by Nako
“But how do you know that?”
Somehow someway, Karma could convince her to come to her sorority events and Tia hated to admit that she liked what they were about. She went to a few more before banging on Karma’s door at four in the morning.
“Okay, I’m going to the interest meeting.”
Karma screamed, not caring that she probably woke up everybody on their hall.
“OH, MY GOD! YOU’RE GOING TO BE MY SISTER IN REAL LIFE!”
“No, let’s not go that far. What if I don’t get in? Karm, don’t get my hopes up.”
Tia didn’t want to tell her that she was low-key hoping that she got accepted into the sorority. Before hearing more about what they offered and the benefits of being a part of a sisterhood, she didn’t know that she lacked a feeling of unity and belonging to something life changing.
“Girl, don’t you worry about all of that.”
Today, she wore her red and black with pride and would proudly let anyone know that she was a member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Which is how she met her precious baby boo, Jhene.
“I know you want a man. You do want a husband, right?”
Jhene didn’t think Tia was gay. She wanted her mentor to keep it real with her. Everything was safe with her, her answers, her moves, her decisions. She had a major wall up and even young Jhene noticed it.
“Yes, I would love one, but until then I’m good.”
Tia hated talking about relationships.
“What’s your next question?”
“Do you want kids?”
“Yeah, I do… Wait, where did these questions from?” she asked out of curiosity.
“I want to get to know you better,” Jhene shrugged her shoulders.
“How about we put the notebook away and talk…like we always do. I feel like I’m on an interview and it’s making me uncomfortable,” she admitted.
Tia didn’t like being put on the spot.
Jhene looked down at her questionnaire, “You’re right. Okay, my bad. Well, are you happy?”
“Do I look happy?”
She wondered what did this girl think of her and where was this coming from all of a sudden?
“Sometimes.”
“And on other times?” she probed.
“It’s like something is missing. I don’t know…I could be tripping. Do you want some more coffee?”
Tia pushed her mug towards her and when she went to the refill station she truly thought about what her mentee said and asked herself, was something missing and if it was…was it a man?
η
“Do you think I’m lonely or like bitter?” she asked her best friend, Coop.
He was in the gym lifting weights, most likely not listening to Tia rant about nothing…as usual.
“Lonely? Yeah. Bitter? No. You’re too cool to be bitter.”
Tia wanted him to take her serious. “Can you take a break? I need you right now,” she hissed.
The woman doing her pedicure stopped and looked at her. “No, not you. I’m on the phone.”
She was addicted to using her air pods and people often thought that she was talking to herself.
“I’ll call you when I’m done.”
Tia hung up in his face and closed her eyes to enjoy the paraffin wax being wrapped around her legs.
That little girl had her mind boggled. She called Karma who was out of town for work and told Tia that she would stop by her place when she returned.
“What color?”
“Same.”
She was a routine chick. White polish on her feet was her signature and nude on her nails. Tia learned soon in the world of law that less was better. She didn’t switch up shit.
Coop called her back about fifteen minutes later and the lady was just starting to polish her toes.
“What are you doing when you leave there?”
“I don’t know, probably going to the grocery store so I can start on my meal prep.”
Coop told her, “How about you go to like a bar or something?”
Tia went out every blue moon, on rare occasions like someone’s’ birthday or to celebrate one of her line sisters many accomplishments. They were all doing great things. Her grad chapter was full of black girl magic. It felt good being able to look to the left or right of you and be instantly inspired to become the best version of yourself.
“Uh no. Can we finish the conversation, please?”
“Tia, what do you want me to say? Don’t let an eighteen-year-old make you question how you moving right now. You focused, you saving, you’re in your bag. What do you want me to say?”
“That I’m not lonely…or I’m not missing something.”
“Or missing him?” Coop interrupted her.
“You crazy as hell if you think I’m still hung up on my ex,” she spat.
“Last time you went on a date or got some dick?”
Tia took a deep breath, “That’s none of your damn business.”
He snorted, knowingly, “You tell me everything else.”
“You know what? I’m going out tonight!” she concluded.
Coop didn’t believe her, “Yeah send me a pic of you in the Uber not at home dressed up in front of your mirror.”
Damn, he knew her well.
“Coop…”
“Tia, enjoy your night. You deserve it and you also are worthy of love and everything that comes with it.”
Lord, why couldn’t she like this man?
He was perfect. He was attentive, handsome and amazing on and off paper. If she had parents that cared about the man she’d end up with…he was the one she would take home. Coop was…probably the man of her dreams if she ever had one thought about shit like that. He was supportive. He was a great listener, hard-working and did she mention how fine he was? He liked her, she knew that. He also knew that she didn’t like him in that way. Tia friend-zoned him years ago and he never tried to come out of that category. She wasn’t aware that he dated and liked women…nor did she ask. When she moved to Houston after graduation, he drove her down, helped her move in to her new place and gave her the best motherfucking dick she ever had.
“You found someone to put your TV’s up or you want me to get on YouTube and try to figure this shit out?” he questioned.
She smiled, “Coop, on God… I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Seriously.”
She was extremely thankful for his unwavering support. He always came through in the clutch.
He put down the box that he had in his hands and walked up on her, causing her to step back a tad.
“What are you about to do?” She didn’t even know where the question came from but the way he was looking at her…she’d never seen it in his eyes before.
Coop ignored her and picked her up like a newborn baby crying in the middle of the night.
Tia shrieked, “COOP!”
She was slightly scared that he was going to drop her yet knowing at the same time that he wouldn’t dare let anything happen to her.
He spun around and sat her on the counter, sliding his hands up and down her bronze legs.
Chills covered her flesh.
“Coop…”
What in the world was happening right now?
This wasn’t them.
They were cool, nothing more, nothing less.
They were homies.
They kicked it from time to time.
However, the look he was giving her was one of lust and love.
Did this nigga love her?
Tia was so far removed from the game it didn’t make no sense. Any man that tried to talk to her her response was an automatic, “HELL NO.”
Juice did a number on her. She was completely uninterested in anyone with a penis, which was how she’d managed to graduate at the top of her class and with honors. She was focused.
Coop wanted her though and she didn’t have a clue until now.
He removed her shirt, and she let him. He then held her
up a tad, to slide her shorts and panties off.
She didn’t protest either.
It’d been so long since she had some dick. Tia said, “Fuck it,” and kissed him in the mouth.
His tongue.
His breath.
His lips.
Everything was soft and perfect.
Coop touched her all over, not leaving an inch unloved.
He gave her body so much attention in her little ass kitchen.
“Chemistry don’t lie,” he told her as he bent down and ate the bottom of her pussy out.
Coop’s tongue should’ve been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Tia came over and over again. Her inner-freak was reawakened. She started humping and riding his face so fast to the point where her ass was sweating profusely under her.
She fell off the counter and he picked her upright, eating her pussy while her thick thighs covered his face and legs dangled over his shoulders.
She screamed so loud as she climaxed.
Which, days later...is how she met her neighbor and now best friend.
Coop paid her rent up for the year and Tia was grateful because Lord knows she was a broke something.
“Tia, this pussy taste like vanilla wafers,” he muffled as he licked her up and down.
She was panting loudly, wanting to get down so he could fuck her on the floor.
“I can’t cum anymore,” she swore.
Coop giggled against her clit, causing her to shiver.
“Let me show you what that pussy can do.”
Why did he do that?
She lost all her senses.
Tia began to do the Harlem Shake as her body experienced something she didn’t think she’d ever felt before.
Whatever was higher than an orgasm, she was having that.
Who knew Coop was packing a tongue so sharp?
She probably would’ve been letting him eat her pussy had she known.
When he helped her down, she was so damn embarrassed.
She turned her back to him and placed her hands on the counter.
“I can’t look at you,” she admitted, as she struggled to catch her breath.
Her legs were still vibrating like crazy and her pussy never stopped pulsating.
Cum dripped all over her new hardwood floors.
Coop came behind her and stretched her hands out farther on the counter.
He arched her back and entered her with what he thought would be ease. Tia was tight. Extremely snug.
He made his way in and she exhaled, “SHIT.”
Was she losing her virginity again? It damn sure felt like it.
She couldn’t even show out and throw it back because it was taking her a second to get used to dick being inside of her.
“Bae,” he whispered.
Coop’s head was thrown back as he dug his toes into the floor, trying to hold out for as long as he could.
She didn’t have a clue on how long he’d dreamed of being inside of her, exploring her lady parts.
Her pussy was everything he knew it would be. Tia tasted good and felt like heaven. Her pussy was warm like the Atlantic Ocean and gushy like strawberry Jell-O. He could hear her juices churning with every stroke he gave her.
Not only was she talented, beautiful and educated, but her pussy was splendid.
He would marry her in the morning if he knew she would tell him yes.
Tia finally felt broken in and that’s when she began to twerk that Louisiana ass and threw it back.
Coop smacked her behind. “Give it to me, mommy,” he roared.
She damn sure did that.
He was fucking her so good. After a long drive and moving all day, this was a great treat.
Tia’s moans could’ve been an Audiobook. She sounded so sinful yet poetic.
He was in pure bliss.
They fucked for another thirty minutes before he climaxed deep inside of her.
Coop pulled out and panted while Tia ran to the bathroom, hoping that she could pee his cum out of her. What was he thinking?
The next day was busy. Tia wanted her apartment completely live-in ready because she started work the following day and didn’t want to come home to a cluttered house knowing it was equated to a cluttered mind. Houston was a new chapter for her and she was looking forward to a fresh start.
He returned to New York. Tia told him that friendship was all she could offer right now, and he respected it.
Twice a year, they took a trip on both of their birthdays. He didn’t miss a monumental moment in her life and vice versa. So, why weren’t they together? Tia honestly didn’t know, but only God knew how bad she wished that she did.
“Thank you.”
He told her, “Always.”
They ended their call and she went to sit under the dryer, so her toes could dry.
As bad as she wanted to review the case notes for her meeting next week, she told herself that it was Saturday which meant absolutely no work. Instead, she caught up on her favorite podcast, THE N LIST, hosted by Nia Hudson.
The girl’s word was gold, whatever she suggested Tia was bound to try it. Nia Hudson was the Oprah of her generation, hands down.
“What the hell am I going to wear tonight and where I am going?” she questioned, hours later.
Tia searched her closet, although she had no plans. She just knew that she wasn’t sitting at home surfing the web, ordering shit that she didn’t need nor was she going to be binge watching another damn show. She wanted to shake her tail feather and let her hair hang down. For some reason, she felt the need to prove to herself that she wasn’t lonely nor was she missing anything. Her life was full…at least that’s what she told herself since she left brunch with her mentee.
Half of her line sisters were married with kids and the other half were in the same boat as she, degreed, successful and single as fuck. Tia along with two of them and she invited her assistant, another young black sista on her grind out for drinks at Kulture, one of Tia’s favorite dinner spots. She loved their crab cakes and lemon drops.
“Where we going when we leave here?”
“Who knows but we ain’t going home!” she let them know.
She was trying to find the perfect angle for the picture she planned on sending Coop to let him know that she was out for the night.
“Girl, push them titties up!” her friend, Keiva, who was also Karma’s older sister by nine months, shouted at her.
Tia damn near spit her martini out. “They are up!” She was almost drunk.
“You do look good as hell tonight,” her line sister complimented her.
Tia planted a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks baby.”
She decided to stand up. “Take me a full pic,” she asked and handed her friend her cell.
“Take it in portrait mode.” Everyone with an iPhone knew that’s how you got a real good picture these days.
She rarely took pictures because she worked so damn much. But tonight, she knew she was looking like a snack. A Lil Debbie cake to be exact. Her hair was pulled up in one of those loose knots that were really hard to do. She beat her face to perfection. Her lashes were full and fresh since she had just gotten them done the day before. She wore a blush pink dress that barely stopped above her knee and a hand of Fatima necklace paired with a diamond cross. She sold pretty much everything she had to cover her move to Houston but kept her watch, bracelet and truck. There were somethings that she knew she could never get again…well, at least not right now. A paid truck, Patek and tennis bracelet were the top three.
“Turn to the right, you know your ass big as hell.”
Tia did as she was instructed and then tilted her head a tad.
“Oh baby, that’s the one. That’s the motherfucking one!”
She instantly sent the picture to Karma who was mad that she was missing out on the fun and then to Coop, who texted her back, “Wish u were mine…”
And then he followed up with, “But until then, be sa
fe. Hit me tomorrow.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She loved his message but didn’t send a response. She was under the influence and didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. Tia didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship and she knew he wasn’t leaving New York any time soon.
She was always coming up with poor excuses as to why they couldn’t be together.
“Where to next?”
η
Touring was a love/hate thing. The love part about it was that you got to see the world for free. The downside of touring was that you missed your family and friends. Sometimes you got food poisoning or worse, you barely ate because time didn’t grant you the choice. Tour buses were uncomfortable, and planes grew tiring as well. Still, Juice wouldn’t trade his life or career for nothing in the world. He loved what he did, and it was a blessing, a major blessing.
“We headed to Portland then home, baby!” he let everyone know.
Mahogany smiled weakly at him. She was tired and missing her man as well as the kids.
“You good sis?” he asked, as he sat down beside her and wiped his sweaty forehead.
“Yeah, did I sound off to you tonight?”
She was such a perfectionist.
“No, I think you may need a new mic,” he suggested.
She only nodded her head. “Can you make sure I get the footage from tonight?”
He always did.
“Let me go get your food.”
They were on the plane, headed to the next show.
She grabbed his arm before he could stand all the way up.
Juice sat back down, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
“You move too much,” she whispered. Mahogany pulled her phone out of her pocket, she knew that P was most likely knocked out by now. She got on Instagram and reposted tons of clips and pictures from the show tonight. Her fans…made the world go around. When she was feeling how she was right now, tired, hoarse, weak and cold, to see those clips of people crying as she performed songs that got them through good and bad times warmed her heart. It made it all worth it because only God knew that she was ready to wrap it up and be a mom full-time.
Mahogany then scrolled her timeline with her nosey ass.
“You on your fake page?” he snickered.
She nudged him in the stomach. “I don’t have that page anymore. Smart ass.”
He knew her ass was lying.
