“Good afternoon,” she spoke, “Nice suit I don’t see many men dressed like that around here, but judging from your southern accent you aren’t from around here.”
“No mam I come from Memphis, Tennessee home of the blues.” He smiled as he made his way towards our table.
I sat motionless unable to breathe, Asteria looked at me as if I were missing a screw in my head. Not wanting to look at his face, I glanced at the solid gold cufflinks that rested perfectly on his sleeve, my eyes making their way down at the peanut butter gators that embraced his size twelve feet. The scent of Versace Man filled the air around us as he stood close enough to touch. For what Chad lacked in morality he made up for it in presentation.
Looking at me through eyes that were as cold as the January wind in Chicago he said, “How are you?”
His dark skin was almost free of imperfections except the reminder that someone tried to kill him long ago then I remembered quickly what type of man that was standing before my friend and I. “I’m fine.” I said coldly, “We were just leaving.” I said as I pulled my credit card from my wallet placing it in the basket on top of the check.
“I have never been to this restaurant before, would you ladies be so kind as to recommend something to me.” He asked my friend.
“I just had the pasta Fresca, but you look like a man who likes meat so I’d suggest the spaghetti and meatballs for you.” Asteria suggested. “Their spaghetti is to die for, but since we just finished working out I decided on something light.” She flirted as she batted her thick lashes.
“That sounds great. What did you have pretty girl?” he asked with his icy eyes piercing my skin.
“I just had a salad.” I answered quickly.
“What brings a man like you to St. Louis?” Asteria asked.
“Business as usual.” He smiled. “I have to get with a former business associate of mine, but this associate has been rather reluctant to meet with me.”
“Well sometimes you just grab them by the throat and make them see things your way.” Asteria said.
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” He said looking directly at me.
“Hi my name is Asteria by the way.” She said extending her hand.
Chad kissed the back of my unassuming friend’s hand, “Nice to meet you Asteria. What an unusual name.”
“Asteria is the Goddess of night and falling stars.” She flirted.
“Oh I see.” He said, “how poetic.”
“Poetic, you are the first person to say that my name is poetic.” She was already being wooed by his charm.
“What is your friend’s name?” he asked her as I signed the receipt.
They waited for me to answer, instead I ignored him.
“This is Jovanna, who has seemed to have gone mute on us.” She introduced me to someone that I knew all too well.
I stood in a hurry which took Asteria by surprise as she wanted to continue to flirt with danger. Chad stepped back to let me pass him, Asteria followed, but not before saying her goodbyes and handing him her business card.
“Girl what is wrong with you?” she asked as she rushed behind me trying to catch up, “I was about to get my flirt on.”
“You don’t even know him Asteria.” I said as I put my coat on while we made our way out of the restaurant door.
“Okay, I was trying to get to know him; maybe he is just what I need to finally forget about the loser that I’m dealing with now.”
“You need to be a little more careful with who you let in your bed.” I put.
That last statement stopped my friend in her tracks as she stood on the passenger side of my car with her mouth handing open, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m sorry, that slipped out.” I apologized, “Let’s just forget that I said that.”
“No I don’t think that I can forget that Jovanna.” She fumed as she got in my car and slammed the door, “I feel as if you are judging me.”
“I’m not judging you Asteria and I apologize for what I said now let’s just forget it.” I started up the car and pulled out of the parking lot. I knew that I had to get Chad his money and I had to do it as soon as possible.
“You know what Jovanna, I’m hurt by what you said and I don’t think that I can just forget about it. Do you think that you are better than me because you are about to marry this white dude?”
“What does Justin have to do with any of this?” I asked.
“I’ve known you for ten years and it just seems as if since Justin asked you to marry him sometimes you act just like Pandia thinking that you are better than me.”
“I don’t think that I’m better than anyone Asteria, I was just distracted and I didn’t mean to say what I originally said.” I defended myself. “I’m not about to argue with you about this, I apologized and if you don’t want to accept it then so be it.”
Asteria looked at me through silted eyes, “I think that you’d better put the pedal to the metal Jovanna because I am feeling some sort of way right now and being that you are one of my best friends, I think that it would be best that you got me to my car as soon as possible.”
We rode back to the gym in silence, when I pulled alongside Asteria’s blue Avalon she opened the door and got out, “I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you Jovanna, but you really need to check yourself before you lose a good friend.” She slammed my car door so hard that my car rocked.
I couldn’t think of Asteria as I drove home, all that I could think about was seeing Chad; how did he know that I was there? I wondered. I questioned if he’d been following me and if he knew where Justin and I lived. I looked in my rearview mirror and no one was behind me, but to be safe I took a few detours before I was comfortable enough to drive to our home in the city where my future husband awaited me.
20
Asteria
I couldn’t believe that the bitch had the audacity to speak to me when I walked into the salon Tuesday morning. Keisha may have known how good Keith’s dick felt inside of her the other night, but what she didn’t know was that I was five minutes away from knocking that stupid lip piercing out of her mouth. Making it my business to speak to everyone but her I held my head high as I strutted to the back office where I contemplated on how I was going to fire her crooked ass.
“Hey girl what’s up, I got your text.” Pandia said when she came into the office to put her coat away. My sister looked as if she hadn’t slept in days Keith was putting her through hell and for that I felt terrible.
“I think that we should fire Keisha.” I put bluntly.
My sister looked suprised, “Wow that was random; I thought that you were her number one fan.”
“Well I changed my mind she is not working out as I once thought and she needs to be let go immediately.”
Pandia sat down across from me, “Tell me the real reason Asteria.”
“The real reason is that the bitch is unprofessional as hell and I’m tired of having to correct her mistakes the other stylists are starting to complain about her. It’s not like she has dedicated clients so losing her won’t hurt the salon at all.”
“You know I’ve never liked the girl in the first place, but if we fire her that will leave an unoccupied chair in the salon and we need that rent money Asteria.”
My sister was right, we needed to keep someone in that station at all times. “It won’t be a problem getting someone back in that station; there are stylists graduating from beauty schools all of the time and those people are looking for a chair and an opportunity.”
Pandia tapped her unkempt nails on the glass-top desk and sucked her teeth while she thought it over, “You are right Asteria, let’s move forward and let her go, but since this was your great idea I’ll let you handle it.” She said as she stood to go out to her station where she had a client waiting.
I couldn’t wait to call that bitch in to my office and fire her ass.
Looking in the mirror I admired all of the hard work that I�
�d put in at the gym because unlike my sister I refused to get out of shape just because I had a baby. I kept my stomach flat, my ass and legs were tight as a runner’s and my arms weren’t flabby. Since I owned a salon I made sure that my hair stayed on point and I never had chipped nail polish on my feet or fingertips. I hate to be conceited, but a bitch looked good that is why it is hard to fathom why Keith would want to fuck around with a sloppy, broke bitch like Keisha.
I kept myself busy with paperwork until after lunch when I stepped out of the office and noticed that Keisha was sitting in her styling chair waiting on a client but this time she didn’t have the usual sour look on her face, this time she looked happy.
“Keisha, do you mind if I have a word with you?” I asked.
She got up from her chair and followed me into my office; I was feeling good about myself.
“Have a seat.” Keisha plopped down in the chair and looked at me with a slight smirk on her face.
“Keisha, you have come a long way here and I’m rather suprised at how much you have learned. Your hair cutting and styling techniques have improved greatly in the past six months.”
Keisha looked at me blankly, “And…”
“And, unfortunately with all of the improving that you have done you still lack the professionalism that it takes to work in a salon of this caliber. With that being said, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to let you go.”
Keisha’s laugh took me by surprise. “You are something else Asteria.” She chuckled.
Growing angry and confused I asked, “What?”
“Please tell me that you are not firing me because I had a little piece of Keith the other night.”
I looked at her in astonishment.
“If that is the case then Pandia should have fired your scandalous ass a long time ago.” She continued.
Swallowing hard I rose from my throne of power, but felt as small as peasant. “Excuse me?”
Keisha smiled, showing off a set of teeth that were in need of dental work. “I saw you watching us the other night and I hope that you like what you saw.” Standing, she moved towards me “Keith is amazing, you have no idea how many times he made me come. Well come to think of it you do know, being how it is that you have been fucking your sister’s husband for the past three years and all. I wonder how well you sleep at night?”
Resisting the urge to slap Keisha back into her mother’s womb, I quietly listened as she went on.
“Now if I were you, I wouldn’t want my sister or my friends and family to know how devious I am so it might be in your best interest to let me get back to work.” Keisha winked at me with thick baby doll lashes and strutted out of the office, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open.
How did she know that I was watching them that night, I was certain that I was well hidden in the darkness of the salon. Furthermore, how did she know that Keith and I were seeing one another all of this time? Pissed off I grabbed my cellphone and dialed Keith’s number, but as usual he let it ring to voicemail. Hanging up I sat in my office for the rest of the day, not wanting to be bothered by anyone.
“You know that was real fucked up what you did to my truck the other night.” Keith said as he walked into my house. Still wearing his brown police uniform; it use to turn me on to see him in uniform, but tonight he sickened me. Many nights we played cop and robber while he was still in uniform having sex in the backseat of his squad car. He scooped Latif into his arms and kissed my son on his forehead.
“How is my little man?” He played with my son as I looked at him through hateful eyes. “What is the matter now?” Keith asked when he put Latif back down to play with his toys.
I slapped Keith across his face as hard as I could, “How dare you!” I spat. “I saw you fucking Keisha last night you dirty bastard.” I fought hard to keep the tears from my eyes.
Keith touched to the side of his face with one hand and he grabbed me around my throat with the other. Pushing my back against the living room wall knocking a picture of Latif and I onto the floor where it shattered scaring my son who started to scream. I tried fighting him back, but I was no match for Keith as he was much stronger than I was.
“I don’t give a fuck who you think you are and I don’t give a damn if that little boy is mine or not, but I do know that if you ever in your life put your hands on me again, you will regret it from your hospital bed!” he spat in my face slamming my head against the wall.
Holding my throat I screamed at the man who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the man whom I betrayed my own twin sister for, “Get out of my house and don’t you ever come back!”
Keith bent down and kissed our crying son on his forehead, “Don’t worry little man, your momma is just tripping, I’ll be back later on.”
Keith looked at me with contempt written all over his face as he turned to walk out of the door leaving me crying and alone with no one to talk to because no one would ever understand. Latif came to me as I sat on the floor and kissed me softly on my face, I held on to my son as he was the only person who loved me because at this point I didn’t even love myself.
21
Santana
Mike’s eyes felt as if they were peering into my soul as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat during Sunday morning service at New Life Church of God In Christ where his father, Pastor Lewis Montgomery, was preaching a powerful sermon. Trying to ignore him and pretend that everything was normal I said a few “Amen” and “Thank you Jesus!” along with the rest of the congregation.
“Malik, sit still baby, grandpa is almost finished.” I instructed in a whisper to our son.
“But I have to pee.” He grumbled.
“Well you will have to wait; you know that you can’t get up during the sermon.” Mike responded sternly.
“Yes sir.” Our son pouted.
Mike’s father was a small man with a big voice and when he spoke he took control of the room. Mike and his father looked exactly alike with dark, curly hair, deep-set brown eyes that sat below thick perfectly arched eyebrows. The only thing that was different was that Mike was at least a six inches taller than his five foot-five father and since Mike worked out a lot he had a more athletic build than his stocky father.
Wiping the sweat off of his saturated brow Pastor continued, “In closing I want to read a passage from Revelation 20:12; and I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” Taking off his bifocals he closed his Bible and looked directly at the congregants, “Be careful of the skeletons which hide in your closets while you can hide them from your loved ones, you cannot hide them from God.” With that he ended the service.
After the sermon we walked up to Mike’s parents and embraced them. I loved Mike’s parents, they were such good and kind people and they raised Mike and his sister very well. I wished that my own parents were as loving as Mike’s, instead my mother and father were too wrapped up in their own lives to even call me every once in a while to see how I was doing.
“How are you son?” Pastor Lewis asked hugging Mike.
“We are doing good dad.” Mike lied, “That was a powerful sermon that you preached today.”
“Yes it was, yes it was; secrets can only be kept for so long until those skeletons start peeking their heads out of the closet.” He said in his deep voice.
I pretended to adjust my purse strap upon my shoulder.
“Grandpa, when did you need me to come by and put the plastic on the window?” Malik asked.
“You can come over right after you get changed this afternoon.” Mother answered. “You did a fantastic job on the basement Malik.”
“How have you been Santana?” Pastor asked.
“I’ve been good, I wanted to bring you and mother some of my chili that I made the other night, but I ran out of the house and forgot the container so I’ll bring you some when I drop Mali
k off this afternoon.”
My phone vibrated inside of my purse, glancing down at the screen I saw that it was from Tabitha. Instantly my body temperature rose and I felt a tingling sensation between my thighs.
I still taste your sweet pussy on my lips.
Smiling I put the phone back in my purse noticing that Mike was looking at me with an intense look on his face.
“That was another raunchy forward from Asteria; that girl is something else.” I lied and my husband didn’t buy what I was selling.
“Grandma can I come to your house with Malik today?” Mya asked as she held on to Mother’s hand.
“If that is alright with your parents.” Mother said looking directly at Mike who was too preoccupied with looking at me.
“Sure that is fine, she can come over just as long as she stays out of her brother’s way.” I answered.
A few church members stepped up to speak with the Pastor and First Lady, so Mike and I excused ourselves and walked outside to the car.
Still feeling the effects from last night, I fell asleep on the ride home while Mike and the kids talked about sports as usual.
I loved Mike, but I questioned if I was still in love with him. Things between us had gotten to be so predictable and dry that I often felt as if we were brother and sister rather than husband and wife. Mike use to entice and excite me, he use surprise me with breakfast in bed, candle light dinners and roses delivered to my office in the middle of the afternoon. Those things seemed liked years ago, now I barely get a card on my birthday or Mother’s Day. Last Christmas he gave me cash as if I were his damn niece instead of his wife. Tabitha brought excitement back into my life, with her I didn’t feel like Mike’s wife Santana; with Tabitha I felt like a new person, a person with passion, a person with desire and a person who was not predictable.
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