Paper Dolls

by Sienna Mynx

  “Zee, my world is falling apart. Forgive me. Forgive me. Please,” he wept.

  She didn’t say anything. He paced the floor. He hit his head with his fist several times and cursed himself for his actions. He had half a mind to go next door and kick that motherfucker’s ass. Something was different about his lady. There was such a sense of finality when she said it was over. That wasn’t his Zee.

  José couldn’t even think of the possibility of not having her. He had fucked up, but she was wrong about him. He never cared about any of those women. Just her. It was always her for him. “Zee, we need to calm down. I get it. We both need to cool off. Listen to me, babe. I’m going for a drive. But I’m coming back. I’ll be back, and we will talk it out. Whatever you want, babe, name it. Fuck we can get on a plane tonight and go to Vegas and get married if you want. You just tell me what you want and it’s yours. I swear it this time. It’s going to be different this time. I’ll prove it!”

  He snatched up his keys and stormed out.

  Zephyr slunk down on the door and held her cat. She cried. Mr. Stripes continued to shake in her arms. Scared, she crawled to the phone and called her friends.

  **

  “Did he hit you?” Valentina asked. She paced the floor.

  Raven held Zephyr on the sofa and watched Valentina pace. “Answer me, Zee! Did he hit you?”

  “No,” Zephyr said.

  “But he kicked your fucking cat! What kind of shit is that? Even I don’t kick Mr. Stripes!” Valentina raged.

  Zephyr ran her hand up and down Stripes’ fur. The cat had stopped shaking and was resting peacefully. “Should I take him to the vet? Could he have internal injuries?” she asked, her voice got clogged in her throat.

  “I think he’s fine.” Raven smiled and rubbed her hand down her arm.

  Valentina spun around. “I say we report it to the police.”

  “I think it was an accident, he was just so crazy in that moment.” Zephyr said.

  “Accident! Well it won’t be an accident when I put my foot in his ass!” Valentina rolled up her sleeves.

  “Hey, chill, Valentina,” Raven said.

  Zephyr shook her head sadly. She sat up and put her face in her hands. Stripes jumped down from her lap and walked off. “José was so different, crazy like. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

  “What’s wrong with him is he’s a spoiled, two-timing, piece of shit! That’s what!” Valentina spat.

  Zephyr began to rock and cry. Raven sat forward and rubbed her back. She shot Valentina another look. “Would you calm down? You aren’t helping.”

  “Oooooh! This shit makes me so mad! So damn mad!” Valentina shouted. “It’s like kicking a kid. Zee wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s been so sweet to that asshole, and he terrorizes her?”

  Raven moved Zephyr’s hair to see her better. “What set him off? What brought this on?”

  “He saw me with Clayton. I guess that’s what set him off,” she began.

  “Who the hell is Clayton?” Valentina stopped pacing.

  “My neighbor. The guy I told you about.”

  Valentina and Raven exchanged looks. “That’s where you were all day? José called me worried about you,” Raven asked.

  “That kitty cat kicker called me too. With his punk ass!”

  “Stop it, Valentina!” Raven pleaded. Valentina went to the chair and plopped down, angry, her nostrils flaring.

  “He said they were going to kick him out of the league. That he was going to lose everything. They think he’s using steroids.” Zephyr told them.

  “Bingo!” Valentina jumped to her feet and got the phone. Raven frowned, and Zephyr looked up.

  “What are you doing?” Zephyr asked.

  “Calling Tim Cline. He loves gossip. Well I’m about to drop a dime on that fool.”

  “No! Don’t!” Zephyr got up and snatched the phone from her. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Me? That man comes in here and scares you to the point you scare the shit out of us, and you want to defend him!” Valentina accused.

  “I just want him gone. I don’t want to hurt him. I love him,” Zephyr said.

  The door unlocked and José walked back in. He stopped to see them all standing there.

  “Oh hell no you didn’t.” Valentina said going for him. “Who the fuck do you think you are coming up in here—”

  “Valentina!” Zephyr grabbed at her, but she went straight to José and got in his face.

  “—trying to terrorize my girl. Get your sorry ass out!” Valentina shouted and shoved him hard. José didn’t budge.

  “This has nothing to do with you, Valentina,” José said. “Hi, Raven,” he said.

  “The hell it doesn’t. You get out right now, or I’ll take a swing at you, and being the punk that you are you’ll swing back. Which will be your final mistake,” Valentina said.

  “José, maybe you should go,” Raven said.

  He ignored them both and looked at Zephyr. “Babe, can I talk to you?”

  Zephyr hugged herself. She shook her head no, but didn’t say much else.

  Raven pulled Valentina away. “Back off! Let me talk to José. You and Zee go in the other room.”

  “Get out!” Valentina shouted at him. She went over to Zephyr, took her hand and led her to the bedroom. She slammed the door. Raven rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

  “Rae, you know I wouldn’t hurt Zee. I love her.” José pleaded.

  “Not true, José. You’ve been hurting her for years,” Raven said.

  “I just need to talk to her. Just one more time. Please,” he pleaded.

  “Why?” Raven asked. She stepped to him and blocked his attempt to go to the bedroom. “So you can play on her sympathies. Drag her down with you.”

  “What does that mean?” José frowned. “I love her.”

  “Then do what’s right and just go. Zee doesn’t deserve this. She has never hurt a person in her life. Stop breaking her heart.” Raven said.

  José looked to the door and his eyes watered. “She’s not going to forgive me is she?”

  “How can she? Look at how you’ve treated her. Hey, maybe it was an accident, but you got some problems you need to deal with. You need to go face them. Alone,” Raven said.

  He heaved a sigh. “I’m fucked up. I know that, but I do love her. I do. I keep saying that, because…well I’m afraid she won’t believe me if I don’t. I just got to prove to her that I can change. I need her, Rae. She’s the only good thing I got in this world. Even better than baseball. I treated her like shit.”

  “Do you hear what you’re saying?” Raven said, disgusted. “You need her, she’s all you got. That’s not love! Get out. I’m with Valentina, you’re pathetic.”

  José glared at her. He stepped back then turned to leave.

  “José?”

  He stopped.

  “Can I have the key? Zee can give it back to you if she chooses, but right now I have to protect my friend. Even from herself,” Raven said.

  José looked down at the keychain in his hand. He almost objected. He took off the key and went over to her and gave it to her. “Tell her I’ll call her and send for my stuff.”

  Raven nodded and he left.

  She went to the bedroom. When she opened the door Zephyr stood, “Is he gone?”

  Raven gave her the key. “He’s gone.”

  Zephyr looked at the key. She took off for the bathroom and threw up. Valentina went after her. Valentina held her hair, and rubbed her back while she heaved her Caribbean dinner.

  “Damn, Zee, what did you eat today?” Valentina flushed.

  “I’m so sorry, guys. For bringing you into this.” Zephyr said weakly, she gargled then rinsed before coming out of the bathroom. Raven thought she looked pale and defeated.

  “Get in bed, I’m staying with you.” Valentina volunteered.

  “No, I can’t ask you to do that,” she said.

  “I’m staying,” Valentina said.

/>   Raven sighed. “Me too.”

  Zephyr looked at them both. “Really? Both of you will stay? Like when we were roommates?”

  “Yea, but keep that damn cat away from me,” Valentina walked out of the room. Zephyr smiled and went to the bed, and climbed on top.

  “Do you plan to stick to it this time, Zee?” Raven had to ask.

  “I know I’ve said it was over before. But José has never even raised his voice at me. I don’t know who he is. Who that person was tonight. It’s over.”

  “Good, because that seemed like some roid rage bullshit to me.”

  “What’s that?” Zephyr asked.

  “Steroids, they change a person’s moods, temperament. The drug makes people angry and violent. If he kicked Stripes and snatched on you it could be because of that.” Raven told her. “Had an athlete I represented who was on it bad.”

  “Which athlete?” Zephyr pressed.

  “Never mind that,” Raven chuckled.

  “So you think he’s on the steroids? Am I in danger?” Zephyr asked.

  “I think he’s sorry, and he’ll stay away. No I don’t think you are in danger. It’s just best that it end, right?” Raven asked.

  Zephyr sighed. “Right. It could explain…”

  “What? Explain what?” Raven pressed her.

  “The sex,” she said softly.

  “What about sex?”

  “Lately he’s been rough. Hurtful. It was never like that with us before, but the past few months it’s been painful.”

  “Are you kidding me? He’s hurting you during sex?” Raven frowned.

  “Aggressive. I thought it was his frustration with his season last year. I should have known something was wrong with him. I should have.”

  Raven got in bed with her and opened her arms for Zephyr to lay in close. When Valentina returned with a bowl of chips and a large glass of soda she frowned at the tender scene the women shared.

  “I’m sleeping on the couch.” She mumbled.

  She sat on the floor in front of the bed. “Throw me the remote, Zee,” Valentina said.

  Raven tossed it off the bed, and Valentina caught it. She turned on the TV.

  “Now tell me about Clayton. Sounds like a really cool guy,” Raven said.

  “He is,” Zephyr smiled. She closed her eyes. “He’s really cool, but all I want to do is sleep. It’s been a long day.”

  Raven smiled. She kissed Zephyr on the cheek. “Yes it has.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Goodbye to Yesterday

  The refrigerator door was tossed shut behind her. Mr. Stripes brushed up against her ankles. Zephyr smiled. Her sweet kitty was such a comfort to her. Mr. Stripes had been trying to soothe her all day.

  “Mama has your cream right here, baby,” she said.

  She filled his dish. Zephyr lowered and put the bowl before Stripes. The cat lapped it up. She stroked the back of her pet’s head. Hers lifted at the sound of knocking at the door. Valentina had just left. She wondered if her friend had decided to come back to babysit her. She sighed. She had to prove to them all that she was stronger than this.

  Zephyr placed the carton back in the fridge. She walked through her kitchen, across her living room to the door. “Who is it?”

  “Manny! Baby boo, open up!” Manuel said.

  Zephyr grimaced. She looked back at the clock. She hadn’t even showered yet. Manny was José’s cousin and not a big fan of his. A visit from him was the last thing she needed. Releasing the locks she opened the door. Manuel was stylish as always with a yellow Lacoste shirt and a green cardigan tied around his neck. He wore khaki shorts revealing how athletically fit and toned his legs were.

  “Ooh, sweetie, what backed over you?”

  Of course he breezed in with his sunglasses on. He toted an oversized Gucci purse. “Sweetie, I know I’m early but I just had to get away from that salon. Those bitches work a nerve.”

  Zephyr sighed and closed the door. “I need you to keep things together at the salon for me, Manny. That’s why I made you manager.”

  “You made me manager because I’m fierce,” he smiled. Manuel pushed his sunglasses down his nose and looked her over. “I came to do some spring cleaning. More like fumigating since we gonna toss José’s funky butt to the curb.”

  “Wait what did you say?”

  “I said I came to do some fumigating…”

  “No. You said I tossed José to the curb. How did you know?” she asked.

  “He’s my lousy cousin. The moment you kicked him out he made a beeline to my house to plead his case. I told him to go to hell. I am so glad you finally saw the light, honey.”

  She dropped her head and shook it sadly.

  “But it looks like you ain’t having your hallelujah moment. Girl, what-chu going through?”

  Zephyr smoothed back her knotty tangles. She was wearing her favorite robe. It belonged to her mother. It always comforted her when she wore it. It reminded her of home.

  “Look, honey, Valentina called me. She told me that José is coming to pick up his stuff. I want to help. I can make sure the visit is brief.”

  “I can pack his things myself. Go back to the salon and keep everything together for me. That’s what I need.”

  “Oh please. Don’t nobody know how to kick a motherfuc—kick a loser to the curb like Manny. You need me.”

  “Why do you do that? Talk about him like that. Always put him down?” Zephyr asked.

  “He’s a loser.”

  “He’s your family!” Zephyr shouted.

  Manny sighed. “He’s selfish. He’s always been good at athletics, always been a star in our family. And because of it he’s never been held accountable for anything. His mother and brothers all bow down to him. The women, he treats them like garbage. I told him to stay away from you. Not because I hate him but because I love you. I wanted to spare you this pain. Instead I had to watch for years as he hurt you over and over again. So forgive me, honey, if I don’t shed a tear that he finally got what he deserved.”

  She put her face in her hands. She sat that way for a long-suffering minute.

  Manny stood. She could hear him walking around her place. “First we can start by opening some windows in here.” Zephyr lifted her face from her hands. Manuel went to the sliding patio door. He pulled back the blinds. She watched as he turned on the ceiling fans too.

  When Mr. Stripes came out he picked him up and kissed him. “So where is it? Where’s his crap?”

  “Bedroom,” Zephyr said. She rubbed the tension from her temples. Manuel sashayed into her bedroom carrying Stripes. After a moment she went after him.

  “I’m going to shower. The bags are in there too. I don’t care which ones you use,” she said in reference to the luggage Manny brought out.

  “Fine. Wash that head of yours, you’ll cost us business if someone saw you looking like that.” He called after her as she closed the door.

  Zephyr opened her robe. She turned and hung it on the hook in a neat fashion. She then pulled José’s jersey up over her head. When she dropped it on the floor she could actually see him in it. Her eyes closed. She waited for the memory to pass. It did. She then went to the shower and stepped inside. She closed the glass door. When she turned the knobs, the jets sprayed her with cool water and she shivered. It soon warmed over. She dropped her head and heard his voice.

  “José don’t! I’m going to be late.”

  “You broke the rules,” he chuckled.

  “What rules?”

  “The ones that said you don’t leave the bed until I say so. Remember those rules?” he asked. He wrapped his arms around her. Zephyr was lifted off her feet. His dick was pressed against the cheeks of her ass. She laughed when he turned her to the water and it sprayed over her face and wet her hair.

  “Damn it!”

  He knew exactly what to do to slow down her day. Not only would she have to blow dry her hair, but flat iron it too. It would take her a full two hours because of her hair
length and thickness.

  “Put me down!” she squealed. He did. She turned and hit him playfully upside his head. He smacked her on her ass. “Why did you do that? Damn!”

  “Awe, babe, c’mon, I was tired of touching myself waiting for you to come back to bed,” he flicked his tongue at her. “Give me some cho-cha!”

  She laughed and shoved him off. He groped her breast and then her ass. She kept swatting his hands.

  “Please, baby, baby, baby, baby, plllllleeeeeaaassssseeeee!” he howled.

  “You are crazy!” she couldn’t stop laughing. He caught her by the waist and half spun her to the wall.

  “Let me stick it in. Tu me vuelves loca! No! No! Your cho-cha drives me crazy,” he said and then bit her on the shoulder.

  “You are so damn freaky! Stop!” she laughed. He bit her on the other shoulder and she hollered. He lowered his head to suck her nipple into his mouth. He scooped her up by the waist so she could heave up against him and give him what he wanted.

  “José, no!” she moaned. She lifted her left leg and hooked it around his waist. He thrust up into her and she savored every inch. She tilted her pelvis so that his next thrust would drive him even deeper.

  “Mmmm, Zee, I love you so much. Te quiero!” he said. He buried his face in her neck, and held her up by her ass while fucking her slow and easy. She let her body relax and gave in to him.

  “I love you too, José. So much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. He grunted several times and drilled her harder. And then he released. She kissed his face as he let her go. She eased down to her feet.

  “Okay, now let me shower please. Tonight when I get home I promise you will have me all to your self.” She reached for the soap. She gave him her back as she lathered up her loofah sponge to scrub down with. Behind her she heard the top flick open and a soft squirt. Zephyr looked back to see he had the shampoo in his hands. And when those million dollar pitching hands went through her hair she moaned. This type of attention guaranteed she’d miss her meeting altogether. She shuddered as his fingers scratched and massaged her scalp. She turned and looked up at him smiling.