Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  Before the music started blasting, I heard my mother say, “Hello, dear. How are you? Oh, my goodness! I haven’t seen you in so long. You still just as pretty as you were. How are you? Are you still in school?”

  I couldn’t hear the voice of the person that responded because of the loud music.

  “I didn’t know you knew Mrs. Starr, Brandie.”

  “How do you know her, Caymin? You didn’t go to Homebound school?”

  Mrs. Starr just smiled. “Well, girls, nice to see you. Let me go help get this ton-pound cake ready.”

  Luvly hugged Caymin again. “Girl, I’m so glad you came. I bet you can’t even pick which little girl she is.”

  Caymin scanned the room. “Right there.”

  Brandie’s eyes followed her finger. “Ooh, she is so pretty.”

  “Thank you. And what’s your name?” Luvly smiled and extended her hand, recognizing the almost identical resemblance between Brandie and Caymin.

  “Brandie.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Brandie, Luvly. Luvly, Brandie.” They shook hands and exchanged genuine smiles.

  “Luvly, she looks just like you and . . .” Caymin stopped mid-sentence because she didn’t want to tell Luvly’s business.

  “I know. Like her twin,” Brandie completed the statement.

  “Here’s her present.” Caymin gave the box to Luvly.

  “And here’s mine.”

  “Oh, Brandie, you don’t even know her. That’s sweet of you.”

  “Girl, please. I love kids.”

  “Y’all come on in and make yourself comfortable. Let me go help my mom and Seal.”

  Brandie went to the bar to get a drink while Caymin stood around to see if anyone looked familiar.

  “What’s up, girl?” Money said, tapping her on the shoulder. “Long time no see.”

  “Hey, big-time football player.”

  “What’s happenin’, girl? You seen Chinoe?”

  Her facial expression changed; she didn’t want to seem too hungry for the reunion, but Money knew different.

  “No, and I really don’t have to see him.”

  “Ahh, come on.” Money pulled Caymin into the room where I was stacking the toys and clothing store, and nudged her to speak.

  “Damn, I ain’t gon’ have to buy nothing for years,” Money said, trying to break the ice.

  “Yeah, you and Luvly gon’ have a job cleanin’ all this up.”

  I turned around, and no more words would leave my mouth. She looked the same, a little thicker, but the same fresh face, long black hair, and smooth caramel skin. And still hadn’t grown no titties, but everything still looked sweet. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she favored my mystery star.

  “Hi, Chinoe.”

  “What’s up? How you been?”

  “Fine. Just fine.” She adjusted her purse strap.

  “I was thinking about you the other day. Wondering how you were. Were you married? Had kids?”

  “No, still single. I live in Cambridge townhouses. My sister had two more kids . . . soooooo I was kind of pushed out of the house. And I go to Clayton State University.” She was nervous.

  “You? In college? I thought you weren’t interested.”

  “I don’t want to be left behind.”

  I stared at her as she told me about the life that I should have been part of, but I didn’t have any words to give her. No explanations for why I acted the way I did. I was young and unconcerned about my future, let alone anyone else’s.

  Taeko walked into the room tipsy. “Is this the lovely photographer I’ve been hearing about?” Caymin turned to face him. “Oh, snap! Caymin, what’s up?” She gave him an endearing hug.

  “Where’s your girlfriend, Chinoe?” Takeo asked, never knowing when to shut up.

  “She’s not my girlfriend; she’s just a friend.”

  “Oh, God, you still hollerin’ that ‘friends’ crap?” Caymin threw up her hands and smacked her lips, looking at me for an answer.

  I wouldn’t look Caymin in her eyes. I didn’t feel like I owed her an explanation about who Chaise was.

  “Chaise had a photo shoot to do.” He noticed the tension in my voice.

  “Oh, Joi wanted to meet her, but I guess at a later time. Later, Caymin.” He elbowed me on his way out. “She still look damn good.”

  “Chaise? Chaise Kemp?”

  “How do you know her name?” Damn!

  “She is a top photographer. Young—with the best model ever under her belt—and black, may I add. She graduated from Fisk University.”

  “Yeah, she was modeling to put herself through school. Then she started taking pictures and shooting layouts . . .” I realized I was sounding like a real, proud boyfriend.

  She flashed that cute smile that always drove me crazy. “I’m taking photography classes; that’s how I know who she is. I’m almost finished.”

  “Umm, so you gonna make big money, huh?”

  “Try. Maybe if I can get your beautiful face in front of my camera the dough will role in.”

  “Well, when you have to do your internship, come holla at me. It’ll be on the house.”

  We laughed like we hadn’t skipped almost five years of our lives and headed back out to the game room. Damn, maybe this was my chance to put my puzzle together and finish what I started with her.

  “I saw your mom. She’s still looking nice.”

  “Yeah, I try to do my best with her.”

  A tall stocky dude with braids walked up behind her, grabbing her by the waist. “Hey, Babe, I’ve been looking for you.”

  “I’ve been right here,” she informed him, looking annoyed by his aggressive claim.

  His body language let me know that she was his woman or that he was definitely hittin’ it. Caymin looked uncomfortable standing in front of me with her lover, but I bet money that if I was absent from the scene she would’ve been hangin’ on his every word.

  “Chinoe, this is my friend, Robert.” Robert cut his eyes at Caymin, but never letting go of her waist.

  Uh oh, she slipped. She might not be able to pay for that mistake.

  “Robert, this is my friend from school.” She sucked her teeth and batted her eyes at me. “She is the birthday girl’s uncle/godfather.”

  “Nice to meet you, man.”

  “Same here, Dawg.” We shook hands, but my eyes never left Caymin’s.

  “Where’s B?”

  “Why? Hunt here?”

  “No, I thought she came with you.”

  “Well, nice seein’ you again, Chinoe. Let me find my friend. I’m sure she’s in good company, though.”

  “A’ight! Check you later.”

  * * *

  I walked out into the game area where Luvly and Money were playing proud parents.

  “Y’all low-down as hell. Why you didn’t tell me you invited that girl?” I asked.

  Money was laughing like a little kid.

  “Chinoe, I didn’t do it on purpose. Money, shut up! I invited her when I seen her at the store, but I didn’t think she would really come.”

  Money was getting a kick out the whole thing.

  Taeko walked over. “Hey, y’all see Caymin’s friend? She fine to death. She got that long, pretty hair like Caymin. She thicker than Caymin, though, but they favor a lot. She look familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

  “I hope she got some breast.”

  “Stop it. She looks pretty. And anyway, Chocolate, I thought you didn’t care about her.” Luvly winked. “And Tae, you been through too much to even be out here lookin’ at anyone’s ass.”

  “Mannnn, Luvly, I was just lookin’. Just lookin’,” he said, throwing his hands in the air.

  “Yeah, her friend is nice looking,” Luvly said, rolling her eyes at them both. “She’s a pretty girl. She’s our age, too, and jazzy as hell. She does put you in the mind of Caymin, but she’s a little bigger. Not fat, just thick.”

  “Umm, Umm.” I rubbed my hands together, mouth
watering. I knew how good Caymin tasted, so if she was thicker, good Lawd!

  “Where they at?”

  “They over at the bar.”

  “I’m shocked ya boy ain’t showed up acting a fool,” Taeko said.

  Luvly’s happiness disappeared from her face at the mention of Diamond’s name. “He thinks Sap birthday is next week. That’s how much the asshole cares about her.” Her eyes became watery.

  Money grabbed Luvly from behind, around the waist, kissing her on the cheek, “Her daddy’s here now. I wish that muthafucka would come off in here.”

  “Well, he ain’t and we all here so let’s enjoy our baby turning into a little lady,” I intervened, trying to bring some joy back into our conversation.

  * * *

  Everyone was standing around just like the old days. I often wished we could go back in time, before the kids and the stress of being responsible. Just being young and careless, hangin’ tight, I missed those days.

  The photographer came up to us. “Would you all like a photo together?”

  “Ayeeee, let me get one wit’ just me and Luvly first, and then one wit’ each one of my boys.” I grabbed her playfully. I wanted a picture with her by myself. She meant so much to me, more than any one knew.

  After taking my picture with her, then an individual with Money and Tae, everyone swapped. “CP—tight to death!” We all screamed for the group picture. All our smiles were bright. Usually men didn’t cheese, but we had a lot to smile about, health, family, friends, and life. The only thing that was missing was my mystery star—wherever she was.

  Chapter Forty-four

  Brandie

  Robert and Caymin walked up to the bar fussing. He was holding onto her so tight, I thought he was pinching her. “Will you just leave that shit alone. You are my friend.”

  “Bullshit! I saw how you was looking at that nigga. Smiling all up in his face.”

  “Look this is not the time and place for this. Please.” She begged him.

  She was all smiles when she walked up to me. That’s what I loved about her, always the mediator, “Where you been hidin’, girl?”

  “Right here. Tired of every married man trying to hit on me. Their wives are out in the game room with their kids. Do they think just because they play some type of ball that I’ll float into their arms?”

  “Yes,” they both said as if I was crazy.

  “Where’s Hunt, Rob? Out paper chasin’? Or fuckin’ Mesia?”

  Caymin grabbed my cup and smelled it. “This doesn’t smell like liquor, so you aren’t drunk. Why you look so down and depressed?”

  “Just thinking about the direction my life is headed in. I mean school is coming along, but I need another job. I’m tired of shaking my ass in different niggas faces every night. I need more substance in my life,” I complained, wanting Robert to tell me the truth.

  Caymin felt my head. “You don’t have a fever. Maybe your head band is on too tight.”

  “Brandie, substance is that three to four grand you bring home a week. Do you know how many hoes would kill for your position in the club? In life?”

  “Robert, what did you just call me?” I asked to make the point.

  “Brandie.”

  “No, you called me a ho.”

  “Naw, I didn’t call you that. I was just talking about these hoes in the street.”

  “But that’s how you and the other billion men and women see me as a ho shakin’ my ass for a dollar. I don’t want to be referred to as a ho; I know I’m not one. I want to be looked at as a respectable woman, and shakin’ my ass is not gon’ get me that title. Maybe I just need to kick Hunt’s ass.”

  “Well, there you go. Problem solved. Cheer up.” Robert patted me on the back.

  The problem was far from being solved. A real professional man wasn’t going to take me home to his family and say, “This is my girlfriend; she’s a stripper. Shakes her ass for cash,” only to have his mom respond, “What? She’s a shake-a-booty dancer? She takes money from a man that would rather spend his money on seeing her naked than to feed his kids or pay the light bill? Oh, no, not my son.”

  Especially not Mrs. Starr. She would say, “I didn’t give you that expensive knowledge to get up on a stage and shake your ass for money, and I be damned if Chinoe’s going to marry a slut.”

  I put my hand on my forehead. Why was I still thinking about him, I was never going to see Chinoe again anyway, so I needed to get over it. “Maybe things will look up soon.”

  “There’s always tomorrow. Tomorrow will bring a brighter day,” Caymin said, as she fingered her hair.

  She was just happy-go-lucky because she had caught her one. Robert wasn’t going anywhere and he gave Caymin everything: money, time, space, love, attention, respect, and admiration. He gave her no problems.

  “Excuse me, are you Miss Delite?” asked a tall, muscular, well-dressed, good-looking, bald guy.

  I didn’t know what to say. What if he was a reporter and he wrote a story about a stripper at a four-year-old’s birthday party?

  But what if I said no and missed out on him telling me that he had seen my show at the club and loved the way I moved, and that I was beautiful, and he wanted to make me his wife, have lots of kids, and move away to a private island . . . Yeah, right!

  “Who wants to know?”

  “One of your biggest fans.” He extended his hand and kissed mine softly.

  Four men with the same buff body came over with big Kool-Aid smiles on their faces. Robert whispered in my ear, “They’re football players.”

  I nudged him in the side with my elbow. I knew what they were, but the key was to keep runnin’ game like I didn’t know.

  “We wanted to know if you would be interested in doing a party for us.”

  I looked at them like they were stupid. This was exactly what I was talking about—disrespect. “Why would you walk up to me at this little girl’s party and ask me that?”

  “They didn’t mean to offend you, Miss Delite. No disrespect intended. They’re just fans. Not to mention you are such a beautiful woman. I myself am a single brother that is interested in getting to know you outside of the club, but my teammates,” he said, pointing to the group of guys, “want you to perform at a party. Big as they are, they are scared to approach you. By the way, my name is Cartel.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cartel.” I was impressed. Clean cut and cleaned up his mistakes very nicely.

  “May I have a moment of your precious time? To myself?”

  “Sure. My name is Brandie.”

  “Sweeter than Caramel Delite.”

  “You are too much.” I blushed.

  “All that you need and want me to be. Is there a number I can get in touch with you; I’m about to leave.”

  I wrote my number down without hesitation.

  “Nice meeting you, Miss Brandie. I’m looking forward to enjoying your company.”

  Mmmmhmmm, his ass was plump and tight. “Damn, he fine as hell in that beautiful cream suit. Caymin, did you see those big-ass diamonds in his chocolate ears?”

  Robert had walked over to some people he knew. “Yes, ma’am, he is fine. Tall, chocolate, and platinumed out.”

  “I’m ready to hit the door. I need some sleep before tonight. Excuse me, bartender, can I have a cranberry and Sprite to go?”

  “A cranberry and a Sprite to go?”

  “Mixed.”

  “Mixed?” He showed the look of disgust.

  “Damn, there are some fine-ass men here!”

  The bartender brought the drink back, and it was the bomb.

  Luvly walked over to us. “We are about to sing Happy Birthday to Sapphire.”

  “We are about to leave, Luvly,” said Caymin; “Brandie has to go to work.”

  “Ohh, Brandie, I wish you could stay to meet the guys.”

  “Guys?”

  “Yeah, Sap’s uncles.”

  “Maybe next time.”

  She looked around to see if she could s
pot the guys, but they were obviously not in sight. She gave Caymin a hug and shook my hand.

  “Caymin, keep in touch with me. You know I don’t have any friends, thanks to Diamond.”

  “Well, maybe we can all go out one night.”

  “I need to go out tonight and get a break. Sap hasn’t been feeling good and she’s not doing too hot tonight,” said Luvly.

  “Well, I’m going to the Platinum Kat tonight. I’m not gay or anything. Brandie works there,” Caymin gloated.

  “Brandie, you work there?” I nodded yes. “Girl, I use to love going there before I had Sap. Do you mind if I come along? I truly need a break.”

  She seemed real cool; I didn’t mind. “Sure, I’ll put y’all in VIP.” I grabbed my drink from the bar. “Okay, see you tonight.” I waved goodbye to Cartel in hope that he would come see me at the club tonight; I needed a different kind of attention.

  Lord, please send me a God-fearing man

  Send him packaged with flesh of steel, black as night, handsome. Send him with a soul of passion, prosperity, individuality, and a touch of congeniality made from Your perfect hands

  Send him to me as fast as You can. But only send him when You have conditioned me for the sender.

  Amen

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chocolate

  I was getting thirsty as hell, but I held out, since the singing was about to start. Sap layed lazily in my arms.

  Luvly rushed over to me. “Sap, you don’t feel well, big girl?” She just nodded her head.

  “Luvly, she does feel hot,” I said, rubbing her back and neck.

  “Okay, I’m about to sing Happy Birthday and let your mother or mine take her home,” Luvly said with a worried look on her face.

  “Where is Money?”

  Just as I asked, he walked up with the Teletubbies. Sap popped her head up. “The Teletubbies are here!” Jumping down out of my arms, she runs up to them and hugs each one of them. The photographer snapped pictures.

  “She looks so happy, but I know she doesn’t feel well. She tries to be so strong.” For the first time in his life, Money had no control over the situation. He summoned for the cake to be brought out. “Everyone, let’s all come around. Please, everybody, gather around to sing Happy Birthday to Sapphire.”