Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel

by Monteilh, Marissa

  He asked, speeding up his words, “Is that what you were trying to prove, that you can still attract someone?”

  “No.”

  “I see men look at you all the time, you think I don’t know that? I’m not blind.”

  “I don’t want to argue. We had a great day. An amazing day.” She picked up her tea again. “And I know how you are when you get quiet. It means you’ve got something on your mind. So I left you to it. But we need to get through this.” She looked up at his frowning face. “I’m begging you please, let’s learn from this and not throw away over two decades of us being a family.”

  Mason then looked out at the view. “You didn’t think about this before you returned his call and invited him up.”

  She took it down a notch, saying, “I know. I was wrong,” and then she took a sip.

  He looked down at her. “And you’re telling me nothing else happened?”

  She looked up at him. “Nothing else happened. He would’ve told you if you hadn’t left when he was on the phone.”

  “What man in his right mind would talk to another man on the phone to have him confirm what happened to him and the man’s wife? That’s a punk ass move and very disrespectful to me as your husband.”

  She broke eye contact. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do at that point. When you cheated you said she kissed you goodbye and then the two of you walked to the bed together. With me and Ryan, he kissed me goodbye and I walked him to the door. It’s still wrong, I know.”

  All Mason said was, “Kissed,” like his mind was playing the tape of their forbidden actions. “What kind of kiss was it?”

  She moved her eyes away from the backyard and up at him. “What kind of kiss did you and Natalie have?”

  Mason stood in place.

  She waited for his comeback and just sat.

  He looked to be simmering. Sweat covered his nose.

  She looked again at the can in his hand, from which he hadn’t taken a sip. “And, honey, why are you drinking?” she asked, as if she didn’t know.

  “First things first.”

  She put her now empty cup down. “Mason. I know you’re mad. It’s up to you. I think you have to ask yourself is this negotiable, or non-negotiable. That is what I had to ask myself back when Dr. Little counseled us. It’s on you.” She stood up. “Now, I’m going to bed. Are you coming?”

  “I’ll sleep in Mom’s room.”

  She nodded, taking the cup with her so she could put it in the kitchen sink. “Okay. See you in the morning. I love you.” She stood before him on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. She gave him an unrequited peck, but still said what she needed to say. “Just remember, we have a good life, but I’d rather have a life with you and no money, than a life without you and be rich. And by the way, I’ve never slept with another man in my entire life but you.”

  He didn’t react.

  As she walked away he sat down in the seat she had vacated and took a long swig of his brew.

  She watched him as he crossed one leg over the other.

  She was sad. But she was glad.

  Glad at the moment because Mason was home for now.

  Sad because he brought a nasty bad habit back with him that she prayed he had kicked long ago.

  30

  Venus

  “. . . he kicked me out . . .”

  We’re coming from my dad’s house. Skyy and I have been with him for a week while Skyy had Fall Break. She’ll miss school today, but I’ll take her back tomorrow. We’ve been sleeping on the sofa bed,” Venus said while driving on the 405 southbound.

  Mercedes was in her home office. She had just returned from a committee meeting for the Alzheimer’s Association. “At his apartment in Inglewood and you didn’t stop by?”

  Venus talked slow. “Mercedes, a lot’s been going on.”

  “Okay. I guess first question is why you two are sleeping on your dad’s sofa instead of in that beautiful new house you have in Laguna?”

  “It’s not so beautiful on the inside. Claude and I have been going through it.”

  “Is it still the problem you were having with Cameron before, when I came by and Cameron was having trouble with school? The school said he cheated or something.”

  Venus merged into the fast lane. Skyy was in the backseat with her earphones on, watching The Princess and the Frog movie on the DVD player. “No. That was worked out. I mean he can’t go back to that school, but he’s moved on. Turns out his ex-girlfriend copied info from the Internet and used it in a paper she wrote for him. Cam has other issues now.”

  “Like what?”

  “Cam is awful at picking women, to be honest with you. He was with this girl who it turns out is the reason our house got broken into.”

  “Oh, damn. She cased you guys out or something?”

  “She did. And I mean, Cam’s been doing nothing as far as getting ahead, so the more we tried to get him on track, the more he resisted.” Venus looked back to make sure Skyy was still watching her movie. “Mercedes, Cam met this forty eight year-old woman out in Laguna, and he fell hard. Our neighbor. And he sent me an email last night that they got married in Vegas.”

  Mercedes’s voice jumped. “Oh, no he didn’t. What the hell is that all about? Why so fast, and why so much older?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine as far as why so fast. But I do know he’s having problems coming to terms with Fatima, and who his dad is.”

  “He asked you who he was?”

  Venus replied, “He did. But I didn’t tell him, and since he’s not speaking to Claude, who knows when or how he’ll find out.”

  “He must be rebelling. Marrying someone more than twice his age. What’s her problem, anyway?”

  “Mercedes, this chick is an heir to the Heinz ketchup fortune.”

  “Oh, no wonder Cameron went for that. First off, she’s obviously rich,” Mercedes said.

  “She well off enough I guess. I think it’s some mother image thing as far as the age. But he’d better watch out because I checked online and from what I know, this woman married a fourth generation Heinz. I think he’s the founder’s great-great grandson who was a few years younger than her, but they only lasted less than a year, so I doubt she has that much dough. She does have some kids from her first and second marriages. This one to Cam makes it husband number four. And one of her husband’s was black. Actually, as far as the money goes, I read that some Heinz family granddaughter gets like ninety-percent of everything anyway.”

  Mercedes reacted by saying, “Damn. That’s who he met in the O.C., huh? You guys moved him out to get away and he ran right into being a husband in no time flat.”

  “Yep. Now my son and his nearly fifty year-old wife live right down the street.”

  “What did Claude say about it?”

  “About them eloping? He doesn’t know.”

  “Oh hell. There’s gonna be an earthquake in Orange County when he finds out.”

  “Ya think?” Venus was now on the 5 Freeway.

  Mercedes gave a laugh. “Drama. Geez. But what about you and Claude? What happened that had you ending up at your dad’s house?”

  “I didn’t tell you, but Owen, Fatima’s murderer, has been writing me.”

  “Out of the blue?”

  “Yes. I got the first letter that day you came over when Cam got in trouble at school. Some of the mess he wrote Claude bought into and basically kicked me out of my own house, saying I was getting with Owen all along, and that I told Owen where Fatima would be so I could have Claude all to myself. Which is such bunk.”

  “That is insane. Why would he believe psycho Owen, anyway?”

  “I think Claude just wants to believe him. I think he’s not over Fatima, even now. I think he’s using it as a reason for him to push me away.”

  Mercedes gave pause. “That is nonsense. You guys have been fine. Venus, I say you go back home. Like you said, that’s your house. Don’t let him do that. He’ll come around. And
for the record, you two need to get Owen straightened out.”

  “Claude said he will. I don’t know.” Venus didn’t sound hopeful.

  “Your husband is so headstrong and old fashioned. It’s like he holds on to this notion that the woman has her place and the man has his place, and he just doesn’t budge. It’s archaic.”

  Venus sighed loudly. “Tell me about it. Mercedes, you know as well as I do that I never told Owen that madness. I never talked to him at all.”

  “I believe you.”

  “People get things stuck in their heads and there’s no letting go.” Venus looked at the display after hearing a beep, and then it stopped ringing. It was Claude. She continued to talk, but wondered. “So, that’s what’s up in my weird little world.”

  “Okay, but everyone’s world is weird. We all have our own mess.”

  Venus wanted to ask about Mercedes and Mason, but didn’t. Her mind was on what Claude could have wanted. “True.”

  Mercedes asked, “Where are you headed anyway?”

  “I’m going home. I’m headed there now. Me and Skyy. She’s watching a movie.” Venus looked back at Skyy who was knocked out. Her headphones were removed from her head. “Actually, Claude gave me the keys to some house he rented for me and Skyy somewhere in Newport Beach. But I don’t think so.” She heard a sound signaling a message.

  “He what? Tell me you’re lying.”

  “I’m not.” All Venus could think about was the message.

  “I’d throw those suckers away. He has lost his ever-lovin’ mind?”

  Venus ended up saying, “Mercedes, girl, I’m gonna call you back. I’m about to get off the freeway.”

  “Okay. Sorry all this is going on. Call me later.”

  “I will.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  “Bye.” Venus hung up and pressed the touch screen for voicemail.

  Venus, umm, yeah. It’s me. I wanted you to know, I didn’t go out there to see Owen after all. Just too much drama. But, I did have Attorney Sampson contact the Department of Corrections and he sent them the first letter Owen wrote you, not the second one. Turns out Owen’s in a minimum to medium security facility in California. So, they’re transferring him to a maximum facility in Nevada called the Ely State Prison where they screen calls and mail. Stuff like that. So, that’s it. That’s all I wanted to tell you. Let’s talk about when I can see Skyy. Not sure if you’re settled into the house. Haven’t heard from you. I can schedule and pay for movers. If I don’t pick up when you call, I’m probably in a late meeting. But, let’s try and talk tomorrow.

  Her mouth was wide open. Hearing him have the nerve to mention movers and basically announce that he would be busy made her fume. There were no sentences saying come home or miss you or let’s talk.

  She pressed delete and disconnected.

  Venus got into the next lane over, slowing down her ride home but not her thoughts. She wanted to call back and leave nothing but curse words on his voicemail. She wanted to drive around and find him and bust him in the act of being so tied up he couldn’t be available for his wife’s call. She wanted to run him down with her Infiniti. She wanted to call every client he had in the real estate business and tell them what a dirty dog Claude Wilson was for trying to kick out his wife and child.

  And then something escorted her vengeful thoughts and reminded her of Mattie’s funeral. She remembered the words Star said her grandmother would always say. A lady always knows when to leave.

  Immediately, Venus called back, and without even one ring, voicemail stepped in. She prepared herself with a cleansing breath. “Hi Claude. Got your message. I was going to come by and get Skyy’s and my things. But, we’ll get them tomorrow.” She paused, about to say that Cameron eloped, but she said instead, “Bye.”

  Wearing her wedding ring on her left hand and the emerald ring on her right, she took the exit off of the 5 Freeway. But instead of steering her car toward Laguna Hills, she got right back on and prepared herself to go north on the 5, to the 405 north, to the 55 south, ready for the twenty-three mile drive to Newport Beach, her new home, once again officially separated from her best friend’s man, Claude Joseph Wilson.

  Then from the backseat she heard a tiny tired voice, “Mommy. We don’t live with Daddy anymore?”

  Venus’s heart sank.

  31

  Sequoia

  “. . . with her trademark golden hair . . .”

  Kyle had picked up Kyle Jr. once and brought him back two days later. It was Friday, October 29th and though it was Torino’s weekend, he had agreed to give them some extra time by bringing Kyle Jr. to Kyle’s house.

  Torino still hadn’t told Kyle that the son Torino had joint custody of, whose last name was legally changed to Wilson, wasn’t his.

  Kyle had moved into an ivory stucco home that he had rented in the gated Northridge community of Porter Ranch after he and Colette broke up, leaving her and Kyle Jr. in the two bedroom apartment in Fox Hills.

  His new place was a three bedroom, two bath corner home with a ton of room, a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace and several of fruit trees. The environment was much more conducive to family living than where they had lived before.

  When Torino and Sequoia pulled up and parked in the long, four-car driveway, Kyle Jr. looked at the house before him and said, “Man. Wow. Is this where my dad lives?”

  “Yes, it is,” Torino said.

  Kyle Jr. unbuckled himself and pulled on the doorknob, pushing the door open and hopping out. He ran up the walkway to the front door at the same time Kyle opened it. “Hey, little man.” Kyle reached down and picked up Kyle Jr., hugging him and flashing a major smile.

  Kyle Jr. pushed away and squirmed to be let down. “Daddy, this is cool. Can I see it? Where’s Mommy?”

  Kyle put him down and said, “She’s inside. Go on in.”

  Torino waved from the driver seat and Kyle motioned for him to come in. “Come see the place. Say hi to Colette.”

  “Oh Lord,” was all Sequoia said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

  TJ asked, “Can I see Kyle Jr.’s other house, too?”

  “Yes, you can.” Sequoia got out and closed the door, adjusting her tight jeans and even tighter top.

  TJ unstrapped himself. “Cool.” He got out at the same time as Torino. TJ’s little legs walked faster than his mom and dad did. Once he got to the door he ran right past Kyle, barely saying, “Hi.”

  “Hey there, TJ.” Kyle laughed as TJ made his own way in.

  Sequoia walked behind Torino. “Nice place.”

  “Hey, it’s only on loan. Can’t buy anything just yet, but I will soon. Maybe this place, maybe not.”

  “I understand,” she said.

  She and Torino proceeded inside behind Kyle and stepped down into the enormity of the sunken living room.

  The room was furnished with modern sofas and chairs, tables and rugs, mainly in earth tones, and it had a large walnut grandfather clock in the corner. Beyond the living room was a family room that opened up to the newly remodeled kitchen.

  And sitting before the fireplace in a brown reclining chair, was Colette Berry, hugging her son for a brief moment. He and TJ ran outside, pushing past the kitchen door, into the backyard, and playing on the big slide like they’d been there before.

  “Hi,” Colette said, sounding tired. Her normally high-pitched voice had more base.

  “Hi, Colette,” Torino said, walking toward her and stopping just before he got to her chair.

  Their eyes met and he turned back to look around at anything else.

  She asked, “Where’s Sequoia?

  Sequoia stepped up next to Torino. “Hello, Colette.”

  Colette gave Sequoia a weak smile, aiming her light eyes at her. “Hi. Have a seat.” Colette seemed to be even more heavyset and her trademark golden hair seemed to have broken off some. It was pulled back into a thin ponytail. The smell in the room was of Bergamot hair dress.

  Kyle still stood, and so did Tori
no and Sequoia.

  Torino was the one who said, “No thanks. We can’t stay long. We’re just dropping off Kyle Jr.”

  “Thank you for that,” Colette said.

  “No problem,” Torino replied. “You did good, Kyle. This house is big.”

  Kyle said. “You know, it’s worth about a half-a-million. I think I can definitely do better, though. Maybe something around three or four. It’s okay for now but eventually, we’ll get something like this so Kyle Jr. can have a yard. He never had that living in Fox Hills.”

  Sequoia said, “It is nice.” She looked around and then at Torino, hoping he would catch her eyes urging him to announce their departure.

  Colette said directly to Sequoia, “Thank you for spending extra time with him. I appreciate that.”

  Sequoia smiled. “No problem.”

  Colette said to Torino, “And I got the custody papers. I answered without contesting. I even sent my medical diagnosis along with it. You having full custody is fine with me.”

  Torino gave her a straight-on look as though amazed that she was still perpetrating. “Really?”

  Colette’s eyes were bloodshot. “Yes.” She had a TV tray next to her with some medicine bottles, and a bottle of Visine.

  She continued, words dragging. “We’d just like the time we spend to be as equal as possible.”

  “Okay.” Torino looked away again, this time at Sequoia.

  Her eyes dragged his eyes to the front door.

  Colette asked, “Was Kyle Jr. behaving?”

  Torino said, “He was. It’s all new to him.”

  “It is.” Colette sounded like she was about to go to sleep. “I was diagnosed as bipolar. I have post traumatic stress disorder, too. I’m on medication. I don’t mind you knowing. I hate for you to see me like this.”

  Kyle said, “She’s been through a lot.”

  “We’re just glad you’re okay,” Sequoia told her.