The Baby They Bonded Over

“Yeah we had just started dating,” Madilyn shrugged her shoulders not seeing what Nadia was explaining.

“But what he didn’t tell you was that he was still with me. So congratulations, you got yourself a hell of a guy here! I hope you two are happy together!”

“I can’t believe you, Paul!” Madilyn yelled. “This is the last time you make a mockery out of me. We’re done! Get somebody else to play these stupid ass games.”

Madilyn wiped her face on a towel, grabbed her things, and stormed out of the shop. Paul was left with a feeling of déjà vu as he watched Madilyn rushing out. He stood there thinking about whether he should chase her or not. Either way Nadia had let him get under her skin for the last time.

“You just refuse to let me go and try to ruin every new relationship I get into,” Paul scowled as he turned to leave the shop and run after Madilyn. His last words before stepping out of the door, “But none of this matters because we’ll get back. We’ll get it back.”

Nadia was speechless. It was the first time she had ever considered Paul might have some kind of mental illness. He was delusional.

Charlene stared at Nadia through the mirror with the same befuddled look on her face, “Did he really just say that?”

“I think so,” Nadia was terribly confused as to what just transpired.

“Oh honey, I never knew how far gone that poor boy was until this moment right now,” Charlene sighed. “But he’s always been rather spoiled, particularly when he was with you. You let way too much slide and that’s why he’s behaving this way now. You know you need to train your men.”

“Humph,” Nadia huffed. “Not at all. I am no one’s puppet master. Real men don’t need to be trained because they were raised properly. But as much as I hate to agree with you, you are right about me letting him get away with so much; when we were together and now. I just hope that what I have in mind will work.”

“Girl what you got up your sleeve?”

“Whatever it is,” Megan interjected after eavesdropping. “Keep it out of here. I done had enough rumors circulating about you, Paul, your new boo, his new boo, and all of the other nonsense y’all done brought up in here.”

“Whatever, Megan! Don’t worry about it. I promise that he’s going to get it. I don’t think he’ll be back,” Nadia reassured her boss hoping that she was right.

Nadia’s phone buzzed with a text message from Jeremy:

Hope you’re having a great day. I need to see you later. Meet me at 896 Grandmire Drive. The penthouse suite. Tell them you’re there for me.

Nadia’s glow returned after reading the text from Jeremy. She wished her day would fly by, but client after client had her at the shop until after seven that evening. It was 8:30 by the time she made it to the hotel. She was exhausted but still excited about what was to come. The concierge greeted her with a smile and somehow knew that she was there for Jeremy. He ushered her to the elevator, pressed the code to the penthouse, and sent her up.

The elevators door opened up directly into the suite. The lights were dimmed, smooth R & B was playing, but Jeremy was nowhere to be seen. She stepped out into the room. The view from the large windows was magnificent, drawing her close to them. Nadia tossed her bag onto an arm chair as she gazed out into the city marveling at its beauty from the top floor of its most prestigious hotel. She hadn’t heard Jeremy come up behind her. The kiss was still on his mind, and even more so she was in that bright orange dress he loved. Nadia caught his smile in their reflection.

“What is all of this?” she asked as he held her tight.

“We started something last night, and I thought we should pick up where we left off. Only if you’re ready though. I know he’s not going to leave you alone, so we might as well enjoy this process.”

Nadia thought they were rushing into things last night, but with three full days of Paul’s foolishness, it was clearer to her that their plan needed to move forward. Jeremy was right. If they were going to go through with it, they might as well enjoy it.

“I think we should,” Nadia turned around to wrap her arms around his neck. Jeremy’s lips met hers with the same passion as last night. They kissed each other under the light of the moon. He grabbed her tight letting his hands move down the length of her back. She arched under his touch. She pulled back out of the kiss.

“What’s wrong?” Jeremy asked.

“I need to shower,” she giggled.

Jeremy nodded, “Yeah you do kinda smell like burnt hair.”

They both laughed as he led her into the bathroom. Jeremy turned the shower on.

They felt bliss.