Free The Ex Factor: A Novel by Tu-Shonda Whitaker Page A

you this morning?”
    Sharief appeared to be caught off guard and started to stutter. “I-I-I'm good, and you?”
    “I'm well. Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?”
    “You wanna cook… for me?”
    “Of course. I'll cook it for you.” Celeste slid off the bar stool and walked over to the refrigerator. She took out extra-sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, and eggs for an omelet. She placed the items on the island's countertop. Then she took a pot, filled it with water, threw in a dash of salt, and placed it on the burner before stirring the grits into it.
    Celeste started to hum the gospel tune “Nearer My God to Thee” as she cracked the eggs open. Sharief stood in the doorway, not sure if he should come in and have a seat or back out.
    “Have a seat, sweetie,” Celeste said while pouring the eggs into the frying pan. “I missed you.”
    “Yeah?” Sharief said, moving slowly toward the bar. He unbut-toned the top three buttons of his sky-blue shirt, which revealed his wife beater and gave hints of the smooth hair on his chest. Hesat down on the bar stool, on the opposite side of the center island from where Celeste stood cooking over the stovetop. Her hips swayed gracefully as she moved about, cooking the omelet and stirring the grits. Celeste wore a pair of CK jeans with a ribbed, sleeveless peach top, showing off the auburn freckles spread across her chest. Her hair had grown a little since she'd last cut it, and was now in an abundance of short natural curls.
    “Celeste,” Sharief said.
    “Yes?” She turned the coffeepot on.
    “You look nice.”
    “Thank you. Is your dick hard?”
    “What?”
    Celeste spoke slowly. “Is…your… dick…hard?”
    “What the hell kinda question is that?” Sharief frowned.
    “Look,” she cut off the stove, reached for a plate, and slid the omelet on it, “you said I look nice so I wanted to know if I looked nice enough to make your dick hard. It must be soft.” She leaned forward and squeezed his dick, looking him directly in the face. “It's real fucked up that your dick is soft, but not to worry, it'll be okay, sweetie, I understand.” She fixed him a bowl of grits.
    “Yo.” Sharief chuckled in disbelief, shaking his head. “Chill with that shit. Celeste, I don't wanna argue with you.”
    “Me neither…me neither.” She poured him a cup of coffee. “Milk or cream?”
    “Cream.”
    “Can you grab it for me, sweetie?”
    Sharief grabbed the cream out the refrigerator and placed it in front of her.
    “Three sugar cubes?” Celeste asked.
    “Yeah.”
    Celeste poured the cream and placed three sugar cubes in Sharief's coffee.
    He took a sip.
    “I'm sorry about the other night. I was a little out of line,”Celeste said, cutting off the stove and bending over the island's counter.
    “Yeah, I am too.” Sharief kept his eyes on Celeste as he took a sip of his coffee.
    “Is it sweet enough?” she asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “As sweet as the cum that was sliding down your throat last night?”
    Sharief swallowed hard. “Are you crazy? What the hell is wrong with you?”
    “Oh, Sharief, darling,” Celeste chuckled, sipping on her now cold latte, “nothing is wrong with me. I just figured that the bitch you're fuckin' must have some sweet cum because you're never here and when you are here, you play Daddy of the Year and that's it.” She took another sip. “Honestly, I don't remember the last time you fucked me.” She placed her cup on the counter. “Do you even remember what my pussy looks like?” She picked her cup back up and took a sip. “Uhmm, just so you know, I have a few gray hairs down there now. I'm thinking about dyeing it with some Just for Men, whatcha think?”
    “I think yo' ass is crazy as hell,” Sharief nervously chuckled. “Let me go take a shower, get my kids, and get out of here.”
    “There you go, planning to leave again!” Celeste slammed her fist against the counter, rattling the coffee cups. “What the hell is going