Free Material Girl 2 by Keisha Ervin

different directions. It made her feel needed and like she was contributing something to the world. Unlike the 1990s R&B singer Karen White, she wanted to be equivalent to superwoman. She wanted to do it all, take care of her kids, decorate her house, be a good wife, dedicate time to her friends, and add a little sparkle to the universe through art and fashion.
    Knox exited the master bath, dressed in only his boxers, and stood speechless. Since he’d gotten home from his night job as a bartender, Billie had been in bed with her glasses on overseeing paperwork for her various philanthropic work. Every night it was the same routine. He’d come home, and she’d be enthralled in paperwork. Knox was happy that she took time to help others, but Billie sometimes forgot that their relationship needed work too.
    “You not done wit’ that stuff yet?” Knox said, walking over to the bed and climbing in.
    “No,” Billie answered, not even bothering to look up.
    “It’s,” Knox gazed up at the clock, “3:25, Billie. Enough is enough. It seem like every time I see you, you got some sort of paperwork in your hand.” He took some of the papers off her lap.
    “No-no-no,” Billie snatched them back. “Just give me like thirty more minutes and I’ll be done.”
    “Fuck a half an hour. I want some head now.” He placed her hand on his rock-hard penis and smiled.
    “Man, please, you better get yo’ ass away from me.”
    “No, seriously, I really think you should give me some head. Jesus just put that on my heart and told me to tell you that.”
    “Baby,” Billie doubled over laughing, taking off her glasses, “not now. I’m tryin’ to finish this,” she protested.
    “I understand you got a lot on your plate, but Billie, c’mon, you ain’t gave me no pussy in almost three weeks. Shit, in a minute my dick gon’ fall off.”
    “You really need to stop exaggerating.” Billie resumed working. “Sidebar,” she quickly changed the subject. “Do you know what the twins told me today?”
    “What?”
    “That Becky asked them to start callin’ her mommy.”
    “What?” Knox screwed his face up, surprised.
    “Yeah, that’s the same thing I said. Can you believe that heffa?”
    “What you do?”
    “I called and chin checked that ho. I told her she better have her own pack of wolves ’cause these bebes over here are all mine.”
    “Wow, that’s crazy. Did you tell Cain?”
    “Yeah, after I got done dealing with Dylan.”
    “What he say?”
    “That he was gon’ talk to her. Whateva that means,” Billie pursed her lips.
    “Well, that’s all that can be done about it now, so don’t even trip. The kids know who their mama is. Besides Kyrese, Kenzie, and Kaylee ain’t going for that no way. Now back to you,” Knox scooted closer. “You gon’ give me some or what?”
    “Really, Knox? Nooooo,” Billie eased away.
    “Word?” he spoke, stunned.
    “I’m not sayin’ it like that. It’s just that I’m—”
    “What? Let me guess, you too tired?” he remarked.
    “Uh, yeah.” She looked at him as if he were dumb.
    “A’ight, Billie.” He rolled over to his side of the bed.
    “What?” She raised her hands up, confused.
    “Ever since we got back from the honeymoon, you have shown me zero amounts of affection. Our sex life has gone down the toilet. Shit, when was the last time you even hugged me?”
    Billie racked her brain and tried to conjure up a memory.
    “Exactly. You can’t even remember. Look, I’m not tryin’ to be all up under you or no shit like that. I just want you to understand that I miss my wife. And hopefully, my wife misses me too.”
    “I do,” she kissed him softly on the lips.
    “Then show me.” He tried to pull her close.
    “I want to, I just really gotta get this stuff done.” She pushed him away again.
    “That’s cool.” Knox turned over, fed up.
    He was over trying to get her to see that he needed her time and affection. Billie was so busy trying to be a 5-star