Unfaithful

"I'm going to the gym with Yasmine," I leaned over to kiss my boyfriend Joel on the lips and he turned his head slightly, offering me his cheek. I paused momentarily before brushing my lips against his cheek. "We should be back in an hour." I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice.

Joel didn't take his eyes off the TV screen as he continued playing his Xbox. "Have fun."

I picked up my gym towel and walked out of the front door. Yasmine, my single fun loving cocoa-complexioned best friend, was sitting behind the wheel of her 1996 Nissan Altima. She was dressed in an all-black gym outfit – black yoga pants that covered her black workout sneakers and a black tank top that showed off her voluptuous figure. Yasmine loved her body, she was proud of every single curve on it and had absolutely no problem showing them off to the world. Her short dark brown hair, which when she wore it down just barely reached the bottom of her ears, was slicked back and pinned. I hurried over to her car and plopped in the front seat, closing the door behind me.

Yasmine and I had been best friends ever since college. We just seemed to click upon first meeting each other. She used to say that I was the yin to her yang and that's why we fit. Where she was the loud, outgoing, always down for something, I was the quiet, shy; rather stay at home with my man type woman. But we balanced each other and the friendship worked. Joel used said that we were the angels on each other's shoulders, encouraging each other when it was needed the most.

"Hey," I sighed as I leaned back against her tan cloth seats.

"What's up?" Yasmine backed out of the driveway and headed down the street. "How was your day today? You look stressed."

I shook my head. "Not even worth mentioning. I am so ready to jump on that elliptical machine and just walk my cares away...in addition to other things."

Yasmine looked at me with an eye raised. "Still not getting any?"

"It's gotten so bad that I've already run through an entire pack of batteries," I laughed a little as I leaned my right elbow against the window and placed my head in my hand. "I went to Target, Wal-Mart, and Walmart to stock up on batteries in one week. I was too embarrassed to keep going to the same store because then they'll know why I'm always getting batteries."

Yasmine burst into laughter as she shot me a look.

"I've never loved Blue Pearl as much as I have in the past few weeks," I chuckled. I had to laugh at myself – otherwise, I'd cry. Blue Pearl was the name of my vibrator. I had bought it a month before Joel and I had gotten together and I may have used it once or twice since then. I remember Yasmine had urged me to buy it, saying that no woman should be without a vibrator. It was a rite of passage, she'd say. But in the past few weeks, I had become quite familiar with the blue, seven-inch plastic toy. I had even moved it from its hiding place in the top of my closet to the bottom drawer of my nightstand.

The first time that Joel saw it was about a week ago. He was looking for my nail clippers and opened the drawer. He shifted through it and when he pulled Blue Pearl out, he looked disgusted and dropped it in the drawer and frowned as he practically ran to the bathroom and washed his hands. He muttered something about it being "out in the open," and then shook his head as he shot me a look. Ever since then, he barely came on my side of the bed, yet alone touched my nightstand.

"Well, I think that maybe we should have a women's night and you can buy Blue Pearl some friends so he doesn't have to work so hard," Yasmine chuckled. "You probably have the poor thing cowered in the corner somewhere praying you aren't looking for him every time the drawer opens."

I laughed along with her and Yasmine drove to the gym. Once we were inside, Yasmine went straight to the pool to do some laps. I went to the cardio area and jumped on the first available elliptical that I saw. I turned on my MP3 player and started my workout. A Tribe Called Quest's 'Scenario' was blasting in my ears and I was walking away from all the stress – among other things – that had built up inside of me. I looked at the mirrored wall that was in front of the cardio machines and frowned as I looked at myself. My skin had a slight glow, but not the kind that I usually liked. I was frowning at myself when I saw a man walk into the gym. He had to be about six feet tall and his athletic body was incredible. He had a mustache and goatee – a feature that I always thought was very sexy on a man. I looked over my right shoulder to get a better look at him. He was beautiful.

The beautiful stranger walked towards the locker rooms which were located in the back of the gym. I leaned over to my right a little to watch him walk away – and he looked great leaving. I smiled a little. I stayed on my machine for another thirty minutes before heading over to the little juice bar that the gym had. I ordered a strawberry mango smoothie. I was waiting at the counter as the girl that worked in the little smoothie area began making the drink when I saw the beautiful stranger walk into the little store area. He was wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a white sleeveless shirt that showed off his very nicely built arms. A slight smile started to make its way across my lips as I looked him over, taking him in. He was even more handsome up close. He had these big, beautiful almond-shaped brown eyes that complimented his smooth brown skin. His eyelashes were long and his eyebrows seemed to suit his handsome face perfectly. They looked like he took the time to take care of them; they weren't a unibrow or growing all over his face. They were just two arches perched perfectly above his eyes. He had two diamond studs in his left ear. I bit my bottom lip as I took in the beautiful stranger. He went to the cooler and grabbed a bottle of water and placed it on the counter where I had once been, although I had walked to the door while I was waiting for my drink to be made.

"That it?" the girl behind the register looked up at him as she placed the lid on my drink, which she had just finished. She looked at me. "Yours is $5.15"

I un-clipped my cell phone case from my hip and removed some money. As I passed the beautiful stranger, I noticed how good he smelled. He had obviously been working out, but he still smelled relatively good.

"Excuse me," I brushed against him slightly as I went to pay for my drink. The second our skin touched I felt the hairs on the back of my neck literally stand on end and a small shock of electricity raced down my spine. I ran a hand up to my face, which was becoming flushed, and slowly ran it down to the front of my neck as I turned and looked at him again. He looked at me and smiled a little as he backed up, giving me some room. The second I saw his teeth, I began smiling from ear to ear and I could feel the heat rising from my body. My heart began pounding in my chest and I was convinced that he could see it. The next thing I knew, I heard the girl behind the counter suck her teeth. I turned around and saw my entire smoothie spilled on the counter and slowly making its way across the black laminate countertop towards the dingy yellow tiles that were the floor.

"I'm so sorry," I instantly picked up the cup and looked for some napkins. It didn't take a genius to realize that my regression to a shy schoolgirl had just caused the sticky substance to be oozing its way across the counter.

"I guess you want me to make another one, huh?" she rolled her eyes at me.

I opened my mouth to say something, but she just sucked her teeth as she rolled her neck and turned around to get another blender.

"Should I get some paper towels or something?" I looked around the store for anything that would help me in assisting her in cleaning up the mess that I had made.

"No," she sucked her teeth again – clearly making her point that she was annoyed.

"Is it me or does she have a major attitude?" the beautiful stranger looked at me for a few seconds. "It was just an accident."

The girl slammed the blender onto its base and glared at me as she began dumping fruit into the blender. I didn't know if I should be offended or angry.

"Okay, you know what? You are obviously having a bad day," I held up my hands as I backed away from the counter. I was going with offended sympathy. "I don't even want the smoothie anymore. I'm sorry about the mess and if you get me some paper towels or anything, I'll clean this up, otherwise..."

She put her hand on her hip as her lips pursed into a pissed off pout. She glared at me as she cut me off. "So now you don't even want this?"

"No," the beautiful stranger placed his bottle of water on the counter. "And I don't want this either."

We both turned and walked out of the store. I shook my head once we were a few feet from the store. "I guess she was having a bad day," I sighed as I looked up at him. My heart began pounding again. I began biting my bottom lip as I tried to keep my composure. I didn't understand why I was reacting to him like this; it wasn't like I had never seen an attractive man before. I had my own attractive man at home and I don't think I ever responded to Joel the way I was to this beautiful stranger.

"Well, she needs to learn to check that attitude at the door when she comes here," he looked at his watch for a brief second before turning his attention to me again.

I ran the palms of hands down the front of my pants as I took a breath. I extended my hand to him quickly. "Hi, I'm Talia."

"Moses," he had a firm grip as he shook my hand. I bit my bottom lip again to keep myself from smiling, which was what I wanted to do. I could feel the giddiness building up inside of me and the shy girl in me rearing her head. "This is a pretty okay gym." He looked around the gym as he nodded his head.

I looked around the gym as I pulled my hand away from his. I placed my right hand in my left and just sort of held it as I surveyed the fitness center. It was just an average gym, to me. There were some people scattered around on the different machines and there were several staff members at the front desk talking and laughing. I shrugged my shoulders, still holding onto my hand. "It's okay, I guess. I never really paid attention."

"Compared to some of the others that I've been to, it's a good gym," Moses nodded his head in approval. Moses. He had an old man's name. He didn't look like a Moses to me, maybe in about fifty years, but as a man in his late 20s, not so much. All I could do was just smile up at him.

"Where's my smoothie?" Yasmine's voice brought me back to reality. I turned around and saw her walking around the corner, her gym bag slung over her shoulder. "What are you doing out here? You know the routine, girlie: you go inside and order the smoothie and then stand out here sipping on it. I arrive and finish it off and we head home. You're breaking routine, Tal!" Yasmine dropped her bag in front of me and used her fingers to comb back her wet hair. "Hey," she looked up at Moses.

"What's up," he nodded in her direction a little.

She gave him a funny look before turning back to me. "Tal?" she called in a sing – song voice. That was my cue to go into the store and place the order, but I didn't want to deal with the bitchy smoothie girl again and I didn't want to leave the conversation that Moses and I were slowly building.

"She's in a foul mood today," I nodded with my chin towards the girl in the store, who was now at the sink. "I ordered and then spilled the drink and she had a serious attitude! So I told her that I didn't want it. We can grab some Wendy's or something on our way home – my treat."

"I want a smoothie. I had my mouth all set for some mango strawberry." Yasmine put her hands on her hips as she turned towards the store. She shot Moses another look before going up to the counter. "Let me get a strawberry mango smoothie, please?"

The girl huffed loudly as she turned around and slapped a wet sponge onto the counter.

"Is there a problem?" Yasmine put her left hand on her hip as she rolled her neck.

"Yeah, you're friend just said that she didn't want a drink and now you're here," the smoothie girl looked Yasmine square in the eyes.

"And you just said it – my friend doesn't want one. I do. Strawberry mango, please."

"Well, you are going to have to wait because I have to clean up this mess that she made," the girl lowered her head and began wiping down the counter.

I could see the heat rising from Yasmine's body. Her shoulders tensed up as she dropped her hand. She placed her hands on the edge of the counter and leaned forward a little. "Is your manager here? I need to speak to your manager."

"I am the manager," smoothie girl rolled her eyes so long and hard, I was afraid that they may just pop out of her head. "What?" she raised her hands a little as if asking Yasmine did she want to fight her.

Yasmine was laughing at the girl. "You are not anyone's type of manager. Where is the general manager, the man or woman in charge? I need to speak to someone in charge."

"I told you, I am the manager," smoothie girl folded her arms across her chest and looked at Yasmine, her lips in a twisted pursed position. She actually looked like she smelled something awful.

"I think you need to go get your girl before she sticks her foot straight up that girl's ass," Moses looked at me.

"I was just thinking that." I looked up at him briefly. I didn't want to leave him. What if I never saw him again? I had to take full advantage of this chance meeting and extend it as long as I could, but I was already not acting like myself. I had become clumsy and now, I was actually standing on the sidelines watching Yasmine about to throw down. Usually, I would have gone to my friend's side when smoothie girl lowered her head and told Yasmine to wait, but something kept me outside the store, inches from Moses, watching. I shook the outside thought out my head and went to my friend's side. Yasmine was fired up and ready to go blow for blow with this girl. "Come on, Yas, we'll go to Wendy's."

I grabbed her arm and literally pulled her out of the store before she could say or do anything else. By the time I got her to where we had originally been Moses was gone. I sighed; completely disappointed that he had just disappeared. Yasmine stormed over to the front desk and complained about smoothie girl. She kept pointing to the store and talking in a loud voice about how rude smoothie girl was to her.

"She don't know I'll mess her up!" she turned towards the store and raised her voice so that smoothie girl heard her. "You can revoke my membership or do whatever the hell makes you happy, but that little prissy ass ghetto girl gets in my face again, I will knock her out."

One of the workers looked nervous as she looked around, clearly looking for help. But her co-workers sort of turned their backs and pretended to be busy. I walked over to Yasmine and grabbed her elbow.

"Let's go home," I pulled on her. "You're embarrassing me." I looked at the scared little worker and gave her the fakest smile in the world. "I'm sorry. We'll go. She's just unhappy with the service received in the store."

Now I was happy that sexy Moses had left. I'd hate for him to see this. He might think that I was like that and that might be a turnoff.

Yasmine let me pull her out of the store. She was still bitching as we got into the car. "And she had a broke-ass weave," she turned the engine over and backed out of the parking space that she had.

I half-listened as she talked. Instead, my mind was on Moses. I couldn't wait to see him again. I just had to figure out how to see him again.

When I got home from the gym, Joel was in the living room – sitting in the same exact spot he was in when I left. Only now he was watching TV instead of playing video games.

"Hi," I crossed in front of the TV and went into the bedroom to put my gym bag away. I grabbed my towel and headed for the bathroom to take a shower.

"How was the gym?" Joel asked as I crossed the hall to the bathroom.

"It was the gym," I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at him. "It's the same as it always is. But, Yasmine almost got into it with one of the girls that work there."

He nodded his head but kept his eyes on the TV. I sighed as I went into the bathroom and closed the door. I loved Joel. I did. But lately, it felt as if the two of us were drifting apart.

When I came out of the shower, Joel was still sitting in the same spot, only this time, he was on the phone. I went into the bedroom and changed into one of my Victoria's Secret nightgowns before heading out to the living room and sitting right next to Joel on the couch. He looked over at me with a slight smirk on his face.

"Mom, I gotta go," he said. "Yeah, I'll call you later. Okay." He pushed 'end' and placed the phone on the coffee table as he turned and looked at me. "This is new," he reached over and touched the flimsy fabric of my nightgown.

"Mmm, not exactly," I shook my head as I placed my legs on his lap. "You brought this for me for Christmas." He looked at my nightgown as if it were the first time that he had ever seen it. I exhaled as I scooted closer to Joel and placed my hand on the side of his face. "But that's okay, sweetie. I haven't worn it, so you're forgiven."

Joel moved his head to the left a little, moving it away from my touch. "My mom was just talking about how we don't go over to her house for dinner. Aunt Cami and Uncle Manny have family dinner every Sunday and Wednesday and she was saying that she would really like to have that with us. Not every Sunday and Wednesday, but at least once a month."

"And we can discuss that later," I ran my hand down his arm as I lowered my voice. "Right now, I think you should familiarize yourself with this nightgown. I can make you remember why you got it for me in the first place."

Joel lifted my legs as he stood up. He cleared his throat as he headed towards the kitchen. "I'm really tired, baby," he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. "I'm going to take a shower."

I sat on the couch, my mouth agape as I watched my boyfriend walk away from me. I cleared my throat as I stood up. I walked into the bedroom and shot Joel a look. I shook my head as I went to my nightstand. Joel looked over his shoulder at me and made a face.

"Are you seriously going to...play... with that thing?" he asked.

"What do you care, you won't play with me," I looked up at him as I removed Blue Pearl from the drawer.

Joel exhaled as he shook his head and walked out of the room. "A woman shouldn't be so obsessed with sex," he muttered as he went into the bathroom.

"And a man shouldn't be so anti sex," I said loud enough for him to hear me. My response was the bathroom door closing.

I groaned as I tossed my favorite toy back into the drawer and instead removed a t-shirt to sleep in. I changed my clothes and climbed into the bed, turning my back to Joel's side of the bed as I held my pillow tight. I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep and was greeted by the smiling face of Moses – the beautiful stranger. I smiled to myself.

"Are you awake?" Joel's voice returned me to reality.

I opened my eyes and stared at the wall under the window, but refused to turn over or make any movements letting him know that I was awake.

"I hate that you always turn to that damn toy when I don't have sex with you," I felt him sit down on the bed. "It's like you're cheating on me with a sex toy." I didn't say anything. I heard him moving around and the rubbing sound of him putting lotion on. "Our relationship has become one consumed with sex, Talia, and we are so much more than that. It's not that I don't love you and not that I don't want to have sex with you – because I do – I just want us to be more than just sex."

I sighed as I closed my eyes.

"I know you're awake," I felt him get up and heard him move around the room. I kept my eyes closed. Joel returned bed soon and climbed into the bed. He spooned his body against mine as he put his arms around me. "I just want to hold you tonight and enjoy being with you without being in you."

"And I want to enjoy you being in me," I said.

He kissed me on the cheek and didn't say anything. I tried to inch away from him, but he held onto me a little extra tighter.

Over the next few weeks, whenever Yasmine and I went to the gym, we'd see Moses. At first, he and I would say a simple 'hi' and 'bye' and give each other a slight wave as we passed. Yasmine would just give him these little looks, but they rarely spoke. Her rudeness was probably why he was keeping his distance from me. One day, we were next to each other, using the elliptical machines that were side by side and we started talking. I had my headphones draped around my neck and was taking in every word that he was saying. He mentioned that he had a girlfriend and my heart sank a little. I told him about Joel and tried to gauge a response, but he didn't give me one.

"Does your man come here to work out?" he asked.

I shook my head as I chuckled a little. "No, he likes to work out with his cousin."

Moses nodded his head.

"What about your girlfriend? Does she work out with you?"

"Have you ever seen her here?" he looked at me. "No, Nyla likes to spend her time shopping, hanging out with her stripper friend, and more shopping."

"She must have a good job."

He laughed. "She doesn't work."

I mouthed "oh," as I nodded my head.

"So, what do you do again?" he cleared his throat as he looked at me. "You had mentioned something about interior design?"

"Well, I work at an interior design company, uh Lexicon of Style?" I looked at him. "It's in Garden City. I am the owner's assistant, so I do a lot of things for her. I'm learning about design every day. This wasn't something that I went to school for."

"I've heard of the company," he nodded. "My best friend and I are opening a nightclub and we've commissioned Lexicon of Style to decorate."

"Really?" my eyes lit up a little as I looked at him. I made a mental note to look into that as soon as I got into work.

"How did you get the job if you didn't go to school for design?" he asked as he looked at me.

"I know the owner," I nodded my head. "She and I met a couple of years ago. I was a freshman at Virginia State and she was a junior and we met. We lived on the same floor, so... we kind of hit it off. When I graduated, I moved to New York with my best friend – who is from New York. The girl you see me with all the time is my best friend. She and I moved in together for about two years and then I moved in with my boyfriend," I sighed. "That was probably a mistake," I said that low enough for me to hear.

"Those were a hard four years," he sighed as he looked at me. "Do you enjoy what you do?"

I nodded my head. "It's fun. I never thought about interior design, but it's a lot of fun and you learn a lot."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, I'm an only child. My parents are in England and that's where they've been for the past 20 years. My mom is originally from Sussex, England, and my dad is from Long Island."

"So you grew up in England?" he smiled. "I don't hear an accent."

"I don't have one, oddly enough. I have a New York accent. My dad is very proud of that," I laughed. "I say some things the English way, but most are all American. I do call my mother 'mummy,' though. What about you? Are you an only child?"

"I am," he nodded. "But I grew up with my best friend – his mom and my mom were best friends growing up and they raised us together. So, his family is like mine. But I'm very close to my mother and I see her three times a week and I eat dinner with her and her best friend's family twice a week."

"What about your dad? Are your parents divorced?"

"No, my dad died when I was six. He was a detective and was killed in the line of duty," he nodded his head. "My mom and I go visit his grave once a month."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I looked down at the machine.

"It's okay," he gave reached over and touched my arm. Feeling his touch sent chills down my spine.

After that day, we began talking to each other about more than just our relationships and even Yasmine was nicer to him. She'd give him a slight smile whenever they passed and once, she even said hi to him and asked how his day was. Our conversations usually took place in the juice bar. That's where we'd meet after our workouts, which worked out because it had tables now – and sit and talk until Yasmine came. I actually looked forward to going to the gym.

I was getting dressed for the gym one night about a month and a half after Moses and I met when Joel came into the bedroom. He leaned against the door and watched me getting ready for the gym. I glanced at him through the mirror as I put on some ChapStick. With Joel leaning against the door, his hands in his pockets, it reminded me of the man that I had met three years ago and had fallen in love with, the man that – at one time – could barely keep his hands off of me.

His broad chest was underneath a white tee shirt that was a bit too snug but looked kinda good on him. His muscular legs were hidden beneath a pair of dark, denim jeans. Joel's beautiful caramel skin seemed to be aglow in the candlelight from the bedroom. I slowly licked my lips as I watched him walk over to the bed and sit down, his arms resting on his knees as he looked at me. I felt a gentle surge run through my body and for the first time in almost two months, Joel was the reason and he was the man I wanted. A slight wave of guilt engulfed me as I thought about all the time that I had spent with Moses and all the time I had spent thinking about him. Joel's dark brown eyes took me in for several seconds before he opened his mouth to speak to me. Joel and Moses had the same big, almond-shaped brown eyes. I had never noticed that until just now.

"Going to the gym again?" he asked.

I nodded my head. "Every day, Monday through Friday. Yasmine should be by soon to get me," I glanced at my watch.

"Why don't you skip the gym today and spend that time with me?" Joel reached out and took my hand as I passed him. "I never thought you would be so serious about the gym and yet here you are, very faithful. I think I'm getting a little jealous here, baby." He smiled affectionately at me as he swung my hand back and forth. My heart skipped a beat as the warm surge ran through my body again. Was it possible that Joel was going to say the words I longed to hear? Was my man going to end our forced over two-month sexual drought? Was he about to tell me that he wanted me?

I laughed coyly. "You're jealous of the gym?"

The love he had for me filled his eyes and that turned me on even more. "You go every night, religiously. I remember when Yasmine used to have to bribe you to go and now you're all set. You have a little boyfriend there or something?"

The shy routine wasn't working. I looked at Joel and the only thing that ran through my mind was that it had been 10 LONG weeks since he touched me and I felt like I was about to explode! The sweet pecks on the cheek or lips weren't doing anything for me but making me even more frustrated. And the little hints that I'd drop he wasn't getting, so I clearly had to be blunt with him. "Yeah, I do," I reached over and kissed him on the top of his head. "I need to work off my sexual frustration somehow, Joel. Its better I go to the gym than to be at some club grinding up on some guy all hot and sweaty."

He let go of my hand and sucked his teeth. "Sometimes, Tallie, I wonder if you are a man trapped in a woman's body. Some of the things you say are uncalled for."

"Well, if I'm the man then you definitely are the woman," I sat on the bed and put on my sneakers. "What man do you know withholds sex? I mean come on, Joel! It's been like 10 weeks," it had been exactly 10 week, actually. Ten weeks and two days to be exact. I looked at him. "You knew when we met that I had a relatively high sex drive and for us to not do anything for ten weeks is just ridiculous! We lie in the bed next to each other and you barely touch me. My damn sex toy touches me more than you."

He shuddered when I mentioned the Blue Pearl and his face showed his disgust at the thought of it. "I want this to be more than sex, Talia. We have to be more than that in order for us to grow as a couple."

"After three and a half years, I think we're more than just sex, Joel," I grabbed the edge of the bed as I leaned forward and looked at him. I had learned through Joel's lack of touch that moving ever so slightly against the bed creates a very satisfying friction between your legs. "Sex is just a really great benefit of the relationship."

"We don't do anything anymore, Talia. You just want to have sex." He sounded like a straight bitch right now. That was something a woman would say to her man, not something a man says to his girl.

"Because we haven't done it in ten weeks," I stressed 10 weeks to let him know that it had been over two months and it was driving me crazy.

Joel shook his head.

I started rocking back and forth on the bed, creating that amazing feeling that seemed to actually be cooling me down. The movement actually made it easier to talk to Joel. I mean, for a woman that was used to having sex at least – at least – six times a week, being forced into a sudden celibacy for TEN WEEKS was driving me crazy! "Baby," I took a breath as I looked at him. "We talk and we have a very intimate relationship...except when it comes to actually being intimate. All of a sudden there are a whole lot of things that you don't want to do anymore. I mean, tell me, how would you feel if, when we finally do make love again, I don't go down anymore?"

He looked at me with an eye raised. I could see his thought after that question. While giving oral sex wasn't something that I particularly liked, Joel loved receiving it. Sex wasn't complete without it. When he made the choice for us to stop having, sex that was the last thing to go. We would actually do that, and then right after, he'd hop up suggesting that we take a shower together and I would agree, thinking that he wanted to do something different. Then, after the shower, he'd just want to hold me and would fall asleep. That worked twice before I told him we had to have actual intercourse before anything else and that was when he told me that he wanted to cool down our sex life to "explore our relationship more." But, because my man loved oral sex, and I loved my man, I did it. But now, that love was slowly turning to resentment.

"Exactly!" I stood up and pointed to him. "I don't even like doing that personally, but I do it because you like it. It's give and take here and it seems that you're the one taking and I'm just...I'm just not getting any."

"Well, I don't like doing that either," Joel made a face. He was probably just saying that so that I would change my mind.

"Fine, then neither of us will do it," I sat back down on the bed and looked at him as I crossed my legs. "I don't like giving it and you just confessed that you don't like giving it, so..."

"Why don't you stay home today and we'll watch a movie?" He completely changed the topic and I just sighed. The thought of completely ending oral sex was too much for Joel to even imagine. I was sure, in his mind, that when this forced celibacy came to an end I was going to go down on him like a porn star. I cleared my throat as I looked at him and smiled.

"Okay," I walked over to the dresser and picked up my cell phone and hit Yasmine's speed dial number. There was no point in starting the argument and hopefully hearing how sexually frustrated I was would result in us doing something. I knew that I could be pretty persuasive when I wanted to and I knew I was an attractive woman. My 10-week drought could come to an end and I could be with my man the way I wanted to be with. Yasmine answered on the third ring.

"Are you canceling on me?" she didn't even say hello.

"Joel wants to make it a Netflix night," I leaned against the dresser as I looked at my boyfriend. "So, I'm going to pass on the gym tonight and tomorrow we can meet up."

"Yeah, I didn't want to go anyway," she yawned loudly, "I think I may call it an early night. Call me tomorrow."

I nodded as if she could see me as I flipped shut my phone and placed it on the dresser. "I'm all yours, Joel."

He smiled as he stood up and walked over to me. He put his arms around me and held me close to him. I wrapped my hands around him as I tried to figure out exactly how we were going to end our unnatural celibacy.

Joel chose some movies that we'd watch – Friday and Next Friday – while I went to get some pizza. Once I got home we settled into the couch to enjoy our night in. At first, we sat on either end of the couch as we ate our food and watched Friday. After that movie went off, I moved closer to him. I placed my head on his chest and he actually moaned softly as he put his arm around me and settled into his seat. A faint glimpse of hope rose inside of me and I moved my hand so that it was now resting on his muscular leg and merely inches from his manhood. Everything inside of me came alive with Joel's slight movement towards me. It was more than he had done in the past few weeks and it sounded like he was actually hearing me during our discussion earlier. Once my hand touched his leg, he cleared his throat and moved his leg which in turn caused my hand to fall onto the couch – in between his legs. I smiled to myself as I moved my hand straight to Joel's manhood. As I held him in my hand, I sat up and kissed him. Joel shifted around in his seat a little as he kissed me back. I tried to move my hand so that I could really get a hold of him.

"We should go to bed," his voice was raspy.

Excitement rose inside of me. Joel turned the TV off and I hopped up. Anticipation and giddiness took over my body as I told him that I was going to go take a shower. Before he could say a word, I rushed into the bathroom. I was so excited I was practically floating through my shower. After two long months and two weeks, I was finally going to get my man and I planned on making him remember what it was like to be inside of me. I got out of the shower; a towel wrapped around my body, and entered the bedroom, ready to please my man. To my great disappointment, Joel was in the bed with the lights off and fast asleep. He even had the nerve to be snoring!

"You've got to be kidding me!" I sighed as I loudly walked into the room. I slammed the drawers as I got a pair of pajamas and I made sure to turn on every light and make as much noise as possible. Joel didn't budge. I plopped on the bed, putting my hands behind my head, and looked at my boyfriend, my eyes filled with angry tears and hurt and resentment. I rolled my eyes and stared up at the ceiling and barely slept that night.

The next day at work, I was still angry about the night before. Only now, I was also feeling rejected. I sat at my desk and quietly sulked, and was still sulking when my boss, Lexie, came in with her four-year-old twins, Ramon and Simona. Usually, I greeted the twins with a big smile and complemented Simona on the designer outfit that she had on. Instead, I just continued working.

"Good morning, all," Lexie said as she removed her coat and placed it on the coat rack outside of her office.

I just nodded, but didn't say anything. Ramon followed his mother into her office. Simona came over to my desk and smiled brightly. "Mommy bought me a sweatsuit just like hers," she looked down at her pink Juicy Couture sweatsuit. "She says that I look like a mini her and Ramon looks like a mini Daddy. Ramon has on J's."

"That's nice," I looked at her and forced a smile.

"Are you not in a good mood today, Ms. Talia?" she asked as she looked at me.

"I'm just tired," I smiled at her.

"Maybe Mommy will let you take a nap. She lets me and Ramon take naps when we need them."

"I don't think your mommy would like it too much if I took a nap. I'll be okay, though."

She just nodded her head. "I'm going to go play in her office."

I nodded my head and turned back to the computer.

Simona skipped into her mother's office, humming as she went along. I shook my head. I should have been skipping into my office this morning. Skipping and humming and right now I should have been on the phone with my man, giggling and remembering all the reasons we had fallen in love. Instead, I was sitting at my desk, pouting, pissed off, and trying to remember why he and I were together in the first place.

My coworker, Carmen noticed that I was upset and suggested that we go to lunch. I took her up on that offer because I needed to tell someone about the night before. We went to a diner and I ended up ordering some waffles and bacon while she ordered a club sandwich.

"So, what has you all pissy?" Carmen took a huge bite of her sandwich. Carmen lived in Queens and was a bit of a wild woman, but I liked hanging out with her. She always had great stories about the places she had been and the things she had done. She also loved to eat. She had gone from a size two when we met to a size 8 now.

I picked up a piece of bacon. "Joel."

"Still not getting any?" she shook her head. "And you still stick around, which is what's killing me. I'm not in a relationship and I'm getting' more ass than you," she laughed.

"Last night I thought there was a glimmer of hope," I shook my head as I looked at my friend. "We were getting close and he actually touched me and not like a brother touches his sister and I just knew that last night was the night. So, I hop up and run into the shower all excited and I feel like I'm floating because euphoria has taken over," I bit into the bacon as I scowled at the memory. "I get out the shower and his ass is asleep. And I mean snoring."

Carmen burst into laughter. I glowered at her as I threw a piece of bacon at her.

"I'm sorry," she tried to stifle her laughter, but it kept coming. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not!"

"No, I am!" She wiped her eyes as she tried to regain her composure. "I'm sorry, Talia. But it's just so funny. I mean come on, imagine if I were the one telling you the story. You would be doubled over."

She was right, I would be laughing if the shoe was on the other foot, but it wasn't. It had happened to me and right now – I didn't see the humor.

"Look," she giggled a little. "You've waited for a month..."

"Two months," I held up two fingers. "Two months and two weeks. Two and two."

"Okay, two months and he hasn't touched you," she finally calmed herself down enough to stop the giggles. "If you were the one ceasing sex for that long, I'm sure he would have jumped into the bed with some woman by now. And if he had held out like you have, then after last night, he would probably be all over some skank at work by now."

"So you're suggesting that I cheat on my man?" I sat back as I looked at Carmen.

She shook her head. "I'm just talking, Talia, don't listen to me. You actually have a man and I'm just having mind-blowing random hookups."

I picked up my fork and took a bite of my waffles. My mind wandered to Moses and I pictured last night's scenario with him there instead of Joel. I seriously doubted that he would jump into bed and go sleep. In my mind, he probably would have joined me in the shower and we would have made love in the tub under the streaming water and probably all over the bathroom. I imagined him propping me up against the sink as he had his way with me.

Carmen tapped her acrylic nails on the table. I looked up at her and she had a little smirk on her face as she looked at me. "You have a prospective jump off?"

"No," I shook my head.

"You lie! You answered that too quickly," she leaned in closer and smiled. "Who is it?"

"He's not a jump-off."

"Ahh, so he's more, huh? A possible replacement for Joel?" she raised her eyes three times.

I took another bite of my waffles as I looked at her.

"Okay, that may be jumping the gun. Where did you meet him?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Around."

"Around work? Around town? Around where?" she prodded.

I just shrugged my shoulders again.

"The fact that you have a prospect is exciting to me, Talia," she said seriously. "You've gone through at least a dozen batteries on poor Blue Pearl. It's probably cowering in your drawer somewhere, shivering in fear every time you come near," she pretended to be hiding behind something. I laughed at her. "Ooh, by the way, tonight is the Ladies Night, so you better come."

I nodded my head absently.

"I mean it, you know I'll hop in my car and go get your ass if I need to. Blue Pearl needs some friends that you can trade him off with until you either break your man down and he finally taps that ass or you bed down this prospect – that's not a jump-off," she took another bite of her sandwich. "It's at Yasmine's house."

"She gave me the flyer and text me and left a voicemail," I sighed. "I need to pick up a bottle when we leave work."

"Personally, I think you and this secret man of yours has better odds of hooking up than you and Joel doing the nasty again."

I laughed a little. "You choose such sweet words to describe the act, Carmen. Tap that ass, bed down and doing the nasty."

"It stopped being lovemaking after week number two. After that, anything else you do is pure fucking, with the 'g' at the end of the word because it is pure unadulterated stuff. But I know how much you hate that word when it's used in that context, so I use others," she flashed me a smile before digging into her sandwich.

After work, I went to the liquor store to pick up a bottle for Ladies Night. I chose a bottle of Malibu. I drove to Yasmine's house to drop it off and see if she needed any help setting up. She told me no, so I let her know that I would be back and headed home. The second I stepped into the house, I saw Joel sitting in the living room playing his Xbox and that resentment consumed me. I went straight into the bathroom and changed into my gym clothes. I wasn't going to go originally, but I didn't want to be home with him for several hours. I had too much frustration and resentment inside of me from the past 24 hours and I was sure there would be a fight if I stayed. I told Joel I was taking the car and going to the gym.

"Yasmine's not picking you up?" he leaned against the wall as I grabbed the keys. I didn't tell him about Ladies Night because he already hated that I had one vibrator. The idea of me buying another one would probably send him into an uproar.

"She has plans tonight so she's not going," I grabbed my towel and headed towards the door. I didn't even want to look at Joel.

He stuck his hands in his pockets as he looked at me. "You're mad at me about last night, aren't you, Talia? You're asking me to go back on a judgment call that I made to for us to be stronger."

"I'm not asking you anything, Joel. I get that you don't want to have sex right now, but that's a choice that you made alone. I want to have sex. I love having sex and I need to have sex again soon. I'm trying to keep from ruining this, but you're not making easy it for me. So, I am going to go to the gym and work out this frustration," I walked out the door before he could say anything.

When I got to the gym, my first stop was the juice bar. I bought a bottle of water and scanned the store for any sign of Moses as I walked over to the cashier.

"He should be here any minute," the cashier said.

I turned around and looked at her. It was the girl from the first time that Moses and I had met – the one who's ass Yasmine wanted to kick. She had a black weave – that wasn't that great – that had pink highlights in it. She was one of those latte colored females – the redbones that guys seemed to be in love with – with freckles across her nose. Her eyes were heavily lined with black liner and her lip gloss was definitely popping. I was sure I could see myself in her lips if I leaned in close enough. She had an extremely tight red shirt on that just barely held down her large breasts. I raised an eye as I looked at her. Hopefully, she was going to a costume party. "Who's that?"

"Your little boyfriend, you know that really sexy guy that you sit with every day. He was looking for you yesterday. He had to of come in here about a dozen times," she rang me up for the bottle of water. "Look, he's here now." She nodded towards the door.

I placed my dollar on the counter as I turned around. Sure enough, Moses was walking into the gym, wearing a black Nike hat, a gray sleeveless shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. I smiled almost instantly. He made a beeline to the store and the second he saw me, he smiled. My heart began pounding in my chest and to my surprise my panties became slightly... damp. My eyes were drawn to his lips and in my mind, the image of us kissing materialized. I could actually feel our warm mouths pressed against each other and his moist tongue sensually probing my mouth. I shifted as I bit my bottom lip.

"Look who's back," he grabbed a bottle of water out of the cooler and came over to the counter. "You didn't make it yesterday." I half-smiled. He actually noticed that I wasn't there and it sounded like he had actually missed me!

"Yeah, I stayed home," I leaned on the counter. "Watched some movies and ate some pizza." And was completely rejected by man, I thought.

The blender started whirring in the background. I looked over and saw smoothie girl making a smoothie. She poured the orange and red concoction into two small cups and pushed them towards Moses and me.

"We all know that you two are not going to work out today, so let's just cut to the chase. Here are your smoothies," she gave us some straws. Moses looked at her for maybe three seconds and a course of jealousy raged through my body. I exhaled slowly as I shook my head. I had no claims on this man. He could look at any woman that he wanted to and I had no right to feel envious.

Moses and I exchanged looks but did take the cups and found a table in the corner to sit at. He and I talked for a good hour and a half. I kept biting on my straw and looking away from him during our conversation. I half wanted to look at him but the shy girl in me surfaced and kept me from making that eye contact. My body kept swelling with emotions and feelings and I couldn't understand why. Every now and then, Moses would give me a sly smile as he'd reach across the table and take my cup from me, moving it towards the middle of the table, making it impossible for me to bite the straw. Every single time he would do that, I would lower my eyes and gently bite my bottom lip. We exchanged phone numbers and then Moses walked me to my car. We stood beside my car for another ten or fifteen minutes as we talked some more. He told me that his girlfriend had gone to New Jersey that morning and wasn't coming back until Saturday morning. He said that she had gone to visit her mother. I told him that Joel was probably at home asleep, so Moses said that he would call me later and I just beamed from ear to ear.

I got in the car and headed home. I got right down the street from my house before I realized that Yasmine was having her Ladies Night. I turned my car around and went to her house. Just as I pulled into her driveway, my cell phone rang. My heart skipped a beat as I silently wished it was Moses, but it wasn't. It was Yasmine.

"I'm about to walk in your front door," I got out the car and walked up to her walkway.

"Oh. I was about to come to get your ass," she said.

I opened her front door and said hi to the women that were sitting in her living room. There were only about ten women there, but they sounded like a lot more than that when I was outside. A woman was standing in front of the TV, holding a monster size vibrator and describing it. A few women scribbled something down, while others passed around a small gray bullet looking thing. I went over to the couch and sat down on the floor right in front of Carmen.

"You were at the gym?" Yasmine leaned forward and whispered in my ear.

I looked down at what I was wearing and nodded. "Yep."

"I'm assuming this was to release some aggression?" She handed me the bullet looking thing. "This is the mini bullet, you should get it. Should Joel find this, he'll have no idea what it is... and it's relatively quiet, so he won't know what you are doing."

I turned it on and was surprised at how strong the vibration was, but it was quiet, which was a plus in any sex toy. Your privacy did have to be maintained while using it. Probably the most embarrassing thing that could happen would be you're in the bathroom or bedroom 'entertaining yourself' and the entire house can hear the vibration outside. I nodded my head as I looked at it.

"I hear that your man fell asleep last night," she smiled. "Had you believing he was ready to lay the pipe, and instead laid his head on his pillow."

I looked at Carmen, who was eating. "Oh, was I not supposed to tell her? Because I didn't know it was a secret and it was just too funny to keep to myself." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she leaned forward. "My bad."

I shook my head as I turned my attention to the woman who was talking. I stayed at Yasmine's house for about three hours. I ordered the mini bullet and another vibrator in addition to some spray for your sheets that was supposed to turn your man on. I could only imagine what Carmen and Yasmine had to say when they found out about the spray, but for tonight, I didn't tell them. I told Yasmine that I would call her later and headed home. Once I got into the house, I changed into a t-shirt and threw on a pair of boy shorts. I went into the kitchen and got my pint of Coldstone Ice Cream and settled onto the couch to watch Nick Cannon's Wild n' Out before going to bed.

I had only been home for about twenty minutes when true to his word, my cell phone began vibrating across the living room table. It was a little after eleven and I figured it was Yasmine – who had probably thought of some great joke about the night before that she wanted to share with me. But to my surprise, the letters QT flashed across my phone's screen. A smile almost instantly spread across my face before I could even attempt to stop it. Immediately, I glanced towards the closed bedroom door as I opened my phone to answer it. I lowered my voice so that it was just slightly above a whisper. "Hello?" I placed the ice cream on the table.

"Hey," Moses' voice oozes sexiness. I bit my bottom lip as he spoke and my body instantly responded to his voice. "Are you sleeping? Is this a bad time?"

"No, no, it's fine," I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. "I was just up watching TV. What's up?"

"Not much, I was just thinking about you, that's all," he cleared his throat. "I wasn't sure if it was a good time to call right now, but I figured I'd try."

"It's a perfect time. My boyfriend is probably sound asleep by now," I took a quick look towards the bedroom door again and noticed that the light was off. "So... what exactly were you thinking about?" I reached over and picked up my ice cream and slowly began eating it. I needed something cool because this man's voice was getting me all hot and bothered.

Moses laughed. I tried to stifle a moan as I leaned my head back against the couch. I couldn't let things get too crazy. After all, there was no guarantee that our conversation was going to "go there." After the night before with Joel, I had learned that were no guarantees.

"I was thinking about how pretty you looked today in the gym. Something about those black and blue pants and that blue tee-shirt made you incredibly sexy."

I laughed. "You lie."

"Sometimes I do, but not about this."

My face flushed and I could feel my body getting hot. I exhaled slowly and changed the topic. I didn't understand why I was getting so nervous and shy about sex. I loved sex! I thought I was a very sexual being, but now I was acting like a sexually repressed woman. I started asking him about his girl and he would answer the question – nothing more, nothing less – and then change the topic back to me. I offered information on Joel and he would just respond with an "uh – uh."

"So, Talia, do you think we can meet up with each other outside of the gym?" he asked. My words got caught in my throat and when I opened my mouth a slight squeak came out. He chuckled. "Does that squeal mean yes?"

"Well... I... would your girlfriend appreciate that?"

"Well, do you plan on telling her?"

I bit my lip. "No."

"Maybe you can stop by my house tonight. It's just me in this house all by myself. We can talk or do anything that you want. Is talking all that you want?"

My mind screamed NO!! But only a weak "Uh – uh," came out of my mouth. I cleared my throat as I tried to formalize that words that were floating in my mind. I wanted to know what he was wearing. What did his room look like? What did his apartment look like? What was he doing right now?

"What are you wearing?" it was as if he were reading my mind.

I looked down at the red superman t-shirt that I was wearing and the blue boy shorts. My shirt had just barely reached the top of my boy shorts. I cleared my throat as I described to Moses what I was wearing. He chuckled seductively and said. "Nice."

"And what about you, what are you wearing?"

"A sheet," he stated matter-of-factly.

I closed my eyes as I leaned my head back against the couch and groaned. My mind almost instantly conjured the image of Moses' gorgeous body – his beautiful brown skin – completely naked. His muscular chest completely exposed, no longer hidden beneath the wife beaters that he wore to the gym, his legs – in all their firm glory – covered by one simple sheet.

"You should come over and see for yourself," he said.

"I can't," I barely heard the words myself, so I was sure he didn't hear me. "I'm not dressed."

"Oh, I want you to come over in exactly what you have on, nothing more." He actually sounded excited about the thought of me wearing a t-shirt and my panties.

I laughed lightly. "Moses, I can't." He was quiet. "But, tomorrow is better." I added quickly.

We agreed to meet the next night. As we started to hang up, Moses said that there wasn't any pressure for me to come. Yeah, right. If, for any reason, I changed my mind, he would be okay with that and our friendship wouldn't change. I laughed to myself. The friendship had already changed – boy did it change – because more than anything, I wanted to have sex with him. No, no, I was going to have sex with him.

"It would be like this conversation never occurred," he said.

I chuckled slightly. "Okay, and no hard feelings, right?"

"Are you backing out on me already?"

"No, no!" the words flew out of my mouth. "I'm just agreeing with you."

He laughed. "I'm kidding, Talia. Relax."

I laughed along with him. "I am relaxed." I looked at the clock and was surprised to see that it was 3:30 in the morning! It didn't seem like we had been on the phone that long. I looked towards the bedroom and saw that the light flicked on and Joel's shadow moved around the room. "It's getting late, Moses," I lowered my voice. "We'll talk tomorrow."

He chuckled a bit. "Your man's awake, huh? We will talk tomorrow."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," I flipped shut my phone and placed it between the cushions on the couch just as Joel opened the bedroom door. He walked into the hall scratching the back of his head. I smiled at him as I kneeled on the couch. "Hey you," I pushed my knee onto the phone and down in between the cushions to ensure that he didn't see my cell phone.

"I was looking for you," he dragged himself into the living room and looked around. "Why are you still up? Is everything okay? Were you on the phone? I thought I heard you talking."

"Everything's great," I stood up, picking up my melted ice cream and dumped it into the garbage. "I'm just a little wired tonight is all," I started to walk past him but stopped just in front of Joel. I stood on my tiptoes and lightly brushed my lips against his. "Come on, let's go to bed."

Joel looked around the room before turning around and following me into the bedroom. "I have a poker game tomorrow," he yawned. "I meant to tell you earlier, but you were in and out and came home from the gym really late today." I knew that the last comment was his way of asking me what I had been doing without actually asking me what I had been doing.

"Where's the game at?" I ignored his last sentence and grabbed my pajama pants off my vanity stool and pulled them on.

"It's here," Joel sat on the edge of the bed and yawned as he looked at me. "The guys are going to start coming around eight."

I frowned. I really didn't like it when Joel had his poker buddies over. They were really loud and I always ended up in my bedroom, wide awake the entire time that they were over. But Joel really liked having his poker friends over and since I now had plans for that night it didn't seem fair for me to make it into a big deal. I also knew that I couldn't be too indifferent. He already had his eyes raised since it was 3:30 in the morning and I was just now coming to bed.

"You don't want them over, do you?" He leaned forward onto his knees as he looked at me.

"I'll find something to do," I shook my head as I climbed into the bed, pulling the covers over my body. "There's this new show on that BBC channel, Coupling, it's actually really funny. I just started watching it the other week. They say it's the British Friends, but I like this show better."

"Well, I don't want you to stay in the room all night," he rubbed his eyes as he scooted back onto the bed and lay down beside me.

"If I get too bored, I'll call Yasmine and go over there," I leaned over and kissed Joel's cheek. I always gave him a kiss on the cheek before we went to bed, even on the nights that we were arguing. "Good night."

He turned the light off and stayed on his side of the bed. After a few seconds, he reached across the bad and placed his hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him. He spooned his body against mine and soon fell asleep.

I could barely sleep all night. I was excited about the prospect of seeing Moses. In my mind, I kept going over exactly what I was going to wear. I didn't have any bra and panty sets that I liked enough to wear to his place. I'd have to go to Victoria's Secret and get something appropriate during my lunch break tomorrow. I tossed and turned all night and each time I moved, Joel would move with me. I finally managed to fall asleep and the second I did, Moses was the man in my dreams. I was so excited about the idea of seeing Moses that I actually woke up an hour and a half before my 7:30 alarm went off. Joel was still sound asleep beside me, his left arm around my torso. I had to literally lift his arm and scoot from underneath him before I was able to get up. I practically skipped across the hall to the bathroom and turned the water on and hopped in the shower. By the time I got out of the shower, Joel was up and dragging himself towards the bathroom.

"Good morning," I was practically singing.

"You're in a good mood," he yawned.

"I know, I am, aren't I?" I giggled a little as I went over to the dresser to find something to wear. "Probably just really overtired. You know how silly I get when I'm overtired."

He nodded in agreement as he closed the bathroom door. I waited until I heard the shower before I went into the living room to retrieve my cell phone. I wanted to make sure that I had really spoken to Moses last night. I dug my hand in between the couch cushions and got my phone. I flipped it open and was surprised to see a text message – from Moses. I sat on the edge of the couch as I read what he had sent me:

"Freeze tag/hide seek – ur fav as a kid? Has 2 do w.2nite."

I bit my bottom lip as I sat and actually thought about which game I had liked better. I was never too good at hiding and seek, I was always the first one to be found and I could never find anyone. I was always 'it.' So I typed back freeze tag and sent the message. I giggled like a schoolgirl as I carried my phone into the bedroom and charged it up while I finished getting dressed. I was standing in front of the mirror, combing my hair, when Joel came out of the bathroom.

"You need me to get you anything for your poker game?" I looked at him through the mirror.

"No, but thank you," he smiled at me. "This is the first time you offered to get something for the game, Talia."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah, well..." Tonight I was finally going to get some, so the least I could do was make sure that you have everything that you need to be happy.

I heard my cell phone beep and I looked over and saw that I had just received another text message. For a second, I didn't move. But, then I had to rethink that. Every time I received a text message I would read it right away. Any delays would probably cause Joel to 'help' by getting the phone for me and reading the message. I sighed as I walked over to the phone and picked it up. Moses had sent me another message. I tried not to smile, but I did anyway. He had simply text: okay – c u 2nite – maybe. No pressure.

"That Yasmine sending you one of her silly messages?" Joel asked.

I looked up at him slightly confused for a few seconds before realizing that he was referring to the text message that I had just received and the huge-ass smile that I could feel plastered across my face. I cleared my throat twice before answering him.

"Yeah," I flipped shut my phone. "You know that girl has no sense."

"No, she doesn't," he shook his head as he smiled.

While Joel finished getting dressed, I went into the kitchen to get some breakfast. I toasted a bagel and poured myself a glass of Tropicana Orangeade, a drink that I had now come to love. I was sitting at the table eating my bagel when Joel came into the kitchen fully dressed and ready for work.

"You are in such a great mood today, Talia," he put his hand on my left shoulder and gently squeezed it several times. "I really like this great mood of yours. I was convinced that last night or this morning we would be in an argument about the game...or other things."

I shrugged my shoulders as I stood up. "Whatever. We can argue if you want if that will make you happy. We can start with our wonderful night in and work our way to your game night." I scrunched up my nose as I shook my head. I had to have that pinch of sarcasm otherwise he would wonder what was up.

He picked up my glass and gulped down the rest of my juice. "Nah, I like it just like this."

I just looked at him and shook my head. Maybe if he at least wanted to talk about the other night, I wouldn't be mentally preparing myself to cheat on him later on tonight. But, Joel wasn't a huge fan of confrontation. Joel could have a short fuse and he had quite the temper. I remember when we first got together, he had gotten into a disagreement with his beloved cousin, Cristian, and when I came home, he had destroyed the living room. I mean, furniture turned over, the table broke and the house phone busted in the middle of the floor. To this day, I don't know what that disagreement was about, but I know that it must have been huge for him to lose it like that. His mother told me that Joel always admired Cristian and his family and that the two rarely fought. Joel looked up to Cristian, even though he was actually a few months older than his cousin.

"I have to get to work. Have a great day," I leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I'll see you tonight. If you need me to pick up anything, let me know."

"Will do," he nodded his head.

All morning at work, all I could think about was Moses. I was excited about seeing him and I couldn't wait for my lunch break so that I could run to Victoria's Secret and buy something – special – for the night. I even went on the internet to check out the web site to try and get an idea about what it was that I wanted to get. I was looking at a sexy little Brazilian cut, lacey pair of underwear with a matching bra when Carmen came up behind me. I just heard her chuckle and then place herself on my desk as she leaned forward and looked at the screen. I quickly minimized the screen and looked up at her, forcing a smile. She laughed as she crossed her legs, folded her hands, and placing them on her lap.

"I know that Joel isn't giving you any and, judging from how upset you were about the other night, I seriously doubt that you're buying that sexy little thing for him, so I'm going out on a limb here and saying...it's for someone else," she tilted her head to the side and looked at me.

"I... I was just... I was browsing." I didn't even believe me.

"Browsing?" She laughed. "You have been floating around this office since you bounced in here at 8:30 this morning. That little goofy-ass grin on your face hasn't left since you came in the door," she leaned forward and poked her little chunky finger into my cheek. "And you keep biting that damn bottom lip of yours and then get all flushed and giggle," she raised her hands as she looked around our office. "You're alone, sweetie. There's no one here but you and I and you haven't been really talking to me, so what are you laughing at?" she dropped her hands and looked at me.

"A... uh... I..." I sat back in my chair and just looked up at her. I couldn't think of anything to say.

"Yeah, I'd stop trying, too," she shook her head.

"I was just looking," I looked at the computer screen. "Merely... window shopping, that's all."

"What the hell for? Your man proved he's really not going to give it up," she laughed a little as she shook her head. "That shit still cracks me up. Especially the other night, that is classic!"

"I'm glad I was able to supply you with something to laugh about." I smiled a little to myself. The situation was a little funny now that some time had passed.

"Fine, don't tell me," Carmen slid off my desk. "But if I were you, I wouldn't get those." She leaned over and maximized my screen and navigated away from Victoria's Secret and to Frederick's of Hollywood. She scrolled for something and then clicked a button. A cute pink bra and panty set appeared on the screen. The bra was cute enough, but the panties were really cute. They were the hip-hugging boy short type that I liked, but what stood out was that they had garters attached. I smiled a little as I leaned forward and checked them out. "You wear those you'll drive his ass crazy."

I enlarged the view to check them out. They were cute.

"I'd offer to go with you during lunch, but you want to be all secretive."

"Because you'll just open your big mouth," I sat back as I looked up at her.

"Damn, Tal, sue me!" she laughed a little. "Okay, so yesterday I told Yasmine about you and Joel, but I assumed she knew! She's your best friend, so I just naturally thought that you had told her already. I'm never the first one in the loop! I'm always the last to know, so when I told it, I really thought she knew!"

I just cleared my throat.

"Look, I don't know who you're meeting, but you need to just cover your little ass," she put her hand on her hip. "You've never stepped outside your relationship before and you're not the best liar, especially if it's an on the spot thing. So, you can tell Joel that you're coming by my place. He doesn't have my number and he doesn't know where I live, so he can't call me to find out. And just an F.Y.I, when you are with this mystery man – who had better look damn good because, while he is a bit weird, Joel is an attractive man, you should have your phone off."

I looked up at Carmen, interested in what she was saying. I really hadn't thought about what I was going to tell Joel when I left. I assumed I'd tell him that I was with Yasmine and that would be that.

"I was going to say I was with Yas," I looked at Carmen.

"Yasmine?" She laughed a little. "Are we talking about the same girl that lives only three minutes from your house? That's just screaming to be caught. No, you can't be anywhere near Yasmine's house. Joel could call her to check up on you and then drive by her house. What happens when your car isn't there? He starts blowing up your cell and banging on her door wondering where you are," Carmen shook her head. "Uh – uh, no, you can't do that. Your man is too jealous and possessive for that."

I ran my fingers nervously across my lips as I tried to think. "Well... how about you come with me shopping during lunch and..?" I faded as I looked up at her.

"Put you on?" Carmen smiled. "Yeah, I can do that. We actually have an extended lunch today, that's what I came to tell you. They are shutting down the phone lines to update them, so that shuts down our entire system for an hour and a half. Lexie said to go ahead and extend the lunch break."

I smiled. Today was going to be a good day.

Carmen and I took our lunch at twelve-thirty when our phone systems went down. The first place we went was to Roosevelt Field Mall to get the new underwear set, and then we went to TGI Friday's to grab something to eat. I could tell that Carmen was dying to know who I was going to meet, but she didn't ask. She told me what I should tell Joel and how to cover my tracks and the little signs to avoid that would give everything away.

"The most important thing, though, is to not fall for this guy," she shot me a look as she picked up her drink. "The second you fall for the jump-off, you're fucked, and not in the way that you were used to."

I laughed. "Damn, Carmen."

"I'm serious, Talia," she put her glass on the table as she looked at me. "Once you fall for him, you just... lose yourself. You forget that you have a man at home and start treating him like he's the man. You become careless and start leaving clues. Once the heart gets involved... it's a wrap."

"I'm not going to fall for him," I shook my head. "I don't think he looks at me like that. I'm probably just an easy target."

"Don't kiss him," Carmen pointed that chubby little finger at me again. "Women kiss and it means a lot more than it does to men. Something about our mouths touching a mans and we just lose our senses and then get all confused and swear we're in love when it's just lust. Trust me... I've been there before."

"You placing a whole lot on one little night, Carmen," I shook my head.

"Are you going to his place or going to a hotel or what?" She rested her elbows on the table.

"Yeah, I think I am," I nodded my head. "I think I'm going to his place."

She nodded as she twisted her lips and thought for a second. "He in a relationship or...?"

I frowned as I nodded my head.

"Then you're good. It's probably... something that you're both lacking in your home relationships and you can use each other to fulfill that. He'll send you home and you'll be good."

"You've really thought this out, huh?"

Carmen nodded. "Yeah, of course. I'm usually the jump-off, Talia; I need to be able to cover my own ass. Trust me, there have been enough times that I've been almost caught and the guy will just throw your ass to the wind when it comes down to it. Just remember, you're just a piece of ass to him."

I nodded my head a little. I felt my phone vibrate and I reached into my purse and pulled it out. I felt the smile creep across my face when I saw 'QT' flash across the screen. I excused myself as I turned my back to Carmen and took his call. I could feel my heart already start racing and I hadn't even spoken to him yet.

"Hey," I lowered my voice so that Carmen couldn't hear me.

"So, I'm sitting here at the job and last night's conversation keeps going through my mind," he cleared his throat. "I realized that I never asked you if you like to have music on or off."

All I could do was smile even bigger as I reached up and started tugging on my ear. "Uh, I... well, I like it on, but it rarely ever happens."

"I'm not concerned about what rarely ever happen. I want to know what you like."

"Then, yeah, I like the music on," I nodded my head.

"Yeah, I figured as much. You're lights on or lights off type girl?"

"Uh... off, preferably, really dim if need be."

"More of a candlelight type thing? Set the mood right with the lights and music?"

I giggled. "Yeah, kinda like that."

Moses chuckled a little. I bit my bottom lip as I took my left hand and hit myself lightly on the forehead. Every time he did that laugh, I lost it. Something about it just turned me on.

"I bet you're sitting there biting your lip right now or gently tugging on your bottom lip or doing something with your lips, aren't you?" he asked.

That's when I realized that I was biting my lip. I laughed. "How would you know that?"

"When you get nervous, your hands go to your mouth, or at least something goes to your mouth. It's like you have an oral fixation or something."

I laughed at that. Of course, he would say that I had an oral fixation – he was a man and probably wanted me to have one!

"Like when we're at the gym, you bite on your straw a lot," he pointed out. "Whenever I made you nervous, you would bite on the straw and when I moved the cup, you would bite on your lips or tug on your bottom lip."

I started to say that wasn't true, but all the times that he would move my cup from me came to mind. Once, he even removed the straw from my cup and threw it away. I shook my head, my smile still on my face.

"So, is that all you're looking for, my musical and lighting preferences?"

"That and to hear your voice, of course." It sounded like he was smiling.

"Of course," I started tugging on my bottom lip.

"So, I will call you later on tonight so that we can set up a time for you to come through. I'm thinking close to ten because there's something I have to do with my boy and I'll be leaving him around that time."

"Okay," I nodded my head. "Then I will talk to you, then."

We said our goodbyes and I flipped shut my phone. I turned back around and apologized to Carmen as I placed the phone on the table. She was just looking at me. She was leaning to the left, her elbow on the table and holding her glass in her hand. Her lips were twisted into a 'yeah, right' look.

"What?" I looked at her.

"Your ass already sprung and ain't done a damn thing yet..." she put the glass down and leaned forward. "Or did you? Did you two do the nasty already?"

"No!" I shook my head. "I haven't done anything in ten weeks... unless you count Blue Pearl."

"Yeah," she sat back and folded her arms as she looked at me. "You are a bit cranky and today is the first day that you've been so giddy. It is the giddiness of new ass. I remember that feeling... I need to get that feeling again."

I shook my head as I laughed at her.

"But you seem to have fallen for this mystery man and that shit ain't cool," she shook her head. "Your ass supposed to be sprung after the sex, not before. But you're over there all giggly and biting your damn lips and tugging on your ear and using that 'I'm so innocent' voice." She used falsetto as she mimicked me.

"I was not," I shook my head.

She gave me that look.

"Well... maybe a little."

"See, this may be a bit more serious than I thought it to be. He's calling in the middle of the day and asking about music and lighting. That man is trying to impress you and men only do that when they like the girl... a lot," she thought for a second. "Or he's trying to distract you because he has a little thingy."

I burst into laughter.

"You laugh," she held up her hand and signaled to the waitress that she wanted the check. "That man has like..." she held up her pinky. "That's what he's working with, so he's trying to distract you with the ambiance."

I shook my head as I picked up my Sprite. "He's working with more than that."

"You've already seen it?" Carmen practically squealed with delight.

"No," I shook my head. "No, I haven't seen anything that I'm not supposed to... yet. No, I've seen him at the gym and sweatpants do tend to reveal things."

"Really?" Carmen thought for a second. "So I need to start getting some of these men in sweats so I can see what they are working with, huh? All this time I was going with the middle finger to the end of your palm thing when I should have just been like 'let's wear some gym clothes.'"

"Middle finger to the end of your palm?" I shook my head, confused.

"Yeah, see," she put her hand on the table. "When I meet a guy, I look at his hand and mentally measure the distance between the end of his palm here," she held her right hand out, palm side up, and then placed her left thumb at the end of her palm. "And I measure up to his middle finger." She moved her left middle finger to the tip of her middle finger before placing her right hand on the table and moving her left hand up to show me the distance with her hands. "See, my joint would be average sized if I were a man. It works for the most part, but I've been off once or twice. And you can look at the wrist to get the girth, and again... I would be average if I were a man."

All I could do was laugh.

"You laugh, but it works," she picked up her glass.

"Clearly," I laughed.

Carmen paid the bill and then we headed back to the office. We were there for about an hour before Lexie announced that we could go home. The phones still weren't working and she said there was no point in us just sitting around doing nothing.

On my way home, I stopped by Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits on Hempstead Turnpike. I decided to grab some chicken for Joel's card game. When I walked into the house with the chicken, Joel beamed from ear to ear. He came over to me and for a fleeting second, I thought that he was going to kiss me, but instead he just took the chicken and carried it into the kitchen.

"Food! See, it's a good thing you didn't listen to me. I got chips and plenty of beer and snack food and totally forgot about the real food!"

I went into the cabinet and pulled out some paper plates and napkins and set them on the counter. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

Joel shook his head. "I got it, Tal. I know how much you hate when the guys come over, so I don't expect you to serve them."

"Well, I just want to help," I ran a finger along the counter. I just wanted Joel to need me tonight so that I could have a reason to not go to Moses'. Of course, I wanted to go over... boy did I want to go over, but I wanted my man to show that he needed me. If Joel could just say the words or show that he needed me – or at least wanted me – I would make myself forget about Moses and be the loving girlfriend to him. Hell, I would even stop going to the gym and delete Moses' phone number from my phone. But I needed Joel to show me. I needed him to tell me. "Do you need me?"

Joel looked me square in the eyes. "I don't need you, Talia."

"Well, I am going to go and get some sleep now before your friends get here and keep me up all night," I went into the bedroom and closed the door behind me. I looked at myself in the mirror for a few minutes before sitting down on the bed and dialing Yasmine's number. I wasn't sure what I was going to say to her, but I just knew that I needed to hear my friend's voice. Yasmine and Cristian were good friends and I always felt bad whenever I pulled her into anything involving me and Joel. I don't know, she was my girl and always had my back, but in my mind, I could see her friendship with Cris ending because of me. I actually met Joel through Yasmine and Cristian. She said that she had a friend she wanted me to meet and took me over to Cristian's house and Joel was there.

Yasmine didn't answer her phone, so I left her a message to call me back and then hung up. I finally laid down across the bed and fell asleep. I woke up several hours later to the sound of men laughing loudly. I lifted my head and looked at the clock; it was almost 10:30 at night. I reached for the remote control and turned to the BBC just in time to see my show, Coupling come on. I turned it up a little as I hummed the theme song and started watching the show. I reached across the bed and picked up my cell phone to see if I had missed a call. I didn't. I put the phone down and started watching my show, figuring that Moses probably changed his mind.

Just as I put the phone down, Joel walked into the room to check on me. "I thought you were sleeping," he closed the door as he walked over to me. "I was getting a little worried."

"How can I be sleeping with that noise?" I wrapped my arms around my pillow as I kept my eyes on the TV. "How's it going out there?"

"Not bad. I won a couple of hands, so it's not all bad."

"You won? That's good," I rubbed my eyes as I sat up and stretched. "You're sitting out this hand or something?"

"Yeah, I was worried about you. You came in to take a nap at five and it's a quarter to eleven and you hadn't made a noise or anything."

"You need me or something?" I looked Joel in the eye.

He shook his head just as my cell phone began vibrating. I sighed as I reached over and picked it up. I assumed that it was Yasmine calling me back, but it wasn't. QT was flashing across the screen and I had to use everything inside of me to not start smiling and biting my lip and tugging on my ear. The telltale signs Carmen pointed out. Instead, I cleared my throat several times before I answered. Joel sat on the edge of the bed and looked over his left shoulder at me as I flipped open my phone.

"Can you ask the guys to keep it down a little, Joel?" I made a point to say his name as I held the phone to my ear. I didn't want Moses to wonder why the conversation was a little weird – if it would even be weird.

Moses just laughed that sexy laugh of his. I closed my eyes as I bit the inside of my cheek.

"I will," Joel turned and looked at the TV, but didn't move. "Is this your show, Coupling?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, it is," I spoke into the phone. "Hi." I felt the giddiness rising inside of me and my heart had already begun the racing that it does inside my chest.

"I take it you can't get away," Moses said.

"Oh, no, I can definitely do that... Carmen," I cleared my throat as I raised my eyes and looked at Joel. He didn't look like he was paying attention to me, but I knew him well enough to know that he was listening to every word that I was saying. The way he moved his eyes slightly to the right told me that I was right and he was listening. "Its poker night, so I don't think he'd mind too much if I slipped out for a little while, would you, Joel?"

"What's up?' he looked over his shoulder at me, giving me that innocent look of his and acting like he hadn't heard what I said.

"Carmen is having a housewarming tonight and she wants me to swing by. I knew about it last night, but I wasn't sure if I was going to go or not and she's calling me wanting me to come through."

"It's tonight?" Joel looked at his watch. "It's a little late for a house warming isn't it?"

"Well, it's more of a Ladies Night," I laughed a little. "A bunch of us getting together and looking at sex toys."

Moses snickered a little. Joel rolled his eyes as he made a face – then he had the nerve to actually think about it!

I laughed. "I'm not asking for your permission, Joel." He was really sitting there and thinking about if it was okay for me to leave! "It's a girl's night out and I'm going to go," I put the phone to my ear. "Let me hop in the shower and then I'll call you when I'm on my way."

"I have a shower here, so you don't really need to take one before you leave," Moses said. "As long as you're wearing something similar to that outfit you described to me last night, I don't care what else you have on. You can wear mixed matched socks and holey jeans for all I care."

I laughed as I lowered my head and began playing with my ear. "I don't think that would be appropriate." I glanced up and noticed that Joel was staring at me. I dropped my hand quickly. "I'll call you when I'm on my way."

"Well, don't you need directions on how to get to me?"

"Oh... yeah, I do actually," I reached over to the nightstand and picked up a pen and a piece of paper. "Okay, where am I going?"

I noticed that Joel was now looking at the piece of paper. I wrote in my neatest handwriting for me to take Southern State Parkway to exit 21 and then I began scribbling everything else illegibly. Mostly because Moses said that once I got to the exit, he would meet me and then I could follow him. I told him that I would see him soon and flipped shut my cell phone. Joel instantly picked up the piece of paper and tried to make out my writing.

"She lives in Freeport or something? Exit 21 is Nassau Road which takes you into Freeport and Roosevelt," he looked up at me. "If she lives in Freeport, you can just take Sunrise Highway, it's safer."

"It's quicker to take the parkway," I stood up. "You know what? I think I'm going to just skip the shower and head on over there now."

Joel raised an eye.

"Or would you rather I take one here with all your boys in the other room?" I put my hands on my hips as I looked at him. "If you're comfortable with your boys seeing me stroll across the hall wearing a towel and nothing else," I shrugged my shoulders and I walked over to my vanity and picked up my fluffy white bath towel and started towards the bedroom door. I knew that Joel wasn't about to go for that. While he may not have been touching me – or looking at me like he even wanted to anymore – he wasn't up for letting his friends see me in a mere towel.

He stood up and grabbed my arm before I opened the door. "It's a house full of women, right?"

I just looked up at him, not really wanting to answer his question. Instead I just gave him a blank look and he just sighed and nodded his head. He leaned over and kissed me on the top of my forehead. "Call me when you get there."

I smiled to myself as I placed my towel on the foot of the bed. I picked up my cell phone and slipped on a pair of shoes and then Joel led me out of the bedroom.

I waved and said hello to his friends as I headed towards the front door.

"We too loud, Talia?" Cristian asked. Everyone called him Moreno because – of his brothers and sisters – he was the darkest one. He let me call him Cristian, though. Joel loved to say that the two of them were 'practically brothers,' and Joel had absolutely no problems blowing me off if Cristian asked him for anything. But I never blamed Cristian for it because I heard him tell Joel many times that I should come first.

"No," I lied as I smiled at him. "I'm just going to a friend's house."

He nodded his head as he looked down at his hip. He excused himself as he pushed away from the table a little and removed his cell phone. He put the phone to his ear. "King, what's up, you coming through or what?" He laughed a little. "Yeah, whatever, what's her name?" He laughed again. "You can come clean in the morning. All right, I'll talk to you later." He flipped shut his phone and placed it on the table in front of him as he picked up his cards. "King said he's going to pass tonight. He's staying in."

All the guys at the table looked at Cristian with their eyes raised. Joel laughed. "Yeah, okay."

"Who's King?" I really didn't care, but I knew that if I feigned interest in his friends – especially his cousin – Joel would finally relax that damn left eyebrow of his and whatever thoughts that were racing through his mind would stop and he would focus on Cristian.

"Moreno's friend," Joel looked at me. "They grew up together and lived down the street from each other. Usually when you see Moreno, King is like a step or two behind him, right up his ass. Some say that they favor each other, but I don't see it. I think I look more like Moreno than King does, seeing as how we're first cousins and all."

Cristian just looked up at Joel and shook his head before turning back to the cards at hand. I looked at Cristian and thought about it for a few seconds. He reminded me of Moses, actually, but that was probably because they were built the same and were about the same complexion. That and Moses was the man that was currently occupying my thoughts, so it was possible that any man that I looked at in the room would remind me of Moses at that moment.

"Oh, well, enjoy your game and good luck," I reached over and touched Joel's chin as I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Yeah, you enjoy yourself too," he put his hand on my shoulder as he walked me to the car.

Joel slipped his hands in his pockets as he watched me get into the car. I put on my seatbelt and turned the ignition over. Joel stood in the driveway and just watched me back out and then drive down the street. Once I turned the corner, I pulled out my cell phone and called Moses back. He answered almost immediately.

"Are you backing out on me?" he asked.

I laughed. "For some reason, no, I'm not. I'm in my car on my way there now," I sighed as I turned onto the exit to the parkway and quickly merged with the traffic.

"There's no pressure. If you don't want to come, that's cool and if you want to come on over and not do anything, that's cool, too."

"No, I know that. I'm coming because I want to. I just can't believe that I'm on my way, that's all." I shifted in my seat a little. My stomach started hurting a little and that's when I realized that I hadn't really eaten since lunch.

"Okay, well, I'm going to leave my house in a few minutes and I'm going to meet you at the little shopping center right off the exit on Nassau Road. It's the shopping center before Uniondale Avenue on the right-hand side. Call me as soon as you get to the exit."

I nodded my head as if he could see me before mumbling "okay." We hung up and I drove on with my radio blasting. I got to the exit less than five minutes later. As soon as I hit the light at the exit, I pulled out my cell and called Moses back. Half of me was hoping that he wouldn't answer. That would give me a reason to just make a quick left and head right back home and be with my boyfriend. But Moses answered and the part of me that wanted to see him became elated to hear his voice again. I instantly smiled. I always smile when I heard his voice or saw him. He probably thought that I was a really happy person, and in all honesty, ever since I met him, I had been.

"I'm turning onto the exit now," I said.

"Okay, I'm at the deli. You'll see it on the right-hand side once you get on Nassau Road. Remember, you have to make a right. That was quick, were you speeding?"

"There really isn't any traffic. Its 12:30 at night," I turned onto Nassau Road and saw the shopping center he was talking about. It was literally right after the exit on the right-hand side. I turned into the parking lot and saw several cars and a few young guys just standing around outside the store, drinking, and smoking.

"My car is the black one with the hazards on just in front of the deli. I'll be right out."

I pulled in right beside his car and put my car in park. The guys looked at me but didn't move. I slouched down in my seat as I thought about exactly what I was about to do. It wasn't too late, I could still back out. All I had to do was just switch to reverse and turn around and take my butt home. I'm sure Joel would be thrilled to see me, especially since he thought that I was going to purchase some new sex toys. But instead, I just sat there and waited for Moses to return to his car. He emerged from the store a few seconds later and waved to me as he got into his car. Even from a few feet away, in the dark, he looked good. That damn smile crept across my face as I saw him and I waved as I sat up and threw my car into reverse. It was now or never. I could easily make that left hand turn and go home. But I knew what I was going to do. I made the right and followed Moses.

Moses only lived about five minutes away from the exit. He parked his car in the driveway and I parked in the street just in front of his house. I sat in the car and thought for a few seconds about exactly what it was that I was doing. I slowly removed the key from the ignition and got out of the car. I took several deep breaths before I opened the car door and headed towards the house. Moses was standing at the end of the driveway waiting for me.

"It looked like you were contemplating leaving," Moses said as I walked over to him.

I shook my head as I bit my bottom lip. "Not at all."

He placed his hand on the small of my back as he led me into his house, which was kinda nice. He showed me around, pointing out the kitchen and dining room, the living room and the two bedrooms. Then he led me to the kitchen and I sat down at the table and took another deep breath. My knees felt weak and my heart was racing. I couldn't believe that I was here with him.

"You're nervous," he leaned against the wall as he looked at me.

I nodded my head. "Yeah, a little. I've never done... this... before."

He just nodded his head slightly.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt my cell phone vibrating. I laughed a little as I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. Joel's name was flashing across the screen. He was probably calling to see where I was. I excused myself as I turned my back to Moses to take the call.

"Hey," I lowered my voice. "You are checking up on me?"

"Just wanted to make sure you made it there okay. It's late on a Friday night and you know how these crazy people get. They start drinking and then get the ridiculous idea that they are good enough to drive."

"I'm here," I looked over my shoulder and saw that Moses had walked out of the room. I looked around, but couldn't see him anywhere. "I was going to call you. I just got to the house now." It wasn't all a lie. I did just get here; I just didn't have any intentions of calling Joel.

"Well, Moreno suggested that I check-in," he started talking to his favorite cousin. "She's there, I told you she'd make it okay." He started talking to me again. "I'll let you go. Have fun and I'll see you later."

"You, too," I disconnected the call and then turned my phone off, remembering what Carmen said I should do. If I had any doubts, Joel saying that he was only checking up on me because Cristian had suggested it made those doubts disappear. I could probably just go to Cris and get him to convince Joel to have sex with me again, but it wouldn't be the same. That and I really didn't want everyone to know that he had stopped having sex with me. I wanted Joel to want me on his own, not because his idol told him that it was something that you should do with your girl. No, I was where I wanted to be: with a man that wanted me and had absolutely no problems letting me know that he wanted me. Hell, he had just as much to lose as I did. I stood up and slowly walked around the kitchen as my mind and my heart finally came to an agreement. I was doing this and my entire mind, body, and soul wanted it.

"You're done," Moses returned to the kitchen. "It looked like you needed some privacy."

"Just making sure I made it here okay," I bit my lip as I slipped my hands into my back pockets. Damn that shy girl in me that was taking over!

"You kill me with that shyness," Moses shook his head a little as he walked over to me and took my left hand. "But it's cute. It's one of the many things that attracted me to you. There's a little innocence there that's kind of a turn on."

I blushed as I lowered my head and began playing with my ear.

"Like that right there," he moved my hand from my ear. I cleared my throat and started biting my bottom lip again. Moses took my hand and led me down the hall to the bathroom. "You said that you needed to take a shower, right?"

All I could do was nod and watch as Moses went over to the tub and began running the water. I stood by the wall nervously as he let the water run. My heart was now thumping a mile a minute as the reality hit me. The nervousness wasn't because I was about to cheat on my boyfriend. It was because I was about to be with Moses and I really wanted to be with him. After he finished with the water, he walked over to me and lifted my chin so that our eyes met and then he leaned in and kissed me. The second I felt his mouth against mine, everything inside of me became alive and for a few seconds, I couldn't move because his kiss was just that incredible. It was better than I imagined and better than words could say. He slowly ran his hand down my face, down my neck, and down to my waist. His touch alone told me how much he wanted me and I moved my hand up to the back of his neck and pulled him in closer and kissed him back.

We had to of kissed each other for a good five minutes, neither one of us breaking the kiss. After the five minutes, Moses pulled away just long enough to remove his shirt. I took in his body and was speechless as I looked him over. Moses reached over and helped me remove my shirt and pants before leaning back in and kissing me again. He ran his hand down my leg to my knee, where he hooked his hand under my knee and wrapped it around his waist.

"You should take your shower," Moses pulled away from me and took my hand as he led me over to the tub. "Is the water warm enough?"

I reached my hand out and let the warm water hit it. "It's perfect."

"Yes, it is," he said under his breath. I looked over my shoulder and saw him checking me out. He cleared his throat as he took a step back. "Do you want me to help you with anything?" He looked me over.

"I think I can handle this," I smiled a little as I nodded my head. Of course, I wanted him to take a shower with me. That image had run through my mind numerous times. When I used to suggest to Joel that we take a shower together, he'd turn up his nose and say no. But, I needed this time to really prepare myself for what I was about to do. I never thought, in a million years, that I would cheat on Joel. When Carmen would tell me all her stories, I would tell her that if I met a man that I wanted that bad, I would just leave Joel and be with him and she would just shake her head and say that I never knew what I was going to do until I was in that situation. Yasmine used to always tell me that she could see me being the other woman and I would just shake my head and say I couldn't. I guess they knew me better than I knew myself. I mean here I was, standing naked in the shower of a man that I had met a little over two months ago, about to both cheat on my man and be the other woman. What was it about this one man that had me here, apparently losing my mind?

I must have been in the shower for too long because Moses returned. "Are you alright in there? You sure you don't need me in there with you?"

"I'm coming out," I reached out and turned the water off, but for some reason, I couldn't get it all the way off.

Moses slid the curtain back a little and turned the water off. "Let me get that."

I stepped back in the tub a little. "Thanks."

He handed me a towel. "Here you go."

I wrapped the towel around my body and took one final breath. Moses held his hand out and I took it as I stepped out of the shower. He led me down the hall to his bedroom. Troop's 'All I Do is Think of You' was playing in the background and the room was lit by candles. I was definitely impressed. Apparently he really listened to everything that I had said the other night. He had the music playing and the lights perfect. Joel had never done anything like this for me in all the time that we had been together.

Moses led me to the bed where he proceeded to put lotion of every inch of my body, starting with my back. The second his hands touched me, I felt a shiver run down my spine and I giggled. He asked me if I was okay and I told him that the lotion was cold, which wasn't entirely true. Once he had finished putting the lotion on my back, he turned me over and did the same to the front of me. Just as that song ended, Tony! Toni! Tone's! 'Lay Your Head on My Pillow," came on. I laughed a little as I heard the first verse and Moses looked down at me with a questioning look.

"The song," my voice wavered.

"Oh, yeah, well, this whole CD is just for you," he leaned forward and kissed me again. "I'll give it to you before you leave and you'll see what I mean."

"I won't hear it now?"

"If you can honestly hear the songs on that CD, that means I'm not doing my job." He sat up and straddled me. The man had only kissed me and ran my bathwater and I was damn near sprung. If he was half as good as I thought him up to be in my mind, it would be a wrap. "I sent you a text message earlier asking you about two games, right? You picked which one?"

"Freeze tag."

"And what did you do when you play freeze tag?"

"You ran around and when you were tagged, you froze."

"And you couldn't move," he sat back as he looked at me. "So, what could I do to make it so that you can't move?"

I laughed as I shook my head. "I'm not letting you tie me up."

He smirked as he leaned forward and kissed me again. "This time," he said softly.

My night with Moses was incredible! In all my time that I had been with Joel, I had never experienced what I did with Moses, and I had never fallen asleep right after with Joel. Yet, here I was with another man, practically passed out on the bed. And he must have really done his job because I had no idea what music was playing, I just know that it was on. I woke up when I heard my name. I lifted my head and it took my several minutes to remember exactly where I was.

"Are you thirsty?" he had on a pair of sweatpants and I noticed that my clothes were neatly folded on the dresser.

"Yeah, I am, actually," I sat up on my knees and looked at the time. It was four in the morning.

"Do you want some water or some juice?"

"Water, please."

He said that he'd be back and left the room. I got up and got dressed. By the time he came back, I was fully dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, attempting to fix my disarrayed hair. He handed me a glass of ice water and I practically gulped it down in one swallow. I had never been this thirsty before.

"I didn't realize how late it was," I dropped my hands as I looked at him. I made a mental note to start carrying a comb and brush with me. Not that I had planned on seeing Moses again, but this was just proof that you never knew what to expect and it was better to be prepared.

"Do you want to stay? I can wake you in the morning when I get up," he offered.

I smiled as inside I screamed out YES!!!!!!!!!!!! But reason took over and I shook my head. "No, that's okay. I have an early morning appointment." I stood up and he reached over and took my hand and led me to the living room, where the rest of my things were.

"You know how to get back, right?" he handed me my cell phone.

I nodded my head.

"It may be easier for you to just go straight to the end of the block, which turns into Front Street and make a right and then go to the light," he put his hand on the small of my back as he walked me to my car. "From there you can make a left and take that street straight up to Hempstead Turnpike and make a right and head east to the Meadowbrook. That may be a little quicker than turning around because you won't catch any of the lights on Hempstead Turnpike. Call me when you get home, or in your driveway, at least," he leaned over and kissed me again. "I just want to make sure that you get home okay."

"Will do," I held up my phone to him as I tried to remember how he said that I should head home. "I'll see you later." I unlocked the car door.

Moses opened the door for me, which surprised me, and held it open while I got in. He held a CD out to me that was labeled 'Lia' and I smiled as I took it.

"I told you I'd give it to you," he said.

I tapped the name that he had written on it. At some point during the night, he had started calling me Lia and I actually like it. "It's mine?"

"I made it for you," he leaned in and kissed me again. "Don't forget to call."

"I won't."

He closed the door as I placed the CD in the front seat and then drove off. Once I hit the end of the block, I saw that he was still standing on the street, watching me. I smiled as I made the right. The light was red on Front Street, so I pulled out my cell and turned it on. The night replayed in my mind. My phone beeped, telling me that I had some messages. I sighed, knowing that it couldn't be anyone but Joel. I replayed the messages as the light changed and I headed on home.

The first message was from Yasmine. "How the hell is Carmen going to have a Ladies Night when I had one last night? Better yet, how she going to have one and not invite me? Yeah, I know your little ass is up to something, so hit me back the second you get this message."

Joel – of course – was next: "Hey, Yasmine called the house and said your cell was off and I see that it is because I've been trying to call you and I keep getting your voicemail. Call me back."

And Joel again. "Me again. It's almost three and I haven't heard from you yet and Moreno said I said I should call back to make sure that you're okay... oh, oh, oh and I'm a little worried."

I looked at the clock and mulled over calling Joel first. But instead, I called Yasmine. Her sleepy voice came on the line around the fifth ring. "Your ass better tell me everything in the morning," she didn't even say hello. "I called you at around midnight to see if you wanted to go to Kisses with me and Joel said that you had gone to Carmen's little ladies' night out and then asked why I wasn't there. I told him that I was calling to see if you wanted me to pick you up because I didn't want to go alone and since you had already left, that I would see you there. Next time, keep your damn cell on or at least call and let me know so I almost don't blow your cover on whatever the hell it is that you're creeping around doing."

I smiled as I looked at the time. Yasmine really was a great friend to me, especially since she covered my ass without hesitation and then – half asleep to the world – let me know what she told Joel so that I could cover my tracks. "Joel's called me twice after that and left me two messages."

"Well, you know what to say on my end and in the morning we'll meet for breakfast and you can tell me where your ass really was," she laughed a little. "Although I have an idea that it has to do with you finally getting you some."

I chuckled. "Let me call this man back before he calls me again."

"I'll call your whorish ass in the morning for breakfast. I'm thinking Peter's Diner," she yawned. "I'll talk to you later."

I disconnected the call and dialed the house. Joel answered before the phone even finished ringing. "Talia?" He actually sounded concerned.

"Hey," I laughed a little. "Did the phone even ring over there?"

"Yeah. Yo, deal me out this hand," he said to whoever was around. "I've been trying to call you. Your phone was off." Leave it Joel to point out the obvious.

"I know," I cleared my throat as I merged onto the Southern State Parkway. "I turned it off, but I'm on my way home now."

"Yasmine called you."

"Yeah, I saw her," I lied. "She wanted us to ride together and didn't know that I had left already."

"She sounded like she didn't even know about the party."

"Well, Yas' memory isn't exactly the best thing going for her. You can tell her something now and ten minutes later she'll ask you something about it."

He seemed to buy that. Yasmine really didn't have the best memory.

"Where you at now?" he asked.

"I should be home in ten minutes. I'm on the parkway," I glanced up at the exit that I was sailing by – exit 24. I should be home in ten minutes.

"I'll see you then," he sighed. "Be careful."

"Uh-huh," I flipped shut my phone and tossed it on the passenger's seat. It hit the CD that Moses had given me. I looked over at the CD and smiled as I picked it up and slid it into the CD player. Rome's 'I Belong to You' began to fill the car. I smiled to myself as I bopped my head to the mellow beat of the song.

As I turned into the driveway, Boyz II Men had started singing "I'll Make Love to You." I pulled out my phone and dialed Moses. He answered after the second ring and asked was I home. I told him that I had just pulled into the driveway and he said that he really enjoyed me coming over and that he would see me later. I told him pretty much the same thing before getting out of the car. I closed the car door and headed towards the house, reaching into my pocket for my house keys. I had just slipped my left hand in my pocket when I looked up and saw Joel standing on the porch of the house, the light on and his hands in his front pockets as he gently rocked back and forth on his heels. My hand flew out of my pocket and went straight to my chest. He surprised me.

"Are you waiting for me?" I slipped my phone in my pocket as I walked into the house. "You scared me."

"How was your party?" he looked at me.

I nodded my head as I smiled. "It was... great."

"Who were you talking to on the phone?" he nodded towards the phone.

"Carmen, of course. She wanted to make sure that I was home," I shrugged my shoulders, I tried to slip past him and into the house, but he was blocking the doorway. Joel stood right next to me, our skin touching. I held my breath, I was sure that Moses' scent was all over me and that Joel could smell it. To my surprise, he leaned over to kiss me on the mouth. I exhaled as I turned my head away from him, offering him my cheek as I scratched the back of my neck. He paused for a few seconds before leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. He didn't move, so I knew that I'd have to give him an explanation. I tried to think quickly. Joel hated drinking. His father was an alcoholic who had hit his mother when he went into his drunken rampages, so I used that. Whenever I drank, especially the hard liquor, Joel hated to kiss me, saying that he could taste the alcohol. "I was drinking... a lot. Let me brush my teeth first, okay?" I looked up at him.

He made a face as he moved out of my way. I hurried to the bathroom, saying hi to his friends as I passed them. I closed and locked the door behind me and went to the sink. I placed both of my hands on either side of the sink as I looked at myself. I didn't look any different than I had when I left, aside from my hair looking a bit crazy. I looked the exact same. There weren't any telltale signs that I could see that said that I had just... fornicated with another man. I splashed some water on my face and the images of the night ran through my mind. I smiled and laughed to myself. I went over to the tub and ran the water for a much-needed shower. Even though I knew that Joel wouldn't touch me because of his 'abstinence' rule, there was no way I could lay in our bed with another man's scent all over me. It was bad enough that the other man would be on my mind.

I walked out of the bathroom and crossed the hall to the bedroom. I grabbed my towel and bathrobe and started back to the bathroom.

"You are taking another shower?" Joel looked up from his cards.

"I didn't take one over there," I lied as I shook my head.

"Where does Carmen live again? In Freeport, right? Moreno, King lives somewhere over there, right?"

"Not far," Cristian was more into his hand than into the conversation that his cousin was having with him.

I stopped just outside the bathroom and looked at Cristian. He really reminded me of Moses, but that was probably because Moses was now the only man on my mind. "Who's this? I don't know this King person, Joel," I looked at my boyfriend.

"It's Moreno's best friend, Talia. I told you about him when you left," Joel looked up at me, annoyance in his eyes. I guess he was upset that I had forgotten something that he had told me about his beloved Cristian. I swear if Cris wasn't such as great guy, I would hate the man.

"I don't think the two of you met," Cris looked up at me. "He and Joel don't really get along. They sort of tolerate each other when they have to."

I nodded my head. "And his name is King?"

"It's a nickname," Cristian leaned back in his chair as he dropped his cards on the table. "It's from his last name... sort of. I'm out."

"Hmm, I don't know him," I shook my head. "If you'll excuse me, I need to hop into the shower." I went into the bathroom and hurriedly hopped into the shower.

I stood under the warm water and tried to let the memories of the night go down the drain, but they wouldn't. Once I was convinced that I could longer smell Moses on me, I got out of the shower and rushed into the bedroom. I pulled the covers over my head and fell asleep. Of course, Moses was waiting for me in my dreams, ready to replay the events of the night.

I woke up around ten in the morning. I threw on a pair of sweatpants before dragging my tired body into the kitchen, where Joel and his friends were still playing. I knew that if I came in wearing my nightgown, Joel would have a fit. I mumbled out a good morning and asked if anybody wanted any coffee as I turned on the coffee pot. Everyone said yes.

"You're up early," Joel came over to help me make the coffee for his friends.

"I'm meeting Yas for breakfast," I yawned as I leaned against the counter to wait for the much-needed coffee.

"Let me do this. These are my friends. You go and get ready for your breakfast."

I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face before going to the bedroom and getting dressed. I grabbed my purse and headed towards the door, choosing to just get a cup of coffee at the diner while I waited for Yasmine. I had decided to call her once I got there so that I had some time to get myself together. Joel and his friends were still playing cards and drinking their coffee as I left. I waved goodbye and Joel called out for me to have fun.

"You, too," I flashed him a quick smile as I opened the front door. I turned around and nearly jumped out of my skin. Standing before me, his hand raised and poised to knock on the door was Moses. My jaw dropped as I looked at him. He looked just as surprised to see me.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, my heart racing.

"My boy needed me to drop something off," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys and held them out to me.

"You know someone here?" I looked over my shoulder at the guys that were inside. No one was even looking my way. I turned back to Moses, the panic building up inside of me. Of course, he knew someone here! Why wouldn't he? And with my luck, his 'boy' was probably none other than Joel's favorite person in the world – Cristian. I shook my head, "You can't come in here."

"Talia, you all right?" I heard Joel's voice. "Oh, King. Moreno, King's here."

My entire world came to a stop as I turned and looked at Moses. Did Joel just call him 'King?' King as in Cristian's friend, King? I dropped my head as the reality slowly sunk in. The man that I had just spent the night with was the best friend to my man's cousin. At what point did my life become a soap opera?

"Are you okay?" Moses took a step forward and into the house as he quickly reached out and grabbed my arm.

"What's going on? Talia, you okay?" Joel appeared by my side almost instantly.

I looked up at him and saw the genuine concern in his eyes as he looked at me. "I... I didn't eat. I got a little light-headed."

"That's because you were out all night drinking hard liquor. You should have just stayed the night with Carmen," Joel helped me over to the living room and sat me down. "King, can you make sure that she's okay? I'm going to get her something to eat real quick."

"I'm on my way to meet Yasmine for breakfast," I looked up at Joel, who was already on his way to the kitchen.

"I don't want you driving if you're feeling light-headed like that. You're as pale as a ghost and you look like you're about to pass out. Let me make you some toast or something," he called out.

Moses closed the door and slowly made his way over to me. He sat down on a chair next to the couch, which was where I was. I leaned my head against the back of the couch as I put my left hand over my eyes. This was karma coming back and biting me in the ass.

"Here's some water," Cristian came over to me and held out a glass of water.

I lifted my head as I looked up at him and took the glass. I thanked him and downed the contents in two gulps. I looked at Moses and Cris and realized that both men did look alike and it wasn't just me. They had a strong resemblance to each other. Cristian looked at me with an eye raised before turning and looking at Moses. He laughed a little as he walked over to his best friend and hit him on the arm.

"Step outside with me for a sec, King," he walked to the door.

Moses got up and followed Cristian out the house. I leaned forward and put my head into my hands.

"Here you go," Joel came back with the toast that he had promised. I smiled up at him as I took it. I took two bites and he seemed to relax a little. "You look a little better. Why don't you call Yasmine and just meet her later? I'd feel better if you went into the room to lie down for a little longer."

"I'm okay, I promise," I finished my toast. "I just need to eat and I really need to go see my girl."

"Well, what if she comes to get you? I'd rather you not drive, Talia." He really looked concerned, so I nodded my head. He went into the kitchen to call Yasmine and I shook my head. If only he knew the real reason why I nearly passed out, he wouldn't be so kind to me. He'd probably throw my ass out. I got up and walked to the door, curious as to what was going on outside. Cristian and Moses were deep in conversation. I tried to make out what they were saying, but I couldn't.

"I need some air," I said loud enough to be heard. I opened the door and stepped outside. Both men stopped talking almost instantly and turned towards me. Not only did they both look alike, but they also had the same look. I cleared my throat, not quite sure what else to do.

"So... you're the reason King keeps coming to the Copiague gym to work out instead of the ones by him, huh?" Cristian looked at me. "I should have known."

I lowered my head and instantly started biting my lip and playing with my ear, not quite sure what to do.

"My best friend and my cousin's girl," Cristian shook his head as he turned to Moses. "I should have pieced it together. Last night I thought for a brief second that maybe it was that. You said you weren't coming over and then Talia walks out talking about going to a friend's house, but I thought 'Nah." He shook his head.

"You can't tell Joel," I rushed over to them. "It was a one-time thing, Cristian. Just a... one-night thing," I looked at Moses for help, but he really wasn't trying to offer any. "He has a relationship and I have... it was what it was."

Cristian looked at Moses, who really wasn't saying much.

"How did you know?" I reached over and touched Cristian's arm.

"You two have chemistry that is undeniable," he looked at me. "I felt the vibe from across the room and the second I was near the two of you, I practically saw them. You looked surprised that he was at your door and King looked surprised to see you... fully clothed at least," he looked at Moses.

I dropped my head again. If Cristian was able to pick up on it, then I was sure that Joel did, too. He was probably just waiting for the perfect moment to ask me.

Joel came outside soon to check on me. He put his arm around my waist lovingly. "Yasmine's on her way. I didn't tell her what happened, though."

I nodded my head.

"Are you sure you're okay? You still look a little pale," he frowned as he looked me over.

"I'm good," I forced smile. "The air is doing wonders for me."

He kissed me on the forehead. "Well, I'll wait with you."

I nodded my head as I glanced in Moses' direction. Of course, he would wait with me.

Moses cleared his throat. "Well, I need to get home," he looked at Cristian as he gave him the keys that he had. "I'll get at you later."

"Yeah, I'll hit you up when I get home," Cristian shook his head a little.

"Nyla's coming back today, right?" Joel looked up at Moses. "That's his girlfriend," he looked at me.

I just nodded. I couldn't say that I already knew that because, according to Joel, I had never met this man a day in my life.

"Yeah, she should be on her way now," Moses looked at his watch for a second before looking at me. "Moreno, I will talk to you later. Joel... as always and... Lia, was it? Lia, it was nice to meet you and I hope you feel better."

I lowered my eyes and bit my bottom lip.

Cristian cleared his throat and I looked up and realized that he was staring at me. I quickly regained my composure and looked at Joel, who didn't look like he was paying much attention, but I'm sure he was picking up on a few things. Moses turned and walked to his car, which was parked in the street right in front of the house.

"You look a little flushed," Joel looked at me. "Baby, are you sure you're okay? I've never seen you like this before."

"I'm great," I smiled. "I'm getting my color back, so that has to be good, right? Would you rather I am flushed or pale?"

Joel stayed outside with me until Yasmine showed up about ten minutes later. I practically ran into her car. I put on my seatbelt and slid down into my seat. Yasmine just laughed as she backed out of the driveway. She waited until we were at the diner before she asked me about my night.

"I did the most whorish thing in the world," I covered my face as I sat back in the booth. "I was a slut and a whore combined in one. I'm a slore."

She laughed. "You got you some ass!" She clapped.

"With Cristian's cousin," I groaned.

She stopped clapping as she looked at me. I dropped my hands as I looked at her. She leaned forward as she lowered her voice. "Wait, wait. You hooked up with King last night?" she whispered.

"Am I the only one who didn't know his connection to Joel?" I asked in disbelief.

She shook her head as she sat back. "Talia, Talia, Talia." She laughed a little. "Do you remember when I said that there was someone I wanted you to meet who would be perfect for you?"

"Yeah and you introduced me to Joel," I sat back as I folded my arms.

She shook her head. "He wasn't the one I was talking about. Moreno and I thought you and King would be great together. He was dating some chicken head named Nyla that Moreno couldn't stand and he thought that you would be the perfect match for King. Dumb ass luck put Joel at that house when we got there."

All I could do was just laugh and shake my head.

"I thought that you two were a little close at the gym," she shook her head. "Didn't you see how I looked at him at the gym?"

"I thought you just knew him from the gym." I shook my head. "I never thought that you knew him like that."

"I've known him as long as I've known Moreno, which is practically my entire life," Yasmine shook her head. "This shit is crazy." She looked at me and smiled. "But was it good?"

"Yasmine!" I looked at her in disbelief.

"It was!" she started laughing. "I knew you two would be the perfect match!"

"But he has a girl and I have Joel."

She rolled her eyes. "He has a chicken head and you have some sex depriving, overprotective man lurking. The second he started withholding sex, I would have been gone."

"The relationship is more than that," I sighed. "I have love for him."

Yasmine just looked at me. "Uh-huh. Sparing me the details because I do know the man and would like to look him in the eye during our next conversation how was it?"

"I'm not telling you," I laughed a little.

"Did he kiss you?" she leaned her head to the side.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Yasmine shook her head. "It doesn't matter what anyone says, I know that man and he's feeling you. He's cheated on her before and he's never kissed the other woman. So the fact that his mouth touched yours..." she shook her head.

I remembered what Carmen said and shook my head. "I don't think so. If he's cheated before, then I'm just another notch."

"I've seen the way he looks at you at the gym," Yasmine raised an eye. "That man likes you. If you were just another notch, he would have bedded you down the first week you met. He took the time to get to know you and slowly built... somewhat of trust with you. He liked you, Talia."

I ignored her as I picked up my cup and sipped my tea.

"Ignore me if you want, but he does like you," she picked up her fork and began eating.

For the next two weeks, I avoided Moses by not going to the gym. There were some days where I would be sitting in the house after Joel had gone to bed and wanted to call him, but I wouldn't let myself. Instead, I would just go to bed. But two weeks after that fateful day, Yasmine called and invited me to grab a drink at The Nautical Mile. At first, I wasn't going to go, but Joel told me that he was going over to his uncle's house for a little while for some 'male family bonding.' That basically meant that he wanted some time with his uncle and Cristian.

"Well, since you won't be home, I'm going to get some drinks with Yasmine," I sighed as I stood up from the couch. "She called me anyway."

"She drinks a lot," he shook his head.

"She does not," I stood up. "Are you going to be at your uncle's house all night? I still can't find my house key." I had lost my house key the night I spent with Moses. I probably dropped it in the driveway when I came home and saw Joel standing on the porch. He did scare me and I'm sure when my hand flew out of my pocket and up to my chest, the key went sailing across the driveway somewhere. It was probably in the neighbor's yard somewhere. I hated that I didn't have my key because it meant that I had to basically work around Joel's schedule. He didn't want to make a copy of his key for me. Yasmine said it was the domineering Latino in him coming out. I reminded her that Cristian – who was 50% Cuban just like Joel was – wasn't like that. Whereas she replied: "Moreno's daddy wasn't an abusive alcoholic."

"Probably," he shrugged his shoulders. "Just call me when you are coming home and I'll let you know where I'm at. Or you could just go to Yasmine's and walk down the street to Uncle Manny's to see if I'm there."

I just looked at him as I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. At times Joel could really be an asshole, like now.

"Remember, Uncle Emanuel doesn't stay up too late, so be reasonable when you come home," he called after me.

I just closed the door and left. It was times like this that I wondered what the hell made me stay with this man. If I found my damn house key, I would probably start seeing Moses again. You know, if I found my house key today, I would start seeing Moses again. That would be my sign. I got in my car and headed towards the Nautical Mile. Yasmine had said that she would meet me there because she was already out that way. As I headed towards the parkway, I turned on my CD player, and the CD that Moses had made for me began playing. 'He's Not Good Enough,' by Solo came on. I drummed my nails on the steering wheel as I hummed along with the song. Four more love songs had played before I reached my destination. I called Yasmine and told her that I was there and she asked where I had parked the car. I told her and she told me she'd call me to head over to the ice cream shop, so I did.

When I reached the ice cream store that she was talking about, I was pleasantly surprised to see Moses sitting on the bench – just waiting. The second he saw me, he stood up and I smiled from ear to ear. He was here waiting for me.

"I pretty much harassed Yasmine to get her to call you," he said once I was a few feet away from him. "I had to go through Moreno and get him to get her to call you and set this up."

"You pulled Cris into this?" I shook my head. "You think that's going to go over well? He and Joel are cousins –first cousins as Joel likes to point out."

"Well, I told him that I had your key," he held out his hand, exposing a blue Tinker Bell key that sat in the palm of his hand.

I smiled. He had my house key, which meant that I didn't have to depend on Joel. I could come and go as I pleased now. I walked over to Moses and took the key out of his hand. "I've been looking for this." I held it up for him to see.

"It was on my dresser," he looked down at me and almost instantly I lowered my eyes and starting biting my lip. "I missed that," he laughed a little as he reached over and gently raised my chin. "I missed you shying up around me."

I flipped my key in the palm of my hand as I thought about what I said to myself earlier. I had found my house key. And not only did I find it, but Moses had given it to me. I closed my hand around the key as I looked up at him. "So, do you want to take a walk or something?"

We started walking towards the water, side by side. Moses told me that he had known all along that Joel was my boyfriend. He said that he and I had met at Cristian's New Year's Party. I vaguely remembered the day. He said that from the second he saw me, he knew that he had to meet me and set out to do just that. Cristian went out of his way to keep the two of us apart; knowing what would happen if we met.

"My opportunity came about a week before we actually met," we were standing by the water, looking out. "I heard Yasmine mention that you had started going to the gym with her after work, so I turned up there. My very first night there, I saw you."

Where I should have been offended, I wasn't. Instead, I was flattered. He had spent five months looking for me and then a week trying to figure out the perfect opportunity to see me.

That started us seeing each other. Usually, we would meet at the Nautical Mile. We both knew that Joel would never be there and he said that his girlfriend usually went to a strip club where her best friend worked and that was in Long Beach. In the beginning, we would meet at the Nautical Mile and then decide whose car we were taking. But as the cold weather crept up, I would park a few blocks from Yasmine's house and he would meet me there and then drive to wherever it was that we were going. Not a day went by where Moses and I weren't communicating with each other in some way, shape, or form.