by Angel Hunter
Crystal remained silent.
“I also know you heard what was said.”
Crystal crossed her arms. “Yeah, and?”
“I’m begging you not to say anything.”
Crystal just looked at her.
“Please, this is between Lange and me.”
Crystal interrupted her and said, “You know what? I really don’t want to know all this. I think we should go back before they start looking for us.” Crystal started walking toward the door.
Grabbing her arm, Lena told Crystal, “I know you’re attracted to him.”
Crystal looked at Lena’s hand on her arm. “What you need to do is let go of my arm.”
Lena let go and immediately apologized. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
“I’m just asking you—”
Crystal threw her hand up. “I think the best thing right now would be for you to get out of my face.”
Susan walked into the bathroom before Lena could reply. She felt the fireworks that were passing back and forth between Crystal and Lena. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“Not a thing,” Crystal told her.
Susan looked at Lena and back at Crystal. “Are you sure?”
“I just don’t feel too well,” Lena said and walked out.
Susan looked at Crystal. “What the hell was that all about? Isn’t that Lange’s wife?”
“Yeah.”
“What were you two talking about? The tension in the air is thick as hell.”
“Girl, you don’t want to know.”
Susan did want to know, but not just that second, so she didn’t push it. She wanted to take a quick hit of the package she had in her purse.
“Maybe you’ll tell me later.”
“Yeah.” Crystal turned and left the bathroom.
Susan went into one of the stalls, took her package out of her purse and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been waiting on this hit for hours.
LADIES’ NIGHT
In the two weeks since the party, two things had been bothering Crystal. One was the whole Lena/Lange situation. She had become obsessed with what she should do about it, if anything. On one hand, she wanted to tell him what she saw, and on the other, she wanted to mind her own business. Crystal knew she couldn’t avoid Lange forever. She was glad that he was out of town at a law conference.
After going out a couple of times with Roger, she told him what she knew and asked for his opinion. “Why are you so concerned?” Roger asked when she brought up the subject for the fourth time.
“Lange and I are friends.”
“Is that all you are?”
“Why would you ask me that? Lange’s a married man.”
“That doesn’t mean as much as it used to. Shit, as high as the divorce rate is, people don’t care as much as they used to about marriage.”
“Well, I care, and I resent your implying that I don’t.”
On that note, Billie came running into the living room.
He looked at Roger and growled.
“He doesn’t like me much,” Roger commented.
“Why would you care if he likes you?” Crystal thought he was talking about Lange. “He barely knows you.”
Roger picked up on it and told her, “I’m talking about your dog.”
“Oh.”
The second thing that was bothering Crystal was that since the party, no one had commented on their dates, especially Elsie and Jewell. Not that she wanted to be all up in their business, nor were their relationships or sexual preferences an issue, but it seemed liked they were avoiding the subject altogether. They had talked about who was there and what went on, but they avoided the topic of themselves. Crystal couldn’t help but wonder whether it was intentional. Were they purposely discussing only the surface stuff? She made the decision to connect, maybe have a girls’ night out and get to know one another on a more personal level. Crystal had Jewell type up a memo requesting that they go out the upcoming Friday. They had never really hung out together. This would be a first. If they questioned her motives, she would be honest and tell them that it was because the office didn’t feel like a team.
To her surprise, they all agreed.
Crystal picked out Blue Moods Comedy Club in Manhattan for their girls’ night out. Depending on how they felt afterwards, they might go dancing. The girls couldn’t wait for their night out. They decided to meet at Crystal’s. They would ride to Manhattan in her truck. Since the ride was a little over an hour, Crystal knew it would make for an interesting conversation.
Crystal was pulling on her designer jeans and zipping up her stiletto boots when she heard the doorbell ring.
“Coming!” she yelled.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Susan, Jewell and Elsie standing there. “What is this? You all came together?”
Susan answered, “Nope. We pulled up within seconds of each other.”
Crystal glanced at her watch. “Wow, I’m impressed. You’re all on time.”
“You threatened us, remember?” Susan joked.
Crystal smiled. She did tell them not to be late or else. What would go behind the or else, she didn’t know.
“Well, come on in. Would anyone like a glass of wine?”
They all said no.
“All right then, let me run upstairs and get my purse.”
Jewell wanted a tour first. “Can I see your house?”
“Sure. Follow me.”
“Why don’t we all get a tour?” Elsie asked, wanting to be nosy as well.
Susan had been to Crystal’s on a number of occasions, so she went along just because.
After the tour, they stood in front of the mirror near the front door. Crystal wore Dolce and Gabanna jeans, a black leather tank vest with a black lacy bra underneath, and black stiletto boots. Susan had on black leather pants with a white v-neck bodysuit, and stiletto heels. Jewell sported a red mini-skirt with a flowing black top, ultra-sheer black stockings, and boots, and Elsie had on black slacks, boots, and a black bodysuit, simple yet sexy.
“So, ladies,” Crystal said, “do we look good or what?”
They all agreed.
Once in the truck, Crystal popped in the latest R. Kelly CD.
“That’s one talented man,” Jewell said. She loved herself some R. Kelly. It didn’t matter to her what anyone said about him. She knew how to separate the music from the man.
“I agree. This is his best CD yet,” Susan said.
“Crystal, having this ladies’ night out was a good idea,” Elsie said.
They all agreed.
“I wish I would have thought of it sooner. After all, we work together every day and sometimes we barely have conversation unless it’s work related. I figured, what better way to bring us together than through laughter?”
“Laughter and honesty,” Susan added.
“Why honesty?” Jewell wanted to know. If they wanted honesty, she was going to give it to them. She was dying to ask Susan why she gave her such a hard way to go.
“Well, for one,” Susan started, looking at Elsie, who knew it was coming, “how come you didn’t tell us you were gay? I thought we were girls. Maybe we’re not the best of friends, but, well, something like that I’d think you would share.”
“Well, to be honest,” Elsie started, “I never really considered us girls. Like Crystal said, we barely talk unless it’s work related, and I really didn’t think my personal life was of any interest to y’all.”
Susan didn’t have a response.
“Well, maybe we need to change all that. Maybe we need to create another type of relationship between us,” Crystal suggested, and they all agreed.
“Since we’re doing the honesty thing, Susan, let me ask you something. Why do you give me a hard time?” Jewell asked.
Susan was all set to deny it.
“Please don’t deny it. Lately we’ve been butting heads left and right. What is it about me
that pisses you off?”
“You don’t piss me off, Jewell. I’m just hard on you because I want you to succeed.”
“Well, you get more bees with honey,” Jewell told her.
“I know that, but I don’t know. It’s just that I see a young, single black mom trying to do her thing, and I feel some sort of obligation. I don’t want you to get too comfortable.”
“I thought you didn’t like me, that you didn’t want to hire me,” Jewell said, recalling the conversation she overheard the day she was interviewed.
Everyone wondered how she knew that.
“I’ll admit that when we first met you, I thought you were a little rough around the edges, and I wasn’t too keen on hiring someone with no experience. Not only that, but you walked in chewing gum. Your first impression left a lot to be desired.”
No one said a word. They were surprised Susan revealed that much.
Susan went on. “But I’m glad to say that you’ve proven me wrong. You’re smart as hell, and I don’t want to see you limit yourself. The way I figure it, if I’m hard on you, you’ll reach higher.”
Jewell kind of understood what she meant, but she still told her, “Wow, thanks. I’ve worked hard to prove myself. But you do need to lighten up, because I was beginning to take it personally.”
“Don’t. I just have my own issues.” Susan felt put in her place.
“Heck, we all have our issues. I’m gay,” Elsie said.
“Timothy asked me to marry him, and I’m scared it may mess up what we have now,” Susan said.
“I’m falling in love with a white man,” Jewell chipped in.
“Me, well . . . I’m interested in a married man whose wife, I know for a fact is having an affair,” Crystal finally revealed.
They all looked at Crystal, surprise evident on their faces. “This is the stuff novels are made of,” Jewell joked. They all agreed and laughed heartily.
The ride to the city went quicker than expected. Before they knew it they were pulling into the parking lot next to the club.
“Did you make reservations?” Susan asked Crystal.
“Of course,” she replied.
“The couple you were talking about, it’s Lange and his wife, isn’t it?” Susan leaned over and asked in a hushed tone.
“How do you know?”
“Because of the look on your face at the office party and how you and Lange are around each other.”
Crystal didn’t even bother to ask what she meant by that. She just hoped her interest wasn’t obvious to anyone else.
As they were heading toward the club, while Elsie and Jewell walked in front, Crystal told Susan what she knew about Lena. “What do you think I should do about it? Should I tell him?”
“If you told him, what purpose would you be serving?”
Crystal looked at Susan and wondered why she had to be so deep.
Blue Moon was packed. That was to be expected when Adele was performing. They waited patiently while the warm-up comedian did his thing. He was wack as hell. Crystal was relieved when she had to go to the bathroom.
“I’ll be back. I’m going to the ladies room. Anyone else want to go?” No one did. Getting up and turning around, Crystal looked right into Lange’s face. Sitting back down quickly, she tapped Susan on the shoulder.
“I thought you had to go to the bathroom,” Susan said.
“I do,” she whispered, while looking over Susan’s shoulder. “Lange is here.”
Susan turned around and her eyes met Lange’s. He nodded and pointed to Crystal. “You might as well go now. He’s spotted us and I think he wants you.”
“I’ll be back.” Crystal stood up, ran her hands through her locks and headed in Lange’s direction.
“Hey, lady,” he greeted.
“Hey yourself. I thought you were away.” Crystal eyed him up and down. She thought he was getting finer and finer. His attire was semi-casual, and it appeared to do him more justice than a suit. He was wearing a pair of off-white linen pants with a cream-colored linen shirt. His top four buttons were open and Crystal noticed his chest hairs peeking from beneath. She took it all in.
“You look good in those jeans,” Lange complimented.
“You’re looking mighty handsome yourself,” Crystal told him. “So, did your wife go with you to the conference?” She knew that spouses could attend this one. It was in Vegas.
“No.”
She couldn’t help but ask, “Whose idea was that?”
“Both of ours.”
I bet it was, Crystal thought.
“Hey, man,” one of the men at the table said. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to the pretty lady?”
“No,” Lange told him.
Still in need of the bathroom, Crystal asked Lange to excuse her. Before stepping to the side, he asked her if she and her friends would like to join him and his boys after the show.
“I have to check with the girls first. Where are you going?”
“To a little spot in the Village. They have good food, strong drinks and a live band.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll let you know.” Crystal turned and walked away with an extra pep in her step. Lange watched her with lust on his face.
From across the room, Susan watched him watch Crystal and thought, Those two are definitely headed for trouble.
“You did what?” Susan asked, knowing full well she had heard Crystal correctly.
“Well, I didn’t tell him we would go with them. I said I had to ask you guys. I can always go and tell him no, that we have other plans.”
“I thought this was supposed to be ladies’ night,” Elsie said.
“It is, and it still can be. I didn’t tell him yes. We all have to agree or else the answer is no.”
“I could care less,” Jewell said. “We were talking about going out afterwards anyway. Does it really make a difference where?”
After the performance, the girls decided to go with Lange and his crew after all.
“I just hope they don’t try to press up,” Elsie said.
“Are you going to tell them you’re gay?” Jewell asked.
“No, it’s none of their business. I’ll just let them know I’m not interested.”
They asked Lange where they should meet. He gave them the address and introduced his boys as Lawrence, Dana and Smokey.
The second they stepped into the club, the men started pressing up. Elsie ignored it at first, even danced a couple of times, until Lawrence decided to let his hands roam.
“What are you doing?” she asked him and pushed his hands away.
“I thought we were enjoying each other,” he said, obviously drunk.
“We were until you started touching and feeling.” With that she walked away, leaving him in the middle of the dance floor.
Jewell had witnessed the interaction and was laughing. “I saw that,” she told Elsie when she sat down.
“He was like an octopus.”
Teasing her, Jewell said, “You know you miss a man’s touch.”
Elsie rolled her eyes.
“I was only kidding,” Jewell told her.
“I know, I know. It’s just that I feel guilty. I’m in New York, chilling, having a good time, and my girl is home waiting.”
A few seconds later, Lawrence and Smokey sat down next to them. Smokey asked Jewell for her number.
“Sorry, can’t give it to you. I’m seeing someone.”
“Well, can’t you have friends?”
Jewell looked at him and said, “Please. Don’t you know that’s the oldest line in the book?”
Smokey reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Well, take this in case you need a doctor.”
Jewell looked at the card and saw that he wasn’t lying. He was a doctor. Had she not been involved with Evan, it might have moved him up a notch or two. But she also knew this was his way of letting her know what she turned down. Jewell handed him back the card and said, “I already have a doctor.”
Meanwhile across the room, Crystal and Lange danced together a number of times.
Lange took a step back and asked her, “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know,” Crystal told him.
“I’m a married man,” Lange said.
“But is your wife a married woman?” Crystal let that slip out.
“What do you mean by that?”
This was the moment she could tell him. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it. “I mean letting you go away by yourself like that. If you were mine, I would have never allowed it.”
“If I was yours, I wouldn’t have agreed.”
The band started to play “Secret Lovers” by Atlantic Star. Crystal took Lange’s hands, put them around her waist and pressed up against him. She placed her head on his chest and they swayed to the beat of the music.
“This feels good,” Lange groaned in her ear.
Crystal pressed up closer. She wished this moment could last forever.
When the song was over, Lange took her hand. “Let’s sit down for a minute. I have to get my bearings.”
They walked across the dance floor. “Excuse me,” Crystal said to a couple that stood in the way. The man turned around and Crystal gasped. It was Jake Newton.
“Crystal? Crystal Gem?” he said as if everything was fine. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. How’s everything? You’re looking good.”
At that exact moment, Susan came out of the ladies’ room, looked onto the dance floor and noticed Crystal with a shocked look on her face. Susan rushed to the floor when she saw Jake standing next to Crystal.
“Get away from her,” Susan told Jake the second she reached them.
“I’m sorry,” he ignored Susan, “about what happened all those years ago.”
“Sorry this,” Susan said and smacked the shit out of him.
He just stood there and took it.
Jake’s dance partner looked like she didn’t know what to do, and Lange looked just as confused.
Susan grabbed Crystal’s arm and pulled her off the dance floor. She told Lange, “We have to go.”
“Susan, who the fuck was that?” Lange asked, following her.
Rushing to the table, Susan told Elsie and Jewell, “We have to go.” They looked from Susan to Crystal. “Come on.”