Shame on It All

by Zane

  “Oh, yeah?” Fatima prodded. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”

  He eyed her seductively. “For starters, I’d like to invite you to a party tomorrow night.”

  “A party is going to transform me into a basketball fan?”

  “A party full of basketball players might.”

  They both laughed.

  “Well, I don’t know about all of that,” Fatima replied, unsure about her readiness to date someone, even casually.

  “Why not? You’re not married, are you? That would be just my bad luck.”

  “Actually, I am married, but we’re separated and I’ve filed for a divorce. We have two kids. A boy, James, and a girl, Marissa.”

  Fatima wanted to make sure she added her kids in there because they were a package deal, and men needed to know that from jump street.

  He didn’t seem fazed by her announcement at all. “Any chance of the two of you reconciling?”

  Fatima giggled. “There’s a better chance of me being taller than you by my next birthday.”

  “Ouch! The brotha must have seriously messed up.”

  “He was a playboy,” Fatima stated angrily. “You’re not a playboy, are you?”

  At that very moment, a sistah wearing natural locks and practically nothing else walked past and rubbed him on the shoulder. “Hey there,” she cooed.

  He just said, “Hey yourself.” Then he turned his attention back to Fatima, ignoring the other woman completely.

  “I guess that answers my question,” Fatima commented.

  “No, it doesn’t. I am a far cry from a playboy. Maybe in my younger years, but now I am looking for something much more stable.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” He took Fatima’s hand. “So, how about the party?”

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  “Like?”

  Fatima giggled. “Like asking my name and giving me yours.”

  He chuckled and shook his head in embarrassment. “Dang, I guess I was so caught up in your beauty that it slipped my mind. I’m Hakim.”

  “I’m Fatima.”

  “Nice to meet you, Fatima. Now, how about it?”

  Fatima flew into the house like a tornado and dashed up to her bedroom. Even though she had more than twenty-four hours before her date, she wanted to select the perfect outfit. She called Harmony to tell her about the turn of events and Harmony was stunned.

  “You mean Hakim Sommer?” Harmony asked excitedly.

  “Yes, I think he did say that was his last name.”

  “Damn, Sis, you’ve hooked a big one.”

  “What? Oh, you mean because he plays professional ball.”

  “Girl, you’re living in the ice age. Hakim Sommer just signed a deal with the Wizards for more than a hundred million.”

  “Get the hell out of here!” Fatima squealed into Harmony’s ear. “Damn, no wonder the women looked like they would suck his toes and shit up in the health club.”

  “You’re always hooking up with the wealthy men, Sis.”

  “Not on purpose,” Fatima said defensively, sensing that Harmony’s statement wasn’t exactly meant as a compliment. “There was some definite chemistry there and I just want to explore the possibilities.”

  “Explore them, Sis. You go, gurl!”

  “I need your help.”

  “With what?”

  “What I’m going to wear, what I’m going to do with my hair, everything.”

  “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be right over.”

  Fatima hung up the phone and sprawled across her bed. She couldn’t remember ever being so excited about a date. Then again, she’d never really dated anyone except Javon since high school. She had crept around and had one-night stands with a few other men, but that was it. She regretted the day she’d ever worked that damn voodoo on Javon’s ass. Now she couldn’t get rid of him. Her maid had handed her half a dozen messages from Javon when she’d walked in, probably wondering why Fatima had taken off up the stairs like a bat out of hell.

  His messages were always the same: “I need to talk to you. When can I come over?”

  Javon was so full of shit. She allowed him to come over to see the children, but he always tried to get her to hold a conversation, and that shit was out of the question. Now, she could see herself holding many a conversation with Hakim. Intimate conversations. She was looking forward to the date and couldn’t wait for Harmony to get there so they could start working some magic.

  • • •

  Hakim didn’t bring Fatima home until three in the morning. When he walked her to the front door, she was torn over whether to invite him in. She decided against it. She assumed that most women let him have some sex after the first date, and while it was about more than that with her, she didn’t want him to loop her into that circle of women who were just after his money.

  She was already afraid that he would think that after he’d seen her house when he’d picked her up earlier. Even though she hadn’t known he was wealthy when he’d first approached her, she feared he would think that she was trying to move from the comfort zone of one sugar daddy to another. Camisha had tried to hook her up with some football players since her man was pro, but Fatima would have no part of it because the only ones she found attractive were already hooked up. As far as she was concerned, that in itself spoke volumes about her character.

  “I had a great time, Hakim,” she told him honestly. Truth be known, she could never remember having had so much fun.

  “I had a great time, too.” Hakim looked down at her and ran his fingers through her hair.

  “I would invite you in, but it’s a little late for a drink and I should probably get to bed. My kids will be up in a few hours and I better have some energy to deal with them.”

  Hakim chuckled. “I understand. Besides, I wouldn’t want you to feel the least bit uncomfortable, and I have the feeling that you would be exactly that if I came in.”

  “No, no, I feel extremely comfortable around you.” Fatima’s eyes fell to the ground. “It’s just that I’m not very experienced at this dating thing. At least not for a long time.”

  “So, when can I meet the little ones?”

  Fatima’s eyes lit up as she gazed up at him. She was pleased that he wanted to meet them. “How about dinner tomorrow, unless you think that’s too soon?”

  “Dinner tomorrow would be great. I see you have a basketball court over yonder. Does your son play?”

  “He’d like to, but he’s not very good.”

  “Well, maybe I can show him some pointers.”

  “I’m sure he would love that.”

  “Then, I’ll see you tomorrow. Around what time?”

  “Five?”

  “Perfect.” Hakim took Fatima’s chin into his hand. “Just like you.”

  They shared their first kiss, a long one, and Fatima melted into his arms for a good ten minutes.

  30

  The Truth Hurts

  Colette stared at Lloyd in amazement as he meticulously shaved in the bathroom mirror. They’d just finished getting busy in the shower and he had truly rocked her world. Lloyd was her first lover since Mandingo, and she had been a nervous wreck when he first entered her, praying that her pussy hadn’t been stretched too much for him to get some enjoyment out of the act. Thank goodness Mandingo hadn’t been in her pussy long. He’d wanted the ass from jump and Colette was damn sure not allowing a man anywhere near her asshole again.

  Lloyd was a major client of the law firm where Harmony had hooked her up. He was an Internet phenomenon, having launched BlackSexGods.com, the largest African-American bachelor site on the Web. Colette had salivated over him for weeks when he’d come to the firm to meet with the senior partners. She’d finally got up the nerve to make a play for him one day in the elevator.

  It was the easiest conquest of her entire life. By the time they got to ground level, they were both halfway naked and ended up fucki
ng in the back of his limousine while the driver pretended to be wiping dirt off the exterior with a handkerchief.

  Colette hadn’t told Bryce, or anyone else for that matter, that she was seeing Lloyd. She wanted to surprise them after he officially became her man. She wanted a commitment from him, and judging from the way he ate her pussy like a pit bull with lockjaw, she assumed she was well on her way to becoming his one and only.

  She walked up behind him and ran her fingers up and down his spine, tickling him.

  He giggled. “Colette, I really need to get dressed, or I’ll be late.”

  “What time do we have to be there?” Colette asked, referring to the BlackSexGods.com Calendar Party, where the sixteen men gracing the pages would be introduced.

  Lloyd eyed her reflection in the mirror and pulled away from her, wiping the remaining shaving cream from his face and walking out into the master bedroom of his penthouse.

  “Colette, I never mentioned you going with me,” he said coldly.

  “But, I just assumed that—”

  “Maybe you should stop assuming, Colette. I never even implied that I was taking you with me tonight.”

  “Since we’re dating, I figured you’d take me along.”

  Lloyd sat down on his bed and discarded his towel on the floor. His semihard dick made Colette suddenly horny.

  “Colette, we’re fucking; not dating. There is a difference.”

  Colette forgot all about being horny. “Excuse me?”

  “There’s nothing to excuse. I’m just telling you like it is. You’re a lot of fun, but as far as a real relationship, I need someone who is more…”

  “More what?”

  Lloyd buried his face in his hands. “I knew I shouldn’t have done this. It’s always the same.”

  “What’s always the same?” Colette asked, moving strategically closer in case she had to end up slapping the shit out of him.

  “Whenever I get involved with slutty-ass women, they expect me to give them the world.”

  “Are you trying to call me a slut?”

  “I’m not trying to call you anything. I’m telling you straight up that you’re a slut. Look at how we met.”

  “We met at my job.”

  “Yes, your job. A job is not the same thing as a career and I need a woman with a career.”

  “Fuck you! I’m leaving!”

  “That’s probably for the best. No hard feelings, but you’re just a temp. You don’t even have a regular job, and as far as I can tell, you have little education. I’m a rising star and I need a woman that mirrors me in every way.”

  “So what the hell were you doing with me in the first place?” Colette lashed out at him.

  “Like I said before, I was fucking you. Pure and simple.”

  Colette finished dressing in silence and left in tears. She headed straight for Bryce’s house.

  After filling Bryce in on everything, the fireworks began.

  “How dare that muthafucka talk to you like that!” Bryce roared, holding on to the poker from her fireplace like she was ready to break something.

  “Bryce, I just can’t believe it,” Colette whimpered. “I really thought Lloyd and I could have something special.”

  “I say we fuck his ass up like we did Dean Mitchell!”

  “No, Bryce,” Colette pleaded, knowing Bryce was damn serious about what she’d just said. “That was a totally different situation. Dean Mitchell sexually harassed Lucky. I was just a damn fool for thinking Lloyd would take me seriously.”

  Bryce thought back to the conversation she’d had with Harmony, about Colette wanting men that were way out of her league. She hated to have to go there, but didn’t see any other option.

  “Colette, maybe you’re attracted to the wrong type of men.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Bryce sat down beside her on the sofa. “I mean, maybe you should try dating some brothers that make a lesser income and who can appreciate a sistah like yourself.”

  Colette leered at Bryce, clearly understanding her implications. “Bryce, I can’t believe you just said that shit to me!”

  “Colette, I’m just sick of seeing you get your feelings hurt. Other than Mandingo, who almost ripped you a new asshole, and that brother that insisted you bang his asshole with a strap-on, how many men have you dated in recent years that didn’t make six-figure incomes?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with dating men that have it going on,” Colette said nastily.

  “No, there’s nothing wrong with it, but there is something wrong with it if they’re only out to use you for sex.”

  Colette got up from the sofa. “Bryce, I’m going to leave. I came here because I thought we could have a decent conversation. I need you to support me; not dis me.”

  “Colette, I have supported you and defended you all these years. I love you, Sis, and sometimes love hurts. I would be doing you a serious injustice by continuing to ignore the problem. You’ve got to realize that most men should have flea collars around their necks, and unless you stumble across one that is genuinely interested in you, you’ll keep ending up in the same situation.”

  “How do you know Troy’s ass isn’t cheating?” Colette asked sarcastically. “After all, George damn sure was.”

  Bryce stood and faced her. “That hurt, Colette. It really did, but I’m woman enough to let it slide since I know your emotions are guiding your judgment right about now. Troy may or may not be cheating. There’s always a possibility, but I believe what he and I have is real. While George and I were together a long time, I’ve never felt as content as I do with Troy. Not ever.”

  Colette threw her arms around Bryce and began to weep. “I’m sorry, Sis. I didn’t mean to say that.”

  “I know you didn’t, and it’s cool.”

  Bryce wiped the tears from Colette’s face with the sleeve of her shirt. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we go take in a movie?”

  “You mean you can actually leave the house without Troy?” Colette asked jokingly, feeling better by the second. “For your information, Troy is having a men’s night out with Robbie and Zachary.”

  “Aw, Lawd, not the booty clubs again!”

  Bryce chuckled. “Naw, not tonight. They went to some seminar over at UDC about dealing with African-American women in relationships.”

  “Are you for real?”

  “Yes.” Bryce giggled and they both sat back down. “Those fools actually believe that some seminar given by a male author who thinks he is a relationship guru, even though he can’t maintain one his damn self, will give them a greater insight into Harmony, Lucky, and me.”

  “That’s damn ridiculous!”

  “Yes, it is, but let them go waste seventy-nine dollars each to learn jack shit!”

  Colette and Bryce traded humor for the next fifteen minutes before hunting down the movie section of the newspaper.

  31

  A Time for Good-Byes

  “Bryce, could you open up the door sometime today?” Harmony was kicking the bottom of the door, about to drop the brown paper grocery bag in her hands. Lucky was not fairing much better with the one she was holding.

  “I’m coming! Sheesh!” They could hear Bryce rumbling around with some keys on the other side of the door. After what seemed like an eternity, the door finally swung open. “What’s all that crap?”

  “Crap?” Harmony rolled her eyes. “Lucky and I go through all of this trouble to come over here and cheer your ass up and you answer the door with a ’tude?”

  They pushed by Bryce and went to the kitchen to set the bags on the table.

  “Damn, Bryce.” Lucky glanced at Bryce. “What the hell is that on your head? An Aunt Jemima rag?”

  “Lucky, you are sooooooooo damn funny, I forgot to laugh.” Bryce reached behind her head to tighten the red bandanna. “For your information, this helps keep my hairstyle in place while I’m asleep.”

  “You wear that to bed? When Troy is here?” Lucky and Harm
ony both giggled. “And he does the nasty with you while you have that on?”

  “Lucky, shut the hell up!” Bryce smacked her lips, then started rummaging through the bags. “Troy’s ass is out of town on business. I can wear whatever the hell I want.”

  “We can see that,” Harmony said with disdain. “That raggedy-ass T-shirt you have on says it all.” She reached over and spread the bottom of Bryce’s shirt out so she could see the silk-screening. “The Commodores World Tour 1977?”

  “Damn shame she has that thing on,” Lucky chided, and they all laughed, even Bryce.

  “Aiight now, enough of the snide remarks. What’s all this stuff you brought over here?”

  “Well, for starters, we got all the fixin’s we need to make your favorite dish, homemade chicken pot pie,” Harmony said. “And then—”

  “Homemade chicken pot pie?” Bryce chuckled. “Which one of you huzzies think you can throw down in the kitchen like that?”

  “I can burn the hell out of food,” Harmony snarled. “Just because I don’t cook that often doesn’t mean I can’t.”

  “Whatever!”

  Lucky went into the living room and tossed her duffel bag on the couch. Bryce followed and watched as she started pulling videotapes out of it.

  “Great! You guys rented some flicks. I hope you got some new ones I haven’t seen yet.”

  “Actually, Bryce”—Harmony entered the living room—“we rented a bunch of old movies to watch.”

  “How old?” Bryce smacked her lips. “Damn, I wanted to see some new shit like that Laurence Fishburne movie, The Matrix, or that Denzel movie, The Siege.”

  “Not tonight,” Lucky said, butting in. “We’re taking you back to the old school.”

  “What did you rent then? My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music?”

  They all chuckled.

  “No, we didn’t get that ridiculous,” Harmony responded. “However, we did get Cooley High, Fame, and Sparkle.”

  “Word?” Bryce’s eyes lit up because those were some of her favorites. “What is all this anyway? You guys pop up over here unexpectedly with groceries and movies and smiles on your faces like you’re in collusion. What’s up with that?”