnything juicy?” Her pop eyes pop even more.
    I tell her about Ms. Upper Crust and her dilemma.
    â€œHumph, humph, humph.” She shakes her head. “Takes all kinds. I can hear the calls come in for that one. What else you got?”
    Macy always tries to get a head start on the show so she’ll know in advance how often she’s going to have to bleep my ass.
    â€œCome on in the office. You can go through some with me.”
    She follows me to the back of my two-bedroom condo. “Help yourself,” I tell her, pointing to the box. I resume my position.
    Macy pulls up a chair and digs in. We’re both quiet for a while reading and discarding. Macy is the first to break the silence.
    â€œGirl, you have got to put this one on the air.”
    â€œWhat’s it about?”
    â€œSome chick who signs herself as, A Lovely Mess. Listen to this…”

CHAPTER 2
    I knew my life had unraveled as I boarded my flight to Phoenix with only moments to spare. I made myself comfortable in the window seat I’d managed to nab with the intention of cleaning up some files on my laptop. However, my mind was full with other things. I stared out the window and wondered at what point my life had become so complicated. I was losing myself for love’s sake. I was in love with three different men, maintained three different identities, lived in three different homes and owned three different cars. The sex was equally great, but different with all three, believe it or not.
    I had heard about nymphomaniacs and did not consider myself to be one. In fact, I was in this situation because, long ago, I had come to the realization that sex outside of marriage was wrong. Each husband had been patient and kind and respected the fact that I was a woman who cherished the sanctity of marriage as well as my body. But the best thing about all three is that they are not the jealous types. They have lives that they are comfortable living with or without me. There is nothing more attractive than a confident, independent man. I married Antoine six years ago. I then met and married James and Mark two years later within the same year. It was hectic, but I thrive on hectic situations.
    It seemed that just as I began to doze off, the pilot announced that we would be landing soon.
    As I made my way through the terminal, briefcase and laptop in tow, I thought I heard someone call my name. “Maya!” There it was again. It sounded like…
    â€œHey, sweetheart, let me get that.” I turned to my right and, sure enough, it was James. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. “How was your flight?”
    â€œAhh,