Just Talk to Me (AriQui #1) Read online

  JUST TALK TO ME

  Just talk to me is available for bulk purchasing. For details please contact the author Arica Quinn directly at [email protected] or at (276) 624-7844.

  Just Talk To Me

  Published By Cenece Dixon Publishing

  P.O. Box: 32023 Aurora CO 80041

  515-992-6657

  This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise-without permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  Cover Design By Dante Toms, [email protected]

  Author Photos: Kymora Jaxson Photography, www.kymorajacksonphotography.com

  Copyright © 2014 by Arica Quinn

  All rights reserved

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-publication Data

  2014955412

  ISBN 978-0-9909429-0-0

  Printed in the US

  Dedication

  To myself, my friends, and to your friends. To every person man or woman who wishes someone would just talk to them. Whether it’s a husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, parent and child, friend to friend. Communication is key in any relationship and is vital to the success of that relationship. So I dedicate this book to all of us who have been hurt, mistreated, abused and rejected through inadequate communication. I hope you experience healing through each page of this book as you read it just as I did through writing it.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  THE STORY

  Acknowledgment

  I want to thank some very special and dynamic people, whom without them my dream to bring Just Talk To Me to the world would not have been realized. I thank each of you for your support, friendship and commitment.

  Seven Sevante: Without your push to write I never would have picked up the pen and pad in the first place.

  2. Yvonne McCoy (mom): For being there to talk to through my failed relationships and for taking time to read my story and write a wonderful, well thought out Introduction.

  Contact Information:

  His Healing Hands

  Po Box 441064

  Aurora, CO 80014

  [email protected], hhhands.net

  (951) 444-1833

  3. My Children (Jeremiah Taylor and Matthias McGee): For putting up with me when I was in my writing zone and giving me the space and time to write.

  4. Cenece Dixon Publishing: For understanding the vision and opening the door for this book to be available to the world.

  5. Dante Toms (Graphic Designer): For the most incredible book cover design. You truly captured the essence of the book and the message I desire to convey.

  6. Kymora Jaxson Photography: Hands down the best studio ever. You truly brought out the real me that has been hidden for far to long. You embodied my concept for the inside cover and, through your lens, brought it to life.

  Contact Information:

  Zsa'nee Gaines, Lead Photographer

  303 Airport Blvd. Suite 110, Aurora, CO 80011 kymorajaxsonphotography.com

  [email protected]

  720-295-8557

  7. Zimtek Studios/Fresh Records DBA Spiritually Fresh Entertainment for taking my audio book vision and giving it a voice and a platform to grow, develop and mature.

  Contact Information

  Zimmeri McNeal

  2550 S Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80222

  zimtekstudios.com

  [email protected]

  720-550-6121

  INTRODUCTION

  Romance can be so unpredictable with its ups and downs. The challenges can be so overwhelming. But the outcomes of can also be so intriguing. "Just Talk To Me" will take you through the lives of several couples whose relationships have been uncertain to say the least. The circumstances of their lives and the outcomes will cause you desire to see them resolve their issues and truly love. Their incompatibility, lies and lack of trust have woven these lives together through friendship and pain.

  Communication and trust are so important in a relationship. But as you glaze through this story you will see the imperfection, yet the beauty in each character as their lives are reformed and transformed. The suspense of each couple’s escapades will keep you longing for more.

  "Just Talk To Me” is worth every bit of your time. Take a

  moment to engage and see which one of the characters may really turn out to be you. This is a classy tale of love, rejection and forgiveness. You will be captivated as you stroll through the pages and see that life can and often will be a mystery.

  JUST TALK TO ME

  An AriQui Novella Series

  The language of this book was purposefully

  written in everyday “real talk” conversation. Be aware: it is intentionally that it is NOT grammatically correct .

  As the alarm blares and the blinds open, allowing

  subtle rays of light to shine through, Maxwell swings his long, dark chocolate legs to the side of the bed. With his head resting in his hands, “Man, another day. God let this be a day with no nonsense.”

  Standing and stretching his thick, muscular broad shoulders to get the kinks out, he walks to the bathroom and starts his shower.

  Across town Myra stands in the kitchen in her purple robe, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Opening the almost empty fridge, she wonders out loud, “What do I feed these boys for breakfast? They had eggs and bacon yesterday, maybe pancakes and sausage.”

  Just as she closes the refrigerator door, she is greeted by a warm hug around her legs.

  “Good morning, Momma.”

  “Good morning, baby, Is your brother up?”

  “I thinks so, I go see.”

  Watching her five-year-old run down the hall yelling at the top of his lungs, “Bo Bo,” a soft smile graces her warm mocha face.

  ***

  Out of the shower and dressed in his light grey pinstriped suit, light blue shirt and navy paisley tie, Maxwell walks into the kitchen, pours a tall, cold glass of orange juice, and answers his iPhone.

  “Hello, hey Keith. Yeah, I’ll be there in about ten minutes, peace.” Maxwell downs his orange juice then grabs his briefcase, jacket and keys.

  As he locks his door, Kiki from down the hall says, “Good morning,” while waiting for the elevator.

  “Hey, Kiki how are you?”

  “I’m good, Max. How was your evening?”

  “It was fine, nothing special,” he says as the elevator door opens to the lobby. “I’ll talk to you later, Kiki.”

  Watching him stride out the front doors, she thinks, Ooh wee, I want that man.

  ***

  “All right, boys, let’s go. You’re going to be late for school; Chop, chop.”

  “Okay, Momma, here we come.”

  Getting in the car, Myra reminds them to put on their seat belts. Pulling out of the complex, Myra watches the cars go by, day dreaming of the day she will have her dream car.

  “Momma, snap out of it. You can go.”

  Merging into traffic, she says, “Are you ready for your finals today, Immanuel?”

  “I’m ready. I am so glad summer vacation and graduation are almost here.”

  “Me, too,” says Nathan.

  ***

  Pulling up to Keith’s house, Maxwell blows the horn. Rolling down his window, he honks again. Finally Keith emerges, six feet four, sun-kissed brown skin, dark brown eyes and L.L Cool J lips.

  As he gets in the car, Maxwell asks, “So, Keith, what’s up with your car?”

  “It should be out of the shop on Friday. Man, Max, I can’t believe it she caused
$1,800 worth of damage.”

  “I told you to watch out for her, man.”

  “I know, Max, but I didn’t even do anything. I’m still trying to figure out why this happened.”

  ***

  Walking into the salon, Myra opens the blinds, turns on the open sign, and starts the coffee. “I hope these clients are on time today.”

  The door opens and in walks Angelina, five feet eight, smooth caramel complexion, long, straight, silky hair cascading down her back and hazel green eyes. “Myra girl, how are you and the boys today?”

  “I’m good and the kings are fine.”

  “Myra, do these jeans look okay on me?”

  “Angelina please, you know you look hot with your little self. Unlike me with all the astronomical force I carry around.” They laugh.

  ***

  Maxwell Thaddeus Anderson, quite the eye candy, is thirty-six, an attorney, and single. Graduated from Howard University, he is on his way to being partner at Rowan, McEwen and Stein, a top-notch law firm in West Palm Beach, Florida.

  “Mr. Anderson, Ms. Monique Johnston is here to see you,” his executive administrator Kim announces over the intercom.

  “Tell her I will be right out. Opening the office door, Ms. Johnston, please come in. Monique why did you do that to Keith’s car?”

  “What? Maxwell, you know he had it coming.”

  “Okay but to key a brother’s car like that, and cause $1800 of damage.”

  “Well, at least he will think about his actions next go around. Any who, I wanted to know how things were going with my legal matter.”

  “Well, Monique, it looks like things are in your favor, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

  “Okay, Maxwell, but how much longer before we know something?”

  “Probably about another month. There is a lot of red tape to cut through.”

  “Well, thank you for your time.”

  “Just see Kim on your way out and she will set the next appointment. And be nice to Keith.”

  “Yeah, yeah, Whatever.”

  Back at the salon, it’s busy as usual. However it should be, considering Le’Reauxs is the top salon and spa in the Miami area. Everyone who is anyone makes an appointment here: television stars, movie stars, sport figures, politicians, in addition to everyday folks.

  There is a section for the little ones with plasma TV’s at each station and wireless ear plugs so each child can watch the movie of their choice as they sit in a plush Disney character chair.

  Then, there is the teen section stocked with PlayStation 3, Xbox Kinect, Wii, pool table, air hockey and foosball.

  For the grown folks, there is good music, soft leather chairs and everything you can think of that is pampering, whether you are a man or a woman. Oh, and did I fail to mention the one-of-a-kind juice bar and café? With an establishment like this, it is hard to understand why Myra doesn’t have the things she wants for herself and her boys. But then to know why, you would have to go back a few years, a place she does not like to venture.

  It’s Friday so that means her girls, the girl Friday crew as she calls them, will be in to have their hair and nails done. Just like clockwork Monique and Kiki arrive at two.

  “All right, ladies, so what spot are yawl going to tonight?”

  “Well, that depends if you are going with us,” Kiki chimes in. And don’t be giving us that, ‘I can’t because of the boys’ excuse. Angelina’s daughter already said she would watch Nathan and Immanuel is already gone to hang with his boys. So what’s up, girl? You coming or not?

  “All right, Club Nazi, I’m coming.”

  “Good, then why don’t we make it a glam night?”

  ***

  It’s five in the evening when Keith knocks on Maxwell’s office door. Peeking his head in, he asks, “Man, you ready?”

  “Give me 10 more minutes to wrap up this deposition and I will be.”

  “All right. I talked with the fellas and they are down for taking a ride to Miami tonight.”

  “Okay, man, let me finish and we can get out of here.”

  Miami! Wow I haven’t been there since I was with… Snap out of it, Max! You said you were over that, and you are over it, right? Focus on what you are doing so you can get out of here.

  “Keith,” Max says over the intercom, “let’s go.” Getting in the car, he asks, “So what spot are we going to?”

  “We decided to wait to we get to the Ami and see what happens.”

  “I’m down for any place except…”

  “Oh, come on Max, really says Keith. Don’t tell me you still can’t go there. It’s been two years now and she still got you tied up like that! When you gonna face the demon, man? So what if she’s there, at least you can see her, get over it and move the hell on.”

  ***

  Glam night? Why glam night? They know I have nothing to wear. Look at me. Damn, everything I put on looks awful. If I didn’t have all this stomach and behind, I might be able to find something. Ugh! I disgust myself. Forget it. I’m not going. What man is ever going to want to talk to me!

  Tears are streaming down Myra’s face when the doorbell rings. “Who is it?” she asks glumly as she tries to wipe her face.

  “It’s Angelina, girl.”

  Great, just who I need to see right now with her beautiful self. Myra opens the door.

  “Girl, are you all right? What’s wrong and why aren’t you ready?”

  “I’m not going, but you go and have a good time.”

  Looking at Myra’s face, Angelina can tell she has been crying.

  “Myra, I am not going to let you sit in this house and wallow. Come on, girl, let’s go make you stunning.”

  “Stunning. Me? Yeah, right, Angelina. Look at me. Nothing about me says stunning.”

  Angelina thinks to herself, Damn, I told them not to do glam night.

  “Baby, come on, I got you. When I am done, you will see just how stunning you are.”

  ***

  Pulling away in his brand new, white Tesla Model S, Max yells, “All right, man, I’ll be back in a couple of hours to pick you up. And Keith, be ready.”

  “I will,” Keith yells back as he goes inside.

  Miami. What the hell am I thinking, going to Miami? That place has nothing but bad memories. Jasmine was so perfect, or so I thought until I found her two days before our wedding with Anthony. My girl and my brother. Isn’t that some….I haven’t been to Miami since then.

  What do I do if I see her, see them, since they are married now? Why did I even agree to this? What the hell was I thinking? Maybe I can skip out tonight.

  Okay, Maxwell, I guess this is it, time to face the demons as Keith put it. Stop tripping, you probably won’t even see them. But what if I do? Then what? I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. Who knows, this may be the night a true queen comes into view.

  ***

  Grateful, with tears in her eyes, Myra says, “Angelina, wow. I never thought I could look like… I mean, wow, really.”

  Angelina hugs her. “Girl, you are hot. In a quote from my favorite movie, you are PHAT– pretty, hot and thick. You look like a queen.”

  “You and your Phat Girls’ movie quotes.” They share a good healthy laugh.

  “Okay, let's go. I can't wait to see Kiki’s and Monique's faces when they see you. Shoot, I might even need to go home and change now.”

  Taking one last look in the mirror, Myra thinks, Damn, girl, you really look stunning. Hmm, wonder if this night a king might finally spot you. “I'm ready.”

  ***

  Keith better be ready. I'm already not wanting to take this ride. Maxwell honks the horn and Keith comes right out. Damn, I was hoping he wouldn't.

  “Well, maybe we ought to call you Max-a-million tonight. You should have called a brother and told him you were going to step out like that.”

  “Whatever. So, are we picking up the fellas or are we meeting them at the usual Miami dinner spot first?”

  �
�We are meeting them.”

  Good, he sighed. That way if I want to bounce early I can, and Keith can ride back with them.

  “Oh, man, Max, I almost forgot to tell you about the call I got about 20 minutes ago.”

  “What call was that?”

  “It was Monique,” Keith said, looking at him,shock on his face.

  “Monique! What? Are you kidding me?”

  “Nah, man.”

  “What she say?”

  “Not tonight, man. We'll talk later.”

  “Cool.”

  Max hits the button on the remote to play some old school. They ride out to the sounds of the O’Jays, Whispers and Ohio Players.

  ***

  “Myra, you look amazing, girl!” Monique exclaims as she spins her around.

  “You do,” Kiki agrees.

  Angelina smiles. “Okay, ladies, let's do this.” They pull up to the Bianca at Delano and Angelina hands the keys to the valet. Hooking arms, they strut into the restaurant.

  “We have a reservation for four under Le’Reaux.”

  “Right this way, ladies,” the maitre’d responds.

  The restaurant is five-star with a stylish and sophisticated interior design.

  “Oh no,” Monique says, in shock.

  “What, girl? What's wrong? You look like you seen a ghost,” Angelina responds.

  “I don't believe it. Keith is here,” she answers motioning in his direction. Just then, Keith looks up and meets the unsettling gaze in her eyes. A knot quickly forms in the pit of her stomach.