The Playa Chronicles

by Glenn, Roy

  “What do you do there?”

  “Dah, I’m a collector.”

  “Have you been here before?” I glanced at the menu.

  “Yeah, I come here all the time.”

  “I always have the Penne Rustica when I come here.”

  “So do I.” Yvette leaned on the table and folded her hands in front of her face. “Maybe it’s true,” she said, peering over her hands.

  “What’s that?” I noted her eyes. Very soft eyes.

  “Great mind’s think alike.”

  “Maybe so.” I was starting to dig her. Pull up, Rick, this is only a test.

  “So you got a woman, huh? That’s too bad.”

  “Oh really. Why do you say that?” Here it comes.

  “’Cause you and I could have done some things.” She set it out. Just like that. Before the drinks came even. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I looked at her and the way she was looking at me. She looked good. Now this was usually the part where I would lay out my program. How we could still do some things as long as she realized what time it was. But that wasn’t what I was here for. “That’s a shame. Guess that’s my loss.”

  “Rick, you just don’t know.”

  “So, what’s up with you, Yvette, you got a man?”

  “No, not really. I mean, I got someone I go out with.”

  “Sounds like a real man to me.”

  “Guess you could call him that,” Yvette said, as Tony returned with our drinks. We informed him of our lunch selection and quickly dismissed him. “Now. What was I saying? Oh yeah, I guess you could call him my man. I mean, he’s good to me and all that.”

  “You mean he spends money.” I threw in playfully. I might as well have some fun with this.

  “Oh, but yes,” Yvette responded in kind. “This man don’t have no problem spending his money. But he’s lacking in very important areas.” She smiled. “Let’s just say he don’t pay me the type of attention I need. Catch my drift?”

  “So you creep.” More of a statement than a question.

  “Just keep it on the downlow. Nobody is supposed to know.”

  “I thought it was ’cause he didn’t pay you no attention?”

  Yvette looked at me. Kinda cold-like. “Your point is? Look, every woman needs attention. You can define attention in a lot of ways.”

  “You’re a dangerous woman, Yvette.”

  “You’ll never know just how much and in how many ways. But it’s all good. I can assure you of that.”

  “So you creep because you need attention,” I said suggestively, but with a chastising finger. More to stay in character than anything else.

  “Don’t sound so judgmental. You out here creeping too. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be here with me.” With a finger to emphasize her point.

  “I’m here for lunch. I usually get hungry this time of day.”

  “Come on, Rick. You got freak written all over you.”

  “What makes you say that?” Was I that transparent to her?

  “Trade secret. But I knew you were a freak the minute Victor introduced me to you that day. So I know you ain’t gonna sit there and tell me you ain’t never creeped on your girl.”

  “No, I ain’t gonna say that. But things change.” More of a hope than a statement.

  “See there, you ain’t no better than I am. We’re probably more alike than you might think.”

  “Well, so far we do share the same enthusiasm for Penne Rustica.”

  “Tell me something, Rick.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Does it bother you that I’m creeping on my man?”

  “No. Why should it bother me? That’s between you and your man.”

  “That ain’t what I’m askin’ you. Do you think less of me ’cause I creep?”

  “It ain’t for me to judge you. I’m out here too, remember.” We sat in silence while Tony returned with our meal, which he served in silence and faded away.

  “You know what I’m saying. If a woman creeps around, y’all think she’s a ho or something. But if a man creeps he’s a playa.”

  “That’s because our peer system is different.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean, when you’re a man you get big props if you got a lot of women. Brothers give you dap and call you playa. But when a woman got a lot of men—uhm, uhm, uhm.” I took a deep breath and shook my head to emphasize my point. “Women talk about her bad—call her a ho, call her a slut. Talk about her worse than we ever would.”

  “Why is that?” Yvette asked.

  “You tell me. You’re the girlie here.”

  “See a woman, well, most women, gotta have a reason to cheat. When your man ain’t treating you right or he’s cheating on you, or he just isn’t satisfying you like you need to be satisfied, that’s what sends a woman out there. Men send women out there creeping. But y’all will lay down with any old thing that opens her legs.”

  “I’d like to think we’re a bit more selective than that. The problem is there are so many that are willing to open their legs.”

  “A woman—I mean a real woman—could be handling her business, taking good care of her man. He don’t care. He’ll mess around on her first chance he gets. Why is that?”

  “’Cause women don’t care either,” I said flatly.

  “What you mean, we don’t care?”

  “If I ask you a question, will you answer it honestly?”

  “It depends on the question, but yeah, I’ll answer you.”

  “I told you I got somebody.” I paused.

  “Yeah, and?” Yvette leaned forward, pressing me for the question.

  “But you’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?”

  “What you talkin’ ’bout, Rick?”

  “You know what I’m talkin’ about. You’re thinking about gettin’ wit me, right? I mean, that is why you invited me to lunch.”

  “I’m here for lunch. I usually get hungry about this time.”

  “Thought you said you would answer honestly?”

  “No, I didn’t. I said it depends on the question. But yeah, I’m still thinking about it,” Yvette said reluctantly. “I been thinking about gettin’ wit you since I saw you.”

  “See my point now? You don’t care. You’re more than willing to dis my girl. But you’d be upset with some other woman, or should I say any old thing, who did the same thing to you.”

  “Yes,” she said between mouthfuls. I waited until she was finished chewing.

  “But you’re still out here, trying to get your freak on.” Yvette didn’t answer me. She took another mouthful. I couldn’t blame her, the food was good. Yvette rolled her eyes at me. But it was more sexual, than with attitude. She had pretty eyes and she knew it. I had to laugh, because she was a bigger flirt than I was. She knew how to seduce a man, with just her eyes. I knew I could get Yvette. I could flip the script right now.

  “Yes, I am. Just like you,” Yvette said defiantly. Like she was taunting me with her sexuality.

  “Is that right?” I said in character. I knew where she was going and I was doing my best not to go there with her. And she wasn’t making it easy for me.

  “So what you trying to say? That we ain’t no better than y’all?” Yvette asked.

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Men only do what women let them do.”

  Yvette simply stared at me, unsure of what to say. “Maybe I should just call for the check.”

  “You haven’t finished your Penne Rustica. What’s your rush?”

  “I’m only kidding. You can’t get rid of me that easy. So we aren’t any better than y’all, huh? I can’t agree with that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it ain’t like all that.”

  “You gonna sit there and tell me that women don’t want it just as much as we do?”

  “More. Especially when you find one that gives it to you just like you want it, as often as you want it, for as long as you can stand
it. Oooh child, makes you weak for it. Makes you think of it all the time.”

  “Y’all do the same thing to us. Great sex is hard to come by.”

  “You have personal knowledge of this, or you just taking your boy’s word for it?”

  “A little. Mostly what I read.”

  “Yeah, right. You’re a freak and you know it, Rick. Why you tryin’ to play me. Admit it. That’s why you’re here. You know you want me.”

  “Maybe I do. Maybe I’m just here for lunch. Actually, Yvette, I don’t know why I’m here. Maybe you were right.” I flagged down Tony. “Check, please.” I paid the check without another word passing between us. Yvette tried to pay the check, but I wasn’t having it. I didn’t want her to have any get back. You know, I-took-you-to-lunch, you-owe-me type of thing. Coming here was a bad idea from the start.

  Live test my ass.

  All that could happen here was me getting weak for her and I knew it. The fact of the matter is, I do want her. If I’m ever gonna make things work between me and April, I simply can’t put myself in situations where I know it could happen. I got up and walked out of the place, with Yvette close behind. “The least you can do is walk me to my car,” she said. I should have ignored her and kept on walking. But I didn’t.

  “Well, thank you for lunch,” Yvette said. “I enjoyed our conversation, right up until the point where you shut down on me. What was up with that?”

  “It was just time for me to go, that’s all.” I lied.

  “Seemed more to me like you were losing control of the situation. Like you was thinkin’ about doin’ some things.”

  I didn’t answer.

  “Well, whatever the case, I enjoyed myself and I know you did too. So, when can we get together again?” Yvette said as we arrived at her car. Coincidentally, my car was parked right behind hers.

  “I don’t think that would be a good idea. At least not right now.” I don’t know why I had to go and throw that in. I wasn’t trying to get with her, and really didn’t need her thinking that there was any possibility that I would. There was still a part of me that wanted to get with her. And for what? I’m supposed to be laying off, not hiring. She couldn’t take April’s spot, couldn’t even come close. So why? I have to keep telling myself that I have nothing to prove. Especially to myself. Yvette unlocked the car and I opened the door for her.

  “Thank you,” she said, and I started toward my car. “Nice car. I’ll see you around, Rick. I’ll call you sometime, just in case you change your mind.”

  “Anything’s possible, but I doubt it,” I threw out, got in my car and drove away. I was proud of myself. Kinda. She set it out and I didn’t jump all over it. But I wanted to. And that was the problem.

  Vanessa

  On the way home from work later that evening, I got off the interstate and drove home slowly, trying to clear my head. I stopped at Kroger to pick up a couple of frozen pizza’s and some beer. I walked through the store, picked up what I came for, and headed for the register. I got in the so-called express line and waited, thinking what a joke it was calling it express. Then it happened, the customer at the register pulled out her checkbook and started writing. The lady in line ahead of me had only a box of precooked fried chicken. She let out a deep breath. I had been so preoccupied with my own issues that I failed to notice her, which was completely out of character for me, being the accomplished girl watcher that I am. She was wearing a black dress that she wore well. Hair cut in a sharp fade. She was a nice piece of business, with an ass that could stop traffic.

  She looked over her shoulder and rolled her dark eyes at me. She shifted her weight to one leg and let out another deep breath. “This seems to happen to me every time I come here,” she said quietly. Her lips were full and extremely sensual.

  “I know what you mean. The least she could do is have the check made out.”

  “Then all she would have to do is fill in the amount,” she came back quickly.

  “My name is Rick. And you are?”

  “Vanessa Howard,” she replied with a smile as the cashier scanned her boxed chicken.

  “You have a very pretty smile, Vanessa.”

  “Thank you,” Vanessa said, grabbing her bag. “Nice meeting you.” And she walked out of the store.

  Damn, Rick, is that the best you can do? You have a very pretty smile, Vanessa, I thought, as the cashier scanned my items. I paid for my stuff quickly and rushed out of the store in an attempt to catch her.

  When I got outside, I headed for my car and looked around for her as I walked. But there was no sign of her. After one last look around, I started for my car. While I was walking Vanessa pulled up alongside me and rolled down her window.

  “Hello again.”

  “Hey,” she replied.

  “Check this out. I just bought some frozen pizza and you got some frozen fried chicken; it looks like we’re both planning a quiet evening at home in front of the TV. Why don’t we go somewhere and have something to eat. Have a drink or whatever.”

  “Whatever, huh? No, I don’t think so. Thanks for the offer, but I really think the quiet evening in front of the TV is what I need tonight.”

  “Maybe we can get together some other time.”

  “Well, give me your number.”

  “You got a pen?”

  “You don’t carry a pen. I thought men always carried a pen. Just in case.”

  “Just in case, huh?”

  “You know, in case they met someone.”

  “Yeah, well, I usually have a pen, but not necessarily for that reason,” I said with a very confident smile. She handed me a pen. I broke out one of my business cards and wrote my cell number on the back. I handed the card back to her.

  She looked at it. “This ain’t one of your boy’s phone numbers or some voice mail number?”

  “What you talking ’bout?”

  “You aren’t married or living with somebody, are you?”

  “No, that’s my number. No, I’m not married and I live alone.”

  “Just checking. I know how tricky men get sometimes.”

  “No tricks. I’m too old for games. Now if you’d caught me a few years ago, I might have some game for you. But now, I’m just me.”

  “So can I get a rain check on the meal and the drink or whatever?”

  “You sure can. All you have to do is call.”

  “I’ll do that. Talk to you soon. Good night, Rick.”

  “Have a nice, quiet evening,” I said, as Vanessa drove off. I got back in my car and went home. I drove home thinking about Vanessa. I had just got picked up at the grocery store. She probably won’t call.

  Why April?

  On the way home one night, April barely said a word. I didn’t try too hard to get her to talk to me. I’ve known her long enough to know that she would let me know what was on her mind when she was ready. The look on her face dragged me back to my question. Why do I do it?

  The thrill of the hunt.

  The excitement that you only get from the pursuit of a woman. But lately, once they take their clothes off and laid down, the thrill was gone. Once the act was over I’d lose interest, except with Laura. Somehow it was different with Laura.

  When we got to April’s house, she was ready to talk. As soon as we walked through the door, April said, “Rick, you and I need to have a conversation.”

  “What about?” I asked.

  “I think we need to take a break from each other.”

  “Why April?”

  “Laura,” she said, as she sat down on the couch.

  I sat in the chair across from her. “What about her?” I was so shocked that April knew about her, that I didn’t even ask how she found out.

  “What’s going on between the two of you?” April looked at me. “Never mind. I already know the answer to that. There is no point in you denying it. There really isn’t too much you can say to convince me otherwise. I know you. And to be honest with you, I’m tired of playing the role like you got me fo
oled.”

  “You’re right, there’s nothing I can say, so I won’t. But I know you ain’t nobodies fool, April,” I said, trying to do a little damage control.

  “I’d convinced myself that as long as it didn’t cut into my time, when I wanted to see you, it was cool. But I was a younger girl then. It was cool back then ’cause we had that kind of understanding. I was going out with other men. Back then, you were struggling, trying to find a direction for yourself, and you didn’t have any money to do anything. Remember how we would lay in bed at night and talk about how we were gonna do this and that? And how you would tell me all about how it was gonna be once you made it in sales?”

  “I remember those days too. Those were good days between us. I know I didn’t have much, but I tried my best.”

  “I know you did. But I still wanted to go places, do things that I knew you couldn’t afford. So I did. I did some things that I’m not proud of. Looking back, I can’t believe some of the things I did.”

  “Like what?” I asked, but I really didn’t want to know. “Never mind. Even though those were good days, I still remember how it felt sitting there watching you get dressed, knowing that you were going out with another man. But what could I possibly say about it?”

  “So how do you think I felt? That’s what sent me out there. You. I’m not saying you made me do it. You didn’t make me do anything. But you know what’s good for the goose and all that. And to be honest with you, I never thought that we would still be together after all these years. I never in a million years thought that I would still love you the way I do. And I do love you, Rick. But this has got to stop.”

  I got out of my chair and went a sat down next to April. “I know you’re not gonna believe this, but I been seeing things a lot differently lately. We’ve been spending a lot more time together and it’s been really great. I know that I never want to be without you. I love you, April.” I kissed her on the cheek. “But I had convinced myself of basically the same thing that you did: As long as it didn’t cut into your time, it was all good. But now I see that it’s really not worth it.”