Paper Dolls

by Sienna Mynx

  Today she decided to help. If not for anything but to speed the car wash along so they could get back to song writing. She knew his game. He thought he was slick getting her wet so he could peep at her boobs. Men were so predictable.

  “So, if you were just playing why is it you were aiming that hose at my chest?” she asked him.

  “Huh?” he answered. He walked around the car and rinsed the back of it.

  Valentina shook her hands free of water. He kept circling the car coming closer to her. In jeans and a black tank he gave her more than she bargained for, the man was as ripped as AK. She was a sucker for muscles. Valentina wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. An idea came to her. She reached down and picked up the wash bucket. She was able to circle him and come up behind.

  “I’ll get you a different shirt so you can dry off.” Matt said.

  “Mmmhmm,” Valentina said as. She lifted the bucket.

  “How about I make you lunch to make up for it? And then we can get to finishing that song.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. She crept up closer.

  “After all, you did agree to help me wash my car the least I could—”

  Valentina threw the water from the bucket over him. Matt jumped shocked. He dropped the hose. It whipped about like a headless snake in death throws. Valentina ran for the house. But was caught halfway across the lawn and brought down in the grass. To prevent hurting her during her fall he made sure to roll on his back, holding her by the waist he locked her down. She kicked and flailed her arms screaming, laughing, and screaming again. Neighbors arrived home next door. They got out of their car watching in confusion.

  Valentina could see them. “Matt. Wait. Stop. Let me go! Seriously! People are watching. Next thing I know they’ll have it on their iPhone uploading it to Instagram!”

  “Nah, trust me my neighbors value privacy.” He finally relented. She got up. The kids waved at them and their mother hurried them inside. Valentina shook her wet head, tossing her waterlogged locs. She extended her hand to him and he pulled her back down. Dropping on her knees in the grass she sat back on the back of her legs and smiled. “What are you doing?”

  “Enjoying time with my friend that’s all,” he said. He turned to his side and looked up at her with that boyish smile of his.

  “You’ve been really playful lately.”

  “And you’ve been around a lot more lately. When does AK come home?”

  “None of your business,” she said. She smiled and looked over at the neighbor’s house. “We were making a scene. What will your neighbor’s think?”

  “That Bob Marley is one lucky guy,” he said. His eyes were glued to her breasts once more.

  She looked down at her chest and then smacked him upside of the head. “Fresh!”

  He grabbed her hand and bit it. It was on! They wrestled for dominance and rolled across the grass. In the end he had her pinned down. Valentina laughed as if tickled. “Now you got dirt in my hair,” she said kicking her feet.

  “Let me wash it,” he said his face close to hers.

  Valentina’s smile faded as she looked at the way he moistened his lips. The weight of him between her legs was too much of a temptation. And homeboy was packing heat! She felt it growing harder and more persistent. She feared what would happen next. “Okay. No more games. Can I get up please?”

  “Oh, yeah, my bad,” he said. He rolled off her. Valentina stood. She picked the blades of grass from her locs. She extended her hand to him again.

  “C’mon, I need something to change into––I’m supposed to go check on Raven today.”

  Matt sighed and was helped up. He watched as she went inside of the house, trying hard not to stare at her ass. Shaking his head he pulled on his dick.

  “Down boy,” he said to himself.

  He found it harder to control his desires around her since his confession. That night he slept on her sofa, the next morning he woke with her lying on him between his legs. What the fuck? She acted like it was the most natural thing and cooked him pancakes. She was sending him mixed signals and it was fucking with him. Why the hell would she roll up on him at his crib in a cutoff shirt and ass-hugging shorts unannounced? Instead of following her inside, he finished off his car and cleaned up until his dick was soft again in his pants.

  “Hey there!” his neighbor said.

  He looked back. “What’s up?”

  “You two make a nice couple.” He chuckled taking the groceries out of the back of the car.

  Matt smiled. “I think so too. Thanks!”

  He finally went inside. Valentina walked out of his room with a towel wrapped around her head and his Clemson jersey on.

  “What the hell, girl? You sure are making yourself at home,” Matt chuckled. She kept going ignoring the comment. She headed for his kitchen. Matt walked off to the room to change.

  **

  “Hey?” Valentina said. She leaned against the breakfast island on Matt’s cordless house phone.

  “Hi.” Zephyr answered.

  “What’cha doing, sweetie?” Valentina asked.

  “Laying here,” she replied.

  “Have you gotten out of the bed today?” Valentina asked.

  “No. I don’t feel good.” Zephyr said. She turned over. Mr. Stripes lifted his head and dropped it back down. The room was dark. Zephyr had only escaped the bed for a few bathroom breaks. Her stomach was in knots and she couldn’t fathom doing much of anything else.

  “Zee, are you okay? Do you need me to come back over there?” Valentina asked.

  “No,” she said softly.

  “No you’re not okay, or no you don’t want me to come?”

  “No. I don’t want you to come,” Zephyr said.

  “What are you going to do today?” Valentina asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “Zee?”

  “I’m sleepy.”

  “Okay, baby girl. Go to sleep. I’ll call you later. Okay?”

  The phone line clicked off. Valentina sighed. She stared at it. She might need to reconsider her plans for the day and visit Zephyr. She knew depression when she heard it. It was normal for Zephyr to mourn the end of her relationship. Even if the dude was a scumbag. But it wasn’t normal to shut completely down. She didn’t want Zephyr to slip into the darkness she once did.

  “What do you want to eat?” Matt entered the kitchen. He changed into a fresh black tank and some khaki cargo shorts.

  “Give me a sec.” She walked out of the kitchen toward his terrace. Opening the doors she stepped outside and his dogs all attacked her at once. The man had four great danes, all with jet black coats that felt smooth as velvet. Beautiful creatures. She fought them off and sat down on a deck chair. She dialed Raven.

  “Rae?”

  “What’s going on, Valentina?” Raven said. “I got only a few minutes before I have to take another call.”

  “Have you talked to Zee today?” Valentina asked.

  “No, not yet. I planned to call her as soon as my day wrapped. I have to meet with Alexander. He wants to reconcile. I told you he’s staying at the Ritz.”

  “You two are divorced.”

  “Yeah, well it doesn’t matter. We need closure,” Raven sighed.

  “Well if it’s closure then go for it. But remember, Raven, he cheated and broke your heart. Remember that first and foremost.”

  “It’s hard to forget, Valentina,” Raven said.

  “I worry about you two with these cheating ass men. I tell you,” she chuckled.

  “Oh please, girl, just cause your gangster is sprung doesn’t mean you won’t suffer the same mistakes me and Zee have,” Raven said.

  Valentina’s eyes cut over to the patio doors. She could see Matt pass by. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Yes, well I do need to be careful too. You have no idea how temptation can creep up on you.”

  “I really have to go, sweetie. We barely got any sleep with Zee wanting to talk all night.”

  “That�
�s why I called. She’s not sounding right, Rae,” Valentina said.

  “Then go check on her. You know how much she loved that man. Hell, she’s probably going through some serious withdrawal,” Raven said.

  “True.”

  “Okay, I have to call you back.”

  “Rae, whatever you decide tonight with Alexander just know that I support you. Seriously. I know I’ve been on you about ending things for good, but I’m beginning to think, well I just know that your heart can be mysterious at times,” Valentina said.

  Raven frowned. “Huh? Are we talking about me or you?”

  “Nothing, nothing… I need a smoke. Ignore me. I’ll check on Zee today before heading home,” Valentina said

  “Love ya, bye,” Raven said.

  “Bye.”

  She hung up and pulled the towel off her head freeing her locs. She looked off at the pool. She needed to snap out of it. Matt was a friend. Her hand instinctively went to the ring around her neck from AK.

  “We’re just friends.”

  **

  “Okay you ready?” she asked. She sat up in the pool chair. The two of them lounged under the Miami sun near the water. She was scribbling on a pad. Matt had on his wireless headphones and a portable keyboard in his lap. They’d go into the studio and put it to music next. First Valentina wanted to take a run at the lyrics. She told him that she had been inspired.

  Matt nodded that he was ready. Valentina smiled. “It’s a love song okay?”

  “Got it.”

  “You ready?”

  “Valentina, just give me the lyrics.” He groaned taking the headphones down. They circled his neck.

  “Okay, okay! Here goes,” she cleared her throat.

  Too much indecision, when it comes to knowing you

  All I know is what I feel...

  It’s always thoughts of you, my secret love,

  I try to pretend that we aren’t right,

  But my heart is holding true…

  I’ll hide behind our pretend game, every night,

  To keep from telling the truth…

  It’s not the work, the music, the heated fights,

  That draws me back to you…

  I’ll just need to hear you say, it’s safe to believe in you,

  My secret love…

  I’ll give up everything in life to finally have you…

  My secret love…

  I’ll repent for every hurt and lie all because of you…

  My secret love…

  I’ll never turn my back or hide from a life of loving you….

  My secret love…

  I’ll take the risk for you my love. Ain’t a woman alive I’d hand you over too…

  If what we feel is true say the words,

  My secret love…

  Too much indecision, when it comes to loving you

  All I know is that when I think of love….

  It’s always thoughts of you, my secret love,

  I try to pretend that it’s not right,

  But my heart is holding true…

  She lowered the pad and smiled at him. But her smile soon faded because of the frown he gave her. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

  Matt looked away. “Uh, yeah it’s cool.”

  “What’s wrong, Matt?” she asked again.

  “Nothing, I just didn’t expect to hear the song, hear the words.”

  “I know you are sick of my ballads, but it’s what I’m feeling right now. It came from nowhere.”

  “That’s how you feel?” Matt asked.

  Valentina shrugged and reclined back on the pool chair. The Clemson t-shirt pushed up and he saw the nice curve of her ass and thigh. She wore nothing but a thin thong for panties. “Yep, it’s how I feel.”

  Matt felt his chest tighten. He pressed his lips together and grimaced. It took everything not to call her on her bullshit right then and there. But he abstained. Instead he stared at her as she hummed a melody and sang the lyrics. The phone in her purse buzzed. She reached down for it. “Oh, perfect timing it’s AK,” she announced.

  “Yeah, perfect timing,” Matt said. He got up to leave her to it. He threw his headphones and the keyboard aside.

  Valentina frowned at the way he walked off. Why was he getting so grumpy, she wondered. “Hey, babe.”

  “How’s my girl?” AK asked.

  “Missing you, how’s New York?”

  “On the plane now. Headed back to you, sweetheart.”

  “Really?” She said. She sat up. “Oh thank God. I’ve missed you, baby.”

  “Yeah, but got some press stuff to deal with. Can you meet me at Jade tonight?”

  “Club? Aww, AK, I was hoping I could cook some spaghetti.”

  “Damn, babe. I’m gonna buy you a cook book!” AK laughed.

  She smiled. “You know you like it.”

  “Damn right I do. But I can’t. I need to see my honey. Gotta do this Jade thing. It can’t be avoided. Yo, and bring your boy Matt. Some folks will be there that he knows. Then you’re coming home with me.”

  “Ugh, okay. Whatever.”

  “Everything okay? You okay?” AK asked. She heard him accept a drink from someone and then heard Dirty Red’s voice. “Yo? Red, why you all up under me. Go sit your crazy ass up front with the fellas. Got no time for this bullshit.”

  Valentina smirked. She could hear Dirty Red call him pussy whipped and huff off.

  “Yes. Everything is okay, for the most part,” Valentina said. She reclined again in the chair. “Drama with Zee, but she’s going to be okay. And I think Raven is going to take Alexander back. My girls stay confused.”

  “Sorry to hear that. I love you, babe. I can’t wait to be with you tonight. I have a big surprise for you.”

  “Okay, see you soon,” he said.

  Valentina dropped the phone in her bag. “Matt? MAAATTTT!”

  He walked back out. “What?” he snapped.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Valentina asked.

  “You ready to work or what?” he asked.

  Valentina’s confusion deepened. She shook her head. “Okay? Chill, grouch. AK wants us to go to Jade tonight.”

  He stood there glaring at her.

  “Did you hear me?” she asked.

  “I heard you. You’re the only person that cares what AK wants,” he said. He turned and marched back inside.

  Valentina got up from the chair and went after him. She found him going through his collection of albums. “What is it?”

  He didn’t answer. Valentina walked over to the sofa chair near him and sat down. “Talk to me, man, what is it?”

  “Nothing. I’m just bugging,” he said. He cut his eyes back over to her. “Why don’t you go see about Zephyr? I’ll pick you up tonight and take you to Jade.”

  “You’re going to go?” she asked.

  “I heard about the thing. There are a couple of producers I want to see.”

  “That’s what AK said, that’s why I mentioned it. Not to piss you off, Matt,” she said.

  “You didn’t. Bounce. We can work on the songs later.” He walked out. She considered going after him but decided against it. Instead she got her things out of the dryer and put her shorts back on. She collected her purse and things and left. Maybe that conversation was one she should avoid as well.

  **

  “Open up, girl!” Valentina banged on her door. No one inside responded.

  “Is everything okay?” a voice asked.

  Valentina looked to her right. A handsome black man was outside like her. He stood in front of the door next to Zephyr’s. She frowned at him questioning her.

  “I’m Clayton, Zephyr’s friend,” he explained.

  “Oh. Ooh? Yeah she’s fine. Probably sleep,” Valentina said.

  The door opened a crack and Valentina smiled at the man who looked like he wanted to come inside with her. “There she is. See? She’s fine. Thanks!”

  He approached. “Well tell her—”

 
; Valentina closed the door and didn’t wait for the message. She caught the back end of Zephyr as her friend slipped inside of her room. Valentina dropped her keys and purse and followed. When she walked in Zephyr was pulling the covers up over her head. Valentina turned on the light.

  “Turn it off.” Zephyr moaned.

  “Zee. This has to stop.” She went into the bathroom and got the garbage pail and came back out. She picked up all the snot tissues thrown across the bed and the floor.

  “Just go, Valentina.” Zephyr said. She pulled her covers over her head.

  “No! That loser isn’t worth this! I mean damn, you finally got it right, and look at you! You think he’s out there crying over you now? Huh?”

  Zephyr lowered the sheet and glared. “How could you say that to me?”

  “Cause he treated you like crap! That’s how!” Valentina said.

  “And you think I don’t know that? You sitting on the outside of my relationship keeping score ain’t the same thing as living it. I just ended a three-year relationship that meant a lot to me. It may not have meant shit to you or José, but it meant something to me. It hurts like hell. It’s been 24 hours, am I not entitled to feel some pain? I’m sorry I’m not like you and Rae! Shoot me okay!”

  “Zee, baby, I didn’t mean it like that,” Valentina said.

  “Whatever. I love him still. If he walked back in here and was truly sorry I’d take him back. Just so my heart would stop hurting! I know it’s over and he could give a shit, but I’m human and I can’t help how I feel. Excuse me while I be pathetic and cry about it.” She flipped back over.

  Valentina came over to the bed and sat down. “Of course you can feel pain. It’s healthy for you to mourn the loss of your relationship. What you can’t do is let it consume you. You are so beautiful, Zee.” Valentina reached over and moved the sheet, then her hair from her face. “So sweet, and kind, there is a guy out there that’s going to make you feel that way. After you feel that way about yourself.”

  “I don’t want another man. I’m tired, Valentina. I just want the pain to go away.”