Read Online So You Call Yourself a Man by Carl Weber - Free Book Online Page B

reached for the door.
    â€œCome on now, James,” she whined, suggesting I wasn’t moving fast enough. “I told you I want some.”
    â€œAw’ight, boo, I’m coming.” I reached for my door and she smiled, rushing out of the car. “I’ll meet you upstairs. I wanna take a shower and put on something sexy.” She sounded giddy as she ran to the front door ahead of me.
    When I got in the house, the sound of running water floated down the stairs. I slid out of my tuxedo jacket and was about to slip off my cummerbund when the phone rang. “I got it,” I yelled up the stairs, reaching for the phone. As usual, I checked the caller ID. The number was unavailable.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œJames?” I almost pissed on myself when I heard Michelle’s voice. Instinctively, I covered the phone, tilting my head and listening to make sure the shower was still running.
    â€œWhat the hell are you calling my house for?” I hissed into the phone. Threats were one thing, calling my cell phone was another, but I couldn’t believe she had actually dialed my home number again. This chick was getting on my nerves. “I told you about this shit.”
    â€œDon’t be screaming on me, James. I tried to call you on your cell phone, but you didn’t answer.” She was right. I’d cut my ringer off for the wedding ceremony and had completely forgotten to turn it back on.
    â€œThis better be important, Michelle, and don’t even think about asking me to babysit. You already told me you don’t have to work tonight.”
    â€œI don’t want you to babysit, James,” she said coldly. “I need you to go to the twenty-four-hour Walgreens on Guy Brewer and get me some Children’s Tylenol. Marcus has a fever.”
    â€œYou gotta be kidding. You go get it!” I knew I sounded belligerent and unfeeling, but this girl was going too far.
    â€œYou know I ain’t got no car and it’s raining outside. I’m not taking my baby out in the rain. He’s sick already.”
    â€œI’m busy, Michelle. Don’t you have some dude who can help you? Damn, you know you need a man.”
    â€œVery funny, James. And no, I ain’t got nobody to help me. You my help! So stop trying to avoid your responsibility.”
    Suddenly, the upstairs bathroom door opened. I looked up and Cathy was at the top of the stairs with only a towel wrapped around her. I don’t think she had a clue who was on the phone or what we were talking about, but I panicked. I dropped the phone on the floor, and by the time I got my shit together, Cathy was headed down the stairs. I scrambled to pick it up.
    â€œSweetheart, you don’t care if I don’t wear a nighty, do you? It’s only going to come off once we get started.”
    â€œWhatever you want to do, hun,” I told her quickly. “Just get your fine ass up the stairs so we can do it.” Thank God she stopped halfway down the steps. I placed the phone on my ear and it was dead.
    â€œOkay.” She stared at me suspiciously. “Who’s that on the phone?”
    â€œAah…” I glanced at the phone, wishing it wasn’t in my hand. “It was Sonny, but we…we got disconnected.”
    â€œWhat did he want?”
    â€œAh…his rental car broke down on the Conduit….” I couldn’t even finish my lie because the phone rang again.
    Cathy gave me a disappointed look that was about to become an angry look. “You’re not going to pick him up, are you, James?”
    â€œNot until I put you to bed properly, baby. Sonny’s just gonna have to wait. I promise.”
    â€œGood, now hurry up and get your friend off the phone. Momma wants some lovin’.” She turned around and walked back up the stairs while I quickly walked toward the kitchen.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œWhy’d you hang up on me?” Michelle snapped.
    â€œI