by Ayers, Ava
“Well,” he said and smiled, “now you know one more.”
“So you live in--”
“Would you like to go out with me? Like, on a--”
“Yes. When?” I said.
“Oh, um, tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow’s perfect,” I said. “Where?”
“Well, the only place I’ve been is The Atherton Pub, do you know it?”
“Yes, I’ve been there a few times. Want to meet there at six?”
“Sure, that was easy,” Nicolas said and smiled. “I will see you tomorrow at six at The Atherton Pub, Beth. I’m looking forward to it.”
He stepped closer to me and pressed his lips against my cheek. I inhaled and he smelled like Fahrenheit cologne.
“It is nice meeting you,” Nicolas said into my ear.
I closed my eyes as he walked out the door of the bookstore and made a wish that he didn’t die on his way home.
“Don’t say a word until he is far away from the plaza,” I said and turned to stare at Stephanie.
“I can’t believe this, Beth. It’s just like a fairy tale.”
“I know!” I said and jumped up and down and hugged Stephanie. “Isn’t he hot?”
“So hot!” Stephanie said and looked out the window. “Shit, party’s over. Mr. Reece is out there looking at the cardboard.”
Mr. Reece ran into the store and stared at me.
“What in the hell has been going on?” he said and looked around the store. “What happened to the Koontz display?”
“I saw the graffiti when I came in this morning, Mr. Reece. I didn’t know what to do so I just covered it up. I was going to call you.”
“Really? When were you going to call me, Miss Munroe?” he said as he walked around the counter.
I grabbed the book and looked at Stephanie. She shook her head.
“I was going to call you--”
“After you got done with your Facebooking?” Mr. Reece said and stared at the computer screen.
“Shit,” Stephanie said under her breath.
He walked toward me and kicked something. He knelt down and picked up a beer can and held it in front of his face.
“I do not believe this,” he said and stared at me. “What is wrong with you, Miss Munroe?”
“Mr. Reece,” Stephanie said, “Beth wasn’t alone.”
“I was, Mr. Reece,” I said. “That’s all mine. Everything. The display, the Facebook and beer...even the graffiti. All my fault. Stephanie had nothing to do with it.”
Mr. Reece slammed the beer can on the counter and closed his eyes.
“You vandalized my property?”
“Um, no? I mean, I made a mess, but I did not--”
“What the hell do you think graffiti is, Miss Munroe?
“Oh, no, I didn’t spray-paint that. I mean, no.”
“Miss Munroe, you’re fired. I’m sorry. I really thought you were one of the good ones, but I obviously can’t trust you. Please gather your things and leave.”
“I-I’m sorry Mr. Reece. I really am.”
Stephanie and I left the store and I clutched The Stranger to my chest as I thought of Nicolas.
“What do you think he does?” I said as Stephanie and I walked to her car.
“Who?”
“Nicolas Miles. I bet it’s something artsy. Living in Brooklyn...I bet he does something artistic.”
“You don’t even know him, Beth. You don’t even know if he still lives in Brooklyn. Don’t go creating fantasies like you do with every guy. You’ll always get disappointed. Remember...low expectations.”
“Now you sound like my mother. What, you lower the bar until it hits the ground and then there’s nowhere to go but up?”
“Yep,” Stephanie said and sighed. “You don’t expect anything good to happen, but when it does, then it’s really sweet.”
“That just sounds depressing,” I said as I got into Stephanie’s car. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Well, I’m sorry you got fired. Thanks for covering for me. I feel sort of guilty.”
“Don’t worry about it. I wanted to quit that job anyway,” I said as I ran my fingers across the cover of the book Nicolas gave me.
CHAPTER FOUR
When we got back to Ivory-Lou’s about five of his girls were in the living room trying on wigs. Rebel Love went from girl to girl fitting the wigs and Ivory-Lou walked around and either nodded or cussed.
“Beth,” Rebel Love said when she saw me and Stephanie in the kitchen, “what do you think of Sadie’s wig?”
Sadie, a plump, dark-skinned girl turned around and showed off her platinum wig. The contrast between her face and the wig made it look like a lightning bolt got her in the head.
“Wow, it’s...intense,” I said and grabbed a Coke out of the refrigerator. “Bright, I guess.”
“It looks fucking stupid,” Ivory-Lou said. “We’re going to a Baptist convention at the Howard Johnson’s in Cleveland not a Siegfried and Roy show in Vegas, Rebel Love! I told you natural and simple.”
“I think she looks like Marilyn, baby,” Rebel Love said and fluffed Sadie’s wig.
“Marilyn Manson, maybe,” Ivory-Lou said. “The wig goes! Yolanda! Come up here, let me see yours.”
Yolanda walked back and forth in front of the fireplace and modeled her wig.
“What do you think, Beth?” Ivory-Lou said.
“Why are you asking her?” Yolanda said and put her hands on her hips. “I’m the one who has to wear the goddamned thing and I think it looks amazing! Don’t need to be asking no silly white girl what a proud black woman should wear.”
“Whoa,” I said and looked at Ivory-Lou and shook my head.
“I will ask her opinion if I want her opinion and you don’t have a thing to say about it, girl,” Ivory-Lou said.
“I just don’t want you to take it away from me,” Yolanda said and pouted. “I think I look just like Halle Berry.”
Ivory-Lou stared at Yolanda and then looked at me. He hung his head and pointed at me.
“Beth, what do you have to say about this? You think that ‘landa here looks like Halle Berry?”
Yolanda looked at me and shot me a bird while Ivory-Lou had his head down.
“Um, no,” I said and stared at her. “She looks more like Chuck Berry.”
“You bitch!” Yolanda said and crossed her arms.
Ivory-Lou fell off the side of the ottoman and rolled on the floor laughing.
“Ha! She got your ass, but good. Chuck Berry! That’s a really fine one, Beth!”
“Thank you,” I said. “But, seriously, let her keep the wig. It looks good, Yolanda. It was just a joke.”
“Thank you,” she said and gave me a dirty look.
“So, can I tell y’all about my day?” I said.
“Stephanie already told us,” Rebel Love said and pouted. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? About the date?” I said.
“What date? I thought you were talking about the Billy’s baby. Is there a date?”
“Yes, there is a date,” Stephanie said and sat on one of the coffee tables next to Rebel Love. “Nicolas Miles came into the store. Show them what he gave you, Beth.”
I held The Stranger over my head and the girls and Ivory-Lou stared at it.
“Who is Nicolas?” Rebel Love said as she stared at me. “Oh! The garbage guy?”
“Yep,” I said and smiled.
“Who the hell is the garbage guy?” Ivory-Lou said. “Bring that book over here, Beth.”
I sat down next to Ivory-Lou and he took the book out of my hand and looked through the pages. He dropped it into my lap and shook his head.
“He bought you a used book?”
“Well...”
“Well, nothing! It’s a used fucking book. And a paperback, no less. And look at you, all excited as if he handed you a pot of diamonds and shit! You gonna thank him when he gives you the VD too?”
“VD? Why would he give me VD?”
&n
bsp; “Well, the way you’re practically jumping out of your panties over a used book, I’m guessing it’s not gonna take much for him to get them off.”
“You’re being ridiculous! Look, I had a shitty day. I just found out that my boyfriend, who I loved, and just dumped me yesterday, is not only in a relationship, but he got some chick pregnant. This is the first exciting thing that’s happened to me in forever.”
Ivory-Lou picked the book up off my lap and tapped me on the head with it.
“Come back to the planet fucking earth, Beth!” Ivory-Lou said and stood up.
“Well, I think it’s nice, Beth,” Sadie said. “Where’s he taking you?”
“The Atherton Pub. He’s been there before and they never card. It won’t be a problem.”
“That’s a nice place,” Rebel Love said. “I’m excited for you. What’s this guy look like?”
“Man, he’s hot,” I said and smiled.
“So hot,” Stephanie said.
“Oh, well as long as he’s hot, excuse me, so hot, I guess you won’t mind when you got crabs crawling all over your privates!” Ivory-Lou said as he picked up the book and tapped me on the head with it again.
“He’s not going to give me crabs! What are you going on about? Crabs and VD? You don’t even know this guy.”
“That’s my motherfucking point,” he said and stared at me.
“I have no idea...let’s move on. Rebel Love, can I borrow your car tomorrow night, please? I don’t want to get dropped off for my first date.”
“Yes, no problem,” she said. “Just be careful. Hey, what time do you work tomorrow?”
“I’m gonna go,” Stephanie said and hopped up from the coffee table.
I stared at her and shook my head and mouthed no. When I looked up, Ivory-Lou stared down at me.
“Uh, Stephanie,” Ivory-Lou said and put his hands behind his back, “is anyone expecting you?”
“Um,” Stephanie said and swallowed hard, “do you mean like tonight or forever?”
“Have a seat, Stephanie. Beth, your sister asked you a question...what time do you work tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I know, what’s the big deal?”
“You haven’t answered her,” Ivory-Lou said and sat down next to me. “Beth, what time do you work tomorrow? Look at me...right here.”
Ivory-Lou tapped the side of his eye and nodded.
“I don’t,” I said and looked at the floor.
“Eyes up here, Beth,” Ivory-Lou said and tilted my chin up. “Now, why don’t you work tomorrow?”
“Jesus Christ, do all pimps go through some sort of CIA interrogation training?”
“I’m not a pimp, once again. I am a goddamned matchmaker! Why aren’t you working?”
“Okay! I got fired! I got fired tonight because someone spray-painted I’ll Hump Ya In The Dumpsta, Garbage Girl across the front of The Bookworm!”
“Oh, Beth,” Rebel Love said and laughed.
Stephanie snorted soda out of her nose and Ivory-Lou’s eyes started watering as he tried to bite back his smile.
“Oh,” he said and coughed, “I’ll hump ya in the dumpsta? Creative. So, you’re telling us you are currently unemployed.”
“Obviously,” I said and shook my head. “Don’t worry, I’ve got some saved and I’ll pay you your rent, whatever that is.”
“You lost your job, you better find another one, pronto or I’ll send you to live with that crazy, glue-eating aunty of yours.”
The next day I woke up feeling sick over Billy and his illegitimate love-child and nervous about my date with Nicolas.
“Oh, princess is awake, finally? So, that’s how it’s gonna be?” Ivory-Lou said as I walked out into the living room. “Sleeping ‘til noon?”
“I didn’t sleep well last night,” I said as I poured some coffee.
“You must be excited about your date,” Sadie said from the living room.
“Yeah, I think so,” I said as I sipped my coffee. “I’m kind of scared he won’t show.”
“Why would he go to all that bother with the book bullshit and not show?” Yolanda said as she sat at the granite bar next to Ivory-Lou.
“I don’t know,” I said and sighed. “But I think it’s been proven that I don’t have the best luck when it comes to men.”
“Yeah,” Ivory-Lou said, “got that right.”
“Thanks, friend,” I said.
“What are you gonna wear?” Ivory-Lou said.
“Don’t know. Jeans and a sweater.”
“Jeans,” Ivory-Lou said and shook his head.
“Yeah, jeans. We’re going to the Atherton. It’s a casual place.”
“You want a second date with this bozo, don’t you?” Ivory-Lou said and put down his magazine.
“That would be the plan.”
“Then put some effort in. If you want to wear jeans, do your hair nice...your makeup. Overcompensate.”
“Well, thank you, Rachel Zoe. I read Cosmo too. I got it.”
“Fuck you, then,” Ivory-Lou said and picked up his magazine.
“Why don’t you let me and Yolanda help you?” Sadie said.
Yolanda looked at me and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I guess we can help you,” Yolanda said.
The girls fussed and fawned over me for the rest of the afternoon. A few more girls came over and they helped too. It was like a big party of sisters. Hooker sisters, but sisters nonetheless.
Ivory-Lou sat on my bed and watched them while he thumbed through my Glamour magazine and supervised the whole operation.
“Gemini,” he said to one of the girls, “do not use blue on her! Her eyes are blue, for fuck’s sake. Contrast! Purples, greens or blacks!”
I looked at him in my vanity mirror and smiled.
Rebel Love woke from her nap and stood in the doorway.
“Well, you sure do look pretty!”
“Yeah, baby,” Ivory-Lou said, “check out the evil step-hookers getting Cinderunemployed ready for the ball.”
“Cute,” I said and rolled my eyes.
At 5:15, I stood in the foyer while everyone clapped and told me I looked beautiful. And, I kind of felt it.
“Tell me it’s going to be okay,” I said to Rebel Love as she handed me her car keys. “Tell me this guy is not going to fuck me over.”
“I can’t do that, honey. But I can say, if this guy does fuck you over, he’s as clueless as the others.”
Ivory-Lou walked me to the car to show me the key system.
“Now, you have a full tank in there. You know where you’re going?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“No joyriding drunk,” he said as he waved at one of the neighbors who jogged by.
“Do you think the neighbors wonder why you’re always in bright silk robes and slippers in the afternoon?” I said and laughed.
“I don’t give a good goddamn what they think! I pay my taxes in this rich-ass neighborhood. Probably more taxes than they do! Now, you got any protection?”
“Jesus, Ivory-Lou, I don’t know if we’re gonna have sex tonight!”
“Weapons, chickenhead,” he said and smacked me in the arm with the newspaper. “Weapons...mace, brass knuckles, knife?”
“This guy reads Camus.”
“I don’t care what he reads. Remember that take-down move I showed you?”
“Yep, palm to nose, hit up.”
“Yeah, good. And kick out the knee.”
“Yes, the knee. Okay, I’m gonna go now.”
I got in the car and smiled as I watched Ivory-Lou watch me until I left the driveway.
When I got to the pub, I spotted Nicolas sitting on a bench looking at his phone. I stood behind a tree and watched him for a minute as I tried to calm down. But the more I looked at him, the more nervous I became. Finally, I unhitched my fingers from the tree and walked up to the bench.
I stood in front of him and he looked up from his phone and inhaled.
“Beth,” he said and smiled.
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“Hi, have you been waiting long?”
“I was early,” he said. “I timed my drive with Brooklyn traffic in mind.”
“So, yeah, Brooklyn...I want to hear all about it.”
“Do you want to go in?” he said as he stood from the bench.
He walked toward me and put his hands on my wrists. They were smooth and warm and strong.
“You look beautiful,” he said and kissed my cheek. “Thank you for meeting me.”
I dug my nails into my palms to keep from grabbing him.
He took my hand and led me into the pub. The hostess seemed like she was flirting with him. I suddenly felt fat.
We sat across from one another and I stared at the menu. I was scared that I was going to get carded. I looked up at him and he stared at me over his menu. I wondered if I had something on my face.
“Your eyes are so blue,” he said, “they’re almost black. Do you know what you want? Are you hungry?”
“No. Just beer.”
“Oh,” he said as he smiled, “okay. Just beer it is, then.”
“I mean a beer, not like a whole bucket. I’ll probably have more than one, um, they serve buckets here, but I always thought that was horrid, you know? A trough of beer? Um, just a beer.”
He laughed and looked down at his hands.
“I’m sorry,” I said and took a deep breath, “I’m nervous.”
“It’s okay. I am too.”
Nicolas ordered two beers and took his jacket off. He wore a black t-shirt that had the picture of a band I never heard of on the front. He worked out. He didn’t have crazy, meathead muscles, but he was tight.
“Do you like it here?” he said.
“It’s not a bad place. Not like the usual redneck bars.”
“No, I mean West Virginia,” he said as the waitress came over.
She put the beers on the table and I do believe she flirted with him as well.
“Oh,” I said when she left, “no. I don’t like it here much at all.”
“Why not? It’s beautiful. So much to see.”
He took a sip of his beer and licked his lips. His tongue was red like he sucked on a cherry Popsicle before he came. Merry-Bell always says you can tell a lot about a man by inspecting his tongue.
“I grew up here,” I said, “so, I guess when you grow up in a place, you only ever dream about getting out of that place.”