Page 28 of Someone Like You

Casimir

I had never been a sap-ass nigga, but Giselle’s absence had me ready to sing Luther’s “A House is Not a Home.” Five days had passed since she left me, and she wasn’t taking my calls or texts.

As much as I wanted to drive to her job, I wouldn’t put Imani in the uncomfortable position of trying to make excuses for Giselle, and I wouldn’t pressure Giselle while she was at work.

I put the weights down and leaned forward with my elbows on my knees.

All the early morning jogging, late nights in the office, and boring reading throughout the night hadn’t helped a thing.

I was restless and could not sleep. I wanted my Elle in my bed and my arms, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until she was back where she belonged.

“Aye, you good, G?” Jude asked from the bench beside me.

He had come to work out at our gym. He had a free membership because he was messing around with the woman who owned the building. He sat up and removed his AirPods from his ears.

“Yeah, just thinking about money moves,” I lied.

“Or more likely about honey moves.”

I slanted my gaze his way and rolled my eyes.

“Too soon for that?” Jude asked and chuckled.

“What you think?”

“I think you need to go get your woman back.”

“That’s just it. I have no idea where she is.”

“I’m sure a brilliant and resourceful man like yourself can figure that shit out, homie. You’ve already let it go too far by not checking Beth’s ass, now you’re gonna let another week pass, and before you know it, Giselle will be singing that old ass Jody Whatley song, ‘Looking For A New Love.’”

I scowled at him and asked, “How the hell do you know that old ass song?”

“Same way you do. My mama used to sing that shit all the time when I was a kid.”

“I hear you, and I want to go get her, but if she left, that means that she’s not trying to be with me.”

“That ain’t what that means at all. It means that she wants you to fight for her, protect her, and prove to her that you won’t let anybody ever get that close again. The fact that Beth felt comfortable enough rolling up on that girl’s job and threatening her is fucked up.”

“Yeah, she was wrong with that move.”

“Nah, I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about you.”

“I had nothing to do with what Beth did.”

“I’m saying, nigga, you didn’t impress upon old girl how important Giselle was to you.

She didn’t get the memo that you don’t play ’bout that one.

If she had, she never would have tried it.

She felt too comfortable rolling up there, and that’s all because you never secured your woman.

You never put the message out about how you really feel about her and what you would do to anyone who tried to step to her.

Beth’s probably looking at that girl like she’s just a random girl you fuck around with. ”

“No, she knows me better than that.”

“Or does she? All I’m saying is that it’s time for you to send the message out. Beth’s ass is out of pocket, and she needs to be checked.”

“I hear you.”

“You’d better do more than hear me. You need to handle your shit, big homie.”

“I know. But Giselle is on some ethical shit. I honestly believe it goes past her license. I think she’s worried about how it looks, period. She was my marriage counselor, and now she’s involved with me.”

“It doesn’t matter what it looks like. Sometimes, you can’t help the way you feel about a person, and yes, it might be messed up, but that’s how it happened.

She’s who you fell in love with, and you’re who she fell in love with.

You can’t always base your heart’s desires on what society says that you should do.

You can only be the best that you can be and follow your heart.

I personally think the two of you are a good look for each other. ”

“Why is that?”

“Everything you told me about this girl, and everything that I know about you, says you belong together. You both were married and gave your all to the marriage, only to be hurt by the person you trusted most. Whether it was Beth playing in your face and taking you for granted or Giselle’s husband committing suicide, their actions hurt you.

You both are good people who deserve better than that.

I can’t think of a better person for you to find healing, wholeness, and love with and vice versa. ”

I looked at my old friend and smirked. “Look at your ass spouting wisdom.”

He shrugged. “Just saying.”

I stood and wiped my face with my hand towel.

“Where you going?” he asked.

I smirked. “To put shit in play to get my woman back. I’m about to tear down Beth’s house of cards.”

After my shower, I headed into my bedroom and made a phone call.

“Travis, what’s good?”

“Nothing much. Just counting down the days to go time is all.”

“D-day is today. Let’s do this.”

“Wait. I thought you said it was happening in two weeks?”

“No. I want it done now. I gave the warning, and they didn’t back down.”

“What the hell happened between today and two weeks ago?”

“Beth happened.”

“Aw damn. What did the Ice Princess do now?”

Travis had always called my wife that. He said that she had no heart, gave a shit about nothing, and could stand outside butt naked in the middle of a blizzard, and her ass would still be just as tan and hot as if she stepped out of Jamaica.

“She visited Giselle and threatened her.”

“I know old Bethany Perez ain’t threatened to put her hands on nobody.”

“No. Beth wouldn’t dare do that. She would hire someone to do it for her. Instead, she went straight for the jugular. She threatened Giselle that if she didn’t leave me alone, she would report her unethical behavior to the state examiners and psychologists board.”

“Damn. She’s fighting ugly.”

“She is. The Senator called today issuing threats about exposing Giselle on the news.”

“Fuck.”

“If this is the fight they want, then that’s the fight they’ll get. I want all of that shit released tonight, including the tapes.”

“Word? You taking the whole family down in one blow?”

“Damn straight.”

“So, the same sources that we previously discussed?”

“Yeah . . . Send them to CNN, NBC, and Fox. Those bitches will be singing a different tune tomorrow this time.”

I hated fighting fire with fire, and usually, I could ignore stupidity.

But this wasn’t about me. This was about Giselle.

She hadn’t asked to be dragged into the ongoing battle between Bethany and me.

I knew that if I didn’t put a stop to it now, she would keep on.

If there was any chance of me getting Giselle back, then I needed to end this game now.

“All right, C. I’m on it now.”

“Call me when it’s done.”

“I will. Sit tight and chill and worry about how you’re gonna make peace with that woman. Jude told me she was fine as hell and a good one at that. You don’t want to mess up something like that.”

“I know. That’s why I’m doing this.”

“Be easy, Cas.”

“A’ight.”

No sooner than I hung up the phone, I called my father.

“Casimir, it’s been a while. What’s on your mind, son?”

“Nothing. Listen, I know that the last time that we spoke, I came off extremely defensive about my choices.”

“No. Before you go down that road, let me stop you. Your mother and I have been talking about this since the day that you came by and told me about the divorce. I owe you an apology, son.”

Those words took me aback, and I bowed my head and ran my hand over it. I sat on the edge of the bed, wondering if I misheard him.

“For what?”

“The way that I reacted when you told me you were divorcing her.”

“You didn’t trip, Dad.”

“No, I didn’t. But I also didn’t give you my unwavering support, nor did I thank you for how you handled the entire situation.

From the moment that your mother and I came to you about you marrying Beth, you weren’t happy about it, and I should have considered that.

Instead, I pushed my will on you, and you did what I asked of you.

From the minute that you agreed you never complained one time.

I had no right to do that to you, and for that, I’m sorry. ”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I’ve seen how unhappy you’ve been through the years, but I turned my head the other way and ignored it for my selfish reasons. Again, I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. Do you forgive an old man?”

“Of course, Dad. It was just time for me to make a stand for my happiness. I had to get out before Beth and I started hating one another. And at this point, I’m not sure that we don’t already feel that way.”

“I hoped that you two could end it amicably.”

“It’s too late for that.”

“Why?”

“She found out that I was involved with someone else.”

“Someone like who?”

“Someone that she and I both have in common.”

“Like?”

“Our marriage counselor.”

“Son. Are you serious? Did this woman in any way manipul—”

“No, Dad! She’s not like that. If anything, I manipulated her. She didn’t want to become involved with me for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was the fact that I was married.”

“Were you involved with her while you were married to Beth?”

“No. I never shared my feelings with her until after our divorce was official. Then I pursued her like I’d lost my mind. It didn’t matter though. She was still against it because of her license. Eventually, she gave in to me, but now all that doesn’t matter. She’s broken things off.”

“Why?”

“Beth visited her and gave her an ultimatum. Either she ends things with me, or she would report her to the board for unethical behavior so that she could lose her license.”

“My God.”

“I know, Dad.”

“What can I do? Should I call Greg?”

“No. Don’t worry about it. I’m handling it.”

Greg Sorenson was married to the president of the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. He also happened to be good friends with my father, and his wife was my mother’s best friend.

“Are you sure? Because I don’t mind putting in a call.”

“I’d rather handle things on my own using my tactics before I call in a favor with them. I’d like to look at them as a last resort.”

“Okay, whatever you say, Casimir. Let me know if there’s any other way that I can help.”

“I will, Dad. I just wanted to call to make sure that you and I were okay.”

“Son, I would never allow anything or anyone to come between us. You’re my son, and I love you, and I’m damn sure proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

I had finally shared information about my businesses with my parents when they began to worry about my financial status.

“I hope that we’ll get to meet this special lady someday soon.”

“If I can convince her to come back to my team, the very next thing I will do is bring her to meet you two.”

“Good.”

“Okay, Dad. I have to go. I’ve got some more loose ends to wrap up.”

“Okay. Love you, son.”

“Love you, too, and tell Mama I love her too.”

We ended the call, and I lay back on my bed to breathe for a moment and think about what I wanted to do to convince Giselle to come back to me.