Choices

by Skyy

  Denise lay on her bed. “Man, I don’t know how I’m going to enjoy this Christmas without Mema.” Denise just realized it would be her first Christmas without her grandmother.

  “Bruh, you know what, how about we go out of town somewhere for Christmas and the New Year. It ain’t like I got anything planned for Christmas either.” Cooley was raised by her father who had died two years before.

  “Man, I don’t know about that.” Denise said

  “Why not? You don’t have to be back to school until the third for basketball. We can go somewhere and meet some hoes in different area codes.”

  “Okay, so where would we go, Ludacris?” Denise added.

  Lena jumped into their conversation. “How about Atlanta?” she said.

  Both girls looked at her. “My family is going to the Hamptons for the month and you all could stay at our house.”

  “Are you serious?” Cooley asked. “Your folks wouldn’t care?”

  “No, I will tell my mom, she won’t care. She loves you, Denise, and she knows you’re going through a lot right now.”

  Lena’s mother did love Denise; the only thing was, she had never met her. Lena spent a lot of time praising her roommate, so that hopefully whenever her mother did meet her she wouldn’t look at her sexual orientation.

  “Man, that’s perfect. ATL isn’t that far from here. We can drive and have a ball for the whole holiday.” Cooley smiled; the idea of being around Atlanta women was exciting her.

  “I don’t know about this. I mean, Lena, you have done so much already. That’s going over the top.”

  “No, it’s my pleasure. Who knows, I may join you all later on myself, if my parents drive me crazy. You can even take Carmen.” Lena smiled.

  “Carmen is going back to Mississippi. She’s going to be pissed she’s missing this. I’m going to go pack.” Cooley ran out of the room.

  Denise walked over to Lena and hugged her. “You are such a wonderful woman. Brandon is a very lucky man.” She placed a kiss on Lena’s forehead.

  Lena started to feel hot. She blushed. “Thanks. I hope he realizes that when he’s in Miami.” She pulled away and turned around. She didn’t want Denise to see her blushing face.

  “I’m sure he will. He would be a fool not to.”

  They both started to pack, ready to head to their holiday destinations.

  “So, are you going to miss me over break, Denise?” Lena smiled at Denise.

  “I sure am. You’re my buddy.” She smiled back. She turned her head quickly. If Lena were a gay girl, she would have taken that for flirting.

  “Well, maybe I will join you all later, depending on how I end up liking the Hamptons.”

  “Well, feel free. After all, it is your house. Seriously, Lena, this is a really nice thing that you are doing for us.”

  “You deserve it. Call it a little break before the tournaments start and practice really starts to kick you in your ass.”

  “You’re right about that. Coach already told us that things are going to get real difficult. She thinks we have a chance for the title this year. Man, we came so close last time.”

  “Well, I have faith in you all and in the men. I know Brandon really wants that championship this year.” Lena pushed down on her last bag. She couldn’t get it closed.

  Denise noticed her struggling and walked over to help her. Within minutes she had the bag closed.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. Well, I need to get to sleep so we can head out in the morning. Thanks again, Lena.”

  The next day came quickly. Lena wasn’t looking forward to leaving her friends.

  “Oh, Denise, here are the keys to the house, and I printed out the directions.” She handed the items to Denise.

  “And you’re very welcome.” Denise put her arms around Lena, giving her a big hug.

  Lena’s body felt warm. She felt good in Denise’s arms. She felt safe in her arms, the way that Brandon made her feel when he hugged her. She almost forgot to let go.

  “Thanks again, and be safe in the Hamptons, Lena.” Denise walked up to Lena and kissed her on her cheek. She smiled as she headed out of the room.

  “You also drive safe,” she said as Denise closed the door. Lena closed her eyes, and touched her cheek. She could still feel Denise’s lips. She smiled.

  Chapter 11

  “Muthafuckas! This is some bullshit!” Cooley said, looking at obscenities written on her truck in nail polish. All of her tires were slashed as well. “This is the fifth time this year. Wait till I catch the bitch doing this shit!” She put her shades back on and began brushing her hair. She always brushed her hair to calm down.

  Carmen shook her head. “Girl, as many women as you have scarred, it will take you an eternity.”

  Denise walked down the stairs. She shook her head at the sight of Cooley’s truck. “Damn, bruh, not again. Someone has it out for you for real. Good thing we rented a truck.”

  Cooley adjusted her shades. “You know what, I’m not even gonna deal with this shit right now. We are headed to Hotlanta, so fuck it. I’ll deal with it when I get back.” Cooley wrapped her arms around Carmen. “Bye, Carmen,” she said as she hugged Carmen one more time.

  “Y’all, be careful for real, okay?” She gave Denise another hug.

  “Okay, mother, we’ll be safe.” Denise grinned.

  “Call me when you make it to Atlanta, and wherever you go shopping, remember me, okay.”

  “All right, baby girl.”

  They got in the truck. Carmen watched as they drove off. The campus was almost deserted; most of the students had already left for their holiday destinations. Carmen’s plane didn’t leave until the next day, so she took the opportunity to actually use her room for a change. She had invited her secret lover over for some goodbye-sex.

  She headed up to her room to set the mood. She pulled out the candles she had bought for the occasion, all white, just like her love liked it. She put on her new white lace boy shorts, a button-down shirt and pulled her hair down.

  She heard a knock on the door and opened it to find Tameka standing there. The Jean Paul Gaultier cologne aroused Carmen even more.

  “Hey, you.”

  “Hey.”

  As soon as Carmen said hello, it was on. Tameka grabbed her and began to kiss her all over her neck.

  Carmen moaned as Tameka’s hands rubbed over her whole body.

  As they made it to the bed, Carmen began to unbutton her shirt when Tameka grabbed her hand.

  “No, leave your shirt on.”

  “Why? I wanted you to enjoy all of me.” Carmen wondered why Tameka always made her keep something on to cover her up.

  “I’m cool. I know what you look like.” Tameka kissed Carmen’s neck.

  Carmen quickly let the conversation go.

  Tameka unbuttoned just enough of Carmen’s buttons to get to her breasts. She kissed all over her breasts and moved her way back up to her neck.

  Carmen turned her head, waiting to receive kisses on her mouth, but Tameka completely skipped over her lips.

  Tameka grabbed Carmen and turned her over. Carmen loved it when Tameka was aggressive. Carmen bent over on her bed as Tameka strapped up to hit it from the back.

  Within fifteen minutes she had her first orgasm.

  Tameka stood up. Carmen turned over and lay on the bed and prepared to receive some oral satisfaction. She noticed Tameka putting her clothes on.

  “Hey, wait. Where are you going?” Carmen said quickly. She had planned on her spending the night.

  “I am going back to my dorm. I am going home tonight.”

  “Wait, I thought you were going to spend the night,” Carmen said as she put some sweats on.

  “Naw, girl. I can’t spend the night. I am going back home tonight.”

  “Tameka you live in town, why can’t you just go back tomorrow?” Carmen was becoming upset. She remembered asking Tameka to spend the night and she’d said yes. Now she was changing her plans. “I
mean, I changed my flight so that we could spend the night together.”

  “Look, Carmen, I got things to do. I can’t spend the night. So, can we drop it, please?” Tameka said in an annoyed tone.

  “Well, fine. So can you be here tomorrow at nine to take me to the airport?”

  “Oh shit, you gon’ have to call a cab baby. I won’t be able to do it.”

  “Damn, Tameka, you promised. I should have just gone today since you changing everything.” Carmen sat down on her bed. She was so hurt by what was going on.

  “Carmen, I gotta make moves and you know that.” Tameka pulled some money out of her pocket. “This should pay for the cab, okay.” She kissed Carmen on her cheek.

  “So, since when can I not get a kiss on the mouth?” Carmen blurted out as Tameka was heading out the door.

  “Man, I’m just not in a kissing mood. Look, shorty, call me when you make it back home, okay. Holla.” Tameka closed the door behind her.

  Carmen didn’t know what to think. Everything had changed. All her work was done for nothing. The special night she had planned had been cut real short and she couldn’t help, but feel like a booty call. She lay down on her bed and wanted to cry. She picked up her phone and dialed Tameka’s number. She got the voice mail.

  “I just wanted to say that I love you and that I am not mad, but if you get a chance, please stop back by. I really want to be with you.” She hung up after leaving the message. Three hours later she fell asleep.

  Carmen stood outside while she waited for the cab to come. She noticed a blue Escort heading toward the dorm. Her heart skipped a beat as she smiled, but it was short-lived because another girl got out of the car. She looked at the car again. It had rainbow beads around the mirror just like Tameka’s car, but Tameka wasn’t in it.

  The cab pulled up. She shook her head. She knew it couldn’t be Tameka’s car. She got in the cab and headed to the airport.

  Chapter 12

  Lenox Mall was crammed full with last-minute shoppers. Christmas Eve was not the time to be shopping, but Cooley wanted a new outfit for the club that night. They decided to go to Lenox Mall, simply because it was the only mall that was mentioned in a few songs.

  “Man, this place is cool,” Cooley said as they passed many of the high-name stores they would never see in Memphis. “Man, I love that hat.” Cooley pointed out a Burberry hat.

  “Yeah, and I bet it cost a grip too,” Denise said as they entered the Burberry store.

  “It don’t matter. I’m getting it.” Cooley grabbed the hat and headed to the cashier.

  “Damn, dude, Mema didn’t leave you that much,” Denise said to her extravagant friend.

  “Man, I am not using the money Mema gave me.” She pulled out a charge card. “I am using this no limit credit card that white girl Susan gave me to use for my trip.”

  “Get the fuck out of here. That girl did not let you use her credit card. Isn’t she married?”

  “Yeah. She’s married to this dick.” Cooley laughed. “Yeah, that bitch is married, but she can’t get enough of Cooley. So, while she is vacationing with her rich-ass husband in Paris, I am here using her credit card. She told me to buy whatever I wanted.”

  “That is a trip, man. I bet this store doesn’t take it because it doesn’t have your name on it.”

  “Take a better look.” Cooley handed Denise the card. It had Carla Wade written on it.

  “Now, ain’t that some bullshit.”

  “Yeah, I had her add me as an authorized user. She handed the card right over to me after I made her cum three times in a row.”

  Cooley and Denise laughed. Denise had to give her friend props. She had women going crazy over her.

  They headed out of the mall to the Cheesecake Factory, another place they had heard about in a song. It was more than they had ever imagined. Their mouths watered at the sight of all the various cheesecakes on display.

  “Okay, so what the hell,” Cooley said as she studied the display. “I don’t know about you, bruh, but I am about to lose my damn mind.”

  Denise smiled. “Oh my God,” She said as a waitress walked by with a large piece of chocolate cake. “I am breaking my training today.”

  After forty-five minutes they were seated. The waitress handed them their menus, took their drink orders, and walked off.

  Cooley looked at the menu. “Is this a menu or a text book?”

  “I think I have died and gone to heaven,” Denise murmured while glancing through the lengthy pages in front of her, her eyes darting back and forth at the circus-like atmosphere around her. Crowds of people were lined up three deep at the bar drinking, laughing and talking. The mood was festive as the late shoppers rushed in for a taste of the restaurant’s legendary desserts.

  All around them, booths were stuffed with people and packages. She was mesmerized as waiters sped by with plates and trays of food she had never seen before. A group at the table next to theirs let out a collective sigh as their waitress placed two platters of corn tamales in front of them. Curls of steam rose from the sweet corn cakes smothered in tomatoes, onions, and avocado. The shine in Denise’s eyes reflected the fullness of the moment. This was not a night they would soon forget.

  Cooley sat transfixed. The women in the crowded restaurant were gorgeous. There was as much a feast for her eyes as there was for her stomach. There was every type woman imaginable in the place, from high-class to down-home. And all of them seemed right at home. She sat taking it all in.

  Denise smacked her on her arm to get her attention. “Man, the menu. Read the menu.”

  Cooley looked up to see the server waiting to take her order.

  All Denise could do was laugh at her friend.

  They were ravenous when their food came, but it was well worth the wait. This experience was a first for them both. The meal, the mall, the shops and the people were so different from Memphis. There had even been valet parking at the mall and at the restaurant. They didn’t know if any places in Memphis had valet parking. It was a lot to take in, but they both knew they liked it and decided to come back for dessert after they finished shopping.

  “So, you get all the gifts you needed?” Cooley asked Denise, as she paid for both of their meals with the credit card that Susan had given her.

  “Yeah, I want to go by this, um, jewelry store over in the plaza by Lenox. I want to get Lena something I saw online.”

  “Cool.”

  They made their way through the notorious Buckhead traffic to Phipps Plaza across the street. They joked about none of the stores being in Memphis.

  “Tiffany’s? You’re buying her Tiffany’s?”

  “Yeah, so?” Denise said, getting out of the car.

  Cooley followed. She watched as Denise picked out the bracelet. “I can’t believe you got that girl that high ass bracelet!” Cooley said laughing. “Damn, dude. When did y’all start fucking?”

  “Shut up. We’re not fucking. I just wanted to get her something really nice.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Cooley said sarcastically.

  “I’m serious. She’s done a lot for me. Damn, what she did for Mema was enough; the least I could do was spend four hundred dollars on her.”

  “The bracelet cost four hundred dollars? Man, you are totally going to get some ass from her.” Cooley laughed. “You know her ass is going anyway.”

  “No, she’s not,” Denise said, standing up from the table.

  “Well, you’re right. She’s going just for your lanky ass. What a shame, ’cause I would love to tap that.” Cooley added.

  Denise couldn’t believe what her friend was saying. “Whatever, man, you know she is in love with Brandon.”

  “Yeah, and falling for your ass. Man don’t you pay attention to anything? The girl gets all hot and bothered whenever you’re working out in your room. I peeped that a long time ago.”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  “Yes, dude, she does. Man, I’m telling you, if you want it, you can get it. She likes
you, man, but I don’t think she has realized it yet.”

  “Cooley, you think that every woman is going.”

  “’Cause they are. Look at all the so-called straight women who throw themselves at me. All women are curious. It just takes the right one to bring it out of them.”

  They got into the car and headed home. Denise thought about the things that Cooley said. She never noticed Lena looking at her before.

  “Bruh, were you serious when you said that Lena be looking at me?” Denise asked.

  Cooley burst out laughing. “See, I knew it. Man, you are sprung out on her ass as well, aren’t you?”

  “Naw, man, it’s not like that,” Denise said, looking out the window.

  Cooley continued to press her for information. “Man, whatever. Who are you talking to, boo boo the fool? I know you like her. I don’t blame you; the girl is fine as hell.”

  “Yeah, she is pretty sexy.”

  “Dude, I knew it!” Cooley hit Denise. “You want you some of Lena.”

  Denise gave up. “Okay, okay, yes, I have a crush on her. Man, the girl is perfect for me, except she’s all straight and shit.”

  “Curious,” Cooley added.

  “No, straight. She ain’t going anywhere. Hell, Brandon is totally going pro, and she is going to marry him and have all his black-ass babies.”

  “That don’t mean you can’t have a little too. Come on, man, if she was to ask you to hit it, tell me you wouldn’t.”

  “I wouldn’t. I value her friendship—”

  Cooley cut her off. “Fuck that, man. I would fuck that girl so good, she would be like, ‘Brandon who?’”

  They both laughed.

  “Man, I admit, I would love to make love to her. It’s funny ’cause I haven’t liked a girl since Crystal. Why I always got to fall for the ones I can’t fucking have?”

  “It’s not that you can’t have it. It’s just that you fall for women who should just be fucking partners and that’s it.”

  Denise knew Cooley was talking about Crystal. “Man, she told me she was gay.”

  “Gay for you, Denise. You need to be like me—. Fuck those straight, curious types and roll out. You never try to make them into wifey.”