by Coco Amoure
“So, this is what you’ve been doing the entire time, huh?” she questioned.
“No, I swear to you that I haven’t been with anyone since we’ve been together. I’m so sorry, baby. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was pissed that you wouldn’t come with me. I bumped into Yvonne, and…”
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Delaney said, cutting him off. She couldn’t stand to hear one more lie come out of his mouth.
Chris sat down on the bed, covering his face with both of his hands. Each tear that fell from her eyes, tugged at his heart strings. In her eyes, all she saw was her daddy when she looked at him. He’d sworn to her that he would never break her heart, and now he’d proven to be no different.
“Don’t call me, come by my house, or speak to me another day in your fucking life! I’m done with you. Don’t think for one minute that I will ever forgive you.” Delaney turned around and ran out of his house in tears. Her heart was broken into a million pieces. She cried the entire walk home, not caring who saw her. She was convinced that her mother was right…all men cheat! Delaney vowed to never let another man get close to her heart ever again.
Once she reached her house, she ran upstairs to her bedroom and flung herself onto the bed. Delaney reached into her nightstand and grabbed her diary. She spent the rest of the evening spilling her heart out to pages that would forever hold the secrets of her first heartbreak. Vowing over and over again, that she would never love again. Fuck love!
Chapter Eight
Year 2015, Grown and Sexy
Delaney stood in the middle of her large master bedroom, admiring herself in the cherry wood floor length mirror. At twenty-five years old, she’d made quite a good life for herself. She graduated from Spelman College at the top of her class, and continued her education at John Marshall Law School, where she obtained a law degree. After recently passing the bar exam, she landed a job at one of Atlanta’s most prestigious law firms. She specialized in business law and found it to be quite fascinating. It had taken her seven long years to obtain the words, Attorney-at-Law behind her name, but it was well worth the time and stress it took to get here.
Just like she planned, Delaney left her parents’ house at the age of seventeen to pursue her dreams. Now there she was a first time homeowner of a three story, three bedroom, two and a half bath townhome nestled in suburban Smyrna, Georgia. Luckily for her, the law firm she worked for was only a twenty minute drive from her townhome into mid-town Atlanta. She loved working in the city, but she had no desire to live within the hustle and bustle of Hotlanta.
Delaney smiled at her accomplishments as she looked around admiring the lovely master bedroom. She took one last look in the mirror, loving how the low-cut, body-hugging turquoise dress fit her slender curves like a glove. It had taken her over an hour to straighten her naturally curly mane, and now her silky black tresses hung down to the middle of her back. Once she made a decision on which pair of stilettos she wanted to wear, she grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs to wait on Natasha to arrive.
“What is taking this heffa so long?” she said aloud to herself. Natasha is going to be late to her own damn funeral! she thought. The girl couldn’t be on time if somebody paid her to be. Delaney checked on her little Yorkie puppy, Diamond, who was fast asleep on the pink doggie bed she’d purchased for her just a few days ago. Diamond’s eyes fluttered and her little ears stood up when Delaney opened the utility room door, but she didn’t budge or come running like she normally did. She chuckled and quietly closed the door shut.
The doorbell chimed indicating that Natasha had finally arrived. Delaney swung the door open and scowled.
“About damn time,” she said, embracing her friend with a quick hug.
“Oh shut the hell up. You knew I was going to be late, so you should have taken your time getting dressed. Shit, you can’t rush perfection.” Natasha laughed, twirling around showing off her sexy outfit.
Natasha wore a black form fitting spandex mini skirt and a black bedazzled mid-drift tank top. Over the years she’d gained a little weight, but she wore it well. She was thick in the thighs, with wide hips and had a small waist. Her jet black hair was cut short, with a long swooped bang that covered her left eye. She had the most magnetic smile and small slanted dark brown eyes that damn near closed each time she smiled. At first glance, she could pass as someone mixed with Asian, but she was just a regular high yellow black chick with slanted eyes.
“Girl, how did you get out of the house in that little ass outfit without Jason ripping it off of you?” Delaney joked. Although she was joking, Jason was known for acting a fool whenever Natasha dressed provocatively. Delaney had witnessed his outbursts on several occasions.
“Ha ha! Real funny. That fool don’t control me. I’m a grown ass woman,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Ahhhh don’t get salty, boo. You know I’m just fucking witcha. You do look cute, bish! Werk!!” Delaney snapped her fingers, attempting to lighten the mood.
Natasha loved a compliment. She smiled, threw her head back, and dramatically twirled around a few more times causing Delaney to laugh. She swore she was Kenya Moore from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, with all that ridiculous ass twirling.
“You do too, Laney! That dress is hugging that ass, boo, and your hair is slayed! Who you tryna catch tonight? Let me find out.” Natasha smirked.
“Well, one thing we both know for sure, whoever I catch tonight will only be for tonight,” she replied, meaning every word. Delaney had sworn off serious relationships when she’d gotten her heart broken by her first and only boyfriend. She hadn’t been in a serious relationship since and didn’t have any plans on doing so in the future.
“Laney, when are you going to let it go?” Natasha said, throwing her hands up in the air. She longed to see her best friend in a loving, healthy relationship. Delaney dated men on a regular basis, but whenever someone started getting close or clingy, she dumped them. Natasha stopped trying to get to know any of Delaney’s boyfriends. What was the use? After three months or less, she’d be wearing a new boy toy on her arm.
“Whatever do you mean?” Delaney replied, feigning ignorance as if she didn’t know what Natasha was referring to.
“Girl, don’t even play that shit with me! You know exactly what and who I’m talking about. Chhhriiiissss,” she said, dragging out his name.
“Ain’t nobody thinking about Chris. I simply choose to love’em and leave’em. I’m young, beautiful, and sexy, so why not share the love?” Delaney smiled mischievously. The burden of a relationship was something she was happy that she didn’t have to deal with. She enjoyed dating different men, not that she slept with all of them, but she definitely had options. Truth was, she saw what her friends and mother went through to keep those relationships, and it just didn’t seem worth it when she could have her pick of any number of eligible bachelors without the commitment. This way when they started putting on demands, she just showed them to the door. Keeping her freedom firmly intact.
Natasha was beginning to think that Delaney didn’t feel like she even deserved to be loved. It made her extremely sad for her best friend. She could only hope that one day someone special would come along and show her differently. Then maybe, she would get over the hurt and pain of what Chris did to her.
“Anyway, where are we going tonight? The only thing your text message said was to meet you at your house,” Natasha questioned.
“Oh, just this little spot over on Piedmont that recently opened, Lyrical Soul Lounge. Tonight is open mic night, and I’ve been wanting to go for a while now.” Delaney beamed. Poetry was her passion. She had tons of poems written in various diaries that she’d kept over the years. She had yet to share them with anyone other than Natasha. Delaney may not have had the nerve to bare her soul in front of a room full of strangers, but she loved to listen to those that didn’t mind exposing their innermost thoughts.
“Damn, I wish you would have told me so I could have dressed more appropria
tely.” Natasha frowned. She felt overdressed for open mic night. She thought they were going to hit a happy hour spot at a club.
“Girl bye! Who are you trying to fool? You would have worn that thot attire no matter where I told you we were going tonight.” Delaney fell out laughing.
“Whatever, heffa! If I would have known we were going to open mic night, I would have thrown on my dashiki and an afro puff,” Natasha joked, and raised her hand in the shape of a fight the power fist.
“You’re a damn fool! All poets don’t just spit conscious pieces, you clown.” she laughed at Natasha’s antics.
“Yeah, so you say. Well, I hope you get your ass up on the mic tonight. What good is it for you to write so many beautiful poems and only show them to me?” Natasha pursed her lips.
Delaney frowned, placing her hands on her hips. “Uhhhh hell no! My purpose for going is to listen and enjoy the atmosphere. You know good and damn well that I’m not getting up in front of a crowd full of strangers. I write strictly for pleasure, boo.”
“Uggghhhh! You’re such a damn punk,” Natasha said.
“I will be that, boo, and then some, but what I won’t do is get up on that stage,” Delaney said, and flipped her long tresses over her right shoulder.
“Ok, fine. Imma just let it go, Laney,” Natasha replied. She refused to go back and forth with Delaney. She had the perfect trick up her sleeve that was sure to get the ball rolling.
“Let’s get going. You know parking is going to be atrocious and I don’t want to be late,” Delaney said grabbing her keys.
“You’re driving?” asked a surprised Natasha. Delaney hated driving. Normally, Natasha was the designated driver.
“Yes, because I’m sure you are going to indulge in an alcoholic beverage or two tonight,” Delaney joked. Even though she didn’t drink, she never judged Natasha or anyone else who drank alcohol. She had reservations about drinking that ran deep and kept the vow she made to herself years ago.
“Yasssssss, honey! You already know Imma be on that goose.” Natasha smirked.
The best friends shared a laugh as they headed out of the door. Natasha was happy to be out with her best friend. It had been a while since they’d been able to hang out. Delaney was always working late at the law firm and rarely had time to go out. Natasha was extremely proud of her bestie for following her dreams. Unlike Delaney, she opted to get married straight out of high school. Although she loved Jason with all of her heart, she regretted not going to college and making something out of herself. Most days she laid around the house watching television, while Jason was at work. Once she became his wife, he told her that he would take care of her and that she didn’t need to work. At first it sounded like a good idea, she figured they would start a family and she would stay home taking care of their children. The only thing missing was the children. She just couldn’t seem to get pregnant. Each month that Mother Nature showed up like clockwork, she felt more and more like a failure.
“Get in girl, the door is open,” Delaney said, snapping Natasha out of her daze.
She opened the door to Delaney’s shiny black 2015 Acura TL and slid inside on the butter pecan leather seat on the passenger side.
“You good?” Delaney asked, shooting her friend a questionable look.
“Yeah, I’m straight. Damn, this car is nice boo! The interior is hella hot,” Natasha said, quickly changing the subject. She really wanted to have a good time tonight, so she pushed the thoughts of being childless out of her head.
“Thanks! That’s right, this is your first time seeing the car since I purchased it.” Delaney smiled proudly. She had been driving the same Toyota Camry that her father surprised her with as a graduation gift, she had been well overdue for a new car.
“Well, yeah, you’ve been so busy lately that I hardly get to see you,” Natasha said, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“Awww, boo, you know I love you. No matter how busy I am, I will always make time for my bestie.” Delaney smiled warmly.
“I know and I love you too, now let’s go, because I refuse to walk more than one block in these damn shoes,” Natasha chuckled, holding up her right foot showing off the six-inch strappy stiletto.
Delaney shifted the gear in reverse and backed out of the driveway. She turned the radio up and headed towards their destination. She was bubbling over with excitement. Listening to live poetry soothed her soul and took her to a place of relaxation.
Chapter Nine
Once they reached Lyrical Soul Lounge, Delaney could see that the crowd was thick, considering the parking lot was already filled to capacity. Luckily, she was able to parallel park her car in between a large SUV and a smaller compact vehicle alongside the venue. She and Natasha pulled down their individual overhead visors to apply a fresh coat of lipstick. After they finished primping in the mirror, they exited the car.
“You better be glad you found this parking spot, or I was going to sit my ass right in this car and wait on you. Look at all of these people here already. The show doesn’t even start for another thirty minutes,” Natasha complained.
“Just bring ya ass and kill all that noise. There is no way that you are going to miss an opportunity to prance around in that skimpy get up,” Delaney countered.
“Yasssss, bish! You got that right,” Natasha said, and performed one of her infamous twirls in the middle of the street.
“If you don’t get your yellow ass out of the middle of the street, a car is going to come by and lift your twirling ass up,” Delaney said, grabbing Natasha by the hand, pulling her out of harm’s way.
The duo burst into a fit of laughter as they walked up to the door. Delaney pulled out her wallet and handed the hostess a twenty dollar bill.
“Delaney, I could have paid my way in,” Natasha whispered.
“It’s cool, besides I invited you. I know this isn’t really your thing, so I appreciate you coming along with me.”
“Girl, please, who said I didn’t like spoken word?” Natasha frowned.
Delaney smirked. “Oh really, since when do you like spoken word?”
“Since I just peeped that fine ass brotha standing by the bar! Damn! He is fioooonnneeee!” Natasha said, and did a quick little twerk in front of the hostess station.
Delaney followed the direction of Natasha’s eyes. What she saw was nothing short of perfection. The brotha stood no less than 6’2, smooth cinnamon skin, broad shoulders, and a killer dimpled smile. He stood by the bar talking to what appeared to be a female bartender. They seemed to be engrossed in a very entertaining conversation by the way the female kept laughing and lightly hitting his arm.
Delaney struggled to will her eyes away from the handsome stranger. But his presence was so commanding, the more she tried to keep herself from glancing in his direction the more she found herself staring intently at him.
“Well, why don’t you walk on over there and introduce yourself,” Natasha said, startling Delaney from the real life daydream she was having.
“Whhhaaat?” Delaney whined, pretending she had no idea what Natasha was talking about. Was I really being that obvious?
She had seen plenty of good looking men before, but it was something about this man that was so intoxicating. Suddenly, she became lightheaded and her palms were moist, not to mention the thumping sensation she felt between her legs.
“Ohhhh, you tried it then boo! Girl, you ain’t fooling me, the lust is real,” Natasha laughed. She was truly getting a kick out of seeing her BFF so thrown over dude.
“Oh hush, let’s find a table before you end up standing in those six-inch ankle breakers all night.”
As the sexy double threat made their way through the crowd in search of a vacant table, the handsome stranger approached them. He flashed a panty-dropping smile, which caused Delaney to instantly lose her breath. His dimples were deeply set on each side of his chiseled face. She was tempted to place her forefinger inside of one of them. He wore a sexy goatee that outlined a full set of kis
sable lips. Delaney fantasized about sucking on his bottom lip as he ravished her body.
“Can I help you beautiful ladies find a table before the show starts?” he asked, looking directly into Delaney’s eyes.
Delaney couldn’t find her voice, so she stood there like a deer caught in headlights. She was sure he could hear her heart beating like an African drum. Natasha stood directly next to her, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Natasha gently nudged Delaney with her shoulder. “Yes, please do.”
“Ok, follow me, ladies,” he replied.
“Get it together,” Natasha whispered as they followed him to their table.
The venue was beautifully decorated in shades of white and lavender. Each table was adorned with a crisp white table cloth, and lavender-scented floating candles were inside of clear glass candleholders placed in the center of each table. The stage was just as stunning. White satin sheets flowed from ceiling to floor, and the lights bouncing off the sheets seemed to streak the sheets with various shades of purple. The smooth sounds of jazz music could be heard softly playing in the background. Plush, black leather sofas were situated throughout the club offering an inviting and cozy setting.
“I hope you ladies will find this table to your liking,” Mr. Sexy said, pulling their chairs out to seat them.
“This table is perfect, but can you direct me to the ladies room please?” Natasha asked in her most professional voice.
“Sure, the restrooms are directly past the line of people signing up for open mic. The ladies restroom is on the right,” he said, pointing towards the front of the club.
“Thanks!” Natasha smiled and inconspicuously winked at Delaney.
Delaney wanted to snatch Natasha by the back of her neck for leaving her alone with this man. She was not prepared to be left alone with him, especially since she still couldn’t find the strength to utter one single word.
“My name is Tyson,” he said, extending his hand to shake hers. Delaney found the strength to offer him a weak smile.
