by La Jill Hunt
2
The next morning, she had a message waiting for her. “I’m happy you made it home safe, and even happier that you called me. I really want to get together later. If you’re interested, give me a call.” Craig’s voice sounded so sexy on the phone.
“Call him, girl,” Roni advised her. “He was cute and you can have some fun. Don’t be all serious. He can be your rebound man.”
Kayla should have known not to ask Roni, but she had popped up at the music store to meet Kayla for lunch and she couldn’t resist telling her about the message.
“What do I say?” Kayla asked her. Out of all her friends, Roni was considered the wild one. She always had a trail of guys who she had on call, so if there was an event she wanted to attend that required an escort, she had an abundance of men to choose from. She never got too serious or “caught up” and always said she would never get married.
Because of this, Kayla thought, she had never had her heart broken.
“Come on, Kay. Say you’re interested. Go out. Have fun. Get some. Girl, you are young and free. Enjoy it,” she said between bites.
“I don’t know, Ron.”
“I know you ain’t still dwelling on that nigga Geno. Kayla, he’s had no problem getting footloose and fancy-free. I know you heard about his new girl. You better get real. How long has it been? A year?”
“A year and some change. But you’re right. I do need to get on with my life.” Kayla nodded. She didn’t dare tell Roni that she had hooked up with Geno last month on a whim. They had talked occasionally and run into each other at the music store.
“Get out and get some, Kayla. Call him. Go out. What’s the worst that can happen?” Ron reached for the check. “It’s on me, girl.”
“Which one of your suitors hooked you up this weekend?”
“Trey. He got his income tax check and he won’t be here next weekend for Valentine’s. He feels bad.” Roni laughed. “I guess I’ll have to go out with Darren so I won’t feel bad, huh?”
“You are crazy. You give the word player a whole new definition. I can’t wait for the day you fall in love.”
“Never that, sweetheart. I got too much game.”
“Okay, game. Let’s go before I get fired,” Kayla said and rose to leave.
“So, when are you gonna call?”
“After I get off.”
“Handle your business, girlfriend. And let me know how it goes.” The two women parted ways and Kayla went back to work. She decided to return Craig’s call during her last break. She found the paper that she put in her pocket before she left for work and again paged him with her cell number and the code sixty-eight. She hoped he would call back as soon as she paged him because her break was only fifteen minutes long.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. The vibration of her phone startled her to the point that Kayla nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked at the caller ID and recognized the other number Craig had written on the piece of paper. She took a deep breath and let the phone ring twice more. Don’t want him to think I’m sweating him.
“Hello,” she answered.
“So what’s with the sixty-eight, beautiful?” Craig asked in his deep voice.
“I’ll always leave you wanting more. What’s up with you?” She was trying to sound nonchalant.
“I’m doing better now that I’ve talked to you. You sleep a’ight?”
She could hear him stretching and wondered if he had just gotten up. Maybe I should have called later. “I slept fine. Thanks for asking. You busy?”
“No. I’m ’bout to hit the gym and then grab me some food. Would you care to join me?” he asked. She didn’t know if he meant the gym or dinner.
“No, I have to work until four. As a matter of fact, my break is almost over. I did want to return your call, though.”
“Well, can I take you out later? After you get off? I mean, that’s still early. We can catch a movie or something.” He seemed really interested in her and she was flattered.
“Okay. What if I call you around seven and we can meet somewhere?”
“A’ight. I’ll talk to you then. Bye, Beautiful.”
“Bye.” Kayla couldn’t help smiling as she put her phone back in her pocket.
They met for drinks and a movie that night. Kayla had to catch her breath when she saw him for the second time. The resemblance to Geno was still noticeable; there was no denying the boy was fine. But Craig had a hardness about him that Geno didn’t have. He told her he was a chef at a local hotel. He took much pride in his cooking skills and offered to demonstrate them the following weekend, which was of course, one Kayla was dreading. It was Valentine’s Day.
“I have to think about it and let you know,” she told him as he walked her to her car. She looked at him and still could not deny the attraction she held for him. It wasn’t that he looked like Geno. Craig had that same sparkle in his personality that made her laugh, something she hadn’t done in a while.
“What’s there to think about? You already got plans? I know it’s the day for lovers, but it can be for friends, too.” He grabbed her hand and held it for a moment as he looked into her eyes. She immediately felt self-conscious and looked away. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” he said.
This totally took Kayla by surprise. She’d been told before how attractive she was. She had even been called beautiful before, but Craig said it with such intensity that it stunned her. She looked up at him and as if on cue in a romance film, he pulled her to him. He kissed her so passionately that time seemed to stand still.
That kiss stayed on her mind for days. It was on her mind Monday when she woke up and got dressed for work. It was on her mind when she was stuck in traffic, leaving school and headed to the music store listening to Musiq sing about “love.” It was on her mind as she listened to the messages Craig left on her voice mail at home and on her cell phone.
“Hi, Kayla. I know you’re at school, but I woke up with you on my mind and I wanted to hear your voice. So, your voice mail will just have to do until I talk to you, if you decide to grace me with a phone call. Have a great day, beautiful.”
Kayla could not help but smile as she hung up the phone late that Thursday evening. She still had not decided what she would do for Valentine’s Day. Yvonne wanted everyone to go out, but Roni of course had plans and so did Tia. Kayla figured she would play it by ear. She had a long week and didn’t really feel like going out and seeing other couples all hugged up, knowing that this time last year she was happily involved herself. Geno. Wonder what he’ll be doing tomorrow? Probably with his new trick, she thought. At that moment, the phone rang and she was surprised to see Geno’s cell number on the caller ID.
Taking a deep breath, she answered with a low, “Hello.” “Hey, Kay. How’s it going?” He sounded great, as usual. The sound of his voice caused waves of memories to come flooding back.
“Great, G. And you?” she asked, monitoring her breathing.
“I’ve been good. I just called to check on you. I mean, it’s been a while since we talked and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine, G.” She didn’t know what he wanted to hear at this point.
“You weren’t busy, were you? I mean, you sound kinda distant. Am I disturbing you or something?”
“No. I just got in from work. But I do have some papers I am about to grade. And I gotta get these gift bags together for my kids.” She sighed, still wondering what brought this phone call on. She and Geno had not parted on the best of terms, but they had gotten to the point where they were at least friends. It still hurt her to know what he had done, but it hurt even more that they were no longer together.
“Well, I’m not gonna keep you long, Kay. I just wanted to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day and make sure you’re doing all right,” Geno said quietly. She could hear him fumbling in the background.
“Where are you, Geno? You sound muffled,” Kayla asked him, straining to decipher the background noise.
“The door is locked!” She heard a female voice yelling.
“I’m picking my friend up from work. Hey, it was nice talking to you. I’ll call you back later,” he quickly said and the phone went dead.
That nigga had the nerve to call me while he was picking up some other chick from work. She shook her head and threw the phone on the bed. She had to remind herself that they were no longer together so she had no right to be mad. Again, she told herself that he had moved on, so it was time for her to do the same thing. The kiss again was on her mind as she picked up the phone and dialed Craig’s number.
3
“He’s cooking you dinner?” Roni asked her as she put the hot curling iron in Kayla’s hair. They were in Kayla’s cluttered bedroom and Roni was helping her get ready for her big date.
“That’s what he says. I mean, he is a cook. That’s what he does for a living,” Kayla answered as she tried not to flinch from the heat.
“Um, the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.” Roni smiled smugly.
“Ron, I thought that was the way to a man’s heart.”
“No, girl. The way to a man’s heart is through his head, and I ain’t talking about the one on his shoulder with two ears, either.” Roni laughed and almost burned Kayla’s forehead.
“Girl, you’d better chill. You know I ain’t got enough hair to wear bangs.” Kayla swatted at Roni.
“I can throw some tracks right in there. You know I can.” Roni tilted Kayla’s head and kept curling. It was a well-known fact that Veronica Jett was one of the best hairdressers this earth had ever seen; a talent inherited from her mother, Ms. Ernestine Jett, the owner of Jett Black Hair Salon on the south side of the city. But Roni decided that doing hair wasn’t steady enough to be her thing, so she taught at the alternative school instead. She did her girlfriends’ hair and occasionally went to work at the shop when she was strapped for cash, which was rarely, since she had enough male compadres to help her out whenever that occurred.
“Did I tell you Geno called me last night?” Kayla acted like it was no big deal.
“What the hell did he want?”
“I don’t know. The girl he was picking up from work came to the car before he had the chance to tell me.” Kayla shrugged.
“What girl?” Roni sucked her teeth as she reached for the spray bottle.
“I don’t know.” Kayla sighed. Roni reached for the makeup kit on Kayla’s dresser and began making up Kayla’s face.
“Close your eyes,” she said and Kayla felt her applying the eye shadow. “Look, Kay. I want you to do me a favor. Go out tonight, have fun, don’t even think about Geno. Let it go and move on. You are a beautiful, intelligent black woman with so much to offer. Forget that nigga. It’s over. Okay? All done. You like?”
Kayla opened her eyes and was amazed at the transformation Roni had done. Her big brown eyes seemed brighter and her full lips were glossy and sensual. There was not a hair out of place on her perfectly curled head.
“Damn. I am a diva.” Kayla smiled and hugged her girlfriend.
“Now hurry up. You don’t wanna keep your chef waiting. And here.” Roni reached in her purse and placed a small item in Kayla’s hand.
“What’s this?” Kayla asked and looked down at the small plastic wrapper. “Oh, hell, naw. I don’t need this. You know I don’t get down like that. I just met this man, Roni. He ain’t getting nothing from me except maybe some tongue action—and that’s only on his lips.”
“Take it, Kayla. It’s Valentine’s and you might get lucky. You never know, girl. Better safe than sorry. I gotta run. Darren is picking me up at nine. Love you, Kay. Call me in the morning and let me know how it goes,” Roni said as she left. Kayla looked at the condom and put it in the top drawer of her dresser.
“That girl is a fool,” she said out loud and proceeded to get dressed. She decided to dress down, but cute. Craig told her he would cook dinner and they would get to know each other better. She liked him more and more every time she spoke with him.
Pulling on her black silk shirt and fitted Parasuco jeans, Kayla took one last look in the mirror. She turned and noticed the photo of Geno and her. Time to move on, she thought as she picked it up. She placed it in the top of her hall closet when she grabbed her leather coat.
The drive to Craig’s house only took twenty minutes, but to Kayla it felt like hours. The neighborhood was fairly new and she took notice of the perfectly manicured yards even though it was dark. She found his townhouse nestled at the back of the cul-de-sac, his blue Honda parked right out front. As she parked behind it, she saw the lights go dim and the porch light come on. Checking herself in the rearview mirror, she touched up her lipstick and opened her car door.
“My, my, my. You look too good to stay in, Kayla. Maybe we should go to State Street’s so I can show you off.” He grinned and gave Kayla a hug.
“You are so silly.” Kayla could smell his Calvin Klein cologne as he pulled her close to him. She took notice of how sexy he looked dressed in the simple wife beater and blue sweat pants, white socks on his large feet.
“Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.” He led her into the sunken living room and she was immediately impressed. Sounds of jazz filled the room. There was a brown leather sectional surrounded by African artwork and statues. They were all beautiful. On the wall was a huge print of a warrior, standing with staff in hand in the African jungle. The coffee and end tables were adorned with carvings and hand blown glass. Kayla had never seen anything like it.
“Make yourself at home.”
“This is gorgeous. I mean, absolutely gorgeous,” she told him.
“Thanks. I try,” he answered. “Have a seat. I gotta check on something in the kitchen.”
Kayla took a seat and continued to admire her surroundings. This brother has taste. The mahogany entertainment center held a thirty-two-inch television and a stereo system. There were what looked like hundreds of CDs and DVDs on mahogany shelves.
“Did you find my place okay?” he called from the kitchen.
“Yeah. Your directions were easy to follow. This is a nice neighborhood,” she answered. “How long have you lived here?”
“Almost a year,” he said. She turned around and saw he was walking toward her with a glass of wine.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the glass from him. “Something smells delicious.”
“Chicken. It’s finishing up. Would you like a tour while we wait?”
“Sure.” She shrugged.
“Let’s start upstairs and work our way down.” He took her by the arm and led her up the Berber-carpeted steps. At the top there was a loft with a small office, outfitted with a desk, computer, file cabinet, and a bookshelf full of books. The wall held framed photos of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Etta James. There were also jazz statues on the shelves.
“You read?” she asked him, impressed by the titles, including historical greats such as Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and Richard Wright.
“Jazz and reading, my two favorite hobbies.” He smiled. They continued further and he showed her a bedroom, which was modestly decorated in taupe. There was a full bed and a dresser, but not a lot of artwork, as the rest of the house had. “This is the guestroom.”
“Nice.”
“It’s a’ight. I haven’t got it finished yet.” They returned to the hallway and he opened a second door across the hall. “Now this is the master bedroom.” He grinned as he opened the door.
Kayla’s mouth dropped as they entered the huge room. It looked like something off MTV Cribs. The grand lair was an ivory dream. The king-sized bed was raised in the center of the room. There was a separate sitting area with a cream leather love seat and matching ottoman. As she inhaled, Kayla smelled vanilla and noticed candles burning in each corner of the room. On the far wall, she was stunned by a flat screen television.
“Wow,” was all she could say. As she walked closer to the bed, she had to blink several times to make s
ure she was seeing clearly.
“It’s mink,” Craig informed her as she touched the bedspread.
“Cooking must really be paying well,” Kayla commented. She could feel Craig’s hand on the small of her back and she turned to face him. As he reached and touched her face, there was a beeping noise coming from downstairs.
“Saved by the bell. Sounds like dinner is ready. Shall we eat?”
Kayla took one last look around the room, still amazed at its beauty. “May I use your restroom?” Kayla asked.
“Yeah. You can use the one downstairs,” Craig answered. She followed him down the steps and he showed her to the bathroom. Like the rest of the house, it was an impeccable array of browns and beige with gold detailing. She stood in the bathroom a few moments, just looking at herself in the mirror. Maybe he is worth more than a little harmless fun, she thought.
“You okay?” Craig tapped on the door, startling her.
“Yeah. I’m coming out right now,” she called. She washed her hands and opened the door where he was waiting for her.
“Right this way, Madame.” He looped his arm through hers and guided her into a beautiful dining room. He had dressed the elaborate table with flowers and candles. He pulled a chair out for her to be seated and out of nowhere, presented her with a long-stemmed white rose. “For you.”
“Why thank you, kind sir.” She laid the rose in front of her.