Trinette sighed to show her annoyance, then shook her head again. “You said it was time to move on. What in the world is wrong with you?”
I rolled my eyes, making sure she knew I was serious. “Just because I’m horny doesn’t mean I’m gonna pick up the first ho who comes my way.”
Trinette hesitated as if she wanted to make sure she chose her words carefully. “You know I love you, girl, but you said so yourself, you need some. I didn’t say marry the dude. Fuck him and send him on his way. Remember, you said it’s time for you to move on…not me.”
Yeah, and Donovan said the same thing. It’s time to move on. I know…I know. I needed to start living again.
“You know I love you. Only you know when you’re ready.” She gave me a sympathetic look.
A waitress moved up beside me holding a tray. “Here you go, ladies. Compliments of the man standing at the end of the bar.” She put two fresh apple martinis in front of us.
I glanced down at the end of the bar and spotted Kenyon looking at me in a way I hadn’t seen in a long-ass time. I mouthed “thank you,” and he nodded. I could feel my temperature rising and the spot between my thighs becoming moist as he continued to stare. I forced myself to look away. That man was not making resisting him easy at all.
“Mmm-hmm, I see you looking. You need to quit playing and go over there and talk to him,” Trinette suggested with a smirk. “In the meantime let me go see who that tramp is all up in Jay’s face. Trust and believe, if he’s going home with anyone tonight, it’s gonna be me.” She sashayed away. I could tell by the way Trinette was shaking she knew she had several men staring her ass down as she passed. Trinette was definitely something else. She didn’t want Jay, yet she hated to see him with anyone else.
I was sipping my drink when my hairdresser, Denise, came over and took a seat across from me. She was one of those hoochies I was talking about. Too thick and had way too many babies for the black spandex dress she was trying to wear. But she did a hell of a job on my locks.
“Whassup, girl?” she said, bracelets dangling at her wrist.
“Hey, Denise.”
“Nikki. Giiirrrl…” she sang, then leaned in close so I could hear her over the hum of the music. “Kenyon wants to holla at you.”
I sucked my teeth, then snuck a peek over in his direction and rolled my eyes. “He’s tired. I’m sick of dogs tryna bark at me.”
“Girl, puhleeze give my boy a bone. Don’t believe everything you hear. He was good to Camille.”
I gave her a curious look. “What about all the rumors of him dogging her out?”
Denise tossed a hand in the air. “They’re just that…rumors. You know I’m not gonna lie for no nigga. He’s legit.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.”
“I will tell you, though…” She paused and looked around like somebody might accidently overhear. “I heard he ain’t working with much, but that might just be rumor too.” I looked down at her pinky finger. My eyes grew large, and she and I both started laughing.
“No, you didn’t just say that!”
“Like I said…it’s probably just a rumor. You know bitches be hating. Anyway, he’s feeling yo ass, so please give him a break so I can get my drink on.”
I chuckled and watched her walk away, rocking her hips to the sounds of Usher. As soon as Denise returned to her seat, I allowed my eyes to travel over to where Kenyon was standing, in the same exact spot as before, at the end of the bar with Jay. He pointed to his glass, asking me if I wanted another drink, and I nodded even though I had yet to finish the other. Hell, might as well have a good time. It wasn’t like anyone was at home waiting for me. I was lonely, and it was time for me to start having some fun. I had just finished my drink by the time Kenyon swaggered in my direction carrying another.
“Thanks,” I said. Yes, Lord, he smelled good.
“I was starting to think maybe something was wrong with me, so I sent my girl Denise to the rescue. You make a brotha have to beg.”
I smiled. “Nah, never that. Just not interested in brothas trying to holla at me tonight.”
“What changed your mind?” he asked, giving me a curious look.
I pointed my finger to the right. “Denise put in a good word for you.” As well as shared another rumor. I put the rumors aside for a while.
“I’ll have to make sure I thank her.”
He smiled, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t do something to me. Kenyon had the most beautiful set of teeth and dimples to die for. Up close I could see how fine and wavy his hair was. He must have some Indian in him, and his skin was like a melted candy bar.
“Let’s try this again.” He held out his hand. “Kenyon Monroe.”
I accepted his warm handshake…again. “Nikki Truth.”
He leaned in close to me. “I know who you are. I’ve been watching you for a long time.”
I liked the way that sounded. I also liked that his breath smelled like cinnamon Altoids. Nothing worse than a brother with funky breath. “Really…. You’ve been watching me?”
Kenyon nodded. “I even listen to your radio show.”
“Oh, boy. Have a seat.”
He chuckled and lowered himself on the chair beside me. “I actually enjoy it. You definitely don’t hold no punches.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Hey, if the truth hurts…”
“I agree.”
“Actually, I heard a lot about you as well,” I commented between sips.
“Really? What you hear?”
I pushed my locks away from my face as I spoke. “That you’re a dog, but seeing you hanging with Jay, that part is obvious.”
He smiled. “You can’t believe everything you hear.”
I sucked my teeth. “Then tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“I’m a good man who buried his wife of fifteen years last summer.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” And I was.
“Thank you. Camille was a good woman. We had problems like all married couples, but I loved her. And I was with her until the end. Now I’m looking for someone special. I’ll tell you, I’m not into playing games. When I see something I want I go after it.” He gave me a cocky smile that made my stomach twirl and my pelvic muscles pulse.
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, and I’ve been feeling you for a while.” He sipped his drink. It looked like Crown Royal. “So, tell me something about you.”
“I’m married.”
His face dropped. “No one told me that.”
“Probably because my husband dumped me before he left for Iraq.” I was trying to keep from getting angry all over again. It wasn’t hard to do when you had a sexy man sitting across from you. I noticed that the smile returned to his face.
“That’s too bad.”
I shrugged. “I guess it’s time for me to move on. It’s a damn shame I give advice on relationships but I suck at them.”
Kenyon reached across the table and took my hand. “Maybe because you keep picking the wrong guy.”
I stared across at him. Maybe he did have a point.
“Come on. Let’s dance.”
I followed him out onto the dance floor and allowed him to wrap his arms around me. I closed my eyes. It had been six months since I’d had any kind of physical contact, and I can’t begin to tell you how good it felt to be in the company of a man. He was so close, and I felt him grow hard and I started getting wet down low. Damn, I hadn’t realized how horny I truly was until then. A woman should never go more than half a year without getting any.
“I would like to take you to dinner tomorrow night.”
I leaned back and stared up at him and felt tightness at my stomach. Had he really just asked me out on a date? Yes, I believe he had, and it had definitely been a long time. No looking back, remember? Nope, I wasn’t going to look back, but I wasn’t going to rush things either. “I’ve got to work at the store the next couple of nights. How about next weekend?
”
Kenyon didn’t look like he liked having to wait that long, but he nodded anyway. “I’d like that.”
He held me close again, and we stayed out on the dance floor for three songs before the deejay changed the music. I started to walk off the floor when Kenyon grabbed my hand. “You know how to two-step?” he asked.
“Nope.”
He tugged my arm. “Come on. Follow my lead.”
Kenyon was a wonderful dancer and following him was easy. I found myself spinning on cue and laughing, actually starting to really enjoy myself, and for the first time all night I was glad I had come out.
We moved back to the table where Jay and Trinette were sitting, and the four of us spent the rest of the night laughing, talking and drinking way too much. Close to midnight, I let Kenyon walk me to my car. When he took my hand I couldn’t begin to tell you how good it felt strolling across the parking lot like a couple. He had my stomach all in knots. I hadn’t felt that alive in a long time. And even though I said I wanted to take things slow, I was anticipating what was going to happen next.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked as soon as we reached my car.
I nodded. And before I had a chance to take a breath, Kenyon swooped in and covered my lips with his. Oh, my God! Dude practically stuck his tongue down my throat. Kissing was definitely not his thing.
“Can I follow you home?” he asked after I pulled back.
My body was screaming yes, but I knew it was way too early for that. “Nah, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He nodded, then we exchanged numbers and I climbed into my car and drove home. I thought about the evening, and a smile was on my face. I hadn’t felt that silly and alive since high school. I was glad Trinette made me come, because if she hadn’t I wouldn’t have met Kenyon. He seemed like something I could work with. By the time I pulled my car in the driveway my phone rang. It was Kenyon.
“Yes?”
“It’s me. I just wanted to make sure you made it home safely.”
“I’m pulling in now.”
“Good. How about Trinette?”
I snorted rudely. “She and Jay snuck off somewhere together.”
We laughed and talked a few more minutes before I said good night.
I walked in the house looking forward to our date on Saturday. One thing for sure, I was definitely going to have to teach Kenyon how to kiss.
11
Trinette
“Come on, Netta.”
I don’t know why Jay was trying to act like he didn’t know the rules. He’d been fucking around with me off and on for years and nothing had changed. “I wanna buy a new house, and I need for you to help a sistah out.”
“Damn, Trinette, why can’t you just give a nigga some on credit?”
“’Cause I ain’t one of them broke hoochies you’re use to fucking wit.”
We were parked outside his place because after that incident with Cory I wasn’t about to invite another fool to my condo, although Jay had been over several times. But no matter how many years we’d known each other and all the years he’d had my back, that was neither here nor there. This time he was gonna have to pay to play with Ms. Netta.
“If you don’t want none of this, then fine. Take me back to my car.”
He thought about it for a few seconds while his eyes raked the length of me. Did he really think he could pass up a night of getting some of me? Obviously not, because Jay barely wasted another second before he climbed out the car. Smiling, I followed him inside, and we started hugging and feeling on each other at the door. I don’t know what it is, but I’d always had a weakness for him, yet there was no way in hell I could ever think about taking him serious. We were friends first and everything else came second. The fact that his pockets were fat definitely helped keep that spark burning for him. If he was broke, I probably would have stopped messing with him a long time ago.
We moved back to his room and I slipped off my pantsuit so he could see Victoria’s big secret. Jay’s eyes were bugging out his head.
“Damn, you fine.”
“Of course I am. I only get better with age.” By the time he pulled his clothes off, I was ready to put my work in.
We were going at it hard, licking, sucking sixty-nine style, when I heard a door slam. Jay sat up straight on the bed, causing me to land headfirst at the foot of the bed.
“Jay! Where your mothafuckin’ ass at?”
“Oh, shit!” He scrambled out the bed trying to grab his boxers.
“Who’s that?” I whispered. Whoever it was had him scared shitless.
“That’s Veronica.”
“Veronica…your baby mama Ronnie? What the hell she doing with a key?”
I leaped out of the bed, grabbed my clothes and hid in the closet. By the time Ronnie barged into his room, Jay was in his draws moving to the door.
“Where’s the bitch I heard you was all hugged up with at the club?” From a crack in the door I watched her standing in front of him with attitude. She would want to get something done to her head. Dookey braids went out a long time ago.
“What you talking about? I wasn’t hugged up wit no female.”
She was trying to push her way into the room, but he blocked the door. “What you trying to hide?” she asked, looking over his shoulder.
“I ain’t trying to hide shit. What the hell you doing here? Where’s my son at?”
“He wit my mama. And you haven’t answered my question.”
“I ain’t been with no one,” he insisted.
“Then let me smell your dick.” Before he had a second to object, she dropped to the floor, taking his boxers with her.
“A’ight…go ahead and smell,” he said, trying to sound all bold and shit.
Ronnie wrapped her hands around his length and put her face all in his crotch, sniffing for some coochie. Next thing I know, she guided the head into her mouth and deep throated his ass.
That fool stood there moaning while she went to work on him. I guess Jay suddenly remembered I was just a few feet away, because he had sense enough to push her away. I might not want to fight Ronnie, but I had no problem grabbing one of the wire hangers and doing a little slicing and dicing of my own before I spent another minute in that closet while she sucked on a dick I had been dying all night to ride.
“Let’s take this to the shower,” he suggested.
She rose and took his hand as he led her into the master bathroom. Jay shut the door, but I could hear Ronnie again going off about what one of her girls told her she saw at the club. Women can be so stupid.
I reached down for my clothes and got dressed. As soon as I heard the water running, I stepped out.
I can’t believe I wasted my time with him. Smooth had been blowing up my phone ever since I rocked his world Wednesday evening. He was a dead fuck, but his pockets were large. Before the evening was over, I had every bill in his wallet. He broke off the first grand before I finished my striptease and another grand after I got done making his toes curl. I think I put in my best work yet. But there was nothing attractive about him. He was overweight, belly stuck out farther than his dick, but as generous as he was with his money, Smooth could have had three toes and one eye in the center of his face and it wouldn’t have mattered. It all spends the same, and I had a house to buy.
I quickly slipped into my shoes I found under the bed. I needed to catch a cab because I’d be damned if I was going to walk. Jay had tossed his pants over the chair, so I reached inside his pocket and peeled off five hundreds. Hell, the extra was for wasting my damn time. I had come here tonight not only to get paid but to spend time with someone I enjoyed being with, and look where it got me. The two of them were still arguing and going at it, and then the next I knew it grew quiet. By the time I had slipped my purse over my arm, Ronnie was moaning. Oh, no, his ass didn’t. Just five minutes ago, he was getting ready to fuck me. Trifling ass. I moved back over to the chair, reached inside his pocket for his wallet again and took every last dime
. Shit. It was enough to pay for my home inspection and drop by Saks Fifth Avenue tomorrow to buy myself a little something special. It was the least Jay could do for playing with my emotions.
12
Nikki
I spoke to Kenyon on the phone almost every night, and it shocked the hell out of me we had so much to talk about. By the third night, I found myself looking forward to nine o’clock. We’d talk until he or I started nodding off. I discovered we had a lot in common. Kenyon had a fabulous sense of humor and liked stupid comedy movies like Step Brothers, Scary Movie, and Blades of Glory. Kenyon also thought sweet potato French fries were the best thing since calamari. He liked his hot dogs loaded with sauerkraut and lots of mustard just like I do. But when the conversation shifted to a more personal level like, “What do you look for in a man?” I decided it was time to set some boundaries.
“Kenyon, I’m gonna be honest with you. I haven’t completely ended things with my husband, so in the meantime, I’m not looking for anything serious.”
“No problem,” he said in that soft, seductive voice I had fallen in love with over the phone. There was something about it I found so soothing and familiar. It was one of those voices you would never want to forget. “We can take it one day at a time and just enjoy each other’s company.”
Right. I had a feeling he was just saying what I wanted to hear, but at the same time I could just be smelling myself. So far, Kenyon came across as the type of man who believed in being with one woman, which made the rumors of him being a ho that much harder to believe.
“I bought that new Friday the 13th.”
“Oh!” We also enjoyed horror movies. “How was it?” I fluffed the pillow under my head.
“I haven’t watched it yet.” There was a noticeable pause. “How about I come over tomorrow evening and we watch it at your place?”
I lay there in the dark curled deep in my covers as I considered his offer. I was trying to move on, but was I ready to bring another man to my house? I don’t know how long I lay there considering the question.
Confessions Page 8