Sexaholics

by Pynk

  She said aloud as she grabbed the plate, “That boy is trying his best to fatten me up.” She inhaled the smell.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Austin said, placing his Nokia phone into his pants pocket as he stepped into the kitchen. He smelled of a freshly dabbed splash of his masculine, sandalwood signature cologne. “I see your meeting lasted longer than you thought.”

  “It did. But I’m home now. And I am starving.” She peeled back the foil. “This looks really good, thanks.”

  “No problem. Things were pretty quiet around here today. Just a few work orders. Mainly an air conditioner and a couple of water heaters.” His cell rang from his pocket. “Excuse me a minute,” he told Teela, turning his body. “Hello.” He began to walk out of the room.

  She said out loud, standing next to the oak-and-limestone island. “Since when do you leave the room to talk on your cell?”

  He replied from the hallway, “Huh? No.” He reentered and opened the fridge while still on the phone.

  “Who’s that?” Teela asked.

  He replied while bending down to grab some grapes from the crisper. “Oh, it’s Payshun. You know, our neighbor. Payshun.”

  “Oh, as long as it’s not Falon. She’s not getting her fake ass back over here. She’s one of those “fuck you till you’re asleep and lie to your bitch” hos. Anyway, tell Payshun I said hi, and ask her when we’re all gonna get together again.” Teela stood at the counter in front of the microwave and transferred the food to a microwave safe dish.

  “Oh, okay. Yeah, Teela wants to know when we’re all getting together…. I know…. Yeah…. Uh-huh…. I will. Okay…. So everything’s cool with your closet then…. Okay…. Okay…. Yeah. Bye.” He closed his phone and the fridge and popped two grapes in his mouth, chomping down and chewing with his mouth open.

  “What’s wrong with her closet?” Teela asked, placing the container inside and pressing the Start button.

  “The sliding door was off the track.”

  “It’s those cheap doors. So she’s calling you instead of the office?” she asked while the microwave did its thing.

  “Well, considering we know her pretty well, I guess she feels she can call directly.”

  Teela asked, “We know her? No. I don’t know her at all. But the original intention was to get to know her. Is that something you still wanna do? What did she say when you asked her?” She opened the silverware drawer and took out a knife and fork.

  “I did. She said she can’t. She’s studying for a real-estate exam. She’s been really busy.”

  “I see. I didn’t mean tonight. Anyway, did you eat?”

  “I did.” His cell rang again. “Hello. Which unit? I’ll be right over.” He popped two more grapes in his mouth and stepped to the side door. “That was the answering service. Unit 203 has a problem with their air conditioner. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right here, tearing this food up.”

  He left as Teela opened the microwave and checked her plate, which was still not hot enough so she reset it. She leaned against the counter and turned around to look out the window over the sink. She glanced around at the building next door, and on the first level, she saw a man standing in the window. The vertical blinds were open, and he was butt naked, standing in front of someone. Teela stood on her tiptoes to see exactly what was going on when suddenly one of the lights was turned off and only a faint shadow remained.

  Immediately, without thinking, Teela darted out the side door and ran down the stairs to the bottom level. She tiptoed over near the window and climbed onto the small balcony, quickly pressing her back to the wall and then leaning her head over to take a peek. The room was still dark, but she could see a man getting head service, and the person giving it to him on his knees was also a man. Teela’s jaw dropped and she held her breath. She kept looking. The bald-headed male receiver had big butt cheeks that flexed tighter and tighter as he pressed his dick in and out of the man’s mouth. Teela’s heart took off in an instant and she felt a rush of heat consume her, but just that quick the sound of a yapping dog got louder and louder.

  The receiver quickly turned around and Teela darted her head back against the wall. She counted to three, then started to lean her head into the window again when she heard, “Who’s that?”

  Teela sprang from her place and jumped over the rail like it was a hurdle, dashed around the corner to the other side of the wall, and crouched low near a bush. The dog still yelped, even more panicky. Now Teela’s heart raced so hard you could see her chest rise and fall. Suddenly a door opened, and a couple hugged as the male gave a cheek kiss. He walked away, dropping the hand he’d held. The sexy girl said, “I’ll see you in the morning.” The floral bouquet scent of Perry Ellis for Women tickled the air.

  “Yes, you will,” he said. Then he turned and his eyes met Teela’s shock-filled face. “What are you doing?” he asked, at the same time the girl’s door could be heard closing.

  Teela sprung to a stance. “The question is, what the hell are you doing? I thought you had a call for an AC.”

  “I did. Did you follow me?”

  “Hell, maybe I should have. That’s not building two. You said 203. That’s building ten.” She pointed toward the door. “How long has that shit been going on? Is that where you were when I came home late the other night? With her?”

  “What? Who?”

  “You and Payshun, dummy?”

  “I told you she called about her closet before. I was just checking to make sure it was still okay. I was only there for a second.”

  “Well, that was a warm departure hug to thank someone for fixing a closet door.” Her words were piercing. Her face was red. “What the fuck is up with you two, Austin?”

  He took a step toward their place as though she would follow. “Nothing. Let’s go inside. Come on.”

  “No.” She yanked on his arm but her one word was loud enough to stop him. “What’s up? Fucking tell me now.” She stomped her foot.

  He jerked himself toward her. His dreads flung to his right. “Nothing.”

  “Boy, I will fucking knock on that bitch’s door and kick her black ass.”

  “Teela,” he said, as though begging for her cool side.

  “I’m not playing.”

  “Okay, wait.” He looked as though he was regrouping his thoughts. “This is my place of business here. Don’t start any shit, now.”

  “You already started it. And this is my residence. You moved in with me, remember? Now talk.” She started counting. “One. Two.”

  He spewed his words fast, speaking up though his eyes said he shouldn’t. “She and I got together a few times.”

  Finally, the dog’s wails ceased.

  “You what?” Teela got even louder. “Why would you do that when we all agreed to see each other? I don’t fucking understand.”

  “She didn’t want to keep seeing both of us. She only wanted to see me.”

  “And your ass was okay with her only seeing you?”

  “No. I just came by a few times. That’s all. Nothing more.”

  “I’d call that seeing her. If it was nothing more, you wouldn’t have hidden it from me.”

  “Teela, she doesn’t want to be with a woman. She’s not into women.”

  “Well that’s news to me but, hell, I’m not, either. But you fucking lied to me. As open and honest as I’ve been about setting you up with women, and you up and do this behind my back. There was no reason to do this, Austin. Especially with our own neighbor. Damn.” Teela’s eyes began to fill with tears.

  In spite of her tears, he now flailed his hands about. “Hold up. Falon told me you two fucked some dude named Reggie. You did that behind my back. Did I make a big deal? I gave you the benefit of the doubt and said nothing.”

  She stepped right up to him. “I’m not a bit surprised she told you. She was so deep into your ass that night she was willing to eat your shit if you asked her to. You know what, Austin, yes we did. You’re right. We
did. But I didn’t fuck him. That’s surely not what you can say about Payshun’s ass.”

  He looked around toward Payshun’s door. “Yeah, right. Like I believe that.”

  She pressed her finger to his chest with each word. “I didn’t. You weren’t supposed to fuck other women without me.” She then pointed her finger in a circle and gave a major head roll. “You asked for that. And still, that wasn’t enough for your greedy ass.”

  “You hook me up and then get all jealous and shit.” He looked at her like he hated the very sight of her. “Hell, maybe you do need some counseling from the group because you are out of control. You don’t know what the hell you want. A man. A man and a woman. A strange man and woman. Or a fucking puppet to figure it all out and do as you say. Well, I am no puppet.”

  “No, you’re a dog just like all the rest of em. So you know what? Go ahead and move in with Payshun, Austin. Because there’s no way in hell you’re getting back in my fucking place.”

  “Fine. I guess I’ll just call the police.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  He took a deep breath. “Quit playin, Teela.” He gave her a stern look, but her return look was sterner. “You know what? Fuck you. I can call the office in the morning and they’ll put me in a place no questions asked.”

  Suddenly, Payshun’s voice sounded: “Fuck her, Austin. Come on in.”

  Teela turned and took two steps. Austin took three and turned to stand between them. She yelled over his shoulder, “Screw you, you ghetto-ass bitch. You can have his sorry ass. You ain’t nothing but a jump-off anyway. And he can come get what little bit of shit he moved in after I leave it at my door in the morning.” She pushed his shoulder and he stood firm. “And you, asshole, if you even think about trying to get in tonight, I will shoot your horny ass. Now take that to the police.”

  “Horny? Look who’s talking,” he yelled as he headed toward Payshun’s open door.

  Teela stormed away and ran up the stairs crying. She slammed, locked, and bolted her condo door. “And I’m having the fucking locks changed,” she yelled into the air.

  She heard another door slam hard. Payshun had shut the door with Austin inside.

  Even though her heart burned like a cigarette, instantly Teela wiped her tears and sniffled, ran upstairs, and started packing his shit.

  She didn’t say a word but her mind was loud. Freak-ass muthafucka. This is it. No more. This crazy-ass shit will fucking kill me.

  Her phone rang and she peeked at the caller, which read Austin. She picked it up and pitched it against the off-white bedroom wall. The back of her cell broke off. The dent in the wall was deep and scuffed a shade of black, like the phone.

  There was a knock at the door. She rushed over to open the nightstand drawer, took out her chrome .22, and flicked the switch from Safety to Fire. She headed downstairs to the front door and said loudly, “Who is it?” She cracked open the door.

  “Ma’am, excuse me, but, were you peeking in our balcony window?” asked a frowning man. He held a miniature pinscher who looked her dead in the eyes, like he could serve as an eyewitness for the prosecution.

  Oh fuck, she said loudly in her mind.

  It wasn’t the first time she’d peeked at her neighbors. But it was the first time she got caught.

  This time, her own curiosity had not only snagged Austin red-handed but snagged her red-handed, too.

  21

  “Crazy, Sexy, Cool”

  Miki, Teela, Valencia, and Brandi

  It was late morning that following Sunday. All four ladies stepped through the church doors at the same time, turning heads, looking like Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte from Sex and the City. All had on higher-than-high heels and short skirts, and all wore bright colors. They looked like they had it all together. Like your average Jane but with a sexy diva flair. Though all that lived within them was in need of some true, down-home healing.

  The all-white, cathedral-style church with the old-fashioned steeple was packed. With traditional pews and a pulpit, and a small choir to the side, it was quaint and had a holy feel. And it was fully occupied.

  “Over here,” Rachel Cummings said softly, gesturing with her hands for the four of them to come over to where she was sitting in the second row. She and her black, younger, Afro-wearing wife scooted over and made room. Her wife waved and smiled as they filed into the row and sat down one by one. Each held a church program in hand.

  The choir stepped up and began to sing “You Changed My Life.” Miki, who sat on the end, leaned in to Valencia’s ear and whispered, “Yolanda Adams wore that song out, girl.” She touched her hand and Valencia smiled, tapping her foot to the beat and clapping her hands along with Teela and Brandi, who sat closer to Rachel Cummings.

  They stood as the song wound down and applauded. A few amens and hallelujahs resounded with serious, soulful rumblings.

  Gray-haired and handsome, Reverend Honeycutt stood tall. His pint-sized wife had led the choir, and everyone showed their appreciation for the hard work. She smiled a big, contagious smile, looking proud.

  The reverend approached the podium in his hunter-green, perfectly knotted power tie with matching silk pocket scarf and two-button wheat suit.

  “Praise the Lord. Now that is what I call letting God know you praise Him. Amen. Remember that your destiny is better than your history.”

  Rachel Cummings let out her own “Amen,” holding her woman’s hand as they all took their seats.

  Reverend said, “Some say don’t sweat the small stuff. I say don’t sweat the big stuff, either. Forgive and forget, literally. God’s got you. God’s truly got you. And besides, we’re all a work-in-progress anyway. Each and every one of us. And yes, we fall down, but we get up, too. Get on up, as James Brown said. Get up!” he yelled.

  He did a quick rendition of James Brown doing the mashed potato, snapping his fingers while the band did their short version of the song.

  The church members clapped along with him and laughed as he wound up his energetic sermon.

  He laughed, too, and wiped his forehead. “I feel good,” he shouted, ending with, “Hallelujah.”

  The crowd replied the same way, and some spoke in rhythmic tongues.

  Reverend Honeycutt walked from behind the podium to the right side of the room. “You know, today we’ll talk about finishing the course. We all tend to get bruised and worn and torn down. It’s pretty much a guarantee in life. From the moment we’re born, we get another day closer to our last day. And our experiences show who we are at every turn. Sometimes things happen that we asked for, and most times, things happen to us that we didn’t. Some of us have been used and abused, but you must choose to walk as a whole human being. You’d better believe it’s all for the good because it’s all God. It’s all divine and meant to shape you up before you ship out. Isn’t it funny how we tend to remember the times that left the biggest scars? The scars are there to remind us of the lesson. Through the lessons, we find that we have an opportunity to be better. It’s not what happens to you. It’s what happens through you. It’s how you respond that matters. You can play the victim role, or you can play the victor. No matter what’s happened to you, it’s your call. But the bottom line is, sight unseen, you need faith. Believe and know and claim and accept and let go. Let God. Do the work. Show up.” He walked from the right side of the room to the left side. Miki looked down the row and smiled at Rachel Cummings, who had leaned forward to smile back.

  “Every test is a testimony. Count yourself fortunate to have gone through some stuff. Okay, so you were abused. Okay, so you were left. Okay, so you were beaten. Okay, so you were let down. Okay, so you were molested. Now what? You don’t get a pass for that. Make something of it. Don’t let your mess go to waste. You’ve got to turn your mess into your message.

  “Winners are losers who refuse to quit, so remember that. You have to fall before you can get up. And for now, I want you to turn your bibles to 2 Samuel 21, verse 1.” He paused a fe
w moments while everyone flipped to the correct section. Brandi didn’t have a bible, so Teela leaned in close and shared. Valencia had a frayed and beat-up tiny black King James version. And Miki had a study Bible, all highlighted in yellow, with Can I Get an Amen written in silver glitter on the front.

  “Then there was famine in the days…” The reverend continued to read from four verses, then spoke to his congregation for the next forty-five minutes before he said his final words.

  The reverend pulled a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped his brow as he headed back to the pulpit. “You must be determined to release your mess and move on. Have a funeral for it and let it die. A setback is a setup for a comeback, folks. Victory is on the other side of inconvenience. God will not let you out of your trouble until you get what you need from it. God never flunks you. If you don’t get it right, he just gives you a retest. And believe you me, you’ll go through it again and again until you pass.”

  He began to preach louder and louder. “It’s a new season. It’s time for a new level of consciousness. Time to find someone who’s gone on to where you want to be, someone who will be tough on you. That’s how you get your greatest development, under someone who doesn’t cater to your every whim. You need to get a hookup to look up. What you commit to build, you empower to grow. We are imperfect people, and loving yourself is number one, and that means making an unconditional commitment to that imperfect person within. And you can enhance that commitment by trusting in God. Don’t be afraid to cry sometimes. Tears are a language that God understands. I want you to remember this: nothing is more powerful than a made-up mind. Endure hardness as a good soldier. Stay the course. Don’t give up. Can I get an amen?”

  “Amen,” the churchgoers replied, most looking around at one another. Teela nodded to herself and said it twice.

  The service drew to a close after the final song and prayer. The ladies exited the sanctuary and walked into the lobby, standing near the front door.