Trouble Loves Company

by Angie Daniels

  “Thanks, niecy,” he said as I handed him a fifty- dollar bill.

  “Don’t mention it.” And I meant that—otherwise all the rest of them freeloading mothafuckas will be trying to track me down. Uncle Larry thanked me, then excused himself so he could get down to the electric company before they closed. Knowing him, he was going to spend the change on beer and lottery tickets. “Play the Powerball for me!” I yelled.

  I signed my book for another dedicated reader, shared a little small talk, then breathed a sigh of relief when she finally left. I love the people who support my career, really, I do. I appreciate them buying my books and standing in long lines to see me because without them there would be no me. It’s just that sometimes they never know when to say good-bye.

  Danielle patted me lightly on the shoulder. “Girl, I think you’re gonna sell out this time.” I could hear the pride in her voice.

  I looked down at the table and was quite pleased at how few books were left.

  “Whassup, Caeramel!”

  I spotted Nadine and her partner coming through the door. It’s been two years since she came out of the closet about her craving for pussy. I ain’t mad at her, because I say to each his own. However, I still can’t compare licking clits to sucking dicks.

  “Hey, girl.” I looked at her short ass. Nadine has the biggest titties. Easily double D’s, and, as always, was dressed country as hell. But I love her just the same.

  “You remember Jordan.”

  I shifted my eyes over to the woman next to her and nodded my head. The last time I had seen her was at my sister’s funeral. Her girl ain’t a butch—you know, those manly looking women who walk around with a strap-on dick swinging between their legs and their breasts taped down? Nah, she was beautiful and very feminine.

  “Hey, Renee—oops! I mean, Caeramel. I really enjoyed your last book," Jordan said.

  I smiled, sucking that shit up. “Thank you.” I autographed a copy for the two of them, then stretched my arms over my head. “So, what’s been going on, Nadine? Still sticking it to the man?”

  Nadine is an attorney. She handles divorces and custody battles. “Oh yeah, you’d be surprised how far people go to try and hide their assets.”

  I snorted. “Nothing surprises me these days.” An elderly woman came up to the table. “Hello.” It’s amazing how many old folks still try to get their freak on. I signed two copies, one for her and one for her daughter, then reclined in the chair again.

  Nadine leaned over the table and said, “We need to get together before you leave.”

  The look in her eyes told me she wanted to talk about Lisa. I dropped my eyes to the table to keep the tears away. Nadine had been Lisa’s best friend. We were all close, although at times I pretend I can’t stand her ass. She is goofy as hell and gets on my nerves, but she really is a good person and I love her like a sister. Nevertheless, the last thing I wanted to do was sit and talk about Lisa. It was just too hard.

  “I’ll call you,” I said.

  She rolled her eyes as if she didn’t believe me. I guess that’s because I’ve been ignoring her phone calls for months. “Don’t worry. I’ll be calling you," she warned, then, hand in hand, she and Jordan walked back out into the mall.

  By five, I was completely sold out. I sat around for a while and handed out covers for my next erotic tale while I started packing up my things to leave.

  Danielle lowered into the seat beside me. “Are we going out tonight or what?”

  “Count me in,” I heard Kayla say.

  What? Danielle and I locked eyes, then looked over at Kayla. I can’t remember the last time she’d gone out with us. The good pastor would have a fit. “What’s Reverend Brown gonna say?” I teased.

  Kayla dropped her eyes to the table. “We’re not together anymore.”

  “Hell nah!”

  “About damn time!” Danielle and I responded at the same time. “What the hell happened?” I asked, because inquiring minds wanted to know.

  She looked up at the ceiling as if she was trying not to cry. “Let’s just say I know he’s never going to leave his wife.”

  Ya think! I’ve been telling her that shit for over four years. Damn! I just can’t see being second-best to no one. Reverend Leroy Brown’s in the pulpit every Sunday and fornicating with vulnerable members of the congregation the rest of the week. I ain’t sharing nothing. By now, you’re probably thinking “this ho thinks she’s all that,” and true that, I do. I’d rather be stuck on myself than stuck on stupid.

  Chapter 6

  Renee

  I checked in at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. My girls think I’m bougie, but I don’t see shit wrong with staying in a nice hotel when I’m away from home. Who the hell wants to sleep on cheap sheets and worry if they are going to live through the night when staying at some sleazy-ass motel? Not me. I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for.

  I took a shower and fell asleep. I woke up shortly after eight, ready to get my swerve on. We were planning to hit Sparkle’s, a new twenty-five-and-over spot that had been open less than a month. It was either that or the little hole-in-the-wall juke joint that’s been around since long before I was old enough to drink, but I wasn’t in the mood for smoke or young thugs with bling-bling trying to holla all night. The dress I was planning to wear, I needed an audience worthy of my time. By ten, I was dressed and rolling over to Kayla’s. As usual, she stepped out the door in black slacks and a white blouse.

  “Damn, girl. Now that you’re no longer with Reverend Brown, we need to work on that wardrobe.”

  “Renee, shut up. There is nothing wrong with what I got on.” She looked offended. I don’t know why, because she knows how I am. Renee don’t hold the punches for anyone.

  I clicked my tongue and pulled away from in front of her house. “If you say so.” The local radio station was jamming, which meant I didn’t have to hold a conversation. Good, because Kayla was staring out the window like she had lost her best friend, and knowing her, she was missing Leroy’s tired ass. I turned up the music and bit my tongue because I know if I say something she doesn’t like, Kayla’s going to make me take her back home, and I didn’t want that. Tonight, I plan to hang with my girls and hopefully help Kayla find some new dick.

  Five minutes later, I pulled into the packed lot and giggled with excitement. Tonight, was on and I was looking fine as hell. I turned off the car, then glanced in my visor to make sure my hair was in place. Check! Lipstick looked good. Double check! I stepped out of the Jeep and slammed the door just to draw attention. Before Kayla had even gotten off her seat, brothas were hollering. I sucked that shit up and left Kayla in the dust while I strutted to the door.

  The crowd was fierce. Sparkle’s appeared to be the happening place to be, and I was glad to be part of the excitement. The music was loud, and bodies were heating up the dance floor. I moved through the crowd, leaving Kayla behind, swaying my hips to the music. Brothas were whistling, trying to get a sistah’s attention, but I just smiled and kept going. I know I looked good and it was gonna take a lot to attract me tonight. I spotted Danielle dancing in her seat at a small table in the corner. Not the most ideal location, considering I wanted to be seen, but I guess it would have to do, especially since there wasn’t anywhere else to sit. She was wearing a slamming outfit—white mini, a gold halter top and matching sandals. Maybe I can get her to talk to Kayla about her tired wardrobe. I strolled past a table filled with old heads and took a seat facing the crowd. “Whassup, girl?”

  Danielle grinned. “I was wondering when y’all were gonna make it.”

  Kayla moved into the chair across from me. “You know how she is. Late all the time.”

  I gave them both the look. “Girl, you know how I do. Who shows up at a club before ten-thirty?”

  “You do, when the club closes at one,” Kayla preached over the beat of the music. “I’ve never understood why black folks wait until two hours before the club closes to go out. That’s bar
ely enough time to order a drink.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why your holy ass is tripping. It ain’t like you drink no way.” Kayla didn’t drink anything stronger than a ginger ale.

  Danielle reached for her drink. “Can we all just get along tonight?”

  She didn’t have to ask me twice. I was out to have a good time. “Shit, what are you drinking?”

  Danielle took a sip. “A caramel apple martini.”

  That sounded good as shit. I signaled for the waitress at the next table where an old head in a lime green suit was staring at Kayla. I nudged her in the leg. “Yo, Kayla, that pop-pop over there is staring at you.” She glanced over her shoulder, then back again. “Then he needs to quit looking because I’m not interested.”

  I laughed, then ordered a martini for me and a soda for Kayla. After the waitress left, I glanced back over at the table again. Lime green was still watching.

  “Kayla, he ain’t half bad. Girl, you better go get yours.”

  “Renee, you need glasses. Quit flirting before he comes over here.”

  “What’s wrong with that? All he probably wants is a dance.”

  “Then you dance with him,” Kayla snorted rudely.

  “Naw, I don’t do butterfly collars, but he seems to be exactly what you need. I don’t see a ring on his finger.” I gave him an inviting smile and then signaled for him to come join us. Danielle choked with laughter.

  Kayla’s eyes grew large when she noticed the man walking toward us. “What are you doing?”

  “Trying to hook you up,” I said sincerely.

  “Why does it have to be someone who looks like Chewbacca?”

  “Hello there.” I tried to keep a straight face and smiled up at the man standing at our table. “My girl here really wanted to meet you.” I moved my legs out of the way just as Kayla tried to kick me.

  He grinned down at her, then offered his hand. “Wilbur Wallace.”

  Wilbur? I hid a laugh behind a cough.

  “Wilbur, this is my girl—”

  “Carmen,” Kayla hurried to say and this time she kicked me right in the shin.

  “Nice to meet you, Carmen.”

  I joined in on the fun. “And I’m Rhonda and this is my girl Danita.”

  He took the seat beside Kayla and tried to engage in a casual conversation. Being the Christian woman that she was, she felt she had no choice but to follow along.

  I was ear hustling and adding my two cents. “So, Wilbur, what do you do?”

  “I own a car lot,” he replied over the loud music.

  My interest was piqued. “Really? New or used?”

  He fingered the diamond-encrusted ring on his right hand as he spoke. “Both.”

  I gave Kayla a long, hard stare. She better jump on him ’cause he was far better than Reverend Brown’s ass.

  I glanced over at Danielle, who was trying to make eye contact with another one of those old heads at the table and then had the nerve to point at me. When she realized she had gotten caught, Danielle tried to keep a straight face. I had something for her ass.

  Underneath the table, I tapped Pops lightly on the leg. “Hey, Wilbur, my girl here wants to meet your partner.”

  While he moved over to the other table to ask his friend to join us, Danny punched me in the arm. I exploded with laughter.

  Danielle sucked her teeth. “Why’d you do that?”

  Grinning, I stared over at her. “’Cause I saw you pointing at me.”

  “I was just tryin’ to be funny,” she admitted with a laugh as she sipped her drink.

  “And so was I.”

  Kayla leaned forward and said for our ears only, “I did not come here to spend the entire evening doing charity work.”

  “And I don’t have time to be fighting some old man with liver spots all over his head. Nae-Nae, he looks like an ostrich on crack.” Danielle sucked her teeth.

  “What he needs to do is go put his head in the ground.”

  I laughed, then glanced over at their table. They were both looking over at us. I raised my hand and pointed at Danielle. She slapped the back of my head.

  “You’re always playing.”

  I was ready to fall out of my chair. “Shhh! Be nice. Here they come.”

  Liver spots moved around to Danielle’s side and offered her his right hand. “I’m Horace, nice to meet you.”

  She forced a fake smile. “I’m Dan—I mean, Danita.”

  I knew Danielle was ready to kill me. Thank goodness the waitress returned with our drinks.

  Chapter 7

  Kayla

  A half hour later, Kayla excused herself and hurried off to the bathroom. Another moment with Pa Kettle and she was bound to get sick. Maybe Leroy wasn’t the best choice in a man, but he was a far cry better than what the club had to offer.

  She stepped into the last stall and frowned. No toilet paper. The one next to it was stopped up with a bloody tampon floating on top. Kayla shook her head with disgust. She could never understand how women could be so nasty. She could only imagine what their bathrooms at home were like. Moving to a middle stall, she lowered her slacks and stooped. There was no way in the world she was going to sit. Who knew what germs were lurking around? Reaching into the side zipper of her purse, she retrieved a napkin and used it to wipe off, then flushed and moved to the sink. While washing her hands, she glanced up at her reflection in the mirror and noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes. The last several days had been hard. Leroy had been calling and leaving messages both at work and at home, but she had not returned any of his calls. Instead, she had prayed to the good Lord to give her the strength to resist.

  For the first time in years, she was afraid of him. Yes, Leroy had always been dominant and demanding and had always wanted his way. He’d even pushed her around at times, but this was the first time he had physically handled her in a way that made her fear for her life. She knew his behavior had changed but she hadn’t expected it to shift so drastically. Sleeping around with other women besides her and his wife was bad enough, but abusing her was another thing altogether, and something she just couldn’t accept She had already endured years of mental abuse as a child that had scarred her for life.

  Taking a deep breath, she thought about all the times Nadine and Renee had tried to tell her she wasn’t the only woman he was messing with. Only she never wanted to believe it. It was normal for women to gossip about people they knew nothing about, and neither of them knew anything more about Leroy than what they heard floating around the community. Most of it she had thought was just a bunch of jealousy gossip, but now she knew that wasn’t the case. He had been screwing around. A thought came to mind. Maybe Jennifer Tolliver’s baby really was his. And maybe he was on the down-low, as Renee tried so many times to tell her. Dear God, she hoped not She had heard so many horror stories about that. Everybody was starting to come out of the closet. Women across the country were killing their husbands for infecting them with the AIDS virus. Nope. She couldn’t take that risk anymore. Leroy was one man she could no longer trust.

  Reaching inside her purse, Kayla removed her small compact and blotted the circles beneath her eyes. She had come a long way since Wednesday. While driving away from his house, distraught and crying her eyes out, all she could think about was what it was going to take to get her man back. She didn’t care about the pain radiating from the back of her head or that Leroy was in bed with another woman. All she had cared about was finding a way to make things right between them again. It wasn’t until she remembered the abuse she watched her mother endure while she was a child that she finally came to her senses.

  It still felt so unreal. She had discovered something about Leroy that scared her. How could a man she knew so well turn out to be a totally different person? It was a hard pill to swallow. Leroy had been good to her, in his own way, and had never once laid a hand on her. The love she had for him surpassed feelings she’d had for anyone other than her children. She would have taken a
bullet for him. After hours of pondering the situation, Kayla still could not understand how he could do something like that to her. She wanted so badly to brush it aside as stress or that he just wasn’t himself that day, but the fear he had inflicted on her made that impossible. As the days passed, she started thinking about all the occasions when rage smoldered in his eyes, and all the times he got mad when she refused to perform oral sex or allow him to penetrate her from behind. On those occasions he had looked mad enough to hit her, but since she quickly agreed to comply, his eyes had immediately softened, and a smile curled his lips. What would have happened if she had continued to refuse? Would he have used his fists to get what he wanted? She squeezed her eyelids tightly together, refusing to think about it any further. What happened was in the past and she was thankful God helped her to see the light before something far worse happened.

  Tears pushed to the surface. Lowering her head, she splashed water on her face. How in the world could she have been so stupid? Four years. She had given that man four years of her life. No matter how many doubts lurked around the back of her mind, she had waited. In her mind, she was the better woman, and in time Leroy would finally leave his wife and the two of them would live happily ever after. Thinking about it now, it sounded so ridiculous. She’d never had a man of her own before, so what made her think that things with Leroy would have been any different?

  Because he’s a minister. Yes, and she believed any man who could stand before God and the church would be different, that she had met the one man she could finally trust. She wiped her eyes as she realized how badly she’d needed to believe in him. Since childhood, her life had been one disappointment after another, and at this stage of her life, she needed something she could hold on to. Something she could believe in, and that thing, that person, had been Leroy.

  A sharp pain shot across her chest as she remembered walking in on Leroy with Tracy. Regardless of how much he pleaded that it was all a mistake, she would never trust him again. Her life, her dreams of being with Reverend Leroy Brown, were over.