He’d clobbered her over the head, no holding back, just to teach her a lesson. That only made her teeth clench, growl, and attack. That was the fun part, watching her try to defend against his blows.
“You never learn, do you?” he said, nearly out of breath. It was a workout. Swinging, dodging, springing to the other side of the bed while she chased for revenge like a madwoman. He thought the hotel management would be sent up. Surely they were making too much noise, stomping on somebody’s heads below.
“You’re the one who never learns,” she huffed, crouched with her arms out, her long hair splayed covering half her face. She was wearing nothing but a T-shirt and panties. It struck him then how she hadn’t really changed. The same person, even after fame and millions, she carried nothing but a T-shirt and a change of underwear on trips.
“All right, I’m warning you. Next connect, you’re going down.”
She took a leaping hike, using the mattress as her launchpad. Up and over like something out of The Matrix. Landing on top of him. He felt his knees buckle. She straddled him and swung with all her might.
“I give, I give.”
“Yeah. Who’s your momma?”
He shook his head, no. She popped him hard with the square pillow. “Who’s your momma?”
If he won, he got to be the daddy, the boss. He got to tell her what to do, and how. But that’s not where the game was supposed to go. Not anymore. He was married. He was married. He’d repeated it over and over. Thank God those words would keep him alive.
“I said, who’s your mamma?” By then she was already gyrating against his pelvis. He could feel his body betraying him. She pulled the T-shirt over her head, exposing the pierced nipple with a small gold ring. She leaned over the length of his torso, then slid down. He thought he would cry when her warm wet mouth engulfed him.
“Shitttt,” he gasped. “Cee Cee …” He swallowed the rest of what he wanted to say. No. Stop. Damn it, girl, you gon’ get me killed.
“When was the last time … huh, Jay?” she asked, taking her tongue in a full circle at the top. She remembered. “Tell me, pretty boy. I bet nobody does it like me.” She squeezed him to the brink, then let go. She was up on her feet, moving fast. Before he knew it she was back, unwrapping the condom. Tasting and kissing him all at the same time.
“I bet she can’t do it like me.”
And that’s when it happened. Like pulling the plug on his chug boat. He deflated slowly, leaving his once all-powerful organ without a pulse. She sucked, poked, grabbed, and squeezed, and nothing happened. Embarrassment shrouded them both.
“Oh, it’s like that.” She grabbed her T-shirt and threw it on. Jake lay on the floor with his arms across his face. He thought about telling her it wasn’t personal. It seemed she needed consoling more than he did. A blow to her very large ego. What man would pass up this opportunity?
“Sorry about that?” was all he could muster, because he was indeed sorry, more like pitiful. He’d probably have gone through with it like a poor little lamb to slaughter had his mind not intervened. Mind over matter. Just the mention of “she,” meaning his wife. I bet she can’t do it like me. Sirena may as well have invited Venus into the room to watch.
Even now, first thing in the morning, his usual greeting and salute was limp and uninterested in starting the day. He could hardly feel his own hand as if he was being punished with numbness. If God were listening, or even watching, He had to know Jake was innocent. Not deserving of this kind of punishment. Nothing happened. That was his story and he was sticking to it. Once he realized there was no chance of his dick accidentally slipping into Sirena, he’d hopped in the bed and told her to scooch over.
She’d slept angry. He’d slept scared. Barely grazing each other in the middle of the night and jumping to the other side if they did. He couldn’t wait to get into his own bed.
Leaning over the edge of the bed now, he picked up the open condom package that still held the silicone. Unused. “You see, God? Innocent.”
Who was he kidding? There was no free pass for his manhood failing on him, even if it was the result of having a conscience. Like stealing a candy bar, taking a bite, then trying to return it to the store. The damage was already done.
Sirena’s shower ran. He knew she’d be out quick, never one for long contemplative waterworks. He threw on his pants and shirt. He found one shoe. The other, he assumed, was buried under the sheets and blankets on the floor where he was supposed to have slept.
The shower turned off right when he’d found his black Bruno loafer. He bolted to the door, easing it open with as little sound as possible, then closing it tight behind him.
Stealth-mission escapes from hotel rooms had been his past life. When he was on the road back in his early music days, waking up with someone he hardly knew was part of the job. Groupies who’d promised him the best night of his life only to be just another silly bump and grind, were a requirement not a privilege. If you didn’t partake in the bevy of offerings, suspicion would arise. Was he gay? Did he have the package, the disease? So many times Jake had faked the funk. He only pretended to swallow the little blue pill the road manager passed out like vitamins. One-a-day. Fuck-all-night. He could’ve used one last night. Save his reputation but destroy it as well, all in one fell swoop.
The elevator opened at the lobby. Bright light streamed, hitting him square in the eyes. He had to squint but at least he knew to follow the sun.
“Sir, can I help you?” The bellman stood straight and unaffected by the fact he was wearing a silly hat and suit like a chimp that played the accordion.
“I need a cab to the airport.”
“Absolutely, sir.” He put a whistle to his mouth and blew. “Do you need help with your bags, sir?”
Bags? He’d left his one bag in the room. There was no way he was going back to get it. “Nah, that’s it,” he said. He meant it. He was sick of the back-and-forth game with Sirena, because in his heart, he knew eventually he’d slip up.
Picture Worth a
Thousand Words
“I know someone who can fix that.” Trevelle pointed to her own forehead, but her frown was directed toward me. “Those lines right there. Instant removal.”
“What lines?” I rushed to the bathroom. I had my mother’s genes. There should be no lines.
But there they were. Three little dashes in the center of my forehead. I rubbed and stretched where only a few days ago they hadn’t been. Even the senator had pointed them out.
Eyes red. Skin in need of hydration. Stomach in a knot. I hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours, and even then it was on high alert. As if the boogey man were lurking in the closet or under the bed. My cell phone had five messages from Jake. I hadn’t listened to a single one and it was eating me up inside.
“I feel your pain, Venus. If anyone understands infidelity, it is me.” Trevelle stood right outside the bathroom door with her long arms outstretched. “I saw Jake and Sirena in their loving embrace. I know I should leave those sleazy gossip sites alone, but it’s a guilty habit. Especially after they spent so much time talking about me.”
I put up both my hands. “Stop right there. I don’t want to hear any gossip. I really don’t.”
“Sometimes, most of the time, more often than not, there is a grain of truth to their stories. I lived through it. Remember when the story broke about Airic being charged with statutory rape? The sex tape was indeed date stamped three days shy of her seventeenth birthday.” She nodded her head to rest her case.
Vince opened the door and pushed his way in backward carrying a box. He put the box down when he saw me and rubbed his hands on black jeans that always looked brand-new. “There’s my girl. How you doin’, sweetheart?”
“Well, look who decided to show up.” I knocked his hand away before he could give my shoulder a solace squeeze. “Why weren’t you here this morning?”
“Hey, no need to pretend. Trevelle showed me those pictures of your hubby lip-lockin
g that Sirena broad. Tell me if you want me to teach him a lesson. I’ll have him fixed like that.” He snapped his finger.
“There’s nothing to fix.”
“Sweetheart, they weren’t actually kissing,” Trevelle corrected him. “Now you’re worse than these gossip blogs, adding your own details.”
My eyes darted side to side between them. Trevelle already knew where I was going. Sweetheart.
Her bony shoulders were erect, along with her noble chin. “Excuse you for your nasty thoughts. Vince is my friend. He is someone I cherish. Does not mean we engage in fornication. That’s the problem with these relationships. They’re all based on fornication and lies. You can’t have a blessed union without God’s approval. You and Jake need to come to Jesus.” She came over and slapped the stack of new orders in front of me. “I will pray for you.”
“Pray for yourself,” I snapped.
Vince disappeared.
I’d driven without the radio on, specifically not to hear some lame gossip. I’d ignored Jake’s messages to not hear the truth. Heaven forbid I thought In Bloom was a safe haven. I’d walked right into the devil’s playground and Mother Teresa was the ringleader.
“Trevelle, in the future, I would appreciate you keeping rumors, gossip, anything of that nature to yourself.”
“Fine,” she said, going into her silence that drove me crazy. Her modus operandi was from one extreme to another.
“Don’t start with the one-word answers. Please. I’m not in the mood.”
“Fine. You want to hear the rest of what’s on my mind?”
Not really.
“Vince and I are very concerned for you. We have discussed your situation and think you should take some time off—you know, to get yourself together.”
Vince came in carrying another box. “Now don’t get your thong too tangled. This was mostly my idea.”
“Take some time off? Hmm, and that would mean leaving you two crazy kids all alone here.”
“Three of us. Don’t forget about Jackie. When she does show up, she’s very efficient. After you left, she filled nineteen orders in a record three hours.”
“Just because I have a couple of creases on my forehead doesn’t mean I’m bushed. Everyone has a bad night.”
“What you need is to take this opportunity to be by your significant other’s side.” Trevelle blinked her synthetic lashes slowly so I’d get her meaning. “And speaking of bushed, sweetie, you’re going to have to do something with that hair of yours. That is just not sexy.” She raised her arms in a circle. “So 1970. You’re not going to win this hair war, okay? Accept it and move on.”
“I’ll tell you like I told my mother, there’s no contest. I don’t need to get in the ring and fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Who I am, is who I am. Jake married me, not Sirena, or her character on the big screen. Me.” I picked up the box cutter and began opening the fresh shipment of flowers. I was doing my best impression of not giving a damn. Pretending the two of them ganging up on me didn’t hurt my feelings.
“It’s float like a butterfly … not fly,” Trevelle corrected.
“What?”
“She’s holding a sharp object,” Vince announced, slightly out of breath. At fifty-five or so he had the body of an athletic thirty-year-old, thanks to all the hours he’d spent in the gym, but the simple task of carrying boxes made him winded. I wanted to point and say, “Ha, that’s what you get for all those late nights sitting at the Wicked Witch’s house watching TMZ and searching gossip sites till wee hours in the morning.” But instead I put the box cutter down and went to the mini refrigerator and got him a bottle of water.
“You should take a break.”
He gulped, then recapped the bottle. “I’m a man of steel.”
“I can see that. When’s the last time you had a man-check?”
“Been a while.”
“And I’m supposed to leave my precious baby in your hands. Trust you and the—” His eyes narrowed, daring me to say what I called her when no one was around: the Wicked Witch of the South. “How are you supposed to take over the business when you’re probably more tired than I’ve ever seen you?”
“Teamwork,” Trevelle said. “Vince and I know how to work as a team. Something not everyone understands. My ministry was a multimillion-dollar business before your ex destroyed my life.”
“My ex?” I shook my head. “Unbelievable.” I rubbed my temple. “Trevelle, I never made it down the aisle with Airic. You’re the only one who married him.”
“Okay, you two. Let’s not get off on tangents. First order of business, just know we’re here for you. All we’re saying is, if you need to take some time off to get your affairs in order, we got your back.” Vince stood up and stretched, then yawned. His eyes even watered a bit.
Trevelle, on the other hand, was bright eyed and full of energy. “Exactly, we’re here for you.”
“I appreciate it,” I said, finally glad to bring mom and dad’s lecture to a close. The bell rang, announcing a customer. I peeked best I could past the wide glossy leaf palms and ficus trees. I was grateful to have the Monarch Hotel contract. Now I could clear out some of the inventory that was crowding the store. I hadn’t got a chance to tell Vince the good news, too busy dodging the knife he’d tried to stick in my back. Whatever spell that woman had over him was quickly pulling him to the dark side.
I clapped my hands together when I got close enough to see a friendly face, even if she was shrouded in her new wig. “Miriam … oh my goodness, what a surprise.” While I hugged her and blew the flyaway hairs out of my face, Ben came through the door behind her.
“I’m the one with the surprise,” Miriam said, beaming. “Guess what … we’ve decided to renew our vows. We’re going to have a ceremony, big and beautiful.”
“But, I …” My heart was racing. It was only hours earlier I’d seen him with the other woman. “Congratulations.”
“Ben, you’ve met Venus before, right? She’s the one I tell you about, the wife of JP.”
He only had to lean to reach me with his extended hand. “Nice to meet you.” I’d only seen a second or two of his profile when he was kissing the other woman. Head on, he was a tall, imposing man. His gleaming brown skin was hairless except for his stark black eyebrows. He wore glasses like a mild-mannered good guy wearing a suit, but I knew better and tried to contain my disgust.
“Renewal vows. Isn’t that just lovely.”
Miriam leaned on his arm. “Ben wants to have the ceremony at the Monarch. Have you been there? It’s absolutely beautiful. Their courtyard looks like springtime in Italy.”
“As a matter of fact, I was there recently. Like around ten in the morning. In the lobby.” I had to stop myself. No sense in ruining someone else’s happiness just because mine was on the skids.
Ben didn’t seem to be fazed. Temperament control was a requirement for liars. “Does that mean you can get us a good price?” He grinned. “Even better, can you have Sirena Lassiter sing at our ceremony?”
If I had a dollar for every time someone mentioned Sirena’s name … “I don’t think she does weddings.”
“We’re shooting for Valentine’s weekend.”
“Miriam, that’s the busiest time. Not to mention the most expensive time for weddings. Nearly everyone doubles their price.”
“It’s your blessed day, you make it anytime you want,” Trevelle sang out from the back.
“Who was that?”
“My bad dream.”
“I can hear you.”
“Good.”
Trevelle made her appearance. Her Dolce & Gabbana jeans and Jimmy Choo high heels were considered dressing down. Her jacket was studded with rhinestones. Her casual look would cost most people a week’s salary. “Is this the lovely couple?”
“Miriam,” she said, offering her hand. “And this is my husband Ben.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Trevelle Doval, floral designer and event concierge … at your ser
vice. I know everyone who is anyone.”
“Trevelle, I’m going to handle Miriam’s ceremony. She’s my friend and I’d like to give her that personal touch.”
The woman was gobbling up my life.
Miriam’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re the famous Trevelle Doval. Oh my!” she reached out and hugged Trevelle with all her might. “What in the world are you doing here, working here?”
“I ask that question every day,” I interceded. “But here she is.”
“Yes, here I am. And as I was saying, you are in the best hands.”
“Absolutely, mine.”
“And as we were discussing before Miriam arrived, you really need some time off,” Trevelle added with a flail of her long wrist. Her nails were the only thing natural about her, and she’d only taken the acrylic off because handling wet flower stems all day was a recipe for fungus disaster.
“Well, I’m free now.”
“Keep in mind, we’re both here for you.” I felt Trevelle’s heavy eyes all over me.
“Everything is going to be perfect.” Miriam could’ve been eighteen again the way she bopped up and down, her smile wide as all outside. Her skin glowed with happiness. No one had whiter teeth than Miriam, I was absolutely sure. I had to admit she was glowing. She soft-punched Ben in the arm. “First things first, we need to get the Monarch penciled in. Valentine’s Day,” she ordered. “Go big or go home.” She pursed her lips and they kissed.
Money, obviously, was no longer an issue. Lights, water, gas, food, shelter, and girlfriend all for one low, low, price. Her dignity. May I announce Dr. Benjamin and Mrs. Rivera.
“Let’s get started, then.”
“Anything you need, I’m still at your service.” Trevelle did a defeated wave before clicking her rhinestone Wicked Witch heels and dashing off.
I rubbed the lines in the center of my forehead, scared I was beginning to look like a Shar-Pei puppy. Age and wisdom were supposed to make life easier, not harder. But as I got older, the only thing I’d really learned was not to say the first thing on my mind; in fact, I’d learned to voice the opposite since most of the times I got it wrong.
Un-Nappily in Love Page 11
