Drunk In Love: An Original Love Story Read online

  These Augusta women, he thought while shaking his head.

  “Hey,” Patrice called out as she winked at him. “Hey handsome, you can go to station three and have a seat. She’ll take you next.” She pointed towards station three as Zay walked across the apricot colored tiled floors. He’d looked around the shop on his way over trying to see if he’d spot Olivia, but he didn’t see her. Her car was parked out front so she had to be there, but that was the only sign of her. Once he’d made it to the empty booth seat, he immediately sat down, noticing a tall, long legged female standing there in a barber jacket zipped midway her breasts.

  “Hey, how are you?” The boyish looking lady spoke, dropping the barber apron around his neck, covering the full front part of his body.

  “I’m doing well and yourself?” He questioned back. Zay was a college graduate and he knew how to speak to people in a professional manner. He took another quick glance around the shop for Olivia and before the woman could continue, he stopped her. He’d thought of something just out the blue. “Can you hold on for one second?” He asked, looking down at his cell phone. He quickly sent a text message and then patiently waited for a response.

  “Okay, I’m ready now.” He said as the lady grabbed her clippers.

  Chapter Four

  Mark was behind the wheel of his 760 long body BMW and Olivia was riding on the passenger side. They were on the way back to the hair salon that they owned. Mark had taken it upon himself to take the day off so he could spend some quality time with his beautiful wife. He wanted to take her out for a nice lunch date. He’d taken her out to Olive Garden and had also brought everyone that worked at the salon take out plates. Mark had the smooth sounds of Sade bumping in the car’s surround system and she sounded damn good.

  Olivia was looking at herself in the visor mirror when her phone vibrated an incoming text message. She glanced down at her Michael Kors bag sitting on the floor between her legs, but she didn’t budge to reach for her cell phone. She had a gut feeling that it was Zay and she didn’t want to disrespect her husband like that to his face.

  Out of the blue, he looked over at her. “Your phone is buzzing,” he said, then stared straight ahead, coming to a four-way traffic stop. Olivia turned to face him for a split second, and then turned her face back to the mirror, acting like it wasn’t anything major or anyone important. To make it official, she then reached down inside her purse and pulled her cell phone out. Immediately, she spotted the message envelope icon blinking at the top of her screen. She pulled the curtain down on the envelope as the message displayed that it was from Kandi. Her heart fluttered as she opened and read it.

  Thought I was gonna see you today.

  She didn’t know what to think or what he meant by that but she definitely responded right back.

  I’m with the hubby at the moment. Well, I’m actually on my way back to the shop. O’

  Mark looked over at her, trying to be nosey. Out the corner of his eye, he’d noticed the light turn green, but that was about it. The car in front of him had a delayed takeoff, and because he was so caught up with what Olivia had going on; he tapped the car in front of him, causing a fender bender. Both of their necks snapped forward, but luckily they were wearing their seatbelts.

  Olivia’s phone flew out of her hand and landed somewhere on the floor. The bump had startled her, because Mark had never been in an accident before. She knew that it was nothing major since the airbags hadn’t come out.

  Mark, realizing what he’d done instantly looked over at his wife. “Are you alright, babe?”

  “Uh, yeah,” she hesitantly responded. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he told her, and then reached for the handle of the door to open it and get out. “Let me see if the driver ahead of us is alright.” He stepped out of the car, looking at the other cars slowly riding by in an opposite lane. They were being nosey in hopes that everybody was okay. The car he’d hit was a Crown Victoria with clear windows. As he made it up to the driver window, he could see the woman sitting behind the wheel holding her neck. He shook his head.

  Here we go with the bullshit, he immediately thought. Mark opened her car door to check on the woman. She appeared to be in her mid-fifties with slightly aging skin and wrinkles around her eyes.

  “Are you alright, ma’am?” He asked in his most sincere tone, leaning down to get closer look at her. The woman looked at Mark slowly, and then nodded her head.

  “Yes, I’m okay,” she responded with a shy smile at how nice he was being to her.

  A burgundy and gray Chevrolet Trail Blazer pulled up next to them, a blond headed, white guy stuck his head out of the window with a concerned look on his face. “Is everybody alright?” he asked.

  Mark turned to face him with an appreciative tone. “Yes, everything is good.”

  The woman then peeked around Mark to address the concerned man. “Thank you, everything is fine.”

  Inside the car, Olivia was watching from a distance as she reached on the floor in the backseat and grabbed her cell phone. Not really concerned with the fender bender, she quickly messaged Zay back while she had the chance.

  Where are you? O’

  Her eyes cut back up to make sure that Mark was still talking to the woman. He started coming back to the car. She quickly dropped the phone back down in her purse that was still sitting on the floor between her legs. Mark was looking through the windshield, smiling at her as he made his way back to the driver door. Olivia watched him as he was stepping back inside the car.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “She’s alright. I paid her for the fender bender.” He strapped himself back inside of his seatbelt and since the car was still running, he pulled the gear down in drive. “I’m gonna drop you off at the shop and take the car to the BMW dealership.” He stepped on the gas and made a left, turning into the plaza parking lot where the salon was at. Looking straight ahead, the first thing that they spotted, at the same time, was the Bentley Mulsanne parked across from the salon.

  Olivia knew that the car belonged to Zay, but she pretended that it was nothing. On the other hand, Mark was impressed and the closer he got to the car, the more his mouth opened in awe.

  “Now that’s a car,” he stated, and then pulled up to the curb behind Olivia’s car to drop her off. “When it’s Master’s week, you never know what or who you’ll see.” He said.

  Olivia was nervous. She had no clue that Zay would be coming to Augusta to visit, let alone show up at her salon. Her heart rate had quickened from just looking at the Bentley again.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” She nodded her head. “And, I must agree; that is a nice car.” She added, and then focused her attention back on Mark. They leaned in towards each other as they shared a kiss. “See you later, baby. I’m going to take the girl’s their food.”

  “Okay, if I had time I’d come in and speak to everyone. I wouldn’t mind meeting the guy that is driving that Bentley. I wonder if he’s inside the salon.” Olivia didn’t respond. “Or maybe he’s grabbing a quick bite to eat,” he said as the congested parking lot stayed packed with people wanting to eat, shop, or get pampered.

  Olivia pulled the handle on the door and pushed it open. Mark reached in the backseat and grabbed the food that was bagged up for the ladies to eat. He then stepped out of the car, holding the bag in his hand. Olivia could see Mark through the reflection of the salon’s window as she anxiously made her way around the front of the car, to the driver side where he stood. She grabbed the Olive Garden bag that he was handing her.

  “Thanks babe,” she said again and quickly kissed his lips. Mark nodded with a slight smile at her then got back inside his car. In that moment, a feeling came over him. A man’s intuition that he’d never felt before, but he didn’t say a word. He just sat in the car and watched Olivia enter the salon before he pulled off to leave.

  Chapter Five

  When Olivia walked through the door, she pleasantly smiled at her employers. Al
most instantly, she spotted Zay sitting in the barber chair to her left.

  I can’t believe this nigga just showed up to my shop, she thought as she passed him.

  He watched her out the corner of his eye as she walked straight in the back room. Now he was wishing that he should’ve called first; not knowing how she felt about him showing up to her place of business like that.

  In the back room, was a table made of wood, a small refrigerator, and a counter top. Olivia took in a deep breath then sat the bag down on the table. She began removing each Styrofoam tray, one by one.

  Damn, that nigga is looking good, she thought with a disgusted shake of the head that she was so gone over his ass.

  About five minutes later, Patrice entered the room where she was at and stood next to her. Olivia looked at her, and then looked behind her when she noticed the shadow of somebody. She turned to see who it was and was startled to see that it was Mark standing there. He had scared her to the bone as their eyes met. She couldn’t understand why he’d doubled back on her, and then entered the salon after he supposed to have been gone.

  “Hey boo,” he said leaning toward her then kissing her softly on the forehead. “You left something.” He raised his hand and handed her the Michael Kors bag that she’d forgotten in the car, on the front passenger floor. It made her even more nervous at seeing the way he let the strap of her purse roll from the tip of his fingers. It seemed like it was moving in slow motion and it rattled her thoughts like he knew something. A lump formed in her throat while reaching for the strap on her bag. Once it was in her hands, she mustered up a smile, and then kissed him softly on the lips.

  “Thanks,” she said. She didn’t even want to walk him to the door, knowing that Zay would be out there watching them. This would only make her more nervous.

  “You okay?” Mark questioned. “You seem preoccupied, because we both know that you never leave your money bag behind.”

  Patrice softly chuckled at his comment.

  “I think the fender bender still have me a little rattled.” She lied, knowing that the fender benders excuse was more about Zay being in town unexpectedly. She went inside her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I know I’m rattled.” She said, thinking that it was careless of her to leave her phone behind.

  “Same thing I thought,” he stated when he saw that she was holding her phone. “Are you feeling alright?” He asked, just wanting to make sure that she was good.

  “I’m fine, babe,” she responded.

  “Wow, y’all were in a wreck?” Patrice asked.

  “It wasn’t nothing major,” Mark responded. “Right, babe?”

  “Yeah, he’s right,” Olivia said, just ready for Mark to leave the shop. “Now, don’t you have some business to handle?”

  Mark smiled, and then playfully hit her on the ass. “I do have some business to handle,” he said, causing the receptionist to smile at how loving their relationship was.

  “Well, go handle it.” Olivia teased. “I’m good. You can go now.”

  “Okay,” Mark said, and then kissed his beautiful wife again. “I’ll see you later.” He headed out of the room and walked straight thru the salon. Olivia peeked around the door to see Zay getting up from the barber seat. The women in the salon had surrounded him.

  ****

  “So, Patrice said that you’re the one driving that nice ass Bentley outside.” One of the hairstylists said.

  “Yeah, that’s mine,” Zay said, already used to the extra flirts and numbers that he’d get from the thirsty women that admired his ride. The hairstylist was sexy as hell though and he couldn’t deny the fact that he loved the attention.

  “What do you do for a living?” The hairstylist asked. “By the way, my name is Brittany.”

  “Girl, get outta that man’s business.” Patrice called out from the back room, causing everybody in the shop to laugh. She admired Zay’s sexy look and handsome face as she winked at him then looked back Olivia. “A nigga that looks that good can’t be from around here; if so I would’ve seen him by now.” She said to Olivia. Zay smiled, and then directed his attention back to Brittany who couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. She had juicy lips and a gap between her teeth. She was dolled up and looking good as she stood there staring at him.

  Brittany then stopped Mark as he was walking from the back room. “I think somebody is giving you a run for your money, Mark.” She teased, causing Mark to grin since he had a pretty cool relationship with his employers. “He’s driving that bad ass Bentley Mulsanne out front.”

  “So, you’re the one causing these ladies to blush and giggle like school girls.” Mark said, reaching out for a handshake.

  “I guess,” Zay coolly said as he shook Mark’s hand.

  “Yeah, I was just telling my wife that I was digging your ride.”

  “Preciate that, bruh,” Zay responded, now figuring that this was his lover’s husband.

  ****

  “Oh my God,” Olivia whispered. She watched them shake hands, and then they walked outside through the front salon door. “What the hell are they doing?”

  “You okay?” Patrice asked as she watched Olivia while grabbing her Styrofoam box containing her Olive Garden food to eat.

  Olivia had totally forgotten that she was there. “Oh,” she grinned, trying to play it off. “I’m good.” She said then immediately exited the room to go inside the restroom. Her stomach was turning in knots from witnessing her husband in a full blown conversation with her lover.

  The moment she entered the restroom, she locked the door behind her. All of a sudden, she nervously had to pee. She sat down on the toilet and pulled out her phone. She couldn’t wait any longer as she sent Zay a text message.

  What are you doing? O’

  ****

  Outside in the parking lot, Mark and Zay was standing in front of Mark’s BMW. “Nice car man,” Zay said.

  “Yeah, thanks, but I had a lil fender bender not long ago.” He responded, and then looked over at the Bentley. “No, that’s a nice car.” He pointed.

  “Oh thanks,” Zay said. “I’ve had it a little over a year.”

  “Nice, nice,” Mark said, feeling impressed. “Are you from around here?”

  “Nah, I just stopped through from Savannah. I’m picking up my lil sister who attends Paine College here.”

  “Okay, thought you were in town for The Master’s.” Mark said, looking down at his watch. He felt a little rushed since he knew that he had to get to the BMW place to trade cars, because of the accident.

  “I actually saw this salon in passing and decided to get a line-up and fresh shave. They did a good job.”

  “Well, that’s my joint right there,” Mark said, tilting his head toward the salon just to show that he had some business about himself, too. Zay nodded like he didn’t know.

  “That’s what’s up.” Zay commented. “From now on, when I’m on this end and I need a clean tape then I’ll be sure to hit up this spot.”

  “That’s good to know.” Mark said, looking back down at his watch. “My wife left her purse in my car which kinda took me off schedule, but it was good to meet you, bruh,” Mark said, shaking his hand.

  “Same here,” Zay responded. Mark eased around to the driver side of his car and then got in as Zay held up the peace sign. As Mark was pulling out of the plaza, Zay was pulling out his cell phone. He headed across the parking lot to his Bentley and messaged Olivia back.

  Sorry for being out of character. I just had to see you baby.

  Patrice stepped outside, wanting to see if she could get his number. As he sat in his car, he could see her flagging him. He let the window down as he started the smooth engine.

  “Hey can I have your number? I think it would nice if we got to know each other.”

  Zay hesitated, but his message alert went off. “Sure,” he said just wanting to get her out his face. “404-555-1122.”

  Patrice had quickly saved the number in her phone. “Okay, I’ll call yo
u. Now le’me get back to work.” She said with a smile as Zay smiled back, but he was really watching the front entrance of the salon so hard that he wasn’t paying her much attention. He then glanced back at his cell phone, waiting on a response from Olivia. Two minutes went by and she still hadn’t responded. The four minute mark came and went. He put the car in gear, ready to leave, but then he received a text message.

  You had me nervous. O’

  Zay smiled while reading it then quickly responded back.

  Love will make you do some crazy things; especially when you’re Drunk In Love.

  She messaged back within a minute.

  I want to meet you somewhere, but you’ve already drawn so much attention your way. O’

  He messaged her back.

  We can go somewhere exclusive like the Marriot, downtown.

  Olivia blushed then messaged him back.

  Xavier, are you serious? O’

  He smiled, because Xavier was his real name. He preferred for other’s to call him Zay, but when Olivia called him by his government name it made him feel special.

  I’ll get the room and hit you back with the room number. You just show up.

  Less than a minute later, she was messaging him back.

  Smdh. Your wish is my command. (smiley face) O’

  ****

  An hour later, Olivia was walking through the hotel doors feeling pretty good about being able to see her boo. Zay was already anxiously waiting for her. She quickly made her way to the room and tapped lightly on the door. He greeted her with a smile and nothing on, but a robe from the hotel. Olivia stepped inside the room and closed the door shut behind her, and then hugged Zay around the neck. He couldn’t resist her charm as he hungrily kissed her in the mouth.

  She jumped up in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. As she hugged him tightly around the neck they passionately kissed. His robe came open exposing his boxer briefs underneath it. Zay carried her to the bed, his arms hooked around her thick thighs as he laid her flat on her back. She was on the edge of the bed as he looked at her, admiring her body. Her eyes always put him in a strong trance as he leaned down and kissed her again.