Free The Joneses by Shelia M. Goss

day.”
    â€œBut…,” I pouted.
    â€œGive me a few minutes. There’s some wine in the fridge.”
    Tyler left me alone. I wasn’t in the mood to drink anything, andI wasn’t hungry. I looked through his DVD collection and placed one in the DVD player.
    It didn’t take long for Tyler to dress. He took the remote from me and turned everything on. “Which one you got in there?”
    â€œIt’s a scary movie,” I responded.
    For the next hour and a half, I felt content cuddling with my man on his couch watching a movie. I felt my body shake.
    â€œWhat?” I said, as I stretched, unaware that I had dozed off.
    â€œIt’s getting late. It’s time for you to go,” Tyler said.
    â€œWhy don’t I just stay over? I’ll leave in the morning.” I snuggled up closer to him.
    â€œNo can do. I have an early meeting.” He pushed me away.
    â€œBut, I’m still a little sleepy,” I said.
    â€œI can drive you home, but you’re going home.”
    â€œFine, but I can drive myself.” I could barely breathe. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t believe he was kicking me out of his apartment.
    I jumped off the couch, grabbed my things, and stormed out of his apartment. I sped off and let out a scream as I drove home.
    I was minutes away from home when my cell phone rang.
    â€œWas just calling to make sure you made it home safely,” Tyler said from the other end.
    â€œI’m surprised you care, since you kicked me out.”
    â€œHope, you have to learn that you can’t always have your way.”
    â€œGood night, Tyler. I’m too tired to talk.”
    I hung up. He called me back, but I ignored his calls. I turned the volume up on the radio to drown out the sound of the phone.
    I eased inside the house soon afterward. Charity’s snores could be heard in the hallway. I went directly to my room and fell on top of the bed, wondering where I went wrong. I made the mistake of falling in love with Tyler before I could get him to fall in love withme. I wasn’t used to being in this position. I didn’t like feeling rejected. Is this how guys felt when I brushed them off? If so, it wasn’t a good feeling at all.
    I leaned back on my bed and plotted ways to get Tyler to fall in love with me. I knew the sex was good, so it had to be something else. I recalled my mom saying that a way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. A light bulb went off in my head. Tyler had never tasted my cooking. I had to show him I had skills in other areas outside the bedroom.
    The next day when Tyler got off, I was waiting for him with a basket full of home-cooked food.
    â€œI should be mad at you,” Tyler said, as he bit into my homemade rolls.
    â€œAre you?” I asked with a mischievous grin on my face.
    â€œIt’s hard to be upset when a sexy woman has provided you a home-cooked meal.”
    â€œIf I had a key to your apartment, there would be more meals like this waiting for you.”
    Tyler laughed. “Maybe you can show me your breakfast skills.”
    â€œI sure can. So, that means I can stay tonight?”
    Tyler moved his chair and patted his leg. I jumped out of my seat and sat down. “Ain’t nobody leaving this camp tonight.”
    Tyler kissed me. The kiss started off slow but intensified. We ended up ruffling up his sheets. Our lovemaking session lasted for hours. I was exhausted, but he still had stamina.
    He got out of the bed to take a shower. His cell phone rang several times. I tried to ignore it, but whoever it was wouldn’t stop calling. I glanced at the phone and saw the name Baby on the display.
    â€œWhat in the world?” I hurried up and hit the button to answer. “Hello?”
    â€œSorry, I must have the wrong number.” An unfamiliar female voice was on the other end.
    â€œNo, you got the right number,” I yelled.
    â€œWho is this?” the caller