by Kyle, Lola
Sitting at the bar waiting for my Uber, the dancer from earlier walks over to me.
“Hey Sugar! What’s a beautiful woman like you doing drinking alone?” Taking the seat next to me she adds, “Need some company?”
As much as cold drinks and a warm bed felt like it was a good way to lick my wounds. I didn’t need to replace someone who was never there; My phone beeps alerting me to my ride. Pulling a hundred dollar bill out of my pocket, I stick it in her bra.
“Have a drink for me,” I say, my smile fading as I walk away.
****
Switching the lights in my apartment on, I toss my blazer and keys on the couch. Checking on the new puppy I recently adopted from the shelter, to see her sleeping. Sighing, I headed towards the fridge. I needed chocolate; pulling a tub of ice-cream out of the freezer. I head for my sanctuary. My bedroom was the one place I could just escape to, even if it did remind me of the kiss we shared.
My thoughts circulated nonstop around Maye; She was a stripper, and I was a judgmental bitch. Banging my head against the headboard and stuffing my face with ice-cream wasn’t helping me. Deciding I needed to get shit faced, walking over to the cabinet with my favorite scotch and pity tumbler.
Half bottle of Johnny Walker green label, my judgement was impaired. No Ashley to talk me out of it, I text Maye.
J: If I leave me door open, would you come sleep with me?
M: OMG!!!!
J: You replied!
J: Will you come sleep with me?
M: No. Why do you keep thinking I’m gay?
J: Because you kissed me back and I liked it.
J: No you liked it.
J: I think?1?
M: Who said I liked it?
J: You smiled.
J: Will you come over?
M: >.< I need to move.
M: FFS Jade. You’re making this weirder than it needs to be!
J: Surry. I just like your face. A lot and I can’t stop thinking about it.
J: Fuckk. Sorry. I still like your face though.
M: Goodbye!
Maye
My feet slam the brakes as a small animal runs in front of my car. ‘Fuck!’ It was nearing four in the morning, and I didn’t have the time to be chasing someone’s pet around. I needed to sleep. I was so ready for a nice bath with a bath bomb from the new set Jeannette sent over. I couldn’t wait to soak in the yummy scent of vanilla and cocoa butter with a glass of wine after the night I had.
Luckily the puppy was waiting for me, cowering by the front of my car’s fender. Picking him up, I search the collar for owner information. Looking around, the lights from Jade’s cabin catch my attention, illuminating the doorway which was currently wide open.
“So that’s where you came from, huh?” I coo, scratching the tiny ball of fur beneath its chin. Its little ears perk up and start yipping playfully in my arms. “How about I keep you just a little bit longer. Just to piss her off?” I ask the little black ball of fur, nestled in my arms before jumping back into my car, I park the right way.
The frantic banging on my door jolts me out of my sleep, alerting me to Jade’s presence.
“Open up! I know you have my dog. I can hear her barking!”
Bang!
“Maye!”
Bang! Bang!
“Please just give me my puppy!”
Bang bang bang.
“Omg don’t be cruel. She’s probably hungry!” Jade’s voice is muffled through the door, but I could still hear her clearly.
Each time I would drift off she would knock, or that infernal mutt would bark.
“Fine! I’m coming!” I yell, infuriated by the interruption to my sleep. Swinging my feet off the bed, landing in a wet spot right next to my bed. “Fucking mutt! I should have just left you in the streets. I save your life, now I’m getting piss on my rug, and your master is ruining my day.” I say, grumbling to the hellhound currently sleeping on my duvet.
“You took my puppy! Why would you do that?” She accuses me, skipping the pleasantries. “I get it, Maye. You don’t like me, but why would you take my puppy.” Her voice tiny. Wow, she’s really concerned about the puppy.
“Well good morning to you too, sunshine!” I yawn, still leaning on my door frame.
“I WANT MY FREAKING PUPPY MAYE!!” She yells at me, craning her neck looking for the dog.
“Alright fine! Come get your mutt.” I say, beckoning to the sleeping toupee on the duvet as she runs towards her dog.
“Puffy? Are you okay baby? Did the mean lady hurt you?” She coos.
“Hey! I’m standing right here, and I’ll have you know! I saved your pooch’s life!” I say, insulted that she would believe I would take her dog.
“What?” She turns to me. “What do you mean you saved her?”
“She ran in front of my car around four this morning when I was coming home from the club,” I said looking at my nails.
“So, you mean you really didn’t take her to spite me?” She asks, her voice wavering slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“What’s that? I can’t hear you?” I say, my face serious as I try to suppress the laughter. “You were pretty loud five minutes ago!”
“I SAID I WAS SORRY!” she yells, petting her puppy soothingly.
“Good because your mutt peed on my rug and you’re gonna have to clean it.” I gestured toward the bedroom.
“How about I take you to lunch,” she says, avoiding my gaze. “You know as a thank you.” The sneaky rat was making a move on me. Sighing, I realize that she would probably never give up and if we were to be neighbors, we might as well be friends.
“Fine,” I relent. “But you’re still paying for my blooming rug. I’ll see you in 30 minutes. I need to shower, and I get to pick the place!!!” The smile on her face showed her victory, and I couldn’t help but appreciate her persistence.
“Oh no you don’t!” Jade says, snatching the keys to my blue civic and tossing it back on my couch. “If you get to pick the place. I drive!” Closing the door behind her.
“Fine!” Crossing my arms I look at her. “Just so you know this isn’t a date.”
“I never said it was. I’m just saying thank you for saving Puffy.” Walking around to the driver seat of her pickup. “Plus, Mama always said, never look a gift horse in the mouth. Just say thank you.”
I snort, and she looks across the passenger seat towards me. “You getting in?” She drove out of the resort and onto the main street heading out of town before she realized, she had no clue where I wanted to go.
“So, where do you want to go for lunch?” she asks, tapping her fingers on the dash.
“Denny’s.”
“Really? Denny’s?” A confused look crossing her face
“Yes? Something wrong with my choice?” I rebut.
“Noooo… Denny’s it is.” She relents, letting me have my way.
The drive there was relatively quiet, as I listened to her humming along with the sounds on the radio. Falling asleep in a moving car wasn’t something I’ve ever really felt comfortable doing, but it happened anyway. I wasn’t saying she was boring. I’m just saying that if she and her puppy hadn’t woken me up. I probably would have been better company for this, not a date, thank you lunch thing.
“I can feel you staring at me. Stop staring at me.” My eyes closed as I woke myself up.
“We’re here. I wanted to wake up, but you looked so peaceful.” She says.
“What are you? Sixteen?” I say wiping the side of my mouth as I stretched to ensure there was no drool pooling at the corner. I was relishing the last of the summer heat. My white sundress blowing haphazardly in the wind as I pulled my partially wet hair into a messy bun to prevent the breeze from whipping it into a tangled mess.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Jade says shakin
g her head. “So much hair on my head and I’d probably go nuts.”
“It’s not that bad. I mean, my mother always went on about how your hair is your crowning glory and how we should never cut it, then when I got married Blake never wanted me to trim the ends, so it just grew super long.” I say shrugging, “Maybe I’m just used to it.”
“Yes, I guess so. What do you wanna do afterward? You did say it was your day off right?” She says shyly as we walk in the door to the restaurant.
“This isn’t a date remember. Feed me let’s get through this first. Then we’ll see how I feel about you afterward.” I say smiling at the smirk she couldn’t suppress.
Apparently fate had other plans for my day. Things were going well, Jade and I sat talking, surprisingly laughing and getting along. Having a lot of things in common was a good thing.
A familiar voice wipes the smile off my face.
“You okay?” Jade asks, looking behind me. “You know him?”
“That’s, that’s the guy.” I stutter. “At least I think it’s the guy Blake cheated on me with.”
“Hi Wallflower,” He says sweetly as Blake smirked.
“Hi” I said softly, looking down at my food.
“What are you doing here?” Blake asked, his arm around his boyfriend’s shoulder.
Stunned by the display of affection he never even showed with me.
“He asked you a question Wallflower!” Bussy boy said, grabbing me by the shoulder.
“Hey!” Jade stands up “Don’t touch her!” her voice dripping with venom as she yanked his arm off.
“Or what?” He said, his eyes roaming over her white tank and capris.
“I might be short but I will kick your ass buddy. Don’t fucking touch her!”
“Ohh, you’re her bitch.” Blake says. “I didn’t even know you swung that way Maye.”
“Look at you! Dipping in the lady pond, acting like your shit don’t stink!” Blake’s companion said rowdily.
“I’m no one’s bitch!” I growl at Blake, standing up to smack him.
“Let’s go Maye. This place is starting to get crowded.” Jade says to me.
“Awww, look at Wallflower and her lover go.” Blake says.
“At least I’d treat her right,” Jade mutters loud enough for everyone to hear.
Jade lead me out of Denny’s, my hand in hers as her thumb made soothing circles the entire walk to her car. I was still in shock that Blake would be such an asshole, much less let his new partner disrespect me. The woman who had been by his side for thirteen years; so, when Jade suggested we go back to her place and have some drinks I agreed. What’s the worst that could happen. I lived across the street. Jade drove us back to her place in record speed. Loving the fact that she didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless words.
JADE
“I’ll be right back!” letting her in. “I have beer and hard liquor. Get it from the fridge. I’m gonna go change.” I say heading to bedroom. With the weather being fairer than usual, I opted for slacks and my favorite black tank top.
“Go figure!” She says reading my top “That’s cute.”
“I have chips and dip. Want some?” I say pulling out two beers from the fridge.
“Yea that sounds great.” She calls out.
I couldn’t believe she was actually sitting in my house. Don’t scare her away Jade. I say to myself; setting the plate down, I sit crossing my legs on the couch next to her. “Sorry I would have made something more appetizing but I feel lazy and I haven’t gone shopping yet.”
“No worries, I understand that.” She says, moaning as she licks chicken dip off of her thumb.
Good god. She was so fucking beautiful. Don’t blow this jade. Stop staring at her. Turning the TV on for background noise a soccer game already in full swing is playing on ESPN.
“Aww Come on! He was wide open!”
Maye’s giggle surprises me and I blush.
“Some gets into her sports.”
My face red from blushing I reply “Yea, I can be competitive at times.”
“It’s cool, good thing we aren’t watching tennis, I’d be pulling my hair out by now!”
“Sounds like me,” I joke, eating another chip. “So was your ex always like that?”
“Well” she pauses “Not always. Maybe in the last year of our marriage he turned into a total bitch.” She says giggling.
“That’s convenient.”
“Mhmmm.” her face serious. “Thanks for sticking up for me back there, I was a total bitch to you before.”
“It’s okay. I get it, I came on strong before.” Bumping her shoulder with mine.
My phone ringing interrupts us; “Sorry, lemme take this call.” I say heading towards the bedroom. Leaving her to watch the game.
“Sup Ashley?” answering the only person who would call me on a Sunday.
“I’m just checking in on you..” Ashley says
“Thanks. Can we talk later. I have a guest over.” I say, Ashley’s shriek over the line causes me to pull the phone away from my ear.
“A guest? Is it a girl? Who is she? My assistant and closest friend yells excitedly in my ear. “Told you, all you needed was to get back in the game was to get between another woman’s legs.”
Chuckling at her excitement. “It’s Legs. I haven’t gotten between anyone’s legs but we’re actually getting along and I don’t want to jinx it. So, can I go now?”
“Yes!” Ashley squeals. “Go get you some Legs! I want all the deets later. Text me kay!”
“Okay. Okay!” I say ending the call with Ashley.
I walk into the living room to find Puffy in Maye’s lap, her skirt bundled up, revealing a bit more skin than I wanted to see causing my mind to wonder just how good it’ll be to have my lips roaming them. Tasting the sun kissed skin.
“Need another beer?” I ask heading to the kitchen.
“Yes! This little ball of fur just attacked me! She’s so cute.” Maye gushes.
“I couldn’t help it when I saw her.” I smile, handing her the beer I brought for her “I just had to have her and I adopted her from the shelter.”
Puffy jumped off her lap and into mine, yipping and licking my face.
“Awww, she loves you!” Maye’s voice filled with adoration makes me look at her. A small spark ignites between us as our eyes meet. Pushing a piece of hair behind my ear, I look away.
“Jade?” she says softly.
Looking at her again, I couldn’t help but admire the way the loose strands of wind tossed hair framed her face. She slowly leans in, smiling as she fingers the piece of hair that I just tucked behind my hair.
Cautiously, I move closer, placing my doggy on the floor right as she comes closer and kisses my forehead.
“Well that wasn’t awkward at all.” She giggles.
I raise my eyebrows. “Wanna try that again?” I ask playfully.
“Yes.” Her voice breathy as she places her lips on mine. Tenderly she kisses me. “Is this what you wanted?” she says as she deepens the kiss, winding her hands in my hair before pushing me down onto the couch. Her body molding into mine and I grab her slender waist, gently tracing my tongue along her teeth, eliciting a groan from those lips I’ve been craving. It was safe to say we were both tipsy because I was convinced that sparks were flying in that moment.
“Jade,” she groaned, nipping my ear teasingly.
“Mhhmm?” I sighed, looking deep into her eyes before kissing her again.
“I don’t like girls.” Her smile playful as she licks my bottom lip. “But, this is fun.”
“I don’t like to be played with.” I growl, as she kisses me again.
“Who says I’m playing?” she teases me again, pulling my lip between her teeth.
Pushing her off me, I get up a
nd head towards the bedroom; raising an eyebrow in question. Her laugh echoing off the walls in my cabin.
“I can’t with you right now!” I say, “I’m gonna shower. I need to cool down.”
“Awww, you’re no fun.” She says, getting off the couch.
“You’re not coming?” I ask, already knowing the answer to my question.
“Enjoy your shower. Thanks for lunch. I’ll see you around.” Maye says, heading for the door.
MAYE
Yesterday had been really strange. After I left Jade’s cabin, I saw, I threw myself on the bed wondering about what I did; I fell asleep and slept through the night, not doing anything else on my day off.
My phone chimes, waking me up. Reaching to read the message that just came through, my mind wanders back to yesterday’s kiss. How in the hell did I let myself kiss her?
Blake: Sorry about yesterday, didn’t mean for things to get out of hand.
Blake: Thanks for not saying anything to my mother.
Blake: I’m sorry Mayflower.
Maye: I don’t have time for this. It’s too early.
Maye: I should have told her.
Maye: I don’t want your sorry. I should probably tell her after the way you allowed me to get disrespected yesterday. Who does that to someone they claimed to love for 13 years. Go to hell.
My lip quivers at the onslaught of memories that Jade successfully chased away from my mind yesterday. I pulled the pillow over my head, hiding. Embarrassed by the tears currently falling. I hated it that this bastard could still make me cry. Even though I was alone in my apartment, I still hid from the world.
The sound of my phone chiming is muffled by the pillow over my head, sitting up, I turn my sound system on, switching to the feel-good playlist I created for moments like this. Bobby McFerrin’s song ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ fills my house and I get up to make coffee to start my day.
The aroma of my favorite coffee permeates the log cabin, my hips moving as I dance along to the words of James Brown’s song I feel good, when a message interrupts my jam session. ‘One new message from Jade’ Siri notifies me.