Read Online All Up In My Business by Lutishia Lovely - Free Book Online
Authors: Lutishia Lovely
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husband—who hadn’t wanted a third child when they had twins—that baby number five was on the way?
10
M alcolm straightened his suit coat and adjusted his tie as he rode the elevator to the top floor of the tall building, where FGO was located. Founded by a senator’s son a half century ago, FGO—For Gentlemen Only—had been, until ten years ago, a male-only club. Now, women were allowed to frequent the establishment, under what was defined as a guest membership, but they could not formally join the club as a voting or chartered member. And the only way men could become members was to have another member in good standing refer them. Ironically, Adam and Ace had been referred by Victoria’s uncle and had been members for over twenty years. Both Malcolm and Toussaint had been invited once they graduated Morehouse. Toussaint was a regular visitor, going there at least once a week. Malcolm, on the other hand, hadn’t been to FGO in months.
“Mr. Livingston!” the host exclaimed, shaking Malcolm’s hand enthusiastically. This elderly gentleman, with a dark, well-worn face and stark-white hair, had known Malcolm since he was a boy. “It’s a pleasure to see you, sir.”
“The pleasure’s mine, Harold,” Malcolm said, giving the host’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze. They chatted briefly,inquiring about each other’s families, Harold’s beloved Atlanta Braves, and his second love after baseball—barbeque.
“Tell your daddy he still owes me from our last bet,” Harold said, his eyes twinkling.
“Ha! Will do, sir. Will do.”
“Malcolm! My man!” Jon Abernathy walked briskly toward his former college roommate and dear friend. “Who let the dogs out?”
“That should be my question,” Malcolm answered as the two men exchanged a soul brother’s handshake and quick em-brace. “I thought I might find you here.”
“What, did Victoria make you delete all of your single friends’ phone numbers? I haven’t heard from you in ages! Just last week I thought about driving over to Taste for a rib dinner, see if you were hiding out in the kitchen.”
Malcolm laughed at Jon’s statement. The Auburn Taste location, specifically the kitchen, had been where Malcolm could be found on most nights he wasn’t on campus, especially during his undergrad years.
Jon led Malcolm over to the table where he’d been sitting. “Well, at least she loosened the leash and let you out tonight,” Jon continued. “Good to see you, man.”
“It’s good to see you too.” Malcolm signaled the waiter, who brought him a cognac, neat. He raised the glass in silent salute and took a sip. “So what’s up, man? What’s the latest around the way?”
“Oh, same old, same old,” Jon answered. “Still fighting off the sistahs, running from wedding rings.”
Jon had been a ladies’ man for as long as Malcolm had known him. At five foot nine and around one hundred sixty-five pounds, he wasn’t a big guy. But what he lacked in height he more than made up for with swagger and style. Jon was always impeccably dressed and expertly groomed. His weekly manicure and pedicure was routine, as were his trips to the barber. The spa in which he was part owner kept his dark skinsmooth and soft, and the gym kept his muscles firm and abs tight. A marriage shortly after college, just before Malcolm and Victoria wed, had ended in divorce five years ago. Jon doubted he could ever stay faithful, and had vowed to be a bachelor for the rest of his life.
“How’s your son?” Malcolm asked.
“Looking more like me every day,” Jon proudly answered.
The two men continued talking casually, enjoying each other’s company. Malcolm ordered another cognac and Jon had his Seven and Seven refreshed. They’d just finished lamenting the loss of a mutual friend, who’d died in a car accident several months earlier, when Jon stopped midsentence. “Damn,” he said, under his breath. “Who is that?”
Malcolm followed Jon’s gaze and saw a
10
M alcolm straightened his suit coat and adjusted his tie as he rode the elevator to the top floor of the tall building, where FGO was located. Founded by a senator’s son a half century ago, FGO—For Gentlemen Only—had been, until ten years ago, a male-only club. Now, women were allowed to frequent the establishment, under what was defined as a guest membership, but they could not formally join the club as a voting or chartered member. And the only way men could become members was to have another member in good standing refer them. Ironically, Adam and Ace had been referred by Victoria’s uncle and had been members for over twenty years. Both Malcolm and Toussaint had been invited once they graduated Morehouse. Toussaint was a regular visitor, going there at least once a week. Malcolm, on the other hand, hadn’t been to FGO in months.
“Mr. Livingston!” the host exclaimed, shaking Malcolm’s hand enthusiastically. This elderly gentleman, with a dark, well-worn face and stark-white hair, had known Malcolm since he was a boy. “It’s a pleasure to see you, sir.”
“The pleasure’s mine, Harold,” Malcolm said, giving the host’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze. They chatted briefly,inquiring about each other’s families, Harold’s beloved Atlanta Braves, and his second love after baseball—barbeque.
“Tell your daddy he still owes me from our last bet,” Harold said, his eyes twinkling.
“Ha! Will do, sir. Will do.”
“Malcolm! My man!” Jon Abernathy walked briskly toward his former college roommate and dear friend. “Who let the dogs out?”
“That should be my question,” Malcolm answered as the two men exchanged a soul brother’s handshake and quick em-brace. “I thought I might find you here.”
“What, did Victoria make you delete all of your single friends’ phone numbers? I haven’t heard from you in ages! Just last week I thought about driving over to Taste for a rib dinner, see if you were hiding out in the kitchen.”
Malcolm laughed at Jon’s statement. The Auburn Taste location, specifically the kitchen, had been where Malcolm could be found on most nights he wasn’t on campus, especially during his undergrad years.
Jon led Malcolm over to the table where he’d been sitting. “Well, at least she loosened the leash and let you out tonight,” Jon continued. “Good to see you, man.”
“It’s good to see you too.” Malcolm signaled the waiter, who brought him a cognac, neat. He raised the glass in silent salute and took a sip. “So what’s up, man? What’s the latest around the way?”
“Oh, same old, same old,” Jon answered. “Still fighting off the sistahs, running from wedding rings.”
Jon had been a ladies’ man for as long as Malcolm had known him. At five foot nine and around one hundred sixty-five pounds, he wasn’t a big guy. But what he lacked in height he more than made up for with swagger and style. Jon was always impeccably dressed and expertly groomed. His weekly manicure and pedicure was routine, as were his trips to the barber. The spa in which he was part owner kept his dark skinsmooth and soft, and the gym kept his muscles firm and abs tight. A marriage shortly after college, just before Malcolm and Victoria wed, had ended in divorce five years ago. Jon doubted he could ever stay faithful, and had vowed to be a bachelor for the rest of his life.
“How’s your son?” Malcolm asked.
“Looking more like me every day,” Jon proudly answered.
The two men continued talking casually, enjoying each other’s company. Malcolm ordered another cognac and Jon had his Seven and Seven refreshed. They’d just finished lamenting the loss of a mutual friend, who’d died in a car accident several months earlier, when Jon stopped midsentence. “Damn,” he said, under his breath. “Who is that?”
Malcolm followed Jon’s gaze and saw a
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