by N'Tyse
“I was working on my club and trying to make a living to support both of us! You know that. And fuck Shun!” Sand spat as Rene’s comment sank in. She knew those were the people Rene was talking about. “If you didn’t keep her in our business all the time, she wouldn’t have shit to laugh and gossip about. So I blame that nonsense on you.”
“But I needed you, Sand. I was going through something that I couldn’t fight alone, and you weren’t there,” Rene said softly as that pent-up anger drenched her cheeks. She wanted Sand to know how trying their relationship had been for her and how she struggled to bring herself to terms with her sexuality. “I didn’t know if I was completely delusional or just flat-out insanely in love.” She stared Sand deeply in the eyes. “I needed that confirmation from you.”
Sand stood up, waiting a few minutes before she said anything. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. She moved closer to claim the woman that was meant to be hers. She held out her hands and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I never meant to hurt you,” she said. “I know I fucked up. I’m knowing this. And I hate I took you through all that. You didn’t deserve that treatment.”
Rene nestled her head against Sand’s chest.
“Look at me,” Sand said. “I’m going to prove to you that this shit we got . . . this right here,” she said, pointing her finger between them, “is real. And I swear to you from this moment on, you will never have to worry about me not being there for you again. Because I’m right here, baby.” She kissed the top of Rene’s left hand, every last one of her fingers, and then the inside of her palm. “And I don’t plan on going no-motherfucking-where.” She planted the last kiss on her salty, wet lips.
“I love you so much,” Rene said, moving her hands to the sides of Sand’s face.
Sand just stared at her woman, loving everything about her that there was to love. “Get dressed,” she told Rene. “I have somebody I want you to meet.” Sand figured now was the time for Rene to see where those long days and nights were being spent.
“Who?” Rene asked. She reached for her jeans which were hanging off the arm of the only chair in their room, but as soon as she did, Sand was taking them out of her hands. “Thought you said you wanted me to get ready?”
“I do,” Sand said, pulling her by the waist. “After this.” She slid Rene’s sherbet-orange thong down slow and easy, caressing her ass along the way. She unwrapped it from around her ankles and tossed it onto the bed.
“What are you doing?” Before Rene knew it, her feet were no longer touching the floor. She held on as tightly as she could as Sand used her upper body strength to lift her above her chest. Both of her legs straddled Sand’s shoulders until her ample flesh soon found its way in the warmth of her girlfriend’s mouth. She let out a sensual moan. It felt so good having Sand so close to her body, touching her, squeezing her, making her this hot. This wet. The cool breeze slithering up and down her spine made its way to her lower end and between her cheeks as Sand sucked the softness out of her nipples.
“Oh yes . . .” Rene cried out as the heat simmering between them began moving farther below her waist. She couldn’t resist what she felt, and she wanted it more than anything in the world. Her pussy was throbbing in agreement and screamed for its lover’s comeback as Sand laid her on her back. Rene began rolling her fingers over what used to be a head full of natural brown hair. She invited her lover inside of her, every bit of her that wanted to be there until Sand’s tongue began playing along the cliff of her engorged clit. Rene grabbed her own breasts that were bouncing up and down while Sand’s tongue maneuvered its way to the middle, the bottom, and then the ceiling of her pussy. She called out Sand’s name over and over again. As if her legs had a mind of their own, they fell open even wider.
Sand’s fingers continuously surfed along the lips of Rene’s crying pussy before finding themselves inside of Rene’s own mouth. Rene closed her eyes as she seductively sucked the sweetest coconut milk right off Sand’s fingertips. With every lick, she felt herself getting wetter and wetter until she had to open her eyes, look down, and be certain that the housekeeper hadn’t come in and thrown a bucket of hot water on them both.
Sand raised up her shirt and lay down, giving Rene the liberty to saddle up. She grabbed one of the very many pillows, then placed it behind her head.
“Ummm,” Rene moaned, knowing what time it was. She didn’t hesitate as she climbed over Sand’s body, straddling her face. Her swelling lips brushed against Sand’s chin before Sand could even open her mouth to take it there.
“That’s it. Keep it there,” Rene panted. “Oh God, it’s coming, it’s coming,” she cheered on until finally, a spill of juices emitted from between her legs and down her lover’s throat.
* * *
Ty woke to the smell of bacon, eggs, chicken, grits, and buttermilk waffles. She was so happy to be home again, in her own room, her own bed. She tossed the covers back and dragged both feet to the side of the bed, then walked around her room wearing a pair of silk green pajamas from so many winters ago. She felt like she had to piss a river as she made her way to the huge bathroom connected to her room. She was beginning to feel like her old self again. She leaned into the vanity mirror and saw how her scars were darker and more noticeable than they had been two nights ago. Her eye was so swollen she could barely see out of it, and her lip looked like somebody took a chunk out of it. She turned away, not wanting to see herself in such horrible shape. Ty knew that she would never be the same again after living in that house. But if she hadn’t learned anything else, she learned that the streets loved no one.
She took a quick piss and slipped off her PJs, then stepped into the shower and buried her head under the warm stream. This was one time she honestly believed that all the bad she’d ever done was being washed away. Ty felt like she was being born again.
* * *
Illusion could smell Trent’s mother’s entire kitchen on her doorstep. She was hesitant about getting out of the car, and now that she had, she started to turn back around, unsure of why she was even there.
“Where you going?” Trent asked, grabbing her by her elbow.
“I can’t. If she sees me with you, she’s gon’ freak out,” Illusion explained. “I can’t go in there.”
“Look, if it wasn’t for you, no telling how out of my mind I might be right now. So regardless, you here with me, and we going in. Together. A’ight?”
Illusion wasn’t feeling it at all. Maybe Trent didn’t know how crazy his sister really was.
“Now, when my mom called me, I told her how you and I both had a long-ass night. Knowing my moms, she probably already cooked up enough food for all of Dallas. So you telling me you gon’ let all that good food in there go to waste?”
Illusion took a deep breath, then let out a sigh.
Trent pulled her closer to him, taking her chin in his hand. “I told you, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I got you. But you have to trust me.”
Illusion couldn’t resist Trent’s smile, his touch. “So now you my bodyguard?” she smiled.
“Yeah. I’m yo’ bodyguard,” he laughed, flexing his muscles.
Illusion couldn’t stop laughing. “Okay. But if she even attempts to come at me, I’m out. I refuse to be disrespected, and I’m not going to bring our drama into your mama’s house.”
“Understood. I can live with that.” Trent began pushing open the door. He led Illusion through the house by the hand.
Illusion got a glimpse of the framed portraits that hung throughout on a designated half-and-half brown and sage painted wall. Even the few pictures that decorated the mantle caught her eye. She saw both Trent and Ty when they were much younger, some including them together, others with them hogging the camera alone.
“Ma, where you at?” Trent called out to his mother.
“I’m in here, son.”
Trent headed for the kitchen. His mother was removing oven mitts from her hands when he walked in. Trent leaned in and kissed her
on the cheek. “Mama, this Illeshia, an old friend of Tylesha’s,” he fibbed.
“How you doing, ma’am? You have a beautiful home,” Illusion expressed, extending her hand.
“Why, I thank you. It didn’t come by easy, I can tell you that,” Trent’s mother smiled. “Well, y’all go on and wash up. I know you gotta be starving by now. I’ll put your plates out on the table for ya ’cause I need to be getting ready for church. Sister Hal will be here any minute now to pick me up.”
“All right, Mama,” Trent said, leaning in to kiss his mother again.
“Your sister is in there freshening up,” his mother volunteered. “She should be out any minute now. She been in there for hours already,” she laughed. “Might need to go in there after her.” She turned to Illusion. “And nice meeting you, young lady. I appreciate you helping my son out like you’ve done.”
“It was my pleasure, Mrs.—”
“Just call me Jackie, baby.”
Illusion appreciated their mother’s generosity and hospitality. “Thanks, Jackie.”
Trent showed Illusion down the hall and to the bathroom. When Illusion came back out, he couldn’t help stopping just to stare at her.
* * *
As Ty put on her clothes, she could hear faint voices coming from the living room. It sounded like her mother’s close friend, church buddy, and Avon sales rep, Sister Hal. They would alternate Sunday’s driving to church, so this Sunday had to be hers. Ty thought about staying in the room until they left, but it seemed that as the thought entered her brain, Sister Hal and her mom were walking into her room.
“There she is! Give your auntie some sugar, baby,” Sister Hal said, limping over to Ty.
Ty frowned her nose up at the terrible brand of perfume and slobber that she could feel on her face.
“Boy, don’t we have some catchin’ up to do,” Sister Hal smiled.
Ty just nodded her head, trying her best to not pass out.
“Let’s go, sister. We don’t wanna be late. You know we have to get there early if we want a good seat,” Ty’s mother said. She could read the transparent expression on her daughter’s face.
“Well, I’m gon’ see you after church,” Sister Hal told Ty.
“Okay,” Ty answered back, not looking forward to it.
Ty’s mother took one last peek inside her room. “Your brother is here,” she smiled. “I know you two have a lot of catching up to do, so I’ll see you when church lets out.”
“Okay, Mama,” Ty said before her mother closed the door.
Ty couldn’t wait to see Trent. She finished playing in her hair, threw on her footies, and hurried toward the kitchen. When Ty hit the corner, she spotted her brother right away.
Trent looked up.
Illusion looked up and was caught by surprise at Ty’s overnight transformation. Her spiked hair was now straightened. Her makeup all gone. Even the clothes she wore made her look different from the Ty she remembered knocking the hell out of.
Ty’s face said more than what her mouth could let out. It was like someone was strangling her to death. She scanned the room, looking for Chyna. Her body tensed up, and her breathing became labored as she stared Illusion up and down.
Trent rose from his seat. “What’s up, baby sis?” he attempted.
As far as Ty was concerned, Trent was nowhere in the room. It was just her and Illusion.
“Tylesha,” Trent said.
Illusion pushed her chair away from her plate. “Trent, I better go.”
“Yeah, bitch, you better raise the fuck up outta here!”
“No. You’re here with me,” Trent said, trying to stop her.
Ty dragged her eyes to her brother’s. “Why did you bring her here? You don’t know shit about her!” she shot. She watched Illusion get up from the table and make her way to the door. “That’s right, get the hell outta my house!” Ty hollered. “My brother doesn’t fuck with tramp bitches like you! You’re way out of your league, ho!” Illusion opened the door and walked out.
Trent shook his sister. “Tylesha! Stop it. What the hell has gotten into you? Now you don’t know shit about what she’s been through these last couple of days. And while you were running around, damn near about to give Mama a heart attack, she was helping me look for your ass. She didn’t have to do that!”
“And I didn’t ask her to!”
“No, but I did! You think I could just sit back and watch my mama cry day and night over you? Not eating. Not sleeping. What the hell is wrong with you? Huh?”
Ty remained quiet, her eyes beginning to fill with water. “She’ll use you!” she screamed.
Trent didn’t want to hear it. “Tylesha, let me worry about that. That’s my business right there,” he said, pointing the other way. “And I don’t need you in it.”
Ty rolled her eyes, and for once, she didn’t say another word.
Trent brought himself to calm down. “Look,” her brother said, “my main concern is you, Tylesha. I’m just glad you’re home safe and sound. Now you don’t have to talk to me right this second, but when you are ready, I’ll be here to listen.” Trent wasn’t going to pressure her. He wanted her to come around on her own time. Regardless of how much he already knew from Illusion, he wanted to hear it in Ty’s own words. “Now, can big brother get a hug?”
Ty chuckled before giving her brother a tight squeeze. She wiped her eyes.
“Come on around here and get you some of this good cooking,” Trent playfully ordered.
Ty walked around the table and reluctantly took a seat.
“Now I’m gone go check on her.”
He left Ty at the table and headed for the front door to get Illusion. He stepped on the front porch but wasn’t surprised to find Illusion already gone.
24
“A’ight, my nigga! Call me if you need anything else. You know I got you, dawg,” Sand’s stud brother and best friend, Finesse, told her as they gave each other dap.
“Bet that. But I think I’m good to go now,” Sand said, checking herself over.
Finesse owned and managed her own hip-hop clothing store. She was Sand’s primary source for all the latest hookups. After seeing Sand the way she was today, Finesse knew her homie must’ve been going through something ill because she had never seen her in such tore up shape. She looked stressed, worried, and just plain worn-the-fuck-out. Her clothes were wrinkled, fade no longer faded, even her kicks looked like they’d been taking a nap. But Finesse tightened her dawg up. She was fresher than fresh in a brown and ivory long-sleeved Ed Hardy sweater and heavily starched jeans. She finished off the outfit with a pair of white and brown Bathing Apes.
Sand waited until Finesse pulled off before she took the key to Deja’s house out of her pocket. She pondered over what she was going to say, telling herself that whatever she came up with wasn’t going to change anything because after today, Deja would hate her for the rest of her natural-born life.
As she made her way to the porch, Sand looked over her shoulder. Her car was in the same spot, parked beside Deja’s. She took a deep breath. She wondered if she should use the key again like she had yesterday when she came back to secure the other $250,000 of Chyna’s money. She wanted it somewhere safe, and Deja’s place was the only spot that came to mind. So as Ty waited in the car, marveling over every single house that was extravagantly lit and decorated in the tradition of Christmas, she went in, hid the money, and left. Now, she had come to retrieve both the money and her car.
She pressed the faintly lit doorbell, hoping Deja would answer on the first ring. When she didn’t, she pressed it again.
“Gimme a second,” Deja called out. She muted her television and made her way to the door, cat in hand. As she got a glimpse of who it was, she began punching her security code into the keypad to deactivate the alarm. She eased the door open. “Good morning,” she said. Her greeting was formal, distant, and compared to the other times, weak.
The moment Deja’s body was in full view, Sand want
ed to close her eyes and wish that the woman didn’t look, smell, and taste like she remembered. “Can I come in real quick?” she managed to ask.
Deja hesitated. “I, um, don’t see why not.” She opened the door wider and made room for Sand to step inside. She tried her hardest to hide her frustration that was still lingering in every crease of her skin. She hadn’t forgotten the very reason she was up all night, worrying sick, wishing, hoping, and praying that Sand was all right. And there was no show, no call, nothing to relieve her of that worry. But here Sand was, perfectly fine and still breathing like she prayed she would be.
As Sand made her way into the house, she acknowledged Whiskers by rubbing the top of his head. He purred, stretching his arms out to play. Sand didn’t know why, but part of her felt happy to be with Deja while the other part of her wished it was still back at the room with Rene. She had promised Rene that she wouldn’t be gone long, giving her enough time to recuperate from the rendezvous that had taken place this morning. In her mind, she held on to that promise.
“Well, first, I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me these past few months. Because you didn’t have to,” Sand started.
Deja just looked Sand in her hazel-brown eyes as she lowered Whiskers to the floor. She approached Sand closer, wanting her to feel the pain she was feeling at that very moment. And before Deja knew it, her right hand was giving her the freedom to deliver that message.
