In The Company of My Sistahs Read online

  “Lord, give me strength,” Lisa whispered, then sighed.

  I know times like this she would rather disown me. Maybe I am a little too loud at times but being quiet never gets you anywhere. Believe me, I know.

  I remember when I was a freshman in high school, our neighbor agreed to sell Lisa his Oldsmobile. On the phone, he quoted three hundred. However, by the time we arrived at his house, the price suddenly had risen to three hundred fifty. Lisa dug into her jeans for another fifty dollars that she knew she didn’t have. Oh, hell, naw! I told her to get her damn hands out her pocket, then I told Mr. Stevens he either sell her that car at the price he quoted over the phone or he could shove that big bus up his ass. Lisa was so embarrassed she turned on her heels and headed home. I came through the door, five minutes later, with the keys to the car that I got at the original price. See, I don’t play those games. If you let a mothafucka get over on you they think they can keep getting over on you.

  I glanced up as the door opened and out walked Leslie. However, my eyes instantly connected with that of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man that followed behind. “Dayu-um!” I murmured as he moved toward the counter. He was so fine I could have jumped over the counter and licked his ass like a bomb pop. I wasn’t the only one who had noticed how good he looked. All four of us stood there staring and shaking our heads.

  He looked like his mama had dipped him in a pot of melted chocolate. As hungry as I was the brotha was good enough to eat. He had a bald head, large cocoa-brown eyes, a wide dimpled smile, and a body that made you want to reach out and touch somebody.

  “Hello. I’m Everton. I was told you ladies are having a problem with your room rates.”

  I was so dazed, I was rendered speechless. His accent sounded almost British and made him even sexier. All I could do was nod my head. Thank goodness my sister stepped in.

  “Yes, you are correct. My father reserved the rooms using his club membership.”

  His eyes brightened knowingly. “You have the club rate. That explains it. If you’d write down your father’s name I can go in the back and look up the reservation.”

  I stood there looking like a damn fool as Lisa took the pen from his proffered hand and scribbled the information. While she wrote, Everton looked across at me and within a matter of seconds I knew he was interested in getting some of this. I ain’t mad. I want some of him, too.

  Everton excused himself and went back into the office while Leslie went to help another guest. Lisa hit me upside of my head and I snapped out of my fantasy.

  “Damn! Why you hit me?”

  “’Cause you’re making a fool of yourself standing there drooling over that man.”

  Immediately I wiped my mouth for any signs of slobber. Just as I thought. Nothing.

  Kayla and Nadine cackled.

  “I wasn’t slobbering.”

  Lisa clicked her tongue. “Girl, you might as well have been, the way you were staring down his throat.”

  Those two hyenas started laughing again.

  I flipped them off. “Fuck y’all. You can’t say that brotha wasn’t fine.”

  Nadine licked her lips. “Oh, no doubt about it, the brotha is fine.”

  Kayla fanned herself with her hand. “Lord, yes.”

  “His ass looks barely out of high school,” Lisa added with a snort.

  “And what’s that got to do with the price of tea in China?” I took a deep breath, rolling my eyes. “Shit, I already told y’all. I plan to enjoy myself this week. Anything is possible. Whatever happens in Jamaica—”

  “Stays in Jamaica.” The other three finished in unison. Then all four of us howled with laughter.

  The door to the office opened and Everton returned carrying a sheet of paper.

  “I want to apologize to you ladies. The discount rate should have been keyed into the computer. Let me go ahead and personally get you lovely ladies checked in.”

  “No big deal,” I said with a grin.

  I ignored the looks the others were giving me. Okay, so maybe I did get a little bent out of shape, but that’s all over now.

  “How would you ladies like some rum punch?” Everton was smiling like he had just offered us free hotel accommodations. Shit, the hotel was all-inclusive, which meant the drinks had already been paid for. Nevertheless, I smiled at his fine young ass like he had just handed me a hundred dollar bill.

  “Sure, we would love something to drink,” Lisa answered.

  I glanced at the other two. Kayla declined but Nadine, like myself, was ready to get her drink on. Everton asked Leslie to go get the drinks for us while he took care of our registration. Nothing pleased me more. While he took care of Lisa and Nadine, I just stood back and stared. Damn, the negro was fine.

  “You need to quit,” Kayla whispered.

  “Bitch, you need to quit hating,” I countered.

  She pinched my arm, and I flinched, then reached around and pinched her too. The entire time my eyes never strayed far from Everton.

  He was dressed like all the others. He was wearing khaki slacks and a red button-down shirt that accentuated his solid frame. There was no doubt about it, he was drop-dead, make-you-want-to-scream-your-name gorgeous.

  Leslie walked our way carrying a tray of drinks. “Ladies, I have punch for everyone.” She reached down for the cup closest to her and offered it to me. I gazed up into her eyes, then pursed my lips and reached for a cup on the tray. How do I know she didn’t spit in it? With a roll of my eyes, I carried my drink back over to the desk and waited my turn.

  As soon as Lisa had her key in her hand, she swung around. “Nadine and I are going up to our room to cool off and change. We’re in building two, room two-twelve, so holla at us when you’re ready to go down to the beach.” They moved over to a clerk who was eagerly waiting with their bags to escort them to their room.

  Kayla stepped up in the line and I waited for Everton to finish checking her in. Every few seconds our eyes met. I sipped my drink and continued to watch him over the rim of my cup.

  “All right, the two of you will be right across the hall from your friends, in room two-fifteen.”

  I frowned. “Damn, do we have to be so close?”

  He offered me an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid we are completely booked this week.”

  Double damn. The last thing I needed was my sister’s nosy ass across the hall from me. What if I wanted to get my freak on? Her ass would be watching the damn door. I heaved a heavy sigh. Oh, well, I would just have to try to keep my shit on the DL.

  All-inclusive guests are issued a wrist bracelet at check-in, thereby entitling them to pretty much whatever they wanted. He snapped Kayla’s around her wrist, then handed her a door key. She then swung her purse over her shoulder and stepped to the side.

  I moved up to the counter and stared across at a wide smile that made me feel all jittery inside. The last thing I needed right now was an audience.

  Without looking back, I gave her a dismissive wave. “Kayla, that man is waiting to carry our bags up to the room. Why don’t you go on up. This might take a while,” I said as an afterthought.

  “You are ridiculous,” she mumbled under her breath as she signaled for the clerk to follow her. I knew I would have to hear all three of their mouths later but right now none of that mattered.

  Everton leaned against the counter, giving me a seductive stare. “ID, please.”

  I reached into my purse and removed my billfold and gave it to him. He typed in the information, stopping to look at me every few letters.

  “I saw the way you were looking at me,” he said low enough for only my ears.

  I blinked, not sure I had heard him correctly. I glanced over at the clerks to his far left, checking in other guests; both seemed oblivious to our conversation.

  “I think you were the one looking at me,” I countered.

  He laughed, a throaty, coochie-clenching, nipple-hardening laugh. I didn’t share in his laughter because personally I don’
t remember saying anything that was funny.

  “Am I wrong?”

  He shook his head. “No, you’re right. I was checking you out, but are you going to deny that you were doing the same?” he asked, his eyes never leaving the computer screen.

  I dropped my hand to my waist, then said all nonchalant and shit, “okay, so I was checking you out.”

  He smiled, pleased with my confession. “And your friends also noticed the attraction between us.”

  Actually, they probably had each already come to the conclusion that I was on another dick hunt and were probably thinking, “Poor Everton, he just doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into.”

  He handed me back my ID and met my gaze head on. “So, what do you want to do about it?”

  I pursed my lips. So far I was impressed by what I saw. Everton was one of those who went after what he wanted. I ain’t mad at him. “Do about what?” I asked as I gave him my wrist and he snapped my bracelet on.

  “This attraction we seem to have.”

  My Jamaican brotha definitely has confidence, but it was time to bring his ass down a peg or two. “Isn’t there some rule about the staff messing with the guests?”

  My comment caused his grin to waver slightly, then he merely shrugged his shoulders and said, “Yes, but I’m not going to tell. Are you?”

  Leaning closer, I shook my head. The door to the office opened and a fine light-skinned Jamaican stepped out and moved up to the counter. I half expected Everton to get all professional and shit on me, but instead he did the complete opposite.

  “Casey. This is Renee.”

  “What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” he replied as he licked his lips and made a sistah want to shiver. I would have pushed Everton’s ass aside if Casey wasn’t so damn short.

  “Thank you. I might have to introduce you to one of my girls.” Lisa is faithful to her husband. Kayla is much too tall. But Nadine, if she keeps her damn mouth shut, might be a match.

  “She got friends?” he asked with a heavy accent.

  Everton held up three fingers. “And they’re all lovely. Only this one here is the best. As soon as we saw each other, we knew we were a match.”

  What the fuck ever. I don’t know what the hell he was talking about. All I was after was some dick.

  Casey nodded. “Hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet you and your friends later today.”

  “I’m sure you will.” I followed Casey’s movement as he strolled down to the end of the counter.

  “Come see me later,” Everton said, drawing my attention again.

  “We’ll see.”

  Everton handed me my key. “I’m here tonight until ten.”

  I nodded again. I was grinning so much, my jaws hurt. Finally, I forced myself to turn away from the desk and, remembering the directions he had given Kayla, walked toward the building where I would be staying for the next seven days. As I moved across the lobby, I could feel the heat of his eyes on my backside. So naturally, of course, I added a little extra swing to my sway. Jamaica was already shaping up to be one trip I would never forget.

  My heart was racing so fast I almost missed the enchanting view from the back of the hotel. There was a large outdoor pool with several kids playing while parents lay around in chairs, catching rays of the sun. I stepped out of the building and followed the path toward the first building behind the main one. The lawns were thick and green and surrounded by colorful arrays of flowers and popular plants.

  I stepped into the building, a little extra pep in my step. It had barely been an hour since my arrival and already I had a hook-up.

  I took the stairs two at a time and found my room on the right. I reached for my key card and swiped it. Just as my luck would have it, Nadine stuck her head outside the door directly across the hall.

  “About damn time.”

  See, didn’t I tell you their nosy asses would be watching me. I didn’t even bother to respond; instead I tried my key card again. Damn, the shit wasn’t working.

  “So, did you make plans to get you some of that this evening?” she asked, laughing, teasing.

  I playfully snapped back. “None of your damn business. You need to quit hating and try to get your ass some dick while you’re here.” I slid the key in again and thank goodness it worked. “Matter of fact, there was a cutie down behind the desk you might want to meet.”

  I saw the interest that sparked her eyes. “You know I’m game. I ain’t had me a man in months. Puhleeze hook a sistah up.”

  Lisa stuck her head out the door and glared across at me. “Do y’all have to talk about this in the hallway? Damn. Save it for later.”

  I rolled my eyes at her just as she yanked Nadine into the room and slammed the door. See, I told you my big sister was going to get on my last nerve.

  I stepped into the room to find Kayla on the phone. I moved over to the bed closest to the balcony and fell back onto the bedspread with an exaggerated sigh.

  The room was nothing to write home about. Two double beds with a nightstand between them. There was a long dresser drawer and a twenty-inch color television. The curtains and the bedspreads were peach-and-floral prints.

  Kayla hung up the phone with a huff. “Did you know we have to leave a phone deposit or use a credit card to make phone calls?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Girl, you are on vacation. Who the hell you need to call?”

  She dropped her gaze to her lap. “I was going to check on the girls.”

  I waved my hand dismissively. “Kayla, quit tripping. They’re in good hands with your mother. Believe me, the last thing I am thinking about is calling my bebe-ass kids. I have been looking forward to getting away from them for weeks. Didn’t you give your mother our hotel information?”

  She nodded.

  “Then quit worrying. They’re fine.”

  “I guess,” she said, sounding unconvinced. “But I’m going to drop by the desk later and leave a deposit just in case.”

  I sat up on the bed. “Girl, relax. We’re going to have a ball.”

  She nodded, then asked, “So, what’s up with you and Everton?”

  I smiled as I rose from the bed and moved toward the sliding glass door. “Nothing yet, but the night is still young.”

  “You never know. If you play your cards right, he might give us the hook-up the next time we come down.”

  I swung around to face her. Shit, I hadn’t thought about that. My father’s club rate expired at the end of the year, which meant if I have as good a time as I anticipate that I will, the next time I’d have to pay the full rate. Unless of course, I have myself a Jamaican connection. “Everton is starting to look better and better as we speak.”

  “You know how you do.” She crossed her legs, smiling at me.

  I smiled back at her. “Yes, I do.” I took a moment to reminisce on his dimpled smile. Damn, I loved a sexy man with a beautiful body. And from what I could see, he certainly had both. Hopefully, the rumors about Jamaican men were true. If his package was the right size, my ass had definitely hit the jackpot.

  I turned to face the glass again and stared out at a scene pretty enough to put on a postcard. “You should have seen his friend Casey. He was fine.”

  “How tall was he?”

  I glanced over my shoulder and shook my head. “Too short for you.”

  She sucked her teeth. “The story of my life.”

  I gave my girl a sympathetic look, then slid open the door and stepped out onto the balcony. The view was just like the brochure. Blue-green water. Bright yellow sun. A white sandy beach with women in bathing suits and straw hats, stretched out on lounge chairs. There were books on their laps and tropical drinks in their hands. Reggae music filled the air. Directly below was a straw hut from where the smell of jerk chicken traveled directly up to my nostrils. There were people everywhere, running, laughing, just having a good time. It was beautiful. Suddenly I wanted to be down there among the excitement. I stepped back into the room wi
th renewed energy. “Come on, Kayla, let’s change and hit the beach.”

  For the first time, her eyes danced with anticipation.

  I reached for one of my bags on the floor and tossed it across the bed. “I think I packed too much shit.”

  “So did I,” she said as she moved over to the mirror to fix her hair.

  “I wasn’t sure what to bring. Lisa said it gets so hot here you change your clothes several times a day.”

  “I believe it.”

  “Personally I could just spend the entire week in my bikini.” I removed the new suit and dashed into the bathroom. I came out five minutes later. “What do you think?”

  Kayla turned away from the mirror and I could see the envy in her eyes. “It looks cute on you.”

  I stepped in front of the mirror and took in the outfit from both sides. There were faint stretch marks on both sides of my abdomen and directly above my butt, but when I tied the wrap around my waist it drew attention away from it. I had even bought a padded bikini top just to give myself an extra cup.

  “Aren’t you going to change?”

  Kayla gave me an embarrassing look. “Girl, I am not wearing a swimsuit.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m too out of shape,” she answered.

  “You ain’t never gonna see any of these mothafuckas again.”

  She paused for a second and I thought maybe she was giving my comment some serious consideration before she started shaking her head again. “No, that is quite all right.”

  You know, it is times like this her self-esteem issue wears my nerves. “Girl, you are trippin’. It is too hot to be worrying what some mothafucka is going to say. Did you see how everyone was dressed? There’s a woman downstairs that has a scar running straight down the front of her stomach, yet she still had the nerve to put on a bikini.” Actually, that bitch looked nasty, but I wasn’t going to say that.

  “That’s all right. I brought some cool outfits that will do the trick.”

  I stared at her in silence for a few seconds, then finally spoke again. “Whatever.” I tried to hide my annoyance. I moved over to my bag and removed a pair of flip-flops and slipped them over my feet. “You want me to wait for you?” I asked after a long moment of silence.