by La Jill Hunt
“Sounds like it was quite a moment,” Sully nodded. “I thought you said you had a meeting for work. That’s why you left lunch early, remember? Devyn was at the meeting?”
“I told you I ran into the girls after the meeting with Gail. I called Devyn to come to talk to them,” Asha replied. “She didn’t plan to be there.”
“Uh-huh, okay.” Sully glanced over at her.
“I’m serious. That’s what makes what happened even crazier, the fact that it spontaneously happened,” Asha continued. “I’m so excited.”
“I see. That’s all you’ve talked about tonight.”
He was right. Most of the conversation that she’d shared during dinner had been about Devyn, Journi, Dionne, and the incident at the Convention Center. Dominating the conversation hadn’t been intentional, but she was ecstatic for her best friend who’d finally found a glimmer of hope after dealing with so much over the last couple of years.
“I’m sorry, Sully. I didn’t mean to keep talking about it. That’s selfish of me.” Asha reached across the car and grabbed his hand. “I appreciate you taking me to dinner. I’m glad to be spending time with you.”
His fingers intertwined with hers. “Me too. I got a bottle of that wine you like chilling for us to enjoy and a surprise.”
“What is it?” Asha ran her hand up and down his arm.
Sully laughed. “You’ll have to see when we get there. I think you’re gonna like it.”
“I always like the surprises you give me.”
Asha tried to think of what it could be. Gifts were something she discovered that Sully enjoyed giving. From little things like sets of her favorite perfume to more significant tokens like the designer bag that she’d mentioned one day, or the new smart TV he’d gotten her for her bedroom. Asha never asked him for anything. Sully just did it.
“Home sweet home,” he said when they pulled into the driveway of a four-bedroom, three-bath home that he lived in all alone. The first time she’d visited, Asha asked him why he had such a large house, and he answered that he enjoyed having a lot of space. Sully hit the button to open the garage and parked his Toyota sedan beside his work truck. Asha remained in the car after he got out and unlocked the door to his house. Being the true gentleman that he was, Sully liked to open her car door.
“Thank you,” she said as she stepped out and followed him inside. They walked through the kitchen and into the den, where he turned on the television and handed her the remote.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
Asha made herself comfortable on the sofa and took her cell phone out of her purse, making sure she hadn’t missed any important calls or texts and checking her emails before going to her social media accounts. As soon as Sully arrived to pick her up for dinner, she turned her phone off. He often mentioned Asha having her phone, although he had no issue of Ingrid talking on hers while they were at lunch. She quickly responded to a few Facebook and Instagram posts.
“A’ight, put that phone away.” He walked back into the den carrying two glasses of her favorite Chardonnay and a small gift bag.
“I know, I know.” She laughed, putting the phone back into her purse.
After placing the two glasses on the coffee table, he handed her the gift bag. “For you, my dear, in honor of your new client.”
“You do know that planning events for clients is part of my job, right? It’s not a big deal and happens quite often. Dinner was enough,” Asha told him.
“Just open the damn gift, Asha,” he said.
Asha put the bag in her lap and slowly took out the soft tissue paper until she revealed a box at the bottom that she opened. Inside was a beautiful Swarovski crystal keychain in the shape of an “A” holding a key.
“What’s this?” Asha looked over at him.
“It’s a key,” Sully smiled.
“To what?”
“To the house, silly.”
“Wow, Sully.” Asha blinked, not knowing what else to say. She knew they’d been spending more time together, but not to the point where she felt as if she needed a key.
“I just want you to know that you are welcome here anytime. You have full access,” he told her, picking up one of the glasses and passing it to her. “You mean that much to me. Cheers.”
“Cheers.” Asha tapped her glass to the one he held and wished it were liquor she could gulp instead of wine. The passionate kiss Sully leaned over and gave her was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Her body reacted to the warmth of his mouth. She quickly put her glass down and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He pressed against her for a moment as the kiss continued. Their bodies slid down until they lay on the sofa, him on top of her. Asha reached to pull his shirt up, and he suddenly sat up.
“Baby, hold up,” he whispered.
“Oh.” Asha adjusted her shirt that had worked its way over her stomach and tried not to show her disappointment.
“You know how these damn blood pressure meds mess with me, sweetie. I’d hoped they would’ve worn off by now, but just gimme a little while longer,” Sully said, sheepishly.
“It’s fine, Sully. We have all night.” Asha rubbed his back, not wanting him to feel bad. It wasn’t his fault that a side effect of prescription medicine sometimes prevented him from being ready to get it when she was. Sex with Sully was quite satisfying. It was just delayed and never spontaneous.
“We do, baby.” He nodded. “I promise it’ll be worth the wait.”
“It always is. And besides, you know how much I love being in your bed,” Asha teased. There was something about Sully’s bed that made her get the best sleep every time. It was as if as soon as she got in it and her head hit the pillow, she was knocked out.
“Well, let’s get you in bed then.” Sully pulled her to her feet and into his bedroom. Asha took a quick shower and changed into one of the cute pajama sets she kept at his place. By the time Sully showered, she was asleep. Her slumber was so deep that she thought she was dreaming when she felt the soft kisses traveling from her neck to her collarbone. His hands went under her shirt and fondled her nipples, which quickly hardened. Asha’s eyes fluttered open, and she arched her back and lifted her body so he could slip her shorts off. Her hands reached over, and she touched the small patch of gray hairs on his chest before caressing his nipples as her fingers made their way down the slight flab of his stomach. Sully covered one of her triple-D breasts with his mouth, sucking it gently while pinching the other one. Asha moaned. Her hand continued down his body until she found what she was hoping for. His manhood was at full attention, and she smiled with relief. Good things come to those who wait, she thought as she opened her thick thighs and welcomed him with her wetness. By the time their lovemaking was complete, Asha was exhausted as she snuggled against him.
“You okay?” Sully whispered, then kissed the top of her head.
“I’m great,” Asha nodded, barely able to keep her eyes open. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought about the key he’d given her and why she didn’t want to keep it.
* * *
Sleeping late was something Asha rarely did, even on the weekends. Sully’s magical bed had her snoozing until well after ten the following morning. She woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee. The grogginess in her head was so strong that she felt like she was in a fog when she sat up. It took her a few minutes to get herself together.
“Oh my God, why didn’t you wake me up?” She walked into the kitchen and asked Sully, who was already dressed and in the middle of cooking breakfast.
“Good morning to you too, beautiful.” He handed her a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, and thank you,” Asha said, taking a sip of the much-needed caffeine. “I gotta hurry and get dressed.”
“Why? What’s the rush? I thought you weren’t working this weekend.” Sully flipped over the bacon that was sizzling on the stove.
“I’m not, but I have stuff to do. Actually, I have a full day planned.” Asha went ove
r her to-do list for the day in her head. “And I forgot to put my phone on the charger last night.”
Asha went into the den and grabbed her phone from her purse. As she suspected, the screen was dark, which meant it was dead. She took out the charger and plugged it into the wall, then connected it to her phone. It powered right up, and instead of an apple flashing on the screen, her own picture displayed. She then realized that her phone battery still had power.
Damn, I don’t even remember turning my phone off.
Two text messages came through, one from Devyn and another from her hairstylist, Monya, confirming her appointment for the afternoon. If she planned on salvaging the rest of her day, she needed to hurry and get home.
“Ash, breakfast is ready,” Sully called out.
Asha returned to the kitchen. “I don’t have time to eat, Sul. I gotta get home and get my car. I have a hair appointment in an hour.”
“I can just drop you off at the salon and come back and get you,” he told her. Two plates with bacon, eggs, grits, and toast were on the table.
“Nah, you don’t have to do that. It’ll take me fifteen minutes to get dressed, and we can leave.”
“I was gonna put some stuff on the grill later for us.” Sully grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. He gave her a quick kiss. “If I let you leave and get into the streets, you won’t come back and stay the night with me.”
“Is that why you’re Chef Sully this morning? To keep me here?” she laughed.
“Maybe. Is it working?”
“No, it’s not. I will take some bacon and toast, though.” Asha grabbed the meat and bread off the plate and gave him another kiss as she walked into the room to get dressed.
Chapter 7
Devyn
Saturday mornings were Devyn’s favorite. She was an early riser, by nature, a habit inherited from her mother. Growing up, they would spend Saturday mornings curled up on the sofa, drinking warm tea and chatting. Devyn could talk to her mother about anything: boys, school, friends, dreams, and fears. When Devyn entered the world of modeling, her mother was her biggest cheerleader. Even when she was traveling for work, she would call her mom, and they would have their weekly “sips,” as they called them, those moments when they would Stop, Inhale, and Process life’s events. After her mother passed away, Devyn stopped drinking tea altogether. But after moving into Uncle Julian’s home six months after the funeral, she began again the ritual they shared. It was peaceful, and she’d often journal while listening to jazz or blues music, her mother’s favorites. It was a different type of “sip,” but somehow, it made Devyn feel close to her mom.
After pouring herself a cup of her signature tea blend, then adding the perfect amount of sweetener and cream, Devyn grabbed her favorite blanket, Bluetooth speaker, journal, and headed to the deck. She adjusted herself on one of the cushioned, wicker sofas and enjoyed the view for a few moments while the voice of Calvin Richardson serenaded her as he sang about not being able to let go of his woman. Her mother loved the blues singer, and Devyn had grown quite fond of him too, especially since she avoided urban radio and hip-hop.
After taking a sip of her drink, she opened her journal and began writing her thoughts. There was plenty to write about. Since agreeing to coach Journi and Dionne, her mind had been all over the place. On the one hand, she was excited and interested in the opportunity to help the girls. On the other, she was terrified and hesitant. Modeling was one thing, but could she actually train someone else and be successful?
“What if I’m not good enough? I’ve never been a model,” Devyn said to her mother the day when she was approached about a fashion show by a casting director who spotted her in the mall. She’d just turned 19 and was a sophomore in college with aspirations of becoming a news reporter.
“What if you are? What if you’re better than anyone else who is a model?” Her mother shrugged. “You’ll never know if you don’t try. You’re worried about what might not happen instead of the possibility of what will.”
She had forgotten the conversation, but now, the memory came flooding back. Devyn heard her mother’s voice so clear that it brought tears to her eyes. Her heart raced, and her hand, which held her mug, trembled. Devyn looked at the words emblazoned on the side: “Faith not Fear.” The message was unmistakable. Devyn turned the page of her notebook and began writing. By the time she finished nearly two hours later, she had a clear head, a to-do list, and what she prayed was a good idea.
She checked her phone and saw that she had two missed calls. One from Asha, saying she’d stop by after her hair appointment, and another from her godsister, Chastity, affectionately known as Chase. Chase had just turned 25 and was a talented artist. The girl could draw, paint, and create anything. She was also the most comical person Devyn knew. Her texting so early on a Saturday had to mean one thing: she had something funny to share. Instead of returning a text, Devyn decided to FaceTime her as she walked back into the house.
“What happened now?” Devyn asked as soon as Chase answered.
“If you had social media, you would’ve witnessed the travesty I experienced last night as it unfolded,” Chase said with an exaggerated sigh as she flopped back on her pillow with her hand dramatically draped across her forehead.
“Well, I don’t, so, what’s his name?” Devyn laughed. “And what site did you find him on?”
“Desmond,” Chase answered. “And Instagram. He slid in my DMs.”
“Oh God,” Devyn groaned. “You should’ve known better.”
“True, but he was on some real ‘I dig your art, you’re mad talented’ type stuff. Nothing flirtatious or disrespectful, so I was like, a’ight; cool. So, we chatted for a couple of days. I checked out his page, and he looked decent, so when he asked to meet up for dinner, I agreed.”
“You chatted for a couple of days? That’s it? Chase, come on. You went out with a dude you barely knew, one you’d never even spoken to on the phone. Do you know how dangerous that was?” Devyn went into full big-sister mode. She respected the fact that Chase enjoyed the single life to the fullest, and she encouraged it, but she still wanted her to be safe at all times.
“Dev, at this point, I don’t even give guys my number without checking them out in person first. Now, that is potentially dangerous. It takes too much energy ignoring calls and blocking numbers of guys you don’t even like but who still insist on hitting you up because they can’t take a hint,” Chase explained.
“I guess,” Devyn sighed, seeing how that could be sound reasoning.
“Anyway, I get to the restaurant, which he chose, by the way. A damn Chili’s.”
“I like Chili’s,” Devyn commented.
“I mean, it’s a’ight, and as soon as he said it, I knew he was basic. And before you start, I’ve dated basic dudes before. But he ain’t even ask me if I like Chili’s. I woulda at least suggested Fridays. The drinks are better. Not only that, but you also know I always pay for my own shit on the first date. You taught me that,” Chase pointed out.
“Good. At least you listen to some stuff I tell you. But continue.”
“First of all, he’s like ten years older than the pics on his IG. I don’t know if they’re old pics or what. But dude was much grayer, and he’s bigger,” Chase said. “Not only that, but he also needed a haircut, and a shave, and some new Tims because the ones he had on were rocked over.”
“Chastity, stop,” Devyn laughed. “As someone who’s gained weight recently, I’m offended.”
“Naw, Dev, you don’t understand. I didn’t even recognize him at first. He had to walk over and introduce himself. He was that unrecognizable. Your ass still looks the damn same. You’re just a little thicker. You’re still a bad bitch. You just also have horrible body dysmorphia. But this ain’t about you, Devyn. It’s about me and this horrible old man. I felt like I was on a date with one of Sully’s friends,” Chase giggled.
“Chastity, now you know you’re dead-ass wrong for that.” Devyn tried not
to laugh, but she couldn’t help it.
“He had the nerve to order a strawberry daiquiri, and he sipped it with a straw. Then after telling me about how his ex’s mom, sister, and her friend all tried to sleep with him, he proceeded to ask me if I had cute toes.”
By the time Chase finished telling how the date from hell had ended, Devyn was crying tears of laughter. She could only imagine how the story played out on Chase’s social media. Moments like this almost made Devyn wish she still had her own accounts that were verified and had thousands of followers at one point. She’d deleted all of them in an effort to erase that part of her life shortly after the video of the wedding brawl went viral: the rumors, the trolls, the cyberbullies, the sadness, the anger, and most of all, the heartbreak that she felt.
“And this is why I have no desire to date,” Devyn told her.
“You’ve got to kiss some frogs before you finally find your prince,” Chase shrugged. “Enough about me, though. What the hell do you have going on? What are we sipping on today?”
Devyn held up her mug. “Sipping on tea and contemplating the latest craziness that Asha has gotten me into.”
“Oh Lord, please don’t tell me she’s got you dating an AARP member too.” Chase rolled her eyes.
“No, Chastity, she’s not. She talked me into coaching two young ladies for a beauty pageant.” Devyn wrinkled her nose and squinted as she waited for Chase’s reaction.
“A beauty pageant? Like Miss USA, Miss Universe, that kind of pageant?” Chase turned her head as if she were straining to hear.
“Yes, not quite that big, but, yeah,” Devyn nodded.
“I. Love. It.” Chastity sat up and clapped. The large satin bonnet on her head slid to the side, revealing what looked like a shaved scalp.
“Chase, your hair!” Devyn shrieked, noticing that the long, shoulder-length tresses that Chase wore her entire life were gone.
“What? Oh, again, if you had social media, you would’ve seen this.” Chase took the bonnet off, fluffing the long curls on the other half of her head. “You like it? Cool, huh?”