I walked over to him and kissed his lips.
“You should never have to wonder Lanell ‘cause you’ll have 100% of my heart always.
*****
“Are you sure this dress is okay, maybe I should have gotten the black one, don’t you think that it shows too much?”
I was freaking out. I must have tried on fifty dresses that afternoon and I still didn’t think that I had gotten the right one.
“Calm down, Jasmine, you look banging baby.”
I smacked my lips and threw my hands on my hips.
“Banging, I didn’t want to look banging, I wanted to look classy,” I said giving myself the one over. The red dress Lanell helped me pick out was tight, strapless, and cut right above my knee. Although this was considered covered up compared to my slut wear, I still felt naked.
“Trust me Jasmine, you’re fine. Plus, I wasn’t gonna have you looking like a grandma. I still want you to look sexy. My dad and brother are going to love you in this dress.”
His joke helped calm my nerves as he came up behind me and wrapped his hands around my waist.
“My family’s gonna love you just like I do. Plus, you never know, you may have a couple of fans there who know your work.”
Now why did he have to go and say that? My face frowned up and worry filled my gut again. He laughed and thought that it was cute, but to me, I was on the verge of throwing up.
*****
“Are you ready?” Lanell asked as he looked over to my shaky leg. We were sitting outside of the restaurant where the dinner for his parents was being held and I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car.
“Just give me a minute.”
He sat there patiently, not wanting to rush or push me too fast. He actually liked the fact that my heart raced and that my legs were shaky.
“Okay, let’s do this,” I say after a few deep breaths. He pulled up to where the boys in red jackets were waiting to park the cars and jumped out. The valet guy walked to my door and opened it. Lanell was there to help me out of the car and held my hand as we entered the restaurant.
“We’re here for the Dash party,” Lanell told the hostess. She led us upstairs to the private room where at least thirty or so people were sitting and talking. I squeezed Lanell’s hand as all heads turned our way and my eyes landed on the two people I knew were his parents.
“Hi, mom, dad, this is Jasmine, my baby.”
I extended my hand first to his mother since she was the closet to me. She smiled sweetly and shook my hand.
Hi, Jasmine, I’m Robin, I love that dress. Did Lanell tell you that red is my favorite color?”
I smiled as I looked into Robin’s eyes. I had seen them before, the way they seemed to look right through you. They were the same gray eyes that Lanell hypnotized me with.
“No, he didn’t tell me that but he did have a heavy hand in picking out the dress. Guess he was covering all angles, huh?”
We all laughed and she swept her hand against his cheek.
“That’s my son, ever so thoughtful; well this is my husband, Tino. My first born takes after him the most, as far as personality.”
As I shook Tino’s hand, I couldn’t help but catch the admiration each had for the other. He and his wife looked at the other as if they had just met yesterday. As if Tino had never seen her naked and fantasized about her body as she spoke to him. I understood why, Robin was still stunning in her fifties. She was tall, about 5’9 with a bee hive complexion. Her hair was short, soft, and cut very stylishly. Her body looked as if she never missed a day at the gym and her shape was that to be envied with her small waist, round behind, long legs and shapely hips. Without knowing her age, no one would ever say that she was a day over 35.
“Wow, son, this girl is gorgeous, she should be in the pictures somewhere, what do you do, Miss Jasmine?”
“I perform in Vegas; I’m a dancer,” I answered, as soon as the question came out of Tino’s mouth.
“That was my dream, you know, to be a showgirl. I even appeared at small clubs around Vegas. I started to make a name for myself and had even been asked to be the understudy for the lead in Medusa.”
I was impressed, that used to be the biggest show in Vegas.
“So what happened, did you say yes?” I asked while totally captivated with the conversation.
“I said yes, but then I found out I was pregnant with Lanell. That was it for me, you know how it is in Vegas, you snooze you lose. So I got married, went back to college, and became a college professor, but a girl can still dream,” she said smiling at what seemed like a distant thought.
“What do you mean dream, you’re a showgirl for me damn near every night,” Lanell’s father said while leaning into his wife and patting her ass. I laughed as Robin blushed and leaned into her husband.
“Damnnnn, dude, who is this?”
Right away I knew that this was Lanell’s younger brother. He was just as fine and looked like he was also molded from his parent’s cloth. Both him and his brother seemed to have gotten the best attributes from the two people they called mom and dad. Tino’s younger son, who was named after him, looked more like him, chiseled face, short haircut that shined with natural waves, and smooth skin with no facial hair. He had his father’s eyes which weren’t gray but were just as sexy as Lanell’s. Both his eyebrows and lashes were dark, full, and soft. He was also tall, I would give him about 6’2 with a body that begged to be touched. Damn, they had some good genes. I knew Robin must have gotten some trouble out of not only her sons, but also their father.
“Jasmine, this is my brother Valentino. Excuse him as he wipes the drool from his mouth.
I watched as Valentino pretended to wipe his mouth, we all laughed.
“You damn right I’m drooling, she’s nice, she should be my date,” Valentino said without taking his eyes off of me.
“And which one of your dates did you bring?” Lanell asked but got no answer.
“Men,” Robin said as she shook her head.
“Hey Jasmine, happy you could come, heard so much about you, maybe we can sit and talk a little later?”
That Valentino was so fine that I melted right into his flirtation. My smile was as big as the whole damn room. I knew it was wrong but it just happened, I couldn’t help it.
“Sure you can talk to us,” I managed to get out. Lanell pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“That’s right, you heard her, US.”
Everyone who was in ear shot giggled. I stood by as Lanell, Valentino, and their mother and father loved on one another with hugs, kisses, and admiration. I could tell that their house was always full of love and happiness. I wished I had that and couldn’t help but hope that his family would become mine.
*****
The whole night was magical. It turned out that I was nervous for no reason at all. Everyone made me feel so at home and welcomed. It was as if I had known them all of my life. By the middle of the night I had talked to virtually everyone there. They all wanted to hear about my life in Vegas and thank God that the things that I did say were true, even if I only did them part-time for the time being. Lanell told his parents the news about the club and they seemed really happy for him. While speaking to a group of teenagers who seemed to be smitten with the thought of the life I lead with their family member, I saw Lanell and his father get up and walk out of the room, probably to go talk about me. Twenty minutes later I saw his father come back without him. I waited another ten minutes before getting up to go look for him. I looked all over and right when I was about to give up, I saw Valentino walking my way.
“You seem lost.”
I got chills as soon as the words left his mouth. It was like déjà vu, his brother had said the same thing to me when we first met.
“No, I’m just looking for Lanell, have you seen him?”
He didn’t answer, he just smiled the said.
“You know Jazzy, my brother really likes you.”
H
e gently pulled my hand and took me over to the ramp. We stood there overlooking the bottom half of the restaurant.
“I really love him, too; that’s my boo.”
Again, he looked at me with those sexy eyes of his and smiled.
“I’m about to tell you something that I probably shouldn’t but you seem cool enough.”
I held my breath as I waited.
“I’m the only one here, well as far as I know, I’m the only one here who knows what my brother really does. Now if anyone does know, they know better than to bring that shit up. So where I’m trying to get to is that I also know about you.”
I got a knot in my stomach as big as a basketball and he could see that I was uncomfortable.
“No worries,” he said patting my shoulders.
“I’m not one to judge, hell, I’m a fan.”
I smiled at his honesty.
“I don’t know how close you and my brother are but I have a secret life of my own so your secret life is safe with me. Plus I’m told that you won’t be in that life for too long anyways. From what I hear my brother is about to----.”
He stopped talking as something caught his eye. His face became angered and disgusted. I tried to find who or what he was looking at but there were too many people downstairs.
“Excuse me Jazzy, I got to handle something.”
He was running down the stairs before I could even say, “No problem.”
I was about to head back to the party when something caught my own eye. I stopped, did a double take and just stood there. It couldn’t be, wait why is he touching her like that…oh, hell no. I took the stair down slowly making sure not to miss a second of what I was watching. There he was kissing, caressing, and loving on some bitch that I had never seen before. The closer I got the more clear their conversation became.
“When are you gonna move down here and give up that bullshit office job you have out in L.A. I told you that I could get you a job where I’m working, plus I hate spending nights without you. I can’t continue to do this when the baby comes you know?”
I watched as he reached over and rubbed his hands on what looked to be her four or five month pregnant stomach.
“I’m gonna put in my notice soon baby don’t worry about. I know that you need me, and there no way I’m gonna still be in L.A. once my son gets here.”
I should have had steam coming out of my ears. I was so mad that I wanted to run up to his table, pour the drink that I’m sure was an alcoholic beverage on his head, and take the candle that was on the table and light his ass on fire. As they continued to kiss, touch and talk, I pulled my cell phone out of my purse and started to snap pictures. After taking about ten of them, I went to the video button and pressed record. I knew that the sound wouldn’t be that clear but I could always tell Jamar what I heard that asshole saying to his chick on the side. But the question was how in the hell was I going to tell him THIS? Tyree was the love of his life yet there he sat with a girl who was about to have his baby, he was even planning on leaving Jamar to move out to Santa Barbara, and it sounded like his move would be happening soon. FUCK!
After filming two five minute videos I headed back upstairs. I must have looked sick because Lanell came up to me and asked if I was okay.
“Oh…yeah, umm, I’m fine. Where were you, I went looking for you?”
“My dad and I had a talk, then we went to his car 'cause he had to give me something. Are you sure you’re okay?”
My mind was on Jamar at the moment and what I had just seen, but I wasn’t going to bring it up at the party. I quickly kissed his lips and assured him that I was okay. I played normal for the rest of the night. I sat and listened to people talk about how great love was and how Robin and Tino were meant for each other from day one. I smiled and awed at all the right places although my mind was no longer in the room.
*****
The next morning Lanell and I got dressed to have lunch at his parent’s house before he drove me back to L.A. I still hadn’t told him what I saw at the restaurant and since we were in such high spirits, I kept it to myself for the time being. Plus I had slept on it and got over the initial shock of it by the next afternoon.
“My brother said that he spoke to you while I was out talking to my dad?”
He asked this because I had said nothing to him about the conversation with Valentino. He thought that I would be a little upset that his brother knew the truth I tried so hard to hide.
“Yeah, I know that he knows,” I said cutting to the chase.
“I’m so sorry Jasmine, I had told him about you way before so it was too late to lie to him. He’s cool though, we won’t---.”
“Don’t worry about it baby, I know the deal.”
“You do?”
He was shocked.
“Yeah, I know that you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I figured that you must have told him about me way before. Plus he said that he’s a fan,” I said laughing.
“He said that shit?” Lanell asked, while shaking his head and smiling.
“Did he tell you what he does?”
“No, but he said that he had his own secrets,” I told him with a growing curiosity.
“What does he do?”
Lanell stared to laugh while I hung on to every one of his words.
“He’s a hoe, a male hoe.”
“WHAT? What do you mean?”
He was really laughing now. My face was priceless.
“He gets paid to sleep with women out in Miami. He gets paid well too. I’m talking trips around the world, cars, jewelry, anything you can think of, he gets it to throw the D.”
I was speechless. He had to be kidding me.
“You think I’m lying don’t you, well go ahead and ask him, he won’t lie to you.”
I must have laughed for the rest of the car ride. Once in front of his parent’s house I collected myself enough to get out of the car.
“You Dash brothers are something else. You’re throwing D your way and his definitely throwing it his way,” I told Lanell with a light chuckle.
“And you love every bit of it,” he said as he rang the doorbell. The whole time at his parents’ house, I couldn’t get Velentino’s profession out of my mind. I smiled every time I pictured him “at work”. It wasn’t such a bad way to occupy my mind at all. At one point in the day Lanell went up to him and whispered something in his ear, and by his brother’s face, I knew that he had told him that I knew about his secret life as a male escort. While Lanell laughed so hard that he had to hold his sides his brother looked at me, smiled, winked, and shook his head yes. From that moment I knew that Lanell hadn’t lied to me.
By that night, I was back in my apartment, in my bed, with Lanell next to me, it had been so long since he had been there and we had come so far from that first night we stayed up talking in my apartment. I wanted him to stay longer but by the next afternoon I was driving him to the airport and saying goodbye to my baby-love. I savored the taste of his honey coated lips and breathed in the scent of his intoxicating cologne. I would miss him just as much as I always did when we were forced to say, “See you soon.”
Chapter 26
“Your boy tried to kill me.”
The stretch limo finally pulled up outside of the hospital. Eddie parked, and ran around to let me out, but I was already opening the door. There were some people standing around outside, who were staring, and trying to figure out who I was, but I seriously doubt any of them recognized me. Since Eddie was so nice, and went out of his way to get me to the hospital as fast as he could I handed him two hundred dollar bills out of the suit case, and then ran inside the emergency room. Inside I had no idea where to go, I was confused and looking around for any sign of direction. DeeDee spotted me before I could grab the nearest nurse.
“Boy, what the fuck took you so long to get here?”
I ignored her question because I was too worried. Plus, she obviously forgot I was at a “business meeting.”
“Whe
re's Tyree? What happened?”
“Shit, I don't know, they've been so busy, and acting like they can't take a second to give a bitch some information.”
“Then how do you know he’s here?”
“The hospital tried calling you a few times, but you didn't pick up, so I'm assuming Tyree had them call me. When I spoke to the lady on the phone, all she would tell me was that Tyree was in a car accident.”
“This is crazy, watch out.”
Without even realizing it, I slightly pushed DeeDee out of the way, so I could get to the nurse's station. The nurse looked up when she heard me coming.
“Excuse me.”
She looked back down and continued writing.
“Miss, I know you heard me. Can you tell me where Tyree Jones is?”
“Who are you looking for?” She asked as if she was annoyed.
I repeated his name, and looked at her like I'm not the one you want to get smart with. Even though I'm as sweet as sugar, I wanted her to know I'd cuss her out.
“He's being seen by a doctor right now.”
“Can I see him?”
“And you are?”
“I'm his boyfriend.”
“Oh, okay. He was asking about you when he arrived, but you can't see him right now. Have a seat and as soon as he's allowed to have visitors, I'll let you know.”
I was frustrated as I turned back around because I had to wait to figure out what the hell happened to Tyree. I started looking for DeeDee to see where she was sitting. When I finally spotted her I stopped in my tracks, and stared at her giving her the evil eye. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to bring Ebony to the hospital with her. I was disgusted and wasn’t prepared to see her, but I finally stormed over to them.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE DOING HERE?”
“Calm down Jamar.” DeeDee replied.
“CALM DOWN, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? IT'S BAD ENOUGH I HAVE TO SEE HER AT WORK, AND NOW YOU BROUGHT HER HERE. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?”
“Jamar, you haven't even let me explain yet. We were already out getting our nails done when the hospital called. I wasn't going to drive her home then have to come back up here when I was already in the area.”
PORN STARS... More Than Just Moans Page 40