Blue Holiday has decided to call foul and leave her destructive marriage. But her cheating husband, Jaylin, decides he needs her money to survive and insists on a rematch. Usually, Blue would be game, but after discovering the depths of his depravity, she drops him from her roster of eligible’s. Unaccustomed to rejection, especially from his wife, Jaylin decides to take what he feels is rightfully his. Problem is, he forgot a woman in love will put up with a lot. But a woman enraged, she’ll let you think you’re winning, just before she snatches it all. Raging Blue a contemporary romance
Blue Holiday reaches the end of her rope, her marriage, and her long-time friendship with BFF, Mia Reynolds. She’s ready to move on but now her husband, the infamous bad-boy baller, Jaylin Mack, is cut from the team because of his erratic behavior and without Blue he’ll be broke. Their chances of reconciliation are extinguished the moment a salacious secret is revealed. As far as Jaylin is concerned, if he can’t have his wife, living off her trust fund will do just fine.
Mia has nothing to lose and everything to gain by making Jaylin hers. After all, he appears to be just what she’s looking for. With his looks, money, and fame, he’s the perfect sponsor for her swanky lifestyle. She has no problem playing a few games of her own to get what she wants. However, when an unexpected twist of events brings her world crumbling down, she’ll come to realize that things aren’t always what they seem.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Blue
He slapped her so hard that her sight blurred for a minute. After a few moments, Blue Holiday
focused on her husband’s towering frame as it loomed over her. Jaylin Mack’s rich, dark
complexion appeared even darker. His French-cuffed shirt was half buttoned and sloped lazily
off his shoulders. His slacks hung low around his slim waist, and his belt was only partially
looped.
“See what you made me do!” he screamed, applying pressure to his temples with the
fingers of both hands.
Shocked into silence, Blue stood still, absorbing the verbal assault. Tears had yet to find
their way down her cheek. In the five years they’d been married, Jay had never put his hands on
her. However, she’d grown accustomed to his crassness, initially intrigued by what she'd
perceived as confidence.
The slap still sent a pulsing sensation across her cheek. The tears finally appeared,
welling up in her eyes. Her unresponsiveness fell away in clumps. She stared at his moving lips
and began to hear him clearly. His words carried as much sting as the slap.
“See what you made me do,” he repeated. The liquor made his tongue lazy, causing each
word to slide into the next.
Blue looked into his wild eyes and blinked. Tears trickled down her cheeks, making dark
circles wherever they landed on her champagne-colored cocktail dress. She swatted them away.
Her eyes were fixed on Jay. He was obviously hopped up on something more potent than scotch.
Blue’s eyes darted around the living room of their lavish penthouse, taking in the massive
floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the dazzling Manhattan skyline. A pair of handsome floor
vases sprouting dried flora caused Blue to pause, but they were too heavy to pick up. Her sight
then rested on his set of prized golf clubs. Blue took slow steps in the direction of the irons as
Jay continued rambling.
“Don’t walk away from me. You’re supposed to be my wife! A woman! Act. Like. One!”
he yelled as Blue continued to walk towards the clubs. “I saw you whispering to that man,” he
said, his voice growing louder. “I saw him kiss you!”
Blue shook her head. Jay’s words lashed at her back. She swatted at them in her mind and imagined the cold steel of the golf club in her hands—as protection. With a few short steps, Jay
was right behind her just as she reached for a club. He grabbed at her, pulling her from the pit of
her thoughts.
“Get off of me!” Blue jerked away from him. Her voice returned, rising to a shaky
screech. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
Jay stared at her, seeming to sober up for just a moment. Blue stared back for a beat
before turning to walk away.
“Don’t walk away from me,” he said, reaching for her again.
“I said don’t touch me! I can’t believe you put your hands on me!” she screamed. Her
heart felt like it was filled with air. She gasped before her voice came back full force. “I’ve put
up with enough from you. But this…,” Blue pointed at the spot on her face that still tingled from
the slap, “…I won’t put up with.”
His jealousy was toxic and intensified under the influence of cocaine. No matter how
much he denied using it, Blue could always tell when he’d been sniffing. Glassy eyes, dilated
pupils and runny nose confirmed words that never passed his lips. Despite his infidelities, it was
apparent he couldn’t cope with the idea of Blue being with another man. It sickened her how he
always accused her, yet she was never unfaithful. She'd sensed his lies but didn’t have proof to
act on any of them. So, she held what little she gleaned for herself.
“You embarrassed me in front of the people I work with and your teammates. I saw you
with that woman on the balcony before you disappeared. And you have the nerve to accuse me?”
“I don’t give a damn about those people. No man should be that close to you! This is
your fault,” he huffed. “Nobody touches my woman!” he screamed, stabbing the air with his
finger.
“Only you, right?” Blue snapped, and walked away. She stopped mid-step and turned
back to him. “Maybe I should have just disappeared with him like you did with that woman
tonight,” she added, flicking her wrist.
Jay’s eyes filled with surprise and then rage. His breathing became ragged. “What woman?”
Blue refused to buy into the beliefs and acceptance of the other basketball wives. She
could care less if all athletes cheated or not. She had her own life to live, and chasing down his
infidelities wasn’t in her plan. She’d deal with a problem if it arose, but she wasn’t going to seek it out just to do nothing about it like the others.
“I should have done it!” she taunted while watching Jay’s eyes grow a shade darker. “But
that’s not what you’re really concerned about. Is it, Jay?” she asked and sauntered back in his
direction. Jay’s jaw clenched.
“You knew he wasn’t flirting?” she asked, calming her tone.
Jay’s jaw twitched again and his hands folded into fists.
“You know what he said to me, don’t you?”
Now it was Jay’s turn to be speechless.
“Why did I have to find out from someone else that you were cut from the team?” Blue
screamed. “They warned you over and over again. You claimed the coach was out to get you, but
it’s time for you to take a look in the mirror and realize this world does not revolve around you.
I’m done!” she said, then waved him off with a hard downward fling of her arm.
Jay finally broke his silence. “I’ll kill his ass!” He stomped the floorboards beneath him.
“That was none of his business. Those bastards are the problem, not me. And what do you mean
you’re done?”
Blue threw her hands up. Jay was playing the victim again, just like his mother had
always taught him.
“No, you’re the problem.” Blue pulled off her five-carat princess-cut engagement ring
and matching wedding band, then threw them at him. “I’m finished with you,” she said before
walking away.
Jay grabbed her by the arm.
“Get off of me!”
“I’m still the man of this house!”
“You’re no man!” she yelled. “You’re a…”
Before she could complete her sentence, Jay grabbed her head with his large hand,
swallowing the side of it the same way he cupped the basketball on the court. He pushed her with
so much force, she went crashing to the floor along with the expensive golf clubs. While trying
to shake off the sense of disorientation, Blue attempted to scramble to her feet. She reached for a
golf club, but couldn’t grab hold. Jay ripped across the room like lightning, tossed the club, and
grabbed her arms.
“I am a man,” he said in staccato, pinning her against the floor. Blue searched the emptiness of his eyes for mercy, and then summoned every bit of
energy she could muster and drew him back to reality with a swift kick between his legs.
Jay released her and grabbed his groin as he howled.
She scuttled out of his reach. This time, she made it to her feet, leapt over Jay, who was
curled in a fetal position, and ran towards the door. Jay reached out and caught her by the leg,
and she fell. The side of Blue’s head met the floor with force.
Jay cursed, still declaring his manliness. As the room grew blurry, he let her know he was
indeed a man. His ranting grew distant, until everything subsided and fell mute.
Chapter 2
Gavin
Lisa smiled at him with a dreaminess that Gavin Gray could appreciate from a woman of her
caliber. She wasn’t caught up by the possible connections she could garner through his
association with star athletes. That smile was all for him. Unlike other women, her eyeballs
didn’t slowly morph into sparkling dollar signs as he explained his job to her. Lisa listened
intently as he shared a recent encounter with a green, starry-eyed college basketball player.
“This kid was so excited he couldn’t even sit still during the meeting,” Gavin said,
driving his fist into the opposite palm. “And his dad…” He paused and took a sip of wine. “That
man is a hell of a negotiator. I really want to close this deal. His game is amazing, and he’s so
humble.” Gavin stressed his point by pressing his finger against the table, appreciative of the
kid’s humility. “I’d love to sign him. I would personally mentor him. Try to keep him from
getting a big head and ruining his character.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you,” Lisa said, and curled the corners of her lips into a
delicate smile.
He liked it so much that he purposely tried to be charming just to coax her grin to the
surface. Even when they spoke over the phone, he could tell when her smile escorted her speech,
making her voice flutter just a little.
“Keep me posted. When you close the deal, we should celebrate.”
Gavin could have sworn he spotted a slight glimmer in her eyes when she said
‘celebrate.’ He found himself wondering exactly what she had in mind. Chuckling inwardly, he
reeled his thoughts back to less provocative notions.
Lisa didn’t have a soft and frilly persona, but her petite yet curvy frame, full pouty lips,
and large brown doe eyes defied her no-nonsense demeanor. The contrast intrigued Gavin.
“Are you finished working on these?” the young waitress asked. She carried a pleasant
voice that seemed to fluctuate with every other word, like she was trying hard to be polite.
“We’re all done. Thank you,” Gavin replied, answering for both. “I’ll take the check
now.”
“Sure. I’ll be right back, sir,” the waitress said, then bounced off towards the exposed
kitchen of the famed soul food gem of East Harlem. LaBelle’s was one of Gavin’s favorite restaurants for a variety of reasons, including its
Southern-Caribbean fusion cuisine, quiet dining, and cozy atmosphere. His frequent visits and
hefty tips garnered him special treatment and the occasional complimentary cocktail. The eatery
provided the perfect setting for his second date with Lisa. He didn’t share this place with many
of the women he dated because he dined there so often. The last thing he wanted was to run into
an ex while trying to enjoy a solo meal or the company of another woman.
“So what’s next?” Lisa asked, with her eyes on Gavin while sipping the last of her drink.
“Whatever you want to do,” he said with a smile as he mentally swatted the mischievous
thoughts racing through his mind. “Tonight is your night.”
She smiled also. “Wow! I must be a lucky girl! But, I can’t stay out too late. I’ve got to
get up early tomorrow, and it’s going to be a long day.”
“What’s on the agenda?” Gavin inquired. He was intrigued about her photography career
because she seemed so passionate. Many of the women who ran in the athletic circles only
seemed to have a passion for the athlete’s money.
“I have a magazine shoot in Central Park at first light, and then I’m shooting a black-tie
benefit tomorrow night,” Lisa said.
“Expecting anyone interesting?” Gavin asked as he took the bill from the returning
waitress, smiled, and thanked her.
“It’ll be mostly supermodels, designers, and possibly a few local politicians. People you
probably wouldn’t know. However, I did hear Lady Gaga is supposed to make an appearance at
the benefit. Apparently, she’s a huge supporter of the organization.”
“That sounds cool. When are you going to take some pictures of me?” Gavin teased, his
voice lowered by a husky quality.
Lisa flashed a demure smile. “We’ll have to see about that. Can I expect you to behave?”
“Now that depends,” he responded, staring directly into her eyes.
“On what?” She asked, meeting his gaze without wavering.
Gavin threw his head back and laughed. If he said the words that came to mind, Lisa
would probably slap him. He’d save that discussion for a date further down the line.
“Ready to go?” he asked, signing the check while avoiding her question. Like a true
gentleman, he stood and gently helped her out of her seat. “How about we take a walk?” he
suggested, not wanting the night to end. “I promise I won’t keep you out too late.” “I think I can manage that.”
Gavin suspected she wanted the date to last longer, just like him. Holding hands, they
walked to his SUV. He drove a few miles before pulling into the garage near his home alongside
Central Park. The evening was alive with bikers, joggers, the whiz of passing taxis, and couples
walking hand-in-hand in the park. They walked and chatted until they reached the entrance near
the carriages.
“Have you ever been on a carriage ride?” Gavin asked, nodding toward the buggies.
“Actually, no! Can you believe that? I’ve been in New York all my life, and I’ve never
been on a carriage ride.”
Gavin smiled. He was happy he could be her first—in that way. He led her in the
direction of the horses, paid for a ride, and helped her into the carriage. Her smile reappeared,
and Gavin wished he could rewind the last few moments just to see it again. He hadn’t fallen for
her completely, but he was happy with what he’d experienced thus far.
Lisa rested her head on his shoulder as the horse trotted around the park. Afterwards, they
had a few more cocktails at a hotel bar overlooking the park. Gavin saw Lisa home, arriving later
than they had planned.
***
Gavin walked in and dropped his keys on the console next to his apartment’s elevator
entry. He sang and stepped in tune as he moseyed through his Zen-inspired penthouse toward the
bedroom in the back. As he passed the double glass doors leading to the rooftop deck, he
checked out his reflection, winked, and smiled. His second date with Lisa had gone well, which
was refreshing after his long dry spell of dateless nights.
Gavin discarded the suit he’d worn to dinner, slipped into a pair of comfortable cotton
lounge pants, and walked barefoot onto the patio. A sated smile lifted the corner of his lips as he
dialed Lisa’s number. Happy she answered right away, his smile spread wider.
“You made it home safely,” she said, her raspy voice reminding him of old blues songs.
“I did. Are you in bed yet?”
“Yes. I’m exhausted. I had a wonderful time—again! Thanks.”
Once again, Gavin could hear the smile in her tone. “Shall we do it again sometime?” Gavin asked coolly.
“I’d love to. How about we make plans at a more reasonable hour. I’m much more
coherent when I’m not sleepy.”
She smiled. He could tell.
“Call you tomorrow?”
“Sounds like a plan. Goodnight.” It sounded like she sang the last word.
“Sleep well,”
Gavin hit the end button and sat in the darkness, taking in the stars. He felt like sleeping
outside but thought better of it. He didn’t want to wake up to hot bird droppings on his head.
Gavin knew what he wanted in a girlfriend, and Lisa was close to that. The standard he
compared everyone against was his best friend’s wife, Blue. She represented everything he
desired, but she was off limits. However, Lisa had potential and was the closest he’d ever come
to what he truly longed for.
Chapter 3
Mia
The doorbell chimed, reminding Mia Reynolds that she was expecting company. She rose from
her scented bath water, not bothering to towel off, and planted a trail of moist footprints down
the carpeted stairs and across the hardwood floors to the front door. Her body was wet and
flower petals clung to her skin.
“Coming,” she crooned while reaching for the doorknob.
“Hmmm!” Trent Harvey moaned at the sight of her glistening nakedness.
Trent stepped in to the spacious living room with its creamy white walls, sleek white
furniture and zebra print accents. Her landlord and best friend, Blue, chose the crisp set up.
Trent lifted her into his muscular arms. “And you smell good, too,” he said, caressing her
back.
Mia wrapped her bare legs around him, nestled her face into his beefy neck, and took a
long whiff. He always smelled magnificent. Then Mia slid down his taut body, slowing near his
groin. When her feet touched down, she took him in one hand, and with the other hand, motioned
her finger in a “come hither” gesture. Trent followed like an obedient puppy.
He’s going to be perfect, Mia thought as she led him up to the master bath.
“Your body is so beautiful,” he said in his deep Southern drawl.
He looked up at her nude portrait hanging in the bathroom and smiled.
This man doesn’t own a single ounce of body fat. She watched him disrobe as she
examined the crevices of his toned physique. Trent was as black as night, with skin as supple as
butter. He came fully equipped with an athletic build, a handsome baby face, and plump, inviting
lips. He was also the youngest, least experienced of her suitors—and freshly married. His
inexperience was just what Mia liked about him. He’d been in the NFL for only a few years, but
it was the fact that he had just gotten married and was new to Atlanta that made him appealing to
her.
Trent was a country boy from Mississippi. His sultry voice seemed to be swathed in a
syrupy slur. When he entered a room, all eyes were on him. That’s how Mia had noticed him, but
she'd laid low until the right time. She knew one day she’d have him, but the timing and setup
had to be perfect. Mia seduced him from afar with sexy smiles, her killer gait, and flirtatious
gazes. To lay her foundation, she had done just enough to invite his curiosity until it was time to
make her move, and Trent had fallen right into her provocative clutches.
When they reached the bath, Mia stepped in the large Jacuzzi tub and invited him in with
a hand gesture and sly smile. Trent stepped in one leg at a time, sinking into the sweet-smelling,
foamy water. Once he was completely submerged, Mia positioned herself between his thick, firm
legs. She felt his main muscle against her back. Trent dipped his hands underwater and caressed
her wet skin. A soft moan caught in Mia’s throat. The sounds Mia emitted gave Trent license to
go further.
“You like that, baby?” Trent teased, dipping his fingers into her center. “I can’t get
enough of you,” he whispered into her ear between nibbles.
Mia arched her back and rolled her hips. She felt Trent’s swollen member grow even
more rigid, jabbing her from behind. He toyed with her center until she swelled and purred like a
kitten.
“Stand up,” he said, and lifted her from behind. Trent stood, pressing his chest against her
back. He reached around her and tweaked her nipples then gently guided her forward. Mia
obliged placing her hands on the edge of the tub offering Trent greater access to her heated
center. Mia winced as he slid his expansive manhood into her from behind. This was the best
kind of pain.
Mia wanted to scream, but gnawed her bottom lip instead. Her eyes rolled back into her
head. Groans resonated from her core and escaped without her permission. A flicker of heat rose
in her belly, and she couldn’t hold back anymore. Her knees grew weak and gave out, forcing
Trent to support her fully. Muscle spasms erupted randomly along her legs. Mia shook her head
from side to side, clamped her teeth, and screamed before collapsing into his arms.
Their excursion began in the bathroom, journeyed through the master bedroom, and
ended on the back deck. Trent, looking sated, licked his lips and smiled at Mia. The coolness of
the night caressed her skin, causing her nipples to harden again. Still naked, Mia sat on Trent’s
bare lap and kissed him. She wanted to tell him how amazing he was as a lover, but instead, she
held her tongue.
“What if I told you I was pregnant?” Mia asked in a near whisper.
Trent’s content smile crumbled. Unable to tell where his thoughts were taking him, she
remained quiet, allowing the silence to absorb the moment. “I’m married,” Trent said with a look of confusion, as if he was confessing this news to
her for the first time.
“I know that. I didn’t ask you about your marriage,” Mia stated calmly. She wanted to
calculate his response by his facial expression, but all she could read was uncertainty. This
wasn't the reaction she wanted to see. She wasn't interested in wrecking his home. As far as she
was concerned, his wife never had to know about the baby. All he had to do was set her and the
baby up financially, and she would be fine.
Trent looked perplexed. He opened his mouth several times though no words came out. "I
thought you were on the pill or . . . something," he finally said. "How far along are you?"
“I’m not completely sure, but I think I’m around two months. When I go to my doctor’s
appointment, I’ll find out for sure.” She paused to gauge his reaction. However, his face hadn’t
changed. “I was on the pill, but you know that stuff isn’t guaranteed.”
“But I always wear protection,” he said, looking down at the shriveled plastic lying
beside the chair. “It can’t be me.” His brows creased.
Mia stood, removing herself from his lap. She followed his gaze to her belly and turned
her back to him.
“Trent, the first time we had sex, everything happened so fast that I don’t think we used
protection, remember?” she huffed. “Do you think I want this? I’m not trying to break up your
happy home,” she said, curling her fingers to make air quotes when she stressed the word
‘happy.’ “These things happen. So what are we going to do?”
Trent stood and stared at Mia while pacing the deck. “I can’t believe this. I just got
married,” he said, appearing deflated.
Mia watched him from the corner of her eyes.
“I’ll go to the doctor with you. How soon can we get a DNA test?” he asked.
Mia walked back into the house, retrieved his clothes, and threw them at him. In silence,
Trent dressed quickly, shaking his head a time or two.
Even though she’d stashed nearly a half million dollars in her accounts over the years,
she needed more to secure her financial future for the long haul. A baby was the key—at least for
the next eighteen years. She would have to find someone else to take the fall because the real
father would have to remain a secret.
Once Mia was alone, the depth of her situation settled on her chest like dead weight. Still wearing her robe, she hadn’t bothered to get dressed after throwing Trent out. She’d been pacing
for the better part of an hour. Her plan wasn’t coming together like she intended. One of these
men is going to accept my baby, she thought to herself. Someone easygoing, who wouldn’t
question the possibility that it belonged to him or push her for too many details.
Mia picked up the phone to call Kendrick King. She held it in her hand, but never dialed
the number. Even though she was a petite woman, his wife, Peyton, was a force––a true match
for Mia’s antics. She couldn’t stand Peyton, and getting Kendrick to accept the baby would mean
she’d have to deal with Peyton head on. Plopping down on the couch, Mia tossed the phone to
the side, squeezed her eyes shut, and huffed. Her grumble filled the room.
The real father of her unborn child could never be revealed. There would be too much
fallout even though he had the right credentials, an athlete with a lucrative contract who could set
her up for life.
The thought popped into Mia’s mind like a flash of light. She wouldn’t focus on the
current possibilities. She would try to find someone new. Timing was the only issue. Men
weren’t well versed on women’s bodies, so she could always fudge the due dates or find a
plausible explanation to make the right candidate believe the baby legitimately came early.
Chapter 4
Blue
The low rumble of Jay’s snoring stole into Blue’s subconscious and nudged her awake. Her eyes
fluttered a few times before eventually catching the light. She blinked away the brightness of the
room and woke in a haze. Her chest felt heavy, as if she was being held down by weights. Blue
squeezed her eyes, then opened them and looked around the room. The clock told her it was past
two in the morning. Jay lay next to her with his arm across her chest. The strong scent of
whiskey and stale breath sifted into the air with each snore.
Her mind flooded with flashes of the scene that had led to her current position, laid out on
her back. She tasted the remnants of blood on the inside of her lip, and rubbed her temple to
soothe the slight pounding. Then she lifted Jay’s heavy arm from across her chest and peeled her
body off of the floor. The beauty of her cocktail dress was soiled with salty tear stains and hard
wrinkles. Dull aches prodded her upper body.
Jay mumbled and rolled over on the floor as if he were in the comfort of their California
king-size bed. She stepped over his sleeping body and padded through the penthouse into the
master bath. Horrified by her reflection, she forced down the massive lump clogging her throat.
The normal brightness of her blue eyes was doused by the surrounding redness. Puffy eyelids
overlapped, deepening the crease in her lids. She gently ran her hand across her swollen cheek.
The crimson bruise shone easily despite her rich pecan skin. Dried blood crusted her bruised
upper lip. She shook her head and turned away as fresh tears added new wet splotches to her
dress. She searched the vanity for a hairband and stuffed the long, natural curls of her unruly
mane into a ruthless ponytail. With her hair out of the way, the swelling became more
pronounced. She shook her head. She would have never imagined their relationship
disintegrating this way.
Blue continued to cry as she quietly crept around the penthouse, stuffing clothes and
toiletries into an overnight bag. She’d already started mourning the death of their marriage.
* * *
Jay,
I’ll be back in a few days and I want you out! You need help and I hope you find it.
Good luck,Blue
Blue taped the note to the mirror in the guest bath. She fingered the tape for a few
moments, closed her eyes, and sucked in a deep breath as she pushed back more tears. She knew
Jay wouldn’t let things go easily. He owned the rights to the last word, and when he was wrong,
he deemed himself justified. The heaviness in her breath was for the battle that would ensue
since she was the one walking out on him.
Once the stirring in his stomach erupted, she was sure he’d be incapable of making it to
the master bath. And after emptying his insides in the sink or the toilet bowl in the guest
bathroom, he’d wash his face and stare at his pitiful reflection in the mirror like he always did
when he'd had too much to drink.
Jay was still in a stupor when she tiptoed past him, heading for the door. When she
reached the lobby, Tony, the building concierge, offered to help her, but she refused. Blue
hastened out of the building with Tony trotting behind her.
“Let me get you a taxi, Mrs. Holiday!” Upon getting a clear view of her face, he stopped
walking. “Ma’am, are you all right?” he asked, with accusing, angry brows slashing away his
good humor.
“I’m fine, Tony. Please, just get me a taxi. Quick!”
“Surely,” Tony replied, and blew his whistle.
Within seconds, a taxi pulled up to the curb. Tony took her bag and gently placed it in the
trunk. Almost as an afterthought, Blue reached in her purse to give him a tip, but Tony gently
rested his hand on hers and nodded.
“It’s all right, Mrs. Holiday. Feel better,” he said, then closed the door for her.
“Where to?” the driver asked in a rich West African accent.
Blue didn’t answer.
“Miss, where would you like to go?” he asked again.
Blue paused, pondering an answer. Her mother would blow things way out of proportion,
she wasn’t ready to tell her brother what had happened, and she didn’t have many friends.
“Ma’am, please. Where am I taking you?” the driver said, trying hard to mask his
annoyance with her.
“Upper East Side. No! Take me to 124
th
Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard. Take
me there!” Blue said, hoping her cousin, Francois, was home.She dialed Francois’ number, but never heard her say hello upon answering. Instead, in
the background, she could hear Fran’s giddy laugh and the deep rumble of a man’s voice. She
disconnected the call.
“Forget it. Take me to this address,” Blue said, handing the driver a card.
Minutes later, they pulled up to a building on the Upper East Side alongside Central Park.
Blue collected her belongings and tipped the driver. For a few seconds, she stood motionless on
the sidewalk with her carryall at her feet. She wasn’t sure if it was the right place to be.
However, it was where she knew she could feel a semblance of comfort. She touched her cheek,
the reminder of why she was here.
The taxi pulled away, canceling out the potential of her getting back in the car and going
elsewhere. Blue stood outside the luxurious, mid-century building for a long while before finally
making the call. She hated having to bug him, but she was already here. Despite the lateness of
the hour, he didn’t sound like he’d woken from a deep sleep.
“Hi…uh…are you alone? May I come in?”
Blue dragged her bags off of the elevator and directly into her friend’s lavish penthouse
overlooking Central Park. She was awash in trepidation. Concern was etched on Gavin’s face,
which made her remember the past twelve hours as tears streamed down her face. She’d almost
forgotten she was crying. The tears felt so normal.
Gavin started to reach for her bags, but stopped suddenly. He stared at her bruised cheek
and swollen eye. Blue let the bags slide from her hands and shoulders, hitting the floor with a
loud thump, jolting Gavin from his examination.
“He did this to you?” he asked, gently touching her bloated cheek.
Gavin turned her face from side to side with a gentle touch to her chin. His face was tight.
Blue felt naked as he assessed the physical damage. Her body began to tremble under the
weight of her emotions. As her silent tears grew into audible cries, Gavin cautiously wrapped his
long arms around her.
Moments passed before Blue calmed herself and then stepped out of Gavin’s embrace.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable in his arms. She didn’t want to end up there, but needed to be
around someone who understood her and Jay. Gavin had always been around to pick up the
pieces when things went awry.
Gavin was tall, but not as hefty as the average basketball player. He possessed a fit medium frame, but not ripped and taut like an athlete. Not physically good enough to make the
draft, but intelligent enough to be a sought-after agent and manager. He was nice-looking, but
not gorgeous. Jay was over the edge in every aspect of life. Gavin was…average.
“He went too far this time,” Gavin said to Blue’s back as she walked towards the
balcony. “I can’t believe this,” he continued while pacing back and forth.
“Do you have any tea?” Blue asked casually.
Without responding, he went to the kitchen and put the kettle on. She walked back to the
balcony.
Gavin stepped behind her as she peered out over the darkness blanketing Central Park.
"What are you going to do?"
“He was asleep when I left. I wrote a note telling him that I would be back in a few days,
and expecting him gone.”
“Where are you going to stay?”
She let out an exaggerated sigh and shrugged. “I called Fran, but she was entertaining.
So, I don’t know.” She paused. “I probably shouldn’t have come here,” she said, wringing her
hands.
“If you need to stay here, you can,” Gavin said after a while.
Blue knew Gavin’s offer would require him to give up more than space in his beautiful
home. It would possibly cross the line in his loyalty to his best friend.
“I’m going to stay at a hotel. Thanks for the offer, though.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“I’ll be fine.” She tried to make her voice sound light. “Maybe I can just rest for a little
while. Then I’ll go and get a room for the night.”
“Okay, but just know the offer still stands.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, you know as soon as he gets up, I’m going to get a call.”
“I know,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck while squeezing her eyes shut.
“Maybe you should try to get some rest.”
“I’ll be fine,” Blue replied with all the cheer she could gather. “Thank you. Thanks for
looking out for me, as always,” she said, giving him a big friendly hug. Instead of letting go, she
laid her head against his broad chest. “Friends like you don’t come easy.” Blue cried and sniffled softly into Gavin’s chest. When the kettle screeched, she pulled
herself from his embrace, and he headed toward the kitchen. He took his time preparing her tea,
then carried the steaming cup out the balcony.
As Gavin turned to leave, the telephone rang. Blue swung her head in his direction. With
her eyes, she pleaded with Gavin to keep her visit a secret in case it was Jay on the other end of
the phone. She'd expected Jay would lay in his stupor for the better part of the night, giving her
time to be long gone before the sunlight hit and he noticed she was gone. Assuming he wouldn’t
remember much anyway, she rolled her eyes at the thought of him trying to put together all the
pieces of his drunken outburst.
“Hello,” Gavin said into the receiver, attempting to sound as normal as possible. “Jay…
okay…calm down…okay…relax, man. Where are you?” he asked Jay while his eyes locked with
Blue’s.
Gavin’s eyes widened and Blue took a step closer with bated breath when Gavin repeated
Jay’s response to his question aloud. "You're in the lobby...of my building? Right now?"
Without a second thought, Blue grabbed her bags and trudged several flights down the
hollow stairwell. The loud clank of her heels reverberated off the cement walls. When she
reached the first level, she peered past the door into the lobby for any sign of Jay. Then she
hurried past the doorman and through the gold-trimmed glass doors. Once outside, she hailed her
own cab. She moved with such haste that the doorman didn’t have a chance to open the door for
her when the taxi rolled up.
As she climbed into the car, she turned back to the building and locked eyes with Jay as
he peered out of the glass-enclosed elevator. His eyes narrowed and then sparked with realization
before he exited the elevator and came running toward her.
Blue slammed the door, flung her bag across the seat, and yelled at the taxi driver, “Go!
Hurry! Go now!”
“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.
Within arm’s length of the car, Jay reached for the door.
“Drive, dammit!” Blue screamed. “Drive!”
The taxi driver caught sight of Jay’s lanky, commanding frame and panicked. He threw
the car into “drive” and sped off. Blue’s heart felt like it would pound right through her chest.
She hopelessly tried to catch her breath.“Where do you want me to take you, miss?” the driver asked nervously once they were a
few blocks away.
Blue hadn’t given her destination much thought. She wiped her hand down her face and
sucked in a deep breath. As her hand pressed her bruised cheek, she winced from the pain. She
definitely couldn’t go to her family members’ house with her face looking the way it did.
“What hotel is close by?” she asked.
“There are quite a few. There’s a very nice boutique hotel right along Central Park called
The Pierre,” the driver suggested.
“Take me there!”
The driver stepped on the gas and made his way toward the exquisite Pierre, a Taj Hotel,
while Blue rested back against the seat. Thoughts of the night’s events flapped through her mind.
Everything about the past few hours blazed through her head so quickly that she thought she
actually saw flashes of light. Looking back, she noticed another taxi weaving in and out of traffic
behind them.
The car gained on them until it was dangerously close to the rear of her taxi. Blue’s driver
rolled down his window and began waving rude gestures at the reckless taxi riding closely on his
tail. Blue could see Jay in the front passenger seat, directing the driver. Her heart rate increased.
There was no getting away. She had to face him or risk him following her all night.
Blue’s cell phone sprung to life, playing a jazz tune. The LCD lit up the back of the car.
The display told her it was Gavin.
“Gavin!” was all she managed to say.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“I’m on Madison and Seventy-something,” she responded, trying to make out the passing
street sign. “He’s following us in a taxi.”
Blue’s driver cursed as he cut through the dark misty calm of the city streets. Sweat
spread across his forehead and glistened under the passing lights.
“Stop the car!” Blue yelled to the driver.
“Stay in the car!” Gavin yelled through the phone.
“He’s not going to stop. Someone is going to get hurt.”
“Please, just stay in the car,” he pleaded.
Blue pressed the END button on her Blackberry. Then she pulled twenty dollars from her purse and dropped it on the front seat.
“Let me out here,” she said.
The taxi jerked to a stop, and the driver snatched the money as Blue swung the door
open, grabbed her bags, and jumped out. Blue had barely closed the door when the driver sped
away. Seconds later, Jay’s taxi screeched to a hard stop in front of Blue. Jay leapt out of the
passenger seat and reached for Blue.
“I’m sorry, baby. Let’s talk. We need to talk,” Jay babbled.
It was clear he was still under the influence of his earlier vices. His disjointed sentences
and emotional flux frightened her. Blue had never seen this side of him. Jay grabbed her by the
arms, forcing her to face him.
“Let me go, Jay,” she told him, trying to remain calm. “We’re causing a scene.” She
looked toward the crowd that began to gather.
Cars whizzed by blaring their horns, demanding they move from the side of the street.
Jay continued to babble as he dragged her toward the sidewalk. His fingers felt like they were
wrapped around her bones. His pleas made him appear childlike and desperate. As the crowd
grew larger, she searched her mind for a safe way to get out of Jay’s presence.
“Miss, are you alright?” one gentleman asked.
“Mind your business!” Jay screamed to the onlookers.
“Hey, isn’t that the basketball player Jaylin Mack?” another bystander asked to no one in
particular when he recognized him.
Jay turned, bore his eyes into the crowd, and screamed again, “I said mind your own
damn business!”
Another taxi skidded to a halt beside them, and Gavin jumped out. When Jay saw Gavin,
he grunted but didn’t release his hold on Blue.
“Jay, let’s take this off the streets. You’re causing a scene,” Gavin said coolly, while
slowly approaching Jay’s side.
Sirens blared, drowning out Gavin’s negotiation. Two police cars barreled toward them
and came to a screeching stop. The officers jumped out, barking orders at the crowd and Jay,
who still held Blue in his grip. One cop went as far as to draw his gun and command Jay to
release Blue. Without letting go, Jay wiped the tears from his face with his shoulder.
“Sir, let the lady go,” the officer demanded, approaching closer with his gun still aimed at Jay.
“You’re going to shoot me?”
The officer stepped in cautiously.
“You’re going to shoot me!” Jay repeated in a higher pitch.
Blue wished she could close her eyes and disappear. The more agitated Jay got, the
harder his fingers dug into her arms, his nails breaking her flesh.
As Jay cursed the officers, two of them closed in on him. One held the gun inches from
Jay’s head, while the other struggled to cuff him as he read his rights to him. By the time they'd
stuffed Jay inside the car, the officers’ foreheads were speckled with sweat.
After answering a host of questions about the incident, the police officers finally let Blue
go. She could feel Jay’s eyes glued on her from the rear of the squad car. Blue watched,
unmoving, as the police cars sped off along Fifth Avenue. When she turned around, she realized
she was once again alone with Gavin, who always seemed to be there for her.
*****
Blue settled into The Pierre, a historic luxury hotel elegantly designed with a marble
lobby, towering ceilings, captivating floral arrangements, and gracious white-gloved service. The
recently renovated room provided a picturesque view of Central Park. Inviting warmth radiated
from the traditional mahogany wood desk, satin headboard, and plush bedding.
Blue soaked her aching body in the hotel’s small tub, but longed for the comfort of her
own large Jacuzzi. Her jet-black coils floated in the water as tears mixed with the droplets that
settled on her face from the steam. Crying, she pondered the abrupt changes in her life, wishing
there was a switch she could flick to turn off her heart. She felt sorry for Jay, but she’d grown
weary of their taxing relationship. They'd had their arguments, but he’d never put his hands on
her. Still, she wondered if it would be fair to leave without at least giving him an opportunity to
redeem himself.
Years ago, he'd promised her that he would stop with the drugs. She had never seen him
indulge, but she could always tell when he'd had a hit. His demeanor darkened and his temper
flared easily. His lips and eyes would twitch involuntarily. She recalled the time when he'd
sneezed and chunks of red tissue and membrane had sprayed the bathroom sink. The cocaine
usage had begun to eat away at the flesh in his nasal passages.Blue realized she had cried herself to sleep when she was shocked awake by her
Blackberry playing a cheery tropical tune with steel drums. The melody startled her. She rubbed
her eyes and then blinked out of her haze. Her sight settled on her wrinkled fingers; she had
shriveled up like a prune. She lifted her sore limbs from the water, dried off, and wrapped her
body in the plush hotel robe. She felt a slight pounding at her right temple, the same side of her
face that had met the hardwood floor of her penthouse. While holding her face in her hands, she
got a sharp reminder of its tenderness.
The steel drums played again, and she reached for the phone. She didn’t recognize the
number, but against her better judgment, she answered anyway. Hearing Jay's voice froze her to
the spot. Tossing the phone entered her mind, but she shook the thought away.
“Blue,” he whispered.
He was sober now. She could tell.
“Blue, please answer me. I know you’re there.”
“What do you want?” She tried to keep her voice steady.
The last thing she wanted to do was cry again or let Jay hear her pain. She swallowed
hard and pushed back the hurt before repeating, “What do you want from me?”
“I’m sorry,” Jay said and then paused. “Please…tell me what happened.”
Blue lifted her head to the ceiling and blinked back the tears. Jay hadn’t even realized
what he had done.
“Too much, Jay.” This time, the tears came and the pain forced its way out.
“Did I hurt you?”
Blue didn’t answer. She drew in a soggy breath, pressed her lips together, and tried to
suppress the rest of her anguish. Minutes passed before she spoke again.
“Yes. You went too far this time.”
“Baby…I…” A dense silence settled between them again.
“I can’t do this anymore. I have to go.”
“Baby…can you bail me out?”
Blue pressed the end button.
Chapter 5
Gavin
Gavin paced around his spacious living room contemplating whether or not he should bail his
friend out. His friendship with Jay had been on the decline for the past few months, starting with
Jay’s erratic behavior on the court. As his agent, he’d warned him numerous times that his
actions could land him in trouble. Jay, being hardheaded, threw aside Gavin’s admonitions as
idle threats. It wasn’t until Gavin dropped him as a client that he realized he’d meant business.
When their friendship survived the business breakup, Gavin was somewhat relieved, even
though Jay wasn’t the ideal companion. His hardcore competitiveness spilled over from the court
into every possible area of life. Simple conversations weren’t safe from his need to always be
right or to one-up everyone. Gavin wondered how much more their fragile connection could
stand. He was still in awe of Jay’s behavior the evening before.
Gavin patted his back pocket and checked his wallet to make sure he had everything he
needed to get the large sum of money from the bank. Leaving him in that cell crossed his mind
several times. Maybe this would be an opportunity for Jay to assess his life and make some
much-needed changes. Then again, Gavin doubted it would help.
Gavin headed for the elevator. As he reached to press the call button, doubt clouded his
mind again and his hands dropped to his sides. This is it, he determined. This would be the last
and final time he’d help Jay, and then, just like all the others, he would distance himself. He even
decided he wouldn’t ask for his money back. It was the price he’d pay to get rid of his so-called
friend.
The process of bailing Jay out went more smoothly than Gavin anticipated. He'd expected
to spend half the day waiting around the courthouse, and was pleasantly surprised when things
appeared to go seamlessly.
Jay came dashing out of the building in haste. Gavin had to look twice to make sure it
was him heading in his direction. He looked disheveled. A stomach-churning stench mixed with
urine and alcohol littered the air around him. Jay still wore the dress shirt and slacks he'd had on
at the reception, which were now stained with blood and liquor. His custom cuff links were
missing, and his monogrammed shirt was torn. Gavin thought about giving him cab money to get
home instead of letting him ride in his late-model Range Rover.
“Thanks, man! I’m going to get that money back to you as soon as I work things out with
Blue,” Jay promised as he wiped his dirty hand across his face. He was still moving fast.
Gavin raised a brow. Jay’s behavior was suspicious. He’d seen him in this anxious state
before and hoped Jay hadn’t managed to score while he was in lockup. Being in jail didn’t seem
to hinder access to illegal drugs.
“Don’t worry about it. Consider it a gift,” Gavin said, giving Jay a bewildered look.
“Why are you walking so fast, man?”
Gavin had to walk double-time to keep up with Jay’s pace as they proceeded in the
direction of the parking garage. Jay rambled on while the attendant brought the car to them. By
the time they got inside, Gavin had stopped listening.
“Can I use your phone for a minute, man? I need to call Stan,” Jay said.
The mention of Stan’s name confirmed Gavin’s suspicions. Gavin shook his head. He
couldn’t believe that after getting out of jail, the first person Jay wanted to call was a damn coke
dealer.
“Better yet, can we stop by there on the way to the house? I need to—”
Gavin slammed on the brakes. “After what you’ve been through in the past twenty-four
hours, you get out of jail and the first thing you can think of is getting high. Isn’t that what got
you into this situation in the first place?” Gavin eased off of the brakes. “You need to focus on
working things out with Blue.”
“Don’t worry about me and Blue. We’ll be fine. This is not the first time we’ve had
problems,” Jay replied like it was no big deal.
Gavin snapped his neck in Jay’s direction. “You hit her!” His brows were knitted. “Is
yesterday a total blur to you?” He waited for a reaction from Jay. “You need to get your head
straight, man. I’m not taking you to Stan’s. I’m taking you home.”
Jay slammed his fist down on the dashboard and then stared out the window, while taking
hard breaths. Gavin shook his head again.
“Fine. Don’t take me to Stan’s. I can handle my business on my own. Just drop me off.
I’ll get your money. Don’t worry about that.”
“Jay, this is not about the money!” Gavin said. He was on the verge of saying more but stopped. Getting through to Jay during a normal conversation was a daunting task, so he knew
his efforts would be especially fruitless now. Gavin resigned himself to focusing on getting Jay
home as fast as possible.
“Why are you worried about it? I bet you just want her for yourself. I see how you look at
her. You’ve always been mad because I got her instead of you.”
“What!” Gavin’s face was tight from Jay’s insinuation. A vile response lingered on his
lips, but he held his tongue. Instead, he looked at his watch and then checked the street to see
how close he was to Jay's building. He even thought about putting him out right where they
were.
“You’ve wanted Blue since the first day we all met, but I got her. That incredible body,
nice hair, and blue eyes against her pretty brown face. You’re jealous!”
Gavin smashed his brakes, shifted into the right lane, and brought the car to an abrupt
stop. It took all of his inner strength to refrain from punching Jay right in his mouth.
“Get out!”
“You're putting me out? I don’t live here,” Jay said, repositioning himself in the seat.
Gavin shut his eyes briefly and gnawed on his bottom lip.
“How can you just put me out of your car? You can’t be serious!”
“I’m going to say this one more time.” Gavin clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and
centered his heated gaze on Jay’s eyes. “Get. Out!” He pointed to the door.
Jay looked at Gavin like he didn’t understand.
“Man, just drive. Stop playing games.”
Gavin turned off the ignition, sat back, and folded his arms.
“So you’re just going to sit here?” Jay asked when he realized Gavin wasn’t going to
move. “Come on, man. I don’t have time for this.”
Gavin closed his eyes to focus on reeling in his anger. He wasn’t a fighter, but he could
already feel the satisfaction from striking Jay one good time. Jay wouldn’t go down easy, and
that one punch would quickly evolve into an all-out brawl. Gavin toyed with the possible
outcomes as he sat there.
“All right! I apologize. Now can we just go home?” Jay huffed.
Gavin shifted the car back into drive and raced to Jay’s building in silence. The car door
had barely met the frame before he peeled off, filling the air with the high pitch of his tires.When he arrived home, Gavin wore down his natural wood floors pacing off his anger.
The conversation with Jay played over in his head. He wasn’t surprised at his friend’s
uncharitable ways, but he'd at least expected a semblance of appreciation for bailing him out.
Snatching a glass from the cupboard, he set it down with a clank and popped open a
vintage bottle of red wine. Stepping out onto the sun-soaked patio, he settled into a chair. With
no other obligations for the day, he was free to rest his mind. He couldn’t imagine having to go
back to the office after his encounter with Jay. He’d made the right decision by clearing his work
schedule.
Undoubtedly, it was time to cut the ties on their taxing relationship. Gavin had tolerated
Jay long enough, having been friends since high school. Over the years, he had witnessed many
of Jay’s other friendships disintegrate and wondered how theirs' had lasted. By the time they'd
reached their thirties, Gavin had expected more growth from Jay.
Gavin blamed Jay’s mother for his destructive ways. She was the guilty type who used
materials things to fill voids that should have been sustained by basic nurturing. She was hard,
made bitter by his father’s absence. Their relationship had stripped her of softness, leaving a
shell of a woman to serve as Jay’s only parent. A single mother with multiple jobs, she barely
had enough of herself to give. Jay’s interaction with his father had been minimal, spanning years
at times, with occasional visits that induced momentary excitement from vacant promises.
Together, they'd succeeded in creating another bottomless shell who desired from the world what
his parents were unable to give.
Certain of his final decision, Gavin rose from his chair. It was time to end their
friendship. He huffed as his resolve clashed with his conscience. He no longer wanted to be
bothered, but who else did Jay have?
Professional Reviews
Alicia Evans,
"Raging Blue" by Renee Daniel Flagler is a gripping fast paced tale. Renee
Daniel Flagler brings these characters and their stories together like a veteran
story teller that she is. "Raging Blue" is the real Basketball Wives… Alicia Evans,
President of Sugar & Spice Book Club
