by La Jill Hunt
“Now this is a cookout!” Roni nodded. “What does your brother do again?”
“Here he is now. Yo, Toby!”
“Terry. I knew you was gonna be late.” The voice came from behind the grill. The cover closed and Kayla saw Roni’s jaw drop.
“Hey y’all, this is my brother Toby, otherwise known as Deejay Terror. You know, at Dominic’s.”
“Nice to meet you. Terry has told me a lot about you all.” Toby came and shook all of their hands, stopping at Roni. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thank you. I’m glad we were invited,” Roni said, her eyes never leaving Toby’s.
“Toby, I think the meat is ready,” a big girl with long hair called from the grill. She did not seem too pleased that he was in Roni’s face.
“Well, eat, drink and be merry. Please have a good time. Let me know if you need anything. We’ll talk more later,” Toby said.
“Toby!” the girl called again.
“A’ight, Darla. Gimme a break. If it’s ready, take it out!” he growled at her as he returned to the grill.
“Do you think that was directed at all of us or just Roni?” Tia laughed.
“I think the last part was for Ron,” Theo replied.
“Why didn’t you tell me that was your brother?” Roni fumed and asked Terrell.
“You never asked. I mean, I don’t go around saying my brother is Deejay Terror. That’s some gay type stuff.”
“I can’t believe this.” She shook her head and tried not to look at Toby.
Kayla decided to look for her. The brother was beyond fine. He was dark chocolate in color and at six three, two hundred forty pounds, he was cut just right. Because he was always standing behind the deejay table, they had never known he was bowlegged until now. His chiseled face had deep set, amber eyes and he had deep dimples when he smiled. I see why she’s digging him.
“Well, let’s eat,” Terrell announced. They set out to fix their plates.
“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Darla, Toby’s girlfriend,” the heavy-set girl who had interrupted them earlier walked up and said to Roni.
“I’m Roni,” she said mildly, staring the girl in her face. She was never one to be intimidated by anyone.
“And you are?” she directed at Kayla.
“Kayla.”
“You here with Terrell?” she asked, looking at Kayla’s stomach.
“He invited us.” Kayla looked Darla up and down.
“That’s cool,” she said.
“Darla! Go to the store and get some more ice,” Toby yelled from behind the bar.
“Okay.” She scurried away, leaving Roni and Kayla standing.
“If she’s Toby’s girlfriend, why is she worried about if I’m here with Terrell?” Kayla laughed to Roni.
“She better chill, because she messing with the wrong one. Let me get her boyfriend to fix me a drink.” Roni smiled and headed to join Toby at the bar.
Kayla and her crew feasted and more than enjoyed the food. The deejay, although not as tight as Toby, did an excellent job mixing old school and current favorites. They ate and ate and laughed and joked and ate some more. Soon the sun began to set and Toby joined them at their table, sitting next to Roni.
“I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate you sitting over here with me.” Roni smiled at him as he brought her another margarita.
“What girlfriend?” He looked at Terrell, confused. Terrell just put his head down and shrugged.
“What’s her name, Kay?” Roni turned to Kayla.
“Darla,” Kayla answered.
“Darla? I don’t have a girlfriend, and if I did, it definitely wouldn’t be Darla. That’s just my STD.” He and Terrell looked at each other and laughed.
“What’s a STD?” Tia asked.
“Something To Do. You know. If I get bored and want someone to come over and cook, I’ll call her. I need my dry cleaning picked up or someone to wait for the cable man, I know she’ll do it. She hangs around me at the club, helps me load my equipment in the car.”
“Gives you some,” Roni interrupted.
“I didn’t say that.” He smiled.
“You didn’t have to,” Roni replied and sipped the frozen beverage seductively through a straw. Toby tried not to stare. He glanced down at his watch and checked the time.
“Hey, you know y’all can see the fireworks from back here. They’re about to start in a little while.” Everyone was kicked back, having a good time when Kayla caught a familiar face from the corner of her eye.
“G! What’s up, baby?” Toby called out.
“Deejay Terror!” Geno started for their table and stopped before he made it, noticing who was sitting there.
“Kayla,” Geno said.
“You two know each other? Cool!” Toby got up and offered Geno a seat. “Let me get you a beer, man.”
“Hey, Geno,” Roni offered.
“What’s up, everyone? I didn’t think I’d run into you all here,” he said. Kayla spotted Janice talking to Darla at the opposite end of the yard. Obviously, she didn’t see Geno talking to her. Although he didn’t seem too worried about being caught.
“Where’s the bathroom?” she asked Terrell.
“Come on, I’ll let you use the one upstairs,” Terrell told her. They went inside and walked up to the second floor. He showed Kayla the bathroom and told her he’d wait for her. She went inside and sat down on the toilet, relieving herself. As she washed her hands, she looked at herself in the mirror. What the hell is Geno doing here? I’m not even in the mood to deal wit’ no ignorance tonight.
“You a’ight, Kay?” She heard Terrell tapping on the door.
“Yeah. Give me a few minutes, okay?” she called out.
“Okay. Take your time. I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said. She could hear him talking to someone down the hall. She washed her face and hands again and opened the door. She found Geno waiting outside the bathroom.
“I told Terrell I needed to talk to you. He said we could use the room at the end of the hall.” He grabbed her hand and led her into the bedroom. She sat on the bed in the middle of the massive room.
“What do you want, Geno? Ain’t your psychotic girlfriend gonna be looking for you?” she asked him.
“I need to know something, Kayla,” he asked, ignoring her question.
“What?”
“When is the baby due?”
“November.”
“We were together that night, Kayla. That would be nine months.”
“You can’t go by months, Geno. It takes forty weeks from conception to birth. I got pregnant on Valentine’s.” She looked at him.
“But it still might be . . .”
“It’s not, Geno.” She stopped him. As bad as she wanted him to be, she knew she couldn’t make Geno the father of her child.
“Look, I know you are mad about me and Janice.”
“You and Janice? I don’t give a damn about you and her,” Kayla fired at him.
“Chill out, Kay! Don’t act like the thought of me being the father never crossed your mind!” he yelled back at her.
Kayla sat on the side of the bed and tried not to cry. The door opened and Terrell stuck his head in.
“You a’ight, yo? Everything cool, man?” he asked, looking at Kayla and then Geno.
“Yeah, man, we just talking,” Geno answered him.
“Try to keep it down. Y’all don’t want everybody up in your business. Know what I’m saying?” He nodded as he left out and closed the door behind him.
“You wouldn’t lie about this, Kayla. Would you? Please, tell me.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you period, Geno. You know that. Your being with Janice has nothing to do with it. I’ve never lied to you,” she told him.
“Then I guess I owe you an apology, Kay. I mean, I remember that night, and . . .” He smiled weakly, but she knew he was hurt. They sat silently for what seemed like an eternity, just looking at each other. “You look
. . .”
“Big as hell.” She finished the sentence for him.
He smiled weakly. “No, you look beautiful.”
“Come on, we’d better get back downstairs. The fireworks are about to start.” She struggled to get up. He reached his hand out and helped pull her to her feet. They giggled as they went into the hallway.
“What the hell are you two doing?” an icy voice said. Kayla and Geno turned around and Janice was standing at the top of the steps looking at them like she could spit daggers. Kayla could tell that she was drunk.
“We were talking, Janice. That’s all. Come on, let’s go back down,” he said and tried to get past her, but she blocked him.
“Oh hell, naw!” she yelled. “You come out the bedroom wit’ your ex-bitch, who by the way is knocked up, and you wanna act like it’s all good? You gotta come better than that, Geno!”
“You know what? I ain’t even gonna entertain this bulIshit.” Kayla laughed as she went to walk by them. “Excuse me.”
“Don’t run. What the hell were you doing wit’ my man?” she slurred. Kayla looked over the rail and saw a crowd had begun to gather.
“Janice, you’re drunk. Come on, let’s go.” He pulled her arm and she spun around and looked him in the face.
“You still love her, Geno? Is that it?” She waited for him to answer.
“Come on, Janice. Let’s go home.” He reached for her arm again and she stumbled as she stepped back.
“Tell me. Tell me in front of her, while she standing here, big belly and all. Do you still love her?” This time, she pointed to Kayla.
Kayla looked down at the floor so he wouldn’t have to look at her face. As bad as she wanted to know the answer to that question, she dreaded hearing the answer. Either way, it wouldn’t matter.
They were over.
“Answer me, dammit!”
Suddenly, Geno bent over and picked up a screaming Janice, carrying her down the steps past the audience that was observing the moment. He looked back at Kayla but didn’t say a word. She watched as the door closed behind them.
“Man, that was better than the fireworks,” Terrell said. “That was the highlight of the party.”
“Shut up, Terrell! You okay, Kayla?” Yvonne ran next to her girlfriend to make sure she was all right.
“Yeah, girl. That bitch is crazy,” Kayla said as they went outside.
“No doubt. What were you and Geno doing up there anyway?” Tia asked.
“We were just talking, that’s it,” Kayla answered.
Everyone had made their way back outside and the party had picked up where it left off. Soon, the sky was lit up with bright, colorful fireworks. Kayla looked up and felt her baby kicking; she couldn’t help but smile. Next year, I’ll be watching the fireworks with you. She put her hand on her belly.
“I got a date this weekend,” Roni whispered in her ear.
“I’m not surprised.” She smiled at her friend. She looked around and saw Tia and Theo hugged up and Yvonne laughing with a guy by the beer keg. Everyone seemed so happy and content, their lives predictable and settled. Kayla felt the movement in her stomach again and told herself that one day, she and her baby would be happy too.
Despite all the drama earlier, the evening’s festivities continued well into the night. Everyone was having such a good time that no one wanted to leave. Kayla tolerated the merriment for as long as she could and then decided she couldn’t take it anymore. At ten after eleven, she looked for Terrell. She went inside to check the kitchen where she found him kissing Darla.
“Oops, my bad,” Kayla said, embarrassed as she quickly turned around.
“That’s okay. You ready to go?” He pushed the plump girl away and she excused herself, walking by Kayla with a smile.
“I’m tired. I can see you’re not, though. I’ll just get Tia and Theo to drop me off. You go handle your business, Terrell.” She smirked at him. They went back into the backyard.
“It ain’t even like that. But naw, we can go. I think I might hit a few spots tonight and get my dance on. Is she rolling with us?” He motioned toward Roni who was dancing with Toby.
“I’ll go and ask.” She shrugged. She waved at Roni and pointed to her wristwatch. Roni nodded and whispered something into Toby’s ear. They walked over to her.
“I’m sorry, Kay. I didn’t even know it was that late,” Roni told her.
“No, I’m sorry, Ron. You can stay if you want. I’m sure Theo will give you a ride. I think Yvonne left, though. I can’t find her,” Kayla replied.
“I can take you home. That is if you don’t want to spend the night.” Toby rubbed Roni’s arm, smiling.
“You must think I am one of your STD’s, huh? don’t think so.” Roni pushed his hand away.
“I heard that. Well, let’s roll, then,” Terrell announced.
“Terry, you not gonna help me clean up?” Toby asked his brother.
“Sorry, bro. I’m quite sure Darla got it under control for you. You know I chauffeured these ladies tonight. I gotta get ’em home, too.” He laughed and motioned toward Geno who was walking back into the yard, alone. “I think your boy wanna talk to you.”
“I’ma go tell Theo and Tia we’re out,” Roni said. “You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah.” Kayla nodded. She sat back down and watched as Geno walked toward her.
“I’ll meet you all out front,” Terrell said and waved toward Geno. “We outta here, G!”
“I wanted to come back and apologize for earlier, Kay.” He sat beside her.
She wanted to ask him where Janice was, but kept quiet.
“She gets kinda crazy when she drinks. I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything, Geno.” Kayla shrugged. “You might wanna tell her to get some help, though. Any other time you know I wouldn’t have been so nice. But I am pregnant.”
“No, your being pregnant ain’t got nothing to do with it. You are you. Listen, I just want to let you know that we’re still cool. No matter what, okay? You call me if you need anything, you understand?”
“Yeah, G” She turned and faced him. Roni came from around the side of the house and Terrell pulled up all at the same time. “Well, take care of yourself, Geno.”
He gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek, then hugged Roni. “Look out for her, Ron.”
“I always do, Geno. Hey, see where Toby’s head is at for me, okay?”
“I already know where it is. You got him open.” Geno laughed.
“I know that. I got ’em all open. But I gotta figure him out. Let him know I’m not your average chick,” Roni said.
“He been in your face all night and he had around forty female guests that came to be in his face. It ain’t that hard to figure.” Geno waved as they got in the car.
Terrell dropped Roni off and then proceeded to Kayla’s. As they pulled up, he noticed something sitting outside her door.
“What’s that?” he asked her.
“I don’t know.” She opened the car door and hesitated going up the sidewalk, turning to look back at Terrell.
“Now I gotta be security too. Jeez.” He commented as he opened his door and got out. He picked up the package and read the note. “It’s a cake. From your baby daddy.”
“Quit playing.” Kayla went and grabbed the note from him.
Hey, Beautiful.
I came by to check on you and bring you something sweet. But you weren’t here—I guess it’s my loss. Call me later so I can see how it tastes.
Love,
Craig
“I can’t believe his lying ass. What did he want? And where was his wife and kid?” Kayla snatched her door open and threw the cake on the counter.
“Call him and find out,” Terrell told her. “I thought you said he wasn’t around.”
“He’s not. I haven’t seen or heard from him since that day I cussed him out in my driveway.” She flopped down on the sofa. Terrell wasted no time getting a knife and cutting a slice of the cake.
>
“Damn, this is the bomb,” he said. “That nigga can cook.”
Kayla tried to resist but she couldn’t. “What kind is it?”
“Chocolate something,” he said between bites.
“Bring me a piece,” she called out sweetly. He brought her a big slice of the chocolate frosted inferno. It was chocolate with chocolate chips, nuts and caramel. “Who’s pimping who, now?” She laughed.
“That’s not even funny, yo.” He tried not to smile. He knew she had caught him off guard.
“Oh God, this is sinful,” she said as she took a bite.
“Well, you good? ’Cause I gotta be out,” he said and wiped his mouth.
“Oh, that’s right. You’re going out,” she murmured. “What was up with you and homegirl?”
“Who?”
“The one you were slobbing over.” She looked at him knowingly.
“What? Darla? Please. She was trying to get back at Toby for being all in Roni’s face. But what she doesn’t realize is that Toby ain’t her man, and will never be her man because she is too weak. Toby likes strong women. They are a challenge for him. Darla is a chicken head, a freak chicken head at that. That was nothing.”
“Okay nothing.” Kayla wrapped the remainder of the cake up.
“Yo, tell that nigga that cake is the bomb when you call him. I’ll holla at you tomorrow. You a’ight?”
“Be safe.” Kayla hugged him as he left. She made sure her door was locked and picked up the cordless phone. She dialed the numbers and waited for Craig to answer.
“Hey, sweetheart. Did you get your cake?” he asked as if it was the most natural question in the world.
“Don’t even try it, Craig. What the hell was that all about? You popping over my house again? I thought you got enough of that the last time you showed up over here unannounced.”
“There you go. Why you always gotta trip, huh, Kayla? I made that because I thought you’d like it.” She could hear a lot of laughter in the background.
“I thought you were gonna call me back the other week, huh, Craig? Don’t tell me, you had to work and didn’t get a chance, right?”
