Unraveled - A Short Story Collective (23 page)

1

“Ugh,” Kierre groaned rising from the bed, her tongue tasting like there was a dead cat inside.

They’d had a wonderful time at the party last night, drinking and dancing until the wee hours of the morning. India thankfully hadn’t had as much as she and LaTavia did, dropping them off at their houses afterward. Kierre was going to call a cab after her shower and getting dressed so she could go pick up her car from the restaurant where she left it.  Her cell buzzed and she gathered the instrument from her dresser. Blinking several times to clear the sleep from her eyes, she clicked on the icon and read the message contained. Sighing softly, she dropped it back onto the mahogany wood surface and continued her trek to the bathroom and a hot shower. Turning on the spray, Kierre let it run to warm up and headed back into her bedroom, stepping into the expansive walk in closet. She chose the single breast navy suit, pairing it with sheer navy hose and navy shoes, baby blue blouse.

Her job at Collingwood Federal Savings and Loan required professional dress. She was a commercial mortgage broker with an excellent track record for procuring the financing needed for her clients. It paid well enough, but not nearly enough to afford a lot of the luxuries that Kierre felt she needed to make her life complete. That’s where her second job came in. Leaving the closet, she stopped at the stereo and turned it on, snapping her fingers as Diddy sang telling her hey and good morning. Giggling now, Kierre stepped under the spray allowing the hot water to jettison all over her body, including her hair. Today would be a ponytail day for sure. Kierre looked at her deep caramel skin as she washed herself, loving the smooth way it all flowed together, evenly and without blemish. After cleansing her body, she washed her hair, quickly completing the shower and stepping out. She needed to be on time today. Her supervisor, wicked Wanda Kessler, had been on her case the last two times she’d been late, threatening to write her up the next time it happened.

“Bitch,” Kierre mumbled, adding the leave-in conditioner to her naturally curly hair and brushing it back into the style of the day.

Heading back into her bedroom, she quickly lotion herself, added spritz and perfume, almost jumping into the hose and suit. Glancing at the clock she saw she had forty-five minutes to get to the restaurant and back downtown to her job.

“Let’s get it,” she mumbled aloud hearing the honk of the yellow cab she’d called while dressing.

Grabbing her phone and throwing it into her purse, picking up the briefcase as she reached the front door, Kierre bounded outside and into the waiting cab, giving him the address. Thankfully, the cabbie could have seemed to care less about speed limits; whipping curves and blowing through yellow lights. He got her to her destination in less than fifteen minutes, leaving her with thirty minutes to spare. Kierre paid him and got into the mustang, starting it and peeling out of the parking lot. She loved the muscle car. It was silver with blue streaks on the side, customized chrome rims, and a banging sound system which she promptly put to work popping in the Busta Rhymes CD and cranking it up. Her cell rang just as she pulled up to the light signaling her turn to work. “Hello,” she answered blindly, trying to keep an eye on traffic and make her turn.

“Hey Kierre, I just wanted to say good morning and tell you what a pleasure it was to meet you last night,” the sexy masculine voice spoke.

She frowned slightly before her mind recalled the evening for her and the man she’d spent most of it with.

“Oh, hi, how are you,” she returned amiably.

Kierre hoped the guy wouldn’t turn out to be an issue. She’d used her usual cover story and told him she wasn’t dating right now and was just spending a girl’s night out with her best-friends.

“I’m good,” he replied, teasingly asking if she had a hangover.

Kierre laughed aloud and told him no.

“I’m not a lightweight, why do you have one,” she fired back hearing him laugh now.

“Yeah, a slight one,” he replied honestly.

“Pansy,” she teased as they both laughed hard.

“Look, I know what you told me last night, and I respect that, really,” he began and she tensed. “But I could really use a friend right now, no strings, just someone who will talk to me and be honest,” he spoke.

Kierre wanted to immediately say no, but her intuition told her not to push him away so quickly.

“OK, we can do that, but remember no strings,” she added as he told her he understood.

“So how about lunch,” he questioned now and Kierre laughed again.

“I only get 30 minutes and that’s gone as soon as I sit down,” she replied.

“OK, then dinner,” he fired again, not giving up.

Kierre acquiesced but told him it had to be an early dinner.

“I have a prior engagement,” she added, without further explanation.

“That’s straight, I’ll call you and you can give me directions, or you can meet me there, your choice,” he again replied as Kierre agreed and they disconnected.

She’d parked already, but decided to call India before going inside. Looking at the cell phone display she saw his name and replayed the conversation in her head.

“Grayson Artez, what are you really up too,” she questioned almost inaudibly before dialing her girl’s number and waiting on it to connect.

2

The cold hardwood floors caused India to immediately retreat to the comfort of her king sized bed.  She was running late but five more minutes really couldn’t hurt could it?

“Kierre,” she huffed as her cell phone chimed alerting her that she had a text or email.

Either way she knew it was her best friend, the early bird. India was sure it was a smart ass message checking to see if she was still holding a grudge. Between her three friends India was the emotional one and understanding ear. Whenever her friends hurt her feelings she was known to withdraw and really marinate in that mindset.  Sluggishly rolling on her right side, India grabbed the device silencing it.  Everything in her told her to just lie back down, but of course she didn’t.  India had no patience and wouldn’t get a wink of sleep until she opened the message.

Reading the email India laughed at her best friend antics.  Kierre was a reserved woman but get her pissed and boy where you in for it.  Just as she hit the reply button she received a text message.

A beautiful woman is a woman of worth and inner beauty that comes from Christ. She adorns herself with kind speech and a sweet spirit. - Proverbs 31:10. You are such a beautiful woman.

India’s heart melted and her punnany pulsated. He sent spiritual and sensual text messages to her all the time. Not only was he attaching himself to her heart, but her soul as well. 
This is wrong India
, common sense reprimanded causing India to frown.  She knew she was playing with fire and could possibly get burned, but it was hard to resist Chief’s caramel skin, sexy behind, and toned pecs, and most importantly his intriguing mind. Damn hard.

“I swear I could…”

Lil’ Kim’s remake of Ladies Night blared from her phone alerting her that Kierre was demanding her attention.

“Wassup heffa,” India asked amiably, totally amused. 

If Kierre was calling her she was upset.

“Act like you didn’t see my email chick,” Kierre snapped playfully.

“I was in the shower,” India lied smoothly.

“You a lie your ass was in the bed,” Kierre laughed causing India to roll her eyes.

“Anyways heffa, where did you go off to last night,” India asked.

“I see you changing the subject, but I had a little somebody I needed to see.”

Kierre didn’t have to say another word, India got the message loud and clear.  Her friend was very reserved when it came to her romantic relationships.  On second thought they all were reserved when it came to their personal matters.

Well look at the kettle
, her mind threw at her.  India didn’t push because right now she wasn’t ready to share her situation with her friend either so instead she stated.

“Well I hope you had fun Missy.”

Kierre told her she did and that she had to get off the phone a client was walking in.  After exchanging goodbyes India hit the roof when the phone displayed 7:45 AM

***

Swoosh….Swoosh was heard with every step India took.  Her pencil skirt clenching her plump stocking covered behind as she walked to the school’s entrance. 

“I really need to lose some pounds,” she huffed as she closed her jacket, tying the belt at her waist. 

It appeared to be a beautiful day outside: leaves of orange and brown hues at her feet, children laughing as they entered the schoolhouse.  Yes indeed it appeared to be a beautiful, but the wind was blowing the leaves, and India, to and fro.  The teenagers with the leggings, skinny jeans, and high heels entered the schoolhouse but most would skip at least one class.

“Welcome to Booker T. Washington High,” India sarcastically mumbled as she climbed the ten stairs.

She hated being late for work.  The students were loud, boisterous and had little to no respect at all.

“Ms. Wilcox, you looking good,” Jaleel, a cocky junior lewdly commented receiving high fives and praises from his friends.

“Jaleel, you have five seconds to straighten up and fly right,” India returned as she continued on her journey to the second floor.

Jaleel was on a roll and couldn’t stop now even though he wanted too.  His friends wanted a show and who was he to deny them? He did have a reputation to uphold.

“If I can go with you I will straighten up,” he called out the naughty grin gracing his lips.

India froze when the disrespect comment reached her ears and headed back down the stairs.  She was late, but she would be damned if she continued to let Jaleel disrespect her.  It was her second year at Washington High and for the moment she was staying.  It was time to set some ground rules.

“You know,” she began.  “It’s a shame that you allow yourself to be used.  You are a smart kid, but you think a cute face and an okay jump shot is going to get you into the NBA. Not! What I want you to do while you’re in in-school suspension find out why you won’t be Richard Long.”

“Who,” Jaleel asked, his brows formed into a deep V.

“Exactly,” India returned.  “And notice that you are going to in-school suspension alone, and I bet none of your friends that gassed you up are volunteering to be with you.” India eyed each of his friends individually receiving averted eyes or lowered heads in return.

India turned and once again attempted to reach her classroom.  There was no way she would be on time so she decided to take her sweet time.  It wasn’t like any of the students were just dying to see her.

Reaching the door, India retrieved her phone from her purse and prepared to put it on vibrate when she noticed the text icon.  It read:
I love a feisty woman
.

“He is going to be the death of me,” she giggled before entering the classroom, her mood instantly changing. 

Now it was a good day.

3
 

“Mommy, make Gee give me my spoon back,” Paris wailed reaching across the table trying to regain control of the spoon her brother tauntingly held just out of her reach.

“Glenn Jr., don’t make me come over to that table,” LaTavia groused without turning around. “Give your sister her spoon and both of you eat your breakfast so I can drop you off for school,” she again spoke, her head pounding.

The girl’s night had been a great diversion but all the liquor and limited sleep was being paid a hefty price right now.

“Hey you two, cut it out, eat,” Glenn boomed walking into the kitchen and over to the stove where his wife stood making eggs and bacon.

“Good morning baby,” he greeted kissing her cheek.

LaTavia quickly dismissed the slight frown that creased her brow. Her husband was a good man and the things she felt about him were totally unwarranted.

“Good morning,” LaTavia returned, forcing the cheeriness into her voice.

Glenn turned and went back to the breakfast table, sitting down and talking to the children as LaTavia brought his plate and sat it down in front of him.

“Thanks babe,” he smiled once more at her and she kicked herself for the lies she was telling him on a daily basis.

Unable to look into his trusting face any longer LaTavia returned to the stove busying herself with the kid’s lunches. Paris and Glenn Jr., or Gee, as they called him were 4 and 5 years old respectively. When she gave birth to Gee, LaTavia had immediately wanted to have another child, wanting them to be close in age and both in school at the same time. They were both ecstatic to learn she was pregnant some two months later. Things were great for them with Glenn working for one of the local manufacturing plants and LaTavia being a stay at home mom.
So much for that fairytale,
she thought irrationally. It wasn’t her husband’s fault he’d been laid off. The plant was suffering just like any other business and they reacted the same way, scaling back. There was talk that the layoff would only last a few months, but they were well into their seventh month with no relief in sight. LaTavia had to give him credit. Glenn got up every day and went out faithfully looking for work. They’d been surviving on his severance package and unemployment, but that was on its last leg. Something had to give and soon.

“Babe, I thought we talked about this,” Glenn spoke quietly, causing LaTavia to jump, deeply wrapped in her thoughts.

“What,” she questioned turning to him, stomach dropping as she looked down into his hands.

Swallowing hard, she forced her eyes to his again.

“I only bought a couple Glenn, hoping Lady Luck had a little mercy on me,” LaTavia told him of the lottery tickets.

It was her one vice and she didn’t see why her husband always made such a big deal of it.

“If it was only a couple LaTavia, I wouldn’t say a word,” he patiently remarked.

“But this,” he began anew spreading the stack in his hand. “Is far more than a couple,” Glenn finished.

There was almost two hundred dollars worth of tickets staring LaTavia in the face.

“Babe, we can’t afford this kind of frivolous spending,” her husband tried to patiently explain.

LaTavia bit her tongue keeping the smart retort from escaping her lips. She wanted to scream at him if he had a job she wouldn’t have to scrimp on everything and she wouldn’t be stressed every day, but she didn’t. Looking at the gorgeous man standing before her, recalling all the nights his six foot plus frame was wrapped around her own, as his tongue did unimaginable things that had her climbing the walls, the nine plus inches of nirvana that he could work on a professional scale bringing her orgasm upon orgasm; she did what she always did and swallowed her anger, smiled at him and spoke.

“I’m sorry baby, I promise to do better,” LaTavia replied in her sweetest voice.

Glenn looked into her eyes a while longer before sighing a bit and kissing her lips.

“I promise it’s going to get better babe, I just need you to hold on,” he reassured, kissing her yet again.

LaTavia nodded and he let the conversation go, turning and walking back toward the bedroom to get dressed and head out again in search of employment. As soon as she heard the bedroom door close, LaTavia let go the breath she held. Glancing at the clock, she knew it was almost time to leave and drop the kids off. She was going to do a little job searching of her own today. Glenn was adamant about her not working, but LaTavia was a grown woman and if she wanted to work she would, her mind told her as the cell vibrated, making her jump for a second time this morning. Glancing at the display she took a deep breath and answered.

“Hello,” LaTavia greeted, trying to sound calm, while her insides quaked.

“You need to stop ignoring me,” the sensual male voice spoke. “I might get the impression you’re avoiding me, and that might piss me off,” he continued the tone growing hard.

“You wouldn’t want that now would you,” he questioned, growing silent.

“No,” LaTavia managed, eyes darting toward the doorjamb praying Glenn didn’t return while she was on the phone.

“Hmph, well I expect to see you today, noon, don’t be late,” he spoke again, disconnecting without a reply.

“Dammit,” LaTavia murmured, putting the phone in her pocket just as Paris and Gee walked into the kitchen and announced their readiness.

Mind still whirling, she followed them to the car and got inside, turning on the radio trying to find some solace for her restless spirit. One thing she did know without a doubt; she’d better make sure that when noon fell she wasn’t late.