My phone chimed while I was collecting my supplies for my next install. I threw the shit in the truck unable to wait to see what Sophia had said. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen.
Tammy: You should know that I miss you.
Tammy? I’ve never been with a Tammy. Never fucked or dated one.
Me: I don’t know you.
Tammy: Not so much anymore.
Me: I know that saying. What do you want, Lisa?
She was persistent and sneaky. She had a fake account with a picture of a horse as the profile photo and a generic name. Unknowingly, I accepted her friend request a while back and never knew it.
Tammy: I want to stop thinking about you all the time… You should know that I miss you. I want you back.
Me: Look, we did what we did. But now, I’ve found the perfect woman. Hopefully you’ll find your perfect man someday.
Tammy: I was always picking you up every time. Remember that Kayden, I was always there for you. The past doesn’t matter. I want you back in my life. I love you.
Me: You gave up on us long before I figured it out. You kicked me out and had me arrested. You fucked me in more ways than one.
Tammy: Can’t we start over? I want you… only you.
Me: I don’t want you, Lisa. I am in love with Sophia. Leave me alone, us alone. You tried to break us up once, and it didn’t work. What’s wrong, is your boyfriend not around? Is he not as passionate as I was?
Tammy: You always did know just want to say to make me remember who you really are. Passionate maybe, compassionate never.
Me: I should’ve never let you back in my life after having me arrested. You threw me out like a piece of trash. Can’t have your cake and eat it too. I’ve always been nothing but honest with you.
Tammy: Never mind. It’s sad that you’re so mean now. Just remember though, I love you and miss you.
My stomach turned flashing back to the night of my arrest.
The night crawled as I watched the minutes tick by on the small black and white clock outside my cell. I rested my body on the hard bed, but my mind raced… I needed to figure out a way to make her happy, and maybe she would take me back.
The guard arrived outside my cell early in the morning to escort me to court. I was granted bond and my mother had found a bail bondsman to post in on my behalf. I would have a couple of weeks to meet with my public defender before my appearance in court.
Lisa contacted me shortly after my release. She’d take me back if I agreed to pay her back anything that I destroyed. My heart was overjoyed, and never cared about the money, only Lisa. The public defender said I would be placed on probation and would have to pay restitution to Lisa through the courts if I plead guilty, but Lisa didn’t have the ability to stop the case from moving forward. I just wanted it to be over and to be with Lisa again.
My trial day arrived and I plead guilty and didn’t contest the charges.
“The court accepts your plea, Mr. Michaels. I am withholding adjudication until after your probationary period. Complete your probation and pay court ordered restitution and your record will be cleared and no guilt will be placed upon your record,” the judge said.
My pulse was increasing, and my heart was stammering with the news.
“Also, I am placing a no-contact order on the property and Ms. Jackson. You are not allowed within fifty yards of said property or Ms. Jackson herself. Am I clear Mr. Michaels?” the judge asked.
My heart sank, nausea overcame me, and I felt lightheaded. I couldn’t go home and couldn’t be with Lisa or I’d break probation and be forced to serve jail time. My body was numb.
“Mr. Michaels, do you understand?” the judge asked again.
“Yes judge, I understand,” I said.
Court dismissed, and my lawyer held out his hand to shake mine. I looked at his hand and then to his face, trying to grasp the orders of the judge. My lawyer smiled, but nothing about the verdict, or lack thereof, caused me happiness. I walked past him without hesitation, into the hallway and collapsed on a bench. I had nothing and no one.
Lisa called me begging a couple of times to see me. She missed me, but I couldn’t travel to see her and risk being arrested. She came to NOLA—breaking the no-contact order. I was a dumbass to take a risk back then; it would have meant jail time. Every time she left, my heart was crushed. I felt like an ATM during her visits. She only wanted money besides the restitution. She would cry about not having enough money to pay the bills since I’d left, but I didn’t leave willingly. I gave her all the money I had when I saw her. I sent her money regularly through Western Union in between her visits. We talked daily and I thought we were still a couple.
Her last trip proved me wrong; she hid her phone or had it off. She placed calls when I wasn’t in her presence and was being sneaky. I wasn’t the only man in her life, and I knew I was being played as a fool. I ended it with Lisa and vowed to never allow myself to fall in love again.
Lisa destroyed me, and I’d been an active participant. Even after everything the bitch has put me through I still loved her afterward, until Sophia came into my life.
I had to tell Sophia about Lisa, I didn’t want to keep anything from her. I couldn’t risk losing the most precious thing in my life.
Me: Lisa is messaging me with a fake account. I’m sending you the screen shots.
I wanted to be honest with her, and she needed to know that Lisa was still trying to contact me and that the feelings weren’t mutual. My phone rang, Sophia was calling.
“Hey, baby.”
“Save the messages Kayden,” she said to me.
“Why?” I asked her with curiosity.
“You may need them later to prove that she’s contacting you,” she told me.
“She’s allowed to contact me, but I’m not allowed to contact her in any way,” I informed her.
“Do you still love her, Kayden?” Sophia asked me with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“I love only you, Sophia. My feelings for Lisa vanished long ago. She crushed any love I had for her. She’s a sneaky bitch,” I told her firmly.
“Okay. Just be careful what you say to her. Ignore her whenever possible. I couldn’t deal with you going to jail.”
“I won’t. She would never turn me in for the messages she sent me. They aren’t even from her account; they were sent from a fake account,” I told her, hoping to calm her nerves.
I stored all the screen shots on my tablet. I had little hope they would be of any use, but Sophia asked me to do it.
