by Anna Black
“Move outta my way, Roderick, and mind your business. How many times must I tell y’all that? Y’all don’t need to know everything about what I do, and no, Tracy ain’t no dealer. And you know ain’t nothing wrong with yo’ eyes, old man. Now move so I can go upstairs.”
“It is too something wrong with my eyes. You’ve known that since you’ve been here. I have glaucoma. And you know don’t nothing go on in this building that we don’t know about, so don’t be acting like you all that, Miss Thang. And where you get the money for that pretty truck if he ain’t no drug dealer?”
“Good night, Roderick,” she said, moving past him. “And since you are the neighborhood watch, go back to your post and make sure nothing happens to my truck.”
“Okay, but you know I am gonna need a little something for keeping an eye on your nice truck.”
“Thank you,” she said and went into her apartment. She knew he would watch her truck all night if he had to, because he wanted to know and see it all. One thing she did like about her snooping neighbors was that they kept the place from being broken into, and nobody’s car was stolen because somebody, somewhere in that building was watching and making sure they didn’t miss a thing.
Chapter Five
By Saturday, she hadn’t heard from Tracy, so she decided she’d call him as soon as she got in from shopping. After fighting traffic and climbing the steps with a few bags of goodies for her new place, she was tired. She hit the play button on her iPod and went to shower and wash her hair. At about eight o’clock she called him. She got his voice mail. She left him a brief message and threw on some sweats and a T-shirt. She was looking through her new things when her cell phone vibrated on the coffee table.
She looked at the ID and was pleased to see that it was Tracy returning her call. “Hey, Tracy, how are you?”
“I am fine, and how are you?”
“Good. I’m doing well.”
“How is the truck working for you?”
“Aww, man, it’s nice. I am definitely enjoying it.”
“That’s good to hear. So what’s up with you? What are you getting into tonight?”
“Nothing, just gon’ hang around the house.”
“Nonsense. You wanna hang out with me?”
“What are you getting into?”
“Well, a friend of mine is having a birthday bash tonight at Spot 6. Do you wanna go?”
“Sure. What time should I meet you there?”
“Oh, so since you got wheels, a brother can’t pick you up?”
“No, nothing like that. I just didn’t think that you’d wanna come and get me. But if you do, that’s cool with me. I just didn’t want to assume anything. You could have been picking up your woman or something, you know.” She hoped that wasn’t the case.
“Well, I told you before that I am a single man. And if I were bringing a woman, no way I’d invite another woman to come hang out with me.”
“Oh, okay. You just never know nowadays.”
“Well, I try to make it a point not to lie to people, because that leads to more lies, and I don’t even want to go there with anyone, especially you.”
“Oh, especially me? Why is that?”
“Because you seem too sincere. I don’t have any reason to bullshit you.”
She frowned. “So you’re admitting that you bullshit women?”
“Honestly, there are women I’ve lied to, but it was usually to keep from hurting their feelings, or I knew that they were on some old bullshit, so I bullshit back with them.”
“Oh, okay. I see how you operate.”
“No, don’t take it like that. There are women you meet, and you go out with them once or twice, and you learn early that they are not the one you wanna continue to kick it with. Some are nice, so you can’t just say, ‘Hey, you suck, and I don’t want to go out with you anymore.’ You have to tell them something that will not hurt them, and usually it’s a lie. Because if it ain’t truth, I don’t care how you try to justify it, it is a lie. When I say I have lied to women before, it’s because I don’t like to see people hurt.”
“Since you put it that way, I’ve lied to men too.”
“See? You know how it can be.”
“Yeah, I do,” she said. Her frown vanished. She was relieved at his answer. It made sense. People normally don’t just tell a person to get lost; they make up some lame excuse to keep from being the bad guy.
“So, are you gon’ kick it with me tonight or what?”
“Sure. What time should I be ready?”
“Ten will be cool.”
“I can be ready by ten. That’s fine.”
“All right, then. I will see you then.”
She hung up and went to her bedroom. She had to find something to wear quickly if she was going to be ready on time. Going through her closet, she was mad that she had put on a few pounds and a lot of her jeans were super tight. She spent almost forty-five minutes just finding something cute to wear. She was happy that she had shampooed and wrapped her hair when she got in, because she didn’t have to spend a lot of time styling it.
By nine thirty, she was putting on makeup. She was picking out jewelry when her cell phone rang. It was Tracy telling her he was downstairs parking and he would be right up. She hurried and put on her earrings and necklace, but she couldn’t get her bracelet on. She put it on the table and decided she’d ask Tracy to help her. She was checking her face one more time when he knocked on the door.
When she opened the door, her jaw almost dropped to the floor. Tracy was looking damn good. Mr. Stone was definitely looking Stone cold.
“Come on in. I just have to get my purse,” she said, walking away.
She wondered how it was possible for him to keep getting finer by the day. She grabbed her purse and turned off her bedroom light. When she went back into the living room, he was still standing near the door.
“You look nice,” she said.
“So do you.” His eyes were on her, and she could tell he was checking out her curves in her jeans. She bent over to get her bracelet from the coffee table, and she heard him make a little hissing sound.
She looked at him and tilted her head. “Did you just hiss at me?”
“My bad. I . . . I didn’t mean for that to come out.”
She let him off the hook. She was glad that he noticed her because she had tried to look her best for him, even though she knew it wasn’t a date.
“Here, can you put this on for me?” she asked, handing him her bracelet. He smiled and put it on for her.
“Are we all set?” he asked.
“Yeah. Do you think I need a jacket?”
“It’s pretty nice, but later it may be a little chilly,” he said.
She opened her coat closet and grabbed a light leather jacket. They walked out, and he waited for her to lock her door. She was nervous, and she didn’t know why.
When they got to the party, she tried to stay close to Tracy since she didn’t know anyone, but somehow, they kept getting separated. People were pulling him in every direction, and she was a little jealous when she saw women talking to him.
“Are you having a good time?” Jonathan, one of Tracy’s friends, asked her when he noticed her standing alone. Tracy had introduced them when they first got to the party.
“Yes, everything is nice. I’m having a good time.”
“That’s good. It’s November, right?”
“Yes, it is,” she said, wishing that Tracy would call her Shareese like everybody else she knew called her.
“So, are you enjoying yourself?” he asked again. November assumed he was nervous or just trying to make conversation with her.
“Yes, I am.” Jonathan was cute, but she had her eyes on Tracy. She sipped her wine and hoped he would get back to her again.
“So, how long have you and Trey been together?” he asked.
That caught her off guard. She and Tracy were not a couple, nor were they together. “Tracy and I aren’t together. We are
friends.”
“Oh, is that right?” He moved closer to her, so close he was in her face. It made her uncomfortable.
She took a step back. “Yes, that’s right, we are just friends.”
“Well then, November, would you like to dance?”
She had no clue where Tracy had sneaked off to, and the music was jamming, so she agreed. They danced for a couple of songs, and she was enjoying herself until she spotted Tracy talking to a woman who was absolutely gorgeous. She had a bad-ass body, and her brown complexion looked flawless.
November couldn’t take her eyes off Tracy talking and smiling with the beautiful woman. She wanted to go over and interrupt, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the dance floor because the music was jamming and she didn’t want to let him ruin her good time. The song changed to Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love, ” and she went back to dancing with Jonathan. That was one of her favorite songs, and she hadn’t heard it in a long while. She had burned a hole in that track years ago when she bought the CD.
She saw Tracy watching her dance with Jonathan. She smiled, but he barely smiled back. When the song went off, she headed to the bathroom to dab the sweat from her face and refresh her makeup. She walked past Tracy and the woman without stopping. She didn’t feel it was necessary to interrupt, but she wanted Tracy to know she saw him chatting with her.
When she was done freshening up, she went back to the party. Tracy was no longer standing where he had been, so she looked around for him.
“Hey, November,” Jonathan said, coming up behind her.
“Jonathan, hey,” she said dryly.
“Wanna get back out there?” he asked, pointing to the floor.
“No, I need a drink. I have to cool off a bit.”
“Hold on, I’ll get one for you.” He dashed to the bar.
He hadn’t even asked her what she wanted, but she didn’t care. She was just glad he was gone for a second so she could look for Tracy. When she spotted him, she was about to walk over to him, but Jonathan came back with a glass of white wine. He must have seen what she was drinking earlier. He was sweet, cute, and attentive, but she still had her mind on Tracy. She didn’t want to let the gorgeous woman he was talking to intimidate her, but for some reason, she did.
“Thanks, Jonathan,” she said and took a sip. “Listen, I need to step outside to get some air real quick. Can you hold this for me?” She handed him her glass.
“Sure thing. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“I bet,” she said with sarcasm and a smile.
She walked outside and took a couple of deep breaths and let the night air cool her off. She went back in and saw Tracy talking to another woman. Just forget it, she told herself. It was apparent he wasn’t interested in her, so she went back over to Jonathan. At least he was entertaining her.
“Hey, Jonathan, thanks for holding my drink,” she said.
He handed it to her. “No problem. Do you feel better now?”
“Yeah, just needed to get a little air. You know a sista ain’t trying to sweat her hair out,” she said, fanning herself.
“Yeah, I know, right,” he said.
They continued talking for a few moments and November saw Tracy heading in their direction.
“Hey, you,” he said, interrupting them. “I want to know what Jonathan is saying to make you smile so brightly.”
“What’s up, man. I see you’re having a good time,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, I see you are having one too. Keeping my girl company?”
Jonathan looked confused. November was in the same state of confusion. He sounded almost . . . jealous? But that couldn’t be the case. She had observed him talking to several other women, fine women at that.
“Yeah, you can say that,” Jonathan snapped back, “since you left her all alone.”
“No, just giving her some space to enjoy the party.”
“Yeah, all right, man,” Jonathan said. “November, it was nice talking to you. Enjoy the party.” He walked away.
“What was that?” she asked Tracy.
“What was what?” he asked.
“That.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He gave her an innocent look, and she smiled on the inside. It was nice for him to show a little interest.
“The ‘my girl’ business?” she said and sipped her wine.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant my homegirl. And I’m ready to head out. Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, if you are,” she said and drank the rest of her drink.
“Okay, let’s get outta here.”
“All right.” She followed him out the door.
“I’ll get the truck. You wait right here,” he said and went to the parking lot.
While she waited for him to pull around, two women from the party came out looking for Tracy, and she overheard them talking.
“Where is he? He just walked out,” one said.
“I know. I guess I missed him, and I didn’t even get his number.”
“Girl, you’ll see Tracy again. And if I were you, I’d let it go, because every time he sees you, he plays you.”
“He does not. He’s just playing hard to get.”
“That’s because he ain’t trying to get got.”
“That’s what his mouth says, but one day I’m gon’ get his ass.”
Tracy finally pulled up. When he stopped, the girl thought he was stopping for her. When November approached the door, she was embarrassed.
“Damn, it’s like that?” she said.
“I told you to let it go,” her friend said and walked off.
November closed her door and smiled a little to see that she wasn’t the only one checking Tracy. She felt good when he picked her up, even though nothing was going on.
They drove back to her place in silence. November dozed off on the way, and when he parked, he tapped her thigh to wake her.
“Wake up, sleepyhead, we’re here.”
“Aww, already?” she said, sitting up. She didn’t want to climb the steps to her place.
“Yes, already, sleepyhead. I thought you would keep me company, but you were slobbering as soon as we got on the highway.”
“I’m sorry. It’s the wine, I guess.”
“It’s all good. Can I walk you up?”
“Sure,” she said and undid her seat belt. She grabbed her jacket and put it on before she got out. When they got on her floor, she opened the door and walked in.
Tracy stood in the hall. “Well, good night, November. I hope you had a good time.”
“I did. You’re not gonna come in for a minute?” she asked, standing in front of the door. He looked good as hell.
“I don’t think I should.” He seemed nervous, rubbing his hands together.
“Why? Do you have to get home and feed your dog or something?” she asked, making a joke.
“No.” He laughed.
“Well then, come in,” she offered again. He didn’t budge. “Well, suit yourself. Good night, Tra—”
He silenced her when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. He kissed her better and sweeter than she could remember ever being kissed before. It sent waves all over her body. She wanted him.
He touched her, running his hands over her body and squeezing her ass. Her nipples were awakened, and her juices started to flow.
“Tracy. Tracy,” she whispered between kisses. “What are we doing?”
He released her and backed up. “I’m sorry.”
She hated that she’d said something. She hadn’t wanted him to stop.
“Look, November, I didn’t mean to do that. I apologize,” he said.
She put a hand up to stop him. “Tracy, you don’t have to apologize, and I don’t want you to leave.” She smiled.
“Are you sure, November? Are you sure you want me to stay?”
“Yes.” She moved closer to him, intending to show him that she was interested.
He kissed
her again, pushing her back inside, and she kicked the door closed with her foot. She pulled away long enough to lock the door, and they went into her bedroom. As soon as they crossed the threshold of her bedroom, they got into back-breaking, hold-your-breath, oh-my-God type of sex.
When they were done, she didn’t think about the next morning or what they were doing or going to be. She just drifted into a peaceful sleep in his arms. She woke up a couple hours later to go to the bathroom, and before she could go back to sleep, he wanted more. She gave it to him.
He went deep inside of her again, making her bed rock and leaving November under a Stone-cold spell.
Chapter Six
The ringing phone jerked November out of her sleep. She was exhausted from the glorious sex that she and Tracy had the night before and that morning. It was after two in the afternoon, and they were unable to pull themselves out of bed. She was lying so close to his warm, naked body that they were stuck together from their sweat.
She managed to inch away from his body to get the ringing phone from the cradle. “Hello,” she answered in a sleepy voice.
“November Shareese McKinney, why were you not in church this morning?” The voice echoed through the phone like she was a six-year-old.
“Daddy?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, young lady. You know today was the appreciation service for your mother, and you weren’t there.”
She sat up. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so sorry,” she said, rubbing her head. How could she have forgotten the ceremony? Her momma had reminded her almost every day, and she had still forgotten.
“Yes, you should be. Your mother was so upset to not see you.”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy. I wasn’t feeling well last night, and I guess the medicine I took had me out. I would have never missed Mom’s ceremony, it’s just I think I’m coming down with a virus or something.” She gave a fake cough. “And I took some meds and drank Theraflu,” she said, still lying.
That was the best she could come up with. She couldn’t say it was getting her ass waxed by an incredibly fine-ass man named Tracy that put her out. She couldn’t tell her daddy she woke up with a dick inside of her and that was why she didn’t go to church.