I'm Doin' Me

by Anna Black

  “Oh, and let me tell you this. Tressa goes to the bathroom and Kory tells me that he noticed me back when we were in high school.”

  “Noticed you when?”

  “That’s what I’m saying. He gon’ say he knew I’d blossom into a gorgeous woman. I was like, ‘When did you notice me in high school,’ and he was like, ‘You didn’t know that I did, but I did,’ and threw me way off, because I don’t know what the hell that was supposed to mean.”

  “Maybe he did, Tiff,” Rose said.

  “Yeah, maybe, but it doesn’t matter now.”

  “Well, just focus on your show for now and let love happen when it happens.”

  “You’re right, girl. Let me go so I can call Asia and fill her in and ask her to go to this barbeque with me on Saturday.”

  “What barbeque?”

  “Kory invited me to a barbeque. I guess he will call me with the details because when Tressa came back to the table, he didn’t mention it again.”

  “Damn, I wish I lived in L.A. It’s getting cold here and there ain’t no barbeques going on here,” Rose said sadly.

  “Tell me about it. I do not miss Old Man Winter,” Tiffany said, and they laughed.

  “Well, let me know how it goes with the meeting, and again, I’m sorry you lost Kory again.”

  “Yeah, me too. Love ya, girl.”

  “Love you too,” Rose said and they hung up.

  Pulling into her driveway at home, Tiffany dialed Asia.

  Chapter Six

  When Asia blew the horn, Tiffany came out. “Look at you, momma,” Asia called, smiling at her friend. “Showing off those pretty legs of yours.”

  Tiffany had on a yellow halter and blue cutoff shorts. She had her hair up in a ponytail with a long extension added and her makeup was beautiful. She’d had one of the stylists from the show come over that afternoon to glam her up because she didn’t want to be in the same room with Tressa without looking her best. “Thank you, Asia. I wanted to feel a little sexy today.”

  “Well, I don’t know how you feel, but you look sexy as hell.”

  They headed over to Kory’s. When they arrived, Asia was impressed to see valet. “Wow, Tiff, you didn’t tell me it would be one of your celeb friends.”

  “I didn’t know it would be this upscale either, Asia,” Tiffany said. “Kory has money, yes, but I thought it would be a little outdoor family event, not all this.” They went inside. There were people everywhere.

  “Tiff, you made it,” Kory said when he spotted her.

  “Hey, Kory.” He gave her a quick peck and a brief hug. She turned to introduce him to Asia. “This is my girl, Asia. Asia, this is Kory.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Asia said.

  “You too,” he said, shaking her hand. “Listen, don’t get lost, I have some people I wanna introduce you to. And my cousin, Keith, is dying to see you.”

  “Keith lives here too? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “’Cause we honestly hadn’t had a chance to talk. Head out back, grab a couple drinks, and I’ll be out in a sec,” he said, and he was off.

  They made their way to the back and Tiffany actually ran into some people she knew. Tressa came over while she was mingling. “Tiffany, you made it. It’s so good to see you.”

  “Hey, Tressa, good to see you too. This is my girl, Asia. Asia, this is Kory’s fiancée, Tressa.” Asia and Tressa shook hands.

  “Well,” Tressa said, “you ladies make yourselves at home. I have people to greet.” Giving them a smile, she left.

  “Wow, she is flawless,” Asia said.

  “Told ya,” Tiffany said and took a sip of her drink.

  “There you are,” Kory said.

  When Tiffany turned around, she saw he was with Keith. “Keith, hey, how are you?”

  He picked her up off the ground with a big hug. “I’m fine. Look at you . . . Tiffany Richardson. Girl, look at you,” he said, giving her a spin. “Kory was right, you are gorgeous, girl.” He gave her another hug.

  “I told you,” Kory said.

  Tiffany blushed. “Oh my God, this is like crazy. To run into you guys in L.A.”

  “Well, I came out here first, and then Kory came and was back and forth for a minute, but business is booming out here. Celebrities are mostly our clientele out here, so the money is unquestionably better. We’ve been trying to convince Kennedy to come out here, but that girl is never gonna leave her daddy or Cher’s side.”

  “Oh my God, Kennedy and Cher are still tight like that? They’ve been friends for like a million years.”

  “Cherae, yes, somehow they are still friends ’til this day. Kennedy and Cher are like two peas in a pod. You know Kory dated her for a minute.”

  “Man, shut up, that was a brief minute,” Kory said. They laughed.

  “You dated Cherae Thompson?”

  “Yes, I did, now can we please change the subject.” Tressa called for him. “I’ll be back,” he said and hurried over to see what she needed.

  “So, where is this wife of yours, Keith?”

  “She is on tour,” he said.

  “On tour? Who is your wife?”

  “Janice Valentine. She is one of the members of Victory. You know the gospel group.”

  “No way. You married one of the sisters of Juliana Valentine? I know there was a huge scandal over her murder. I followed that story on the news. I’d love to meet her twin, Julia. I mean that story was huge. Wow, you married one of them?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, Julia will be here soon.”

  “Julia Valentine is coming here today? She is like the biggest R&B artist on the planet. She is huge.”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow, I wonder if she could sing our new theme song. Better than that, come on to my show and sing on an episode. That would be epic. Then my show may get its contract.”

  “Just ask her, I’m sure she will.”

  “What? Just ask her? You want me to just walk up to her and say, ‘Hey, I’m Tiffany Richardson and I want you to sing on an episode of my television show, Boy Crazy’?”

  “Yep. Lia is a sweetheart, and if you ask, she will do it. I will introduce you to her when they arrive.”

  “Keith, don’t play. Are you serious? You think she will?”

  “I know she will.”

  “Wow, Keith, this is like . . . Wow. Wait ’til my staff hears this.”

  They continued to catch up and Asia excused herself.

  “So, what’s up with your love life, Miss Tiffany? Who is the lucky man in your life?”

  “Ha,” she said laughing. “There is no lucky man in my life. I had a man, but that went to shit.”

  “What? What? What happened?”

  “Well, short version, I came home a little early after hearing that my show is in its final season and found him in my bed with my cleaning lady.”

  “What? No shit?”

  “No shit. Then he showed up two days later apologizing and asking me for another chance. It was comical; it is comical, now that I think about it.”

  “Damn, sorry,” Keith said sympathetically.

  “It’s cool. You win some, you lose some, they say.” She took a swallow of her drink.

  “You know Kory had a thing for you back in the day?”

  “What? G’on wit’ dat, Keith.”

  “He did,” he said.

  “Why am I hearing about this now, over fifteen years later?”

  “Because back then, he thought a smart girl like you wouldn’t be interested. Remember when y’all had chemistry together because he failed biology his freshman year and he needed that science credit to graduate?”

  “Yeah, I remember that,” she said, thinking back.

  “Y’all worked on a project together.”

  “Yes, and the day before it was due, he come telling me that he didn’t finish his part, meaning he didn’t do it at all. I stayed up all night doing what he had two weeks to do, just so he wouldn’t bring down my grade.”

  “Y
es, and that A you made on that project helped him to pass with a D. If it weren’t for you, he would not have graduated that June. He talked about you for the rest of that summer.”

  “No way,” she said, shocked.

  “Yes,” he said.

  She looked over at Kory. He caught her eye and he smiled. She smiled back, and then Tressa walked over and put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Tiffany’s smile faded.

  She and Keith got up and mingled. When Julia finally made it, Keith introduced her to Tiffany, and it was as painless as asking and the singer agreed to be a guest on an episode. She gave Tiffany her cell number and told her to let her know when. She couldn’t wait to tell her staff she got Julia Valentine to appear on a show.

  “Hey, Tiffany,” Kory said. A man accompanied him. “I want you to meet Vi. He is a song writer at Universal Records. If you want a new theme song for your show when you get your new contract with TiMax, he is your man. And he from the Chi.”

  “Southside, baby,” Vi said and gave her a quick friendly hug and kiss.

  “Nice to meet you, Vi, and I definitely need your number, because when this new contract comes through, we gon’ need a hot new theme song.” Tiffany was excited. She started to feel like things were going to work out just fine.

  “No doubt. Now let me see you and Kory on this bid whist table. You can play right?”

  “Fo’sho,” she said and followed them.

  “Yo, Keith, we found a player. These L.A. fools don’t know nothing about bid,” Vi yelled.

  They were set to play. Kory gave Tiffany a high five. They were partners against Vi and Keith. Tressa hung on Kory’s neck like a necklace the entire game, and when Tiffany and Kory beat them, she frowned at their victory celebration. Tiffany noticed the look on Tressa’s face and decided to cut it short.

  “I am going to get me another drink,” she said and headed toward the bar.

  “And hurry back, so we can show these L.A. peeps how to step,” Vi yelled after her.

  When Tiffany rejoined them, they all went out to the dance floor that had been laid over the grass under a gigantic tent. Stepping onto the floor with Vi, Tiffany heard Kory ask Tressa to dance. She started to dance, but watched them from the corner of her eye, still listening. Though the music was loud, the couple spoke loud enough that she was able to hear them.

  “Come on, come dance with me,” he asked.

  “No, Kory,” Tressa said, “you know I don’t know how to step. I’m not gon’ go out there and make a fool out of myself.”

  “Come on, baby, I will show you.”

  “No, I’m gonna look foolish trying to do that stupid step mess.”

  “It’s not stupid, Reesy,” he said pulling her close. “Come on, dance with yo’ man.”

  When she refused again, he shrugged and stepped onto the dance floor without her. He cut in and took Tiffany’s hand out of Vi’s. Vi didn’t argue.

  Tiffany had a ball. As the night came to an end, the crowd got lighter. When she was ready to go, she left the dance floor and found Asia. Asia had met someone, however, and wasn’t ready to go, so Tiffany went out front and took a seat on one of the little benches. Shortly after, Kory walked out and found her there.

  “Hey, there you are,” he said. She looked up. “I thought you left without saying good-bye.”

  “No, I was ready to leave, but my ride is not ready,” she said.

  “Well, I can give you a ride,” he offered.

  “Naw, that may not be a good idea. Your fiancée may not approve.”

  “Tressa isn’t like that.”

  Just then, Tressa walked out. From the look on her face, Tiffany could tell she wasn’t happy to find him alone with her. “Sweetie, I need you real quick,” she said.

  Tiffany smiled as Kory got up and went inside with her.

  Keith ended up giving her a ride home.

  Chapter Seven

  “So what’s the deal with you and your homegirl?” Tressa asked when Kory stepped out of the shower.

  “What do you mean, Reesy?”

  “Exactly what I said, Kory. Did you ever date her?”

  “No, we were just cool in school. She used to hang out with my li’l cousin, Kennedy. We had a couple classes together back in school. I used to see her around. It is just good to catch up with her.”

  “Well, did she like you?”

  “Hey, I know the queen of L.A. is not jealous of my old high school homegirl?” he asked. He embraced her from behind and planted soft kisses on her neck.

  “No. Hell no, I’m not jealous. I just don’t enjoy seeing my man have a grand old time with another woman.”

  “Reesy, you are my center, okay? It’s fun to hang out with folks that know how to step or play bid and can share stories of food from home. We just had fun catching up. Tiffany is harmless.” He turned her to face him.

  She gazed into his hazel eyes and believed him. No way was that “big-boned” heifer going to take her man. “I’m not jealous and I’m not tripping,” she said.

  “Good, and one more thing and I’ll drop the Tiffany subject.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Can you please remember to holla at your dad about her show? She really needs a break, babe. Last night, I watched a couple episodes on Netflix, and you were right, it is a great show.”

  “Okay, I will holla at Daddy, but I can’t make any promises.”

  “I know, babe, but I know your father won’t tell you no. Her show is really good, and I know he will sign them if you ask.” He kissed her deeply and let his towel drop to the floor. She could feel his massive erection. “Suck it for me, baby,” he whispered.

  She hated when he asked her for head. She kissed his chest down his stomach then went down in a squat to take him inside of her mouth. She licked the head a little bit, and he closed his eyes and tilted his head back. When she put it in her mouth and began to go up and down on it, his eyes popped open and he pulled back.

  “Careful, Reesy, your teeth,” he said. She slowed down, pulled back, and teased his head with her tongue again. When she began sucking him again, he pulled back again.

  “Reesy, baby, your teeth.”

  “I’m sorry, your dick is just so big.”

  He pulled her up. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to do that. Just let me slide it in.” He lifted her up onto the vanity.

  “Condom, Kory,” she instructed.

  “Reesy, why are you on the pill if I still have to use rubbers?”

  “Because I told you, I’m not taking any chances. You will get it without the plastic when we are married.”

  He went for a Magnum and when he got back to her, she saw that his dick had gone down. “You wanna help me get it back up?” he asked.

  She frowned. “How?”

  “By touching me.” He took her hand and put it on him for her to stroke him.

  Sighing inwardly, she stroked his shaft with no enthusiasm. He lifted her nightgown and went to suck on her nipple. She looked up at the ceiling. She knew there were thirty-eight and a half tiles.

  “Awww, Kory, not so hard,” she complained. He loosened his suction and moved to the other nipple.

  Noticing his mouth was no longer on her breast, she looked at him and found him staring at her.

  “Do you wanna do this, Reesy?”

  “Not really.” she said.

  He stopped and backed away. “What’s wrong, Reesy Cup? Since I slid that ring on your finger two weeks ago, you’ve become uninterested in making love to me. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, Kory,” she said, pulling down her gown. “It seems that is all you wanna do.” She slid off the vanity.

  “Reesy, you haven’t had sex with me since the night we got engaged. That was two weeks ago. All I’ve been getting from you since that night are excuses. ‘Baby, I’m tired’ or ‘My head hurts’ or ‘I can’t come over tonight, daddy.’”

  “Damn, Kory, don’t start,” she yelled. “I’m not a sex object. Y
ou think because we are engaged that I’m supposed to just fuck you whenever your dick is hard.”

  “Reesy, you know that’s not true. I waited eight weeks to get it from you. Two whole months. We’ve been together for six months, and in the last two weeks, no ass. I know you are not a sex object, but you are my woman. I love you, Reesy, and I want to make love to you. How is that treating you like a sex object?” She looked at him, but didn’t answer. “I’m going for a run,” he said, going to his dresser.

  “A run, Kory, seriously?” She sneered. “Or are you going to call your girl, Tiffany, to please your dick?”

  “Yes, a run, Reesy. And Tiffany and I aren’t fucking around. If we were, I wouldn’t be here begging you for ass. I’d be with her instead of your ass,” he snapped.

  Tressa hadn’t expected him to come back hard at her. Normally, she’d have him apologizing to her even if she was the one who was wrong.

  “Look, sweetheart,” she said, softening her tone. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t want to fight. And if you want to make love, we can make love. I just had a long day and the party drained me, but it has absolutely nothing to do with you. I want to make love to you, Kory. I’m sorry for yelling.”

  She walked over and caressed him from behind, planting soft kisses on his back. Her soft touch made his manhood rise again and she felt the tension leave his body. He turned to her and she lifted her gown over her head.

  He kissed her and caressed her face. “I love you, Reesy, and you ought to know that I would never treat you like an object or cheat on you. I only want to be with you.”

  “I know,” she said. She pulled him toward the bed, climbed in, and lay on her back. He pushed his boxer briefs down and moved to climb on top of her. “Kory, condom, please,” she whispered.

  He got another one and rolled it on, then came down on her and began to kiss her as he slid inside her body. He moved slow and she knew he was trying to prolong it. She worked her body back on his to help get it over with. When he collapsed on her, his face buried in her neck, she grimaced. He got up to flush the condom and she quickly got underneath the covers. He came back into the room, turned out the light, and got in bed, scooting close to her.

  “No round two?” he whispered.