Flaw Less

by Shana Burton

  Angel giggled. “Really, Sullivan? Toys?”

  Sullivan narrowed her eyes. “Don’t act like you’ve never—”

  “I didn’t say that, okay?” inserted Angel. “I just don’t advocate it.”

  “Why not?” asked Reginell. “It’s safe sex in its highest form.”

  Kina filled a pot with water for boiling. “Don’t you guys think it’s a sin?”

  “The Bible says anything you know is wrong is a sin,” Lawson reminded them.

  “It’s not sin, it’s sex with someone I love,” challenged Sullivan.

  Angel laughed. “Maybe it’s a necessary evil, like carbs and calories.”

  Kina set the pot on the stove. “Yeah, but why is it wrong, especially if you’re thinking about your husband in the process?”

  Lawson poured her batter into a floured pan. “At the very least, I think it’s an impossible standard for any man to live up to. I mean, all those multiple speeds and settings. No human being can compete with that.”

  “Sounds like we’re speaking from experience,” muttered Sullivan.

  Lawson grinned. “Well, I was celibate for those three years before getting married!”

  “So it is wrong?” Kina asked again.

  Angel cleared her throat. “Right or wrong, no battery-operated device can replace having your own husband in your own bed. Bob, as you so eloquently call it, can’t hold or kiss you—”

  “You haven’t seen the new stuff they’re coming out with,” threw in Sullivan.

  Angel went on. “No toy or vibrator can take the place of a real man. It’s not a part of God’s plan for sex and marriage, so I don’t think it should be a part of ours. You can dress it up however you want; it’s still lust and thinking about sex. Biblically speaking, the sinful act starts in the mind. The physical act is just a manifestation of that.” Angel took a breath and continued. “That said, sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!”

  They all hooted.

  “Maybe I should bring this up in Bible Study,” suggested Kina.

  “Um, maybe you shouldn’t!” cautioned Lawson. “I don’t know how to work your vibrator questions into the pastor’s series on grace and mercy.”

  “Grace and mercy aside, if a sex-toy box is going to keep Joan out of your box, I’m all for it, Kina,” said Sullivan.

  Reginell laughed. “While we’re on the subject of odd couples, guess who I had lunch with the other day.”

  “Whose husband or boyfriend was it this time?” asked Sullivan. Reginell gestured a finger from her free hand in Sullivan’s direction.

  Lawson checked on the food she had in the oven. “Who, honey?”

  “Mark.”

  Sullivan looked up with a confused expression on her face. “Mark who?”

  “Mark Vinson—who else?”

  Angel shuddered and shook her head. Kina looked away.

  Reginell noticed the looks on everyone’s face. “What?”

  “Reggie, I know you’re not the brightest bulb on the chandelier, but even you should know not to go after your nephew’s father. Are the pickings getting that slim at the strip club?”

  “Sullivan, chill out. They only went to lunch,” reiterated Lawson. “No need for you to get your panties in a bunch.”

  “As if she doesn’t go commando,” threw in Reginell.

  Angel’s eyes widened. “Lawson, you’re okay with this?”

  Lawson shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  A scowl registered on Sullivan’s face. “Well, it’s icky to say the least! I mean, I’ve heard of hand-me-down-clothes, but hand-me-down—”

  “Don’t even say it!” butt in Angel, sensing where Sullivan was about to go.

  Lawson calmed the fray. “Ladies, you’re acting like Reggie and Mark are ready to jump the broom. Besides, Mark and I were never in a real relationship. He can date whoever he wants.”

  “Thank you!” said Reginell. “If I said you all couldn’t date anyone I ever slept with—”

  “There would be no one left to date,” piped Sullivan.

  Reginell ignored her and addressed her sister. “So you’re really okay with me hanging out with Mark?”

  “Girl, don’t listen to Sullivan. I said yes, didn’t I? It was only lunch. Don’t make such a big deal out of it.”

  “What if it was more than lunch?” pressed Reginell.

  Lawson was a little unnerved. “Did something happen between the two of you afterward?”

  “No, nothing like that. I just meant, like, if we were to go out again.”

  “Reggie, you’re a grown woman. You can do whatever you want.” Lawson paused a moment. “I just hope Mark is different now.”

  Reginell went on alert. “What do you mean?”

  “Honey, Mark wasn’t as interested in getting to know me personally as he was getting to know me biblically, if you catch my drift.”

  Angel brushed it off. “That was fifteen years ago, Lawson, he was just a kid. What teenage boy isn’t interested in sex?”

  “I agree, and we all know that sex is a man’s first need. It just so happens that you work in an establishment where sexing it up is a part of your job description, Reggie. For some guys, hooking up with a stripper is a fantasy. Mark might be one of those guys.”

  “So you think all he wants from me is sex?”

  “I’m not saying that definitively. I have no idea what Mark wants from you, but Mark and I talk a lot. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard him express having an interest in you.”

  Reginell was crushed. “Oh . . .”

  Lawson put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Sweetie, I’m not saying that a man wouldn’t be genuinely interested in you. I’m saying you shouldn’t take anything Mark does or says too seriously. He’s a natural flirt, and I’d hate for you to misread his signals and think there’s something there that doesn’t exist. You’re my baby sister, and I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  “You’re probably right,” resolved Reginell, shattered by the revelation. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “Don’t worry, sis.” Lawson hugged her. “The right man will come along. Just don’t expect him to be Mark Vinson.”

  “Lawson, can you come open this?” Sullivan held up a jar of relish for the potato salad. “You know you’re all manly and strong.”

  Lawson strolled over to her. “Insults are not the quickest way to get me to do you any favors.”

  Sullivan pulled Lawson off to the side. “The relish was just an excuse to get you away from Reggie. What was that about?”

  “What was what about?”

  “All that blocking you were doing,” charged Sullivan. “Don’t you think that was a little harsh?”

  “Excuse me for trying to protect my sister from getting hurt.”

  Sullivan stood akimbo. “Maybe you really were trying to protect Reggie . . . Maybe you were really trying to protect you.”

  Lawson drew back. “Protect me? From what?”

  “From being jealous of the fact that your ex-boyfriend might actually be falling for your baby sister.”

  “Mark doesn’t want Reggie, not for anything outside of the bedroom, at least.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I know Mark,” insisted Lawson.

  “Did you know he was going to ask her out?” Lawson shook her head. “Then maybe you don’t know Mark as well as you think you do.”

  Chapter 18

  “You don’t have to apologize for me! I haven’t said anything I didn’t mean.”

  —Angel King

  Angel came home exhausted from Lawson’s. Duke greeted her with opened arms when she walked into their home. “There’s my beautiful fiancée.”

  “Hey, baby.” She kissed him. “Where are the girls?”

  “Upstairs, washing up before dinner.”

  Angel couldn’t fathom the prospect of preparing yet another meal. “It’s been such a crazy day, Duke. Why don’t we just or
der a pizza for the girls and make it an early night?”

  Duke caressed her back. “I was sort of hoping for a home-cooked meal.”

  “Well, you’re home. Why don’t you cook it?” she snapped.

  “The occasion warrants something a little more special than pizza, and you know my home-cooked specialty is cereal.”

  Angel slid out of her jacket. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Channing is flying in today for Thanksgiving. I’m picking him up from the airport in about an hour.”

  Angel felt a rush of anger. “Thanks for the warning, Duke! This house is a wreck. We’re not prepared for company.”

  “Chan is not coming here to inspect our house. He’s coming home to see his family.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather take him out?”

  “Angel, he’s been flying all day. I’m sure he wants to sit back and relax, not deal with waiters screwing up his order and obnoxious patrons.” He kissed her hands. “Please, baby, for me. . . .”

  Angel rolled her eyes. “You’re going to owe me big time, Du’Corey King!” she warned him.

  He winked at her. “You know I’m good for it.”

  “Yeah, I know exactly what you’re good for,” grumbled Angel.

  Duke pulled her into his arms. “And you love every minute of it.”

  “This is so frustrating,” screeched Angel into the phone with Lawson as she hunted for a boiler in Theresa’s seemingly never-ending collection of pots and pans. “I don’t understand this woman’s organizational system at all. Who even buys this much cookware? It’s like Pots ’R’ Us in here!”

  “You’re just stressed out, Angel. Calm down; it’s just dinner. Don’t make such a big deal out of it.”

  “It’s not ‘just dinner,’ Lawson. It’s the way he just expects me to drop everything to—”

  “You need some help in the kitchen?”

  Angel didn’t recognize the low tenor voice speaking to her. “No, I got it. I just . . .” She turned around. It felt as if the world had stopped spinning the moment she laid eyes on him. He was far more handsome in person than he was on any of the pictures of him she’d seen. Angel told herself to blink and to breathe.

  “I have to admit, I love seeing a woman in an apron. Something about it is wholesome yet sexy.” He smiled. Even on crutches, he had a swagger about him that rivaled any movie star on the red carpet. “Hi, I’m Channing. You must be Angel.”

  “Hi.” She managed to climb down without killing herself or taking her eyes off of his luscious butterscotch skin. “Lawson, I’ll call you back.” She dropped the phone.

  “Oh, you didn’t have to get off the phone. I just wanted to come formally introduce myself. Obviously, I’ve heard a lot about you, but with me spending most of my life on foreign soil, we’ve never had a chance to meet face-to-face.”

  She shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. How’s the leg?”

  He looked down at the cast. “They didn’t amputate it, so anything short of that is good.”

  She laughed a little too hard—a telltale sign for Angel that she was giddy and far more attracted to him than she should’ve been.

  “I hear congratulations are in order . . . again. When is the big day?” asked Channing.

  “What day?”

  “Your wedding,” he answered.

  “Oh, right! Um, late spring. June fifth.”

  Channing nodded. “Okay. I hope I’m able to fly back for it, and I apologize for just showing up out the blue. I was supposed to fly out Saturday, but I couldn’t resist the chance to be home with family for Thanksgiving.”

  “It’s okay,” she said quickly. “I’m glad you could make it for dinner.”

  “Really? Duke kind of hinted that you were less than thrilled about having an extra mouth to feed.”

  “I don’t know where he got that idea from,” she lied.

  “That’s good. I’d hate to put you out.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind putting out.” She winced when she caught the Freudian slip. “I mean, it’s no big deal, honestly.” Angel swallowed and wiped her sweaty palms. “I bet Duke and the girls are wondering where dinner is. They’re not a bunch who like to be kept waiting.”

  “I think all of us Kings have that in common.” He smiled flirtatiously. “We’ve got to have what we want when we want it.”

  Angel finished the dinner and brought it out to her starving family. Knowing she was cooking for such a handsome guest made the task a little less arduous. Duke blessed the food, and they all began digging in.

  Angel passed the salad bowl to Channing. “I bet it feels good to be home, huh?”

  “I’m happy to see my family, obviously, but my heart is out there on the ground with my combat unit.”

  Angel fixed Miley’s plate. “The troops have my utmost respect and my prayers, but I’d be lying if I said I agreed with everything you all are doing out there.”

  Channing blinked back. “Exactly which part don’t you agree with, Angel? Liberating people? Taking down oppressive dictators? Feeding starving children on the street?”

  “No, occupying another country without sensitivity to their culture, their beliefs, and their way of life. I don’t think imposing our will on them is right. Neither is bombing villages and killing innocent civilians.”

  Duke attempted to diffuse the exchange. “Angel, chill out now. We’re trying to enjoy a nice dinner.”

  “Well, Duke, I’m sure there are families all over the country who would love to be having a nice dinner with a loved one who’s life was sacrificed for a senseless war.”

  Channing countered her argument. “Since when is fighting for freedom senseless? This country was built on the backs of soldiers. It’s ‘senseless wars,’ as you put it, that provide the freedom that you’re able to enjoy.”

  “So the torture and killing of innocent people and the increased risk to our own national security are just causalities of war too?” challenged Angel. Channing was starting to become less attractive.

  Channing gulped down his glass of tea. “It’s war, Angel. Sometimes it gets bloody and gruesome. All of it’s not pretty and, yes, sometimes innocent blood is shed. But as they say, sometimes the needs of many outweigh the needs of a few.”

  “Fine . . .” Angel heaped food onto her plate. “You tell that to the parents having to bury their son today or to the child whose mother isn’t around to kiss him good night because she’s on her third or fourth tour of duty.”

  “Every soldier knows the risk involved when he or she enlists. To most, dying for their country is honorable.”

  “I don’t know what’s so honorable about dying on foreign soil, maimed and gasping for life, never even being able to tell your family good-bye.”

  “You watch too much sensationalized television,” charged Channing. “You have no idea what’s on going out there.”

  “You’re right. It’s probably much worse than the politicized version we get on television.”

  Duke rubbed Angel’s shoulders. “Baby, go easy on him. The man has been fighting in a war zone. He put his life on the line for us and almost lost his leg in the process. That’s a heck of a sacrifice.”

  Angel turned to Duke. “I know all about sacrificing for this country.”

  “Chan, I hope you’re not offended. My fiancée can be a little passionate and high-strung.” He kissed her on the cheek. “But we love her anyway!”

  Angel pushed Duke away. “You don’t have to apologize for me! I haven’t said anything I didn’t mean.”

  “I know, baby, but don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him considering what he’s been through?”

  Angel faced Channing. “I’m sorry if you think I’m being insensitive, but this is a very touchy subject for me.”

  “Angel lost her father in combat,” explained Duke. “He was killed in the first Iraq war.”

  “My father was everything to me,” Angel told him. “He was a soldier, but he detested senseless
killing, and he had great respect for other people’s differences.” She took a breath. “His death devastated my family. I would never want to see anyone else’s spouse, sibling, child, or friend go through what we went through. My mother has never completely gotten over it.”

  Channing now understood her combativeness. “I’m sorry for your loss, Angel. For the record, no one looks forward to being deployed, separated from loved ones, and not knowing how or if you’re going to return. However, it’s what we signed up to do.”

  She nodded. “I respect your commitment and loyalty to this country.”

  Channing smiled. “So are we cool again?”

  Angel blushed. “Yeah, we’re cool. Nothing wrong with a little difference in ideology, right?”

  “You’re right,” replied Channing.

  “Well, you know what Aunt Jackie used to make us do after a big fight,” Duke said. He gave his cousin a slight shove. “Go on over there and hug it out!”

  Angel laughed nervously and shook her head. “Oh, that’s not necessary, Duke.”

  “No, it’s cool,” disputed Channing, rising from his seat. “I mean, we’re practically family now.”

  Channing held out opened arms and invited her in. Angel accepted, inhaling his cologne as he held her.

  She released him before the hug could be considered anything but amicable. Angel knew they’d soon be family, but what she felt in that embrace was anything but familial.

  Chapter 19

  “You all won’t admit it, but I think you like it when I sit around being contrite and obedient, doing whatever you think is best, living my life according to your standards.”

  —Kina Battle

  “Sullivan, that husband of yours knows he can preach!” declared Kina after they all returned to Sullivan’s house following the church’s Thanksgiving Day service for dinner. “It felt like he preached that sermon just for me.”

  Lawson removed a pan of dressing from the oven. “It never hurts to be reminded that this battle we’re waging is a spiritual warfare, not a physical one. When we find ourselves at odds with one another, it’s good to remember that.” She glanced over at Sullivan, who sat quietly while everyone else scurried about preparing dinner. “By the looks of it, Sully, you’re fighting your own spiritual warfare over there with yourself. What’s going on with you? You’ve been quiet since we got here.”