Sweet in the Middle

by TaugJaye Crawford

  Eris ashed her blunt and said, “That’s Why by Eric Bellinger and Nipsey Hussle. I love this damn song. It stay on repeat.”

  Emery added the song to her iTunes, surprised she hadn’t heard it yet, and watched her boo show her the six different lingerie sets she owned. The last thing Eris expected was for Em to make her try them all on. She wouldn’t even let her walk away from the screen to change.

  Ms. Donatella had to see it all.

  By the time Eris got to her third outfit, she was no longer timid. Emery complimented her from the polish on her toes to the stretch marks that climbed her thighs, ass, and waist. She was all woman. A beautiful woman with creamy mocha-colored skin, and she was naturally stacked.

  And whoever couldn’t admire her thickness ain’t mean her no good anyway.

  “That’s the one! On God, bae, this is my favorite one! Maybe I’m a little biased ‘cause maroon is my favorite color, but that shit is so fucking sexy on you, I swear. Gimme a slow spin and put your glasses back on for me. My bad, I hope I’m not coming off bossy and rude. They a good look on you.”

  Eris fluffed and fiddled with her loose curls while slowly turning and posing.

  “It’s all good, love. I like your lil’ bossy ass just the way you are. Ain’t no need to apologize. I know you don’t mean no harm.”

  Something about her wink into the camera slapped the brightest smile on Emery’s face. I mean, it was so bright that she closed her eyes and shivered when a shock of electricity traveled up her spine. All her life, she’d always been told to,

  “Dial it down.”

  “Quit being extra.”

  “You doin’ too much.”

  You couldn’t one hundred percent be yourself with anybody these days. Not without some form of scrutiny or backlashing. Emery Binx was gon’ be herself regardless, but it was good to know that she and Eris were so evenly yoked that it came natural to be just that. Not to mention how peaceful it was whenever they were together.

  “I knew I fucked with you for a reason, Eri. I can’t wait until the fourteenth; I’m super excited. You gon’ wear this sexy little number for me after dark?”

  Their eyes locked as Eris inhaled deeply from her blunt.

  “You’re my first valentine, boo. You can have whatever you want, and that’s a promise.”

  “I wanna have some good fun tonight,”

  -Summer Walker

  4

  “Chile, why didn’t you call me when you were pulling up?! You know I would’ve helped you with all of this stuff, Emery Binx.”

  Janet couldn’t help but fuss and put the wooden spoon down when she saw her daughter enter the house. Emery had a handful of grocery bags, shopping bags, and a few packages in her hands too.

  Who wanted to make a second trip back out to the car?

  “It’s okay. I got it.”

  She sat the belongings on the kitchen counter while releasing an exasperated breath. Just that short distance from the garage had her winded. This shit was even heavier than she expected.

  “You got enough wine?” Janet smirked as she removed the two boxes of Ace from a gift bag. There were two more in another one.

  “That’s champagne, and one is for you. Be sure to take it home with your gift basket. I grabbed you some chocolate covered strawberries and some truffles from Godiva too. Annnnnd, this.”

  Her mama’s eyes bucked when Emery came back from the garage with a huge gift-wrapped box. Shorty still ended up having to make two trips.

  “Girl! Oh, you spoil me just like your father used to! What am I gonna do with you, and what do I owe to such generosity?”

  “Ma, you made some red beans and rice?! I’ve been craving this! I had some from Popeyes earlier, but it was trash.”

  “Compared to my cooking, anything’s trash. Be careful, baby, it’s hot. Let me get comfortable while I open this.”

  Emery washed her hands before fixing herself a bowl of deliciousness and a three pieces of her mama’s fried chicken wings. Their family was originally from South Carolina: it was her great-grandma’s, Granny Donatella, homeland. Janet had also lived in Louisiana for a few years when Emery’s dad, Emerson, was relocated for his job. When he was relocated back to St. Louis, their daughter was conceived, coining Emery as a true product of the Lou.

  She was thankful for her mama’s roots and blessed cooking skills. Fried chicken, nor porkchops, back when she used to eat them, just didn’t taste right if it wasn’t prepared via the hands of a southern woman.

  “Emery Binx! What is all this?! Giiiiiiiirl, these are too sharp!”

  Em couldn’t help but smile as she sat on top of the counter stuffing her face. Her mama was good to her. Janet and Emerson showered her with love throughout her entire life. It was a blessing not being another dysfunctional adult who was scarred from a brutal past. A lot of people couldn’t share those same sentiments. Her parents didn’t judge or disown her when she came out at nineteen about liking girls, and they supported every move she made.

  Janet even took it upon herself to help her baby unpack for these last few days so she wouldn’t have to do it on her own.

  Her mama was heaven sent.

  And no, Emery wasn’t buying her mother’s love by a long shot, but she deserved to be spoiled no matter what her own money looked like.

  It was the least she could do.

  “Louboutin, Valentino, and Celine?! Where am I gonna wear these bags?!”

  Emery sucked her fingers before saying, “Somewhere around this city, and if not here, then pick a country. The sky is the limit for my favorite girl. You know that.”

  Janet couldn’t hide her tears. Emery was a reflection of her father in every way possible. She was so open and ready to love, took care of all her finances even when Janet insisted that she didn’t have to, they talked every single day, and she was forever sending her mama gifts in the mail. When Emerson passed from a heart attack five years ago, it took Janet just as long to get back to her old self. If it wasn’t for their daughter, she honestly wouldn’t know where she’d be in this world.

  “I don’t know what to say, Emery Binx. It’s not even about the bags; you treat your mama so damn good, all around, and sometimes I don’t know what I did to deserve this.”

  “Mommy, don’t cry. It’s okay. You know I love you. Ain’t nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for the woman that brings me peace. You gave me a huge lump sum from you and daddy’s savings to support my dreams. Look at what I’ve become all because you believed in me. God said to honor thy mother and father, and since daddy’s up there chilling with Him, I had to pick up where he left off at. God dun’ blessed me with more than I ever would’ve imagined to take care of us, so just relax and enjoy it. You worked hard yo’ whole life. Quit that job and go on a permanent vacation.”

  Janet wiped her face before she stood up and ran to kiss her baby.

  “Thank you, sweetie. For everything. I love you, Emery Binx.”

  “I love you more, mommy, and you’re welcome. Thanks for all the help with getting the house decent. This kitchen is gorgeous. After tackling my bedroom last night, I couldn’t do anything else.”

  “That’s right. You are preparing for your little valentine. Now tell me all about her. The way she makes you smile, I like her already. And just to be on the safe side, she’s not another damn Harlem, is she?”

  Emery scrunched up her face to match her mama’s grimace. Janet had bad vibes about the bitch from the moment her baby first spoke on her. Thank God that part of her life was over.

  “Hell nah, mama. You ain’t gotta worry about me being foolish like that ever again. Trust me, I’ve learned my lesson. But, no, I really like her. She reminds me of you a little bit. A lot, actually. Every time we talk it’s nothing but good vibes. She’s educated, so the conversations aren’t surrounded by sex and BS, she makes me laugh, and she’s sweet as can be. Her name is Eris. We’re still in the dating stage, but I do want you to meet her.”

  “Eris…Eri
s…why does that name sound so familiar? Any who, she sounds like a nice girl, and I’m sure you have a picture of her, so let me see it. It’s not another one of them yella’ ass heffas, is it?”

  Emery playfully rolled her eyes as she scrolled through her phone. Janet would be making all kinds of smart remarks about Harlem until she got over her breaking her baby’s heart.

  “Hmm.”

  Wiping her hands first, her mama grabbed the phone to take a look-see at this lucky woman. Moments later, her eyes bucked in shock.

  “Not my baby, Eris! I thought that name rang a bell! I love her! She’s the only person I shop with at Nordstrom. She’s been fitting me for years! Are you serious?! I love her for you. I can’t even lie, I’ve always wanted to give her your number, but I didn’t wanna be rude and ask/assume that she likes women. Isn’t that something?”

  “Really?” Emery smiled while sucking the last of the meat off her bone.

  The Bread Co. she grubbed on at the mall had barely held her over after that disastrous Popeyes. According to her stomach, it felt like she hadn’t eaten all day.

  “Really-really. What a small world. Oh, I definitely approve of this hook up. What do you have planned for the evening?”

  “You know that band that you love? The Melvin Turnage featuring Tonya Poynter? They’re performing tonight at the Sheldon Theater, and of course, we’re gonna do dinner.”

  “How’d you get tickets to that?! I thought they were sold out? Me and your aunties was pissed we waited too long to get tickets.”

  “I make all of Tonya’s outfits now. She gave me four tickets today when I dropped her dress and two-piece set off for the show this morning. Did you open your card? Two are in there for you and a little friend.”

  “Little friend my ass,” Janet joked as she dug inside of her holiday basket. She’d been so busy getting the house in order that she hadn’t had the chance to thoroughly look through it. “Well, shut the front door, girl. Yes, I’m going! I’ll call your aunt Ruth and see if she wants to come. She’s just as single as me and needs to get out. Hope them other one’s don’t feel no way about it,” she referred to her other seven sisters. “And congratulations. When did you get all of that settled with being Tonya’s seamstress?”

  “Now you know my aunties gon’ be in a group chat raising all hell about that,” Emery laughed. “And right before Christmas,” she continued. “I thought I told you, maybe not. That’s my fault. I be so busy. I love her and she can sing her ass off. Her daughter, Brandy, makes all of my wigs.”

  “Well, look at you. That’s what I’m talking about, baby. I’m so proud of you—hold up now! Why does this ticket say the show starts at seven, Emery Binx? It’s 5:30.”

  Emery rinsed her bowl out and placed it in the dishwasher before responding.

  “I know. Which means we need to be getting ready. I’ve got a closet full of new wigs upstairs and a few pieces I’ve already made for you, so it’s time to go get glamorous, Ms. Lady.”

  *SITM*

  Eris knew St. Louis was a small ass city, but she never would’ve thought that Ms. Janet was Emery’s mother. The ladies had a great time at the show. They danced, they sang, they drank, and afterwards, Emery managed to get them a private table at Truffle’s Restaurant by pulling a free strings.

  She had to top their night off with something over the top.

  After making sure her mama made it in the house safely, the driver headed back to The Grove for Emery’s home. She initially wanted to get a room for her and Eris, but every 5-star establishment in the city was booked.

  Em was a little bougie bitch.

  Some shit she downright refused to be cheap with, and where she laid her head at was one of them. The Air BnB selection was a bit low-scale here compared to the A, so she settled on bringing Eris back to her house and hoped she would be cool with that.

  “Excuse all of the boxes, mama. I’m still getting settled with all this shit I got,” she apologized while holding the door open for her boo.

  “Girl, you don’t have to apologize. I understand. Wow, this place is dope!”

  Eris was in love with the open floor plan. Upon entrance, a set of porcelain stairs ascended to the second floor. A glass wall sealed them off from the kitchen, and another stairway led to the basement. The living room sat off on the right, and the smooth-finished Cali bamboo flooring corresponded perfectly with the showroom lights in the ceilings. Once she finished decorating, her spot would be laid.

  “Thank you. It was the last one they had available too. I keep in touch with a relator out here. They was leasing these right when I left for Atlanta. I was too excited when she sent me the email about it being on the market.”

  “This might sound like a dumb question, but is your move permanent?”

  “For now it is.” Emery removed her chinchilla fur and hung it up in the hall closet before saying, “I bought it cash. If I decide to move, I can always rent it out, but I’m not worried about it. You enjoy yourself tonight?”

  Eris walked up to her boo after doing away with her coat as well. You’d think she’d be somewhere slumped after all of the shots and bottles of champagne they’d previously gone through. With P being all clean and anti-getting drunk these days, it’d been a minute since she’d met someone who could hang with her other than him.

  The shots of Patron they downed along their commute had her feeling really wavy. So damn wavy that either another shot, or a serving of her valentine would top her off.

  Eris was cool with either one.

  Emery was like putty when Eri pulled her into her arms. At five-seven, plus five more inches thanks to her pumps, Eris towered over her and she loved it. Her eyes were bubbled and glowing as she looked up into her irises, lazily draping her arms around Eris’ neck.

  It felt so right being with her. Her breakup with Harlem was hard. After a good cry and a week of wallowing away in her sorrow, Emery had to accept the time she wasted with a woman who couldn’t love her the way she knew she deserved, and move on.

  She never expected to hit it off with someone and so soon. Emery didn’t go looking for Eris, but like hell she could turn her down when they met. The stars had a unique and unexplainable way of aligning, and even though they were still dating/enjoying each other’s company, she could see herself and Eris moving to the next level in the future.

  “I did. Did you?” she replied with the raise of her brow.

  “I always enjoy myself with you, Ms. Costello. So the answer’s yes.”

  Time stood still when their lips met. Emery couldn’t control the dire want—the dire need for her to slip her tongue between Eris’ lips. And it was welcomed. As if she was waiting on Em to make that very move, a light groan escaped her lips as they hungrily feasted upon one another’s tongues.

  Emery was an aggressive little thing. Her wandering hands traveled down Eris’ shoulders and along her waist until she made it to the juicy derrière that her mama blessed her with. Eris couldn’t help the way her hands caressed Emery’s beautiful body as well. She looked amazing in the red laced bodysuit with her blonde tresses styled in a half-up/half-down do.

  Things were heating up rather quickly, and if they didn’t stop now, they’d be sprawled out on this living room floor, knocking over every moving box in sight.

  “Mmm…I’ve been wanting to do that all night. You’re lucky my mama was there or else your ass would’ve been mine, Eri. Real shit.”

  Eris giggled as they stood there with their foreheads together, deeply emulsifying in their embrace.

  “I felt so bad. I know Ms. Janet saw me looking at you earlier,” she confessed.

  “Don’t feel bad! Ma Dukes is rooting for us. She want you to love all over her baby.”

  “And I want her baby to love all over me, too.”

  “Ooooh…you slid that in there nice and…” Their lips met. “Smooth. I’ll tell you what.”

  “Wassup, babe?”

  The sound of her voice sent a jolt of electric
ity directly to Emery’s throbbing pearl. Eris didn’t realize how much she was in control despite Em’s bossy nature, and that shit turned Ms. Donatella on.

  “How about you fix us some of those Jolly Rancher drinks you be sipping on? I got everything you need and that Coconut Lime 1800 since you preferred it over the Tito’s. It’s some fresh fruit, some cheese, and if you really wanna get it popping, I’ve got some chicken rings, some jalapeño peppers, and some soft sourdough pretzels in the freezer too. And of course, all of the key holiday sweet treats. In the meantime, I’mma get upstairs ready for us. You bring that sexy little outfit I liked?”

  Eris couldn’t hide her smile.

  “I did, and I’m with it. This sounds like it’s gonna be fun. There’s no doubt in my mind that you won’t make my first experience something to remember.”

  She didn’t know what those very words did to Emery.

  What it did for her.

  Lord, this woman had her head in the clouds and it was so premature.

  Summer Walker’s “I’ll Kill You” featuring Jhene Aiko blared throughout the sick ass stereo system while the ladies got their designated areas of the house together. Eris had driven her own car over to Em’s because she knew she had a backseat full of goodies she wanted to keep a surprise.

  She’d never done Valentine’s Day before. A rush of excitement engulfed her when she left the house that day to hit up Target and the mall for gifts. She ordered liquor and marijuana infused chocolate covered strawberries, ordered her slim-thick ass boo some sexy shit from La Perla lingerie; the whole nine yards.

  Lord, I hope I didn’t overdo it.

  She released a tired breath after looking around the kitchen and the dining area, pleased with the setup.

  In the first floor, full-sized bathroom, she bathed and freshened herself up. The tracks from Over It were still emitting into the atmosphere. Summer Walker had a sultry essence embedded into her vice, skyrocketing the excitement that was only minutes ahead of her.