by Kim Jones
“Fuck this.” I said to the empty room, stripping off my clothes, as I headed to the bathroom. I opened the door, just as he was stepping into the shower. “Don’t shut me out, Luke. Tell me and let me help you deal with this. That’s what I’m here for.” I wasn’t demanding or desperate, but encouraging. He observed me for a moment as if to see if what I offered was the truth. I stood there patiently, waiting for him to decide if this was something he knew he could trust me with. Finally, he took a deep breath and nodded, gesturing with his hand for me to join him. I waited for him to start the conversation as he allowed me to stand under the streaming water, before changing places with me. We bathed in complete silence. I would not push him on this. If he wanted to talk he would, but I refused to beg him to do so. This was something he was going to have to do on his own. If I wanted him to tell me, I would have to wait until he was ready. It was evident that it was weighing heavily on his shoulders, whatever it was. After our shower, I followed him into the room to retrieve my bag, but he stopped me by placing one of his own shirts over my head. He took the towel from my hands and tossed it on the floor, before pulling me to the bed and placing me so that I was lying on top of his chest. I was finally accepting defeat, and was ready to go to sleep, when at last he spoke.
“We have two weeks together before you leave to go to Atlanta. I want to enjoy this time with you. There may be some shit that goes down with this other club, but we aren’t too threatened by them, so even if it does, it shouldn’t be that big a deal. I’ll tell you what’s going on, but only when you need to hear it. Right now, let’s just enjoy the moment. I’ve never had two full weeks with you without some crazy shit happening. You don’t worry, and I won’t worry. Deal?” Just the thought of two weeks with Luke without interruption was enough to make me agree. He said he would tell me, and although I wanted to know now, I would wait. I was sure he would find some way to keep my mind busy enough to forget the anticipated news.
“Deal. No work, no worries, and no bullshit. Just us.” I agreed, sitting up so I could see his face.
“I can’t guarantee the no bullshit bit. I’m sure something fucked up will happen, but it won’t be between me and you. Now, go to sleep. I’m tired as fuck, and I need you beside me.” He didn’t have to say it twice. I fell asleep on Luke’s chest, with thoughts of us being together overshadowing the dark thoughts of what he had to tell me, which were not too far away in my mind.
I woke to find Luke sound asleep next to me. The worry and strain of the previous night was still evident on his tired, peaceful face. I decided to let him sleep in, and pulled myself from the bed, making sure not to wake him. I crept to the bathroom to freshen up, grabbing my bag on the way. The weather in Louisiana was just as difficult and crazy as it was in Mississippi. The humidity was unbearable, even though it was November. I chose a black t-shirt and gray yoga pants in the hope of hitting the clubhouse gym before Luke and I started our day. I pulled my tennis shoes from my bag, and tiptoed out of the room in search of coffee.
The corridor was quiet, but once I hit the main room, things were in full swing. There was not a man in sight, but every ol’ lady and a few stray women from the previous night were cleaning up, and the smell of strong coffee was in the air.
“Hey, baby!” I heard Brooklyn yell at me across the room. I smiled at her, giving her a small wave, as I made my way to the bar where she was cleaning. “I didn’t get to see you last night. I’m glad you’re here.” Before I could take a seat, she had a hot cup of coffee laid out for me, and a warm hug waiting. I leaned across the bar, melting in her arms, which swallowed me up me in a motherly hug. She looked amazing, as she always did. She wore a Harley Davidson baseball cap over her long hair, yoga pants, and a tank top. Her face was made-up completely, and she looked like she had been up for hours.
“Good morning to you. Thank you for the coffee.” I said, sitting and taking a sip.
“You’re welcome, baby.”
“Is there something I can do?” I asked, feeling silly for sitting on my ass while everyone else was cleaning.
“No no. We got it. Enjoy your coffee. We’re almost finished anyway.”
“I was thinking about hitting the gym in a few. Is that okay?” I asked, watching Mary and Katina from across the room, as they did back flips over the couch.
“We do yoga the mornings we’re together. It helps us clear our heads. You want to join?” Brooklyn asked, taking a break and propping herself up on the bar while she lit a cigarette. “She is gonna break her neck. Look at her! She is too little to be doing that shit.” We watched together, as Mary got a running start to jump backwards onto the couch. I turned to see Brooklyn doubled over in laughter. There was something amazing about the way she laughed, it just pulled you in and soon I was laughing too.
“Morning,” Red greeted us, taking a seat next to me on the bar stool, and leaning her head on my shoulder.
“Good morning, Red. Long night?” I asked, thinking that she and Regg had probably had a very interesting night filled with hot sex, considering they had been apart for so long.
“No, I’m just not a morning person,” she replied, leaning over the bar to give Brooklyn a kiss on the lips, as she accepted her coffee with a sigh. “Brooklyn’s coffee is sure to cure any hangover and give you some pep in your step.” I nodded in agreement, and we clinked coffee cups, before taking another appreciative sip. I looked back across the room, to find Chi Chi sauntering in, wearing a sports bra, and yoga pants that fit her like a second skin. “Chi Chi is so fucking hot,” Red said, following my gaze. I rolled my eyes, knowing she couldn’t see, but forgot that Brooklyn could, earning me more booming laughter from her.
“Got some competition?”Brooklyn asked through her laughs. Was I intimidated by Chi Chi’s looks? Every woman in the bar was appealing, so why did she get under my skin so much.
“It’s because she reminds you of yourself,” Red said in my ear, answering my unspoken question.
“I am nothing like her,” I responded, locking my eyes on Red for the first time. She wore no make-up and her face looked fresh and young. I noticed her freckles, and bright red eyelashes. If I wasn’t sure it was her, I wouldn’t have recognized her. “Stop staring. It’s rude,” she said, turning back to her coffee.
“Red is self-conscious about her freckles. I think they’re cute,” Brooklyn said, giving Red a wink.
“I like them,” I said, trying to convince Red that she had no reason to feel uncomfortable.
“Fuck y’all. Are we gonna work out or what?” Brooklyn laughed again, and I joined her, as Red stomped off.
“I love fucking with her. It’s funny as shit to see her get so worked up over something so silly.” The other ladies had made their way to the bar, and I greeted each of them with a hug, except for Chi Chi, who sat too high on her horse for me to reach.
“Yoga! I just love yoga. It cleanses the body and relaxes the mind,” Katina said, as she walked off in the same direction as Red.
“So does an enema, but you don’t see me sticking one up my ass every morning.” The room erupted into laughter as Punkin graced us with her presence, and her wonderful choice of words. While the rest of us were dressed to exercise, Punkin wore jeans and a sweatshirt, full make-up, and earrings that looked like peppermints.
“Are you not joining us, Punkin?” I asked, as we made our way out the side door and into the alley.
“I’ll get y’all some water when you pass out from a heat stroke.” She replied, lighting a cigarette before giving me a hug. Outside, a large mat covered part of the street as everyone took their places. I chose last, considering I was the newest, and wished I had chosen to go first. The only spot left was the one next to Chi Chi, and I would rather have stabbed myself in the face with a fork than have to sit next to her. But, I took my seat as if it didn’t bother me, noticing by the snickers coming from Red and Brooklyn that I was set up. Bitches.
“Punkin, hit play, please,” Brooklyn said, prompting P
unkin to hit the play button on the small CD player before taking her seat beside it. A warm, encouraging voice filled the air as we were told the position to assume to begin the exercise. Only ten minutes in, and Red was talking, interrupting the silence.
“I was thinking. If we did this everyday for the next few days, when we go out for Dallas’ birthday, I’ll be loose.”
“You’re already loose.” Mary said, causing everyone to break position, so they could laugh.
“Al has a big mouth,” Red threw back, encouraging the rest of us to cheer her on, and pump Mary up for a comeback.
“I’m here! I’m here!” Maddie said, as she burst out the door and ran to take a seat beside me. “What did I miss?”
“Mary said Red was loose and Red said her husband had a big mouth. Now we are waiting on Mary to throw something back at her,” I explained to Maddie in a rush of breath, as I held the plank position.
“I got one for you, Mary,” Maddie said, assuming the same position as everyone else in the group. “Red is scared of the dark.”
“Maddie I will come over there and punch you in the fucking vagina if you don’t shut up,” Red said, as we changed positions, with a laugh.
“I can’t hear the fucking tape!” Brooklyn snapped, looking around to see everyone moving.
“Locust position.”
“Thanks, Punkin!” Brooklyn yelled from the back of the room. “I could hear if you bitches would shut up.” Another round of laughter and then silence, for about five minutes.
“How much longer we got? I’m ready for a cigarette,” Red complained.
“Here honey. I have one,” Punkin offered, standing and making her way to Red.
“Punkin don’t give her a cigarette. We doin’ yoga,” Katina said, on a huff.
“Says the only fucking non-smoker out here,” Brooklyn added, agreeing with Red that it was time for a smoke break.
“Dallas don’t smoke.” Katina threw back in defense.
“Hell, yes she does.”Punkin said, walking in between all of us, as her cigarette dangled from the corner of her mouth. “Don’t ask me how I know, ‘cause I won’t say a damned thing.” I laughed as the CD ended, prompting everyone to act as if we had just done a two-hour workout instead of one lasting only twenty minutes. I was feeling loose, not in the same way as Red, and was ready to lift some weights, when my nemesis decided to announce the same thing.
“I’m gonna hit the weights for a little while.” Fucking bitch. Did I have to like her? I would just have to wait until tomorrow to workout. No one paid Chi Chi any mind as she left the group, until a shirtless Luke walked out the back door.
“Does he not own a shirt?” Maddie grumbled, prompting every eye to turn to look at him.
“Hell, I’m glad he don’t own a shirt. I like seeing him half-naked.” Brooklyn said, giving Luke a very appreciative eye.
“He ain’t got shit on Possum,” Punkin added. I looked at her to find her deadly serious, and I smiled. It was nice that even after all they had been through, she still found him just as attractive as she always had. I turned my eyes back to Luke, watching with burning fury as he assisted Chi Chi with bench-pressing. Surely she wasn’t hitting on him? Shark would probably kill them both. His name definitely suited him. When her weights were situated and she was on her back lying under them, she gave Luke a nod and before he turned to leave, he leaned down placing his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. I was on my feet and walking toward them before I knew what was happening.
“Forehead! Forehead!” I heard Red yelling, as she grabbed my arm and stopped me mid-stride. “He kissed her on her forehead. It’s just a show of love, nothing more.” Red was worried, as she should be. I was sure the look on my face was murderous. Red’s yelling had drawn the attention of everyone in the alley, which now consisted of not just the ladies and Luke, but Shark, Ronnie, and Possum as well.
“You got a problem, Dallas?” Chi Chi called from her position on the bench about thirty feet from me.
“Let it go, Dallas,” Red warned in my ear, but my mouth had another idea.
“As long as you keep your fucking hands off my ol’ man there won’t be a problem.” My hands were fisted at my sides, my breathing calm and my voice deathly. Where had this possessive side come from? Or had it ever left? Chi Chi stood, walking toward me with a murderous look of her own. Bring it on bitch.
“So, I can’t touch your ol’ man, but it’s okay for you to eye-fuck mine?” If my cheeks had not already been red from anger and my previous workout, my blush would have given me away.
“Ok, girls. That’s enough.” Brooklyn said, walking between us and stopping Chi Chi in her tracks. I saw Luke in the distance, his face devoid of any emotion, as he stood with his arms crossed.
“Naw, Brooklyn. If she has something she wants to say, then she needs to fucking say it. Seems like we are going to be spending a lot of time together, so we might as well get this shit out in the open.” Chi Chi said on a daring smile.
“Oh, don’t you even!” I snapped, my voice now just below a yell. “You have been a bitch to me ever since I got here.”
“What the fuck do you expect when I walk up and see some bitch I don’t know gawking at my man like she wants to lick his fucking nut sack? You think I didn’t notice that shit?” She was right, and I would have reacted the same way, but I was pissed and it wasn’t me we were talking about-it was her.
“Your man has a pretty powerful fucking presence, if you haven’t noticed. But even when you found out who I was you still treated me like I was some outsider.” My defense was weak, but it was all I had.
“Because I don’t know you, bitch.” She said slowly, clapping her hands together on each word for emphasis. I would not look like a fool in front of all these people.
“Well, maybe it’s about time you got to know me. You want to clear the air? Here’s your fucking chance.” I said opening my arms, offering her the fight I knew she wanted.
“Dallas,” Brooklyn started, trying to reason with me. The look of warning in her eyes was telling me that Chi Chi was not a bitch I should fuck with. I had taken an ass whoopin’ before, I could do it again.
“Let ‘em go.” Luke called from behind them. “They’re too fucking much alike. That’s the problem. Y’all want to handle this shit like men, go ahead, but when it’s over, it’s over. The next one that says a cross word to the other will have me to deal with.” Luke’s tone was stony and serious, as he spoke to us from a distance.
“I got twenty on Chi Chi,” I heard Mary call from behind me.
“Bitch, please. I got fifty says Dallas walks away with a full head of hair,” my cheerleader, Red, added.
“Enough.” Ronnie said, causing all eyes to turn to him. He stood with his arms crossed, mirroring Luke’s stance from the opposite end of the alley. “This ain’t something you should be rooting for or against. This is two sisters who may not share a bond, but will soon, and who have differences that are apparently so fucking bad that it has to come to blows to solve it. I ain’t never in all my life seen two ladies act like the two of you. Sisterhood is a special thing and y’all are willing to fuck that up ‘cause you’re too damned much alike and can’t get along. But, y’all wanna duke it out, fine. But you heard Luke and I stand behind my brother. When this shit is over, it’s over. Finished.” I felt a sharp pain in my gut as a result of Ronnie’s speech. I had disappointed him, as had Chi Chi, and it showed in her face just as it did in mine. Luke was disappointed too, but somehow it hurt worse coming from Ronnie. Would my pride allow me to let it go? Would Chi Chi’s? Or would we have to do this because neither one of us would ever respect the other if we didn’t. I sized her up as she stood in front of me. She was a couple inches taller than me, but not much. We were about the same weight and built almost identically. Chi Chi took care of herself, just as I did, and she seemed to have a reputation for fighting, which let me know that I wasn’t dealing with an amateur. I wasn’t scared of her, but s
hould I walk away and save face with the men who allowed us to be a part of this club? I would not back down. I couldn’t. No matter the cost.
“You are not my sister,” she said, closing the short distance between us. I kept my stance casual, but my guard up. “But only because I don’t know you and you haven’t earned that title yet. I’m willing to give you a chance, but you are going to have to prove to me that you are more than that arrogant bitch I was when I first entered into this lifestyle. I won’t disrespect you, but I will not tolerate you being disrespectful to me. I am going to walk away because I love my husband, and I respect this club. Nothing more and nothing less. There ain’t a man out here who can make it without a good woman behind him. LLC is a good fucking president, so is Ronnie. Brooklyn is a hell of an ol’ lady. She has stepped up and taken responsibility for her sisters, just like her husband did for his brothers when he became president. If you want to set a good example to your sisters and play that role as president’s ol’ lady then you better step the fuck up, ‘cause you got some big shoes to fill if you ever want to be half the woman she is.” Chi Chi stepped around me, leaving Luke as the only thing in my line of sight. No one had heard what she had said, but the silence was deafening, and the tension was thick, as everyone anticipated our next move. I turned to see Brooklyn wrap her arm around Chi Chi as she whispered something in her ear then released her to a very proud Shark. Ronnie stood stone faced, as Shark led Chi Chi inside. His eyes then turned to me as he spoke.
