Free I Saw Your Profile by Rhonda Swan Page B

to call a personal trainer
at those ridiculous hours was beyond her, but it was how he made his living, so
she didn’t complain. Instead, she asked him to use his cell phone for business
so she didn’t have to be bothered with the calls.
         His clients were
professional women who believed a seventy-five dollar-an-hour personal training
session every week was a necessity - and they had the paychecks to afford it.
         He did his work in
their homes. Most gyms had trainers on staff and didn’t allow freelancers to
use their facilities. He turned down offers from several gyms because he didn’t
have working papers, something Nicole had yet to get a straight answer about.
         He told her working
for himself was more beneficial since health clubs took their share from clients
before paying the trainer.  
         Nicole began to wonder
whose pockets the money was actually going in or if he was even making any
money at all. Lots of clients called but Chauncey always cried broke. She paid
the twelve-hundred-dollar-a-month mortgage on the townhouse. He paid the
utilities. He owned his truck outright, but she paid the insurance. When she
asked him to contribute more, he always gave excuses; clients didn’t show up
for appointments or checks hadn’t cleared. Nicole’s patience was wearing thin.  
         Two years. No ring. No
talk of a ring.
         Most of her friends
didn’t like Chauncey. They tolerated him for her sake.

 
 
        
         About a month after he
moved in, they were at the gym working out when her soror Candace, a cute
mahogany sister who was built like a Buick, came in. Nicole introduced her to
Chauncey and then went to play racquetball.
         When Chauncey saw
Candace heading toward the weights, he immediately insisted on showing her some
techniques. Candace made it clear she didn’t need his help, but noticed several
sisters in the gym had no problem pretending they’d never seen a dumbbell.
         Later, at the showers,
Candace told Nicole about the women who had approached Chauncey and how he was
more than happy to oblige. Too happy, Candace thought. He even pocketed a
telephone number.
         “How serious are you
about this man, Nikki?” Candace asked.
    “Why?”
    “You
want me to be honest?”
         “I haven’t stopped you
from speaking your mind any other time.”
    “I
don’t trust him.”
         “What are you basing
that on? Did he hit on you or something?”
         “No. I wouldn’t go
that far. He’s too comfortable with other women, though. I can’t put my finger
on it. All I can tell you is there is something about him I don’t trust. And my
instincts are usually right.”
         “Well I can’t kick him
to the curb based on your instincts, Candy. I need more than that to go on.”
         “Who asked you to kick
him to the curb? I’m just telling you to watch out. Take it for what it’s
worth.”

 
 
 
         Nicole took a long sip
of water and looked at Jamal. A grin covered his face and his eyes were glued
to the basketball court.
           Why couldn’t he show
this much interest in his son when we were together? I’m the mother of his
child. Why wasn’t I reason enough for him to want to be a good man.
         His words rang in her
head . Guys know guys. Somethin ain’t
right with him.
         A bad feeling was
beginning to drown her like a tidal wave. She tried to shake it by focusing on
the source of the advice.
         Who is
he to tell me anything after the way he treated me?
         Nicole and Jamal were
college sweethearts at Hampton University, communications majors who met
sophomore year over dry hamburgers in the student union. They had planned to
get married right after graduation. Jamal decided to wait until he was settled
in his career so instead they moved in together.
         Nicole wasn’t thrilled
about shacking up, but her desire to be with Jamal was stronger than