Careful of the Company You Keep Page 9

  “Girl, I can’t help it if I like a man that is a little rough around the edges.”

  “Yeah, I like my men like bread, brown and a little crisp around the edges, but damn, the mothafuckas you always pick are like burnt toast.” For as long as I can remember Danielle has had a thing for thugs. Most of them are younger, unemployed, living at home with their mamas, and with at least one baby’s mama. Now don’t get me wrong. John was a damn bore and I like a little excitement in my life as well, but if I’m gonna be with a thugass nigga, then you best believe he better keep my pockets fat, ’cause I ain’t giving this coochie up for free.

  I opened the pack of spaghetti and put it in a pot of water. “So what you gonna do about Calvin?”

  “I’m gonna try and cool things off for a while, but he’s such a nice guy I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

  “You can’t have it both ways. Just tell him you want to start seeing other people.”

  “That would have been okay if he hadn’t just told me how much he loved me and then I told him the same.”

  My brow rose. “Do you?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  I had to bite my tongue. “Then why the hell you tell him you did?”

  “Because it sounded like the right thing to say at the time.”

  “I told you not to be playing with that man’s emotions.”

  “You got a lot of nerve.”

  True, I do have a tendency to make a brotha think I want him and then kick him to the curb, but we ain’t talking about me or the bustas I fucked with. “Just tell him the truth.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Then what he don’t know won’t hurt.”

  She paused. “I guess, but I got another idea.”

  “What?”

  “Make a pass at him.”

  I almost dropped the Ragu sauce. “What?”

  “You’re starting to sound like a parrot.”

  “And you’re starting to get on my nerves,” I spat back. I couldn’t have possibly heard her right. I was not about to make Calvin think I want his ass.

  “I’m serious,” she began with a hint of desperation. “I need a reason to end our relationship so I won’t feel guilty.”

  “Aren’t you jumping the gun? What if things don’t work out with you and Chance?” Danielle did have a tendency to fall in love way too fast.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I really like Calvin and might even love him, but he’s ready to take our relationship to the next level and I’m not. At least not yet. You’re the only one that can help me.” I heard that pleading tone and didn’t like it one bit.

  “Why, because I used to fuck him?” My voice was dripping with sarcasm.

  “Yeah, and you did want him back.”

  “That was before I knew you were screwing him.” Hell, the last thing I wanted was her hand-me-downs. I dumped the Ragu in the skillet and stirred it into the beef.

  “Come on.”

  Back in the day Calvin and I used to date, and when he started kicking it with Danielle I felt some type of way about it because her sneaky ass didn’t tell me they were dating. When I found out I was pissed because friends have an unwritten rule not to mess with each other’s exes. Come on. I used to ride that dick, and might I add, it was a nice long ride, but what makes her think I want her leftovers?

  “You owe me,” she finally said in her defense.

  “How you figure that?”

  She smacked her lips all in my ear as she replied, “Do I have to remind you . . . Reverend Leroy Brown?”

  I had to laugh at that one because she was right. Kayla had been messing with the Baptist minister for years, and I got tired of him treating her like shit so I videotaped him with this fag I knew he messed with. Unfortunately, the whole thing became a circus act with me and Danielle right smack in the middle.

  “Okay, you’re right. I do owe you.”

  “Damn right.”

  I purposely blew out a heavy breath so she would know that I was not feeling her idea at all. “When do you want to do this?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  While I made dinner, we spent the next hour coming up with a plan. I got off the phone with a bad feeling. Hopefully this isn’t another episode to come back and bite me on my ass.

  I left the sauce simmering and moved into the family room and found that Tamara had left her shoes under the table. How many times I got to tell that girl to clean up behind herself? I moved down the hall to her room. Seconds after opening her door, I stood there shaking my head. Nasty mothafucka. It don’t make no sense for a young woman to live like that. Clothes in piles all over the floor. Soda cans lining her headboard. Sheets and covers hanging off the bed. I don’t know where she got that from. Must be her father’s side of the family. Her grandmother had kept a cluttered house and when I met her father, his apartment was a pigpen.

  “Tamara!”

  “Yes?” she called from the basement where I guarantee she was on the computer.

  “Get your butt up here and clean your room!”

  “Mama, it is clean.”

  “No, it’s not. Now get your ass up here!”

  She came stumping down the hall and had the nerve to have an attitude. Hell, if anyone had a right to be mad, it was me.

  I stood outside her room with my arms crossed. “You got homework?”

  “I already did it.”

  “Good, then you can spend the rest of your evening cleaning your room.”

  “It’s my room. I don’t know why I have to clean it up,” she argued.

  “Because it’s my house. That’s why.” One thing I can’t stand is for a kid to argue with me.

  She moved into her room and slammed the door. I ignored it because Tamara knows I would snatch her little ass up in a minute if I wanted to. Since I was making her clean up her room, I went to check on Quinton’s. As usual, it was spotless. At eighteen, he was a neat freak. Had been since he was a kid. He was at work and wouldn’t be home until after nine.

  I went in the kitchen and almost broke my neck when I slid in a puddle. I reached for a mop and the smell hit me. Dog piss! Dammit, this was the third time this week.

  “Nikki!” I called. I spotted my schnauzer in the living room, and as soon as she saw me she ran under the coffee table and lowered her head. “I’m not mad at you, baby. Something must be wrong with you because I know you know better than to be peeing on my floor.” I stroked her head as I spoke so she would know that I understood. I decided to make her an appointment with the vet first thing tomorrow. Maybe she had a bladder infection or something.

  I patted her head one more time and was heading to the kitchen to finish dinner when I heard the doorbell. Before I got there, whoever it was leaned against the bell, ringing repeatedly.

  First thing came to mind was one of the neighbor’s kids playing games. I flung the door open and there stood our friendly neighborhood bag lady. I quickly hit the lock on the screen door.

  “I don’t mean no harm, but can you take me to the store to get some toilet paper? I’ll give you five dollars.”

  She looked tired and sweaty, white spit was on her tongue and the sides of her mouth. It took everything I had not to get sick just looking at her. The way she was wagging her tongue, it was obvious she was cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

  I quickly came up with an excuse. “I can’t leave. The baby is asleep.”

  She nodded, then left to knock on the neighbor’s door. I felt sorry for her but it was apparent she was going to be like a stray dog. And as I said before, as long as I helped her, her ass was going to keep coming back. But as I watched her walk up the street and head back home, I couldn’t help but to think that could be my mother and what if everyone thought like I did.

  I rushed into the bathroom and grabbed three rolls of toilet paper, then went to my purse, pulled out five dollars, and hurried up the street before she got too far. “Excuse me!” I called. “Miss, excuse me!
”

  She swung around and appeared surprised to see me.

  “Here,” I said and handed the bag and the money to her.

  Her eyes got so wide you would have thought I told her my name was Ed McMahon and she had just won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes.

  “Thank you,” she said with tears in her eyes. “God’s going to bless you.”

  I nodded and turned away before she could see the tears filling my own eyes. I’m a sucker for tears. Damn, now she’s never going to leave me alone.

  17

  Danielle

  I waited until I was sure Calvin was home before I called his house. He answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, I was just getting ready to get dressed so that I can come and pick you up.”

  My heart was pounding rapidly. “Calvin, I don’t feel good tonight. Can we do it tomorrow instead?”

  He paused and I could tell he was disappointed. “Sure, tomorrow’s fine. You need me to come over and bring you something?”

  “No,” I said with a sigh. “I’ve had a long, stressful day and didn’t get much sleep last night. All I need is a hot bath and some sleep.”

  “I could come over and wash your back.”

  I groaned inwardly. Why couldn’t he just take no for an answer? “No, because if you come over we’re gonna have something else on our minds, and as much as I want you, baby, I’m just too tired.”

  “I understand,” he said, although his voice said he really didn’t. “Okay, then, tomorrow it is. Go get some rest.”

  “Thanks, Calvin. You’re too good to me.”

  “Never that, baby. I love you.”

  I rolled my eyes at the ceiling and wanted to kick myself for getting in this mess in the first place. “I love you, too.”

  As soon as I hung up the phone, I dashed into my room and started weeding through my closet. You got a date with a fine-ass nigga tonight! I needed something sexy as hell to show Chance just what he was up against. I was no joke and wanted to make that loud and clear.

  At the back of my closet, I located a pair of black jeans that I had never worn and paired it with a burgundy turtleneck sweater. I was ironing the outfit when my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number but something told me it was Chance.

  “Hey, sexy, you ready to roll?”

  I smiled. Chance sounded so good on the phone. “Almost.”

  “All right. Give me your address and I’ll see you at eight.” I gave him directions to my house, then hurried to get ready.

  I was so looking forward to this evening that I probably was too anxious. But Chance was fine and something about him turned me on. He spelled b-a-d-b-o-y, and that was something every woman wanted in her life.

  I rushed into the shower. While reaching for my washcloth, I allowed it to graze my left nipple and Calvin came to mind. His touch was always soft and gentle. But what I was dying for was something hard and rough, the way it used to be between me and Ron. I closed my eyes, feeling guilty that I was even thinking about screwing someone else when I already had what some would consider the perfect man.

  But if you’re not happy, how is he perfect?

  I pushed Calvin from my mind. I wasn’t going to think about him tonight. Instead, I allowed myself to think about Chance and the evening ahead. I stroked my clit and couldn’t help but hope that maybe by this evening it would be his juicy lips I would feel grazing my pussy instead of my own hand. Since Ron’s disappearing act, I had been riding my dildo on a regular. But no matter how many times I made myself come, it in no way compared to a big fat dick with a roughneck attached.

  And Chance was just that.

  I giggled happily because I knew I could have him tonight if I wanted. I quickly lathered my body and made a mental note to change my sheets before he arrived.

  “I’m getting some dick tonight.” I kept chanting that phrase while I got ready. I slipped into my Deréon jeans and smiled. The second I saw Beyoncé wearing them, I knew I had to have a pair. Turning side to side in the mirror, I admired how well they hugged my body. The sweater emphasized all my curves. Other than I didn’t have enough breasts to fill it, it looked quite good. No problem. I reached inside my drawer and pulled out some bra inserts that changed my double As to Bs. Smiling in the mirror, I was more than pleased with the outcome. Just enough cleavage to draw attention to my narrow waist and perfect-size hips.

  Moving over to my closet, I pulled out a short pair of black stiletto boots I had found while in St. Louis last spring. I looked damn good.

  By eight, I was in the living room waiting when the doorbell rang. I opened it up and found Chance’s fine ass standing on the other side. Whoever said clothes made the man wasn’t lying. That brotha was wearing the hell out of a black Dickies outfit and some Timberland boots.

  “Goddamn, you’re fine! I’m gonna be the envy of every nigga in town tonight.”

  I grinned at the compliment. It was Friday night and I couldn’t wait to be seen on his arm, either. Tonight tongues would be wagging and bitches would be hating.

  “You ready to bounce?”

  I nodded, then reached for my short leather jacket and purse off the couch and locked the door behind us. Chance helped me into a black Lincoln Navigator and I couldn’t help but think, “This mothafucka is living large!” as he came around to the other side and climbed in. Music boomed from his speakers and the bass caused the SUV to vibrate.

  “Yo ride is nice.”

  “Thanks, baby girl. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  Looking at Chance, I couldn’t help but to think about riding something else. I discreetly looked out the corner of my eyes to check if I could see an imprint of his dick on the side of his leg and couldn’t, but there was definitely a bulge at his crotch, which could be a good sign.

  He leaned low in the seat and drove with one hand. Chance looked so fine sitting there, I felt my pussy pulse. And when he looked over and winked and gave me that sexy-ass smile showing off his grill, I about came on myself. Oh, hell yeah, I was getting some of that tonight. Damn, I forgot to change my sheets!

  We pulled up to a small juke joint and as he drove through the parking lot, heads turned. I leaned back proud and had to keep from laughing when I saw a few haters turn and look my way and gasp when they saw me sitting on the passenger’s side. I gave them a look that said, “Yeah, bitch, it’s me. And this is my nigga.” Our date had just started and I was already calling Chance mine. Yep, you better believe I planned to do whatever it took to make that shit a fact.

  He captured my eyes with his. “We not gonna stay long. I just need to holla at someone and then we can go and get something to eat.”

  I nodded like it was no big deal. Shit, I was glad to be out with everyone seeing who I was with. I hadn’t but just met Chance and apparently he was someone special, because as we moved through the building brothas were giving him mad love.

  He took me by the hand and guided me through the crowd to the VIP section and told me to have a seat at the bar while he went in back.

  “Hey, Yo-Yo! Fix my girl here a drink,” he yelled to the girl behind the bar. He disappeared in back. The barmaid moved over to me and I could tell she was sizing me up, hating.

  “What can I get you?”

  “Patrón and pineapple.”

  She rolled her eyes and went to fix my drink. I kept my gaze on her every move. The way she was looking at me, I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to spit in my glass.

  When she returned, I told her thank you, then looked around the room while I sipped my drink. It wasn’t even ten o’clock and the place was already packed. A toothless brotha tried to holla at me but I sent him on his way and made it clear I had a man. I smiled. I have a man. I like the sound of that.

  “What you doing here?” said a familiar voice.

  I cursed softly and swung around to find Ron standing behind me. As usual he smelled like weed. I rolled my eyes and tried to act like my heart wasn’t pounding at seeing hi
m again. “None of your damn business,” I said with attitude.

  He shrugged. “Yo, I just asked a question.”

  “You gave up that right when you played my ass that night. What? You had to run back home to that pregnant bitch?”

  He glared down at me. “Hey, payback’s a mothafucka.”

  “Whatever! I told you I was sorry.”

  He smirked. “Oh, you gon be sorry, that fo sho.”

  “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

  Before he could comment, I spotted Chance heading my way, and he didn’t look too happy.

  “Do we have a problem here?” he asked as he drew near.

  Ron sized him up, then reached inside his pocket for a cigarette and smirked. “Nah, no problem.”

  “Then you need to quit trying to push up on my girl.”

  Ron gave a short laugh. “Nigga, you getting my leftovers,” he said, then chuckled and rolled out.

  “Whassup wit y’all?” Chance asked with a possessive gleam in his eyes.

  “Nothing, not anymore,” I assured him as I glared after Ron. I had a feeling he was up to something.

  “Good, because I don’t believe in sharing what’s mine.”

  For some crazy-ass reason, knowing that he already considered me his turned me on. I forgot all about Ron and focused on the man in front of me.

  Chance ordered himself a beer while I finished my drink. Out of nowhere some tall, light-skinned woman stepped in my man’s path.

  “What, Chance? You forget to call me last night?” She turned up her nose.

  I could tell he was trying to ignore her. “Nah, I had things to do.”

  She glared at me evilly, then returned her attention to him. “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Got plans.”

  “Change them and I’ll make it worth your while.”

  She stepped all up in my man’s face, blocking my view with her narrow behind. Oh no, she wasn’t trying to disrespect me like that. Didn’t she see me sitting here? I was itching to cuss her ass out but then I would be giving her the satisfaction of pissing me off. Instead, I eased off the stool, moved up to Chance, and wrapped a hand around his waist. “Boo, everything okay?”