Men Don't Leave

By Lurea C. McFadden

Shannon, Lori, Debra and Nicole, in search of the same goal. Happiness. Shannon the married member of the group and the leader and counselor, finds her life spiraling out of control. Lori, cool and collected, watches as she looses herself and her cool in a runaway relationship with her dream man. Debra, shy but intelligent, struggles, to gain confidence and a sense of self, without looking before she leaps. Nicole, with the voice of an angel and quick to turn a phrase, struggles to find the right combination to make her life with her long time lover a song. Margarita Night is the meeting place where they, talk, holler, laugh and share the twist and turns of their lives.
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Lurea C. McFadden
• Release date: Dec 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9780975546482

Lurea C. McFadden

Lurea C. McFadden was born in Harlem, New York. She is now a native of Trenton, NJ, where she works for the State of New Jersey. She attended Jacksonville University where she received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History. She has spent many years working in the public schools system as a Social Studies Teacher. She is an avid fan of the NFL. She recently completed her latest novel, BAD LUCK, which debuted late August 2013. She is now looking to take her work to the Big Screen.

Book preview

MEN DON’T LEAVE

(they get put out)

By Lurea C. McFadden

Copywright 2004 Lurea C, McFadden

Smashwords Edition

This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents and places are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictional creations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN- 978-0-9755464-8-2

Cover Illustrated by OCJ GRAPHIX

Back Cover Photo by Donna Tolifero

This book is dedicated to my family. I will not name the members, but instead will reveal the qualities I have learned from them that have lead me to this point. From them, I have learned to face challenges (you, who have been challenged daily, know to whom I refer). From them, I have learned to appreciate the good and the bad. From them, I have learned to stand proud and strong. From them, I have learned to forgive and to continue to love. From them, I have learned to listen to the small voices as well as the loud. From the members of my family, I have learned to grow and to share. I have learned to love God. From them, I have come to know that the make up of the sum of my parts is to be compared to a grain of sand on the beach in comparison to the needs of the world. From them, I have learned humility. From my family, I have learned to live. From them, I have learned what is important. This book is dedicated to my family as a whole, for the lessons, adventures, trials and triumphs we have achieved as a family.

Acknowledgements – First, I acknowledge God for giving me life. Without his direction, I know there is no me. I would like to acknowledge the help I received from my family and friends in the sale of FeMALE TRAITS. The support of my brother, Stacey Bennett, my number one salesman and the host of friends and family who sent emails, made telephone calls, traveled miles to support me and promoted my work is greatly appreciated. Please know that I don’t always get the chance to thank each of you personally but THANKS. I would like to thank the five anal persons without whom this would not have made it to print. They are Pat Scaccetti, Stephanie Gee, Jeanette Bennett, Melissa Thomas and Rochelle Pacheco (who truly missed her calling). Thank you for your feedback and comments. Thank you to Jay Mac for assisting me with the cover. Thanks Boo! For all the people who called and emailed me with support, your words of encouragement have been the ambers of my flame. I can not continue without thanking my Editor, Constance Bennett, and Bruce Publishing for continuing to believe in me. To the group of authors (I will not name drop) I have met, who have encouraged and shared trade secrets with me PLEASE, DON’T STOP; YOU GUYS ARE THE BOMB. THANKS to everyone. Once again, if I left anyone out I will try to catch you in my next book!

Peace,

Lurea

Other books by Lurea C. McFadden

FeMALE TRAITS The Trilogy

Plan B, Some Kind of Crazy

Chapter One

Margarita Night.

Fifty dollars! Shannon said.

Hell, make it one hundred! Nicole countered. The group roared. Go ahead and name five. I know you can’t, because it is true.

Debra sat back on the love seat as the rest of the group shouted challenges. She sipped her Margarita from the frosted glass and thought about her relationship with Roman. The conversation was too close to heart for her to join at this point.

Finally, the action began. Shannon reached in her purse, found her emergency stash, and pulled out a hundred dollar bill. She slapped it on the table and stated with boldness. Here’s a hundred bucks to anyone who can name five men who have left their women! It doesn’t even need to be this year. Hell, it can be from nineteen sixty five for all I care.

She stared down at the women as she waited for a response. See, I know I am right. MEN DON’T LEAVE!! THEY GET PUT OUT! She shouted as she picked up her money.

Shannon, Nicole and Lori burst into laughter as they doubled over on the couch. Debra continued to watch the scene. She slowly sipped her drink and smiled at her friends.

You should know Lori; you are the queen of put out. Nicole added, as she raised her glass.

Now you know I only do what needs to be done girl! Lori laughed.

Oh no, Donavon did not have to go, with his fine self. Shannon interjected.

You don’t know a thing, trust me. It was him or me and like Aretha Franklin said ‘I need a do right man’. Besides you are happily married, so just take your ass in the kitchen and make us another pitcher of Margaritas Lori added as she danced to ‘do right men’ that was now being sung by her girls. They had burst into a chorus of the song and were now dancing around the living room. Nicole led the group as her smooth silky alto voice poured out ‘if you wanna do right (do right – do right) woman (woman) You’ve gotta be a do right (do right – do right) All night man.

Debra was busy taking in the room. Shannon had such good taste and it was evident in the décor of her living room. She had tastefully placed crystal items on the mantle and glass tables in the room. She had decided on leather as her fabric of choice and instead of matching colors for her pieces everything was eclectic. The sofa was a deep green, while the huge inviting chair and ottoman were beige. Somehow, the mix of colors with the Berber carpet and plants seemed to tie the room together and create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. Debra wondered if her life would ever feel as comfortable as the scene that was presented before her.

Shannon, who was the loudest in the group, noted Debra’s body language as she sat on the couch. She grabbed her drink and danced over towards Debra.

What’s up girlfriend? Why are you so quiet today? Shannon inquired.

Just cramps. Nothing much. Debra lied. I was hoping the Margaritas would help but my stomach is killing me.

Shannon had known Debra for over five years and although she was by far the quietest in her crew, she was also the most honest. And in all that time she had never heard her complain of cramps. She gazed at the rest of her crew. The margaritas had truly kicked in; they seemed not to notice that Debra was not included in the laughter. She did not want to call her friend on the cramps story so instead she said, I have something in the medicine cabinet if you need it.

Debra smiled as a response.

Debra

I am not sure when it started but now it seems to be out of control. Let me start at the beginning. It was a Wednesday evening in January and I was in the middle of my workout at the gym. To say I looked wrecked would be putting it lightly. As my friend Jerry would say, I looked like twenty miles of bad road. I usually worked out at least four days a week to stay in shape and today I was trying to make up for lost time. Or I could just admit that I pigged out for the holidays. Hey, let’s keep it real; I couldn’t wait to get home and settle down to a turkey club. Don’t hate, that’s why I work out.

He was waiting by the leg extension machine and so was I. I smiled and said ‘hello’. He smiled back and offered me the machine first. I think he just wanted to check out my body on the sly. I said I looked wrecked but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have it going on. I completed my reps and headed for my next machine. When I finished on the AB machine, who do you think was standing next to me? You guessed it my soon to be man and his skinny self.

Are you stalking me? I asked with a smile.

No, just waiting for the machine. He lied.

I looked at his tight mid-section and laughed. What are you working on? Trying to disappear? I tried to make it sound like a joke.

Guess I am busted. But you can’t knock a brother for trying! I am Roman McKinney; what’s your name? he said, as he extended his hand.

I grabbed my towel, wiped the sweat from my hand and shook his hand. Debra I said as I tried to hide a smile. Roman McKinney was not what you would call good looking but he had this charm about him that made him attractive. Maybe it was his confidence or maybe I was just overdue. I surveyed his left hand. No ring and no shadow. I undoubtedly needed to check for game these days. I was now in a stage of my life where after all the male drama I had been through, I was almost ready to settle on being alone. Men seemed to be too much work and I already had a job.

He caught my glance and said, No, I am not married and never have been. How about you?

No, never had the pleasure! I tried to sound blasé.

He watched as I got up from the machine and attempted to run my hands through my hair on the sly. Now, we all know that that was impossible but we do it all the time. Any dummy knows you are trying to fix yourself up. Ha.

You look good; you don’t have to do anything girl. You got it going on. He eyed me up and down, as I continued to try to pull myself together.

He asked me out for a late dinner and I accepted. I am not sure what made me get bold that day but we all know a girl’s gotta eat. We went to a little restaurant near the gym (where I still had my turkey club) and ended up talking until late in the evening.

I found myself drawn to him as the evening loomed into night. I was not ready for a relationship yet, because I was still healing from my time with Carl. Now that is another story and I do not want to go there. Ever. All I will say is ‘truly the Devil is a liar’. I was dog tired; all evening I wanted to cut it short but with each laugh that feeling slowly faded. The next thing I knew, it was almost ten o’clock and we were headed out of the restaurant having exchanged numbers and other personal information. I had not meant to get that friendly, that quickly. The brother was smooth. My Red Flag popped up, with my track record with men I had better take it slow.

Roman

There is nothing like a co-ed gym. You get to check out the body before you check out the mind. It is almost as good as sampling the goods before you buy. I remember one ugly night, when this lady I was seeing finally consented to give up the body. We were at her place on a wintry Saturday afternoon and after a nice indoor picnic things got heated up inside. We were kissing and rolling around on the blanket, when the clothes started coming off. When she removed her blouse, Mr. Man stood to full attention and I could not wait to see the rest. Off came the rest. All I can say is ‘THERE SHOULD BE A LAW’ against that much cellulite on one pair of legs. Mr. Man lost his power with the quickness. I couldn’t even apologize. Hell, I thought she should be the one to apologize. Needless to say, that relationship didn’t go far. So now the wait and see policy is out the window.

The gym was pretty full today for a Wednesday night but there was this one babe who had caught my eye. I have watched her work out a number of times and sister is serious about her shape. She must be here to stay in shape because she is packed and ready for shipment.

I cornered her at the AB machine and finally got the chance to introduce myself. We talked for a bit and I asked her out. She seemed quick on her game and that was what I liked. I tried to run the usual game and head straight for the panties but she let it be known that she didn’t borrow and she didn’t share. Plus, there was just something vulnerable and at the same time tough about her that I was drawn to. I like her style.

Our first outing turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Sista could give as well as she could get. We talked and laughed all evening. Now my policy is to expect the worst and then if it shows its ugly head I am not disappointed. Debra Markus was someone I needed to know better.

Shannon

That night after my girl crew left, Harrison, that’s my husband, helped me clean up the living room. He always liked to pretend to