We stopped at a quaint restaurant about ten miles from my house for a cozy candlelit dinner. Without warning, I realized that I was falling in love with Coy. He was showing me a side of life I didn’t even know existed. I leaned over the table to give him a big kiss. I had to tell him what I was feeling.
“You keep this up and I just might fall in love with ya!” I said jokingly.
He did not respond. In fact, he got quiet for the remainder of dinner and during the ride home, until we were almost at my house.
Out of nowhere we saw a deer on the side of the road. Innocently, I said, “Look, a deer!”
You would have thought I had rolled down the window and called his ass because he ran right in front of the truck and stopped! Coy slammed on the brakes, but it was useless. We were going too fast, and the deer, blinded by the light, froze. A scream burst from my throat and echoed through the cab of the truck. In the next instant, shattered glass fell into my lap, and I could see the deer’s tiny feet trying to free itself from the windshield. Not wanting to get kicked, Coy yelled at me.
“Get out of the truck!”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. The kicking legs damn near knocked me in the face. Surprisingly, the deer managed to free himself from the windshield and run off into the forest.
“Damn,” Coy said as he inspected the damage to his truck. His mood had gone from sugar to shit, and there was nothing I could think to say to him that would make the situation any better.
“Wanna write him a ticket?” I asked in a joking manner.
His head snapped around, and he glared at me like he hated me. “Why did you have to call him?”
“Surely you must be kidding. That deer couldn’t have possibly heard me and, even if it did, it’s a wild animal. Do you really think it would’ve come?” I didn’t bother to hold back my laughter, which only made Coy angrier. Brushing off the seats, we got back into the truck and drove the rest of the way to my house in silence.
“I had a great time today, and I can’t begin to thank you. Sorry about your truck,” I said, edging my way out of the truck.
“Me, too!” he said, not giving me a chance to finish my sentence. I didn’t know if he was responding to my comment about the fun we had or the damage to his truck. And he clearly missed the hint I was giving him about how I was going to show my appreciation. He did not budge from his seat as I closed the door, nor did he even acknowledge the fact I had left. He was clearly in a black funk, and I was starting to get a little pissed myself. He acted like it was my fault that the deer had challenged his truck.
“You’re not coming in?” I asked, shocked he would go through all that trouble and not want to spend the night.
“I have to be up early in the morning trying to get this fixed, so I better get on home,” he said.
“Why can’t you leave from here, like you did the last time? The children aren’t here, and I promise not to touch you; unless you want to be touched,” I said, remembering the words he had to me during our first encounter. I was struggling hard not to get an attitude since he did give me a picture-perfect date; up until Bambi ruined it!
I could see the signs of struggle written all over his face. For a moment I grew worried, until he switched off the ignition and followed me into the house. When we got inside, I forgot about his indecision about coming in, but I should have paid attention.
I took a shower and washed away the road grime that had accumulated on my skin. When I was done, he did the same. As he emerged from the shower, I pushed him onto the bed. “I know you have to go to sleep, so I won’t jump you; I just want you to relax,” I whispered in his ear.
I took some oil that grew hot when you rubbed your hands together and began rubbing it on him, working all of the muscles in his back and arms. I worked my way down his muscular thighs to his toes. When I was finished, I asked him to flip over, and he readily complied. I started at the bottom of his feet and worked my way up to his neck. Throughout the entire process he remained silent and, sadly enough, his dick remained limp. I did not give it much thought as I snuggled up next to him and fell into a deep sleep.
When I awoke a few hours later, Coy was gone without a trace.
SAMMIE
For a change, I picked up Jasmine from her house to go shopping. I stopped in the house and gave her mother a hug and kiss. As before, she treated me like I was her own daughter and told us both to have fun when we left.
Jasmine was waving a gold card over her head as we turned onto I-20; headed to Stonecrest Mall.
“Charge it!” she yelled, imitating Wilma Flintstone from the cartoons of our youth.
“Girl, you are out the box!” I exclaimed as we giggled like teenagers.
“Have you decided what you’re going to wear?”
“I haven’t decided whether I’m going for warm or sexy.”
She laughed. “Girl, with all those honies who’ll be there tonight, I’d beat your ass if you tried to pull out some flannel shit!”
“Oh, it’s all going to be about sexy tonight. I wanna meet a man who’ll pay my rent!”
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” she said, raising her hand to high-five me. I pulled in Stonecrest and tried to locate a parking space that wasn’t two miles from the mall. Up and down the aisles I drove until I found a spot right in front of the mall entrance.
“What did you do, call and tell them to save this spot?” I asked.
“And you know this,” she said, joking.
We walked into the mall; still giggling and acting like kids. We fell up into Natalie’s Boutique and tore at the racks like we were in Jim’s Bargain Basement. We were flinging shit like we were in the living room and the stuff already belonged to us. I gathered up three outfits and hurried to the dressing room. They were all long negligees with deep slits. My favorite was a dark green negligee with a matching robe.
Jasmine picked three short teddies with matching robes, including a dark green one, wanting to dress similar but different. We decided we looked too cute to leave them there. We also found some green high-heeled slippers to match. Jasmine picked up the tab for our outfits, and I could not tell her how much I appreciated the gesture.
I purchased earrings and the accessories for our hair. We also stopped by a Bovanti’s and had our faces made up and eyebrows arched.
“Sistagurl, we’re ready now!” Jasmine said, admiring our reflections in the mirror. I was starting to get excited about that night’s events.
“Let’s get something to eat,” I suggested, and we went to nearby Bugaboo’s for an afternoon snack.
“What time is check-in?” I asked in between stuffing my face with spinach dip and chips.
Looking at her watch, she said, “Anytime now. What do you have to do when we get back home?”
“Nothing, really; I packed a bag this morning before we left. How about you?” I asked, still stuffing my face.
“Just grabbing a bag, too. I don’t want to work up a sweat because I don’t want to have to refresh my makeup!”
“I hear ya,” I replied.
We finished up our meal, talking smack and giggling. After paying for the check, we went back to my house and collected my bags.
“Damn, gurl! What the hell do you have in this suitcase?”
“My stuff!” I said, growing defensive about all the shit I was taking with me for an overnight stay. Staying in hotels overnight was not something I was used to. Most times—during my prostitution days—I only stayed for a few hours or, at the very least, checked in with just the clothes on my back.
“I’m only kidding you, gurl. I’ve got as much shit in my bag as you do!”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I struggled to get the bag out the door without falling over. I locked up and drove back to her house. We had already decided we would show up at the hotel in her car. It was a statement kind of thing.
“Gurl, can you imagine coming to the party tonight and not having a room? Those heifers waiting outside to ge
t in are going to freeze, and all we have to do is come down on the elevator!” she said.
“I know that’s right. It’s about fifty degrees now. After the sun goes down, it’s going to be on. Every woman in that place is going to have her nipples standing up because of the chill.”
“Girl, you are too crazy!” she said, laughing, and pushing down her own nipples that started to stand up under the thin fabric of the shirt she was wearing.
“Damn, gurl. What you thinking about?” I asked.
“None ya,” she responded.
“So, is Carlos coming tonight?” I asked, hoping she would say “no” since I hadn’t asked Greg to tag along.
“I don’t bring sand to the beach,” she said with much head and attitude.
“I hear you. I didn’t even answer my phone today because I didn’t want to hear no mouth about tonight. Are we getting the special treatment tonight, too?”
“Of course. That’s the only way I roll,” she said. We laughed so much and for so long, my jaws were hurting.
“Hey, let’s hit the bar and get our drink on!”
“Let me change my shoes. These motherfuckers felt good in the store; now they feel like they’re attacking me.”
“You ain’t lying about that! I had some shoes last month that turned on me. Hurting feet is an awful feeling. I bought them on my lunch hour, and I did the nigga thing and wore them out the store, leaving my old ones in a trashcan by the door. Those shoes hurt me so bad, I had to take a cab back to work!”
“What did you do with the shoes?” she asked.
“Took them back to the store the next day. I went home barefoot. The lady at the store tried to clown on me since I had worn the shoes. I said, ‘Bitch, please! How else am I going to find out if they hurt, unless I wear them?’ I told her she had two choices: Give my money back and take her shoes, or I would go to the bank and stop payment on the check, and she wouldn’t have the shoes or the cash!”
Jasmine laughed. “And she brought that?”
“I had to roll my neck and bat my eyes a few times, but when I started balling up my hands into fists, she hurried up to the register.”
“Too funny. Come on, gurl, I’m feeling a little parched.”
Grabbing our purses, we deposited our bags in the room and headed up to the top floor of the hotel for drinks. The view was beautiful.
Over drinks, we really got to know each other.
“I’ve told you so much about me yet you rarely talk about you. What’s up with that?”
“There’s really not a lot to tell. I’m recently divorced and trying to make up my mind what I want to do with the rest of my life,” she said with a weak smile.
“How long were you married?”
“Ten years.”
“No kids?”
“Nope. Warren told me he couldn’t have kids. I accepted it; even though I wanted them. It took me ten years to find out that he had fathered children outside of our marriage, and that he had given me an STD that prevented me from ever having kids.” Jasmine took a long gulp of her drink and signaled the bartender for another.
“Wow, that’s deep,” I said.
“I’ve always wanted kids, and the slimy bastard took that away from me. I wasted ten good years with him, and that’s why I don’t feel bad for taking him for half of what he’s worth on paper!”
“Sure, you’re right.” I raised my glass in salute to her statement as we both smiled at each other.
“When he lies down with another woman, he’s going to think twice about that half shit! Technically, I won’t have to work for the rest of my life; if I don’t get silly.”
“Gurl, I could use a relationship like that! I’m broke on payday most of the time!”
“You’re so crazy!”
“Have you ever thought about getting your own place?”
“I thought about it, but right now I’m cool. Mom was lonely and so was I. It really is a win-win situation, she ain’t up in my business and I ain’t up in hers.”
“Wow, I cannot even imagine living with Althea again.”
I finished my drink, and we ordered another round. We spent awhile admiring the scenery and acting stupid like two sisters who love each other are supposed to do.
“I need to call Leah and see what she’s into. She’d love something like this, but I doubt if she can get a babysitter.”
“When are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“To be honest, I wanna enjoy you myself, before I bring someone else into the circle.”
“Are you serious? I’m going to be around for the rest of our lives. I want to know some of the people you invite into your circle of friends.”
“I’m being selfish, aren’t I? I keep thinking that if you meet Leah you’ll like her better than me, and I don’t think I could handle it,” I said lightly, but I was totally serious.
“Gurl, shut up! We’re sisters! Nothing can come between us! Call your friend and see if she can hang with the big dogs. There’s more than enough room in our suite, and I’m sure I can get another ticket for her.”
“Oh, okay,” I said, dialing Leah’s number. As luck would have it, all I got was her answering machine. Most days since the birth of the twins, she often didn’t answer the phone or call me back until several hours had passed. She didn’t want to answer the phone if the kids were acting a fool.
“She didn’t answer, but she’ll hit me back when she gets a moment.”
“Let’s go get ready for our night of fun!”
“I’m right behind ya!”
It was almost eight by the time Leah hit me back, and we were about to go out the door.
“What’s up, my nigga?” I asked when I recognized her name on the caller ID.
“Girl, talk about drama, I’ve had my hands full for the last few days!”
“Look, Leah, I’m about to roll out. I called you to see if you wanted to come to a party with Jasmine and me.”
“Darn, I can’t. I’m waiting for my sister-in-law to drop off Kayla and Malik, and then I have to go get Mya. Where’s the party?” she asked and I could tell she was pouting by her voice.
“It’s the big party they’ve been advertising on the radio for Frank Ski’s fifth anniversary! We’re about to go to the pajama party!” I was feeling happy just to be in my skin.
“Damn, gurl! I’d shoot someone to get to go to that party! How come you didn’t tell me sooner?” she demanded.
“Jasmine only told me about it last night. She has VIP passes, and I asked her if you could come.”
“Damn, I guess I’m going to be depressed for the rest of the weekend!”
“I’m sorry, boo, but at least I tried!”
“Yeah, you did. Take pictures if you can, and call me tomorrow with the dirt.”
“I’ll call with the dirt, but cameras aren’t allowed. They have a sign posted at the door. What happens at the PJ party stays at the PJ party. I’ve got my cell phone camera; in case I see something nice,” I said, laughing.
Hanging up the phone, I could not help but feel sorry for Leah. Her life had taken a drastic change since the birth of her twins, and she hardly got any downtime.
“Is she coming?” Jasmine asked as I turned around to leave the room.
“Naw, she has babysitter woes. That girl’s got it rough since that bastard husband ran off with another woman, leaving her with those three kids. If I was more domesticated, I’d volunteer to baby-sit sometimes, but hell, to be honest, I didn’t do such a hot job with my own kids, so I doubt I’d do much good with hers.”
“I love kids. Maybe once we get to know each other, she’ll allow me to watch her kids for her.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sure she will. That child is on overload! Her youngest daughter is a special needs child, so it won’t be a walk in the park. That little girl can be vicious.”
“Special needs? What does that mean?” she asked perplexed.
“They haven’t clinically diagnosed her yet, but s
he has these fits where she falls out all over the floor, banging her face into whatever she can, until she either passes out or someone has enough strength to stop her.”
“Damn, gurl! That’s deep! How old is Leah?”
“She‘ll be turning thirty-two in a few weeks. Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we throw her a little party? She has a lot to celebrate. She recently got a new job and a new home!”
“I’m down, but let’s discuss this after we get our groove on!”
“Hey!” I shouted, raising my hands in the air, ready to shake what my momma gave me.
LEAH
It had been six lonely days since I had heard from Coy. I continued to sniff the pillow he last laid his head upon, but his scent was long gone. I had repeatedly called him on both his home phone and cell, but he did not return my calls. I had no idea why he had placed me on terminal ignore status and didn’t know how to find out.
It was the weekend once again, I had no plans for the next two days, and the thought depressed me. In the short time I had known Coy, he would fill my weekends with his spontaneity. I missed the late-night booty calls and the stolen moments when he phoned me at work just to tell me he was thinking about me.
Stretching, I decided I would wash the sheets that day. I had savored our smells long enough but other familiar smells had long since replaced the spicy aroma of his cologne. I felt a hollow pain in my heart. There was more to Coy than met the eye, and I was having a hard time trying to handle his apparent dismissal of me.
My moods kept changing. When he first disappeared, I assumed he was involved in an undercover sting operation. I believed this lie for about twenty-four hours, and then I assumed it was another woman. The thing that made his silence so hard to understand was the fact we had been open and honest about our relationship. Or at least I was. The other thing that made it hard was that, up until the car accident, every time had been perfect.
In addition, my birthday was approaching and the added aggravation I was receiving from Kentee and his family was wearing me down.
Lawd, Mo' Drama Page 24
