The Realest Ever

Chapter THREE

BRIANNA

On the way out of the library, Kyra spotted a few cushioned chairs in the lobby. Her bus stop was right outside of the door, so she decided to wait inside. She dug her cellphone from her purse and told Quinell, “Come sit down,” before she called Donovan.

“Is the bus coming?” her son asked.

“It’ll be here in ten minutes.”

“Can I go look at some more books?” Quinell asked.

“No. I might need you to run out there and stop the bus if no one gets off,” Kyra said. And then she heard Donovan’s phone ringing. Her mouth was completely dry. Kyra got up to wet her whistle at a nearby fountain. Kat got up to follow her, and the toddler dropped her sippy cup on the tiled floor. Nine out of ten times nothing would’ve come of that, but today the lid popped off the cup, splashing red Kool-Aid on the bone-white tiles.

Kyra barely had time to look back before someone answered her call.

“Hello?”

“Uh, hi,” Kyra said.

“Uh-oh,” Kat said.

“Mama,” Quinell said.

A couple of patrons entered the library at that moment. They stared at the spilled juice and gave Kat a wide berth. Kyra was mortified. She sighed in exasperation.

“I, uh, I’m sorry. I have to call you back,” she said into the phone.

“Who is this?”

“I’m sorry. I, uh…” Kyra put a hand to her face and rubbed her forehead. She took a breath and let it out slowly. “This is Kyra. Quinell, go in that bathroom and get me some paper towels.”

“Kyra?”

Quinell hurried to the bathroom.

“I’m sorry,” Kyra said. “My daughter just spilled Kool-Aid in the library.” She shook her head as she pulled Kat away from the mess. “I should’ve waited until I got home to call you.”

“Is this, did you say Kyra?”

She was so stressed, Kyra barely noticed that the person she was speaking to had a rich, baritone voice. “Yes. Is this Donovan?”

He sighed and chuckled at the same time. “Kyra Reynolds. I don’t believe it.”

Kyra took a seat. She had to. Her legs were trembling.

Quinell returned with a fistful of paper towels. He went to work on the spill and found both parts of Kat’s sippy cup. The toddler squirmed out of Kyra’s arms and tried to help put her cup back together. Kyra tilted her head back on the wall behind her and took another slow breath, trying to calm her nerves.

“It’s good to hear from you,” she said.

“Same here,” Donovan said. “You just don’t know. Where are you?”

“I’m at the library.”

“Where?” he said. “Your Facebook says–”

“I’m in Overbrook Meadows.”

“Really? Since when?”

“Last week,” Kyra said.

“Do you know how many times I looked for you on Facebook?” Donovan asked. She could hear the elation in his voice. “Do you have any idea?”

Kyra smiled. “I read your messages.”

“A lot,” Donovan continued. “A lot, Kyra. I been so worried about you. I almost cried when I got your friend request.”

“Me, too,” Kyra said. “It’s been a long time.”

“Too long,” Donovan said. “Too damned long.”

“You sound different,” Kyra noticed.

“You do, too,” he said. “And you look different, too! I see you’re a mother now. That’s so awesome, Kyra. You changed a lot.”

“No, you’re the one,” Kyra said. Her smile was big and beautiful. She had a warm glow in her chest that wasn’t embarrassment this time. “I saw those pictures you had on there.”

“Which one,” he asked.

“All of them.”

“You saw all of my pictures?”

“Just now,” Kyra said. “I couldn’t stop looking.” She thought about her favorite pic and blushed. She was glad he couldn’t see her. “You’re a grown man now,” she said with play-sisterly pride. “All big and stuff.”

“Whatever,” Donovan said.

“You played for Ohio?” Kyra asked. “I always knew you were gonna go far. I’m so proud of you.”

“Aw, man. I didn’t do too much.”

“I’m serious,” Kyra said. “Not too many people from my past made something of themselves.”

“I’m just a teacher,” Donovan said. “And a football coach.”

“That’s something to be proud of,” Kyra countered. “A lot of black men your age are in prison by now.”

“Thanks,” Donovan said, and after a short pause, “I wanted to say I’m sorry, Kyra. For what happened.”

“Please,” she said. “That’s not your fau–”

“I know,” Donovan said. “But the way it went down... I never got a chance to say I was sorry. And then I never heard from you again.”

“We, just… Are you trying to get me crying?” Kyra asked. She looked up to the ceiling to keep the tears in.

“No,” Donovan said. “I’m sorry. It’s just... Never mind.”

After an awkward silence, Kyra said, “So, you coach for Finley High?”

“Yeah,” Donovan said. “How do you, oh yeah.”

Kyra chuckled. “Is that stalking? I felt like I was stalking you when I looked through your pictures.”

Donovan laughed, too. “No. That’s what they’re there for. It’s all good.”

“Why didn’t you teach at Western Hills?” Kyra asked.

“I thought about it,” Donovan said. “But they didn’t have an opening when I got out of college. Plus I didn’t really want to work with any of the teachers who taught me. I still put them on a pedestal. I don’t wanna know what they’re like in real life.”

“Oh, and I see you’re still a mama’s boy,” Kyra said.

“No, I’m not,” Donovan said. Kyra could tell he was amused.

“Yeah you are. You had around a dozen pictures with her.”

“She posted those and tagged me,” Donovan offered.

“You’ll always be a mama’s boy,” Kyra said with a grin. “It’s all good. I noticed a lot of students in your pictures, but no babies that looked like you…”

“I don’t have any kids,” Donovan said. “You have a daughter.”

“And a son. He’s eight.”

“That’s awesome,” Donovan said. “I can’t wait to meet your family. Are you married?”

“No. And you?”

“No,” Donovan said.

There was another break in the conversation. Kyra wanted to ask about the beautiful woman in his pictures, the one with the long, curly hair, but she didn’t know how to bring it up.

“So when can I see you?” Donovan asked. “Where are you staying?”

“With my aunt in Berry Hill.”

“Close to where you used to live?”

“Yep. Walking distance.”

“Can I come see you today?” Donovan asked. “Can I pick you up, take you out for dinner?”

Kyra’s heart leapt at the thought, but she didn’t have a thing to wear. Actually she had one outfit that was suitable for such an occasion, but it wasn’t clean.

“How about tomorrow,” she said. “I can see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Donovan said. “But I would really–”

“Q, go catch that bus!” Kyra blurted.

“Huh?”

“Sorry, I gotta go,” Kyra said.

“Where are you?” Donovan asked.

“At the library, on Bolt Street.”

“You’re riding the bus?”

He didn’t sound like he was putting her down, but Kyra still felt self conscious.

“I came down here with pretty much nothing,” she said as she gathered their books and tote bags. “I don’t have a job or a car. I can’t even get on the internet with my cellphone. That’s why I couldn’t accept your friend request until I came back to the library.”

“Oh,” Donovan said. Kyra was glad she couldn’t see his expression. She knew he’d be looking down on her, like she was an abandoned puppy or something. “That’s cool,” he said. “Will you call me later?”

“Yeah,” Kyra said, heading for the door.

“This is your phone, right?” Donovan asked. “I can call you on this number?”

“Yes,” Kyra said. “I’m sorry, but I gotta get on this bus, or I’ll be stuck here another forty minutes.”

“I can come get you,” Donovan offered.

“No, that’s alright,” Kyra said. “I’m sorry. I gotta go.”

“Okay, bye,” Donovan said, but she had already hung up.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Donovan sat back in his recliner with a broad grin, but it was short-lived. The woman sitting on the sofa next to him had been waiting most impatiently for the call to end so she could ask him, “Who the hell was that?”

Donovan gave her a look. “Don’t trip.”

“What do you mean, don’t trip?” The woman rose to her feet and took a step closer. “Who the hell was that, Donovan?”

“I said her name at least fifty times,” Donovan stated. “That was Kyra. Her name is Kyra.”

Donovan wore long basketball shorts with a sparkling clean, white tee shirt. It was twelve-thirty on a warm, Saturday afternoon. Donovan began his day with a two mile run with his German shepherd Wyatt and his pit bull dog Doc. When he returned to the house, he showered and had a simple breakfast of grapefruit and granola bars. He planned to grade papers and watch a few MMA fights during the hottest part of the day, but his visitor thought that was boring. She wanted him to take her to the movies instead.

That was fine. But one thing Donovan did not want to do today was try to explain himself to someone who would probably never understand the intangibles of his and Kyra’s relationship. But his visitor wasn’t just anybody. She was the woman from his Facebook photos (who couldn’t possibly have made Kyra jealous because she and Donovan were like brother and sister).

Ewww!

The woman stood six feet even. She wore skinny jeans with three-inch heels that boosted her height even more. She was thin and beautiful with long, curly hair that was worth every cent she paid for it. Her name was Brianna, but at times like this she preferred to go by her other title, which was Donovan’s woman. His only woman.

“Baby, sit down,” he told her.

“I don’t want to sit down, Donovan! You just sat there and talked to some other woman like I wasn’t even here!”

“Exactly!” Donovan said, trying not to give in to frustration. “I just had a conversation with her right in front of you. I didn’t go to another room, and I didn’t tell her I’ll call her later.”

“Yes you did tell her you’ll call her later.”

“You know what I mean,” Donovan said. “I took the call in front of you because I have nothing to hide, Brianna. Now, if you’ll sit down, we can talk about this like calm individuals. You don’t have to scream every time you don’t understand something.”

Brianna folded her arms over her chest, and Donovan knew they were going to argue anyway. Something he would never understand about his woman was how she could be so beautiful, yet so insecure. Brianna had smooth skin the color of cinnamon. She was fit and stylish. Her face had classic angles, and she knew how to accentuate her beauty with very little makeup.

But when it came to not understanding, Brianna was in the same boat. She didn’t get how Donovan could remain cool and collected when she was at her hottest – especially when you considered what a brawny and aggressive guy Donovan was. He played football for the better part of his life, during which time he was constantly trying to rip the opposing quarterback’s head off. He had to tone it down a little when he started coaching, but he was still a big, tough guy.

Looking at the two of them, you’d never expect Donovan to be the one to say, Sit down. We can talk about this like calm individuals.

“Explain yourself,” Brianna said. She tried to match his poise. Even while angry, most people would think she was still gorgeous. Donovan was not one of those people. He sighed.

“Kyra is my best friend from back in the day.”

“How far back?” Brianna asked. “I never heard of her.”

“I’ve known Kyra since the fourth grade,” Donovan said. “She moved to Arkansas when I was a junior in high school.”

“Why is she all of a sudden calling you now?” Brianna wanted to know. “She found you on Facebook?” She said it like it was a porn site.

“Yes,” Donovan said. “She said she moved back to Overbrook Meadows.”

“That’s just great.”

“I know you’re being sarcastic, but yeah, it really is.”

Brianna had a small, pointy nose. Her nostrils flared, but you could barely tell. She took a seat. Her arms remained folded in a defensive gesture.

“Me and Kyra met at Sunrise Elementary,” Donovan said. “I was in the fourth grade, and she was in the third. I don’t remember how we started talking. I think it was at recess or something. We got along really good. When I found out she didn’t live that far from me, I started visiting her house, and we became close. She was my best friend.”

“A girl was your best friend?”

“I know it doesn’t make sense,” Donovan said. “A lot of people didn’t understand it – especially my mama. But we were little kids, and it really was innocent, so no one told us we couldn’t be friends.”

“Did you ever kiss her?”

“No,” Donovan said. “I just told you we were kids.”

“You said she didn’t leave until you were in high school. You weren’t kids then.”

“Yeah, but after you call someone your sister for so long, you can’t turn around and start dating them. It would’ve been weird.”

Brianna didn’t look like she believed that.

“Plus Kyra really is like a sister to me,” Donovan said. “You know I don’t have any real brothers or sisters. Maybe that’s why things worked out so well with us. Plus Kyra needed help back then. I was always there for her.”

Brianna’s frown intensified. “What do you mean she needed help?”

“Her family life,” Donovan said with a slow shake of his head. “Her mom was on dope, and Kyra didn’t know her father. She had so much against her. She used to say I was the only source of peace in her life.”

Brianna’s eyes widened. Her mouth fell open, too.

“No, not like that,” Donovan said. “It wasn’t that big a deal.”

“How is that not a big deal?” Brianna wondered. “You were her only source of peace? What the f*ck, Donovan? That’s a big f*cking deal!”

“Okay, but–”

“Why are you trying to downplay it?”

“Alright, Brianna. Okay. You’re right. She didn’t have a lot of hope, and I was a good friend when she needed one the most. Yes, it was a big deal.”

“Sounds like it still is.”

“I am excited to hear from her,” Donovan confirmed. “I can’t deny that.”

“I know you can’t deny it. You were practically jumping up and down when she called.”

“I didn’t leave my seat,” Donovan said. “Anyway, we’re both grown now, so it’s not like we’re going to fall into the same situation we had back then. This means a lot to me because it’s been so long, and I don’t know what happened to her when she left. I’ve been worried sick.”

“You never told me about her.”

“It wasn’t something that was on my to-do list every day, Brianna. But I did look for Kyra a lot. A whole lot. I never forgot about her.”

“Why did she leave?” Brianna wondered.

Donovan already lied to his girlfriend twice in this conversation. He didn’t want to do it again, but he couldn’t tell her the real reason Kyra got sent to Arkansas. Brianna would surely blow a fuse.

“When Kyra’s mom got arrested, her brother and sister had to go live with relatives in Arkansas,” he said. “That’s where most of her family is from. I begged my mom to let Kyra stay with us, and she did. But it didn’t last long.”

“Beverly let her live with y’all?” Brianna couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, but my mama never really trusted her,” Donovan explained. “She thought Kyra would mess up my life just because hers was messed up. The longer Kyra lived with us, the more my mom didn’t like her. It only lasted about five months.

“One day we came home from school, and Mama had all of Kyra’s stuff packed. She said Kyra’s family wanted her to go to Arkansas to be with them. I didn’t believe it, and Kyra didn’t either. She cried so much. I did, too.”

Brianna was still against Kyra’s return to her boyfriend’s life, but she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her after that story. She could imagine Beverly dragging Kyra’s suitcase to the door while Donovan and Kyra cried in the background.

In her mind’s eye, Brianna could see Donovan and Kyra holding hands until the last moment. The awful adults in their lives had to pry them apart. Kyra was forced to live without her only source of peace for the next fifteen years.

Brianna caught herself before she started feeling too sympathetic for Donovan’s supposed play-sister.

“Pull her up on Facebook,” she said. “I wanna see what she looks like.”

Donovan pursed his lips, but he reached for his cellphone on the coffee table.

“No, do it on the computer,” Brianna said, getting up. “I wanna see her on a big screen.”

Donovan considered not complying, but then he rose from his recliner. Brianna watched him closely. She didn’t know if he was hesitant because he had something to hide or because he didn’t like being ordered around. She knew she’d find out which one it was in a few short moments.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Kyra was so beautiful, Brianna almost started crying. She bullied Donovan out of his computer chair so she could navigate Kyra’s profile at her own pace. Donovan stood next to her, his patience growing thinner by the second.

“You know I’m only allowing this because I care about you,” he said, “and I understand that this might be a little weird for you. But if you don’t start acting like you trust me–”

“You didn’t tell me she was gorgeous,” Brianna said, her eyes on the computer screen. “How many kids does she have?”

“Two.”

“Is she still with her baby-daddy?” Brianna asked with a pompous tone. “Or should I say baby-daddies?”

Donovan grunted. “You were sitting right there when I talked to her. Did you hear me ask about that?”

“Why you getting an attitude?”

“Why you trying to put her down?” Donovan asked.

“What do you care?” Brianna said, her eyes on the computer.

Donovan couldn’t answer right away. Why was it his job to defend Kyra? He couldn’t answer that question fifteen years ago, either.

“You sent her messages?!” Brianna’s voice was nearly a shriek.

“Of course I sent her messages. How do you think she got my number?”

“‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s really you!’” Brianna read. “What the hell, Donovan?”

“What do you mean?”

“You got it in caps and everything!” Brianna’s eyes skated across the screen, her scowl growing deeper by the second. “‘I can barely sit still?!’” she read. “‘I’ll fly to Arkansas if I have to!?’”

“You said you wanted to see what she looked like,” Donovan said. “Why you reading my personal messages?”

“You’re writing personal messages to another female,” Brianna said. “I have a right to see this!”

“A right? What the…?” Donovan shook his head in exasperation. He wanted to physically remove Brianna from his computer. She was a skinny girl. It wouldn’t take much. But Donovan never manhandled a woman. His mother would pass out at just the thought of it. “See, this is why…” He mumbled something and then turned, heading for his recliner.

“This is why what?” Brianna yelled at him. “This is why what, Donovan?”

Why I don’t wanna live with your crazy ass, Donovan thought – but of course did not say. Brianna was out of control now, but she really had her panties in a bunch a month ago when Donovan pressed the PAUSE button on her marriage plans.

Brianna was 27 years old, and she already had life figured out. She believed Donovan was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was tall, dark and any woman within a mile radius knew he was handsome. Donovan’s teaching job was rather blah by Brianna’s standards, but she was an executive at the General Motor’s Las Colinas office, so she didn’t need her man to bring in a lot of money.

Brianna hoped they could shack up on their ninth month together, start planning a marriage by their tenth month and be on their honeymoon a few months after that. Donovan burst her bubble when he refused to move in with her. He wouldn’t let Brianna come and live with him, either. He told her that was a huge step, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready.

Truth be told, Donovan didn’t know if their relationship would survive if he never had any private time AWAY from Brianna. She was a beautiful girl – a great catch, very career-minded and focused. But she was also the most insecure woman Donovan ever dated. He didn’t understand it. Brianna could have any man she wanted. Rather than take comfort in that, she constantly stressed over losing the man she had.

Brianna didn’t come and join him in the living room until she searched every bit of Donovan and Kyra’s Facebook profile and found no evidence of an ongoing or potential relationship. She stood next to his recliner. Donovan ignored her and kept flipping channels with his remote.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

How many times have I heard that before? Donovan wondered. At some point or another, Brianna had accused him of having eyes for nearly every pretty girl he knew.

“This is different,” she said, reading his mind. “You know this is different, Donovan. You never told me you were missing some girl for fifteen years.”

“It’s not some girl,” Donovan said. “Kyra’s my sister.”

“No. She’s not,” Brianna said. “But I don’t want to argue anymore. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Can I show you something, in the bedroom?”

Donovan frowned without looking up at her. “You think that’s the solution every time? You get mad and I get mad, and then we have sex and everything’s cool?”

“I didn’t think we had sex,” Brianna said, speaking softly now. “I thought we made love, Donovan. You still love me, don’t you?”

“Whether it’s sex or making love, it’s the same scenario,” he said. “You got issues that you can’t fix. Every time you realize you’re wrong about one of your wild accusations, you try to get me in the bedroom so I’ll forget about it.”

“Everybody does that,” Brianna said as she kicked off her heels and unbuttoned her pants. “They don’t all take it to the bedroom, but husbands buy their wives flowers when they screw up. They take them out to eat. I don’t know what wives do, probably make meatloaf or something. I would try that, but I’m not a good cook.”

She slid her jeans past her hips and then stepped on the cuffs so she could pull her long, slender legs out of them. Donovan didn’t want to look, but Brianna’s legs were a thing a beauty. She didn’t have much hips or ass, but those legs belonged on a fashion runway. Her panties were black lace. She was standing close enough for Donovan to feel the heat between her legs.

She pulled her blouse over her head as she positioned herself between his legs. Brianna’s bra matched her panties. Her stomach was completely flat, with nary a stretch mark. Her breasts were perfect for her size. Her long, curly hair flowed an inch past her shoulders. Her legs were spread slightly. Donovan felt blood rushing to his manhood as he stared at her slight camel toe.

Brianna reached for his shorts and tried to pull them down. She couldn’t do it without Donovan lifting his hips. He didn’t want to at first, but he couldn’t deny his attraction. He licked his lips as he facilitated the removal of his shorts and boxers. When she got them off, Brianna dropped to her knees and kissed him on the belly button. Donovan inhaled sharply, and his manhood sprang to life. It pulsated, already hard and throbbing against Brianna’s jugular vein.

She lowered her head and took him into her mouth without using her hands. She backed out and devoured him again, working her tongue magically along the way. She watched him the whole time. Donovan’s expression was stuck somewhere between surprise and bliss. Brianna’s eyes were dark and seductive.

She backed away. She kissed the tip and then sucked the head rhythmically, until Donovan’s legs began to fidget. He reached for her with both hands and buried his fingers in her beautiful mane. Brianna didn’t stop until she felt his toes digging into the carpet. She licked him slowly from bottom to top and then asked, “Are you still mad at me?” as the fat head glistened and jumped against her lips.

Donovan shook his head. “Get me a condom,” he breathed.

Brianna smiled and stood and turned away from him so she could reach into her purse. Donovan stared at her thong panties. She didn’t have tons of ass hanging out of them, but when she bent over Donovan desperately wanted to slide between her moist folds. He didn’t think it was possible to f*ck some sense into her, but there was certainly no harm in trying.

Brianna faced him again and tore the condom wrapper with her teeth. She gave Donovan the contraceptive and slipped her panties off while he rolled the condom down the length of his shaft. Donovan wanted her on all fours, but he wasn’t upset when Brianna climbed on top of him. She positioned herself carefully and placed a hand on either side of Donovan’s neck. Donovan took hold of her hips and guided her down slowly. Brianna’s bottom lip disappeared inside her mouth as he invaded her moistness.

Donovan gripped her ass more firmly. Brianna threw her head back and moaned softly. She relaxed her muscles to accommodate his length and girth. The feel of her tight, slick walls clutching his manhood made Donovan’s heart sigh. The sight of his dark meat disappearing inside her was even better. Brianna kept her pubic hair shaved, leaving just a small patch. When Donovan’s bush mingled with it, he emitted a primal grunt that made the hairs stand on every part of Brianna’s body. Her legs quivered. She lowered her head, and her hair fell into her face.

“Feels so good,” she purred. “You feel so good.”

Donovan wanted to tell her that this was not a solution. They had serious problems in their relationship that needed to be addressed. This passion they shared would change nothing. But Brianna started working her hips to a rhythm that was only in their souls, and Donovan pulled her close and sucked her throat. And he began to wonder if maybe he was wrong about all of that.