“I’m so glad y’all came over. It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve gotten together.” Gloria was still smiling.
I wonder if I looked like that when I’m with Jeremy? I sure hope so. The whole Five Love Languages book and even a daily one-minute guide had really made a difference in our relationship. We talked, fellowship, and even prayed together. With each day Jeremy seemed more sure about himself and where he stood in our relationship, and I knew it could only get better.
Gloria came around, long dark ponytail bouncing, and took a seat on the ottoman, stretching her long legs out in front of her. Her skin was a banana yellow with a tinge of honey and after two months of marriage, she was still glowing. “So what have you two been up to?” Gloria asked between sips.
I looked over at Janelle and she looked at me. We were both grinning.
“Y’all want me to tell her,” Veronica said looking from her to me.
I nodded my head, too excited to say anything.
“What’s going on?” Gloria had no idea.
Veronica pointed her finger at us. “Gloria these two have been on Black folks meet dot com.”
“What?” she leaned forward on the ottoman. “And? Did y’all meet anyone?”
I was nodding. “Yes, I’ve met a wonderful man, spiritual, gentle, loving and most importantly, single.”
“I know that’s right!” Veronica gave me a high five.
Gloria’s eyes were wide. “Oh that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Jeremy is really special.”
“Jeremy, huh?” She was nodding her head and was clearly happy for me. “And what about you Janelle, you meet someone too?”
“Ladies, I’ve done more than met someone.”
There was that wide smirk on her face, but it was the way she was waving her hand that finally drew my attention to her finger.
“What the hell?” I screamed and dropped the albums onto the floor as I moved over to the sofa to get a closer look. “You got engaged?” I couldn’t believe it.
“Whaaat?” the other two echoed, then moved to get a closer look.
Janelle held her hand out and gladly gave us a view of the beautiful platinum band with three perfectly cut diamonds.
“Get the fuck outta here! You’re engaged?” Veronica asked. I’m like her. I needed to hear it.
Janelle nodded. “Yes, I’m engaged.”
Gloria got all close and personal. “It’s so pretty. How many carats is it?”
“Four,” she said and I could tell she was proud that her ring was bigger than the one Gloria was wearing.
I sat back in my chair, stunned.
“Damn! Who did you meet? Some millionaire?” Veronica said with a chuckle.
Her smile gave way to a chuckle. “You could say that. He works for some of the biggest alumnus at the university.”
Veronica’s brow drew down. “What’s his name?”
“Kaleb Kerrington.”
The look she gave said she knew him. “Oh yeah. I’ve heard of him. Drives an emerald green Jaguar?”
“That would be him,” she beamed. Janelle was so materialistic.
It was Gloria’s turn to frown. “Does he have custody of his son?”
“Yeah, his mom died when he was young.”
She suddenly looked as if she’d been sucking on a lemon. “Uh-huh. Laquita used to go out with him. She said he was too damn controlling for her.”
“That’s because she wasn’t the right woman. Kaleb knows I’m one woman he can’t control,” Janelle testified with a wicked smile.
“Uh-huh… ain’t that the truth,” Veronica added with an exaggerated nod.
Gloria laughed. “If anyone can handle him, it’s Janelle.”
I crossed my arms in front of me. “So when did this happen?” There was attitude in my voice, but Janelle didn’t seem to notice.
She reached for her glass avoiding eye contact as she took a sip of wine. “Two days ago. Sorry boo. I wanted to wait until today to share it with all of you.”
She also knew I probably would have tried to talk her out of it if I had gotten her all by myself. Don’t get me wrong I’m not one to judge especially since I hadn’t had a chance to meet the dude, but I know Janelle and Janelle doesn’t do needy. And the way Kaleb blows up her phone when they aren’t together, trust me, that shit was going to get old fast.
“When’s the wedding?” Gloria asked her.
Janelle immediately frowned. “Not so fast. I want this to be the wedding of the year so I’m thinking next spring.”
Now that’s the Janelle I know and love. She’s going to put that shit off for as long as she can.
Don’t get me wrong, the thing about Janelle I admire the most is she always knows what she wants and she doesn’t let anything stop her from getting it.
All my life I had tried to please my parents. Saving my virginity for marriage only turned me into a freak after Shane deserted me. I ended up screwing anyone who looked interesting. I grew up in the church and that meant four days a week plus any other time my parents could suck out of me. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the Lord but I didn’t believe he expects every second of my day to be dedicated to him.
I just couldn’t get my parents to understand that. Especially since my brother followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the military right after college, while my younger sister’s engaged to a theology major.
I was the middle child and just once in my life, I wanted to find favor in my parent’s eyes. For once, I wanted to get something right and I was certain Jeremy was everything I had ever wanted and needed.
“It’s your turn Nyree. Tell us about your man.”
Veronica broke into my thoughts. I put my phone away and found that I was smiling. I couldn’t wait to share the details.
“Well… what do you want to hear? We have a lot in common. Basketball, church—”
Janelle’s eyes rolled up into her head. “Basketball and church, sounds like you found a winner.”
Veronica punched her in the arm, and I had to laugh at them.
“I’m not paying Jae no mind. I did find a winner and that’s all that matters.”
“Good for you,” Veronica said.
While I finished my wine, I gave them the details of my relationship. Gloria was hanging on every word.
“Ohmygoodness! Look at your face. You’re in love!” Gloria clapped her hands.
“Hell nah!” Janelle was laughing her ass off. “And you didn’t even want to meet a man online.”
“Hey… be nice,” Veronica warned.
“Jae’s just being a hater,” I said rolling my neck.
She threw her hands up innocently. “Nyree knows I’m just playing.”
Gloria leaned forward, swinging her leg. “So does he work, have kids, etcetera…?”
“He works in Jeff City… has three kids,” I finally managed.
“Three kids? What the fuck?” Ronnie gasped.
I felt the need to defend him. “He was married for ten years.”
“Damn but three!” Janelle sneered. “How old is the youngest?”
“Fourteen.”
Janelle was shaking her head. “Girl, join the damn club.”
Gloria focused her green eyes in her direction. “How old’s Kaleb’s son?”
She rolled her eyes. “Thirteen and since he’s a boy I don’t have to worry about raising him. That’s his daddy’s job.”
That was probably a good thing because she had never been any good with kids.
Gloria rose and moved over to refill our glasses. “I’m just so happy for both of you.”
“Me too,” Veronica chimed in then held up her glass. “We might have another wedding before the year’s over.”
I know it was soon, but I sure hoped that person was me.
20
JANELLE
I always spend Saturday morning’s shopping and cleaning up my house. But ever since Kaleb and I started dating, find
ing time for myself had been few and far between. Not that I’m complaining. I have a good man and life couldn’t get any better than it was right now. I was practically living with him, and now that we were engaged I was planning to put my townhouse on the market. I glanced down at the rock on my finger and giggled. Hee-Hee! I was so happy.
Kaleb was getting my oil changed so I was rolling in his Range Rover. I parked it near the front of Walmart then grabbed my purse and moved inside. As usual it was packed with people. The whole reason for shopping before ten was to beat the crowd but I guess I didn’t get the memo this morning.
“Jae!”
I turned around and this tall, peanut-butter-brown brotha was walking toward me. There was something familiar about his walk, but I couldn’t quite place him with the baseball cap tilted low on his face.
“Don’t act like you don’t know me,” he said like I had a lot of nerve forgetting who he was. He then removed the cap and I gasped.
“Frankie? Oh my God! When did you get back?”
I was talking and hugging him all at the same time.
“I got home last week.”
I shook my head and smiled. It was so good to see him. “Mommy didn’t tell me you were back.”
“That’s because I’ve been chilling trying to get a few days in by myself before I started hollering at my crew.”
I was standing in front of one of the most handsome men I knew. Frankie Simmons and I went way back. He grew up next door to me and we hung out and had been friends up until I started getting attention from other teenage boys and realized how gorgeous I was. I then didn’t have time to hang out with a nerd who was two years younger than me. I was too busy dating boys with cars and college guys. I went off to college and Frankie had joined the army. I remembered running into Ms. Lorraine a couple of months ago and she mentioned Frankie had busted up his ankle and was being medically discharged.
“So you’re back for good?”
“Yep. I’m planning to open a carwash.”
I was impressed. Back then he was tall and lanky. Now he was sexy as all get out. “Look at you.”
He was grinning showing off a set of beautiful white teeth. “So whadda you been up to?”
“I opened a restaurant.”
“Yeah I remember hearing something about that.” He nodded and looked clearly impressed. “So you finally did it?”
I was grinning too hard to do anything but nod.
“I remember you used to spend hours in the kitchen dirtying up Granby’s kitchen.”
I playfully punched him in the chest. “Yeah, but you enjoyed everything I made.”
“Hell yeah! You could slam in the kitchen.” He rubbed his stomach and lifted his shirt slightly and I noticed how flat his stomach was. I was standing there staring at him and heard the Drunk In Love ringtone in my purse. “I’ma have to drop by your restaurant for some vittles.”
“Yes, you should. I’m right at seventh and Broadway up from CJ’s Wings.” I decided to ignore Kaleb and call him back in a few minutes.
“Damn, remember how we used to tear up them wings?”
I nodded. “Yep and they’re still good.”
“I’ma have to check you out.” He was then looking at me as if he had just noticed me standing there. And I couldn’t believe it. I suddenly lost my composure and swallowed nervously as he took his time checking me out.
“Damn, Janelle. I always knew you were fine, but baby, you’re thick as hell!”
“Thanks, you don’t look bad yourself.”
He looked so tasty I was tempted to take a lick just to see if he tasted like peanut butter.
“So what’s been up with you? Kids? Married?”
“No kids. And never been married. At least not yet.” I heard my phone chirping again in my purse, reminding me I was engaged but yet I couldn’t find it in me to share that bit of information. In fact, I noticed I was keeping my left hand down to my side so he wouldn’t catch the gleam of the diamond on my ring finger.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I was married for about five years then my wife was killed in a car crash.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry to hear that.” There was pain in his eyes so it was easy to see that he had really loved her.
“Hey, if you’re not busy, how about we hurry up in here and head to Bandana’s for some ribs?”
I was staring up at him watching his beautiful lips as he spoke, and found myself wondering what they would feel like licking away at my throbbing kitty. Frankie looked like he knew how to eat pussy. I was so caught up in my fantasy that it took me a few seconds to realize my phone was vibrating. I didn’t have to look to know it was Kaleb trying to reach me, but for the life of me I didn’t want to talk to him. My mind raced with possibilities. I was enjoying Frankie’s company way too much.
“Hey, Janelle, did you hear me? How about lunch?”
How in the world could I say no when I wanted so badly to say yes? “I’ve got an appointment in an hour. Sorry.” Why did I feel more compelled to lie than tell Frankie the truth?
“Okay, well then how about dinner? I found this little spot downtown Jeff City I know you would love.”
My phone was ringing again. Irritated, I reached inside my purse and silenced it. How in the world could I think with Kaleb blowing up my phone? “How do you like being back home?”
“It’s cool being back here. When I left I knew there was no way in hell I was ever coming back to the Midwest, but after being gone for so long nothing else has ever come close to feeling like home.”
“I know that’s right.” I nodded knowingly. I knew exactly how he felt. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Don’t get me wrong, in a little college town there wasn’t much to do, but they had great schools, a close knit community of people, and everything you needed was within a short drive, not to mention the cost of living was perfect.
“So what’s up with dinner?” Frankie was standing there with a relaxed stance that I found so sexy, while he waited for an answer. What was wrong with two friends eating dinner and catching up? A far as Kaleb was concerned, everything.
Frankie kept staring at me with those light brown eyes and his sexy mouth and I caught myself licking my lips. Damn, for the first time in weeks, I hated being committed to one man.
“Today really isn’t a good day at all. We’re busy at the restaurant. Hey, how about you drop through this evening and I give you the royal treatment?”
“The royal treatment, huh? That’s what’s up!”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Just come around seven.” Kaleb was calling again and I figured I had ignored him long enough. We exchanged numbers and Frankie promised to drop by later. I hurried and moved toward the register. I had been in the store long enough. It wasn’t until I had the groceries loaded in the Range Rover that I finally answered.
“Where the hell have you been?” he barked.
Sometimes Kaleb acted like he was my damn daddy. “I told you. I was going shopping.”
He sucked his teeth. “You must think I’m stupid. There ain’t no way you’ve been shopping for almost two hours.”
“I’m a woman. That’s what we do.” And I wasn’t about to apologize for it.
“You didn’t get my messages?” he probed.
“Which, the phone or the text messages?” I said calmly.
“Okay, so if you got them, why didn’t you call me back?” Kaleb’s voice was getting real loud now.
“There’s a bad reception in Walmart. I was planning to call you back as soon as I got outside. Quit tripping.”
“You must have been with some nigga.”
I rolled my eyes. Why is it I had to be messing around? Sure. I was beautiful and getting a man wasn’t a problem but I didn’t want just any man. I wanted Kaleb.
“I wasn’t with nobody. I’m on my way home to you, big daddy.” Any time I used the pet name it always seemed to calm his jealous outburst.
“Well hurry the fuck up!
I got something I wanna show you.”
“What?” I asked suspiciously.
“You’ll see when you get here.”
I hung up and blew out a heavy breath. The last thing I was in the mood for was another argument.
I pulled onto his street and as I grew closer to the house, I spotted a red 435i BMW in the driveway with a big white bow on top.
“Oh shit!” I almost ran into a parked SUV staring at the beautiful car. I turned into the driveway, jumped out, then quickly hopped back in.
I had forgotten to put the car in Park.
Kaleb came walking down the front steps, grinning.
“Baby, what is this?” I was hoping it was what I thought it was but I didn’t dare get ahead of myself.
“If you had answered the phone you would have found out.”
“Oh baby!” I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him hard on the mouth. “I’ve got a trunkful of groceries. There ain’t nobody I want but you.” I gave him another big sloppy kiss.
Smiling, Kaleb reached inside his pocket and pulled out a BMW keychain and waved it over his head.
I jumped up and down trying to get it. “Baby, quit playing!”
“Do you love me?” he asked and he was so serious, a chill snaked my spine.
“Yes baby, you know I love you!”
He finally handed the key to me. “Go ahead and get in.”
“Who’s car is it?” I just had to know.
“It’s yours.”
I was screaming and laughing all at the same time. I slipped in behind the wheel and turned the key. Ohmygoodness! She purred just like my pussy did when I was turned on.
While Kaleb carried the groceries inside, I played with all of the buttons and adjusted the mirrors and seat. When he finally came back outside I waved over at him. “Baby, get in so we can go for a ride,” I urged. He smiled and walked around my ride with that cripple walk of his that made me smile. I loved his broken-down ass!
As soon as the door was shut, I backed slowly out the driveway and then took off down the road.
“Oh shit! Baby, hurry… Open the sunroof!” I screamed. This was so unreal.
“Alright,” he chuckled and reached up and pressed a button and the glass rolled back.
Talk a Good Game Page 13
