"Gone. Got her check and split," William said from his seat on the far-end sofa as Jake took a seat on the sofa opposite him.

"Damn. That girl looks good. Let me ask you . . . is that why Yvonne left?" He poured the Absolut Vodka into the glass he held.

"No. She didn't say she was the problem. Although there was a time she did accuse me of fucking her," William admitted.

"Have you?" Jake poured in the orange juice.

"No. She's my housemaid, my babies' nanny. I don't fuck people who work for me. They expect more and do less. Thinking they got something over you."

Jake chuckled. "Actually, I'm not screwing anyone. I told you this crap before. I'm out the game. I don't have time for all that. I have enough on my plate. No time to be chasing ass," William confessed.

"Think she's coming back?" Jake asked.

"Don't know. Don't know much of what she does anymore." William fi nished his drink, looked into the empty glass and felt his life running in parallel—empty and uncertain. He never fathomed the thought of living without his wife, or her ever having the courage to leave him.

"Maybe that's why. You weren't spending any time, you bastard. You're all wrapped up in this shit you do."

"Nope. I was always available for her and the kids. My time is my own. No, she stopped coming home, she stopped having conversations, she stopped everything . . ."

"Yeah, because she caught your ass fucking somebody. I know. Yvonne loves you, and the only thing that would make her leave you is another bitch. A woman has got to be out of her fucking mind leaving all this shit behind."

"I'm telling you man, no. I'm cool now. Nothing's happening outside or inside of this house." William started to fi x another glass.

"William, let me say this. You're a nice guy, but you're also a real bastard. Confess, you've done something? What about those panties?" Jake downed the remaining half glass and joined William in the preparation of another glass for himself.

"That was damn near two years ago," William stated.

"Yeah, like women forget shit. They love making us guys pay for shit years later in life. They get off on that trick."

"I don't know, man." William leaned back.

"And you still don't know whose panties they were?" Jake leaned back.

"No idea. That sport jacket sat on that hook over there"—he pointed behind him, at a wall with seven hooks—"for like three, four days, and people were all in and out of here. Don't know who she is—"

"Or he," Jake added.

"Oh shit. Don't destroy the fantasy." William paused. "No clue, man. She never revealed herself." He sipped. "Man, back then, at that time I don't even know if I would have, but these days, I'm getting backed up."

"Backed up. You really haven't been doing anything?" Jake sipped. Knowing of William's whorish ways and past behavior, he was surprise.

"No. I've been good for a while. I'm talkin' years. There's been lots of changes in my life. A lot of shorties pushin' up on me, but I'm tired of all that crap."

"Yeah, your ass is getting old, that's all, or fi nally growing up. Now me, I need the exercises."

"What, Tam's not taking care of you?" William asked.

"Man, I'm chasing Tam off me. Shit, you know she's still asking me to do that."

"Do what? The booty?" William chuckled.

"Yeah, man."

"What's up with that?"

"No." Jake waved his hand at William.

"Yo. You better take care of your girl. She's calling. You better hit that before someone else does."

"Yeah, like you, you bastard."

"Your girl looks good, but no. That's okay. I like you, you dumb fuck."

"I don't know how you can do that shit. It's nasty. Putting your dick in someone's ass. That shit is sick."

"How the hell would you know if you never done it?"

"I did it before, and seeing shit all over my dick wasn't pleasing, or a rewarding sight, let me tell you."

"You did it wrong. You got caught in the moment and got nasty. Now if you're going to do that, you have to prepare."

"Prepare?" Jake reached for the bottle again. "How the fuck do you do that?"

"I told her how. She's ready for you. She's going to get tired of that dildo."

"Yeah, you and your conversations. Ever since that night, she has been getting on my damn nerves." 

"Jake, not for nothing. That's your lady; take care of her needs and dreams, and she'll be with you for life."

"Bullshit. Where's yours? And I know you took good care of her."

"Now that's low, you bitch." He leaned forward toward the table to mix another drink. Jake's statement was why William disliked telling people his business; they always threw it in your face at some point and time. "But you're right. I did everything I thought I should be doing. I've tried to give her all her desires, and still it wasn't enough."

"Did you try giving her you?"

"Look who's talking? Won't fuck his wife in the ass, and you ask me that shit? She always had me. I was always here. Even when I whored around, she came fi rst. I love her Jake. She's my girl, my friend, my boo. Hell, I like her more than I like you."

"Something pissed her off. Man, maybe it was that shit on your back."

William wondered. Could that be the reason for her behavior? No. She couldn't have a clue to its legion, what it really symbolized. No one knew. He caught a chill. The same cold chill he received when he was looking in the mirror while shaving a week ago. Oh God, was it true? He saw it in the mirror. Could he have been mistaken? Silence reined for a moment, and it wasn't from the possibility of Yvonne having a clue to the tattoo on his back.