Back in the Vee Days: Part One (Unedited)

“I’m sorry, babe. I have to go out of town next weekend for work. They couldn’t have picked a worse time,” Tyler informed me.
Tyler was of a different breed of men than the ones I usually attracted. He only had one tattoo on his arm instead of twenty like most of my exes. No crazy trend style haircut, just simple low cut with waves. I also dated only really tall guys. Tyler stood about five-foot-nine which was still seven inches over me so we were good there. He was also the first man I’d been with. The others were boys with no ambition, no drive, no careers or anything. Honestly, some of them had a hand in illegal activities. Once I found out, I was out.
The one thing I hated the most was a wannabe thug. Especially if I could get caught up in anything they’d done in the streets. My dad was one of those dudes and his ass had been in prison my entire life. Still was. So, all I saw was the struggle a single mother went through for falling in love with the thug type.
Now, I didn’t say I wasn’t attracted to them, but I would never fall in love with them. I made that mistake a few years ago and it bit me in the ass. At least no police were involved.
So, Tyler was a breath of fresh air. He was funny, smart, hard-working, and cute. See, I learned over the years that fine is overrated. When your man was too fine, the hoes were lined up for his ass. Then you might end up acting a damn fool, fighting and shit. Been there, got the scars to prove it. Also, when he knows he’s fine, he will do what the fuck he wants with no regard. In his mind, he could always get whomever he wanted. So, threatening to leave him over anything never worked.
Cute was a comfort zone I enjoyed. As long as he wasn’t panty-dropping fine, I was good. Tyler might get a second glance every now and again but the hoes were after the other dudes, not mine. We’ve only been dating for seven months, but things were good. I was content.
“You don’t have to worry about that. You know me.”
Tyler rolled his eyes and exhaled. “Yeah, yeah, it’s all a scam to you.”
“It is. And you need to be happy I feel that way. Now, you don’t have to go all out trying to outdo yourself for some made-up holiday.”
“But it’s a special thing to have a day to be all out romantic.” By this time, Tyler grabbed me and looked down at me with a pout face.
“Um, you can do that any other day. And you should. Take me out when you want to, not when the rest of the world does it for one day of the year.”
“Why you gotta be so hard about it? It’s a beautiful day where people openly boast their love for one another.”
“You can do the same thing today, and I’d feel just as special. I wouldn’t think you were doing it out of social pressure.”
“Damn, Treece. You are really hatin’ on it. Fine! I guess I won’t buy you anything nice.”
“Look, I didn’t say all of that.”
“See? Now, it’s okay to celebrate it.”
“Hey, you can give me gifts any time of the year. Even if it falls on that funky day. Preferably not then, but as long as it’s from the heart. I will accept it.”
“Yeah, whatever. Accept this.” Tyler lowered himself to kiss me. Right when I was going to give him a little tongue, his phone rang. The notification of the caller id showed up on his watch. The name was listed “Important”. He scrambled to find the phone. Once he lifted the couch pillow, he grabbed it.
“Treece, this is work. I need to take it in the other room.”
“Okay, babe. Handle your business.”

Tyler had been texting me all day long with sweet messages like he had to hit a quota on this dumb ass day. Even though I didn’t like his motives, it was cute. He damn near sent me every meme about love he could find and sent me SnapChat videos of the office building’s surroundings. He did it from the inside after the third video because of how cold it was in Milwaukee.
We went back and forth until he told me the company-hosted dinner began. That morning, I received three gifts delivered from Edible Arrangements, Cheryl’s Cookies, and Winc. He really didn’t mind spending his money on this kind of stuff and I was tired of trying to stop him.
Around 8 PM, I got a text from an unknown number asking if I was up. I ignored it until they sent the message again. I told them they had the wrong number. Then my phone went silent. I made popcorn and had Netflix up and ready for a night of Wish List watching. I’ve been wanting to watch True to the Game with fine ass Columbus Short for a while now. Between Tyler and work, I hadn’t had much time to chill by myself and do nothing.
I poured my fresh popcorn in a bowl and poured myself a glass of red wine from one of the six damn bottles Tyler gifted me earlier. The couch called me and I answered by planting my ass right in the middle. As I picked up the remote, someone knocked on my door.
It couldn’t possibly be a delivery guy this late at night. When I looked out of the peephole, a man stood there facing away from my view.
“Who is it?”
He turned around and I recognized the uninvited guest. Gavin Simmons. My ex, Gavin Simmons. What in the world was he doing at my door? We’d been broken up for over three years and I hadn’t seen him since last year when I ran into him at the grocery store near my mom’s house. That nigga still looked good even through the distortion of the peephole.
“It’s me, Tee! Open up.”
I did against my better judgment.
“Uh, what are you doing at my house?”
“I wanted to see you. Can I come in? I know you ain’t doing nothing. Not on your dreaded V-day.”
“How do you know I’m not alone?”
“You just confirmed that you are with that question.”
“You don’t know—”
“Is anyone else in there?” He yelled inside my door. “I don’t think Casper heard me. Should I ask again?”
“Casper?”
“Yeah, your imaginary friend who you’re trying to front on me with. Now, can I please come in?”
I rolled my eyes and reluctantly let him walk inside.
“Only because it’s cold out there. Thank the weather for my niceness.”
Gavin looked around from where he stood in the living room. “Your place looks nice, girl. You been to IKEA?”
“Shut up.”
My stuff did come from IKEA. I wasn’t ashamed, but I didn’t like how he tried to clown me about it. Years ago, he applied there when I told him to get a legitimate job and they never called him after his interview. He’d been salty ever since.
“Again, what are you doing here, Gavin?”
“I can’t check on my girl?”
“Boy, I am not your girl.”
“Minor obstacle.”
“What?”
“So, how you been? You looking good.”
His eyes went up and down my body as if he was searching for differences from the last time we met.
“Um, thanks, I guess. Why are you here?”
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be out and about on your favorite day?”
“Just like you’re my favorite guy.”
“Ouch. I hope not. Where’s your dork? I mean, dude?”
“Gavin, I don’t have time for your games. I’m trying to watch movies and chill.”
“Oooh, we can Netflix and Chill. You know how I do it though. We might miss the movie.” He grabbed my hand and brought it to his mouth.
Before he could kiss it, I yanked it back. “You ain’t staying here. We can catch up some other time. Preferably with a crowd or I can see you at your mom’s house.”
“Why do you need a crowd? Scared you might try to get in my drawers or something. It’s Vee Day. You know what that means.”
“Boy, you of all people know I don’t fuck with no damn scam of a holiday. Valentine’s day is a ripoff.”
“Of course I know, but Vee Day is not the same thing.”
“Gavin, what the hell are you talking about?”
He got closer and spun me around until my back was to his chest. Then this boy got down and spread my legs like he was about to frisk me or some shit.
“See, Vee Day. That’s when I come over and have you spread like a Vee. But on your back, obviously.”
“If you don’t get your corny ass away from me.” I closed my legs and put distance between us. It didn’t feel right when my body tingled when he touched my thigh. It was time for him to go.
“Treece stop frontin’. You know you want it too.”
“And you know I got a man. So, go bother one of your many hoes.”
“I don’t have hoes. They are respectable women. How dare you talk about them in that manner.” He used some weird accent.
Rolling my eyes as blatantly as possible, I went into the kitchen for a bottle of water. “I’m trying to have some alone time, Gavin. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to it.”
“I can help you get to it alright.”
I pointed toward the front door. “You got hoes for that.”
Gavin leaned against the counter. “They are not hoes. They are beautiful women like yourself who don’t want a man around all the time. They call when they need some D, and I provide it.”
“Oh, so you’re admitting that you’re the hoe. Got it. Or more like a free escort.”
“More like a mutual exchange. And I’m getting old, I don’t always want to go out looking for pussy. A few quick taps on my phone and someone will be down.”
“You’re such a fucking pig. And that’s exactly why I left your ass. But for some reason, I can’t get rid of you.”
I walked toward the end of the kitchen where he stood to get to my couch. My popcorn had gone untouched and the Netflix screen saver popped up. He’d been here too long.
“You want to get rid of me?” He blocked me from leaving the kitchen. Gavin stood in that damn stance that used to get me back in the day. Legs apart, hands behind his back and his chest pushed out a bit. He done lost his mind if he thought anything was going down with us tonight or any other night for that matter.
“Boy, get out the way.” I walked closer expecting him to move. He didn’t.
“Make me.” He smirked and licked his bottom lip. Now, he wasn’t playing fair.
“Stop playing, Gavin. Move!”
“Nah, you stop playing. You know you miss me.”
“Yeah, I miss all the bitches that used to come at me because your dick belonged to them unbeknownst to me.”
“Come on, Tee. You know we were young then. I wouldn’t do that to you again.”
“Gavin, you need to leave.”
His hands went up in the air. “Aye, I’m not trying to upset you.”
“Well, you’re not doing a good job at it.”
He finally stepped out of the way. When I walked past him, he grabbed my waist. The slightest tingle shot through me. “Let go of me.”
“I will if you answer my question.” His face was damn near touching mine.
“What?”
“Do you miss me?”
“Sure, like I miss the flu. It felt awful while it lasted, but I got to stay in bed all day.”
“Oh, so you like it when we’re in bed.” He smiled.
“That is not what I said and you know it.”
“I know that I want you back.”
I stepped away from him, still trapped in the kitchen.
“Is that why you came over? To play games?”
“I’m not playing, but you are with that corny ass nigga you with.”
“Tyler is not corny. He is sweet and most of all, faithful. He treats me with respect. Something you never had the decency to do.”
“Tee, you keep acting like we both weren’t young.”
“Young or not, I am not going down this road with you. I am happy with Tyler.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am. How would you know? I haven’t seen you in over a year. You don’t know anything me or my relationship.”
“Aight, answer one question, then I’ll get out your hair.”
“What is it now?”
“Does he do it like me?”
“Cheat? Not at all.” I stared into his eyes to make sure he didn’t think he had me shook. Although I knew exactly what he was asking. And I knew the answer was exactly what he wanted to hear. I would never admit it.
Gavin rolled his eyes and pulled me into him. “You know what the hell I mean. Does he make your panties wet like they are right now?”
I hadn’t been this close to him in years and I almost wanted to bite his lip, but I knew better.
“My panties are not! They haven’t been drier. I don’t know who you think you are, but you ain’t got it like that. I’m not one your—”
“Hoes? Yeah, I know that’s all you think of me. You are not a hoe and that’s all you need to worry about. I respect you and I want to make sure you are happy with your cornball.” He kissed my neck. My knees got weak and my eyes slowly closed. Then my panties did just what he accused them of.
I pushed him off. “Stop! He-He makes me happy, okay!”
“If you say so, but I know you’re lying.”
“You don’t know shit.”
“I know you better than you give me credit for. And I know you want me right now.”
“Gavin, you got—”
“One more time, right?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Even if he was right, I didn’t appreciate his cockiness. Gavin finally let me out of the damn kitchen. Once I plopped on the couch, I discreetly caught my breath. Fucking my ex was never an option and it wouldn’t change tonight. I had a man.
“LaTreece, I’m not who I used to be. You are the one regret in my life and I wanted to make up for it,” he said from the counter.
“It’s too late for all of that. I’ve moved on.”
“I haven’t.”
“That’s not my problem.”
Gavin sat next to me on the couch. A little too close, so I scooted over. He watched me in a way that made me uncomfortable only because it was turning me on. How was he even doing that? After all these years, there was still something about him. Yes, Gavin was the sexiest dude I’d ever been with. The typical tall, dark, and handsome type. But he had a roughness to him.
Gavin was a bad boy. The ones I vowed to stay away from. He never disrespected me directly. No calling me out my name or putting his hands on me, but he lied all the time. I’d had enough heartbreak and dumb moments to spare with all the bad boys I wished I could turn good. I only wanted them to leave the street shit alone and build something for themselves. Something legit. It never worked so I had to change who allowed in my life. That’s how Tyler came along.
Tyler was on a straight path and always had been. I had no worries about what he did when we weren’t together. Never had to worry if he’d been arrested doing his “work” like I had for the others. All I had to do was love and be loved. At this point in life, it’s all I had the energy for.
“You don’t miss me at all?”
I gave him a look that conveyed my answer. “Treece, you are all I’ve been thinking about lately. I keep going over how bad I fucked shit up with you. Every time I wanted to tell you I changed, you had somebody. Hell, even now you do. I’ve tried forgetting about you, but no one compares to how you make me feel.”
“Ditto. No one has ever made me feel as shitty as you have, Gavin. No one has ever had my heart the way I gave it to you and you just stomped all over it. So, sorry if I don’t buy the bullshit you’re selling.”
He sat for a minute looking down at his hands. “Do you love him?”
“Who? Tyler? Yes, I love him.”
“You love him like you loved me?”
No. “Even more.”
“Tee, you don’t mean that. I can tell you don’t love him like that. You wouldn’t be so nervous around me if you did.”
“Ain’t nobody nervous.”
“Then why are you biting your nail? Why is your foot shaking? I may have been out there hoeing around back then but I loved you. I know you. I know your ways.”
“Whatever, Gavin.” I was going to need a date with my shower head once this nigga left. He had my body all confused. I kept in under control but it was fighting against me to touch him again. To have him touch me. I remember him all too well. My body had been high off of him for so long and then followed many disappointments from guys who couldn’t measure up. Tyler was simple, but he was good. I could be satisfied enough with him.
“Come here.”
“No.”
“Tee, come here.” He stared at me like he could control me with his eyes. I knew better than to make any eye contact because it was almost true. Gavin took my hand and pulled me closer to him. “Where’s your man at right now?”
“Work.”
“When is he coming back?”
“Tomo—night. Tonight.”
He laughed so loud that I did too. “You are a terrible liar.”
“I could’ve learned a thing or two from you but I was too busy crying.”
“Damn, girl! You know how much I hated seeing you cry.”
“You didn’t hate it enough to stop making the tears fall though.”
He pulled me so close I could feel his breath. Gavin lifted my legs and laid them across his. Then he put his arm around my shoulder before placing a finger under my chin, turning me to face him.
“I promise I will never hurt you again. Please believe that.” He leaned in, but I didn’t move this time. I allowed his lips to touch mine. His warm, thick, smoke-stained lips. I kissed him back and my body temperature increased. I inhaled through my nose as his lips pressed against mine harder. With a squeeze of my ass, my mouth opened to accept his tongue. One of us moaned, I couldn’t tell who.
“Fuck, I missed you, babe,” he said against my lips. His erection grew rapidly under my thigh and I lost it. I got up and straddled him, kissing him the way we used to. When his hands slid past the waistband of my pants and swiped at the juices between my legs, I jumped.
“Oh, shit.” I opened my eyes and hopped off his lap with a quickness. “God, no, no, no. You have to go.”
“What happened? Why you freaking out on me?”
“Gavin, I am not a cheater. This is not me. I can’t do this to Tyler.”
“Fuck that nigga. He don’t make you feel like you just did with me. Fuck him. Be with me.” He stood up reaching for my hand. I stepped back.
“We can’t. I can’t. You will only …”
“Only what? Break your heart? Hurt you?”
I nodded and tears fell. I had no clue why. Maybe I did. Gavin was right about Tyler not making me feel the same, but he made me feel secure and that meant more to me now than it used to. All the pain Gavin put me through came rushing up like it had just happened again.
“Treece, don’t cry. I’m sorry.” He pulled me into an embrace that only made the tears flow more. “I know I hurt you back then, but that’s because I didn’t know better. I didn’t realize what I had until you left me. Let me show you I changed. I want you and only you.”
Those words would’ve meant so much last year or the year before that. Today, I couldn’t accept it. Gavin didn’t deserve me. Tyler won my heart and he’s the one who I needed to be with. He treated me better than any man and I loved that about him. He was normal. No drama. No mess.
I broke away from Gavin. “Please leave.”
“Treece? Let me—”
“Go, Gavin!”
He stared at me. I couldn’t look at him but I felt his eyes. He took one step my way. “Just go!”
Once again he grabbed me, but only to kiss my forehead. “I love you, but I respect your decision.” Then he finally walked out the door.
I fell to my knees and sobbed for myself. Deep down I knew that I didn’t love Tyler the way I loved Gavin. I thought about what it would do to him if I broke things off. I thought about what would happen if Gavin did change. And if he didn’t. No answer felt like a no-brainer anymore.
Yesterday, all was well. Tyler was all I wanted. Why did Gavin have to pop up? Emotions traveled from one extreme to the next before I finally fell asleep in bed.
I woke up in the middle of the night and went to the living room to get my phone. No missed calls from Tyler. Three texts from Gavin. I didn’t bother to read them after the first one revealed it was him. It didn’t even matter how he got my number even though I knew it was my grandmother’s fault.

I needed to hear Tyler’s voice. It was little after 2 AM, but I needed his voice to be the last one in my head in order to go to sleep. He answered on the fourth ring.
“Hello,” he whispered. “Is everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah. I just … I couldn’t sleep.”
“Ok, babe. Are you okay though?”
“I’m fine, Ty. Can we just talk for a few minutes? It can be about anything. I don’t care what.”
“LaTreece, what’s—”
“Who is that on the phone this late at night?” A woman’s voice came from his background.
“Ty? Who is that?”
“Um, hold on.” I could hear his hand try to cover the speaker on his phone. “It’s nobody, just go back to bed. I’ll be there in a minute,” he told her.
My heart tried to break through my chest, jump through the phone, and strangled him to death. A lump in my throat appeared out of nowhere.
“LaTreece, um, we—”
“Are so done. You’re just like everyone else.” I laughed at how stupid I was to believe he was different. All the weekend trips for work. I never gave it a second thought. “You lying muthafucka. I can’t believe you.”
“She’s my wife. I—”
I screamed and chucked my phone across the room. It crashed into the wall and pieces fell. So did I.

Ready for Part 2? Back in the Vee Days: Part 2