The Available Wife Read Free Page A

you four messages.”
    “I know,” I replied nonchalantly.
    “Well, why didn’t you return any of them?”
    “Germaine, are we really gonna do this now?” I huffed and pouted. I placed my right hand on my hip and shifted my weight to let him know that I wasn’t in the mood. “I just got off the fucking plane.”
    When Germaine realized that he wasn’t going to get any straight answers out of me, he dropped the whole interrogation.
    “So, how was the trip?” he asked.
    “Tiring.”
    If only he knew just how tiring it was . As my husband leaned down to kiss me, I turned my head slightly so that his kiss landed on my cheek. I, in turn, planted my lips on my bundle of joy’s chubby cheeks. Germaine said nothing as I walked past him and into my 4,800 square foot house which, to my surprise, was still clean. Normally when I went out of town I came back to complete chaos…a bachelor’s pad, but nothing could’ve upset me at that moment. I was still on cloud nine.
    “You smell nice,” Germaine complimented as he and Nathan joined me inside the house.
    “Thanks,” I replied dryly. “Where’s my mother?”
    He pointed toward the kitchen before continuing. “Is it new?”
    “Why?” I asked then sucked my teeth.
    “Because it doesn’t smell like any of the other perfumes you wear.”
    Damn, does he pay that much attention to me? I thought. Kingston often told me that he loved the perfumes I wore, so I normally poured it on a little thick when we were together. “It’s the new perfume by Beyonce’,” I replied.
    “Well, it smells nice.”
    I made a mental note to put it in the drawer until I was with Kingston again. I didn’t want Germaine enjoying it. It was for Kingston’s enjoyment only.
    “I made reservations at seven o’clock at that hibachi restaurant that you and John John love so much,” Germaine spoke as he rested his hands on my bare shoulders.
    Using Johnathan was his way of getting me to say yes, but I wasn’t in the mood to go out. I wanted to escape into my tub filled with hot, bubbly water to dream and reminisce about my time with Kingston.
    “Let me ask you a question?” I addressed him. “How in the hell can you make reservations to a restaurant when you don’t have any money?”
    He gave me an uncomfortable look. “I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind…”
    “Spending my damn money?” I finished his statement. “You have a lot of fucking nerve. Isn’t there something boxed in the freezer that you can throw in the microwave? Better yet, since you’re Mr. Mom , can’t you just throw some shit together like you’ve been doing?”
    He gave me another uncomfortable look, cradled Nathan in his arms a little tighter and walked toward the door. “I’m happy you’re home, Nikki,” he replied before moping back outside.
    As soon as Germaine closed the door, Johnathan ran inside. I didn’t realize how filthy he was when he met me at the cab. His fairly new, gray and white Nike’s were dingy and scuffed. Even his Sean John jean shorts and white t-shirt would need a miracle to come clean from the all the visible grass and dirt stains. I was more than sure that I’d be tossing those items in the trash. Germaine knew better than to let him play in those clothes, but I guess I was to blame for not being at home to supervise.
    “Mommy, I’m getting my kickball. Daddy gon’ kick with me,” Johnathan spoke excitedly as he ran past me like the kid, Dash, from the animated movie The Incredibles .
    “Okay,” I said and smiled. “Have fun and don’t hurt yourself.”
    As soon as Johnathan dashed upstairs to his room, I could hear him rummaging through his toy chest for his ball. At that moment, I rolled my Louis Vuitton suitcase through the tangerine colored living room, but stopped when I saw an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and two Bud Light bottles on the glass table. I was pissed. Germaine knew that smoking shit wasn’t allowed in my house. I grabbed the filthy ashtray