Talk a Good Game (20 page)

NYREE

It
’s
been weeks
since we had all gotten together so I was actually smiling as I
climbed out of my Lexus and moved up the long driveway to
Gloria
’s
new house. I passed
Veronica
’s
Audi. Of course she was already
there.

Jeremy was at some Kingdom Man
religious conference in Bloomington, IL for the weekend so I was
free for some girl
’s
time.

I rang the doorbell and Gloria came to the door
looking like she had just won the lottery.

“
Hey girl!” she cried.

I threw my arms around
Gloria
’s
neck and hugged her. She kissed
me on the cheek. “How are you Mrs. Married Woman?” I said as I
released her.

“
I couldn’t be happier. Come on in
and make yourself at home.” She was grinning from ear to
ear.

The moment I stepped into the
foyer my eyes shot open wide with surprise. “Girl, your house is
beautiful!” I squealed. There was no mistaking the pride on her
face. And I don’t blame her. Talk about something out of a
magazine. I walked around, admiring the expensive décor. High
ceilings. Mahogany flooring. Beautiful furnishing.
“I
’
m so jealous.” Hey, might as well
keep it real. Her house was something I hoped to someday have with
Jeremy. My house was only fifteen-hundred square feet. That little
apartment where Jeremy lived was embarrassing. But
this
was exactly what I
wanted us to have.

“
Gloria,
you
’ve
been holding out on me! You
and Pierre pick this house out together?”

Her face was absolutely beaming.
“We closed on it right before the wedding.”

“
Damn, I hate you,” I said
playfully before she signaled for me to follow her down the hall to
a large family room in back where Veronica and Janelle were already
sitting on the couch with a glass in their hands.

“
Hey
girl!”
Veronica waved.

“
Hey, Ronnie,” I
said then looked over at Janelle with my brow raised.
“Where
’s
your car?
”

She gave me a saucy grin. “My man
dropped me off.”

“
What? He still tryna to keep tabs
on you?” I said like it was a joke but I was serious.

She waved her hand as if she was
dismissing me. “You know how men are, they wanna make sure ain’t
nobody else sniffing their pussy.”

Veronica was practically falling off the couch. She
was definitely a clown.

“
Nyree you want something to
drink?”

I swung around and walked over to
the bar where Gloria was standing pouring herself a glass of wine.
“Yes, I’ll have one of those, as well.”

“
Hey, you like my
shoes?”

Veronica stuck out her bare leg
and showed off a slamming pair of purple and gold pumps. “Ooh, I
love those! Where
’
d you find them?”

“
I found this
online shoe club y
’
all gonna have to join.” She
started talking about the website while Gloria filled my flute. As
soon as I had a glass in my hand I moved over to a lovely leather
sectional and took a seat.

“
Are those the honeymoon
pictures?” I asked, pointing to the two large albums sitting on the
coffee table.

“
Ooh! Girl, check these out.”
Janelle handed me both the books. “We need to plan us a trip to
Cabo.”

Veronica nodded. “Hell yeah!
Let
’s
go.”

“
I
’
m
so glad y
’
all came over. It feels like
it
’s
been forever since we
’ve
gotten
together.” Gloria was still smiling.

I wonder if I looked like that
when I’m with Jeremy? I sure hope so. The whole
Five Love Languages
book and even a
daily one-minute guide had really made a difference in our
relationship. We talked, fellowship, and even prayed together. With
each day Jeremy seemed more sure about himself and where he stood
in our relationship, and I knew it could only get
better.

Gloria came around, long dark
ponytail bouncing, and took a seat on the ottoman, stretching her
long legs out in front of her. Her skin was a banana yellow with a
tinge of honey and after two months of marriage, she was still
glowing. “So what have you two been up to?” Gloria asked between
sips.

I looked over at Janelle and she looked at me. We
were both grinning.

“
Y’all want me to tell her,”
Veronica said looking from her to me.

I nodded my head, too excited to say anything.

“
What
’s
going on?” Gloria had no
idea.

Veronica pointed her finger at us.
“Gloria these two have been on Black folks meet dot
com.”

“
What?” she
leaned forward on the ottoman. “
And? Did y
’
all meet
anyone?”

I was nodding. “Yes, I’ve
met a wonderful
man, spiritual
, gentle, loving and most
importantly, single.”

“
I know
that
’s
right!” Veronica gave me a high
five.

Gloria
’s
eyes were
wide. “Oh that
’s
wonderful! I
’
m so happy for you.”

“
Thanks, Jeremy is really
special.”

“
Jeremy, huh?” She was nodding her
head and was clearly happy for me. “And what about you Janelle, you
meet someone too?”

“
Ladies, I’ve
done more
than met someone.”

There was that wide smirk on her face, but it was
the way she was waving her hand that finally drew my attention to
her finger.

“
What the hell?”
I screamed and dropped the albums onto the floor as I moved over to
the sofa to get a closer look. “
You got engaged
?
” I
couldn’t believe it.

“
Whaaat
?” the other two
echoed, then moved to get a closer look.

Janelle held her hand out and gladly gave us a view
of the beautiful platinum band with three perfectly cut
diamonds.

“
Get the fuck
outta here! You
’re engaged?
” Veronica asked.
I
’
m like her. I needed to hear
it.

Janelle nodded.
“Yes,
I
’
m engaged.”

Gloria got all close and personal.
“It
’s
so pretty. How many carats is it?”

“
Four,
” she said and I
could tell she was proud that her ring was bigger than the one
Gloria was wearing.

I sat back in my chair, stunned.

“
Damn! Who did you meet? Some
millionaire?” Veronica said with a chuckle.

Her smile gave way to a chuckle.
“You could say that. He works for some of the biggest alumnus at
the university.”

Veronica
’s
brow drew down.
“What
’s
his name?”

“
Kaleb Kerrington.”

The look she gave said she knew
him. “Oh yeah. I’ve heard of him. Drives an emerald green
Jaguar?”

“
That would be him,” she beamed.
Janelle was so materialistic.

It was Gloria
’s
turn to frown. “Does he have custody of his son?”

“
Yeah, his mom died when he was
young.”

She suddenly looked as if she’d
been sucking on a lemon. “Uh-huh. Laquita used to go out with him.
She said he was too damn controlling for her.”

“
That
’s
because she wasn’t the right
woman. Kaleb knows I
’
m one woman he can’t
control,
” Janelle testified with a
wicked smile.

“
Uh-huh… ain’t that the truth,”
Veronica added with an exaggerated nod.

Gloria laughed.
“If anyone can
handle him, it
’s
Janelle.”

I crossed my arms in front of me.
“So when did this happen?” There was attitude in my voice, but
Janelle didn’t seem to notice.

She reached for her glass avoiding
eye contact as she took a sip of wine. “Two days ago. Sorry boo. I
wanted to wait until today to share it with all of you.”

She also knew I probably would
have tried to talk her out of it if I had gotten her all by myself.
Don’t
get me
wrong I
’
m not one to judge especially
since I hadn’t had a chance to meet the dude, but I know Janelle
and Janelle doesn’t do needy. And the way Kaleb blows up her phone
when they aren’t together, trust me, that shit was going to get old
fast.

“
When
’s
the wedding?” Gloria asked
her.

Janelle immediately frowned. “Not
so fast. I want this to be the wedding of the year so
I
’
m thinking next
spring.”

Now
that
’s
the Janelle I know and love.
She
’s
going to put that shit off for as long as she
can.

Don’t get me wrong, the thing
about Janelle I admire the most is she always knows what she wants
and she doesn’t let anything stop her from getting it.

All my life I had tried to please
my parents. Saving my virginity for marriage only turned me into a
freak after Shane deserted me. I ended up screwing anyone who
looked interesting. I grew up in the church and that meant four
days a week plus any other time my parents could suck out of me.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved the Lord but I didn’t believe he
expects every second of my day to be dedicated to him.

I just couldn’t get my parents to
understand that. Especially since my brother followed in my
father
’s
footsteps and joined the
military right after college, while my younger sister’s engaged to
a theology major.

I was the middle child and just
once in my life, I wanted to find favor in my
parent
’s
eyes. For once, I wanted to get
something right and I was certain Jeremy was everything I had ever
wanted and needed.

“
It
’s
your turn Nyree. Tell us about
your man.”

Veronica broke into my thoughts. I
put my phone away and found that I was smiling. I couldn’t wait to
share the details.

“
Well
… what do you want to
hear? We have a lot in common. Basketball,
church—”

Janelle
’s
eyes rolled up into her head.
“Basketball and church, sounds like you found a winner.”

Veronica punched her in the arm, and I had to laugh
at them.

“
I
’
m not paying Jae no mind. I did
find a winner and that
’s
all that
matters.”

“
Good for you,” Veronica
said.

While I finished my wine, I gave them the details of
my relationship. Gloria was hanging on every word.

“
Ohmygoodness
! Look at your face.
You
’
re in love!” Gloria clapped her
hands.

“
Hell nah!
” Janelle was
laughing her ass off. “And you didn’t even want to meet a man
online.”

“
Hey…
be
nice,
”
Veronica warned.

“
Jae
’s
just being a hater,” I said
rolling my neck.

She threw her hands up innocently.
“Nyree knows I
’
m just playing.”

Gloria leaned forward, swinging
her leg. “So does he work, have kids, etcetera…?”

“
He works in Jeff City… has three
kids,” I finally managed.

“
Three kids? What the fuck?”
Ronnie gasped.

I felt the need to defend him. “He
was married for ten years.”

“
Damn but
three!”
Janelle sneered.
“How old is the
youngest?”

“
Fourteen.”

Janelle was shaking her head.
“Girl, join the damn club.”

Gloria focused her green eyes in
her direction. “How old
’s
Kaleb
’s son?
”