All Kinds of Crazy

We took a shower, put back on our swim wear, and enjoyed the rest of our day on the boat. Around six that evening we sailed back to the boat yard and docked. I was so drained from the sun and extremely hungry. We headed back to his place, showered again and went out for dinner. I didn’t feel like dressing up and going to the fancy restaurant and neither did he. We just put on something comfortable and went to a sports bar. Had I known I was going to run into who I ran into on the way to our seats; I would have preferred the fancy restaurant. “Hey Claire,” Kenny said. “Hey Kenny,” I said back. Kenny was seated at a table nearby with his new woman. “Kenny this is Charles, Charles this is Kenny.” “Hey man; what’s up?” Charles said as he shook his hand. “I’m good man,” Kenny replied. “Sharon this is Claire; Claire this is Sharon.” “Nice to meet you Sharon,” I said. “Likewise,” Sharon said.” “Would you guy like to join us?” Kenny asked. I said to myself, (No this mutha fucker didn’t). “No, we’re good,” Charles said. “Enjoy your dinner,” I said as we walked away. “Your man is a trip,” Charles said. “That’s not my man.” “Did you see how he was looking at you?” “No I didn’t.” “Well, if you were on the menu; he would have definitely ordered you.” “Well, I’m not on his menu anymore.” “Yep, you’re on mine now.” “I like the sound of that.” “And I like the taste of that.” “Nasty,” I said. “You like it.” “I sure do.” We placed our order and enjoyed our meal. At the end of the meal I excused myself to use the restroom. When I exited the restroom Kenny was there waiting for me. “Hey Claire, can I talk to you for a minute?” “Kenny, please don’t start.” “You know you don’t love this cat.” “How do you know that?” “Because you love me.” “I do?” “Oh, you don’t?” “No, I don’t.” “Come on, Claire.” “Aren’t you here with someone?” “Man, she ain’t nobody.” “Does she know she ain’t nobody?” “I don’t have feelings for her.” “And I don’t have feelings for you.” “Look at me and tell me that.” “Kenny please.” I stormed off and told Charles I was ready to go. “What’s wrong baby?” he asked. “I’m ready to go.” “Are you upset about something?” “I’m fine baby.” “No you’re not.” “Can we just leave, please?” “Okay, give me a minute.” He stormed over to Kenny’s table. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked Kenny. Kenny excused himself from the table. “What’s up?” Kenny asked Charles. “What did you say to, Claire?” “Man, that’s between me and Claire.” “Yeah, but when you make her upset, that’s when I get involved.” I walked over to get Charles. “Come on baby,” I said to him. “Yeah, get your man,” Kenny said. Sharon came over. “What’s going on?” Sharon asked. “Nothing,” I said. “Nothing, baby,” Kenny said to Sharon. “Let’s go baby, please,” I said to Charles. We left. I could tell that Charles was upset; he put the pedal to the metal. “Baby, are you okay?” I asked him. “Yeah, I’m good; why?” “You riding a little hard aren’t you.” He looked down at the speedometer and saw he was doing ninety. “I’m sorry baby,” he said. He eased off the pedal. “Can I ask you something?” he said. “Sure,” I replied. “Do you still have feelings for him?” “Of course not.” “Are you sure?” “I mean I care about him; that’s just human nature.” “I get the feeling its’ a little more than human nature.” “And what makes you feel that way?” “What he said, I guess.” “And what was that?” “You know what; don’t worry about it.” “No, evidently it is something to worry about, you brought it up.” “It’s cool, Claire,” he said as he placed his hand on my thigh. “It surely is,” I said as I removed his hand. “So, you mad now?” he asked. “No, not at all.” You damn right I was mad. I sat there the entire way to his house quiet. When we got there; I politely grabbed my bag and told him that I would see him later. “So you’re leaving?” “Yes, I am.” “Why?” “I told you that I have no feelings for Kenny, but somehow I don’t think you believe that.” “I mean if you say you don’t you don’t.” “I don’t.” “Well, he made it seem to me like the two of you still have something going on.” “Okay, he calls me and drops by every now and then, but that’s it.” “You sure?” “I’m not going to stand here and play twenty questions with you.” “And I’m not asking you to.” “Well, I’ll call you tomorrow.” “So, you’re still going to leave?” “Yes I am.” All of a sudden my phone rung. It was Grace. “Hello,” I said. “You busy.” “I’ll call you when I get in the car.” “Is that the reason you’re leaving?” “You think that was Kenny?” “Well,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders. “See you later Charles,” I said as I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs to the front door. “Come on Claire; I just want to know where you heart is.” “Really, after the past couple of months we’ve been together and you have to wonder.” “I mean we’re grown.” “Yes we are, Charles.” “So tell me what’s up?” “I’m not having this conversation.” I opened the door and he pushed it closed. I turned and looked at him. He was standing there with this serious look on his face. “I love you, Claire,” he said. I was shocked. I didn’t know what to say. “Did you hear me; I said I love you,” he repeated. “Yes I heard you.” I dropped my bag. He kissed me; then carried me upstairs. Of course I ended up not going home. How could I after he said that. The next morning we got up, had breakfast and I went home. As soon as I stepped through the door; the phone rang. It was Grace and I could tell from the sound of her voice that something was wrong.