One and Only

MORNING

I wake up and stretch and realize my body is sore. The good kind, the in between my legs kind. I look over to the beautiful man who caused it.  Abel is sleeping, lightly snoring. God he was amazing last night. I haven't felt that turned on and sexy in so long I almost forgot how it felt. I get out of bed, go to the bathroom, take care of business and come back out to see him sitting up on his phone.

"Morning," I coo.

He smiles his glorious smile at me. I'm melting. "Morning." He pats the bed next to me and I gladly come over.  I crawl in and get under the covers and move right up on him with my head on his chest. "I got to get going." He says. I instantly feel a sting, one I have to check within myself. There's no obligation.

"Of course," I reply. I can't let him see it actually bothers me. Why is it bothering me??? "Did you need to take a shower before?" I ask like I'm unaffected.

"No I don't have time," he gets up. So much for cuddling.

I put my game face on and grab my phone. I have so many missed calls and texts from Jordan I decide to just call.

"Hey Jordan what's up?"

"Rachel where have you been??? That dick got you crazy or what??"

"Jordan can we just keep it business right now?" I honestly don't want to answer, I'm feeling stupid right now.

"Just wondering if you're making it in today, we have some meetings lined up and a new project to review."

Work! Always work. I was actually playing around with the idea of taking some time off, with Kamika of course. Neither one of us has taken a day off in 4 years and I think the business is established enough to leave it in dependable hands.

"Yes in about 2 hours, schedule the project meeting at 4 and I'll handle the other stuff when I get in."

"Ok great, see you then!" He says his goodbyes and we hang up.

Abel has been listening, "sounds like you have to go as well."

"Yeah I have to get moving so..." That's my way of giving him an exit.

"Oh um yeah," he says feeling my nonverbal hint. He grabs his stuff and I follow him out the bedroom.  When we get downstairs and into the kitchen we see Lamar and Kamika kissing next to the coffee pot. They're oblivious to us being there. "Damn cue ball get off that girl's face!" Abel says laced in disgust. We all laugh. I run the game plan to Kamika, grab a cup of coffee and start back upstairs.

Abel stops me, "um I'm leaving with Lamar in 5 minutes. He's getting his shit and then we gone." I nod in understanding. His face reads confusion at my sudden turn of behavior, but I just can't give him more of me.

"Have a great day," I say and kiss his cheek. He wraps his arms around me. I'm trying to not enjoy the feeling.

"I'll text you later." He says. Uh huh yeah right. Lamar comes out ready to go. Kamika is hanging on Lamar and they start kissing again.

"Alright bye guys," I abruptly say and go upstairs.

ABEL

"What you do nigga," Lamar asked with his arms still wrapped up in Kamika.

Kamika is giving me serious stank eye right now, "I'm not sure." I answer honestly

"Alright let's go, I'll text you later miks (meeks)" he gives her one final kiss and we out the door. I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding.

"What's going on bro," Lamar knows me well. He knows I'm tripping on some shit. Now he gonna get all light skinned and shit.

"Nothing, why?" I ask

"Nigga you skipped outta there like we actually have shit to do today!" Lamar calls me out. He of all people knows my schedule.

"I want to hit the studio today and finish that new track I've been working on." There, that should satisfy him.

"Too much woman for you huh?"Lamar laughs.

I can't explain to him that I FELT something with Rachel. Something I haven't felt in so long. That feeling petrified me. She's better off without me in her life. I don't want to hurt her. She deserves better than what I can give her.

RACHEL

I step out the shower and see kamika sitting on my bed, freshly showered herself. She's looking at me trying to read me.

"Yyyeeesss???" I asked not hiding my annoyance.

She reacts to my vibe," Just wondering what went sideways," She says.

"Nothing." I grab my outfit for the day.

"Oh ooookkkkk so you gonna do that with me?" She's knows me better than anyone, including my family. She's insulted.

I feel bad, I always want to push away. "Miks he just like jumped up and ran out! I'm over here thinking it was one of the best nights of my life and I think I was a huge disappointment to him!" I feel tears threatening their border.
"Like damn I know it's been a minute but fuck let a bitch get warmed up!"

She laughs, "I doubt it was that! Believe me we all heard the moaning!"

I blush and flash to last night's events. I push it away. Have to get my mind right. We go downstairs and I make us a strawberry poptart each. We put our coffee in travel mugs and we're out the door.

5 HOURS LATER

We finished up some loose ends at the office. We also gave Jordan a small piece of the partnership. He's been with us 2 years and works endlessly. Then we made a formal announcement that we would be working from home for the next 3 months. This gave us a chance to keep up and also to let Jordan start really stepping up.  I was excited at the thought of being unproductive for awhile.

We decide to celebrate with a drink and some lunch. Kamika's phone keeps buzzing and she's smiling like a crazy lady. Must be Lamar. Must be nice.

I realize I haven't even asked how's that going. How selfish. "You want to share who's putting that smile on your face?"

"Lamar wants to take me to dinner. He's really quite sweet and  very smart." Her cheeks fill with color.

"Awww I'm glad he's being good to you," who would've thought it? She's been eyeing him for at least 2 years and now she's getting what she wants. We finish up and head home. It was weird to have so much time in front of me. I could see Kamika was going to be tied up with Lamar for awhile. She deserved to be happy. Men haven't been great for her either. I hope he's different. I, on the other hand, have nothing but time.