Talk a Good Game

by Angie Daniels

  His eyes narrowed as he smirked. “So you think I’m gorgeous?”

  Damn, I put my foot in my mouth on that one. “You’re a’ight,” I murmured and yawned. Frankie took another look at me and we laughed.

  While we waited for the waffle iron to heat, I scrambled six eggs and found a pack of breakfast sausages in the refrigerator. Frankie wasn’t lying, he did have some skills. I watched as he mixed up the batter and added melted butter, then water and mixed it up.

  “Now close your eyes,” he said.

  “Why is that?” I asked although I lowered my lids.

  “Because I don’t want you to see my secret recipe.”

  I laughed but kept my eyes closed as he reached into the cabinet for his secret ingredient, and added it to the batter before I could open my eyes again.

  I moved back to the barstool, and took a seat. “I remember Mommy telling me you were engaged to this model. Why didn’t you marry her?”

  Frankie poured batter onto the griddle before speaking. “Excuse my French but Heaven was a ho. I’m serious. Anything that had three legs she was humping it.” I giggled and he paused to laugh. “I’m serious. It wasn’t even about money. It was about how many men she could screw in a year.” He grinned. “But then I met Lynn while I was stationed in California and she threw me for a loop.”

  “You really loved her?”

  “Yeah, my wife was my rock.” He nodded and looked lost in the memories before his smile returned again. Damn, I would give anything for a man to look like that while talking about me.

  “So what’s up this week with you and dude?”

  I shrugged because to be honest even I didn’t know for sure. “I don’t know. I needed a break from him. I’m just not sure we’re ready to get married.”

  “That’s too bad.” Yeah right. The smirk on his lips said he wasn’t the least bit disappointed.

  I blew out an exaggerated sigh and explained how Kaleb had flipped out. “I’m starting to think that everybody isn’t meant to be married and maybe I’m one of those people.”

  The frown on Frankie’s face said he didn’t agree. “Maybe the problem is you keep picking the wrong men for the wrong reasons.”

  No he wasn’t trying to analyze me. “Really? And what’s your problem? You’ve been home for months. Why hasn’t somebody snatched you up?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t want just anybody.”

  His words warmed my heart. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s picky.” We shared a smile.

  While I scrambled eggs, I watched him remove one golden waffle after another. That man sure knew his way around his little kitchen.

  Frankie had a folding table and chairs set up in the breakfast nook. I carried in the orange juice and the plate of bacon while he grabbed the eggs and waffles. I found a bottle of syrup in the pantry. Smiling we both took a seat, said grace, and dug in.

  “Mmmm, now you have to admit this taste better than Waffle House,” he managed between chews.

  “Ewww! Anything is better than that dirty place.”

  He shook his head. “C’mon that used to be the joint after the club.”

  “Yeah when I was young and didn’t know any better.”

  “And now you’re a beast in the kitchen. I ain’t mad at ya.”

  I smirked. “Thanks.”

  My cellphone vibrated but I didn’t even bother to answer it. I had the ringer off but chances were it was Kaleb calling to apologize like he always does after he flips out on me. My voice mail would be full by morning.

  “You need to get that?” Frankie asked curiously.

  I shook my head. “Nope. That part of my life is on hold.”

  After we cleaned up the kitchen we moved into the living room and he showed me his extensive music collection.

  “Oh shit! You got Kurtis Blow?” I jumped up and pretended I was holding a mike. “Clap your hands, everybody… if you got what it takes… ‘cause I’m Kurtis Blow and I want you to know… that these are the breaks,” Frankie jumped up and joined in. We got maybe halfway through the song before we forgot the rest of the lyrics and started fumbling over our words like a couple of stuttering idiots.

  I took another seat on the floor and started thumbing through his collection again and found Stacy Lattisaw. I had him put her album in and we started slow dancing again, and before I knew it he was staring down at me.

  “If you don’t want me to kiss you then you better say something,” he whispered.

  “Something,” I teased and next thing I know I was tilting my chin and his lips were all over mine. His kiss was skillful, warm and wet and I was enjoying every second of it. His arms tightened around me and I didn’t object when his tongue slipped inside. Frankie’s strokes were steady and confident like we had all the time in the world. I guess we did because I didn’t need to be anywhere until lunch tomorrow.

  I felt my juices flowing and I knew I wanted Frankie to fuck me. I guess he wanted the same because his hand was under my dress and when he stroked my crotch, I moaned. My pussy dripped and ran down my inner thigh. Trust me, in the next few seconds I planned on having his dick inside me.

  Frankie lowered his zipper, pushed my knees apart then slipped the head of his penis underneath my thong and across my wet slit.

  “Please,” I whimpered.

  “Ask me to fuck you, Jae.”

  “Please fuck me, Frankie,” I whispered. And before I could catch a breath, he drove deeply inside of me. “Oooh!” I panted as he stretched me to accommodate every inch of him. Oh my, he was huge!

  “Hell yeah,” Frankie crooned then lifted me up at just the right angle for his thrust. “Jae, look at me.”

  Our eyes locked. Oh my God! This was so unreal.

  “You like me fucking you?” he asked, pushing himself even deeper inside of me.

  “Yes,” I panted with broken breaths as he pumped faster. “Oooooh, yesss!”

  He felt so good I knew it wouldn’t last. I didn’t want it to end so soon. I wanted to take our time, but I was too hot and wet, and Frankie felt too good to hold on for long.

  “Fuck! I knew this pussy was good,” he moaned.

  “Aaaah, yeaaaah!” I cried. “Oooooh!”

  I wrapped my legs around his waist and rested my hands at his shoulders as he drove into me hard again and again, slamming me against the wall. I screamed and with a curse, I exploded. His fingers bit into my ass and my back arched like a bow as we came together.

  Frankie collapsed onto the floor with me on top of him. “You okay?” His voice was a soft caress.

  “Yeah, I’m good.” I nodded feeling better than I’d felt in months.

  33

  NYREE

  “You okay?” I whispered.

  Jeremy looked my way and even though he nodded his head, I could tell he was trying to hold it together.

  We were in Memphis attending his father’s sister’s funeral. It wasn’t the way I had planned to meet his family but I was enjoying spending time with them just the same. We had driven down and had arrived at his parent’s house late last night. His mother Gail had greeted us at the door with a warm smile. She was short, dark, round and clearly the spitting image of Jeremy. His father was tall and light-brown and seemed almost as mean as Jeremy had mentioned he was growing up. I glanced over at his parents sitting in the front pews to the right. His father Jeremy, Sr. had a hard look on his face but that muscle ticking at his jaw hinted he wasn’t as strong as he wanted everyone to think.

  I squeezed Jeremy’s hand and listened to the pastor give the eulogy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church. And when his Aunt Gerry got up and sang His Eye Is On the Sparrow, I started crying, and I didn’t even know the lady.

  After we left the cemetery we all headed back to Jeremy’s parents’ house for the Passover.

  “Sorry we’re meeting on such sad circumstances,” Elijah Samuels said with a big hug and a smile. We were standing in the dining room that was filled with friends and family. Jeremy’s
older brother was tall and light-brown, like their father, with a head full of dark curly hair. The brothers were like day and night.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Eli,” I said as he released me and pointed to the short woman beside him.

  “This here is my wife, Amy.”

  She was a pretty brunette with a big smile who seemed nice enough.

  “And that there is my baby sister Carrie and her husband Clark.” He pointed to a dark-skinned woman wearing a short curly natural. Goodness her spouse wasn’t black, either. Jeremy’s other sister Chelsey was out on the deck with her Italian boyfriend. What’s up with that? Although, as I walked over to greet the two, I noticed how much her fiancé resembled Brad Pitt. Now that’s one yummy, white boy I’d take any day.

  We all laughed and talked and I ended up in the kitchen where I met so many family members I lost count. But I had a good feeling about all of them, especially the ones who made me feel welcomed.

  Jeremy was sitting out on the deck with his father and I was sitting at the kitchen table with Aunt Gerry and his mother, who started asking me all kind of questions.

  “You think y’all might be getting married?” his aunt asked.

  I gave her a weird look. “We’re getting married in two weeks.”

  “Two weeks?” His mom mocked with surprise. “That’s the first I’ve heard about that.”

  Now I was really confused. “Jeremy said he invited all of you.”

  She and her sister exchanged looks before she snorted. “He hasn’t said a thing to me.” It was easy to see her feelings were hurt.

  I was blown away but decided I needed to smooth things over until I had a chance to speak to Jeremy. “It’s just something small. Since it’s both of our second marriages he probably didn’t want to make a big fuss.”

  His cousin Hannah looked at her sister Karida before she turned my way and blurted out. “You know this will be his fourth marriage, right?”

  I cringed. There was no way I had heard her right. “Fourth?” I looked to his mother and auntie for verification, but his mother rose and walked over and busied herself with the potato salad, while Aunt Gerry stuffed her mouth with pound cake.

  “That fool’s always falling in love.” Hannah laughed, until her mother waved at her to shut the hell up.

  I just sat there in a daze because what they were telling me was my man had lied again. First the kids… now this.

  Okay, wait a minute. I needed clarification. “Excuse me Mrs. Samuels? Did she just say your son has already been married three times?’

  His mother waited until she pulled a ham out the oven before she looked in my direction. His cousins were leaning against the island smirking at her and then at me like they were watching a movie. The only thing missing was the buttered popcorn.

  That sweet woman finally shook her head and replied, “I don’t know why my son has started that lying again. Yes, he’s had three wives. I know that’s not something to be proud of, but it’s the truth.”

  His cousin shook her head. “You sure you wanna marry him?”

  “Karida, shut up.” Her mother warned.

  Yeah, shut up. I was sitting there feeling stupid enough as it was.

  “You said y’all getting married in two weeks?”

  I nodded and forced a smile. “Yes ma’am.”

  “Hmmm.” Aunt Gerry sat there with crumb on her bosom wearing a thoughtful look. “Gail you going?”

  His mother waved her hand in the air. I could tell she was getting agitated. “How can I come to something I knew nothing about?”

  I shook my head, embarrassed beyond explaining. “He said he told you.”

  “Girl, my cousin be lying!” Hannah cackled and Karida joined in on the fun.

  “Don’t pay them any mind. I don’t know why he didn’t bother to tell us.” Aunt Gerry straightened her wig, then sighed. “I guess he had his reasons.”

  “Hell, is he even divorced from the last one?”

  The two hyenas were at it again.

  Jeremy’s mother looked up at the ceiling like she was saying a silent prayer. Prayer wasn’t going to help her son by the time I got done with him.

  “I think his divorce has been final for a while.” It was obvious his mother was trying to take up for him. I guess I would do the same if it were my son. Not that it was going to help him any.

  Karida started chatting away. “You might wanna think twice about marrying him. There’s no telling what other lies he’s told you.”

  She did have a point but I wasn’t about to let her know that.

  Aunt Gerry waved her hand like she was shooing a fly. “Don’t pay them no mind. My nephew has a good heart and good intentions I just think sometimes he just tries to impress people.”

  Karida mumbled something under her breath. I couldn’t make it out, but Hannah had and she was cackling like a hyena again.

  Aunt Gerry sucked her teeth. “I give you both my blessings, but you might wanna maybe take a little more time to get to know each other first.”

  I realized—with resignation—that she had a point. “I agree and I had every intention of taking things slow but…” I sighed. “He accepted a transfer to Hawaii and has to report there next month. He doesn’t want to leave without me.” Despite what I was feeling I smiled at the thought.

  His cousins were laughing again.

  “What’s so funny?” I said with attitude. Those two were getting on my damn nerves.

  Karida had the nerve to roll her eyes and suck her gold tooth. Hannah just shrugged and was about to say something when his mother came over and placed a comforting hand at my shoulder.

  “Don’t pay them no mind.”

  “Whatever Auntie. I’d be checking his behind,” Hannah said in defense. “Giggles always be lying.”

  My brow rose. “Giggles?”

  His aunt decided to explain. “When he was a kid, he used to laugh all the time, especially in church, so we all started calling him Giggles.”

  “Yeah and Giggles is full of crap,” Karida huffed. “I don’t know why you wanna marry him and take on all them kids?” She gave a look like she was trying to figure me out as if I was the one who was crazy.

  “Karida behave,” her mother warned. “This’s that chile’s business, not yours.”

  She rolled her eyes again. That chick was so disrespectful. If it had been my mama, she would have been sprawled out on the floor, knocked unconscious.

  She finally slid off the stool and signaled for Hannah to follow her outside. Thank goodness.

  Jeremy’s mother was smiling as she came around and returned to her seat at the table. “Since you’re gonna be my new daughter-in-law, tell me something about yourself.”

  At this point, marrying Jeremy was the furthest thing from my mind. If I hadn’t road with him, I would have already jumped in my car, heading home. But a part of me really wanted them to like me. “Well, I’m in the United States Air Force.”

  “Really?” His aunt looked impressed. “What do you do?”

  There were so many thoughts swirling around in my mind that it was hard to focus on what they were saying. “I’m in labor relations. I negotiate union contracts for our civilian employees.”

  “Impressive,” his aunt said, then reached down to fix her thigh-high stockings that were now peeking out from beneath her polyester dress. “Any children?”

  I shook my head. “No. None.”

  “None?” Aunt Gerry looked surprised. “How come?”

  I couldn’t believe the two were putting me through the third degree. “Because I have been focused on my career and I wanted to be married first.”

  They looked at each other.

  I felt I was losing points with these two. “I love kids. Now that I’m marrying Jeremy, his kids can be my kids.”

  “Well you’re definitely taking on a small baseball team,” his aunt cackled.

  I couldn’t resist a laugh. “Yeah, I guess I am. I met the ones in Chicago when we atten
ded Tiffany’s graduation.”

  His mother released a long sigh. “I couldn’t make it. Of course their mama dogged me and my husband out on Facebook.”

  My eyes widened. Talk about childish. “You’re kidding.”

  I couldn’t believe the way her head was rolling. “Now, that’s an evil woman. I don’t know how Giggles was married to her for so long.”

  And she was the only wife he claimed. What was up with that? He definitely had some explaining to do. And no time like the present. I looked up to see Jeremy stepping in to the kitchen, followed by his brother.

  “We’re ready for some of Aunt Gerry’s apple pie.” He had the nerve to have that stupid grin on his face.

  I glared at him, trying to make eye contact. When he finally did, I rose from the chair. “Can I talk to you in private?”

  Jeremy looked nervous. “About what?”

  “About your three wives.”

  Where the hell did they come from? Once again his nosy cousin Karida was all up in our business. I wanted to snatch her tracks out of her head if I wasn’t already anxious to get my fiancé alone.

  “My three wives?” he repeated like he hadn’t heard his cousin the first time. It was clear he was stalling for time. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know why you lied to that girl like that?” his mother shook her head.

  He must have glanced around and realized that everyone was looking at him because he did something I never expected.

  “Is that what you told my family?” he accused and had the nerve to look like I had betrayed him or something when he was the one who had betrayed me. “I don’t know why you sitting there telling that lie. I told you I had three wives. Hell you met one of them while you were at Tiffany’s graduation!”

  No he didn’t just embarrass me in front of his people. “But you didn’t tell me you had two more.”

  “What you in here doing… fishing for information from my family? You wanna know anything then you need to ask me. All you’re doing is looking for an excuse to end our engagement. Fine… you don’t wanna marry me, then don’t!” He then grabbed a chicken leg from the island and stormed out the kitchen.