A/N: Nice to know a lot of you enjoyed the last chapter :) Shout out to ChelleLew, Tammy, DeeMarie426, nikki1335, IRENELOVE83, Ctinaisfashion, i-r-i-s, wwefanatic365 and justkimmy for the feedback. Keep 'em comin'!
"For God's sake, Pamela, quit looking at me like that."
Turning away from the petite woman sitting at the kitchen table, Sasha rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. Since narrating the events of last night to Pam, she'd been staring her down with that annoying stank face of hers. It was alright when she directed that face at others, but not her. It made her want to slap her face back into place. Pam did it all the time, and Sasha remembered in high school when she'd done it once, during an argument between them that got violent. This time, she kept her cool and focused on preparing Mia and T.K.'s school lunches while Pam burned a hole through her.
"So let me get this straight." Pam began to count off her fingers. "Dinner was great. Joe was great, all by your own admission. He brings you home without incident, then he wants to kiss you goodnight and you shoot him down? How the fuck else do you want me to look at you? Because you've obviously lost your mind."
"Mia is in the next room, watch your damn mouth." Speaking of, what was taking her so long? "Mia, baby? Hurry up! Aunt Pam is waiting!" Pam was here to pick Mia up and take her to school since the gym she worked at was close to Mia's elementary school. Pam did Mia's school run virtually every day, and it was another favor from her that Sasha would always be grateful for.
"What exactly was wrong with a goodnight kiss, Sash?" the petite woman demanded, "I thought you were attracted to him." She watched her nod her head. "And obviously he finds you attractive, he wouldn't have asked to see you again if he didn't. So what's the problem?"
"I don't know," Sasha defended herself, "What do you want me to tell you? That I got scared and chickened out? Fine. I got scared. I chickened out. Happy?"
"Hell no I ain't happy. I came here for details about the hot steamy rabbit sex you had with that hunk last night, how you finally unleashed years of sexual frustration on his ass. Or at least tell me whether he's a good kisser or not. Something. Anything. But instead I come up empty-handed. Either that or you're hiding what really happened from me. Not cool, Sasha. Not cool at all."
"I'm not hiding anything," Sasha grumbled.
"I know you, girl. I know your dumb ass spent every minute questioning his every move last night," said Pam. "And so what if he has intentions? So do you. You have needs, babe. Immediate needs. Are you tryna tell me you're not sexually frustrated? How long has it been since you last fucked? Months? Years?"
Honestly, Sasha had stopped keeping track. She hadn't been in a serious relationship since Mia's birth. She no longer trusted men enough, so dates fizzled out before anything more could come out of it. She'd pretty much numbed herself off sex and everything that came with it. Which was why her instant attraction to Joe frightened her. If 'questioning his every move' meant spending the entire evening watching his hands and his tongue and wishing she could feel them on her body, then Pam was right. She wanted him, in more ways than one, and she just wasn't used to feeling that way. "It's not that simple," she attempted.
"Yes it is. Wanting Joe is perfectly normal. It doesn't suddenly make you a slut. Mia and T.K. won't love you any less. They don't even have to be brought into the picture yet."
Now she tells me. Sasha carefully placed the sandwiches in two separate brown paper bags and rolled them up. "I kinda already told him about them."
"You did? And he didn't freak out or nothin'?" A look of surprise crossed the shorter woman's features. "And you wanna run away from that? Now I know you crazy."
Sasha sighed. "Maybe I am crazy. Because I don't know what the heck I'm doing." She bit her lip, wishing she didn't feel as helpless and frustrated as she was feeling.
She felt Pam's arm around her shoulders. "I know why you're scared, baby. I saw it all happen, remember? But I think this one is different. Joe's already told you he's not going to rush you into anything. That right there already shows he's a gentleman. Lord knows we don't see much of those around anymore." Pam kissed her shoulder. "Quit panicking, Sasha. You barely know each other but he's already given you control. How far you want to go with him is up to you, so go with the flow. But if you wait any longer to get laid girl, I might have to buy you a vibrator."
She winked, and Sasha rolled her eyes. For someone who had much advice on men, Pam never seemed to tie one down for herself, going all the way back to their younger days. Sasha envied her sometimes. Perhaps if she was the same way, things would be much different, she thought.
Mia skipped into the kitchen, her backpack in hand and a bright smile on her face. "Good morning Aunt Pam!"
"Morning, Mimi. You ready?" Withdrawing her iPad from her handbag, Pam handed it to Sasha. "Go on YouTube. Type in 'The Shield WWE'. Thank me later." She put an arm around Mia's shoulders. "Come on, baby. Let's leave your crazy heffa mama all to herself."
Mia glanced at Sasha with big curious eyes. "Mama, what's a heffa?"
"Nothing, baby. Ignore Aunt Pam," she said quickly, kissing her daughter's cheek before giving Pam her best 'I'ma kill you later' glare. Giggling, Pam blew her a kiss and led Mia out the front door. T.K. appeared in the kitchen minutes later, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Morning, ma."
"You need a new pair of shoes," she said, glaring at the worn sneakers in his grasp.
T.K. glanced at his shoes. They were the only pair he had, and thanks to the constant use, they were practically falling apart. "Naw, don't worry about it, ma. Told the guys on the team they're my lucky shoes. If I don't got them on, I'll never be on my A-game," he shrugged, taking his lunch bag from her and leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Don't forget, the game's at four."
"I'll be there with Mia. Good luck, baby." She waited for him to leave before reaching for the stack of bills she'd hidden away, eyeing them sullenly. They'd been gnawing at her for days now, and she knew what she needed to do. She didn't like it, but right now she had very few options.
She sat in the dingy-looking reception area, fiddling her thumbs nervously. There was no one there, and the receptionist was nowhere to be found, but she could hear chatter behind the door at the other side of the room. The truck drivers should be having their lunch break right now, so she was sure she came at the right time. She would wait.
The door opened, and a bleached blonde woman strolled over to the receptionist's desk. "Can I help you, ma'am?" She popped her gum loudly.
"Hi, I'm looking for Tyson Bridges."
The woman eyed her up and down. "Got a name?"
"Just tell him it's urgent. Please?"
The woman hesitated, then walked back through the door she'd come out from. A couple of seconds later, a man emerged, bringing Sasha face to face with the boy she once loved. Once.
It was easy to fall for a guy like Tyson Bridges. Light-skinned with big brown eyes and wavy dark hair, he was one of the popular boys back in high school. Every girl wanted to be with him. So when he asked her out back in their junior year, Sasha was surprised. Sure, she and Pam were also popular to some degree, but definitely not on Tyson's level. Making a move on her was unexpected, but Sasha didn't think twice. She remembered it like it was yesterday; the night her life changed forever, in that grimy motel room on Homecoming night in their senior year. To this day, she could still hear his voice in her ear, all deep and silky and thick with desire…
"Come on sugar, we don't need to use that no more…I want you to feel me, all of me…"
So they didn't use 'that'. And the product of that decision was currently the star player of his high school basketball team.
The moment he discovered Sasha was pregnant, Tyson wanted nothing to do with her. He left her high and dry, hooked up with some other chick and graduated high school while she was forced to drop out. Sasha was left to pick up the pieces of her life – as well as her broken heart – while he moved on with his own life, eventually finding work as a warehouse truck driver and married with a daughter. Not once in seventeen years did he go out of his way to inquire about his son. Sasha had done a good job keeping away from Tyson Sr., but circumstances were forcing her back in his direction.
Though it was expected, her heart lurched at his cold expression. "What'chu doin' here?" he frowned, looking every bit like the son he denied.
She got to her feet. "Can we go outside?" she asked, uncomfortable. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the receptionist watching closely. The last thing she wanted was to become gossip fodder around here.
But Tyson was having none of it. "Girl, this job pays me twenty dollars an hour. I ain't got no time for chit-chat," he snapped, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his uniform. "What do you want?"
He wasn't budging. Fine. "I called you last week," she started. "You didn't return any of my calls…Tyson, things haven't been so great for me, and I need your help with T.K.-"
"I ain't got no money."
Sasha ignored the rude interruption. "Ty, I've been raising your son by myself and in seventeen years I've never asked you for anything. I just need a little help. He needs new clothes, for one…" The more she talked, the more embarrassed she grew. She shouldn't have come here. She winced at the thought of T.K. finding out about this. His hatred for his father equaled his love for wrestling, and she was certain he would blow a gasket.
"I ain't got no money," Tyson repeated, regarding her like she was something stuck underneath his shoe. "Now you better get gone, and don't ever come to my job no more. Got it?" Without waiting for a response, he turned his back on her, disappearing back to where he came from. For several seconds she stood there, unsurprised yet mortified by his blatant callousness, and she fled from the building, fighting back tears.
Coming here was a mistake she would never make again.
The Mason Hill High gymnasium exploded as the ball dropped into the net right before the final buzzer, signaling The Knights' progression to the next round. Screaming just as loudly as everyone else, Sasha watched proudly as the rest of his teammates hoisted the match-winner T.K. up on their shoulders. She knew a number of college scouts had shown up for this game. She was confident they were taking notice of her boy's consistent performances, and hoped and prayed that something positive would emerge soon.
"You were awesome, Ty-Ty!" Mia praised her big brother as the three exited the school and made their way home. Laughing, the teenager picked her up and swung her around. "Thank you, Baby Pie!" he said, ruffling her hair. Setting her back down and holding her hand tightly, T.K. turned to his mother. "So I was thinking, Ma. Mr. Fischer said he can help me get a job." He was aware of the financial situation in his family. His mom worked double shifts at least five times a week at Reggie's Bar & Grill but the income still wasn't rolling in like that. He was the man of the house; he wanted to step up and help provide for his family. Plus college was less than a year away. He had to start gathering income from somewhere.
But Sasha was already shaking her head in disagreement. "Nope, mm-mm."
"But Mama, you gotta let me help."
"No baby, you're staying in school," Sasha said adamantly.
"But I can work and go to school."
"Baby, trust me when I say that's not a good idea, especially not when you're in your senior year." She knew directly from experience the importance of finishing high school. Every day she wished she could turn back time and do it over. "You just concentrate on your studies and getting that athletic scholarship. Let me take care of it, okay?"
"Are you sure?" T.K. didn't look convinced, but Sasha nodded resolutely. She wasn't going to let her son take the same path her life took. "Absolutely. We'll be fine, I promise." She reached up to run her fingers through his hair, holding his gaze until he nodded and effectively dropped the subject.
"Yo, what's up T.K.?"
Sasha saw the brand new car before she saw the young boy sitting on top of it. Lamar Jones, an old friend of T.K.'s. They used to go to school together until Lamar dropped out after his mother, whom Sasha had known, died of cancer. A frown crossed Sasha's features when T.K. bounded over to him and exchanged a man-shake. "Hey man. How ya been?"
"I'm chillin'," said Lamar. "Great game today man, that buzzer beater was sweet!"
"Thanks. Man, sweet ride you got there," T.K. lauded.
"I appreciate it. Just bought it recently. She's my baby," said Lamar, patting the hood of the Mercedes affectionately. He finally noticed Sasha standing there. "Hey, Miss M."
"Hey." Sasha crossed her arms, not liking the look of longing on her son's face.
"We're going out tonight to celebrate. You wanna come?" Lamar asked T.K. He was about to respond but stopped short, casting a quick glance at Sasha. "Naw, I gotta take my mom and my sister home," he answered, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
"A'ight, cool. I can give y'all a ride if you want," Lamar offered.
"We got it," Sasha spoke up this time, eyeing the teenage dropout unfavorably. "Hey, Lamar. Whose car is this?"
"Mine," he answered, like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"And where do you work? How can you afford this car?" They all knew the answer to that question. There was only one thing he could be doing that could afford him such luxury. Pam had a decent job and still couldn't buy a car like that. Shaking her head, Sasha walked up to the boy, who kept his gaze averted from hers. "You know your mama would turn over in her grave if she knew, right?"
"Okay, Mom." T.K. quickly stepped in before things could become even more antagonistic. He man-hugged Lamar, muttered a quick goodbye and led his mother away. "Whatchu go and do that for, Ma?"
She huffed. "I don't want you hangin' with him no more," she said curtly, tightening her hold around Mia's hand. "I don't even want you talkin' to him."
"Come on Ma! Me and Lamar have been hangin' since the fourth grade-"
"I don't care. That ain't the boy I knew in the fourth grade. He's changed, and I don't want you around all of that."
"But Mama-"
She spun around, getting in T.K.'s face, and for a split second she was seeing his father. "I ain't stupid, Tyson! I know he's in the dope game. I do not want you hangin' with him. Do I make myself clear?" She shot him a stern look, daring him to protest again.
T.K. knew better than to do such a thing. "Yes ma'am."
"Good." T.K. was too smart and had too promising of a future to let his life be derailed like Lamar's had. Sasha was determined to let nothing stop her son from attaining the success he deserved.
Back home, with time to spare before heading to the Grill for her shift, Sasha remembered Pam's iPad. Putting on headphones so as not to wake Mia, she tapped on the YouTube app. 'The Shield WWE' turned out to be a collection of videos of Joe and his two partners. They were good. Really good. Evidently his wrestling character Roman Reigns was very different from the gentle, soft-spoken man she'd spent time with the night before. Sasha watched him in action, mesmerized. More importantly, she was turned on.
Pam hadn't been kidding about him – the hair, the S.W.A.T-esque gear that fit him ever so perfectly; his intensity in the ring, the way his skin glistened with every flex of his muscles and every move he made. And then the interviews, when he spoke in that gorgeous baritone voice, or when he glared at the camera with that smirk and snarl…Sasha couldn't tear her eyes away. He was so hot her loins ached. How was she supposed to take it slow with him after seeing all of this? It brightened her relatively moody day, that was for sure.
She spent close to two hours watching as much footage as she could. By the time it was time to head out to the Grill, she was in dire need of a shower…and a change of underwear.
No Joe in this, but I promise he's in the next one. (Anyone hear him go 'Ohhh SHIT son!' on Raw? Epic!) Hope you liked the insight into Sasha's life. Please review! And kindly check out my other story called 'Hounds Undone'. Feedback much appreciated.