by Shay Hunter
“Now I have a meeting with another girl in five minutes in the practice room and you can’t be anywhere near the picture.”
I frowned. “But I always help you select the girls.”
“Not today. And not anymore.” He looked me in the eyes. “Now leave, I’m busy.”
I stood in front of him for one second before turning around. Once outside I fumbled toward my dressing room and grabbed an old pack of cigarettes I had in my vanity. I also grabbed my coat and walked outside. The moment I closed the door I noticed Waxton was out there too.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Just did a weave on one of the girls.” He looked me up and I could feel his irritation with me.
We have had money disputes in the past and although I believed we worked them out you could never tell with him. I wasn’t in the mood to see him for more than one reason. “That’s good.”
“You got that for me yet?”
I sighed. “I’m going to give you the rest of your money, Waxton. Don’t act like I’m not good for it because you know I am. Plus we already had an understanding. I was going to pay you in full on Saturday.”
“I hear all that but answer me this. Did you or did you not get insurance money when your house burned down?”
“No! It’s supposed to be Saturday. That’s what I’m saying. They’re still investigating the fire. The moment I get the check I’ll break you off, Waxton. I promise.” I paused. “But look, I need you to do another favor and I’ll give you five hundred more.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “What is it this time?”
“Poe is auditioning a new girl. Do me a favor and go check her out in the practice room. I would do it but apparently I’m not allowed inside anymore.”
He rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth. “I’ll do it but I want my money. I’m not fucking around with you.” He left.
“I said I got you, damn!”
I smoked five stale cigarettes before Waxton came out thirty-five minutes later, which was longer than normal for any girl Poe auditioned. I mean what were they talking ‘bout? He grabbed the pack of stale cigarettes and lit one. “Girl, you not gonna believe this shit.”
“Believe what?”
“Who’s in there dancing.”
“Who is it?”
“Your cousin Spy. And when I say she burned the pole down that’s exactly what I mean! She killed it!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SPYRELLA
I rushed to my silver Suburban truck where Carlita was behind the driver’s seat waiting. I slid into the passenger seat and attempted to hide the grin that eased on my face. “I think I got it!” I covered my mouth with my trembling fingers. “I think he liked me!”
She laughed. “I know he likes you! Poe was always one of your biggest supporters but working in the club is another thing. You know he’s picky about the girls he gets to dance! What did he say to you?”
“We talked for awhile and he asked why I wanted to dance for Skeezers. Said I was better than dancing there and at first he didn’t want to see me.”
Carlita frowned. “Mighty funny he didn’t have no problem with me and Mo dancing.”
Lately she had been snappy and jealous acting. I told myself it wasn’t the case but the evidence was all in her attitude toward me. Ever since Wisdom was arrested for raping Mo and my mother for burning down her house, things had been weird in my family.
My mother claimed she didn’t burn the house down but I figured it was possible since she still blamed Aunt Levine for ruining her life. To be honest I wanted my mother gone because she knew about my bulimia secret and I got the impression that if she was drunk enough she might tell him. And I would rather her be in jail and warm then on the streets and unsafe.
But this thing with Wisdom changed my favorite cousin’s mood. She was always so sweet to me and now it felt like the littlest things irritated her. She was always judging me and making me feel like I didn’t understand life. What she didn’t get was that I was different from the Spy she knew months back. I knew a lot, like it was high time that I started doing what I wanted to do in my life.
“So how did you do?” She asked.
“Carlita.” I placed my hand over my chest as I recalled the moves in my head. “I moved like a professional. I felt like I was doing ballet.” I tossed my arms up. “I fucking loved it! I wished Monique was there, asked for her and everything but Poe’s entire mood changed when I did. Like they having problems or something.”
She smiled at me. “So you didn’t see her?”
I sat back in my seat and placed on my seatbelt. “After I asked him where she was and he gave me an attitude I dropped it.”
She nodded and scooped her braids over to one side of her shoulder. “Are you angry with her?”
My jaw dropped. “Angry with her? For what?”
“For everything.” She positioned herself so that she could look into my eyes. “I mean why here, Spy?” she stared at the sign Skeezers in lights. “You could go to any club. Why does it have to be this one? A club you know Mo worships?”
“Do you miss, Mo?” I answered her question with one.
She shrugged. “Not really, I mean, I guess.” She looked at the steering wheel. “Sometimes anyway. But my life has been so fucked up that lately I’ve been on some selfish shit. Thinking of myself.”
“Well I miss her. A lot. As much as she gets on my nerves she’s still my cousin and if I can be around her then I want to do that.”
“And she also had aunt Diane locked up for arson too,” Carlita continued. “Your mother doing ten years behind that shit.”
“And my mother probably did it. To be honest I’d rather her be in jail than on the streets.” I exhaled. “Back to the club, at the end of the day I always wanted to dance. Since I could remember. And now I’m doing it.” I grabbed her hand. “All I’m asking is that you be happy for me.”
“But what about Reggie? You don’t think he’d be hurt if he found out you were here? After all, you are hiding it from him.”
“Because he doesn’t need to know all my moves.”
She seemed annoyed with me. “Listen, I know you happy about your weight loss. You went from 300 something to 150. I get that you want attention but Reggie loves you. And he’s good to you. Don’t mess that up.”
“I’m only doing it for a few months. Just long enough to help with the wedding expenses. With me being in school and Reggie having to pay all the bills I figured we could use the cash. I’m already tapping at my savings.”
“It’s your life, cuz. I’m supporting you regardless.”
****
When we walked in the door I smelled the fried chicken Reggie was cooking and fries. He gets on my nerves with that shit. I do everything in my power to eat healthy but he stays making bad food.
“It smells good,” I said as I walked up to him and kissed him. I was doing my best to hide my attitude. “What you cooking?” I already knew but wanted him to see my facial expression when he said it.
“My famous chicken.” He winked at me and gave Carlita a one-arm hug. “Your cousin asked me to drop some wings a while back so I’m providing her wish.”
I gave her an evil look.
“I just wanted a real meal that’s all,” she giggled. “I get tired of eating bird food and that stuff you be making around here, Spy. If I see one more salad I’m going to flip.”
“When you moved in I thought you were gonna be on my side. You use to be on a health kick just like me.”
“That’s before Wisdom got locked up and I lost the house.” She exhaled. “Guess it’s not in me anymore to eat healthy.” She looked into the frying pan and smiled halfway. “Thanks again, Reggie.” She walked out of the kitchen and to her room.
“I’m sorry, baby I didn’t know things were going to be that serious,” he said to me. “Where you been?”
“Just grabbing some air with my cousin.”
He looked down at
my gym bag where my strip club clothes were hidden. “You went to the gym too?”
“Nope. I left it in the truck so I’m just taking it out now.”
He removed the last wings out of the pan and placed them on the towel. As I stared at the food the only thing I thought about was how it was going to feel when I threw it back up.
“I know you didn’t do it on purpose but, Reggie I don’t know why you think this is cool. I’m not gonna be able to fit in my wedding dress if you keep cooking like this.”
He slapped my butt. “Then we’ll buy a dress that fits.”
“I’m serious!”
He sighed. “Babe, I’m not gonna apologize if I like you thick. You lost half the weight you were when I met you. And I don’t want you skinnier than that. So forgive me if I seduce you with food cooked out of love. Okay?”
I rolled my eyes and walked away.
Suddenly I was starting to rethink our wedding.
I was starting to rethink everything.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CARLITA
I went back downstairs to eat dinner with Spy and Reggie but I felt out of place. After losing the house because I couldn’t afford the mortgage and the news Wisdom was given a ten-year sentence, I preferred to spend my time doing the usual.
Crying.
If I wasn’t crying I was eating. I ate so much that I gained twenty-five pounds. To make matters worse I missed Monique terribly. I wasn’t being honest with Carlita because I guess I was embarrassed. Every time I tried to reach out to Mo she wouldn’t accept my call.
I got the impression she didn’t want to hear from me again so I was trying to give her space. But months have passed and I was hoping that things were different and that she would at least give me a chance to talk. To apologize for what Wisdom did to her.
I decided to call Skeezers since the chances of her hanging up on me would be lower. But when I called I got Waxton instead. He didn’t work there so it was weird. “Who the fuck is this?” He yelled at me.
I laughed and stopped when I realized he was answering the phone at a place of business. “Waxton, are you okay? This is Carlita. And why you answering the phone at the club?”
Now he laughed. “I’m answering the phone because your cousin is a bitch and she threw my cell phone when I told her I had some T recorded on her. Yeah, the bitch didn’t know I had that.”
“I don’t know what’s going on but you better mind your tongue with talking about my cousin like that.”
“Bitch, I’ll say whatever I want. Now what do you need because I’m leaving.”
I heard some bottles rattling in the background. “What is all that noise?”
“Well let me tell you. First off that cousin of yours is not a woman of her word. I’m so sick of that bitch stiffing me for her weaves and the little jobs I do around here. I don’t know what made you leave that house but you did good because the whore is crazy.”
I sat on the edge of my bed because it seemed like he knew more than he was telling me. “You talk a lot of shit for a nigga who stay up her ass. I thought ya’ll were so close.”
“Chile, I may have been close to her but she wasn’t hardly close to me. And she wasn’t close to you either. Now I know this if fucked up but while I’m raiding this bar to collect what’s owed to me, let me put you on to a few things. First off Monique paid me to burn down her house so she could be up in Poe’s bed. And she also paid me to get her the Rufi’s she used to set Wisdom up for rape.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat up. “Waxton, you’re scaring me…I…I don’t understand. Are you saying that all of this, everything that I’ve been going through over the past few months was a lie?”
“I’m telling you that your cousin is pure evil. And I’m telling you that you need to stay wherever you are because she is the worst kind.” He started laughing. “Had she not broken my phone I would’ve emailed you the proof to get Wisdom out of jail but thank your cousin for that shit. I recorded her offering to pay me for the drugs, the arson and everything.”
“So you’re saying that he never, never touched her?”
“I ain’t say all that shit.” He laughed. “Don’t know if your cousin and man told you but they fucked before. I think Mo’s grimy ass was mad because she wanted more and he wasn’t feeling her.”
“Waxton, I really hope you’re not lying to me.”
“Lie to you for what, darling? I’m grown.” He exhaled. “Now I’ve said enough. I have to go. Good luck with your situation. I points out the mess but I don’t cleans ‘em.” He hung up.
I can’t remember the last time I was this angry. As a matter of fact I don’t remember ever being this angry in my life. And yet here I was, standing in the middle of my bedroom thinking the vilest thoughts imaginable. Learning that Monique broke my heart this way made me think of doing the most horrific things.
But I had to be easy. I had to be smart, after all everything she does is calculating. I want her put away but not by telling the police. Not yet anyway.
I wanted her ruined.
****
When I walked back toward Monique’s dressing room I could hear her yelling and calling Waxton a gay bitch. And since the bar was completely empty I figured she was talking to him on the phone because he was obviously gone. When I made it to her room she was walking in circles screaming. Her hair was in a cornrowed beehive which meant she was supposed to get a weave. “Fuck you then, you hoe ass bitch! And just for that I’m not paying you shit!” She tossed her phone on the dresser.
I stood in her doorway and tried my best to appear humble. Or, like she liked her friends, naive. “Is everything okay, cousin?”
She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “What the fuck you doing here?” She flopped in the chair.
“I wanted to talk to you, Monique. I can tell you upset so I’m gonna make it quick.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Please do.”
“I can’t believe after all of this time we still aren’t speaking.” I walked deeper into her dressing room. “I know you don’t believe this but after what Wisdom did to you I realized you were always right about him. The fucked up part was you shouldn’t have gotten hurt for me to realize it.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know how to do weave right?”
Fuck is this bitch talking about?
“Not as good as Waxton but I’m okay. Remember, I use to do them for you when you were in between appointments and he was booked up.”
She reached under the table, threw a bag of hair on top of it and looked at me. “Since you’re so apologetic come over here and do my shit.”
I placed my purse on the chair and walked over to her. Taking the hair out of the bag I used the scissors to cut the weave, and then funneled five needles with black thread, placing them on the dresser. When I was ready I walked over to her and said, “So what happened with Waxton? Why you so mad at him?”
“No reason.” She shrugged, guilt painted all over her face.
“All that or no reason? You sounded like you were going through the roof.”
She sighed. “He’s not the friend I thought he was, let’s put it that way.” She waved the air. “Anyway I need your help with something. Something very important.”
“What’s that?”
“Have you spoken to Spy?”
“Sometimes,” I lied. She didn’t need to know that we lived together. “Why?”
“Because she has the nerve to be dancing here. Apparently she lost weight and wants to throw her pussy around my mothafuckin’ club. You and me both know how she feels about Poe so I need her gone. But I don’t have a plan.”
I exhaled. “I’m not gonna lie, I love Spy because she’s my cousin too. But I will never choose her over you. Give me a few days and watch, I’ll come up with the ultimate plan.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SPYRELLA
Tonight was the night and I almost didn’t make it. I tried to talk myself out of
it so many times I was almost late for my set. But as I looked through the mirror, at Poe who was standing behind me, staring, giving me that look that made my pussy moist, well…let’s just say that I’m glad I came.
When his mouth moved I realized I couldn’t hear him. At first I didn’t understand why. And then I remembered. When I was around him time stopped. Everything was silent. It took a moment to realize I was in the packed dressing room, full of women scantily clothed and wearing too much perfume. Unlike my cousin, who I haven’t seen yet, I didn’t have a private space.
“Okay everybody out!” Poe yelled to the girls. “It’s time to work the floors.” He clapped his hands loudly.
They excitedly put the finishing touches on their outfits and quickly exited. There were big drug dealers in the building so the payout today was going to be huge at the bar and for the dancers.
When we were alone I thought about what I was doing again by being here. Who was I fooling? I may have dabbled in dancing a little back in the day but stripping? I was finally realizing I was out of my league. “I don’t want to go out there.” I looked up at him. “I think I’m making a mistake.”
“Then don’t go. You don’t have to do this, Spy.” He was calm and sincere which was refreshing.
“But I thought about doing this for so long. If I leave…”
He sat next to me. “This life…where you dance for men who want your attention is temporary. You can’t do this forever. I can’t even do this shit forever and I’m behind the scenes.”
I looked away because he was difficult to stare at without thinking unclean stuff. “I thought you loved this. The club. The money. The lights.”
“I love setting out to do something and doing that. Plus my father left me this spot so I wanted to make it work. But to tell you the truth I could leave it in an instant. Especially if I had a reason.”
I looked down at my hands. “She hates me you know? I knocked on her door when I got here and she wouldn’t open it.”