Crossroads
Page 24
“You want to repeat that thing about being a good player?”
Farih clapped her hands. “Finally, now that you can take your mind off my ass, we can play some real ball.” Farih winked.
Denise smirked.
Denise and Farih showered, changed and headed out of the trendy gym. Farih’s pink shorts were replaced with a pair of tight-fitting denim jeans and a black tee. Her ponytail hung, bouncing with every step. Denise opted to use her free clothes, wearing a pair of Jocku pants and a white T-shirt. They walked down the busy street to a small restaurant across the street.
“So did I impress you?” Farih smiled, taking a sip of her strawberry smoothie.
“You really did. Gave me a run for my money.”
“No, I didn’t.”
They both laughed.
“But thanks for letting me get those few shots in early.”
“Yeah, I was gonna let you win, but you was getting too cocky.” Denise smiled.
Two young men walked up to the table and asked Farih to sign their Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Denise watched as Farih smiled and treated the boys like they were the most important people in the world. They walked off on cloud nine.
Farih looked at Denise’s expression. “What?”
Denise shook her head. “Nothing at all.” She took a sip of her mango smoothie.
“So tell me something I don’t know, Denise.”
“I don’t know what you already know.”
Farih sat up in her seat. “Well, I must admit, I did my research. I Googled you.”
“Googled me?” Denise laughed. She hadn’t felt that down-to-earth in a long time.
“Yes, I did. You were the superstar of your high school and college basketball teams. I was wondering why you opted for that small local school instead of a major school like Tennessee.”
“I was recruited by Tennessee. Man, I would have loved to play there. But I didn’t want to be that far away from my grandmother. She had gotten sick my senior year in high school. I didn’t know if she was going to make it. She stayed with me until my junior year. Then she passed.” Denise fought to hold back tears, thinking about her grandmother.
Farih put her hand on top of Denise’s hand. “This is why I like you, Denise. You are so genuine. You don’t run across people like you in this city, especially in this industry.”
Farih’s radiant smile caused Denise to blush.
“So, let me ask you something. You are like a supermodel for real. Why were you at a go-see for Melanie? Aren’t you past those days?”
Farih lowered her head. “Actually I wasn’t really there for the go-see.”
Denise’s eyes widened.
“Melanie told me there was a new girl coming she wanted me to check out. She’s been trying to hook me up for a while.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. Don’t tell her I told you, but your whole go-see was a setup. She just wanted to see if you were going to be what she was hoping.”
Denise’s right eye rose. “Wait, so what?”
Farih laughed. “Denise, you were never going to be up for the job. So many people come into Melanie trying to get on, she said she had a feeling you were different. So she set the go-see to see if you were going to be like all the others, or if you were what she thought you were.”
“This is a trip. I don’t understand what the fuss is over me.” Denise sank down in her chair. “I am just Denise.”
“That’s it right there. You aren’t out here trying to take the world by storm. You are a genuine person. Your struggles, your attitude, you radiate this positive vibe that is infectious. I felt it the moment you looked at me.”
“I think you were feeling more than my energy.” Denise smiled.
“Is that right?”
“So you said you were sent there to check me out. I’m guessing you liked what you saw.”
“More than you know.” Farih locked eyes with Denise. They both blushed.
“You know, Farih, I can’t lie. Besides the whole inspection at Melanie’s house, I haven’t felt this comfortable in New York. I’ve been feeling like something was missing. I thought I was just homesick, missing my friends. But now I feel so comfortable.”
“You feel like you finally belong somewhere. Maybe you just needed to be around people more like yourself.”
“Yeah, around a basketball playing supermodel.”
They both giggled.
“Denise, I’m six foot tall, of course, I can play basketball.”
“Denise.”
Denise and Farih turned their heads. Denise gasped when she saw Mariah walking toward her. She sat up in the chair.
“Hey, Mariah.”
Mariah looked at Farih and then back at Denise. “What are you doing in this area of town?”
“We went to 24-hour Fitness to play ball.” Denise looked at Farih. “Oh, Mariah, this is—”
“Farih Okoro, right? I recognized you from the Victoria’s Secret campaign.” Mariah extended her hand.
Farih smiled, shaking Mariah’s hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Mariah smirked. “Well, I’m on my way back to the office. I’ll see you at home, Denise.”
Denise nodded her head.
“Nice to meet you again, Farih.” Mariah turned and walked out of the café.
“Roommate?” Farih questioned.
“Yeah, she’s a friend I’m staying with until I find a place of my own.”
“Ex-girlfriend?”
“No, not really.”
“You’ve slept together. I can tell.” Farih looked at Denise. “You don’t have to tell me, I can tell.”
“Yeah, we have, but it’s not like that now, I promise.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Denise. I’m not your girl.”
“But I want to let you know.” Denise held Farih’s hand. “I was going to move out, but I don’t know what my future holds right now. I don’t want to get into a lease then have to go back to Memphis or move to Atlanta if I don’t find a job.”
A young group of people walked into the café. They reminded Denise of the TV show Friends. “I just ... modeling isn’t my thing. I might not be meant to be in New York.”
“Don’t say that. I think you have big things in store for you. You have to believe in yourself the way Melanie and I believe in you. If she didn’t think you had potential, she wouldn’t have put you up for the movie role with George.”
“Yeah, but I’ve never acted a day in my life.”
“I think you are going to do great.” Farih smiled.
Denise’s heart raced. “What are you trying to do to me?” Denise joked.
“The same thing you are trying to do to me.”
Farih and Denise locked eyes. Denise hadn’t felt that way since Lena, but this time the feeling was mutual.
A bright light flashed through the front window. Everyone in the café turned to see two papparazzi snapping pictures.
Farih turned her head. “Looks like we have fans.” Farih smirked.
Denise looked at the cameramen. “They are snapping us?”
Farih nodded.
“Why?” Denise questioned, confused as to why people wanted to take her picture.
“Oh, it’s because of you. I’m sorry. Do you want to go out the back or something?” Farih laughed. “Denise, you are soooo cute. You do realize that you are the face of Jocku. This isn’t just about me. But no, I don’t want to go out the back. They want a show, let’s give them one.” Farih stood up.
Denise followed suit.
The two walked out the door. The cameramen yelled called out their names.
“Farih, Denise, wanna smile for us?”
“Word on the street says you two are an item,” the other cameraman yelled.
Denise instantly knew why celebs hated them.
Farih just smiled as they continued to walk. She whispered to Denise. “Are you ready to become famous?”
De
nise looked at her.
Farih grabbed Denise’s hand. She pulled her close and wrapped her arm around her.
“Are you sure about this?” Denise whispered. “Are you out?”
“I am now.” Farih turned to the cameramen, who had continued to snap photos. “Did you ask if we are an item?”
“Yeah, are you two the new lesbian couple?” the bigger of the two photographers asked.
“You have to ask her.” Farih looked at Denise and smiled.
The cameramen continued to snap and question.
Denise looked into Farih’s eyes. She shook her head. “Fuck it.” Denise pulled her close, planting a kiss on Farih’s lips.
They pulled away, both laughing. The photographers followed them all the way to the car.
Both laughing hysterically, they drove off, leaving the cameramen behind them.
38
Lena sat in her loft listening to Alicia Keys’ newest album. She took a sip of her Merlot. Lena picked up her fork. She placed a piece of her Godiva chocolate cake into her mouth, a present from Brandon. He knew how she loved Godiva chocolate cake. She looked over at the chair holding her birthday gifts: a little black box from her mother and father, a large box from Carmen and Nic, and even Brandon sent a small Tiffany box. That box made her smile. She knew that eventually they would be all right.
She hadn’t bothered to open any of them. Brandon and Carmen had offered to take her out on the town, but she wasn’t in the mood. She had a text box and voice mail filled with birthday greetings, but nothing from the one person she wanted to hear from.
Lena stared at her laptop until her eyes began to blur. She took a deep breath and pressed the sleep button. Her screen popped on, the last Web site she visited still present. Perez Hilton’s blog site sent chills through her body.
Farih comes OUT.
Super Hawt supermodel Farih makes a public declaration of her sexuality with Jocku cover girl, Denise Chambers. After papz asked if they were an item, the couple decides it’s better to kiss then tell by sharing a very public smooch for the cameras. The two laughed then left.
What a way to come out of the closet. Way to go, Farih. We can’t wait to see more of this super sexy lezzie duo.
“Happy birthday to me,” Lena said to herself as she stared at the photo of Denise kissing the gorgeous model. She scrolled down to other images of Denise and Farih laughing. Lena tried to remember when she had seen Denise smile the way she was in those pictures. She couldn’t remember a time.
Alicia’s song “Un-thinkable” began to play. Lena thought about Denise. Her heart ached. Lena didn’t want to leave the house. The malls and magazines were covered with photos of Farih’s and Denise’s Jocku campaign. Since the outing Farih and Denise were the hot news. Denise had not only moved on, but was dating one of the top black models of the time. Lena knew she couldn’t compete with that. She missed Denise more than ever.
Her mind drifted to Terrin and the last night they had spent together. After Derek had nearly choked her with his sloppy tonguing, she had realized there would be no more men in her life. She wanted the softness of a woman, the tenderness of a touch that ignited her in all of the right places. Terrin had been right there waiting.
Alicia’s sultry voice sang the words to the song. Lena sighed. She wanted to be able to say she was ready to move on like Denise had. But was she ready? Lena thought about all she had put Brandon and Denise through. She thought about what she had put herself through. She deserved to be happy. She deserved to have someone special in her life.
Alicia hit the bridge, and Terrin entered her mind again. Her growing feelings for her neighbor wouldn’t go away. Could she possibly love another woman the way she thought she had loved Denise.
Terrin’s smile entered her mind. She thought about the times they had spent together. She blushed, thinking about the attention Terrin paid to her. Terrin made her smile and laugh, even when she felt like she would never laugh again. Why was she fighting something that had become so real to her? What was she waiting for? The smile. The easy way Terrin made her feel. Lena realized she missed Terrin. She only hoped she hadn’t pushed her away.
Lena put on her fuzzy white slippers. She knew she didn’t look her best, only dressed in a Victoria’s Secret pink pajama set, but she didn’t care. She walked out of the door without thinking twice.
Lena’s heart began to beat fast when she heard Terrin’s voice yell, “I’m coming.”
Her knees began to shake as the sound of the dead bolt unlocked.
Terrin opened the door in a pair of baggy lounge pants and a black wife-beater. Terrin took a step back.
“Lena.”
“Today is my birthday.”
Terrin’s wide-eyed expression crushed Lena. “I didn’t know.”
“I know. I just ... it’s my birthday, and I haven’t been so depressed in my life.” Tears filled Lena’s eyes. She blinked, causing a teary river to flow down her face.
Terrin wiped Lena’s face. “Lena, don’t cry.” She put her arms around Lena. “Everything will be OK.”
“Will it?” Lena pulled away from Terrin. “I’m a mess. I couldn’t even tell my mother I was pregnant, and that I lost my baby. How am I supposed to tell her that, that I might be gay?” Lena walked farther into the apartment.
Terrin followed.
“Lena, all of that is your personal business. You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to.”
Lena turned back toward Terrin. “I’m a coward. I’m afraid to be honest with the people that I love and I keep losing them because of it.” Lena lowered her head. A single tear fell to the floor. “No wonder she didn’t want me anymore.”
Terrin rushed up to Lena. She held her by each of her arms. “Lena, listen to me. What you’re going through, I can only imagine how hard it has to be for you. You were willing to give up your whole life for that girl and she let you go. Only a fool would do something like that.”
Lena’s eyes met Terrin’s. “Why are you so wonderful to me? I don’t deserve it.”
“No, Lena, you don’t know just how much you truly deserve.”
“Terrin, I really think you are an amazing woman. You have been so great to me, and I’ve treated you like ...”
“You’ve treated me like a woman who is going through one of the most difficult times in her life. You’ve treated me like a woman who is trying to find herself. I understand, Lena. I told you before that I’m here for you. Just let me be here for you,” Terrin pleaded.
Lena put her hand on Terrin’s arm. “I am not sure what is going to happen with me. I really can’t tell you if I am gay, straight, bi or whatever. But sitting upstairs by myself, I realized that I didn’t want to lose you too, but I just don’t want to hurt you.”
Terrin smiled. She held both of Lena’s hands. “Lena, I told you in the beginning that I am here for you. I understand what you are going through. I’ve been there before. I want you to stop worrying about hurting me. If that happens, I will be OK. I’m a big girl.” Terrin smiled and winked, causing Lena to laugh. Terrin rubbed her hands up and down Lena’s arms.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Ever think that we deserve each other?”
Lena stared into Terrin’s big brown eyes. Her hands were trembling, and her heart was racing. Lena took a deep breath, her body warming up. “Are you sure you want me even with all my issues?”
Terrin’s lips curved upwards. “Lena, you just don’t get it. I’ve wanted you since I saw you at the airport. That shit hasn’t gone away. In fact, it has only grown stronger. But I do want you to want me too. Can you say that you do?”
Lena nodded her head.
Terrin smirked while shaking her head. She pulled Lena in closer. Lena could feel Terrin’s cool breath hit her ear. “Say it.”
The heat was now a forest fire. Lena held on to the sides of Terrin’s wife-beater. Her heart was pounding. “I want you too.”
Terrin pulled her close. Lena clos
ed her eyes as Terrin’s lips met hers. She felt an electric energy fill her body. Terrin scooped Lena into her arms. She carried her all the way to the bedroom.
Terrin kissed her passion into Lena. Lena let Terrin’s hands explore her whole body. Terrin slowly pulled Lena’s pants off, pushing them to the side.
Lena looked into Terrin’s eyes. She could see how much Terrin liked her; it was written all over her face. Lena closed her eyes as Terrin tongue-kissed her inner thigh. She felt a strong sucking there.
Terrin left a passion mark on Lena.
“Now, you belong to me.”
Lena smiled. She loved the aggressiveness of Terrin; it was a side she hadn’t seen before. Lena’s pussy pulsated and became moist.
Terrin ran her index finger across Lena’s lower lips. She entered her, stroking gently with her finger. When she pulled out, Lena’s wetness covered her. Terrin closed her eyes and savored Lena’s taste as she placed her finger in her mouth. She had to have her.
Lena’s body pulsed in anticipation as she felt the warmth of Terrin’s moist breath long before the vibrating tongue ever touched her. It’s hard wetness pressured against the clit was nearly too much for her to bear.
Terrin sucked the little knob, loving every minute of Lena’s flesh. She could feel the subtlety of her soft, thin flesh covering the mound, and she pushed it back, exposing the taut, smooth skin on the head of Lena’s clit. The thin membrane exposed over the throbbing, distended button offered no protection to the nerves below. Each lick sent Lena into convulsions as Terrin expertly satisfied her hunger for Lena’s delicate flesh.
This woman knew exactly what to do with her tongue. She was adroit in her lovemaking. Lena squirmed and panted as Terrin licked circles around her clit and slowly, deftly entered her with two fingers. Lena moaned for more.
Terrin pulled on Lena’s love button with the soft flesh of her lips, sucked it and released it, sucked it and released it, again and again.
Lena felt the wetness escape her body in small shudders. It slipped across the entrance to her pussy and along the crack of her ass. Terrin’s tongue chased it down.