No Pain No Pleasure: Chapter 2

    Taken aback after his completely unexpected morning soiree, Andrele falls under curiosity of what the rest of his day had to bring. Originally believing that it would be a day of solitude, his day definitely doesn't seem to be following through with that idea.
    As he sat back on the couch he thought to himself, "Man that girl crazy..."
    He and Lea had a decorated past. They once dated when he initially moved into his loft. Within a brief infatuation period,  the couple fell victim of a steamy physical relationship. But with Andrele being a writer and was frequently away from her on business, complication set in on them. They both chose to opt out of the relationship before it turned for the worst. But although they were not together their physical fixation for each other would not let them completely be done with one another. Many days and nights of their sexual encounters went by, but as he was away more often the bigger her appetite grew and eventually urged her to move on.
    This caused no ill will between the two. Andrele was totally understanding of Lea's drift. He was even happy to know that she would have an opportunity to gain a real relationship and real bond with someone instead of their simple sex games. But she never entered a relationship and this morning encounter was the first time that they've come in contact with one either in months. It was surely an act that implied that there was certainly no lust lost.
    "I'm glad she aight though."
    With nothing scheduled as of yet Andrele decides to just start his day like normal and see where things would go from there. He gets up, takes a shower and cooks himself brunch. Lyrics of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Wale and many more echo as he moves throughout the place.
    "Aight let me check these voicemails."
    Beeeep...Message One!
       Ahh yes, Mr. Driek, this is
       Jason Cross, a representative
       from Smooth 99.2...We just
       wanna thank you again for
       the appearance and would
       like to extend our...
    "Next..."
    Message Deleted! Message Two!
       Drele I ain't playin wit you...
       we really need to talk about
       tomorrow! We ain't on the
       road but we still need to gon
       'head and make this quick
       money. You need it and I
       know I need it. Call me back
       Drele! Later...
    "Mercy is hilarious..."
    Message Saved! Message Three!
       Hey dere Sugarfoot...Just
       calling tryna check up on
       you. Ain't heard from you in
       a while. I hope you get a
       chance to visit soon. Me and
       yo mama miss you so much.
       Pat misses you too but he so
       damn stubborn. I told him to
       call you but it go in one ear
       and right out the other. But
       anyway, just know that Big
       Mama loves you and we are
       so anxious to see you. Talk
       to you later. Bye Bye...
    Message Saved! Ended Of Messages!
    And just like that his day was set up. It had been a while since he had a chance to spend time with his family and with his schedule clear this was a perfect opportunity to do so.
    Living in Atlanta all of his life, moving away is something he just could not allow himself to do. This was not only because of his personal preference not to leave but also because of his family. Andrele grew up very close knit to his family and could not see himself completely leaving them. Being away from them promoting and selling his books was enough but to actually not be able to visit and care for them at all was a totally different ball game.
    When Andrele first began to make good revenue from his writings, he offered to move his family into a bigger and nicer house than the one they were currently living in but his Big Mama wasn't having it. Big Mama, his grandmother, thought it better to stay in the house because not only was the house paid for but because of all the memories that the house concealed. No matter how much pleading he did, there was no way she was moving from that house.
    One of the great things about them living in the house was that it wasn't far from his place. He jumped in his Camaro and was on his way.
    Riding through his neighborhood always brought back great memories. This trip was did nothing less.
    As he turned on his street he even runs across his childhood friends Krik and Paul. Andrele, Paul and Krik grew up through grade school together. They were like brothers to one another. They looked out for each other and although Krik and Paul never really left the neighborhood after graduating high school, they always supported Andrele through all of his success.
    "Brah what happened to you earlier?" Kirk said as Andrele pulled up on them.
    "Man Lea came over..." he replied.
    "Aww man, you still talk to her?" Paul asked. "I thought y'all had don split up..."
    "Yea cause I told you that she had don tried to get at me..." Krik said.
    "Nawl brah, we don't talk no mo and I asked her bout that and she told me me she ain't messin witcha!" Andrele said.
    "Yea...well...I ain't even like her like that no way...she ain't bout nothin...her frappin ass..." Krik said.
    "Brah you good...dont sweat it brody...you'll find someone someday." Andrele said.
    "Man whatever...what you doin round here anyway?" Krik asked. "You know you don't be in the hood no mo."
    "Yea I know...I'm fallin through tryna visit the fam before I get busy again." Andrele said.
    "I went over there the other day...I think last Sunday...Big Mama invited us to dinner...you know I threw down..." Paul said.
    "Oh aight...well let me get through there and I'ma catch back up wit y'all before I head back to the criNib..." Andrele said.
    "Aight brah...hit us up foo..." Paul said.
    Andrele then leaves them and continues down the street.
    As he pulls up to the house he sees his niece and nephew playing basketball in the yard and it immediately brings a smile to his face. He blows the horn as he enters the driveway.
    "Aye y'all be'not hit my car wit that ball!" he says jokingly.
    "Yea whatever Unc..." his nephew Ryan answers. "You need to come and get yo pockets ran..."
    "Aye if I had some shorts I'd school you right now youngin'" he replies.
    "Man you running from this ass whippin'." Ryan said.
    "Aight...we gon see next time I'm here and I'm tell yo mama you cussin'." Andrele said walking away.
    "No man...I'm already in trouble...brah c'mon." Ryan said grabbing his uncle's arm.
    "I'm just playin...And how are you Ms. Alise?"
    "I'm fine but yo sister won't let me go out wit my friends." Alise said.
    "Are there gonna be boys there?" he asked.
    "Maybe..."
    "Well I wouldn't let yo ass go either!" he said laughing.
    "OMG...Can you please talk to her Unc?" she asked.
    "I'll see what I can do!"
    "Yay...thank you so much!" she said attacking him with a hug.
    "Where erybody at?" he asked.
    "They probably all in the living room...Big Mama talkin to Mama...you know Pat and Ken got into it the other day." Alise said.
    "Thanks...let me go see what they got goin..."
    Andrele walks through the house and as he usually does yells, "Where y'all at?...I'm home..."
    "Hey there, my grandson coming to visit his dear old Big Mama...how you doin baby?" Big Mama said.
    "I'm aight Big Mama...how you doin?"
    "I'm doing jus fine now that you here sugar...I'm glad you could visit...I got yo message from when you were in New York...You don made it big ain't 'cha boy?" she said.
    "I'm doin aight right now...I still got a ways to go but I'ma get there." he said.
    "Well you are a star to me baby..." she said as she hugged him and kiss him on the cheek.
    "Yea I know Big Mama...thats my lil star." A voice said from behind him. It was his mother and the rest of the family, his sister Kita and his father Pat.
    "Hey Mama, hey Kita...Pat..." Andrele said.
    The relationship between Andrele and his father had been tense since Pat walked out on them when Andrele was younger. Although he returned back to the family and tried to make amends, the situation never sat right with Andrele.
    Noticing the awkwardness Big Mama interrupts.
    "Come on in here and get you something to eat...we need to catch up anyway bout how things been...c'mon here."
    The rest of the afternoon went swiftly as the family, with the exception of Andrele and Pat, enjoyed time with one another. Chicken, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, string beans, collard greens and cornbread cover the table as they eat. Pat starts to cough hard.
    "Honey are you alright?" Andrele's mother Pam asks.
    "Yea I think something went down wrong." Pat answers
    "Have you taken yo medicine today...if not than you really need to..." she said.
    "I gotta get them from the bedroom...I'll be right back..." he said.
    "Or not..." Andrele mutters under his breath.
    There is a brief silence and then Pat starts for the door.
    "Congrats on your success son..." he said.
    "Oh so now I'm yo son?" Andrele said back
    "You've always been my son...but you haven't always accepted it." Pat said.
    "You haven't always accepted me either or us either..." Andrele replies.
    "Son..."
    "Just stop Pat...Just forget it..." Andrele said.
    Pat pauses, begins to talk but not to and continues out of the dining room.
    "What is wrong wit you Drele?" Pam asks.
    "Mama please don't start this..." he replies.
    "Boy you gon listen to me...Now that man may have made his mistakes but he has worked his ass off to not only support this family but to better his relationship wit us...especially you...he can't do that if you continue to blow him off...whether you like it or not that is still your father and you need to show him some respect." Pam stated.
    "Ok mama..." Andrele said.
    "Girl you know that is going through one ear and out the other...the boy is just hurt...he will..." Big Mama was saying before she was interrupted by faint coughing and a thud.
    "Pat...honey...are you ok?" Pam said rushing out of the dining room.
    Following were shrieks and screaming.
    "PATRICK...GOD NO NO NO...PATRICK..."

No Pain No Pleasure: Chapter 1

    As the morning sun rose and filled the Atlanta loft, not only did it illuminate the room but it sheds light on all the acquired dreams and accomplishments of a westside Atlanta raised poet/writer. It underlined the struggle from the bottom of bottoms to the top of the booksellers charts.
    This rags to tags story belongs to none other than Andrele Driek. Andrele, who goes by the alias "Mel Thoughts", is the writer of the top selling series, "Sensual Subject." His latest installment "Sensual Subject: Ecstacy" was recently released and in just its second week is selling better than any of his previous work. With his series selling so well, on comes his popularity boost. Andrele has made many appearances on various tv talk shows and radio shows promoting his series and his new book. With this being so, Andrele hasn't been able to completely rest in weeks. So this rare occasion of him being home in his own bed was definitely refreshing.
    But this would be short lived as his phone begins to ring and his morning calls begin.
    "I guess this means YOU are allowing me another day...Thank YOU!!" He says as he reaches for his cell phone.
    "Hello...Talk to me..."
    "I know you're not still sleep...you need to get yo ass up!" the caller said.
    "Really? Why must you call me and harass me on my day off?" He replied. "Isn't it enough that you have to deal with me any other day...but now you have to call me on my day of freedom?"
    "Boy ain't nobody worried bout you...I'm worried bout this money to be made tomorrow..." the caller said.
    "Can we talk bout this later Mercy?"
    The caller on the other end of the phone is Tanya Mercy, Andrele's assistant and publicist.
    "Yea we can but we need to talk bout this ASAP..." Tanya said.
    "Thank you...Now get off my phone and let me rest." He said. "Don't you have anything to do with yo life?"
    "Shouldn't I be telling you that...I'm the one working for you." She said.
    "And that is what you are getting paid to do isn't it...So stop complaining!" He said jokingly.
    "I'm hanging up the phone now...Goodbye!!" She said.
    "I'ma call U la..." He begins before she ends the call.
    Today is a day of rest and relaxation for Andrele but being from the city of Atlanta that hardly ever sleeps actually having some down time would be hard to do. It would definitely prove to be hard for him as he suddenly picked up his phone and begins to call his friends from his old neighborhood.
    "Yea brah...what y'all gettin into tonight...oh y'all hittin the club...which one y'all goin to..."
    At that moment his door bell rang, which was odd because he had been on the road and no one, to his knowledge, knew he was home.
    "Yo hold up...somebody at my door..." he said as he walked down to his first floor.
    As he got to the door he asked for who was there and there was no answer, jus another knock. He opens the door and to his surprise standing there was a 5'5" brown skin goddess of a woman.
    "Drele, I've been tryna get back in touch wit you for the longest...what happened?" she asked.
    "Oh well...I been on the road...you know...uh promoting." he answered.
    "Well you here now and we have a lot of catching up to do..." she said.
    Then in that instant she took off her coat revealing her black lace lingerie, and as her coat hit the floor she politely invited herself in.
    Astonished in his own right he simply picks up the coat and hangs up the phone.
    "Lea...what are you...how did you know I was here?"
    "You act like I dont live right down the way..." she answered. "I heard your tv on and and just couldn't help myself."
    "What is this really about Lea?" he asked.
    "Shh...you doin too much talking...come here." she said as she pulled him onto the couch.
    She began to kiss him deeply as she made her way on top of him. His lips, then his neck, then his chest as she worked her way further. This in turn got what she wanted out of him. As he ran his fingers through her hair he begins to open up to her. He then stops her and flips her over to her back, taking off her lingerie and penetrating her body.
    In then out, out then in as he strokes her. She grips him tight as he works her body, moaning profusely into his ear.
    "Get It...Get It...Get It...ITS YOURS!!"
    An hour of their bodies twisting and turning and it had ended.
    "Damn girl...shit..." he said.
    "Thanks for the compliment I guess..." she said laughing. "Well I have to go..."
    "Wait...you dont wanna at least stay for breakfast?" he asked.
    "Maybe some other time...see you around..." she said.
    And with that she grabbed her coat and was out the door.
    "This day can't get any crazier than that." he thought to himself.
    But what he didn't know was that he was in for a much crazier day than that. This was ONLY the beginning!

No Pain No Pleasure: Chapter 7

The morning sun rose and went as the two still lay sleep together. Their serene utopia still intact as they laid oblivious in time. The sun like a spot light beaming down upon them as they await a rude awaken. But the passion they had shared just hours prior had them snug close enjoying each other's warm embrace. But this warm embrace would be interrupted.

Andrele slowly awoke to see at his surprise Mercy laying there with her head pressed gently on his chest. He couldn't believe his eyes. A night that seemed to him a dream was truely reality. Every kiss, every touch, every stroke was real. He was stricken with disbelief but he did not want the feeling to cease. He just laid there sorting his thoughts and enjoying the moment.

What could possibly become of this completely unexpected situation? How was Mercy going to react to this sight when she wakes up? That was all that was going through his mind. All he could think of was that Mercy's reaction was definitely going to be much different from that of his own. She was definitely not going to react as calmly as he had. He was caught between his own thoughts and thinking of what hers would be.

To somewhat deviate the hysterics of her reaction, he felt the best thing to do was to get out of bed and leave her there by herself so that it seems as if she slept in his bed alone. But would she really believe that? Considering the fact that she was naked, that was really unlikely. He just didn't want to be there when she woke up. He thought that it would be the worst thing to do in this situation. Well it was just his luck that he would not have the chance to make that choice. He suddenly felt Mercy beginning to move. As she began to wake up he became a little frantic but it was to late to get out of bed so he did the only thing he could think of at the time; he played sleep.

"Oh no....NO!" Mercy whispered as she slipped from her slumber to see herself in bed with Andrele. "What have I done?"

She sat up slowly ensuring that she didn't wake Andrele; or so she thought. She took a moment to gather herself and her thoughts. She thought that she did not want to wake Andrele and have to face the awkwardness that would surely follow. She began to start out of the bed but then something came to her. The awkardness would be there regardless of if she faced him now or later. At the end of the day she was his assistant and there was no way that she could run from this. She gave herself a quick pep talk then she "woke up" Andrele.

"Drele...Drele...Andrele wake up?"

She shook him and he pretended to wake up.

"MERCY...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" he asked pretending to be surprised. "AND WHY ARE YOU NAKED...WHATS GOING ON?"

"Drele stop acting like that...you know good and hell well what's going on and what went on." she said. "It did happen right?"

"Yea...I'm pretty sure it happened."

She turned her head and let it fall into the sheets she had clinched in her hands.

"Are you sure...cause I mean we could've just slept..." she asked turning back toward Andrele.

"Really...just slept...." he said. "We both naked laid up...does that sound like 'JUST SLEPT' to you?"

"Yea you're right...how could we have let this happen Drele?" she asked.

Mercy fixed the cover around herself to stand up.

"Wow wow wow...what are you doing?" he asked. "I ain't got no clothes on under here Mercy..."

"Oh please...you was worried bout being naked last night!" she replied.

"Well neither were you."

"That was low...you ain't even have to go there?" she said.

"You went there first!" he said.

"Whatever...but seriously what are we going to do?" she asked.

"I mean I don't know." he said.

"What do you mean you don't know...how can you be so calm about this?" she asked.

"Cause its nothing to freak out about Tanya." he answered.

"What do you mean...this is totally something to freak out about...I'm your assistant!" she shouted.

"And you did your job...you assisted me by helping me get to sleep..." he said. "...right after a couple rounds AWESOME sex."

"Wow and you handle this by making jokes...really?" she asked.

"I mean what do you want me to do Tanya?"

"I want you to help me find out how we gon forget bout this." she said.

"Well I have a problem wit that!"

"And what is that Drele?" she asked.

"What if I don't want to forget about it Tanya?" he said.

She sat up and turned toward him still clinching the sheets.

"What...what are you talking bout Drele?" she asked.

He stood up from the bed and walked over to grab some shorts.

"Just what I said...What if I don't want to forget about it?"

"Drele I heard exactly what you said...by saying that though what do you mean by it?" she asked.

"What do you think I mean by it...Exactly what I said." he said. "I don't want to forget about it."

Andrele could tell from the look on Mercy's face that she did not understand the statement he was trying to convey. He sat back down beside her.

"Mercy what I'm trying to say is I don't want to forget about it cause I feel for you."

"Andrele stop bullshitting now...stop playing wit me...this ain't funny." she said.

"I know that and I'm not trying to be funny...I have feelings for you Tanya."

"You can't be seriously telling me this right now." she said.

"I'm being very honest wit you." he said.

"So last night was all a set up...you knew what you were doing all long...you got me drunk to have sex with me?" she asked.

"Nooooo...not at all." he said. "I will say that I was tryna do something special for you by cooking but everything else that happened happened naturally."

The room goes quiet for a moment.

"Plus I would've never done anything or even tried anything with you if you hadn't kissed me first."

"You still took advantage of me Drele...I was drunk!" she said.

"Yes I understand that and just because I have feelings for you that means I took advantage of you, even though you came on to me first?" he asked.

"Yes...exactly...regardless if I came on to you or not!" she replied.

"Oh ok Mercy...whatever." he said. "Well let's just drop it and move on."

He then started for the bathroom.

The situation turned out just as he'd expected. Andrele feared her reaction so much because he knew that he couldn't explain the situation without having to explain the real reason he wouldn't let her leave after she had kissed him. Andrele secretly had feelings for Mercy. He decided against saying anything about it before because of there working relationship. He didn't want to complicate things and he definitely didn't want to possibly get turn down. But with his wildest dreams unfolding he had been caught up in the midst of his emotions.

Mercy still sitting up laid back on the bed. She was in totally shock of what had just transpired. One minute she's thinking that the sex would be the thing that would complicate things, but ultimately it would be Andrele telling her that he had feelings for her, which to her was entirely from left field.

"Where are you going?" she asked him as he walked away. "We not done talking!"

"I'm done talking...I shouldn't even said that much."

"But you did and now what do you expect me to do?" she asked.

"Do whatever you feel is right Tanya...it doesn't matter to me." he said.

"You can't be serious." she said.

He went to the bathroom and got in the shower. At this point he didn't know how to feel. He had mustered up the courage to actually tell her how he really felt about her and it ended up just how he thought it would end. All he could think about now was that the relationship between he and Mercy would never be the same. A night of passion would ruin four years of time.

"So when were you going to tell me Drele?"

"I was never going to tell you Kandis..." he answered.

"What did you just call me...I know you ain't call be another bitch name." she replied.

"I called you Kandis." he said.

Another bombshell dropped on her. He just called her Kandis, the crazy, out going, overachieving lady character from his latest book that she had been asking about.

"Why did you call me that?"

"You are Kandis....well Kandis is you..." he replied.

"So who is..."

"That's obvious Mercy...its me...Jerrod is me..." he said.

"I can't believe this...You...What is..." she said walking from the bathroom.

Andrele could hear what he thought was pacing coming from the bedroom. He doesn't get out to check. He just simply continues his shower. Everything went through his mind. He didn't know how to feel. On one hand he was relieved to have finally gotten his feelings off of his chest but on the other hand he knew that this situation did not turn out well at all. He finishes his shower and gets out to dry himself. He hears the front door close. With that door closing so did the opportunity of something ever becoming of he and Mercy; or so he thought.

After a couple hours passed, he decided to go spend the rest of the day with his family. He left his tomb of emotion and breathed in some fresh air. He then jumped in his car and was on his way down MLK Jr. Drive. When he pulled up his niece and nephew came running out of the house eager to see him; or maybe it was the McDonald's that he had picked up on his way there. But either way Andrele was happy for the embrace.

He walked in the house to see everyone sitting in the living room talking: his sister and her boyfriend, his mother and Big Mama.

"So what's going on y'all?"

"Ain't nothing going on...come on in...you interrupting Big Mama." his sister said.

He puts the food on the dining room table, grabs a sausage biscuit and then sits down beside his mother.

"Hey baby...but yea just like I was saying girl you gotta do what you feel is right." Big Mama finished.

"Well this is definitely what I want." his sister said.

"What y'all talking bout, if I may ask?" he asked.

"Well if you must know nosey, Ken proposed to me." his sister said.

"WHAT...WOW...IM AMAZED!" he said.

"I know...its so great right?" she said.

"Nawl I'm amazed that he would wanna spend the REST of his life wit you." he said sarcasticly. "Like honestly brah, you wanna roll over and see that every morning...and the breath...THE BREATH!"

"SHUT UP DRELE...ugh...I hate you..." she said.

"I'm just playing...congrats to you two and I give y'all my blessing."

"Thank you big bro." she said to Andrele.

"That is just beautiful!" Big Mama said. "Do what makes you happy baby."

"Were you considering not getting married?" Andrele asked.

"Yes...we want to but I really wanna have daddy's blessing too and daddy ain't in the best of condition right now so I definitely don't wanna bother him wit this." his sister said.

"I was telling her that he is gon be happy for her either way!" his mother said.

"I do agree sis...it will probably make him very happy to come home to that."

"Big bro when are you gon get married or even have a steady girlfriend?" his sister asked.

This question could not have come at a more awkward moment. It could have only been worse if Mercy was actually sitting there as well.

"Well I don't know...but don't y'all worry bout that." he answered. "That'll be in due time."

His mother could sense the tension from his answer so she stepped in to mediate.

"So everything been ok son?"

"Yea everything's ok...just some problems with business...you know how that goes." he replied.

"Yea I know but you'll get through it." she said as she rubbed his back. "You always do."

"Yea and you know that you gotta go through troubling times sometimes to get what you want." Big Mama said. "Or to get what you truly deserve."

He sat back and thought about that statement for awhile.

"And if things don't work out you always got us to fall back on." his mother said. "We are always here for support."

"Well thank y'all!" he said.

"Hey Drele man...I saw in the paper that there were talks of a fourth installmant to your series man...you came up wit a title yet?" Ken asked.

Andrele took and then gave Ken an answer standing up and walking toward the door.

"Yea I think I have...No Pain No Pleasure..."

"Oh cool...I can't wait til it drops man...I wanna buy my copy directly from you." Ken said.

"Well thanks man." he said to Ken.

"Where you going sweetie?" Big Mama asked.

"I gotta go talk to Mercy about something...I'll be back." he said with a smile. "I'll see y'all later."

To Be Continued...

No Pain No Pleasure: Chapter 6

It was eleven thirty and Andrele was just making it home. After he and Mercy got to his place after the event, Andrele decided he would visit his father in the hospital. He went to the house to pick up his mother and they went to the hospital together.

On their way to the hospital, he still naturally felt some confusion. It wasn’t as bad as his intial feeling though. In his mind he had come to grips that the situation that he had made up in his mind was untrue. After he and his mother’s talk he realized things weren’t as they seemed to him. He realized that he couldn’t entirely blame Pat for his short comings. He made himself understand that the way things happened between his mother and father was the way that they chose to handle the situation and that he could do nothing to change that. The only thing that he had full control over was the present and future relationship between he and his father.

When they arrived Andrele was slightly nervous about finding out the condition of his father. He found himself hesitant to his father’s room as he could tell his mother was feeling the same way. He knew that, in the hospital’s care, they would be doing any and everything in their power to ensure Pat’s one hundred percent recovery but he couldn’t block out of his mind that fact that his condition could be getting worst.

From the parking lot to the entrance, the entrance to the elevator and the elevator to the Intensive Care Unit, Andrele had a bad feeling in his stomach. But hand in hand, he and his mother made their way to his room.

They walked through the door to see him still hooked up as already expected. Minutes after they arrived to his room a nurse came to greet them.

“Hello, you’re Mr. Driek’s family right?”

“Yes we are his wife and son.” Andrele’s mother answered.

“Hello again, my name is Andrea…I am assigned to Mr. Driek this shift…if you have any questions or concerns just let me know and I will do whatever I can do to fulfill your needs.” The nurse said.

“Hi Andrea…How is he doing?” Pam asked.

“From what I read on this board he’s doing pretty good.” she said. “He hasn’t had any complications or anything…if things stay this well then he is on his way to a speedy recovery.”

Suddenly the nervousness between Andrele and his mother had subsided. These words were just the words they needed to hear.

“Oh thank goodness!” Pam said.

“Yep, I’m sorry that he’s not up…I let him go to sleep not too long ago.” the nurse said. “I could wake him if you’d like.”

“No no no…we are fine…he needs all the rest he can get cause when he gets out here he has a lot of house work to do!” Pam said jokingly.

“Ok…great...well just buzz me if you need anything.” the nurse said laughing.

As the nurse left a calm quietness fell over the room. Pam then walked over to Pat’s bedside. She slowly caressed his face and kissed his forehead.

“He’s so calm.” she said. “The calmest I’ve seen him in a very long time.”

“Why you say that mama?" Andrele asked.

“He’s been on edge some much lately dealing with family issues, work issues and who knows what else…” she said. “He has always been one to hold things in!”

“Mama I’m so sorry for everything…I just…” Andrele began to say before he was interrupted by his mother.

“Sweetheart you don’t have to say a word…I understand how you feeling…you don’t have to apologize Andrele.” she said. “But I do want you to consider changing things between you and him son.”

“I understand mama and I honestly plan to.” he said. “This whole situation has changed my whole mindset of him…I can’t continue to act the way I act toward him…it’s just not fair.”

“I’m glad you came around Andrele…he deserves your love.” Pam said.

They both glance at Pat and share a hug.

Well that was how Andrele’s afternoon/evening went. After that he simply dropped this mother off at the house, talked to his sister and Big Mama for a while then went home. He was a little disappointed that Big Mama hadn’t cooked dinner yet. She had been waiting on Pam to get back home. She offered to cook for him but he didn’t want to wait so he just headed home. He was thinking that he could always stop by tomorrow and get some leftovers.

“Another long day.” He thought to himself as he took off his coat to unwind. “What do I have in the kitchen…probably nothing.”

He headed to the kitchen to see if he could find something to eat.

He began to raid his refrigerator in search of just the right dish for dinner. He had tilapia, chicken, ground beef, pork chops and more and still he couldn’t make up his mind.

“What shall I have?”

Suddenly he heard knocking at the door.

*Knock Knock Knock*

“Man who could this be at this time of night?”

He proceeded toward the door.

*Knock Knock Knock*

“I’m coming…hol up!”

*Knock Knock Knock*

Andrele opened the door and it was Tanya Mercy. She was wearing a short fitting black dress with red heels and a pretty disgusted look on her face.

“What took you so long to get to this door Drele…my feet already hurting from walking in these heels all night…plus I had to walk up them stairs…” she said. “As a matter of fact why I ain’t got a key…I need a key cause you be trippin!”

“You don’t pay no bills in here brah!” he said.

“I do pay yo bills and brah don’t call me brah.” she said.

“You pay MY bills wit MY money!”

“Hell, I pay MY bills wit yo money…what’s the difference?” she asked.

“You’re confusing me.” he said.

“Boy be quiet and go get me some socks or something…I gotta get outta these heels.” she said. “Footies please…cause yo foot is big as hell.”

Andrele laughed and went upstairs to go get the socks.

“Why the hell are you here anyway?” Andrele asked. “ Ain’t you ‘spose to wit James.”

“Must you always mock him?” she asked. “That’s so not cute.”

“I’m just saying!” he said.

“I’m just saying!” she said mocking as Andrele handed her the socks. ”You should give me a massage at it too.”

I’M NOT TOUCHING THEM  DAWGS!!!” he yelled.

“Brah whay you yellin...its like eleven…don’t you got neighbors?” she said.

“It ain’t nothing but ten twenty and fuck them neighbors…I pay just like they pay.” he said. “But back to my question…why are you here?”

“I just can’t come visit?” she asked.

“No!”

“Oh so it’s like that now?” she asked.

“Stop stalling and answer my question Mercy.”

“It was terrible!” she answered.

“You had sex wit him already?” he asked.

“”No…heaven’s no!” she said. “The date…it was horrible.”

With a devilish grin, Andrele asked Mercy what happened.

“I DON’T KNOW!” she answered. “He was EVERYTHING I expected him to be and that EVERYTHING annoyed the shit outta me!” she said.

Andrele couldn’t help himself. He burst out into laughter.

“I told you Mercy, I told you!” Andrele said. “That guy was SUPER cheesy!”

“Cheesy ain’t even the word Drele!” Mercy said. “Pompous, narcissistic, asshole, must I go on?

“Nawl nawl…” Andrele said continuing to laugh.

“After a while I just told him that I wasn’t feeling good and to just take me home!” she said. “I’m mad he know where I live.”

“Well did you at least get a meal out of it?”

“No, the place we went to on Paces Ferry was packed and then when we were finally getting seated I was too ready to go!” she answered.

“No Bueno!” he said. “Well I was about to cook…are you hungry?”

“I ain’t bout to let you kill me…I’m too young!” she said. “Plus its kinda late…I don’t wanna interfere wit yo lil skanks.”

“Mercy shut up!” he said. “I’ma cook…come in here in the kitchen.”

They went into the kitchen and continued to talk about the horrible date that Mercy had experienced. She explained how James Willis basically didn’t do anything but talk about himself and all his achievements all night. She even said how he had tried to make a couple jokes about Andrele.

“Mhmmm…that smells wonderful…what are you cooking?” she asked.

“I’m cooking blackened tilapia, corn, broccoli and creamy mashed potatoes.” he answered.

“Oh shit…let me find out!”

“I mean it’s just sumn slight!” he said. “It’s almost done.”

“Ok Ok…so what did you do for the rest of the day?” she asked.

“Umm I went to visit my father in the hospital with my mother.” he said.

“Oh really…how is he doing…how did it go?”

“Oh he’s doing ok and the visit went ok too…I’ve just come to grips with the fact that what I thought was going on was wrong and that I need to move on and make the relationship between me and him better!” he answered.

Mercy began to clap her hands.

“Now that’s a good boy!” she said to him as if she was talking to a baby.

“Aye cut that shit out and get a plate so you can get this food.” he said. “As a matter of just go to the table…I got you.”

“Aight well I ain’t at no five star restaurant so don’t skimp my plate!” she said laughing.

“Aight I won’t”

Andrele fixed both of their plates and brought them to the table.

“I’m bout to show you how it’s ‘spose to be done.” he said jokingly. “I’m bout to pop this bottle of wine…you want some?”

“Sure that’s fine.”

The two began to eat. Mercy took a bite of the fish.

"This fish is delicious and the veggies and seasoned perfectly…where did you learn to cook so well?” she asked.

"From my mama and Big Mama…I used to be in the kitchen helping all the time.” he said. “Ever since I was a lil boy.”

“Well it paid off cause this food is really good…I might have to come over for dinner more often.”

“Shit I wouldn’t mind…you are welcome anytime.” he said.

“Cool then!”

They began to get lost in conversation and wine. They began to talk about childhood memories, family, college and even how they came about their respective career paths. Mercy initially wanted to become a psychologist but decided not to follow it because it was easier to follow in her father’s footsteps a public relations professional. But ultimately it was a decision that she does not regret.

Caught up in convo, they headed to the living room where they settled in on the couch.

“Oh whatever…that is not true!” Mercy shouted.

“What ain’t?” he asked.

“SpongeBob is not gay!”

“Are you serious…let’s be real…he had a baby wit Patrick.” Andrele answered.

“Man whatever…let’s not even go there.” she said. “Oh my goodness…what time is it?”

“I don’t know!” he replied.

“Check yo phone fool.” she said.

"Oh…yea…right….hol up.” he said looking for his phone.

“It’s right there!”

“Right there where?” he asked as he scrambled for his phone.

“I got it.” she said. “Its almost three o’clock…I gotta be getting home!”

“Yea it is pretty late.”

Mercy took to stand up, stumbled and fell back on the couch. In the act she dropped Andrele’s phone on the floor.

“Oops I’m sorry!”

They both went to pick up the phone and bump heads.

“Ouch…yo big ass head!” Andrele said.

“I know U ain’t talking!” she replied.

“Just give me the phone.”

Andrele snatched the phone from Mercy’s hand.

“Don’t be snatchin shit from me!” she said as she snatched the phone back.

Before long they began tussling for the phone and end up both falling to the floor. Mercy falls on top of Andrele. They both started laughing aimlessly.

The laughter subsides for a moment and then Mercy kisses Andrele. The magic lasted for a few seconds and stops abruptly.

“Wha…Wha…What was that?” he asked.

“I don’t know…I’m so sorry…I really must go!”

"No…” he said as he rolls on top of Mercy and started to kiss her again.

Instead of resisting, Mercy gave in to Andrele placing her hand behind his head.

They aggressively kissed one another holding back nothing. Andrele began to kiss Mercy’s neck. Mercy gripped his back as she removed his shirt. She gripped his torso as he continued to kiss her neck and lips. Mercy’s body began to shiver from the soft kisses he began to plant on her body. He grabbed hold of her, picked her up and carried her up the stairs to his bed. He laid her on the bed and pulled up her dress asking her to take it off.

After she had taken off her dress Andrele crouched down over the bed and penetrated Mercy. Andrele stroked her softly as Mercy moaned and scratched his back.

 “Lay down!” she whispered in his ear.

He lay back on the bed. Mercy climbed on top of Andrele and began to ride him. He gripped her waist as she bounced up and down.

“Ah…fuck me Drele fuck me…” she yelled.

Andrele pulled her down and grabbed her by her shoulders and began to stroke her harder and faster.

“Yes Drele Yes…just like that…oh shit!”

They continued this way until they both fell asleep from love-making’s bliss.

What would await them when the morning sun awoke them?