The Graffiti Effect

by Forrest, Perri

  “Yep, come and sit down so we can get our eat on.”

  He smiled all the way over. He pulled his chair out to sit down, but then looked over at me. “Come and give me a kiss. You gotta.”

  And I did. A soft, long, lingering one that I almost didn’t want to pull away from.

  “I can’t believe you did all this,” he expressed, admiring the food. He finally took his seat. “This was sweet, Kassidi. Man! You got my potatoes here. I could eat these all by themselves! Eggs, waffles, bacon. You went all out!”

  “I’m glad you’re pleased,” I said, softly, taking a seat across from him.

  “I’m more than pleased. Do you know how often I have homecooked meals?! Not ever. I do meal prep for dinner, maybe a sandwich for lunch, and for breakfast, I’m usually with some kind of smoothie or something. Sometimes I’ll hit up Mimi’s Café or some shit. But this . . . wow.”

  “Well, I’ll call you whenever I cook so you can feel free to come grab a plate to-go.”

  “Or to eat with you.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “I think so too,” he said.

  We ate in silence, with nothing but music playing softly in the background. I didn’t know why he was quiet, but I was quiet because I was in my head, as always. I was hoping that he didn’t think I was working my way to assuming that we were a couple. Hoping that he didn’t think that I was trying to monopolize all his time.

  “So, you never told me about your trip. How was it?” I asked.

  “It was . . . interesting. Still processing a lot about it. But for now, all I can say is that it was interesting. I got to meet family that I didn’t know about, so that was a good thing.”

  “Wow! That’s amazing. I’m glad that happened for you.”

  “Thank you. Me too.”

  “Do you have family here in Vegas?”

  “Just me here. I’m an only child, and so was my mother, so it’s a real small unit.”

  “I’m an only child also. But I do have aunts and uncles, so there’s cousins scattered about. Where’s your mom?”

  Marco finished chewing a mouthful of potatoes, then responded with, “She’s in New York with her latest and greatest.”

  “Ohhh,” I chuckled out loud. “You have one of those mothers too. Trust me, I know a little something about that.”

  “Really? Where’s your mom?”

  “This week she’s on some vacay on some island, with some man,” I stated dismissively.

  “You guys not close?”

  “No. I’m closer to my aunt. Her sister.”

  “I met her! She’s a sweetheart. She was sad about you leaving.”

  “She told you that?!”

  “Yep. Didn’t want me to tell you, though. Said she hoped you didn’t get the job so you wouldn’t leave.”

  I grew solemn thinking about my aunt. She truly was the only person to ever love me unconditionally, and I loved her just the same. “I knew she didn’t want me to leave. I can’t wait for her to visit. I miss her so much.”

  “Well, get her out here and I’ll be you guys’ tour guide.”

  I smiled big and bright. “Really?”

  “Yup.”

  I didn’t dare tell him that she was campaigning for a union between me and him. I didn’t dare tell him that when she did come, and realized that we knew each other in more ways than one, that she’d give him the third degree and beyond! That was sure to be interesting whenever it happened.

  “Next weekend I’m having a BBQ at my house. It’s my birthday. You gotta come.”

  “Your birthday? Nice! Dang. That would be the first time I’ve even been at your house.”

  “Well, that’s because you’re at the front of the block, sending out seduction vibes whenever I come home!”

  “Ohh, yeahhh riiiight!” I exclaimed amid laughter. “That’s allll me!”

  “Heck yeah, girl! It’s like some damn Bermuda Triangle. I’ll drive past and then all of a sudden I hear some kind of echo or some shit coming from your house.”

  I cracked up. Couldn’t help it. “Oh, my Goddd! Stop!” I shouted.

  “So, Kass . . .”

  “Yes,” I said, coming down off my laughter.

  “You cool with all of this?” He fanned his hand back and forth between us. “The way that stuff is with us? Because I would never want to put you in an aw—”

  My head twitched side to side quickly, stopping him from going further. “I’m good, Marco. Trust me. I don’t feel awkward. And I think things are right where they need to be for now. I like you. I won’t deny that. The sex is great. I can’t, and would never deny that. Do I think about you sometimes during the course of day? Yeah, but it’s just memories of the last time we were together. So, don’t worry about me with that. I’m good.”

  “I like you too. Which is why I wouldn’t want to put you in any position other than a good one.”

  “Oh, the positions are all good,” I said.

  He wagged his finger at me, and smirked. “See, and you called me nasty.”

  “Okay, so we’re both nasty. That’s why it works. Seee!”

  “I do, see. And for the record, I think about you too. And I also think the sex is great.”

  A deep sigh played out inside my chest. A sigh of relief. As platonic as it was, what I had with Marco, was the most comfortable I’d ever felt with a man.

  -89-

  KASSIDI

  The day of Marco’s BBQ rolled around and I was going crazy with anxiety. Do I go? Do I not? This would be me getting to see him in his element, around other people . . . other women. I didn’t know if I was ready for that. In our own little non-serious space, I didn’t have to see him in a way other than the ways I knew him. But today would be different. It wasn’t that I was feeling territorial or anything like that, but it was something. Jealously, maybe? Slightly? He had touched me in ways beyond the sex. We could laugh, we could talk, we could share. There was a freedom with him that allowed me to be my organic self. Did that make him a friend? A best friend? What? I promised myself that I wouldn’t try figuring it out; that I would just let it flow. Not complicate things. Yeah, that’s what I would do. Which meant I needed to get my ass to that BBQ and just . . . be.

  I took a deep breath, then released it. My internal pep talks were becoming a “thing”, since I moved to Las Vegas. I laughed out loud at the realization, then took my loony-ass over to the mirror to do one last look at myself.

  “She reeeaady!” I spoke into the mirror, doing my best Tiffany Haddish impersonation.

  However, it happened, coral had become something of a signature color for me. I loved the way it complemented my complexion. So soft, so neutral, and so fitting for the outdoor occasion. The off-the-shoulder top matched my open-toe heel, and the hip-hugging dark denim jeans made the colors pop even more. I packed light with a Michael Kors fanny pack. It was small and compact, but just large enough to store my house key, car key, cell phone and gloss. For jewelry I chose a gold bangle, and large gold hoops—hoops that really helped to accentuate my slicked down ponytail. Makeup, if you wanted to call it that, was a modest layer of eyeliner, a single stroke of mascara and a light peach-colored lip glass from Mac.

  As lazy as it was of me, I drove to Marco’s. Yes, from what he told me, it was just a ten to fifteen-minute walk, but there was an incline. Fuck that. There was no way I was trekking that hill in heels. I hadn’t been to his house yet, but judging by the neighborhood—particularly his end of the block—I was expecting to see something really nice.

  Upon reaching his address, it was just as I thought it would be. This home can’t be for just one person, was my immediate thought. But shit, the same could be said for me, living in a four-bedroom, when there’s just one of me. It was Vegas’s fault, though. If they didn’t have such reasonable housing, the need to have more space wouldn’t be there to brainwash folks like myself—and by all accounts, Marco too. Unless, he really did have a family living with him.

&nb
sp; Lord, have I been sexing some other woman’s man all this time?!

  Kassidi! If you don’t stop! I chided myself.

  I pulled into an available parking space not too far from Marco’s house, and got my paranoid-ass out of the car, promising to leave all the insecurities behind. Since there were others entering the residence when I approached, I followed them inside the shiny black double doors.

  I didn’t get to take it all in, because I was trying to stay in line with the others to make sure I got to the right place. But along the way, I could see that Marco was working with some good taste. It wasn’t at all what I envisioned a bachelor pad to be—it was spotless! Maybe he had a housekeeper that kept it nice and neat. There were portraits mounted along the long hallway. But none with people. They were scenery photos: San Francisco cityscape at night, which was stunning. There were pictures of lions that looked like they’d been taken by National Geographic photographers. The imagery was amazing. There was some abstract art up there too.

  I was coming back for a full tour of this place! I had to see it. I had questions. Questions like, why all this space? Where are the rest of the people that live here? Who decorated? All the shit that was none of my business, basically.

  Along with the small group I had attached myself to, I stepped into the backyard and was met with way more people than I was comfortable with. I could count the number of folks I’d encountered since moving to Vegas, and looking around, made me feel like I’d been a hermit! It looked like all of Vegas and parts of the next state over, were there in that enormous space. The place looked like one of those yards you see in the movies, that go on forever. I don’t even know if it qualified as a yard as much as it did a big-ass lawn. Maybe all the people just made it look larger than it actually was. But whatever the size, it was bigger than any yard I had been in my whole life!

  Marco was smart for having this party in early November when the weather was behaving with some sort of decency. It reminded me of home at a comfortable seventy-something degrees. After I’d gotten a little further in, I started to look around for the only two familiar faces I would know—Marco and Kandice. After about ten minutes, that proved moot. Luckily, for me, a girl in a cute little short set and heels walked by with a tray of liquor shots. It was just what I needed to keep from passing out from anxiety. I didn’t like large crowds at all. I’d always shied away from them, but since I said I would attend, leaving was not an option.

  “Thank you,” I said to her after taking down a full shot of what she identified as Patron. “Hold on real quick,” I told her grabbing another one off the tray.

  “Girl,” she said, smiling. “With no chaser? You’re good!”

  “More like need to relax ASAP,” I commented to her, sending us both into light laughter.

  “You’ll be fine. Have a good time,” she said, before traipsing off.

  Maybe the drink summoned some magic, because no sooner than I started to feel my chest grow warm, Kandice walked up to me.

  “Hey girl!” she shrieked, giving me a bear hug. “You look cayuute in all coral and denim!”

  “Thank you!” I smiled at her, relieved at the sight of a familiar face. “Look at you in your cute little dress—emphasis on little. You sure it’s short enough?” I joked with her.

  She wiggled her butt playfully and then did a light twerk. “Short like my baby likes it.”

  I put my hand on my hip and smiled at her. “Okay, so, I can admit that I thought this was some little play thing, but y’all are the real deal, huh?”

  “We are, Kass. This man was made for me. He just breezed in and swept me all the way off my feet. I hate to say it, but if it hadn’t been for Marco getting stabbed, I never would’ve met him.”

  “Kandice!” I yelled, giving her a side-eye.

  “I mean, you know. I don’t mean it like that. I’m just sayin’.”

  “I get it. But anyway. Good for you.”

  “You mean it?”

  “Stop. How could you ask me that? Of course, I mean it.”

  She extended her left hand to me. “Well, look at this then . . .”

  My eyes and my mouth flew wide open in surprise when I saw the square cut diamond on her left ring finger. It sparkled super bright under the sun. I looked up at her and almost had tears in my eyes.

  “It’s beautiful, Kandice. Does this mean you’re engaged?” I asked, holding my hand to my chest.

  She nodded her head. “I am. He proposed last night. Kassidi, it was so beautiful. It wasn’t over done or anything like that. After work I went home, grabbed some stuff and went to his house. He’s usually outside when I pull up, but this time he wasn’t. I didn’t think anything of it, so I grab my bag and head in to find roses at the entrance of the door. My heart fell. Then I opened the door and there were more flowers, and candles.” Kandice closed her eyes as though reminiscing on the moment. “And then I heard . . .”

  ♫

  If there’s a question of my heart, you got it.

  It don’t belong to anyone but you!

  If there’s a question of my love, you got it.

  Baby, don’t worry I got plans for you!

  ♫

  “Well, if you don’t make it at JPC, you can always get a music deal! Girl, you sound good! But for real, that’s some beautiful, romantic shit. He had that all the way planned out.”

  “He did. I was a crying mess, girl!”

  “I’ll bet you were. So, where is your man now?” I asked her, looking around the crowded lawn.

  She turned around and pointed. “He’s right over there—with your man.”

  “I-uhh. I . . . don’t have—”

  “Can’t stop stuttering huh?” she teased. “Even with a double shot of Tequila. Mmhmm.”

  “I’m not stuttering. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

  “Ha! Well, I do. And like I’ve been saying, I’ll leave it there until you’re ready to come clean.”

  “Ha!” a loud voice burst in. “Come clean? As in tell the truth? This one?! Now, that’s funny.”

  I felt like somebody had just socked me in the back as hard as they could, knocking the wind from me. It was that daggering. When I heard the voice from beside me, half of me didn’t believe it. I mean, what were the odds? But the voice was unmistakable and one that I knew well. I felt Kandice’s eyes bearing down on me in confusion, as she looked back and forth between me and the source. For my part, I refused to even acknowledge that he was standing there.

  “Who the hell are you?!” Kandice shot after a few seconds of processing. “And why are you being disrespectful?”

  “Ask her,” he said, cockily.

  I snapped my head in his direction, ready for battle. But just as I was about to entertain the ignorance, Kandice latched onto my wrist, and dragged me away.

  -90-

  MARCO

  I was starting to think that Kassidi had decided not to come to the party, because I hadn’t spotted her yet. But about an hour in, I noticed her walking in my direction with Alonzo’s fiancée, Kandice. As usual, Kassidi looked good as hell. Her form was on full display in a pair of jeans and a peach-colored top. It was a color that looked so good against her skin. Her hair wasn’t the wild mane she generally wore it in, but slicked down and off her face. I couldn’t wait for her to get even closer. I didn’t know exactly what it was about her, but whenever I knew I was going to see her, I anticipated that shit. She had grown on me in a way that no other woman ever had.

  The closer she got, the more stunning she became. Even with the two girls standing right in Zo’s and my space, and making every attempt at getting our attention, my eyes were on Kassidi. I was so engrossed in the beautiful vision that I almost missed Zo saying, “Something’s wrong. Kandice is pissed.”

  I didn’t notice anything except Kassidi. The sway of her hips held my full attention. I was excited about the fact that she would be making her way to where I was in a matter of seconds. And then the seconds were upon
me, and immediately, I knew that something was off. A thick cloud of tension greeted me before she did.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Zo asked when they reached us.

  “Yeah, what’s wrong?” I cosigned, when I noticed that Kassidi wasn’t smiling. Before I knew it, I had reached out to rub her arm. “What’s going on? You good?”

  “No, she’s not good,” Kandice answered, on her behalf. “Some asshole, that she used to know, is here and being super-fucking disrespectful.”

  “Is that true?” I asked Kassidi.

  “Yes, it’s true,” Kandice blurted.

  “Who the fuck is this person?” Zo asked.

  “Kassidi . . .” I said, trying to get her to give us some kind of response.

  “I just came to tell you that I’m going to go home. I didn’t just want to leave—”

  “Well, don’t then!” Kandice shot before I could say a word.

  Kassidi shook her head. She was trying to keep her words at a minimum. It seemed like if she didn’t, tears would be falling hard. She seemed to be in distress. There was so much tension over her beautiful face, that normally didn’t live there.

  “Talk to me, Kassidi,” I said softly, rubbing her shoulder.

  “I’m just gonna go home, Marco,” she insisted.

  She was visibly upset, and something told me she was going to break soon. It was that tense around her eyes, and in her body language. That pissed me off more than anything.

  “You said that. I’m not gonna stop you if you really want to leave; but at least, let me know what the fuck happened so I can address that shit!”

  “It’s Jamie.” I squinted my eyes as I looked at her trying to search my mind for who the fuck Jamie was. I knew it sounded familiar, but I wasn’t sure where I’d heard it. But then it hit me! “Wait, your ex?”

  She nodded cautiously. “Yes, my ex. He’s here.”