You Make Me Wanna

by Nikki Rashan

  Before I could respond, we heard the garage door open, and through the mudroom came Asia and Deidra, lugging two large bags of ice.

  “Let me help you,” Angie said, already in motion toward Deidra.

  “Thanks, sweetie.” Deidra exhaled after Angie took the ice from her arms and set it on the granite countertop.

  “Finally, time for drinks!” Asia exclaimed with the same enthusiasm I have when about to have a martini.

  Just as she was about to add ice to the cooler, the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll do this,” I told Asia, and watched her walk through the foyer to answer the door.

  She was still a spectacular sight, simply beautiful in my eyes. Tonight she wore all black, her shiny black hair lying against her blouse. Her frame was still slim, and her walk ladylike.

  She opened the door, smiling graciously, and greeted Grace, her coworker, and her husband, Stanford, who both complimented the welcoming décor of the foyer.

  From the first month Asia moved into my apartment with me, we began a savings account, each depositing equal portions of the amount Asia would no longer be paying in rent. Initially, the joint account was somewhat challenging for her, having been taken advantage of in the past. However, I reassured her that I would never take from her, and that I still had a separate savings account of my own. She was comfortable with that and maintained her own stash as well.

  Our fierce dedication to saving more than we budgeted allowed us to place a rather decent down payment on our new luxurious home in a Stone Mountain subdivision. Did we need 4,000 square feet? Not necessarily. But we wanted it.

  In recent months, we had been discussing adopting a daughter. We weren’t one hundred percent set on the idea, but were weighing our options of adoption against artificial insemination. If we opted against adoption, we hadn’t decided if we wanted to select the father of our child from a catalog of men, or solicit a friend for the honor. (Gary jokingly accepted the role when I told him of our consideration.) Either way, after four years of a solid relationship, we were ready to take the next leap.

  Asia and I hadn’t had to overcome many bumps or jump major hurdles in our relationship. We had successfully reached the point of genuine contentment and were proud of the strength of our union. Occasionally we would suffer moments of frustration after we both worked a string of long days, and tempers shortened and patience disappeared over the simplest things.

  Exhausted and overtired, one night I angrily stomped out of the room to sleep on the couch after she kept rolling up in the comforter, taking it from my side of the bed.

  She’d snapped at me when I reminded her that it was her job, after she was awaken at four a.m. to tend to an ailing patient. She was clearly envious and annoyed as I snuggled with my pillow while she hurriedly dressed. But, aside from random incidents such as those, we were living the ideal relationship I always knew I could have.

  I must add, even though we worked crazy long hours and were frequently spent, we still find time for each other. Some nights, depending upon who arrived home first, a hot bubble bath would await the other. Sometimes one of us would be waiting in it, other times we’d grant that solitary time to unwind. Though many nights were spent sleeping comfortably in each other’s arms, many additional nights (and mornings) were spent making love. We had not tired of pleasing each other in every creative way.

  Our circle of friends remained fairly small. Of course, Nakia remained my closest comrade, sharing lively conversation over lunch and hanging out with Lisa, now an outgoing high school junior, and Fred Jr., who was headed to Morehouse in the fall. Each had fallen happily into the roles of big brother and sister to Gene and Nakia’s two-year-old son, Aidyn Gene, a delightful addition to their family, and part of the inspiration Asia and I felt in our increased desire for a child of our own.

  Andrea and I had formed a great business relationship that bloomed into a sweet friendship as well. She remained my assistant, very comfortable in her position and still offering random moments of clarity on busy days. Her dress remained primarily black, though her makeup had lightened a bit since the arrival of Santino, her boyfriend of one year. Twice Santino and Asia met me and Andrea at the mall for a friendly lunch.

  After bumping into Angie and Deidra years back, Deidra and Asia found that although they were unsuccessful in a romantic relationship, they swiftly blossomed into the all too common friendship with an ex. Deidra had sent Asia a jolly email telling her how nice it had been to bump into her like that and how odd it was that each of our ex’s were connected. Asia responded in a joking, semi-serious manner that Deidra had come across my ex well before their relationship had officially terminated. Deidra apologized repeatedly, saying she couldn’t help it; that it had felt like love at first sight and she just had to be with Angie. Asia recalled my having said those exact same words in reference to her and acquiesced to the fact that perhaps it was all simply meant to be.

  Still, initially I was slightly disturbed by the newfound friendship, unsure if Deidra’s intentions were sincere. Especially with Angie as her partner. I mean, Angie was into some freaky shit, and my days of bed-hopping and threesomes were over. I prayed neither of them was hinting around to a four-party orgy. Asia assured me that there was nothing to worry about, and that I need not concern myself with Deidra, and she could handle herself if Deidra ever attempted to cross a line.

  We soon realized that our frets were futile, as Deidra and Angie’s relationship proved just as strong as ours. The four of us gathered for outings, attended plays and frequented Pride events. In the beginning I found myself uncomfortable in some moments, when Angie and I would speak eye to eye and my mind would randomly perform brief flashbacks of those same eyes devouring my body during moments of heated pleasure. I wondered if that happened to her as well. But as quickly as the reminiscent moment occurred, it was just an afterthought.

  “Hey, Kyla,” Grace said, giving me a hug.

  Stanford and I hugged also.

  “What would you like to drink?” Asia asked them both.

  “Brandy and Coke for me,” Stanford said.

  Grace asked, “Do you have red wine?”

  “Of course. Please, go ahead and join the others. Kyla and I will get this.”

  Asia and I began preparing drinks as our guests mingled about the room, which was in our view. David entertained them all: Marlon, Gene, Kia, Gary, Mary, Angie, Deidra, Grace, Stanford, Andrea, and Santino, our closest friends we’d asked to join us in the celebration of our new home.

  “I’ve been dreaming about this day for so long,” Asia said, retrieving the martini shaker from the cabinet.

  “So have I. I’m so happy it’s here.”

  I mixed gin with juice and vodka with cranberry and Bacardi with lemonade. Asia concocted an apple martini with a splash of Sprite.

  When the drinks were ready, we placed them on trays and delivered them to our guests, the both of us each having a glass of white wine. We gathered around the center of the room for a toast.

  “Asia and I want to thank each of you for coming tonight. We’re so glad this day has arrived, and I’m sure you are too, after having had to listen to I don’t know how many stories during our search for the perfect home.”

  They all laughed and nodded in agreement.

  “We want you to know that we appreciate you and that we treasure each and every one of you. You each bless our lives with something very special. Here’s to all of you,” I said, raising my arm.

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Nakia said.

  Her voice had softened greatly since Aidyn, thank goodness, because I feared she’d scare that baby back into the womb with that raucous voice of hers.

  “Kyla, Asia, I have to take this opportunity to say that the two of you exemplify love in its greatest form. It’s genuine, it’s sincere, it’s honest, and it’s strong. And you complement each other in ways I’ve never seen. I can see that you two have mastered one of the greatest feats in relationships, and that’s b
eing friends. You two are truly friends, the through-thick-and-thin kind of friendship that’s needed for relationships to survive. You not only love each other, but you like each other, and I admire the both of you so much. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we’re blessed for what you bring to our lives as well,” she said, choking up a bit on her last words.

  My lips quivered slightly also. “Thanks, Nakia,” I whispered, as we all clinked our glasses together.

  My glass touched Asia’s glass last, and our eyes met. We lingered before taking a sip of our wine.

  “She said it all, didn’t she?”

  “Well, she missed one thing,” I said.

  “Oh yeah? And what is that?” Asia pulled me closer, her arm around my waist.

  I leaned close to her ear. “She didn’t say all the beautiful things I’m going to do to you as soon as they leave tonight.”

  Asia tilted her head back in light laughter. “Hmm. Like what?”

  “You know, that thing with my fingers and tongue from the back.”

  She moaned softly. “All right, we can make them leave now.” She kissed me on the lips.

  “Hey, hey, now, ladies,” David said, “you still have company here.”

  “Okay, okay. I guess we can wait,” I said, and everyone chuckled.

  “Let’s get this party started!” Asia squealed, releasing me and heading to the Bose system.

  “Cool,” Gary said. “Got any Carrie Underwood?”

  Mary rolled her eyes, and Asia grinned at me as she fingered over the CD tower, leaving Santino looking confused and Andrea smiling.

  “Sure, Gary. I think I do.”

  Urban Books, LLC

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  You Make Me Wanna Copyright © 2009 Nikki Rashan

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.

  ISBN: 978-1-6016-2587-8

  This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.

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