#FREE READ Sunday! Crossroad…a Butterfly Memoir Mini- Chapter 2
Welcome back!
Last week we took a peek into Ebony’s life. It’s been over a year since she and the love of her life, Brian were married. Life is good, both are making moves in their careers yet, Ebony fears her career goals are going to put a strain on her marriage. If you missed it, follow this link! So what’s happening this week?
Meet Trevon!
Chapter 2
Travon
“Baby brother!”
My twin sister leapt, toward me, wrapping her arms around me in a fierce hug.
“Baby, yeah, right. Then why do you have to jump like Jordan to hug me, shorty?”
Ebony laughed and kissed my cheek. “Don’t be mad, Trevon. You know that being born five minutes after me makes you the youngest.”
I lowered her to her feet, then stepped back to appraise her. It had been a year since I saw her face-to-face, the last time had been at her wedding in California. And now she’d found her way to Georgia.
She appeared to be happy, tanned, if that was even possible for black folks, and with newly braided hair, a bit younger.
I pointed to her braids. “Nice natural facelift you got there.”
As expected, my comment was rewarded with a punch in the ribs. Just like old times.
“Don’t knock the hairdo. Unlike California, Atlanta is too humid. I have no intention of having my natural hair look like a huge ball of twine while at work.” She ran a hand over it. “And the fact that these tight braids pull on my skin a bit to give me a ‘youthful look’ is just a happy side effect.”
I chuckled. “What did my brother-in-law have to say about it?”
“Brian loved it. He said it made him feel like he was sleeping with another woman.” She rolled her eyes. “You men are crazy.” She locked her arm in the crook of mine. “So, where are we going for brunch?”
I guided my sister out of the hotel lobby and into the parking lot. “Depends on what you’re in the mood for. Hotlanta’s got a bit of everything. I say we hit up an all you can eat Chinese buffet. You’ll find Chinese food and soul food at the same time.”
Ebony’s eyes shot to me in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
I nodded, then hit the key fob for my car. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at my ride. I smiled with pride. My Dodge Charger was jet black, with tinted out windows, and had yellow rims that set off the yellow racing stripes on the hood and doors. The interior was even sexier, carrying the black and yellow theme with black seats and a yellow trimmed dashboard.
Her brow shot up as she walked around taking it in from all sides. “Um…compensating for something?”
“Hell, no. I’ve got a phone book full of women eager to attest to the fact that I’m not lacking in any department.”
Ebony burst out laughing. “Damn, I was just kidding. You men are way too sensitive when it comes to that. Honestly, women don’t care so much about size. It’s the technique that matters most.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but she held up a finger that made me pause.
“My man ain’t lackin’ so don’t even go there.”
I threw my head back and howled. “So how is old Mr. Ed anyway? I’m surprised he let you out of his sight. How long are you supposed to be here?”
“Eight weeks.”
I snuck a peek at her before pulling out of the parking lot. Though she appeared excited, I caught a brief glimpse of uncertainty. “Can you handle it? The time apart?”
She released a long breath. “It’s not the first time we’ve been apart, and it won’t be the last. At least it won’t be as long this time. Besides, training in Atlanta is a requirement of my new position.” She dug her phone out of her purse, fingers gliding quickly over the keyboard, no doubt letting her husband know that she was with me. “Brian understands that. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.”
“I don’t understand. You’ve got a good job now. Why do you have to come here for a promotion?”
Beside me, Ebony adjusted her seat belt. “It’s not really a promotion, it’s an opportunity.”
I glanced her way. “For?”
“For the past few years I’ve worked with orangatans at the Los Angeles Zoo. I’ve made a name for myself. I’ve also let it be known that I want to work with different animals, large ones to be exact. The San Diego Zoo had an open spot for a veterinarian in their Panda habitat, I applied and got the job. Now I’m going through training for the Panda breeding program. It just so happens that Zoo Atlanta has a panda nearing her mating cycle . So, we’re here to learn from the staff on what we need to do with our pandas.”
“For two months.”
“Yes, for two months.”
“Y’all are better than me. I’d never be able to let my woman leave for that amount of time.”
Her phone vibrated, and she typed again before slipping it into her purse. “And that is why you’re single.”
I accelerated as we merged with highway traffic. The purr of the engine and kick of speed fueled my high. Damn, I love my car.
“I’m single by choice, Ebony.”
“Why? Because your having a tough time finding the right woman? I could have sworn you were ready to settle down a few years ago.”
The right woman? Try finding a real woman. I want a woman who is caring and supportive; a woman who can put others before herself and isn’t matrerialistic. I want a woman who has beauty and intelligence. Someone who can keep me engaged when our clothes were on, and fulfill my needs when they were off.
My ex-girlfriend Trina was smart and funny. We had the potential for our relationship to turn into a real commitment, but the minute she started talking about marriage, I freaked and screwed up. She retaliated and did the same. In the end, the damage was done and we parted ways. I haven’t seen or heard from her in two years. It’s as though she’s dropped off the face of the earth.
“Things change,” I mumbled.
“You can say that again. So, that’s enough about each other’s love life. You ready to be an uncle again?”
My attention shot to the passenger side of the vehicle. “You’re pregnant?”
An expression of horror crossed her face. “Not me, LaShana. She’s on baby number two.”
“She can have it. I’m not ready for all of that just yet.”
I was happy with my life, despite what happened between Trina and me. For two years we were together, and for two years I’d been faithful. Since our breakup, I’d been enjoying the player status, and sitting back watching my friend Andre enjoy the benefits of marriage and being a family man.
Andre had been married to Sharice for over five years, and they were about to welcome their first child into the world. Well, her first, his second. The whole ex-girlfriend/baby momma situation was too much for me. For years, the mother of his child held it over Sharice’s head that while she may have married him, it was her who bore his first born.
Caught between two equally strong women with claims to his heart and wallet, Andre somehow managed to stay sane.
If there was one thing I could be proud of as a man, it was the fact that as many women who’d crossed my mattress over the years, never once had there been an issue of sexually transmitted diseases, nor one near miss of baby momma blues.
Yet, deep down I knew if I ever found Mrs. Right, I wanted it all, the entire package. Brick house, picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog.
Did I have a prototype? Not really. Why bother? Women changed their appearance so much it was like mixing and matching.
Big boobs or little ones? Small ass or fat ass? Short hair or waist length extensions? Eye color was just a matter of spinning the color wheel. And style of dress? It was damn near impossible to tell what woman was dressed to attract or who was out to make money.
The only thing I knew for sure was if I ran into a woman meant for me, she’d knock me off my feet before I realized it.
Until then, I was a free agent.
“I’ll cross that bridge when it’s time. Right now, I’ll keep having fun being single. You and Shana can enjoy married life.”
Ebony laughed. “Mom’s been hinting at the fact she’d like to see me and Brian pop out a grandchild soon.”
I cringed. “She knows not to ask me that question. I have no intention of having kids until I settle down. My seed is too special to land anywhere.”
“Eww. Not an image I want to have.” Ebony made a face and shook her head.
I chuckled. “I take it you guys aren’t making plans yet.” I shot a glance in her direction as laughter ceased.
I may not have been around my sister for a while, but I know when something bothered her.
“I honestly don’t know, Tre. I’ve watched my friends have kids, and I love babysitting. Sometimes Brian and I watch them together. It feels like we’re playing house. Brian will get this glow in his eyes when holding Yasmine’s son, like he wants one of his own.” Her gaze went to her hands. “Did I ever tell you I could have been pregnant once?”
I started to make a smart remark about need to know, but her voice indicated there was something serious about to be shared. “No. When?”
She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving her fingers. “Before I was raped.”
My grip on the steering wheel tightened so hard that my knuckles turned white. Hearing those words pissed me off all over again. If I’d known what had happened to her, I would have been on the first flight to Los Angeles to kick the ass of the man who hurt my sister. Knowing Brian had done it in my place made me feel a little bit better, but it didn’t keep me from fantasizing about it.
“Was it Brian’s baby?”
Her reply came as a shrug in my peripheral. “Ebony, what do you mean you don’t know?”
“It’s complicated.” She paused, cleared her throat. “I had to make a decision that I’ve lived with for the past year and I can’t help thinking I took something from us…from Brian.”
I risked a peek at Ebony as I slowed to turn into the parking lot of our destination. “Has he mentioned having kids?”
“No, and he won’t because he knows how I feel about my career.”
“And now you’re in Georgia for two months following that career, and you suspect he really wants to be doing something else with your future.”
She nodded.
“Hate to tell you this, Eb, but you’re here now, It’s too late to go back.”
My sister blew out a long breath. “I know.”
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Chapter 3, coming next Sunday!
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