Free Naughty No More by Brenda Hampton Page B

before leaving the room and slamming the door behind me.
    Â 
    Â 
    For the next several days, thing were pretty quiet around the house. Nokea and I weren’t speaking to each other and I spent my nights in one of the guestrooms. Even Shane had called so we could talk about our differences, but with all that had gone on with me and Nokea, his call the other day had come at a bad time. I promised to call him in a few days. When I reached over to the phone in the guestroom to call him, I was surprised to hear Scorpio answer his phone.
    â€œIs Shane there?” I asked.
    â€œJaylin, him and Mackenzie went to get us something to eat.”
    â€œHow’s she doing?”
    â€œShe couldn’t be better. Since the last time you saw her, she’s gotten so big. I don’t even know if you’d recognize her.”
    â€œWoman, please. Mackenzie is in my heart and memory forever. Legally, she’s still my child, you know?”
    â€œI haven’t forgotten. But we all know that things worked out for the best.”
    â€œIf that’s how you see it, cool. But, uh . . . has Shane been treating y’all right?”
    â€œOf course. You wouldn’t expect anything different from a man of his caliber, would you?”
    â€œI guess not. He told me about the baby. I’m sorry to hear what happened.”
    â€œI was too. Now, I understand how you and Nokea felt about y’alls baby. It was a devastating loss for us. I often wonder why things like that have to happen.”
    â€œMe too. But, uh, tell Shane to hit me back whenever he gets home, all right?”
    â€œI will, but I have to ask you . . . is everything okay? I know you all too well and your voice—”
    I closed my eyes, thinking about my argument with Nokea. “I’m tired, Scorpio. Physically, I’m okay but my mind has been on overload.”
    â€œI definitely know how that can be. Get some rest and relax. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.”
    My eyes popped open. “What?” I smiled.
    â€œI was only kidding. I had to think of a way to make you smile. It sounds like my mission was accomplished.”
    â€œIt always is, isn’t it Scorpio? You shouldn’t tease a heartbroken man like that, but the thought of seeing—”
    I paused, looking at Nokea in the doorway with her arms folded. “I wasn’t sure if I heard her name clearly or not, but are you speaking to your ex-lover in our house?” she asked.
    I ignored Nokea. “Scorpio, don’t forget to tell Shane to call me, all right?”
    â€œSure,” she said and hung up.
    I set the phone down and looked at Nokea. “Did you say something? For several days, you haven’t said shit to me so I thought you forgot how to talk.”
    â€œI said . . . kiss,” she paused, “my,” she paused again, “ass!”
    She walked away and I yelled. “Don’t worry! I’m horny and I was getting around to it!”
    For another thirty minutes, I stayed in the guestroom, until I heard a bunch of rambling going on. When I got up, I went into our bedroom and Nokea was in her closet. She had a suitcase lying on the floor and was throwing some of her things inside. I leaned against the doorway, looking at her like she was crazy.
    â€œWhere in the hell do you think you’re going?”
    â€œSomewhere far away from you. You’ve gotten too out of line for me and I can’t deal with it anymore.”
    â€œSuit yourself,” I said walking away from the door. I went into the bathroom, dabbed my face with cold water and brushed my teeth. Afterward, I flossed and turned on the water in the shower. I let the water run, and then went back over to my closet to get some clothes. Nokea had closed her suitcase and rolled it out of the closet. I saw the saddened look on her face, but I was still too mad to respond. When LJ came into the room, he asked Nokea where she was going.
    â€œMommie