by Kat Addams
“At least he has a Black name. What else does he have in common with my Black brothers?” LaJuana smirked, staring at Terrance’s crotch before flicking her eyes to his.
“I’d shake your hand, but …” Terrance held up the bags of liquor.
“Go on, get! You’re a mess,” Aunt May said, shooing LaJuana back. “I’m so glad you made it. Where’s your mom? And who is this?” She raised her eyebrows before pulling me into a hug.
I shook my head and shrugged, unable to make excuses for my mother.
“No worries. We both know how that goes.” She rubbed my back.
Terrance had run to the cooler to drop off the liquor and quickly jogged back to offer his hand to Aunt May and congratulate her.
“He’s my”—I hesitated—“friend. Terrance is my friend.”
“Well, come on, friend. Let me introduce you to everyone else. Might as well get the hard part over with. Thanks for the booze too.” Aunt May tugged at Terrance’s shirt, slowly running her palm up to his bicep first. She shivered.
“I can make you a drink first, if you’d like. I might need one myself.” Terrance bit his lip, avoiding the gaze of every other guest.
Even the music pumping through the yard couldn’t drown out the awkward silence that had fallen on the party as soon as we arrived.
“Oh. My. Gosh. Another White man. And did I just hear you say you’d make our drinks? Marilyn May, introduce me. John should be around here somewhere. He needs to see this man too. Phew, Lord. You must be Betty,” said a man I’d never seen before. “I’m Grayson. Your aunt is the coolest old person ever. John! Come here, please!” he yelled across the yard, motioning to another man.
Both John and Grayson looked like they’d stepped out of an action movie. They wore their hair slicked back, and their muscles would give my man’s—I meant, Terrance’s—some competition.
“Here we go. If you ever call me an old person again, I will bake you in a casserole, Grayson.” Aunt May rolled her eyes.
“Ahh, I see where you get it from now.” Terrance nodded.
I raised my brows at him, unsure if this turn of events and his playful teasing was a good or bad thing.
“These men don’t learn, do they?” Aunt May said while John, Grayson, and Terrance chatted. “But I found one that does. Kind of. He’s good to me anyway. Come meet Clyde. Let the White boys have their moment.” Aunt May whisked me away while Grayson and John tugged Terrance toward the liquor table.
I followed Aunt May inside, passing familiar faces and the curious eyes of people I’d yet to meet. Every once in a while, I’d stop to give an uncle or cousin a hug or fist bump. I stepped over a group of kids playing Spades.
“Teach ’em young, ain’t that right?” a man said, putting his arm around Aunt May.
“Betty, this is Clyde. Clyde, this is my niece I told you about, Betty.” Aunt May beamed up at Clyde. Beamed!
Just what the hell is going on here?
I’d never seen my aunt this happy before. She usually wore a scowl and wanted to round all the men up and send them down the river. But the look she was giving Clyde unsettled me into needing one of Terrance’s drinks, stat.
“Nice to meet you, Clyde. How you won over this feisty lady is beyond me. But you two look happy. Congratulations.” I shook his hand.
“Thank you. I don’t know how I won her over either, but damn, I’m glad I did. She’s one hell of a woman.” Clyde pulled Aunt May in tighter.
“So, how did you meet? Old folks’ home? Bingo night? At the doctor’s office?” I smirked, teasing my not-so-easily offended Aunt.
“Child, please. We met on Tinder. Though there was a bingo night in there.” Aunt May brushed her shoulder off and raised her eyebrows at me.
“Are you kidding me? Tinder?” I laughed loud enough to draw the attention of my sister, Patrice, and nieces, who barged through the door.
“Kids, go to Aunt Betty. I am D-O-N-E!” Patrice threw her hands in the air before heading over to us.
We went through introductions again while my nieces waited impatiently for my attention. All five of them hopped up and down on their feet, asking me if I’d brought them anything. Typically, I gave them small gifts when I saw them, which was often enough. They only lived about two hours or so from me. But I’d had no idea they were traveling to Memphis this weekend. My sister was a single mom, and her work schedule usually took over her weekends.
“I don’t have anything today. Sorry! I didn’t know I’d be seeing y’all. But if you steal me some of those crack cookies of Aunt May’s, I’ll play a round of Spades with you, and the winner gets a twenty. How does that sound?” I asked, shouting out after them as they ran away to grab cookies.
“Thanks,” Patrice sighed. “I just need a moment. That’s all. Are you alone?”
“I understand. And nope, I’m not. I … brought a man,” I muttered.
Patrice sucked in her breath. “Judas Priest! Traitor! I thought we didn’t get attached. Where is my partner in crime?”
“Who said I’m getting attached? Besides, look at Aunt May. She is the true villain. She got married, for goodness’ sake!”
We turned our attention to the happy couple and both gagged.
“Introduce me later. I’m going to get a drink. I need it after that flight. I’m guessing Mom isn’t coming? I didn’t even talk to her. I just … can’t right now.”
“No. She didn’t come. Same shit, different day.” I fished the whiskey out of my purse, took a sip, and passed it to my sister.
“Thanks. Bottoms up.” She took a swig before handing the bottle back to me and shuffling off toward the backyard.
I turned, greeting the people around me. Some of my family I hadn’t seen in years. Others I didn’t care to see for years to come. Still, family was family, and I was happy for Aunt May and Clyde.
I plopped myself on the floor, feeling the heat of the whiskey hit my belly. My nieces came running back to me. The eldest, Kali, handed me a plate of cookies and sat down beside me, pulling a deck of cards out of her training bra. She reminded me of myself a bit too much. I prayed she wouldn’t be as wild as me when she hit those teenage years, which would be too soon for my sister’s liking.
“Thanks, Kali. Let’s start. I don’t have too long. I’ve got company with me. But we can do a quick game.”
“That’s because you have a boyfriend here, and you’d rather be cuddling up next to him than be with your own blood.” Kali crossed her arms over her chest and bobbed her head side to side.
“Yep. Now, deal ’em.” I nodded toward the cards, grabbed a cookie, and snuck another swig of whiskey.
I sat on the floor of the tiny living room, playing cards with my nieces for damn near an hour before I saw Terrance again. He headed toward me with two plates piled high with food.
“Sorry. I tried to get back earlier, but I met your sister, Patrice, and she said she’d cut me if I took her babysitter away. I told her I understood the need for a break. But it has been over an hour, and I figured you might need one too.” he said, handing me a plate. “Be right back!” He ran off and returned with two drinks before sitting cross-legged beside me.
I shooed my nieces away to eat and give me some space.
“Mmhmm. So? You ready to head back to Outer Forks yet?” I asked Terrance, slowly sipping my drink. Whatever he’d made tasted like sweet nectar of the gods on my lips. Salty, sweet, and with a punch that would hit me as soon as I got up off this floor.
“What? Hell no! I’m having a blast. Even LaJuana helped me with the cocktails. I think she has mixology in her future.” He grinned, digging into the plate of food. “Good God! This is divine! I’ll have to tell Jay about this!” He took another bite of the roast.
“The only thing LaJuana has in her future is a pack of menthols and liver disease. Maybe Plan B too. Nice to see you were getting cozy with her though.” I took another sip of my drink and shifted my eyes away.
“Wait. Are you getting jealou
s?” The corner of Terrance’s mouth twitched up into a grin that he couldn’t fight back.
“I don’t get jealous,” I lied, pushing the food around on my plate.
“Ah, okay. Queen B doesn’t get jealous because she knows she’s mine.” He nodded, finishing the food on his plate and reaching for mine.
I jerked it away. “What did you say? I’m yours? Ha! Boy, bye. I’m nobody’s.” I rolled my eyes and tore my teeth into a roll.
“Sure, sure. Not what you were saying back at the hotel.” His voice slurred.
I set my roll down on my plate. “Let’s get something straight. I let you think that. But you’re so damn bad right now. When we get back to that room, that ass is mine. M-I-N-E. You don’t even know what ya got coming to you. It’ll be my turn now,” I snarled. My top lip curled, baring my teeth in what I hoped was a turn-on, but in reality, I probably looked like a rabid goose. I, too, felt the alcohol.
“Is that so? I’m not scared.” He blew out a breath and averted his gaze.
I watched the muscle in his jaw clench tight, and his chest rose and fell quicker and quicker. My breathing sped up, matching his. We would fight this out in bed.
“Watch me,” I said, grabbing him by the hand and jerking us both to our feet.
The music from the backyard thumped through the house, echoing off the walls and sending my pulse into overdrive. I pulled Terrance outside to the makeshift dirt dance floor. Somehow, the party had grown while we sat and ate. The heat of Memphis, coupled with the stifling heat of drunk-ass people, almost strangled me. But I had a point to prove. I just wasn’t sure what it was.
“This is getting pretty wild,” Terrance shouted at me over the music.
“My family knows how to throw a party!” I shouted back, finding LaJuana and positioning myself and Terrance right in front of her.
Of course, she was still at the liquor table, shaking her ass in a drunken chicken-headed wobble.
I closed my eyes, feeling the beat, as Terrance began to rub his hips against me. I swayed my body back and forth before bending over and pushing my ass into him, twerking it like I was trying to start a fire on his crotch. I hoped I did. I blew a kiss to LaJuana before planting my palms on the dirt and popping my ass up and into Terrance. I had never been a twerker, but Nikki had taught the whole DTF gang how to dribble our buns like we were playing ball. She had sworn that move worked to mesmerize men, and so far, she was right.
I felt Terrance’s hands reach my hips and grip them tightly, pulling me into him. I stood up, turned myself toward him, and unbuttoned his shirt. If LaJuana wanted my man, too fucking bad. He was mine.
“What are you doing?” he asked, glancing around at the other dancers, who were paying us no attention.
Only LaJuana was paying attention to our show.
“Showing off my stripper boyfriend. What’s it look like?” I ran my hands through his hair and down his scruffy jawline.
“Did you just say, boyfriend?” He shook his hips the same way he did onstage.
I knew if he were wearing his usual banana hammock, I’d see his juicy dick flopping all around like a helicopter coming in for a landing.
“Shush your mouth and keep dancing.” I laughed, throwing my arms around his neck.
I kissed him under his ear, tasting the sweat on his skin. He tasted salty and full of alcohol, like my own personal margarita.
The music never slowed. I needed a breather, but my stripper man kept going. I stepped back to admire him, bumping into Aunt May, who had changed into the most ratchet clothes I’d seen her wear.
“What the …” I asked, sobering up at the sight of her leather getup.
“Marry him,” she said, nodding to Terrance.
“You are senile or drunk.” I shook my head.
Terrance kept dancing in front of us, smiling and tugging at his shirt.
Oh Lawd. Here comes Tito.
“I’m neither. Okay, that’s a lie. I’m a little drunk. But I ain’t senile. Look, I was wrong. Not all men are going to leave you. You know as well as I do how women are capable of that too. It’s a human thing. But when you find a good one, you hang on to him. Otherwise, he’s going to get snatched up.”
“Clyde has brainwashed you.” I dug my heels into the ground.
Grayson and John joined Terrance on the dance floor along with the White couple my aunt had introduced me to earlier—Klara and Chris. I had a feeling they were trying to pick up on his dance moves, which were, for lack of better words, not White at all.
“No, honey, he hasn’t. I’m happy, and I’m in love. And I’m telling you, before you make the same mistakes I did and become bitter and shut out, take that man. Love that man. Marry that man. I see how he looks at you and, more importantly, how you look at him.” She turned her head toward me, staring into my eyes, which were staring straight back at Terrance.
Mixmaster Tito had come out, and he was doing the worm on the dirt, kicking up dust all over the place. The crowd loved it, gathering around him and cheering.
“I guess so. You don’t think anything of him being White, do you? I don’t want to downplay my Black-girl magic or whatever. I want everyone to be okay with it.” I smiled, still transfixed on Terrance and his moves.
“I don’t give a damn if that boy is purple. If you’re okay with it, I’m okay with it. Don’t ever downplay your Black-girl magic. I have a feeling he can handle it.” Aunt May put her arm around my shoulders and squeezed.
I rarely had hugs from her. This new persona was creeping me out yet also making me feel comfortable.
“Yeah, well, he did say he took one of those DNA tests and had one percent Black in him.” I laughed as Terrance undid his belt and spanked it on his ass in a routine I’d seen a dozen times. I’d never tire of it.
“Oh no, honey. He has a little bit more than one percent.” Aunt May shook her head and danced away toward her husband on the dance floor.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught LaJuana starting to shimmy closer to Terrance.
Nope.
I booty-popped next to my man and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go back to the hotel. I owe you one.” I took the belt from his hand and smacked his ass hard.
He swooped me off my feet, kissing me square on the lips in front of LaJuana and everyone else before setting me back on the ground and grabbing my ass tight.
“Let’s go,” he growled.
I smirked at LaJuana, who rolled her eyes back at me, before Terrance and I disappeared out of the crowd.
He ordered the Uber while I made my rounds, bidding my family good-bye. I kissed my nieces, telling them to split the money I’d slipped them. I said good-bye to my sister and the various people I’d met whose names I’d already forgotten. Lastly, I snuck back to the dance floor to kiss my aunt good-bye.
“I’m happy for you. I love you. Come see me sometime.” I held her tight. Her leather outfit stuck to my skin.
“Baby girl, my days are numbered. I’m already one foot in the grave. Do you think I’m young enough to hop on a plane and come out there? You can come to me anytime too.” Aunt May kissed my forehead and held me at arm’s length, looking into my eyes. “You are the spitting image of your mother. Don’t let her get to you. And most of all, remember what I said. If I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn’t spend so many years alone. Go love that boy. Tonight and always.”
“And what if he turns out to be a no-good piece of douche?” I asked.
I hadn’t even left yet, and I already missed home. Aunt May was the mother I never had. I didn’t want to go.
“Then, you say, Thank you, next.”
I nodded, waved good-bye, and refused to let myself cry. I bit my tongue, pressed my lips together, and rolled my eyes into the back of my head. But I did not cry. Instead, I took my man back to the hotel and fucked him senseless.
Eight
Terrance
“Thank you for everything. Your family was amazing. Memphis was amazing. You wer
e and are amazing,” I said, tucking back an unruly curl from Betty’s face.
She not only let me touch her hair now, but she also even leaned into it.
“I’m glad you got a little break. Now, you can go back to dad life, feeling refreshed.” She put her hand on my truck handle, easing the door open. “Think of a business plan for that bar of yours you want. You’ll make it.”
After mind-blowing sex up against the window at the hotel last night, I’d confessed all my hopes and dreams to her. We lay in bed until three a.m., talking about our past, our present, and our future. Maybe it was the mix of alcohol and the gritty city atmosphere that had made me stupid, but I’d felt like opening up to her like I’d not opened up to anyone before.
“I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am. I won’t ever live in poverty again. I refuse to ever feel that gnawing hunger pain. Do you have any idea how many days I went to school without eating? If it wasn’t for my aunt May—not my mom—sending me money now and then, I don’t know what I‘d have done. It’s not like I used that money on fun stuff, like magazines and lipstick. I had to buy tampons for both my sister and me. I got our groceries at the dollar store, and even that was rough. Plus, I took care of my mom.
“But you know what I didn’t do? Take care of her men that she had coming and going. One time, I was frying up some bologna, and one of them assholes reached out to grab it. I backhanded him.” She sat up on one elbow, her face glowing with the reflection of the neon lights through the hotel window. The same window I’d just pushed her up against before making love to her.
I stretched my neck, glancing at our palm prints smeared against the glass. I had known she was wild, but tonight was the wildest I’d ever been. We hadn’t cared if anyone saw us. Somewhere, someone was probably uploading a Betty and Terrance sex video.
“No way. Not Queen B. You’re too sweet to do something like that.” I laughed, running my palm down her shoulder. Her skin felt like butter.
