Love Is Overdue
Page 15
Ω
Tony and I busied ourselves for the next two days trying to come up with a menu plan, cleaning and organizing the kitchen, living room and dining room for the big night. Our friend Michelle had worked as a server at a ton of fine-dining restaurants across the city and had her level one accreditation toward becoming a sommelier, so we agreed to give her our menu plan as soon as possible so she could work on the wine pairing.
I hauled my mother’s fine china and silverware from the hutch and spent a good hour or so polishing everything up until it shined like new. It had been her one huge haul that she’d brought to Canada from Sao Paulo all those years ago and had originally belonged to her mother. I couldn’t help thinking about how nice it would be for when she came home, to find the house so clean and organized and fresh. Like a new beginning for us...
Tony brought over a beautiful bouquet of daisies and arranged them in another treasure I’d found collecting dust in the china hutch – a beautiful antique crystal vase.
I took Friday afternoon off work in order to get home and get busy cooking. And by three pm on Friday, Ben’s curiosity finally got the better of him.
I smiled at that. I was actually pretty terrified cooking for a chef of Ben’s caliber, whom I was also simultaneously tripping over trying to impress in every other way possible, but I tried not letting myself get too distracted.
My phone buzzed again almost immediately.
Send.
I rolled my eyes. Ben never used any tone punctuation in his text messages but his teases and underhanded jabs were never lost on me.
Ω
Tony showed up early as promised and helped me with all the last minute prep. He kept an eye on all the food for me – my simmering butternut squash soup, my roasting beef tenderloin and the garlic mashed potatoes. My expertly golden-tipped lemon meringue pie was cooling on the kitchen counter.
So I slipped away to get dressed and focus on my hair and makeup. Tonight was going to go down without a hitch; I knew it, until I heard Tony start blasting Britney Spears on the stereo. I decided I’d fix that later and went back to making myself beautiful.
Michelle showed up with a case of wine – an assortment of four reds and two whites, and was dressed to the nines. She was the tall, blonde bombshell that turned heads everywhere she went – and classy as all hell – as long as she wasn’t around a man she was fixing to sink her claws into.
Tasha, however, was another story. She was the female version of Tony – biologically anyway. She drove me crazy all the time too, but I had less patience with her attitude than I did Tony because we weren’t as tight. And tonight was no exception – with her tiny black mini barely covering her perky little ass.
Corinne was a whole other story. She was another one of my girlfriends from high school who truly embodied the definition of a creepy librarian, with her conservative clothes and wire-rimmed glasses, but she was probably the biggest whore of us all. Two glasses of wine in and she was always going on and on about her rampant sexual exploits. Life of the party.
Ben texted me after everyone else had already arrived.
I giggled. Walk? He was already late...
“Somebody change this fucking music,” Corinne was complaining. “I don’t listen to wife-beating maniacs...”
Tasha was blasting some Chris Brown. “Oh chill out, girl...okay what you wanna listen to?” She was going through the play list on my lap top that was hooked up to a set of modest speakers.
“My house. My music,” I said simply, deciding on some Corinne Bailey Rae. “This ain’t no ghetto back-yard cook-out...”
“I’d be totally down for that, though,” Tasha shot back easily, and we all laughed.
By eight-thirty we all had a good glass and a half of wine under our belts.
“So where is this mystery man of yours, Gabby?” Michelle was twirling her glass of Shiraz.
“He’s on his way. He works late at his restaurant so he’s never anywhere before nine so...he’s making an exception,” I explained.
“Shit, girl! Look at you!” Tasha was eyeing me up, amused. “It’s so true, though, once you had yourself some good black dick ain’t nothin’ gonna wipe that smile off your face...”
Corinne rolled her eyes. “Believe me...I have had my share of monster cocks and they were all white guys – I even had a hung Asian man before...”
“Can we please keep the dick convo to a minimum tonight?” I pleaded. “I already feel ridiculous having invited him here to hang out with a bunch of women...”
“Speaking of women – where’s Tony?” Tasha was looking around the room.
“He’s outside smoking. Or texting Matt.” Michelle peeked through the living room curtains. “Okay, Gabby...either you’ve planned some exotic entertainment for us tonight or you were not lying...that man is gorgeous.”
“What?” I was confused.
She kept staring out the window. “There is one sexy black man out there on your porch and it’s not Tony.”
My eyes popped open. “Really? Why isn’t he ringing the bell?”
She was still peering out. “Hmmm...I don’t know...oh wait.” She let the curtains drop. “Because he’s talking to Tony.”
My eyes flew open again. “What?”
“Okay, I need to take a look at this...” Tasha was making her way over to the curtains.
“You guys can’t keep staring out the window – he can see you!”
But it was no use. Corinne was also curious enough to take a peak.
“Ohhh...it’s gonna be a fun night tonight, ladies...” Tasha was practically purring. “Sorry, Gabby, I’ll try to be good.” She picked up her glass of wine and marched over to the front door and swung it open. “Hey!” I heard her calling out. “I see you met my twin...we’re fraternal...I usually just throw that out there ‘cause people sometimes wonder...”
I held my face in my hands, mortified. However, I couldn’t help laughing right along with Michelle and Corinne.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up and headed to the open door. “Hi...” I started, but no one noticed me.
Ben had his phone out and was showing Tony something on the screen. “See, it doin’ it again...”
“Oh, that’s nothing,” Tony started. “My blackberry used to freeze up all the time – just gotta repower it – I got tired of that shit, though, and I bought an iPhone...”
Ben looked up then. “Hey, Gabby,” he said smoothly and came over and gave me a soft little peck on the cheek.
Tony looked up and shot his eyes out at me, mouthing “Oh my god” and pointing at Ben, who had his back to him. Tasha had her eyes all over everything on Ben from the neck down.
He turned back suddenly and they both recovered themselves immediately. “Nice meeting you...” And then to Tony, “I’ll give you my phone to look at later.”
“Sure!” he chirped back at him.
“So...” I started, “I guess you met Tony and Tasha.”
“Yup...I got it,” he said simply. “What about the ones at the window – they in there?” he nodded toward the living room.
I flushed, letting him inside. “Yes...”
“Smells good in here,” he told me as I led him toward the living room and Michelle and Corinne, who were still waiting patiently. “Am surprised you finally let me inside ya house,” he teased me before turning to the two girls.
 
; They both had a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights look going on.
“So...” I decided to make the introduction. “Ben, this is Michelle and Corinne...”
Michelle stood up first, sauntering her leggy self on over to him. “Nice to meet you.” She smiled sweetly and extended her hand.
“Likewise...” He took her hand easily. Damn, he was smooth...
Corinne wasn’t the handshaking type due to her germaphobia so instead she gave him a little salute. “So we all here now? I’m starving...”
“Damn...y’all was waitin’ on me?” Ben gave us a little apologetic raise of the eyebrows. “Sorry bout that – I run on black folks’ time.” He gave a little nod at the front door. “Surprised those two out there beat me here...”
Ω
An hour or so later the conversation was flowing freely, due to the wine, the food and the effect it had on everyone. Ben and Michelle got into a long conversation due to their respective jobs in the restaurant industry and it felt good watching him seem so at ease and comfortable. And he was eating up everything I put in front of him. Michelle served a different wine with each course, and I could tell Ben was impressed when anyone sung my praises on the food. He kept looking over and giving me that little raise of his eyebrows and I couldn’t help but smile.
By the time the main course was cleared away, everyone was certifiably tipsy and inhibitions were thrown out the door. Ben was suddenly under everyone’s microscope.
“So hold up a minute...” Tasha started in on him first. “How you two meet again? How’d that go down?” She phrased the question at Ben though.
“Who?” He turned to her, a little distracted, as he had just finished handing Tony his phone to examine.
“You and Gabby,” she said, downing the last of her glass and moving to refill it just as quickly.
“At my restaurant,” he told her, leaning back and picking up his glass.
“Yeah, but...how’d it go down really, ‘cause no offense Gabby, but you shy as all hell, and there’s no way I can see you steppin’ up to fine-ass looking brother like this without at least four or five drinks under your belt...”
I glared back at her but Ben kind of laughed. I knew he was used to this kind of directness – after all Tasha and Tony were also of Caribbean descent.
“Well, what make you think she stepped up to me anyway? Maybe I like shy girls,” Ben pointed out.
“No Jamaican man likes himself a shy woman! No way – no how!” Tasha was adamant.
“Why are you talking about me like I’m not even in the room?” I wanted to know, but they both kept right on ignoring me.
Ben sucked his teeth at her. “So now you suddenly the expert on alla us?” he teased her back. “I don’t know what rock you grow up on anyway...sound to me like you got some kinda Surrey accent...I guess you grow up near the Skytrain line?”
Her mouth flew open. “Oh no you didn’t! You did not just call me a Surrey girl...Gabby...” She addressed me finally.
I shook my head at Ben. “Bad move.”
But Ben didn’t look bothered. “So where you from then?”
“Where you from?” She challenged him instead.
“Montego Bay.”
She sucked her teeth. “You see? You come from a resort town full of foreigners...now this shit is starting to make sense.”
But Ben just laughed. “Is this girl for real?” He posed it as a general question and then turned to Tony. “Tony, where you from?”
“Burnaby,” Tony said simply, still busy with Ben’s blackberry.
Ben sucked his teeth as we all laughed. “Case closed.”
Ω
After dessert everyone started easing their way into the living room but as I cleared the last of the dishes I noticed Ben holding back, looking at a few pictures framed on the china hutch. A few of my mother when she was younger back home in Sao Paulo, and two of my brother and me when we were kids.
He stepped into the kitchen behind me just as some Lauryn Hill started blasting from the speakers in the living room, along with a lot of heated conversation.
“You want some help?” He stepped up behind me, grabbing my ass playfully.
“Shit.” I almost dropped the plate I was holding. I turned around and he pushed me up against the counter, kissing me softly.
“Thanks for dinner,” he said as he pulled back.
“Did you like it?”
“Of course...you weren’t lying. You can cook for me anytime...”
“Hmmm...they’re getting pretty rowdy out there...” My voice trailed off as Ben leaned over and kissed my ear.
“I wanna get rowdy with you. You gonna show me your bedroom later?”
I licked my lips and Ben leaned over and kissed them just as Tasha came barging into the kitchen.
She sucked her teeth. “That time already? Daaamn...”
Ben laughed as he pulled away from me. “Where’d you find those two?” He asked me, fully aware that Tasha could hear every word.
Ω
“I really don’t think it’s a big deal...” Michelle was saying as we got back to the living room.
“It’s degrading,” Corinne interjected right away. “If a woman needs to use any aspect of her sexuality toward financial gain, it just justifies society’s objectification of women on a whole. Period.”
“Oh please...” Michelle rolled her eyes. “If that’s true then you’re saying there’s no difference between a hooker and a cocktail waitress.”
“Sometimes there isn’t!” Corinne said dryly.
Michelle sighed. “Ask Ben...he’ll tell you.”
Oh, here we go, I thought, refilling my wine glass and taking a nice, long sip.
“Ask me what?” Ben wondered, taking my cue and filling up again as well.
“What’s the difference between a hooker and a cocktail waitress?” Tasha paraphrased, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs.
He laughed. “Is that a serious question?”
“Okay, if a woman flirts with you, won’t you be inclined to tip her more?” Michelle broke it down.
Ben leaned back into the sofa. “Fuck, I’d be broke if I had to tip every woman that ever flirted with me.”
Everyone laughed at that but I just narrowed my eyes at him.
“No!” Michelle flipped her hair, smiling. “I mean a server, a waitress, a bartender – those women.”
“Well...” He looked to be thinking about it seriously. “I mean, the better the service, the better the tip, right?”
“You see?” Michelle turned back to Corinne. “Exactly my point.”
“How does flirting with anyone equal better service?” Corinne was not giving up. “What if Tony was serving you? Would you tip him more too if he flirted?”
That one made my ears perk up as well as Tony’s. “Yeah, how about it, Ben?” I teased him.
But Ben laughed at that. “Nah...probably not. Sorry, man,” he addressed Tony casually.
Tony just sighed, already busy again with his phone. “It’s cool, it’s cool...”
I glanced over at him. “Wow, Tony, cool it with the texting already...” He hadn’t been able to put his phone down all night. Obviously Matt, his newest flame...
“Gabby, he’s just up the street at Starbucks, why can’t I just -”
“No,” I cut him off. “No strange internet men coming to my house, I told you...”
“Oh come on...” Michelle was really tipsy. “What harm could it do? We got a man here to protect us.” She gestured toward Ben.
Tony shot me his puppy dog eyes again.
“Who is this guy anyway?” I demanded. “What do you even know about him?”
“Oh my god, girl...” Tony’s tongue practically fell out of his mouth.
“Never mind. Answer’s no.”
He sighed, defeated.
“Everybody hooks up online nowadays.” Corinne didn’t seem bothered by it. “It’s just the way it works now. I know every single one of us has
done it.”
“Yeah, but...” Michelle was laughing to herself. “Gabby, do you remember that time you...oh wait, maybe I shouldn’t tell that story.”
I could tell Ben’s ears had perked up. He raised his eyebrows quizzically.
“Oh you see...now he wants to know,” Michelle teased.
I sighed and glanced over at him. “It was just...about a year ago I met a guy online and he sent me a fake picture so...that didn’t go too well.”
“No, no, no, tell it right!” Michelle didn’t let up. “You left out the part about how you were so scared to meet him that you did the phone thing for a good three weeks – convinced he was some Lenny Kravitz double, but who really turned out to look more like – what did you say again?”
“Flava Flav’s ugly twin,” Tony chimed in.
Everyone cracked up at that.
But Ben just smiled, meeting my eyes. “That’s okay,” he said then. “Men can be very good liars when they wanna be.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Tony perked up momentarily again, then went right on texting.
Corinne sighed then, pulling out her stash of weed. “Are we cool to light up in here, Gab?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s cool...”
Ben leaned forward in his seat. “Now y’all are speakin’ my language...”
Michelle got up out of her seat and slid down on the couch between Ben and Corinne. “Here, I wanna do it,” she said, taking the bag from Corinne.
Tony and Tasha both saw the move and they lowered their eyes. She was starting to act a little weird, I had to admit it myself.
I got up to change the music. “What do we wanna listen to people?”
But no one was paying any attention to me.
Ben was looking down at Michelle’s pathetic rolling skills. “You want some help with that?” he offered.
She smiled, tipping her head to him. “You can see that, huh?”
Tony and Tasha exchanged that look again.
“Cool.” Ben took over for her then. She seemed to put a little too much effort into handing it over to him.