Star-crossed - Episode 16

 

Raymond:

"You're a mess, man. What are you even doing back before your parents?" I eye the bottle of liquor in his firm grasp and shake my head.
"Your woman's cousin had big news for me so I hurried back." He slurs, making it quite obvious how drunk he is right now. I check my watch with a sigh . I can't be late for my date with Comfort because of this.
"I take it you didn't like her news." I say drily as I finger the car keys in my hand.
"Like?! Guy, you can't imagine what this woman just did to my world." He spits angrily.
"What are you talking about?"
"She's pregnant."
"What?!" For some reason, laughter starts to bubble inside of me and I bite down hard on my bottom lip to muffle it.
"You think this is funny?!" Stanley snaps when he catches my twitching eye and I shake my head quickly.
"Not really. Forgive my sense of humor but why are you surprised when you obviously didn't use your bigger head." I burst into laughter at the death glare he gives me.
"You're definitely not helping matters! Abeg get out jhor!" He flings at me and I have to dodge his drunken hands before he smashes his liquor bottle against my jaw.
"Careful with that bottle, please." I tell him and he just hisses at me.
"Why are you taking your frustrations at me?" I can't let him ruin my mood this special day I have planned for Comfort and I.
"You're not being of any help. You think it's funny that I have impregnated someone I'm not interested in marrying?"
"Why would you sleep with her then? She's good to sleep with but not to marry?"
"See who's talking? Don't start that self righteous bullshit with me just because you're dating a woman for the first time or do you want me to start reminding you of the women whose heart you've broken over the years?"
"All the women I've been with knew the scores from the start

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/star-crossed

. I always made it clear that I didn't want a relationship with them. I never led anyone on."
"And I did?" He asks annoyingly and I rub my temples tiredly with a sigh.
"You certainly did. I actually thought you were going to be serious with Comfort's cousin. Only for you to ask for a nurse's number in a hospital where you know your woman is and your cousin was in a coma none the less! You certainly deserve this. I just pity the poor woman. She obviously deserves better!"
"This one you're saying is in your own pocket. She better remove that thing if she knows what is good for her. I'm too young to father a child. I haven't flexed my life enough." He takes a swig of his drink and grimaces as he pulls the bottle away from his lips.
"You better come to your senses before you end up fooling your old age and regretting later, guy. I've said my piece." With my piece said, I push off the small bench at the front of their house and rise to my feet to walk away. I have a date to meet up with.
"Look at him! Acting like a saint now. I give this your new found common sense one more month! Then I'll be the one advising you to slow down on flexing life. It would end in tears!" He bellows to me but I just continue on towards the rental car I got from my earlier trip to the city to drop Breanna off at her school.
 Even if it takes everything in me, I'm going to make sure this thing I have right now wouldn't end in tears and regret. Not if I can do anything to help it. I mean, what man would want an empty life after having a taste of what true happiness with one woman who truly matters feels like. Not this man.

****
Comfort:

"Where are we going? Isn't this someone else's house?" I'm going to twist my ankle trying to keep pace with Raymond's long strides as he pulls me through a huge gate with him. The uniformed security man smiles at both of us as we pass so I assume that we're not trespassing.
"We're almost there." His voice shows obvious excitement and I try to inject some of that excitement into myself but Joyce's issue takes precedence in my mind. It's pretty dark considering it is almost eight pm.
"Surprise!!!" Cold water sprays on me without warning and I let out an unladylike scream then make a grab for Raymond's waist as more water hit us.
"Guy!" Raymond screams as he comes around to shield me with his body. I spy over his shoulder to see about three guys holding water hosts aimed at Raymond's back.
"Happy birthday, Man!" A tall man with curly but short hair bellows as he comes closer with his water host aimed at Raymond's head.
"This guy is just unbelievable!" Raymond's chuckle vibrates through my body and I let my neck lean back to capture th big smile on his face. I can't believe he didn't tell me about his birthday.
"Happy birthday, man!" The tall man finally drops his host with a chuckle as he pulls Raymond for a side hug. His huge hand slaps Raymond's shoulder and I grimace at the wet sound. That must hurt.
"I can't believe you guys decided to throw me a party." Raymond muses out loud as his eyes scan my face. I feel like he's checking to know if I'm okay being here so I quickly nod. It's his birthday, he deserves to have all the fun he wants.
 Light starts to stream in and I notice the group of people around us. Most of them are holding red plastic cups and I notice all three guys have one woman by their side but still, there are still a few single women standing in a group.
  Raymond's friend hands Raymond a cup and points to me.
"Hey, who's this?" His dark eyes settle on me and I start to fidget under his stare.
"Back off, Prince." Raymond says to his friend with a grin as he pulls me to his side.
"He's a Prince?!" Oops! Did I just say that outloud? When Raymond's friend throws his head back in humorous laughter, I know for sure that I really asked that aloud.
"You don't actually think I'm a prince, do you sweet cheeks?" His hand actually comes up to touch my cheek and Raymond laughs like it's no big deal. 
"I obviously meant that as a joke. Now I know that your sense of humor is just as bad as your attitude!" I swat his hand off my face and raise my nose up at him. I hear Raymond chuckle silently beside me and I straighten my spine knowing that he's got my back.
"Ow, Feisty much?" The lunatic actually grins while trying to act hurt.
"You shouldn't touch a woman's face without her permission. That's common courtesy." I chastise him.
"Ladies usually like me touching them, though." He places a hand on his chin like in deep thought and I roll my eyes at him.
"Cocky, much?" I ask in the same tone as he did earlier and his face transforms into a striking smile.
"I'm really cocky, sweet cheeks. Maybe you'll like a little sample." My eyes bulge out as the obnoxious man grab unto his manly bits in front of me and I start coughing and hacking awkwardly. Raymond's laughter mixes up with my coughing fit as he comes to face his friend off.
"Okay, okay. That's enough. Prince, get your junk out of my woman's sight." Raymond pushes the bigger man back before taking my hand in his.
"Get everyone into the games room guy. Comfort and I will just get changed."Raymond instructs his friend before throwing his drink to the back of his throat and handing him the cup.
"So her name is Comfort.

Read " Mirage " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. What an irony." I hear oga 'cocky' mutter before he throws a wink over his shoulder at me and saunters away to join the small crowd.
"So that's your friend." I mutter drily to Raymond while watching his friend interact with the other guests. The man's laughing at something a slim woman in a really pretty dress is saying as she makes sure to make body contact with every word she says to him. He's an obvious flirt. 
"He's harmless. I'll say he likes you but that'll only spell trouble for me."
"Trouble why?" I wrinkle my brows in obvious distaste.
"Well, because he's irresistible. See how that woman keeps throwing herself at him?" He points to the same spectacle I'd just been watching.
"I don't see the appeal." I shrug even though I actually can. From afar, the man looks majestic in his black polo shirt and rugged jeans. He's tall and really muscular, not to talk of his hair and manly features.
"He's not so bad looking when he's keeping his big mouth shut." Raymond chuckles and I nod my acceptance of that.
"And he's actually a prince."
"What?!" I gape at this last piece of info. An actual prince in this modern age?
"Hey, don't give me that look now. I can't lose another woman to that one."
"Of course not!" I hit Raymond's shoulder in slight indignation and he chuckles loudly.
"I'm the better looking rich kid. You are stuck with me anyways." He tells me and I rest my head on his shoulder and nod.
"I like being stuck to you." I say as our wet clothes stick together.
"Good. Now let's get you dry before the real party begins."