Pamela Yaye - Other People's Business

Tyrell was champing on his gum as though it was his first meal of the day, and the sound grated on Autumn’s nerves in the process. “What do you want, Tyrell?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded. “I came to see you.”

“Oh, really?” Autumn didn’t have to pretend surprise. She was astonished. “I thought you were in bed with a hangover. Isn’t that why you couldn’t come help me this afternoon?”

Tyrell’s face twisted in rage. He should have known this was coming. Autumn had to make everything he did or didn’t do a federal case. “Please excuse us.” He clutched her arm, and dragged her down the driveway. “Quit trying to embarrass me,” he ordered. “This is not the time or the place for one of your bitch sessions, Autumn.”

L.J. watched from a distance, trying to cool the anger boiling inside him. He had no business interfering, but he didn’t like the way this Tyrell character was manhandling Autumn. If her ex didn’t release his grip on her soon, he was going to make it his business. But when Peter emerged from the aperture of the tent and waved him over, L.J. had no choice but to leave the bickering lovebirds alone and return inside.

“Get your hands off of me!” Autumn snarled, struggling to free herself. But it was a losing battle. It was as if her arm was caught in a vise and no matter how hard she tugged or pulled, she couldn’t break free.

“I will once you calm the heck down.” Tyrell couldn’t believe her. Not only was she wearing a funky attitude but she was carrying on like a child. He had stumbled out of bed, thrown on some clean clothes and driven all the way to the Grisbey estate to see her. And what did he find? Her drooling all over some bodybuilder. “Why the hell are you airing our business in the street? And what’s going on with you and what’s-his-face?”

Tyrell loosened his grip, but didn’t let go of her arm. “So, you’ve been messing around on me? You’ve been fooling around with that dumbbell?” He was puffing heavily and the veins in his clenched hands were popping.

Autumn wanted to hate him, but her heart wouldn’t let her. Just because things hadn’t worked out between them didn’t mean they had to be enemies. Things hadn’t been all bad. Being with Tyrell had taught her some valuable life lessons, and she thanked him for the experiences he had given her. He made no apologies for his grandiose lifestyle and encouraged those around him to live life to the fullest. And that’s exactly what she was going to do, just not with him.

Autumn set her voice in the tone she reserved for when people pushed her too far. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I just met L.J. today. Furthermore, you and I aren’t together so how can I be cheating on you?”

“Is it my fault I was sick?” he challenged. Tyrell watched her eyes darken several shades and could almost see steam blowing out of her ears. It was time to wave the white flag. She was angry and upset and arguing with her wouldn’t help matters any. He stepped into the space that separated them, and traced her jawline with his index finger. “I’m sorry you’re upset, babe but I’m only human.” His face softened as he worked his slightly chapped lips into his most charming smile “I messed up, okay? But I promise to do better next time. You know I care about you, don’t you? You mean everything to me, that’s why I came here tonight. I wanted to see you.”

Autumn examined Tyrell’s face. Remorse was absent and his eyes were blank. Tyrell’s half-hearted apology did nothing to salve her bruised feelings. If anything, it made her angrier.

He thinks he can just waltz in here, slap a stupid smile on his face and things will be fine! Do I ever have news for him! Autumn tilted her head to the side, as if she was staring up at the sky. “I’ve had my fill of your tired promises, Tyrell. I deserve more than what you’ve been giving me and your lukewarm apologies mean nothing to me anymore. It’s time for us to go our separate ways.” Her voice was firm, but she couldn’t completely restrain the quiver in her voice.

“Things have been over between us for some time now, but for some reason I was scared to let you go. I’m not scared anymore, Tyrell.” She waited a few seconds for her words to sink in. “I hope in time we can try being friends again.” Autumn didn’t mean it, but it seemed like the right thing to say.

Tyrell’s face registered surprise. “What are you saying?” he asked, a note of skepticism in his voice. “Are you saying this is it? It’s over for once and all? Is that what you’re telling me?”

How much clearer could she be? Did he want her to write it on her forehead in neon pink marker? “Tyrell. It’s over.” Autumn knew she was doing the right thing, but it didn’t lessen the pain she felt in her heart.

Tyrell reached for Autumn, but she drew back. Mumbling under his breath, he drew a hand over his contorted face and then through his wavy hair.

Autumn watched his phoney smile wane as shock gave way to anger. She stepped back. There was no telling what he might do. She had seen him lose control so many times before, nothing he said or did would surprise her.

Tyrell threw his hands up in the air. “Fine Autumn, if that’s the way you want it, but don’t come crying to me when you realize you’ve made a mistake.” After a brief pause, he spoke again. His voice was chillingly cold. “I knew I should have cut you loose a long time ago. I don’t know what I was thinking wasting my time with a frigid stuck-up chick like you when I have swimsuit models blowing up my phone.” He stomped over to his glistening black Porsche Boxer, and gripped the door handle. “You’ll come back to me. You always do, “he vowed, sliding inside the driver’s seat. He brought the muted engine to life, and it roared loud enough to wake up all the residents on the block. He ripped out of the estate and into the bleak night, leaving Autumn in a cloud of swirling dust.

Ten minutes later, Autumn was back in the tent, trying to keep up with the mindless chatter.

Darcee Kingsway, a willowy, pencil-thin Asian woman standing next to her, gulped down the rest of her drink and then waved over the crinkly-haired waitress standing nearby. Darcee dumped her empty wine flute on the tray the waitress held and helped herself to another. “So, I understand your parents are vacationing in Martinique. When are they due back?”

“I have no idea. They keep pushing back their return date, but I suspect it’ll be sometime next month.”

Darcee twisted the dazzling rhinestone bracelet on her left wrist, and in a tone that was more alcohol-induced than natural, said, “Vance bought me this when we went to Martinique for our first wedding anniversary. Since then, we’ve been to the island at least a dozen times. It’s the place to go to be properly spoiled and pampered, you know. We always stay at the Ilet Oscar, a tiny private island offshore from the town of Le Francois. The enormous nineteenth-century house is simply delightful! It’s staffed with a full-time, live-in maid, cook, masseuse and boatman. Would you believe the house has a twenty-acre tropical reserve and…”

Why didn’t I just go home? Autumn wondered. After watching Tyrell disappear down the block, she had spent some time outside gathering her wits about her. She wasn’t upset that Tyrell had yelled at her. She was ticked off that he’d made a fool of her in front of L.J. Sure, he was a virtual stranger, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed being humiliated. She had returned to the party with the sole purpose of apologizing to him, but after scouring the tent and spotting him huddled in a tiny, dark corner with Shante, her interest had died faster than quick-dry nail polish.