“Uh, sure. But if it’s a boy, you have to spend a week in Italy with Lucio and his sister.”
“You don’t have to bribe me; I want to visit Lucio. I’ve grown quite fond of the old man.”
“Thanks, Harlow. That means a lot. So, when are we going to find out the sex of the baby?”
“Actually, I already have.” Harlow pulled open the drawer of her bedside table. She took out the most recent ultrasound picture and handed it to Drake.
He squinted at the image. “I don’t know what I’m looking at. Seems like I’m seeing double.”
“You are. Those are our sons. Identical twin boys. Do you know how rare that is?”
“We’re having twin boys? Really? Oh, man, I’m ready to start handing out cigars, right now.”
“Do people still do that?” Harlow asked.
“I don’t know. But I’m definitely going to be handing out the most expensive Cuban cigars I can find.”
Nestled in Drake’s strong arms, Harlow felt a peace she’d never known wash over her. Filled with gratitude, she began, “You know, I never would have imagined this life I’ve shared with you. Never thought I deserved this kind of happiness, but here I am. Sweetheart, despite the mistakes we’ve made in the past and despite what we believe we do or don’t deserve, these babies are a sign from God that we’ve been forgiven, and we’re doubly blessed.”
“Triple-blessed because I have you. I love you so much, Harlow.”
As Drake’s lips brushed across Harlow’s open mouth, she murmured, “I know Drake and believe me, I love you, too.”
VANGIE
Sunday evening at six, Vangie dropped Yuri off at the designated hand-off spot.
“Hey, man,” Shawn greeted Yuri without giving Vangie as much as a glance.
Vangie slid down the window. “Can we talk, Shawn?”
“Get in the car,” he told Yuri. And then gave Vangie a scornful frown. “What do want?”
“Can’t we be civil toward each other? For Yuri’s sake, we should make an effort to smooth this friction between us…we need to try and get along.”
He blew her off with a rude hand gesture. “Man, I’m not trying to hear shit you have to say.” He turned away and sauntered toward his car.
“Fuck you, Shawn. You Section Eight-living, bum!” she yelled, losing her temper.
Shawn laughed tauntingly, and kept walking as if Vangie was too insignificant to trade insults with.
Fucking asshole. I hate him so much. Nerves rattled, Vangie turned on the radio, hoping music would calm her down. Times like this, she was grateful to have Zenith in her corner, and was eager to get to her girl’s place to relax and unwind.
When her phone rang, she expected the call to be from Zenith, and was surprised to see her mother’s name on the screen. Vangie took a deep breath before answering.
“Hi, Mom,” she said pleasantly, but was braced for a big argument with her mother.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring Yuri over to see me. Is he still with you?” Barbara asked in a pissed-off tone.
“No, Shawn just picked him up.”
“It was very inconsiderate of you not to bring my grandson over to see me.”
“The last time we talked, you were upset with me. I didn’t want any drama during the short amount of time that Yuri was with me.”
“Oh, it’s my fault that you’re disgracing yourself and offending the Lord?”
“You’re being offensive and I don’t want Yuri to be subjected to your hateful words.”
“I guess you never heard of grandparents’ rights, huh?”
Vangie sighed. “I’m not trying to keep you from seeing Yuri; but I won’t allow you to poison his mind. His father and his girlfriend are already doing that.”
Barbara sighed heavily. “I have a question for you.”
Here we go. “What’s that, Mom?”
“Has the devil left your body yet?’
“What are you talking about?” Vangie turned the radio down in order to hear her mother more clearly.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m talking about you and that big bulldagger.”
“Her name is Zenith, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make homophobic slurs.”
“Mmm-hmm. Whatever. All I’m gonna say is, God will never bless a mess.”
“Who are you calling a mess? If that’s the case, you shouldn’t look for any blessings, either. You’re shacking up with Mr. Harold, and he’s a married man.”
“Harold has been legally separated for five years.”
“He’s still married and in the eyes of God, you’re fornicating.”
“The Lord doesn’t tolerate disrespect to parents. All that kissing, fondling, and having relations with another woman is going to send you straight to hell. You will be struck down and burned in hot flames, and Satan’s wicked face will be smiling down at you.”
“You sound deranged, Mom. For real.”
“You need to repent, Evangeline. I want to see my daughter in heaven. I’m not only looking out for your physical body; I also care about your soul. After that nasty mess I witnessed at your apartment, I planned to never speak to you again, but as your mother, it’s my duty to try to get you back on track. Vangie, get a hold of yourself; don’t let the devil win.”
“You’re really going overboard, Mom.”
“I’m speaking the truth.”
“Oh, yeah? I’m going to hell, but all your sins are forgiven, huh? I finally found someone who’s kind and caring. We have something very special, so why can’t you be happy for me?”
“What is wrong with you? Did that new fella, Alphonso, dump you, too? Are times that hard that you don’t think you can get another man? No one could have ever made me believe that my daughter would turn into a rainbow person. What’s next—marching in parades so you and that big bulldagger can have some gay rights and get married?” Barbara grunted in disgust. “I swear, homosexuality is taking over the world.”
“Mom, I’m not looking for your approval—”
“Hush, Vangie. That’s not you talking; the devil has a hold of you, girl. Oh, good Lord, please help this child of mine,” Barbara pleaded, launching into fervent prayer. “Have mercy on her wicked soul. She’s lost, Lord, and she needs Your guidance. Help her, heavenly Father.”
Vangie took a deep, tired breath. “Mom, please. I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Why not? Are you too busy for the Lord? I feel sorry for you; your soul is lost, child. If you don’t believe me, listen to these passages. I have the Bible right here in my hand and it says: You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. That’s from the Book of Leviticus, honey. I gave you the Lord’s holy word!
“Yeah, well, while you’re reading your Bible, you need to find the passage about fornicating, and playing the numbers,” Vangie said and then hung up on her mother.
She immediately called Zenith. “Hey, baby. I’m on my way over. Do you want me to pick up anything from the store?”
“Nope. Just bring your sexy self. I can tell you need some TLC.”
“How do you know?”
“I can hear the stress in your voice. When you get here, I’ll have champagne and a hot bath waiting for you, and while I’m bathing you, I’m going to hand-feed you sushi.”
After a relaxing bath with a glass of champagne and sushi platter, Vangie and Zenith never made it out of the bathroom.
Their bodies were still soapy and wet when Zenith began kissing a trail down Vangie’s moist arm, all the way down to her open palm. Soon she was lapping at Vangie’s fingers and sucking each one. Wasting no time, her hands explored Vangie’s body, lavishing her with the soft, feathery touches that made her body arch and trem
ble. She gently squeezed breasts as if checking the ripeness of fruit. Vangie whimpered and opened her legs for Zenith.
“Fuck my pussy, Zenith,” she pleaded.
“No, you’re not ready yet.”
“Yes, I am.” Vangie spread her legs wider, displaying an open pussy with swollen lips that were glistening and dewy with lust.
Pressing her mouth against Vangie’s vaginal lips, Zenith’s tongue darted and probed. Her tongue circled and flicked against Vangie’s sensitive nub, causing friction on her clit that increased the tension in Vangie’s writhing body. Each tongue thrust ignited fireworks—little rockets of passion bursting inside her until Vangie’s groans increased in volume.
Vangie moaned as she dug her hand into the thick mass of coils on one side of Zenith’s head, grabbed a fistful and yanked as she cried out. “Fuck me, baby. I’m ready to feel you inside me.”
Zenith’s tongue remained busy as she stealthily reached behind her and opened the bottom drawer of a wicker chest and retrieved her dick. As she pulled her mouth away, Vangie begged her not to stop.
“I got something else for you, baby.” Zenith said, strapping on the male apparatus. She mounted Vangie and spiraled into her. Making love with slow, sensual movements that filled and touched her in all her most sensitive places. She gave Vangie deep and unrelenting dick strokes while kissing her passionately at the same time.
“I’m coming,” Vangie murmured as slow waves of warmth crept up her body. Recognizing the beginning of an orgasm, she wrapped her arms around Zenith, as if anchoring herself against a storm that could potentially sweep her away.
“Let it go, baby. I want you to explode.”
Vangie lifted up a little and gave a hoarse yelp as her inner walls contracted and clenched multiple times around the plastic device that felt better than any human dick that had ever entered her body.
“Get it, baby,” Zenith encouraged and Vangie held on tighter. She didn’t release her iron grip around Zenith until her body stopped shaking.
Vangie looked into Zenith’s eyes and exclaimed, “If this isn’t love, I don’t know what it is. I really love you. I mean it. Do you love me?” she asked, her voice cracking, fearful that Zenith would deliver bad news.
Zenith gazed at Vangie and didn’t speak for a long moment. Brows furrowed as she carefully chose her words, she finally said, “I don’t want to get caught up in the ‘L’ word. Like I told you, my heart’s been broken to pieces more times than I care to count. Words are easy to say. Let me show you how I feel by the way I treat you. Respect, kindness, and going that extra mile equal love. Now, do I have to tell you I love you?”
“I guess I’m a little insecure, but doesn’t compromising play a big part in a healthy relationship?”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what I want to hear,” Vangie persisted.
“I love you, Vangie,” Zenith said with a soft smile.
VANGIE
Zenith and Vangie were in bed watching Ancient Aliens. Vangie didn’t particularly like the show, but Zenith was crazy about everything on The History Channel. The back of her head was pressed against Zenith’s bare chest, and Zenith’s arms were wrapped loosely around Vangie’s waist. The feeling of their naked skin on skin was so soothing, it enabled Vangie to endure the weird, alien program.
During a commercial break Zenith said excitedly, “My exhibit is next Friday night. I can’t believe it’s finally happening. My agent is expecting a huge turnout. She’s already sold some of my pieces. They’ll be hung with the others, but a card that says, ‘SOLD,’ will be placed beneath those photographs. I’m thrilled but I’m also really nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. Your work is amazing and you know it. You’re going to be a celebrated photographer,” Vangie said, giving Zenith an encouraging smile.
“Yeah, I’m self-assured about most things, but when it comes to my work, I feel vulnerable. Like I’m walking around naked while other people examine my body, looking for and pointing out the flaws.”
“Well, if that’s the case, you should be feeling completely confident because your body doesn’t have any flaws. You’re built like a female gladiator.”
“Shut up,” Zenith said, laughing. “Are you deliberately trying to make me blush?”
“I’m being serious. Did I ever tell you how I felt the first time I saw you?”
“No, but I’m curious.”
“You didn’t look real.”
“Huh?”
“You looked so amazing and extraordinary; it seemed like you should have been wearing a cape. Like Wonder Woman or Supergirl.”
Zenith laughed louder. “Stop fuckin’ with me.”
“I’m dead serious. And I had to have you. Then the bartender tried to burst my bubble by telling me that you’re nothing more than a heartless bitch. She said some chick tried to kill herself over you.”
Zenith lowered her gaze. “There’s some truth in that.”
“Really?” Vangie’s eyes widened.
“Her name was Molly, but what she did to herself wasn’t because I broke her heart.”
“Well, what happened?”
“She had a boyfriend back in her hometown. She told me she broke it off with him, but he came to visit her, and I found out she’d never told him she was playing on the other team. So, I told him, which was really immature of me. I’ve grown a lot since then. Her boyfriend threatened to tell her family and hometown friends, and Molly couldn’t deal with it.”
“How do you feel about her living on the streets now?”
“I try not to think about it.”
“That’s your solution?”
“Don’t judge me, Vangie. You don’t know what I’ve been through with that girl and her addiction. I put her in rehab again and again. I’ve let her stay here with me. But she repaid my kindness by stealing from me. Money. Credit cards. Jewelry and my camera. My fuckin’ camera! After she stole my camera, I was finally through. How much abuse is a person supposed to withstand?”
“Okay, I get it. But, I had to ask you about it.”
Zenith nodded. She had a sad, faraway look in her eyes.
Vangie stroked her softly on the arm. “I’m sorry I brought up the past. Okay, baby. You look so sad; what can I do to cheer you up?”
A little smile appeared on Zenith’s face. “You can be my date at my show.”
“Oh, the show on Friday night?”
“Yes, and I want you to wear something super sexy. I’m wearing a custom-made tuxedo jacket over tights that have hand-sewn crystals going up the outer legs. The designer is a local woman. And she’s not charging me a thing,” Zenith exclaimed with joy sparkling in her eyes and ringing in her voice.
“I’m so sorry, but I can’t go to your show.”
“You’re kidding. It’s the biggest moment of my life and I want to share it with you and you don’t want to go? Why not?”
“I get visits with my son every weekend; you know that.”
“Yeah, but the show only lasts a few hours. Can’t your mom babysit Friday night?”
“It’s not that simple. Yuri is sort of detaching from me. His father and his fiancée are poisoning his mind against me. And you heard what my mother had to say about us; I can’t trust her not to fill his head with her opinions. Besides, I’ve been away from my child for so long, I can’t afford to lose one minute of the time we have together.”
“Okay. No problem, there’re plenty of bitches who’d love to take your place.”
“Come on, Zenith, don’t be like that. Give me some time to rebuild the bond between my son and me. I’m all yours every day of the week, but I have to devote my weekends to Yuri.”
“I said I understand. What I don’t understand is why you can’t give me three fucking hours on such an important night? Three fucking hours! I think you’re being ridiculous, Vangie. My feelings are hurt. But I’m not a mother so I don’t fully understand what you’re going thro
ugh.” Zenith caressed Vangie’s face. “I’m sorry for blowing up. Forgive me?”
Vangie nodded.
“Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you and I take Yuri somewhere fun on Saturday? Don’t you think it’s time that I meet your little man? We need to start having family outings so he can start getting to know me.”
“I can’t do that. I can’t subject Yuri to my sexual preferences. He’s young and impressionable and it’ll embarrass him.”
“Am I hearing you right? Did you use the word, ‘subject’? You said that as if introducing your son to me is akin to subjecting him to a disease.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then how’d you mean it?”
“I only meant… Well, he’s going through a hard time. His stepbrothers are teasing him about the time I was incarcerated. They’ve been throwing slurs and alluding to the fact that I’ve been having sex with women.”
“Well, you have, so what’s the problem?”
Vangie shrugged. “I’m not ready to share that with the world.”
“Oh, it’s okay to eat my pussy and suck my dick behind closed doors. It’s okay to bust multiple nuts on my strap-on. As long as your family doesn’t know.”
“I’m confused. It’s too soon to tell people about us. I’m sort of still attracted to men, you know.”
“This is bullshit. You told me you loved me, forced me to say that shit back, and now you’re telling me you’re still yearning for a man?” Zenith’s hands began to shake.
“I do love you. Honest, I do. But I’m not sure if this is the kind of lifestyle for me to drag my son into.” Vangie rubbed Zenith’s arm, trying to soothe her.
Zenith pulled away from her. “Don’t touch me. In fact, put your goddamn clothes on and take your ass out of here before I beat the shit out of you.”
“Zenith!”
“I’m serious!” Zenith spoke through clenched teeth. She grabbed a hank of Vangie’s hair and yanked it hard.
“Ow, you’re hurting me.”
“That’s why you need to hurry up and go while you can still walk, you fuckin’ shady bitch!” She gave Vangie a hard shove that sent her crashing to the floor. Zenith glared down at her. “The old me would be stomping your ass for the way you played me. You’re lucky I have a lot more self-control.”
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