by Teneka Woods
Nate shook his head. “Not as bad as I think? It shouldn’t be bad at all.”
She laughed again. “It’s just cheesecake. And only a small slice—not even three bites—I promise. But I’m eating a spinach wrap. I got my water.”
Nate chuckled. Jordyn was a client who’d come to him seeking help to lose twenty-five pounds in preparation for a tropical vacation with her girlfriends late in the summer. Nate made it a point to support his clients throughout their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle, and one of the things he enjoyed most was the spontaneous calls to monitor their progress throughout the week. The phone calls were not part of the training package, but he believed a two or three-minute call could make a difference and show how much he cared about their success beyond the gym’s walls.
He said, “I want you to answer this for me: what’s more important to you right now? That cheesecake that’s going to derail your efforts or wearing the swimsuit that’s hanging on your bedroom wall?”
Jordyn groaned. “I swear it’s just a small slice, Nate. It’s been so long since I’ve had a piece of cheesecake and I’ve been craving—”
“I understand,” he said, “but you said it yourself how hard it is for you to get right back on track if you allow yourself a treat. Am I right?”
“I know, I know,” she whined. “But I feel I can handle it today. I’m just going to have this small slice and then get right back to eating what I’m supposed to be eating. I swear. Besides… I can’t just throw it away now. That would be a waste.” She sounded desperate.
“You don’t have to throw it away. Give it away.”
She was silent a few seconds then let out a sigh. “I guess so, Nate.”
“Either that, or you will have to do fifty extra squat-thrusts during our next session.” She hated squat-thrusts with a passion.
“Alright, alright! I said I’m going to get rid of it.”
He smiled. “Trust me, you will be glad you did.”
She grunted and offered a dry ‘Goodbye’ before ending the call.
Nate hung up and scrolled through his contacts list for another client to hassle.
* * *
Her photos were stunning. Nate sat at his computer desk, his hand perched on top of the mouse as he examined every picture. He was supposed to be editing the podcast video he’d recorded last night to upload later, but got distracted as soon as he logged on to her website. Take Two… photography by Tora. Candid shots were her niche he noticed as he studied her portfolio, but she also had a knack for bringing out the best in her clients’ still shots. She knew just the right angles and lighting to capture their perfect moment.
He turned over the black business card with turquoise script in his hand. Her phone number was listed and he wished to call her, but what would he say? Hello, I am the guy you met a couple days ago at Southlake Sandwich Shop. If you’re concerned about wasting my time then I’ve got time to waste.
He quickly decided his own website could use some updating, starting with recent photographs of himself, so he sent her a message via her site to request a quote.
Friday nights were usually low-key and uneventful since he had a private training session on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. On occasion he would meet up for drinks with friends after they’ve hounded him for never having time to hang with the guys but, for the most part, it was just him on the couch with the television tuned to ESPN as he ate a healthy dinner until he retreated to his room for bed.
His smartphone rang as soon as he settled on the couch with the plate of food in his lap. He groaned as he looked at the phone’s screen sitting on the arm of the sofa and reluctantly pressed the button to answer the call on speaker. It was Kaneesa. “What’s up?”
“Hey, Nate,” she said, drawing out the words as she always did when she called him or saw him. He used to think her childlike voice was cute and innocent, but lately it’s become a bit of an annoyance. “What’re you up to?”
“Not much. Just relaxing. Watching TV.”
“Oh, so you’re at home?”
Now he wished he wasn’t. And he knew she probably already had the answer to her question and was just testing him. He took a bite of his steamed chicken breast. “Yeah, why?” he said.
“I was calling to see if maybe you wanted to hang out. I’m in the area and don’t want to go home just yet. You wanna go to Top Golf?”
It was always the same explanation—that she just happened to be in the area. He lived in the Energy Corridor; she lived way out in Fresno. “Naw. I’m in for the night and don’t feel like doing anything. I have to get up early tomorrow.”
“Well… how about I come over there? You want me to grab some takeout?”
Nate shook his head. “I’m good. I’m eating right now, Kaneesa, and I’ll be going to bed after this.”
She whined, “You suck, Nate. Who goes to bed this early on a Friday night?”
“The people that have to be to work early like I do.”
“If you say so,” she retorted.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he told her and hung up after she said goodbye.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on his door. He got up from the sofa to peer through the peephole and a new wave of irritation washed over him at the sight of her on the other side. He snatched the door open. “Kaneesa, I told you you can’t keep showing up to my place like this! What’s up with you?”
She smiled, trying to move past him. “I’m sorry, but traffic is at a standstill on I-Ten and I have to use the bathroom.”
“You passed up plenty of restrooms just to get here.” He glared at her. Trying to convince the apartment complex to change the gate access code would be useless because then she would just sit and wait for another resident to enter and follow in behind them.
“I know, but I didn’t want to go in any of these filthy restaurants. Are you seriously not going to let me use the bathroom?” She looked up at him blocking the door, her eyes pleading with him.
Nate shook his head again. He had no doubt it was all an act. She was always trying his patience. “This is not cool, man. You know it’s not.” He stepped to the side and she bolted towards his bathroom.
He grabbed his phone to pull up the Maps app to confirm her lie.
She was not lying. A bright red line signifying severe traffic stretched from Fry Road all the way to Wilcrest. Nate returned to his dinner on the couch before it went cold.
“There was no way I would have been able to hold it until I made it home,” she said when she returned and went to his kitchen to get a paper towel from the holder on the counter. “Oooh… you cooked, Nate? What is this?”
He shook his head as he heard her lifting the pot tops.
“Chicken, rice, broccoli. It smells good, too.”
Nate stood and walked to the door, waiting for her. He needed her gone.
“I’ll just eat some of this,” she said, her back to him as she opened the cabinet for a plate.
He dropped his hand from the doorknob and headed for the kitchen. “Kaneesa. You have to go. What are you doing?”
She flashed him that innocent, dimpled smile. “I told you I was hungry, Nate. What? You’re not sharing tonight?”
He took the plate from her hand and began to fill a Tupperware bowl instead. “You have to take it to go.” From the drawer he gave her a real fork. “Here you go,” he said, touching her shoulder to steer her towards the front door.
Kaneesa let go an exasperated breath. “Are you serious, Nate? I can’t eat this here until the traffic dies down? The freeway is a parking lot. I had to take a back street just to make it here and even that was a mess because everybody else had the same idea.”
Desperation showed on her lovely face. Kaneesa was a beautiful woman. Standing at five feet, two inches she was petite, but curvy. Nate loved her hair the most. It was thick and bouncy just like Sunny’s, falling just past her shoulders in black and red curls. The deep dimples in her cheeks were his second favorite. But for
her to be as pretty as she was it was just something about her that didn’t move him.
He sighed. Perhaps he was being a little insensitive. “I’m just tired that’s all,” he told her and left for the living room. “You can stay a few minutes.”
She made a noise that sounded like a rubber duck being squeezed and rushed past him to the couch. “What’re you watching?” she asked, plopping down in the exact spot where he had been sitting.
He took the opposite end. What does it look like? he wanted to say, but instead asked, “Is there something you wanna watch?”
“Put it on Investigation Discovery. I love that channel.”
He handed her the remote instead and reached for his smartphone.
“See, I told you.” She said, “Look at that.”
It was a breaking news story. A big rig driver lost his load and some sort of chemical spilled, so the freeway was shut down completely as they waited for HAZMAT crew to clear the scene. The helicopter panned out to show the sea of red brake lights all the way to Grand Parkway now.
Nate grunted, nodding his head.
“There’s no telling how long that’s going to take. I feel sorry for the people stuck in that. Can you imagine? What if someone was on their way to the airport or something?”
He really did not feel like talking and just wanted to be alone. “Yeah,” was all he could offer in response.
“This is the juiciest chicken breast I’ve ever had, Nate. It is so good.” She finished off her plate and set it on the coffee table. “Where are your manners, Nate? You didn’t even ask me if I wanted something to drink.”
If you say my name one more time…. He looked over at her. “Would you like some water, Kaneesa?”
“That’s all you have? No juice or anything?”
“You know I don’t,” he said and got up to take her plate to the kitchen.
“A tall glass of water it is then.” She settled back in the couch, pulling her skinny legs up to her chest. If his mother were here she would ask Kaneesa where her manners are because she should know one does not sit with their feet in the sofa.
“Oh… I’ve got so much to do,” she started when he returned with her water. “Do you have a straw?” She accepted the glass from him.
“Nope. I don’t.” He watched her take the tiniest sip from the glass and set it down. Either she wasn’t as thirsty as she wanted him to believe or she lost interest since she didn’t have a straw.
“I’ve got so much to do,” she said again and he knew she was waiting for him to engage her.
He picked up his smartphone.
“Nate! What is wrong with you? Are you going to ignore me all night?”
“What are you talking about? I’m just looking at something on my phone. I hear you.”
She smiled, crossed her legs Indian-style, and pulled the throw pillow into her lap. “We have to find a caterer and live band. Victoria said she wants to have valet to park the cars, too.”
Nate shook his head. If they were doing all of this just for the engagement party, he could only imagine what the actual wedding would be like.
“So we have to start looking this weekend for the caterer at least. When are you free?”
He looked up from his phone. Surely Sunny had told her he was not attending any of the festivities. “Y’all go ahead without me. I’m not in it.”
“What do you mean you’re not in it? I’ve already told Victoria we’re gonna start our part of the planning this weekend.”
“I’m not sure why you lied to my mama like that. She was there when I told Sunny I wasn’t going to the party or the wedding.”
Kaneesa’s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean you’re not going to the wedding?”
It was clear now neither Sunny nor his mother told her the news. “Kaneesa, you know I don’t like Levi. I don’t support it, so I’m not going.”
“Well that’s selfish of you, Nate,” she scolded. “This has nothing to do with you. This is for your sister. You have to be there, Nate. This is an exciting time for her.”
“No I don’t. And I’m not going just because people say it’s the right thing to do. To be there would be fake. It’s not gonna happen.” He reached for the remote since she never did put the television on Investigation Discovery.
“I know you’re joking, right? Sunny would have said something about this if it were true.”
He shook his head again. “I’m serious. You can call and ask her yourself.”
Kaneesa was not taking his word for it and grabbed her phone from her purse.
Sunny didn’t answer.
She laughed then. “I think you’re just pulling my leg, Nate. We’re walking together in the wedding. How can you not be there?”
He looked her right in the eye to let her know he was serious.
A frown knitted her eyebrows. “I’m calling Victoria.”
Nate shrugged and got up from the sofa to connect his phone to the charger in his bedroom and to use the bathroom. When he returned Kaneesa’s arms were folded across her chest and her lips were poked out like a child that had been denied candy.
“I really can’t believe you would do this to her,” she said. “Even if you don’t like him you still—”
Nate waved his hand. “Kaneesa, this is not up for discussion. I’m not going and that’s just it.” He sat down at the computer to start the podcast video edit. He no longer felt like doing it, but he couldn’t be on the couch next to Kaneesa either.
“Can I have a blanket?” she asked. “I’m cold.”
Without a word he got up to retrieve one from the hall closet.
She didn’t even say thank you when he handed it to her.
He returned to the desk and covered his ears with his headphones. He worked for an hour before he finally looked back to see Kaneesa had fallen asleep. His bed was calling him, too.
“Hey,” he gently touched her shoulder. It took a second gentle shake before she looked up at him. “Let me walk you out.”
“I’m tired, Nate. Just let me sleep here tonight.” She pulled the blanket up to her chin and closed her eyes again.
“Kaneesa, I work early tomorrow morning. You have to go.”
She ignored him and turned over on her side, her face buried into the back of the sofa.
Nate shook his head. He didn’t have the energy and it wasn’t even worth arguing about. He turned off the lights and television, put the pots in the refrigerator, and went to his room.
* * *
“I’m offended that you found it necessary to lock your door.”
She startled him when he stepped into the living room the next morning. He’d forgotten she was there. And he’d just wondered when he left his bedroom why the door was closed and locked.
Kaneesa was sitting at his computer desk. “The sofa got really uncomfortable after a while last night,” she said. “I expected you to be enough of a gentleman to let me sleep in the bed.”
“Kaneesa…” He didn’t have a response. He went to the kitchen to make one of his usual breakfasts: over-easy eggs, sautéed spinach and mushrooms. He added some chicken leftover from last night. “I’m leaving in fifteen minutes to meet my client,” he said.
She got up from her seat and met him in the kitchen where he stood eating at the counter. “Why do you keep trying to pretend what happened between us didn’t happen, Nate?” A soft hand touched his back.
He stiffened under her touch. He should’ve had on a shirt. Sighing, he said, “I’m not pretending anything. But I think we both know it’s best we keep the line drawn between us.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t think so. We’re perfect for each other, so I don’t understand why you’re trying to fight it.”
Nate grabbed her hands and tried to step to the side. She pressed her body against his, pinning him to the counter. “Kaneesa…” He didn’t want to have to shove her tiny ass aside. He turned his body to face her. “Kaneesa,” he said again, staring down at
her. “Me and you will never be together. I love you like a sister. That’s how I see you.”
She flashed those chocolate dimples. “Are you afraid to fall in love with me? Good friendships make the best relationships.”
“And I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” he told her.
Before Sunny met Levi and before the kids came, they were three peas in a pod and often hung out together.
Kaneesa stepped closer. “Nate, all these years I’ve been waiting for a chance to be with you. I see the way you look at me. Even Victoria and Sunny notice the way you look at me. There’s definitely energy between us.”
He had no idea what she was talking about. If he was looking at her it was probably because she’d just walked into a room or was speaking. It was a natural reaction.
“You wanna do something before you go?” She squeezed his penis.
He jerked back from her grasp. “You need to go, Kaneesa.”
She giggled and reached for him again.
He grabbed her by the elbow and walked her to the living room. His patience was on empty. “Let’s go, man.”
“That’s not what you were saying to me the night of the Christmas party.” He released her arm and she sat on the couch, taking her time to put on her shoes. “Or the morning after.”
Nate stood with the door propped open, waiting for her to exit.
She finally stood and grabbed her purse from the coffee table. Looking up at him on her way out, she said, “But you refuse to acknowledge that part, am I right?”
FOUR
“Tora? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you!” The small woman’s eyes glistened as she smiled, extending her arms. “I must’ve been in the back when you walked in.”
Tora stood from the table to accept the hug. “I think so. And it has been a while, Ms. Trooty, how are you?”
Trooty’s hands remained fastened on Tora’s arms as she leaned back, staring up at her. She shook her head as she took in the hair and makeup and outfit. “Absolutely stunning, dear. You’re all dressed up for tea?”
Tora laughed softly. “Just thought I’d try to be a little cute today since I’m meeting someone here.”