The Stalker Chronicles by Electa Rome Parks Page A

laugh out loud. He was quite the character, and I loved him like a blood brother. I didn’t know why I had never written about him in one of my novels, changing the name, of course. Hell, he would make a great character, but I knew the answer to that question already. I realized Dre’ was the keeper of too many of my own secrets, which he might be inclined to reveal were I to offer revelations about him. I’m not going to lie. Back in the day, I was no joke. Neither one of us was. Dre’ and I sowed enough wild oats to last two lifetimes each.
    After working out like a madman for a solid two hours in my home gym, I had worked up quite a sweat. I wandered upstairs to the kitchen and drank another eight ounces of bottled water, leaning on the granite island. For the life of me, I didn’t know what I would do with myself for the remainder of the night.
    If I was honest with myself, I had to admit I did enjoy having a steady woman in my life. It was the staying faithful part that always messed me up, no matter what good intentions I started off with. I thought about Kendall, my ex-fiancée. In fact, I had been thinking of her a lot lately. I didn’t know why. Well, yes, I did. I was casually flipping through the pages of Jet magazine in the checkout lane of the grocery store a few weeks ago, waiting my turn. And lo and behold, there she was staring back at me, larger than life, in the society column of the magazine. She was as beautiful as I remembered, if not more so. Kendall appeared to be happy, glowing even. The article spoke of her marriage to a prominent Houston surgeon. Apparently, they had had a lavish wedding ceremony, for which the guest list was a who’s who of Houston, and then had honeymooned for a month in Paris. I recalled how she and I had spoken of traveling to Europe on many occasions. Due to my busy tour schedule and her classes, we never made it. It was something we were going to do once our lives settled down.
    If I had never met Pilar, that could have been us. It’s funny how life can throw some serious detours your way that send your life spiraling in a totally different direction. During my grim reflections, my cell vibrated and bounced left and right, like it was having spasms, across the countertop, where I had placed it earlier.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œHey, sweetie! Whatcha doing?”
    â€œWhat’s up, Bailey? I see you are safe and sound back in la-la land.”
    â€œOh, now you ask. You didn’t seem concerned earlier, because you sure didn’t phone to check on my safe arrival.” I could hear the sassy attitude already saturating the phone.
    I thought, Oh God, here we go . Why was it that whenever you gave a woman some good dick, suddenly she became super possessive and obsessive?
    â€œI’m sorry, baby. I meant to call, but I lay down to take a short nap after I dropped you off at the airport, and before I realized it, I was knocked out and it was this morning. I figured no news was good news. You can handle yourself.”
    â€œUh-huh,” she said, sucking her teeth.
    â€œIt’s your fault. You wore me out,” I said to inject some humor into the conversation.
    â€œBlame it on me.”
    â€œYou did my little nymph.”
    â€œWhat time is it there? You’re not out on the town?” she asked, changing the subject.
    â€œNope. I just finished my workout. Trying to get back into my regular fitness routine.”
    â€œI hear you. You must keep that fine body of yours looking good for all your admirers,” she stated sarcastically.
    â€œYou seem to like it, because I didn’t hear any complaints on your end. In fact, you couldn’t get enough,” I teased back.
    I could almost see the huge smile that lit up her face.
    â€œWe did have a good time. You and I are so good together, Xavier. Don’t you think?”
    â€œIf you say so.”
    â€œOh, it’s like that. Thanks,