Back in the Vee Days: Part Three (Unedited)

I grabbed the bag from the delivery guy and he took off. Even he could tell what was about to go down. But if I had anything to do with it, they’d behave.
“What the hell is going on, LaTreece? You told me you weren’t going to be home.”
“Then why the fuck are you here my nigga?” Gavin’s face grew angrier by the second. It scared my ass.
“Who the fuck are you? This is my woman.” Tyler stepped inside.
I used all my strength to push back against Gavin, but he barely moved. I was almost turned on.
“Nah, bruh. Yo’ woman in up north with your daughter,” Gavin spit out with so much confidence.
Tyler’s face twitched with no verbal response.
“Daughter? What daughter?” I turned around. “Gavin, what are you talking about?” He never took his eyes off Tyler.
“Ask that nigga.”
“Say one more thing to me, and I’ll show you a nigga.” Tyler’s tone was one I didn’t recognize.
“What?” Gavin walked toward Tyler with me, attempting to slow him down. He wouldn’t hurt me, but he was tall enough to swing above my head. I had to stop him.
“Get out!” I yelled.
“Yeah, bitch nigga. Get the fuck out.”
“No, Gavin! You get out. Now!”
He stepped back. “Me! You gone let this—”
“Gavin, go!”
“Damn, Tee. I thought we was better than that.”
My eyes welled up at his expression. I didn’t need this shit right now.
Tyler laughed out loud. “Gavin? The same guy who you said broke your heart years ago. That’s who this is?”
I put my hand on Gavin’s chest to calm him. Tyler didn’t know him well enough to shut the hell up. Gavin’s hot-head tendencies were another pet peeve of mine. The smirk on Tyler’s face might have put a target on his back if Gavin saw him again.
“Just go,” I said, leading him toward the door. Gavin looked at me and shook his head before walking out.
I locked the door behind him.
“Babe, I—”
“Don’t you fucking ‘babe’ me. You have a daughter?”
“No! My wife does.”
I went to the kitchen to finally put this damn bag down.
“LaTreece, I know what he said sounds bad but I do not have a child. She had a daughter prior to our relationship. You have to believe me.”
“Do I? Because it’s started to be real hard to believe anything you say. First, you have an ex, and then that ex happens to still be your wife. Oh and let’s not forget you sleeping with her last weekend.”
“Okay, I get why you’re mad, I do. But all of these things have plausible explanations.”
“Yeah, for a fool, which I am not.”
“And neither am I. What was your ex doing here?”
“Boy, please. That is irrelevant.”
“Is it? You told me you were going to be at your grandmother’s house. But yet you’re home with him.”
“First of all, he just popped up. Second, don’t try to change the subject. You lied to me.”
“So did you.”
“I lied because I didn’t want to be bothered. I didn’t want to see you tonight. Your turn. What’s your excuse?”
“Oh, please. You know the truth. I already told you. Whatever he told you is not the whole story because he knows nothing about me.”
How did Gavin even know about the daughter? I’d have to talk to him about that later.
“It doesn’t even matter. You’re no different. I can’t trust you anymore.”
“Babe, you act like I cheated on you. I’m not that wannabe thug asshole that just walked out. But I guess that’s the type of dude you want since you had him here. What’s that about? You ain’t innocent.”
“You know what? You’re right. I’m not innocent. While you were with your wife, Gavin was here with me and things got out of hand.”
Tyler turned his back on me briefly. “You fucked him?”
“Just like you fucked your wife.” I walked toward him to get to the couch. He grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back a little.
“Say that again?” Tyler’s eyes burned through me. “LaTreece, tell me you didn’t.”
“Tell me you didn’t.”
“LaTreece?” he yelled.
“Tyler!” I yelled back.
“I told you nothing happened,” he hollered at me.
His phone rang. He looked at his watch to see the caller ID. I grabbed his wrist and saw the Important ID. “That’s her isn’t it?”
“LaTreece, let’s not—”
“Answer it. It’s just work, right? Go ahead and answer it.”
Tyler wiped his hand down his face. I went for his pocket and got my hand in it. He grabbed my wrist, but I still had a grip on the phone. “Stop.”
“Let go of me.”
“Let go of the phone.”
“My point exactly. You were so ready to call wifey to prove your story. What’s the problem now?”
He didn’t answer.
“Get out, Tyler. I’m not doing this with you. Keep your excuses and your lies.”
“No.”
“Do I need to call Gavin? The wannabe thug. You want to see if he’s the real thing?”
He smacked his lips. “Y’all deserve each other. I hope he’s worth losing the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Nigga, please. Save that bullshit for your wife. Bye!”
“She’s better than you anyway.”
Something came over me. I picked up the remote and chucked it at him. The back came off and the batteries fell to the floor once it hit his neck. In a blink of an eye, he had me hemmed up against the wall. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
I hit his arms, trying to loosen his grip. “Put me down.”
“Nah, this is what you want, right? You want somebody to be rough with you, huh?”
“Tyler, stop. Okay, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown it. Let me down.”
Our noses touched as he breathed hard in my face. His eyes had darkened. “This how you like it?”
I cried hysterically. I had never seen him like this. “Tyler, what are you doing?”
His eyes returned to normal when he shook his head. He looked panicky as he gently put me down. “Shit! LaTreece, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He tried to hold me.
“Get away from me! Leave!” I stayed on the floor, attempting to catch my breath. “Get out, Tyler. Don’t you ever touch me again.”
“I didn’t mean to… Shit! I’m so sorry. I blacked out. You know I’d never hurt you.”
“Get out,” I screamed. He finally left.

Grandma called me a few times this week to talk about nothing. She invited me over to sit with her, but I couldn’t. I only had enough energy to go to work, come home, and go to sleep. She mentioned Gavin taking her to the store again. Apparently, he wasn’t in the best mood and she asked if I knew why. Whenever my grandmother asked a question like that, she already knew the answer. I still played dumb.
I texted him a couple of days after I kicked him out. Since he didn’t answer, I didn’t care to keep trying. Tyler popped up almost every damn day and he left unanswered. I told him we were over. Whether his story was true or not, the drama was not for me. Plus, I didn’t fight men. To have him handle me the way he did, ruined any chances. I shouldn’t have thrown the remote, I understood that, but still. And I for damn sure didn’t want to see him blackout again.
After another week, I felt better. I stopped at Grandma’s to apologize for dodging her and told her what happened, even the blackout part. She was appalled at Tyler’s behavior and disappointed in me for letting it go that far.
“Well, you know Gavin thinks you chose that boy over him.”
I rolled my eyes. “There was no choice between the two. Gavin is not for me and now I know Tyler isn’t either. I need a good year or so on my own. I keep choosing the wrong ones. I’m tired of trying.”
“Oh, girl hush. You are much too young to be tired of anything. You ain’t been here long enough. What are you, twenty-six? Chile, gone somewhere with that.”
“I’m for real. I don’t want it no more. Maybe I’ll wait until I’m in my thirties to take anyone else serious. These men have too many secrets and lies. No one wants one woman. I don’t want to deal with it.”
“I keep telling you that Gavin has turned himself around for the better. He even told me he changed because of you. Call him up. I’m sure he’ll come running.”
“If I did listen to you, I know I hurt his feelings when I kicked him out. He acted like he wanted to fight Tyler and I wasn’t about to have it.”
“Shit, maybe you should’ve let him rough that little sucker up. He wouldn’t have put his hands on you.”
“Grandma! No. And it’s not like he hit me.”
“Any contact out of anger is wrong and that’s what he did. I don’t care if he popped your hand, he was wrong.”
I didn’t say anything because talking about it made Tyler’s eyes appear in my mind.
“So, you hungry? Let’s go eat somewhere. It’s a nice Saturday afternoon. Let’s hang out.”
“We can do that. Just do something for me.”
“Okay.”
“Go to the store and pick me up some pantyhose. I feel like wearing a skirt.”
I smiled. “Of course.”
There was a beauty supply store around the corner where she usually got her pantyhose from. It took me a minute, they had too many damn shades. I bought her six pairs. Three different shades that are close to what she wears. At least I hope so.
When I got to the house, she was in the bathroom getting ready. Grandma never left the house without a little makeup on her face. She didn’t do too much, but last-minute outings would take us a short while to leave. She brushed her hair up and pinned a fake bun on top. I gave her a variety of pantyhose to choose from and she couldn’t stop laughing when I handed her the bag.
I was always that teen that would go back and forth to the store because I got the wrong thing. Since I could now afford it, I started getting everything that could be a possibility of what she asked for if I didn’t know for sure.
An hour after I suggested lunch, we finally walked out the door. Someone pulled up in a red Dodge Challenger. When it the car was in her driveway, I assumed they were only doing it to turn around, but the engine shut off. Gavin slowly exited the car.
“Grandma Lena, you leavin’? I thought you needed help with your computer.”
I turned to my grandmother with my arms folded across my chest. “Help with your computer?”
Gavin walked closer to where we stood. “Hey.” He didn’t even look at me. I didn’t speak back.
“Oh, well I didn’t know Treecie was coming over, baby. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us?”
Our eyes met. “Nah, I’m sure your granddaughter would be embarrassed to be in public with the likes of me.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled.
After a minute of silence, I was ready to go. “You ready, Grandma?”
She started going through her purse. “You know, I think I left my reading glasses. Let me go get them. They should be on the counter. Or they could be in my room. Let me check. I’ll be right back.” She unlocked the door and left us standing there.
“I’ll see if I can fix her computer while she’s looking.” Gavin tried to open the door, but she locked it. He rung the doorbell.
“One minute, it must be in my room,” Grandma yelled a little too loud to be anywhere but the other side of the door.
“Where y’all heading to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Gringo’s or someplace.”
“That’s what’s up. You always had a thing for Mexican food.”
I smiled and immediately wished I didn’t because he smiled back. I remember that sexy ass smile. His eyes tightened whenever his high cheekbones moved at all. “Yeah. I still do.”
“Where’s your husband? Oh wait, not yours. Isn’t he someone else’s husband?”
“See that’s the shit I am not in the mood for.”
“What? That’s who you chose.”
“Gavin, you should know me better than that. I did not know he was married. I already told you that. Don’t rub it in.”
“You stayed with him, though. That doesn’t make you innocent either.”
“Although it’s none of your business, I broke up with him the night y’all showed up at my apartment. So, you can shut up.”
Gavin scratched the back of his head. “Well, I ain’t sorry to hear it.”
“Whatever.”
He gave me that look that he knew used to get me on his side. It was almost like an apology and a ‘get yo’ ass over here’ type of stare. I wasn’t messing with him though.
“So, you done, done?”
“Yes. I am also done with dating for a while. You niggas are too much drama, for real. I just want some peace, love, and fucking honesty for once. For some reason, I can’t find anyone with any good morals around her. I might need to pack up and move.”
Grandma finally walked her butt outside. “You two getting along?”
“Like you didn’t set this up. We know how to behave,” I told her.
“I ain’t talking about behaving. Y’all need to hook up, get the digits, or whatever the hell y’all call it now.”
I was so embarrassed that she kept pushing for us to be together. As much as I could rip his clothes off at any moment, I wanted more than physical attraction.
“Gavin, you hungry? I want you to come with us to eat. We can all hang and talk.”
“How can I say no to you, Grandma Lena.” He smiled at her and then looked my way. “If that’s okay with Tee?”
“Whatever. I’m starving now with all this waiting.”
“Cool, we’ll take my car,” he said holding his hand out to walk Grandma down her driveway.
“I guess I’ll get in the back. Do you need to wipe it down or anything? I know how you do.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“You good. I have higher standards, thanks to you. There’s nothing to worry about back there.”
“Mm-hmm.” I pulled the passenger seat forward to climb in the back.
“Ooh! Oh! You know what? I don’t feel too good. You two may need to go without me.”
I laughed at her bad acting. “Do not start with all that faking. Let’s go,” I whined.
“You can go. Gavin will be the gentleman I know he is, and he will take you out somewhere. Your old grandmother needs a nap.”
Even Gavin laughed at her obvious antics. “Ridiculous. I will just get something to-go and head home.”
She paused the theatrics. “The hell, you’d better let this fine man take you to eat. I’m sure y’all have so much to talk about now that the little punk is gone.” Grandma looked at Gavin and poorly whispered, “Did you know that little punk held my baby up against the wall damn near by her neck that night you were there? Mm-hmm. She should tell you all about it.”
“What is she talking about, Treece?” That look was coming back that he had a couple of weeks ago when in the same room with Tyler.
“Nothing. Grandma really?”
“It was nothing. Somebody needs to kick his ass,” she said.
“And somebody else needs to stay out of jail. Stop starting mess.” I stared her down and she returned the glare.
“Maybe you do need to lie down. Let me walk you to the door,” Gavin suggested to get her out of the way.
Anytime he thought I was in trouble, he definitely took it personal. At one point in our relationship, I stopped telling him stuff because someone always ended up hurt. Usually, whoever offended me.
He walked back to his car where I stood. “That nigga put his hands on you?”
“It’s not like that. Besides, we are done. I don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“Tee, I will fuck him up. You know that.”
“I do. And I am asking you to let it go. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s over.”
Gavin pulled me onto him while he leaned on the side of his car. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I kept my head down even though we were so close. “I won’t. I’m okay.”
He used his finger to lift my chin. “Don’t lie to me to save him. Are you really okay?”
I got lost in his eyes for a moment. “Yes.”
We stood there so close just staring at each other’s faces. He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let me take you somewhere.”
I hiked my eyebrow. “Where?”
He rolled his eyes. “Get in the car and you’ll see.”
“Can I follow you?”
“Tee, get yo’ ass in the car.”
“Fine.”
We left my grandmother’s neighborhood and headed toward the nicer part of the small city we grew up in. The drive was silent besides the music on the radio. Once we arrived at a gate where Gavin had access, I finally asked where we were. He still didn’t answer.
Gavin pulled up behind this gorgeous brick and stone house to a hidden garage.
“This is where you live?”
“It is.”
“How?”
He laughed. “It’s all legit. I promise.”
I was floored. He led me out of the garage to the back. The backyard was beautiful with tall trees and an outdoor kitchen. We entered the house from the backyard. I couldn’t believe how beautiful his place was.
“Either you moved in with a woman or you hired someone to decorate. There’s no way you did this on your own.”
He laughed at me again. “Yeah, I did hire some lady. She and my mom got it to look like this.”
“Wow, Gavin. I’m impressed.”
He gave me a tour of the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home with an office and gourmet kitchen that I was sure he had nothing to do with. Gavin could not cook the last I remembered. Then again so much had changed.
“I guess you’re doing good for yourself. Well, more than good by the looks of this place.”
“Thanks. I honestly have you to thank.”
“How?”
“Tee, when you left me, I knew I had to get my shit together. Yes, I was fucking around back then and I knew how much you hated how I made a living.”
“All true,” I teased as we both leaned again his big ass kitchen island.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you.”
“Boy, stop lying.”
He chuckled. “I mean, I been with girls but I haven’t had a relationship with anyone.”
“Okay, that sounds reasonable.”
“So, I did some online training and studied my ass off to learn web development. I picked up a decent amount of clients over the years and now I build apps too. All because of you, I am one hundred percent legit.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear that, Gavin. Truly, I am. You deserve a life without having to look over your shoulder. I am so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Tee.”
He moved closer.
“Gavin?”
“Yeah.”
“How did you know that Tyler had a daughter?”
He laughed with his hand covering his mouth. Gavin explained that a few months ago when he got everything just as he wanted, he hired a PI to see what I was up to. Once he got word that I was with Tyler, he had the PI check him out too. When Tyler left town the second time since Gavin had been snooping, his PI guy reached out to a friend he had in Milwaukee. The PI up there had already been watching Tyler per his actual wife.
Apparently, his wife was not an ex. They got married less than two years ago and she suspected that he’d been cheating. She told her PI that Tyler claimed to have gotten a job in Houston which turned out to be true. He didn’t want to move his family down because he told her he’d make more money if his primary residence was far from his job.
The Milwaukee PI had info on me and two other women in other cities. Tyler visited them mostly on weekends. The weekends that he was supposedly on the job. Gavin showed me pictures and documents to prove it all. He knew this before he showed up at my place on Valentine’s Day.
“Why the hell didn’t you say any of this from the jump?”
“I don’t know. I got distracted by … Have you seen yourself? You can catch a nigga off guard with all this.” He gestured at my whole body.
“Well, it’s nice to see you only see my ass.” I rolled my eyes.
“Tee, you know it’s not like that. I love you. I’m in love with you. That never changed. Even though I didn’t appreciate how you handled me in front of your cornball.”
“You’re the one who wanted to fight him in my house.”
“Yeah because I knew he didn’t deserve you.”
“Oh, and you do?”
“Hell, yeah. I worked my ass off to make sure I did. Now, I want to do right by you. I want to take care of you. Get my babies swimming your womb. The whole thing.”
“You ain’t ready to be serious with me. You said yourself that you have women on standby.”
“So what? That’d done right now. All you have to do is say the word.”
“How about we take it slow and get something to eat so I can finally get some food in my stomach.”
He walked behind me and put his arm around my waist. “I can put something in your stomach if you want it that bad.”
“Oh, my gosh. You just don’t stop, do you? And you need someone new. Someone that doesn’t know your past like I do.” I turned to face him.
“No, I need just the opposite. I need you.”
“Sure. I told you, I don’t want to date anyone right now. And just because you got your business in order doesn’t mean I trust you.”
He rolled his eyes. “You gotta get over that. I am a grown ass man now. Nothing like I used to be.”
“Sure, Gavin.”
“Well, except for those Vee Days. We need to get back to that for damn sure.” He tapped at my feet to spread my legs, before picking me up and wrapping them around him.
“Gavin, no.”
“Treece, stop trippin’. This is me. You know you want it too.”
He kissed me and didn’t fight him off. I guess my empty stomach would have to wait. My body craved him even more.
I pulled away. Gavin stared into my eyes. I could tell he was hungry for me and I was tired of putting on a front like I didn’t want him. I knew Gavin and we were good together. Something in me trusted him already but I’d keep that to myself and let him prove it to me.
“Back to the Vee Days, huh?”
“Fuck yeah.”
“Let’s do it.”