Sweet in the Middle

by TaugJaye Crawford

  Emery was hot.

  Eris had just made it back in town, and they were at her house. Em had stayed there throughout the week while her boo was away.

  Eri had been quiet these last couple days whenever they talked, and now Em saw why.

  “Like, that’s hella petty, dawg,” she continued. “Nigga, you that butt hurt, so you gon’ put yo’ hands on a female? See, that’s why I ain’t got no kids. I woulda’ grabbed my son and we woulda’ been on the next flight back to St. Louis, and them child support papers would be processing! Fuck his daddy! Babe, you waaaaaaay better than me ‘cause, no.”

  Eris sat curled up on the shoulder of her couch, watching Emery pace the floor. She hadn’t sat down since her truth was revealed.

  “It’s not easy. Trust me. Imagine having to save face like that shit didn’t happen so he wouldn’t suspect anything? I hate adulting.”

  Buzzzz! Buzzzz! Buzzzz!

  “I know that’s not him calling again?” Emery smacked her lips with her hands on her hips.

  Eris turned the phone around so she could see the name Royce across her screen.

  As soon as she got off the plane, her phone was lighting up with his missed calls and text messages. There was even a message from Malika.

  Royce: Man, E, answer the damn phone. I was gone off them edibles, a couple Perks, and I was drunk.

  Royce: I’m sorry, ma. I ain’t mean to put my hands on you, or disrespect you and my wife like that.

  Royce: You was right. I got some shit I gotta work on, but we gotta talk about this. I ain’t knocking how you live, but we gotta talk to our son about it as parents.

  Royce: Eris, please answer the phone, man! I know you see me calling you! Yo’ flight dun’ landed by now.

  Royce: ERIS, CALL ME, BRUH!

  Malika: Hey, Eris. I just wanted to apologize again for how things went down. It was never my intentions to set you up or anything by inviting you over. Brendan loves and misses you, so I didn’t and still don’t have a problem with you coming over. I checked the hell out of Royce for that shit. He was really out of pocket, yet most importantly, I felt responsible. We did turn up that night, and I can admit that I crossed boundaries trying to come on to you *even though you weren’t buying it* LOL. I didn’t know your relationship with Emery was exclusive. I never know what to believe with Royce anyway. *eye roll emoji* I hope you forgive me. I truly am sorry, and this doesn’t change the love I have for Brendan. He’s innocent in all this. If you’re up for it, give me a call when you can so we can talk.

  And now, the calls wouldn’t stop.

  Emery stomped across the room and snatched the phone (meaning no harm) when Royce called her back.

  “Hello?” she was so extra and ghetto with it, putting the call on speaker.

  “Man, put Eris on the phone,” he damn near cried.

  “Nigga, first of all, you got yo’ muthafucking nerves tryna play peacemaker and beg for her forgiveness like you ain’t put yo’ damn hands on her. You lame as fuck for that and lucky she ain’t wanna tell me while she was still there. ‘Cause it’s nothing to catch a flight.”

  Royce scoffed, not even about to sit here and argue with no bitch.

  “Put Eris on the phone, man. I ain’t going there wit’ you.”

  “It’s on speaka’, so now what, nigga?”

  “So you got yo’ girl fighting yo’ battles, Eris? Huh?”

  “Nigga, she ain’t ask me to answer this phone! I did it on my own, and ain’t nobody scared of yo’ ass! You already texted her with that weak ass excuse and wannabe apology, so what else you got to say?”

  “Aye, man—”

  “Royce,” Eris interrupted, hearing enough of the exchange between the two. “I’ll call you whenever I’m ready to talk. Now is not the time. Unless it’s an emergency about Brendan, please don’t call my phone. I don’t wanna hear from you.”

  “PERIOD!” Emery threw in there right before she ended the call and blocked his ass.

  Eris couldn’t help but laugh at her crazy ass.

  “What I’m gon’ do with you?” she teased while laying back on the couch.

  “Bond me out after I whoop yo’ BD and his big forehead ass wife the fuck up. I read her message too, and I kinda politely let her know you had a girl, and she needed to focus on her punk ass man. Getting her ass beat by Emery Binx would be an experience she ain’t ready for.”

  “Girl!”

  She had Eris hollin’. One thing Emery knew how to do was put a smile on her face.

  “For real. They got you fucked up. Just like you was heated after that shit I told you about Harlem, that’s exactly how I feel. Fuck our exes. They just mad ‘cause they lost a real one.”

  Her boo was so cute and a lil’ ghetto. Eris loved it. She never knew what to expect with Em’s crazy ass.

  “Just say you missed me,” Eris teased while grabbing her by the hand.

  “I was getting to that, but I had to make sure my baby was okay. You know I know when something’s off with you, mama. I ain’t never seen you that down and bothered before, and I don’t like that shit.”

  Emery was so cute straddling Eris with her arms across her chest. Just a pouting like the big ass baby she knew she was.

  Eris honestly sat there speechless.

  Boy, she did that a lot.

  It was hard to put into words the way she appreciated and admired the way her boo had her back.

  “I think you know you make me speechless.”

  Her arms were around Em’s waist as she kissed her lips.

  “You know I fuck wit’ you, Eri.”

  “I fucks with you too, little mama. What you wanna do today?”

  “You.”

  Eris giggled as Emery started nibbling on her ear.

  “You always wanna do me. What’s new?”

  Emery sat up, full of giggles, so they could make eye contact, then suggested, “Come on. Come shower with me and we can figure it out. I’ve got one fitting today in like, and hour and a half, then I’m all yours.”

  Eris smiled.

  “Hmmm, I like the sound of that; all of that. Come on, lead the way so we can wash this flight off.”

  They were obsessed with candlelight and slow jams.

  Three-wicks aligned the sink and bathroom furniture while their favorite little playlist crooned in the background. Em thought she was the only one in their generation who still vibed to Day 26, but Eris proved her wrong. “Co Star” was a spell they both got enraptured in whenever the melody fell on their ears.

  The hot water from the shower nozzle massaged Eris’ back at just the right pressure with just the perfect heat. Her long tresses were curling up as she watched her boo scrub her flight away with her loofah. She couldn’t help how her hands roamed too, gliding over Em’s backside, her round breasts, and her nipples.

  She removed the loofah from Emery’s hands and started to wash her as well. The fire blazing in their eyes while they touched, the erotic feel from the candlelight; it was the perfect match when two hopeless romantics crossed paths.

  When their lips touched, it was like a shock of electricity surged through their bodies and struck the walls like lightening. Their heads swayed back and forth as Eris now stood with her chest pinned to Emery’s back. Emery had one foot up on the tub while Eri stroked her clit. Light moans released into the air as she backed her ass into Eri’s center.

  A lot of people wondered how two women could be satisfied without a man’s touch, and here’s an answer for ya’ mama.

  When the chemistry was right?

  A touch from your woman felt deeper than you could ever imagine.

  The key was intimacy, your vibe, your attraction.

  When everyday felt like Valentine’s Day, some shit most niggas couldn’t/wouldn’t do for a woman because they bottom line weren’t shit, silly little questions like that didn’t even matter.

  Eris and Emery had a connection that was too pure and precious to put into words.

 
A connection with one another so strong that all they could focus on was building and making each other happy.

  She bit down on her bottom lip when Emery gnawed on her nipple. Her mouth sucked, two fingers were working the shit out of her pussy, and Eris couldn’t help but grind against her boo’s hand.

  Sometimes, a little tongue action and foreplay was all they needed. With them knowing each other’s spots and bodies, it never took long to get each other off.

  They had a few minutes to spare before Em was due to leave for her appointment.

  After their steamy little escapade and washing their bodies clean, the two lounged around for a good thirty minutes, watching the latest episode of Power.

  Right as the show went off, Eris’ doorbell rang. She wondered who it could be as she slid on her silk robe and headed downstairs. A pop-up was the quickest way to get your ass cussed the hell out, and whoever it was, was surely in for a rude awakening.

  “Bitch, open the door! I know you hear this doorbell!”

  Eris didn’t have to look through the peephole to know who it was. She instantly recognized the voice as she descended the steps, and was soon face-to-face with her best friend, Bucky.

  “Wassup, bitch?! Surprised yo’ ass, didn’t I? I took all my finals early! I got two free weeks to get drunk and turn the fuck up! You gon’ let me in or what? I know you got some liquor? I brought the frozen fruit and lemons, so let’s get this shit popping.”

  “Let me tell you about this situation,”

  -Yung Bleu

  6

  “Why you looking like a deer in headlights? Oh, shit! Am I interrupting something? That’s my bad if I’m in the way of you getting some dick. I’ll be quiet and stay downstairs until y’all done. I low-key been holding in a nice lil’ shit since I got off the plane. My stomach been churning like a muthafucka.”

  “Bitch!”

  She’d finally smiled and spoken.

  It’s not that Eris wasn’t happy to see her best friend, but she could’ve called first.

  These last few days had her head all over the place, and she didn’t know what to do.

  “And, yes, I’m being nosey. Who you got upstairs?” Bucky interrogated. “Is it Murphy?”

  “Bitch, hell nah. That nigga just had triplets right before Christmas. You know I don’t do niggas with kids, and two, it’s been, like, a year since I last seen him.”

  “Eris, you ain’t had no dick in a year?! You need me to call my brother? Where yo’ hoes at? You usually keep a nigga on deck. I thought you was bullshitting about abstaining from sex. I’m proud of you, bih!”

  “More like in ten months and abstaining from niggas,” she corrected.

  Bucky’s eyes magnified following her comment.

  “It’s a girl upstairs?”

  She couldn’t hold her laughter in. This silly ass bitch was still whispering like they were twelve.

  “You don’t have to whisper, B. It’s all good. She’s my girlfriend. Her name is Emery.”

  When the name finally clicked in Bucky’s head, she lost it.

  “Emery fucking Binx?!”

  “That’s me.”

  Eris looked over her shoulder and watched her boo descend the steps. She was dressed in Fendi Jersey leggings with logo bands up and down the sides, a matching inlaid mink and knitted fabric bomber, and all-black Prada, chunky-heeled, ankle boots.

  Emery wasn’t the one to broadcast what was in her closet by mixing all of her designer like a clown. Since the boots were a solid color, they corresponded perfectly, giving her the look she was going for.

  Her jet black, curly sew-in was pulled back in a low ponytail as a fur headband crowned her head.

  The sweet smell of her Chanel perfume made Eris’ clit tingle.

  Her boo was fine.

  “Okay, sexy,” she smiled as Emery approached them. “Babe, this is my best friend, Bucky. B, this is my girlfriend, Emery.”

  “Hey, girl! It’s nice to meet you! I stay buying your clothes!” Bucky exclaimed as they shook hands.

  “I appreciate you. I hope you enjoyed the fits. It’s nice to finally meet you too.”

  Em kept her composure.

  It literally brought tears to her eyes listening to Eris speak in confidence about their relationship. She knew a lot of this for her girl was new. She also knew that Eris hadn’t really “broadcasted” it either. Shorty was still transitioning. Letting the world know that you were dating the same sex could be hectic. She’d been there before and didn’t hold it against Eris. When it came to things in life, it was about how you handled them, and her boo surprised her with her honesty.

  For that, Emery could push the fact that Bucky was a confused ass pillow princess behind her…for now.

  The last thing she wanted to do was be rude or make Eris uncomfortable.

  Bucky was gorgeous.

  She ain’t look better than her, but Em always gave credit when it was due.

  She reminded her of Nichole Murphy’s daughter, Bria. From the wild hair to her chestnut-colored skin and facial features. Only difference between the two was that Bucky’s physique was that of a thick ass stripper versus a model. Her breasts weren’t that big, but she had a nice ass on her.

  Eris had taste. She could admit that.

  “I know, right! Eris be hiding secrets and shit. I ain’t know y’all was dating! Y’all cute together. As long as my boo being treated right, that’s all that matters. You headed out? I was about to make some drinks.”

  Emery nodded her head to Bucky’s comment.

  “Yup, I’mma have to take a raincheck. Y’all turn up though and take some shots for me. I should be back in a few hours. Let me know if you need something on the way back, mama.”

  “I will.”

  Bucky was cheesing hard as hell on the outside watching them consecutively kiss each other’s lips three times in a row. A part of her was excited for Eris along this new journey, but a little part of her got a bit jealous in the making.

  Their vibe was so raw, it filled the room.

  The way Eris smiled at her and held the front door open, wishing her safe travels.

  The way Emery’s irises glowed/lit up while peering through her best friend’s robe/soul.

  The shit was magnetic, and it was obvious that they’d been dating for a hot minute.

  But why wouldn’t she tell me?

  Was she tripping?

  Bucky’s feelings were a little hurt, but she wouldn’t come right out and say that.

  She fucked with men.

  Bucky could never see herself with a woman, but it’s always been different…or better yet, situational, when it came to Eris Costello.

  Putting her feelings aside, she got started on their drinks, definitely needing a couple shots after being hit with this shit.

  In the meantime, Eris went upstairs to get dressed and couldn’t hold back the urge to text P.

  Er Bear: Why the hell Bucky just pull up on me and Em was here!!!

  P: Girl, Bucky need to get the fuck, ASAP! Don’t you let that bitch get you drunk and on some other shit!

  Er Bear: You know we cut that shit off. She wouldn’t dare.

  P: Did she see, Em? And if you kissed her in front of her, then you already know she feel some type of way. Watch she either play it off, or cry when you don’t eat her pussy tonight.

  Er Bear: *sigh emoji* P! That ain’t gon’ happen! Don’t put that shit in the universe! We just chilling!

  P: Wanna bet?

  This nigga was no help nor use. Eris sent him the “fuck you” emoji, then slipped some clothes on. Leggings and a t-shirt was all she wrote. After pulling her hair up in a high sloppy bun, she headed back downstairs with her phone in hand.

  “So, y’all is official out here? Okay!”

  Eris straightened the glasses on her face, looking at the framed pictures from the fashion show and from Valentine’s Day of she and Emery. Bucky was holding them in her hands.

  “Yup. That’s my lil’ boo.
She’s super dope. Things have been going good with us.”

  “Wooooooow!”

  Here she goes.

  Bucky could be so overdramatic sometimes.

  “Wow, what, B?”

  “Nah, it’s not like that. I mean, I know we’ve had this conversation before, but I never thought you be out there with it.”

  “Shit, me either, honestly. I just came to terms with the fact that I like both men and women.”

  “So, you’re bisexual?”

  It still made her cringe a bit whenever she heard that word. That was gonna take some getting used to, but to answer Bucky’s question, “Yes, I am.”

  A silence sat between them with a stillness engulfing the atmosphere.

  Eris might not have been comfortable at the moment to display her sexual orientation on a billboard, but she wasn’t gonna play Em, and most importantly, herself. This was her life, and whoever didn’t like it could honestly kiss her ass.

  The hardest part was just revealing it to her mama—her family.

  “Say what you gotta say, B, so we can get this over with. This is awkward.”

  Eris was tired of holding her tongue, too. Shit, if you feel a way, speak now, or forever hold your damn peace. She didn’t wanna have to travel back down this road with her, so let’s just put it all out on the table now. Eris couldn’t keep running from the shit she didn’t want to address or converse.

  That shit was childish and she was over it.

  “Don’t be like that, E. Ain’t no animosity. You just don’t talk to me. I know I be busy with school and so do you, but damn. It would be nice to hear from you more. You the first person I came to see after I saw my mama and daddy. Don’t treat me like that.”

  This bitch, here.

  Bucky was a whiny ass, emotional ass, unstable ass, Cancer (no offense), and sometimes, that shit was too much for Eris. But she was partly right, so Eris explained herself a little more.

  “It’s not like that. Like you said, I’ve been busy with school too, I just saw my damn son for the first time since Christmas, and things with Em came from out of nowhere. You right, I should’ve told you, but I’m still processing everything. Plus, I just didn’t want things to be awkward with us, and you know what I’m getting at.”