Crystal smiled, "How is Dj doing Marcus?"
"He's doing fine, he calls every weekend. Man we gotta make plans to go check him out, a few of his games. He wants you guys to come as well." Marcus answered and then, "Hey Benjamin, did you know that Crystal and Mundo are Dj's brother and sister - its like we're all interwoven some how."
"So I've heard here and there, wasn't so sure if it was truth or conjecture." He asked glancing quickly at Crystal and then away.
"Yeah its true man, as I tol'yah, the ol'man got around. He dated Marcus mom in high school and then moved on to my moms next."
"No offence you two, but from what I've heard about him from my mom, he wasn't all that great a guy."
"Not offending me." Crystal spoke up right away.
"Where he's concerned, neither one of us are in denial." Mundo stated, watching Marcus reach for his wallet, he opened it and pulled out a joint. Mundo's eyes got wide, waving his hands and shaking his head, he warned him against letting Crystal know about it. She didn't do any kind of drugs, especially not weed; he knew she would start fussing about it. He whispered, motioning with his lips, "Save it for later."
Marcus winked and put it away.
"So Marcus what are your plans after school?" Crystal asked.
"NBA, all the way."
"And if that doesn't work?"
"I'm too good for it not to work." He came back to boast.
"As I said, if that doesn't work?"
"Ah man, another Dj." Marcus sat back and sighed.
"She'll mother you to death man, I ain't lyin'." Mundo spoke up in sympathy.
"I'm not trying to mother anyone, I'm simply stating fact! Fact one, tall guy good at basketball does not guarantee an NBA contract. Fact two, there are tall guys good at basketball aplenty. Fact three, someone is not going to get picked. While I certainly hope that you are picked in order to fulfil your dreams, should it take place that you're not, a plan B, is always useful. You can do what you wanna do, but I suggest you spend just as much time in formulating a plan B, as you spend dreaming about Plan A. Only a fool, has one plan! So don't be no fool thinking you all that and those with the contracts will spot that. End of - mothering - session, one."
Benjamin chuckled and looked at her, winking he had to say, "Amen to that! Heah that fool?!"
Crystal cracked up at his quick timing and black pitch.
Mundo and Marcus turned their heads to look at each other with sympathy, shaking their heads with expressions clearly saying, 'There is no escape, they're everywhere.'
At the club, getting in, Benjamin was recognized. Mundo and Crystal were both impressed and surprised by his use of fluid Spanish. While Marcus was not as fluid, he did understand what was being said from living with a Puerto Rican mother. He knew some words and terms to use, but he couldn't carry an entire conversation, not like Benjamin.
The club was packed, the music was blasting and the dance floor was full. It took them a good 20 minutes to get inside and find a table for all four of them. On the way to it, various women stopped Benjamin to speak to him, asking for a chance to dance with him. Looking at Crystal wondering who she was and who was she with. Most were Spanish, Mexicans, and an occasional Puerto Rican. The ultimate salsa party mix was playing as they fit themselves through the throng of party goers and those addicted to dance. Reaching their table they took a seat, Crystal wanted to ask him about the club, she liked it. Unfortunately, the loud music allowed little conversation. Because she was looking around at the set up, play of lights, the dj platform, he had to reach across the table to tap her arm.
"I'm going for drinks." He lipped and motioned with his hand.
She smiled and nodded.
Mundo had to get right into her ear, "Mind if I go check out the dj table?"
She turned back to him and in his ear, "Don't go taking off, I promised papah-Shawn we'd be back at a decent hour."
"I know I know!" He whispered back and stood heading in that direction.
Marcus leaned towards her in the other ear, "Wanna dance?"
She looked back at him, "Can you?" She asked saucily.
Grinning he stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her out on the dance floor and went right into the music that was playing. Without a doubt, his mama was Puerto Rican. Crystal laughed in disbelief as she worked her own routine, keeping up with him. Because he was so tall, he stood out, and before she knew it, two other girls were there wanting to dance with him. Not about to get caught in a competition for him, she signaled that she would leave him to dance. He winked, smiled and was happy she helped him to pull, which had been part of the plan to begin with. She went back to their table and took a seat and no sooner had she sat, when a cute Mexican approached her, motioning for her to dance.
She smiled shaking her head, he was a bit persistent, not wanting to give up.
"Damn girl, you know you too fine to be sitting here alone and things. You was my woman, I would never leave your side. You can believe that chica, what's your name?" He asked, speaking perfect English with just enough of an accent to sound nice. On bended knee, he leaned as close to her ear as he dare, talking to her with a hope for more. Polite, with a smile Crystal shook her head no.
"You shy or something? I love shy, shy is sexy. You sexy; when I'm sleeping tonight, I'll be dreaming of you."
"Hey el hombre, las señoras con mí, así que retrocede." The Mexican suddenly heard in his ear. He came quickly to his feet looking up into Ben's firm expression. "What the hell you say? Speak English goddammit this is America!" Due to the lull in music, Crystal could hear because he'd spoken so loud to be heard. She sputtered into laughter. Benjamin too smiled and repeated in English. "The lady is with me, so go away."
"Oh, then why the hell you didn't say that." He smiled at Ben and winked, "She's fine man, keep an eye on her dude! If you need me to, I'll watch her for you. All you have to do is ask." He smiled winking walking away.
Ben shook his head and sat down, placing their drinks on the table, ice tea for Crystal since she would be driving.
"I cannot believe Mundo and Marcus left you here alone! Wait until I get my hands on Marcus, he should know better." He declared.
More music was starting up, Crystal leaned in to say, "He didn't leave me, he asked me to dance, I went out on the floor with him, but if you look that way, he's surrounded. I decided to leave him to them." She explained.
"That's no excuse, we're here together, he should have told them next dance. I will be letting him know when he gets back here, leaving you unattended!" He was in her ear, then drew away, very serious expression on his face.
Crystal smiled, and felt goose pimples, he was so much like Shawn. Leaning towards him, she spoke in his ear, "He's having a good time, let's not spoil it. I'm okay, thank you for being concerned."
In her ear, "Its not just concern, its the way it should be. You're here with us, we're responsible for your safety. There's no excuse, period." He leaned away glaring in Marcus's direction. Crystal picked up her tea and sipped it, stunned, a bit shaken by his vehemence. He had a strange effect on her. Once again, she found herself comparing him to Victor. They were both bold, unwavering, courageous and steadfast. She rethought that last part. Victor hadn't been steadfast, he'd cheated. He'd allowed their separation to give him the freedom to seek another. She sat wondering would that have been the case with Ben. If Ben had been the man she'd married, how would he have dealt with her moments of aggression? Her attacks. Was he just padding his part by saying what he believed about commitment and marriage, or would he be firm, steadfast and true to her? Despite their problems? She looked away from him down into her drink. She was feeling guilty. She was after all still married to Victor. So what was she doing here. Granted, she was in a group close to, all family, however; deep from within, there was this tiny needling sensation known as chemistry. She was feeling it with him. 'God almighty, I shouldn't be feeling this. I shouldn't be here with him. I'm still married, even though Victor wants out, I still
love him. So what am I doing?'
"Hey, you okay?" Benjamin leaned over and asked her.
She turned looking right into his eyes, she saw herself kissing him. The desire was there, strong and sure. She smiled. "I'm just fine, lost in thought that's all."
He pulled his chair closer to her, so they could talk without leaning so much. "Thoughts about him? Your husband?"
She nodded that she was.
Benjamin stared at her a moment and then said, "He didn't deserve you. He had a responsibility to you, as your husband to know how to deal with you. Whatever your problems were, that was his role, his job. Don't shed any more tears over him. Not like I saw you that day, no one deserves that."
She had to look away from him, out to those on the dance floor. She needed to find Mundo. She wanted him and Marcus to come back to the table. She wanted her heart to stop pounding in her chest. She wanted the lump in her throat to go back down. She wanted Victor to think and feel as this man before her now. She wanted her ugly growing desire for him, for Benjamin, to just give him a little try, a little kiss to see; she wanted that to go away. She wanted her crazy scattered emotions to calm themselves down so she could stick to her resolve to be alone. She wanted to recall his very nice girlfriend that she'd met. She suddenly turned to him, he wasn't far from her, he was in fact, looking at her, closely examining her.
"You should have invited Gail here, to go out with us. That way you would be better enjoying your evening, having a bit of fun, than sitting here with me." Crystal spoke feeling her adrenaline rushing about within, her head was buzzing.
"I don't mind, sitting here with you. I don't mind at all." He spoke in her ear once again, this time, it was a whisper filled with impact. He leaned away from her, staring at her even more. She was gorgeous, with eyes that were electrifying. Realizing how he was staring at her, he turned, sat back in his seat, grabbed his drink and took a few sips of it. His innards were jerking about like mad. He knew it wasn't his imagination. It could be however, all the circumstances surrounding them, their lives, their connection. That could be what it was. He was looking out at the dance floor, Marcus was making his way back to the table, a girl in tow.
Score!
Was the immediate thought that came to Benjamin's mind. He knew Marcus, if he was bringing her back to the table, something about her promised a bit of playtime and he'd discerned that she wouldn't be hard to get into position. She was all giggly smiles, the kind that grated on Benjamin's nerves. He looked at Crystal and there was a knowing look on her face, she struggled not to be blatant and laugh right out, he instantly knew what she was thinking. She looked at him, they both sighed and looked back just as Marcus reached the table.
Benjamin pointed his index finger at him and then at himself, his eyes and manner said loud and clear, he was not happy with him. Confirming this, Marcus shrugged mouthing, "What?" He seated his new found date. She was smiling at Crystal, "Hi! Nice to meet chu, I bet you so proud of your brother." She leaned close to say to Crystal, who was no fool. "Yes, yes I am, about what exactly?"
"That he made it to the NBA! You guys brung him to celebrate, that is so sweet! He says he leaves for training camp tomorrow."
"Aaah, oka-a-ay ... I see." Crystal smiled brightly, nodding her head, fighting with all her might not to laugh in this girls face, thinking, 'You lyin' little shit! I cannot believe he told her that!' But then again, she could believe it.
Benjamin had stood to have a word with him by the table, he had his hand on his shoulder talking up into his ear, with Marcus leaning down a bit. Crystal couldn't hear what was being said, but she had a feeling, Benjamin was telling him off for letting her out of his sight.
The "girl" must have had a touch of doubt because she leaned forward and asked Crystal, "So what team is it again that he going into?"
She leaned forward and replied, "I wouldn't have a clue. I don't follow sports, wouldn't know one team from the other, you'll have to ask him again. I just brought him out to celebrate, keep an eye on him." Crystal smiled at her thinking she deserved whatever he had planned for her if all she saw was the possibility of being with a NBA player.
"I bet your folks are so proud of him, so where will he be going for training?"
"I haven't a clue, again ... you'll have to ask him all of that. I don't watch any sports whatsoever, I'm into nursing, as well a cosmetologist."
"Oooh! Do you do nails? Look'it, I broke this nail, you wouldn't have a repair kit on you would you? We could go in the ladies room for you to fix it."
Crystal looked at her like she'd lost her mind, "No, I don't have a repair kit on me, sorry."
Benjamin and Marcus sat back down, obviously Marcus had clued Benjamin in, because he smiled and shook her hand, "Hi, nice to meet you."
"You're cousins right?" She asked right away.
"Yes, cousins." Benjamin replied, when a favorite song of his came on, Suavemente, by Elvis Crespo ... his eyes grew wide and he was on his feet, pulling Crystal up with him asking as he pulled her onto the dance floor, "How good are you at following a lead in dancing?" He asked loud at her ear.
"Let me see how you lead and you'll find out." She grinned.
That's all he wanted to hear, he stepped to a good spot, grabbed her hand and pulled her immediately into step when the music changed beat. His immediate shift into rhythm to the Spanish hit so shocked her, she stumbled. He made a face, grinning with the click of his tongue, shaking his head he leaned into her saying, "You need lessons huh?"
That's all she needed to hear. Recovering instantly she looked him in the face, thrust her nose in the air and started moving to the music on her own to show who and what she was. She loved Spanish music and could move to it in some cases better than Spanish women because she had the ability to shimmy, rotate and gyrate her hips to the beat. With the flip of her hair she turned it loose on him. Benjamin couldn't help himself, he reared back and howled, "WOOOO HOOOO! That's what I'm talking about!" Catching up to her, he made his way to the front of her dancing to the beat, studying her moves and then matched them as he would as the man. In no time at all, they were in the deep end, moving with each other and loving every moment of it. Crystal's arms rose over her head with her hands gracefully guiding and leading the rest of her body to moves that had quite a few looking their way. She had that rapid beat and would not turn it loose, her hips, butt, legs, feet were playing the music themselves. Benjamin couldn't help but stop and look just to see what she was doing and how she did it. Not long into the song, she forgot that he was there, the music taking her away so that she cried out herself, moving, rolling and gliding across the floor like she owned it.
Mundo was up on the stage, moving to the music having a good time laughing with the dj when he caught her on the floor and pointed her out as his sister. The dj put the spot light on her because she deserved to be in it. Benjamin turned towards the stage, a big smile on his face and a rolling fist pumping the air telling them to keep it coming. Turning back to her he moved in one spot happy to be watching her go. This is what he wanted to see, that look of liberty, freedom with all inhibitions in the wind, moving to the beat, her head rolling, hair flying. He danced around her, guarding her, watching to see if any would dare try and dance with her, the moment someone stepped up, he was there blocking them with a look in his eyes that said, 'Don't even try it.'
Crystal felt so good, so free, so engulfed by the music and yes, by the man that was with her. While she wasn't looking at him, some how she knew he was there, watching, guarding, giving her free reign to be this wild and free spirit and of it, of her... he was not afraid. She changed gears, and started a more sultry move, turning to find him. She didn't have to look far, he was there as if ready when she was ready.
She was ready.
They met and began gliding and gyrating as one, smooth, natural, fluid never missing a beat.
"DAI-AMN!" Mundo shouted from the platform, they looked entwined and moved as one. "Ah shit now." He stood and watche
d his sister flow into Benjamin with an abandon that could not be mistaken, there was something there. He sighed shaking his head. It was her life, but she'd been through enough hell. He would have to say something to Benjamin, just so he knew where he stood. The next two songs were, Enrique Iglesias, back to back, Not In Love and then, Could I have this kiss forever. Crystal wouldn't know that, all she knew was the beat was one that pulled her into him. Benjamin was in heaven as the beat from Not In Love surrounded them both.
How is it that a song could hit on feelings, using words to spear - dead center - it's target, rousing all that was laying dormant within them? Two people feeling what they were feeling, with their type of chemistry between them, were playing with fire. But the fire felt good. The heat was wonderful. No matter how temporary this fulfillment, Crystal wanted to feel good tonight and right now, the man with her made her feel good. She wasn't going to worry about how things were tomorrow; because tonight was right, she wanted to dance, laugh, smile and feel protected, guarded, cherished and adored, for once, she understood Aretha Franklin's song, Like A Natural Woman. That's the way she felt, she wanted the feeling to last.
The thing about Benjamin, Crystal had a strange feeling, he would make a good friend as well a lover. She wouldn't think about a lover. She wasn't made up like that. To think in those terms. She was her mother's daughter. After all, she'd learned how quickly sex could change things, could impact a relationship. Yet, the second song came on, Enrique and Whitney Houston, and wanting a kiss that would last forever. Crystal realized with a pounding heart the song called for closeness. And then the lyrics, Ben pulled her close, looking into her eyes as if begging her to dance through this song with him.
His hands were warm, firm, beseeching as he pulled her in close to him, 'Oh god, the words to this song... please God help me...nooo.' The song played saying things that it shouldn't, killing her from within and making her longing, an agony, that was on the verge of hurting.
'Over and over I look in your eyes - You are all I desire - You have captured me - I want to hold you - I want to be close to you - I never want to let go - I wish that this night would never end - I need to know...'
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