Between Friends (10 page)

Read Between Friends Online

Authors: D. L. Sparks

Tags: #Fiction, #Suspense, #General, #African American Police, #Urban Life, #Thrillers, #African American

BOOK: Between Friends
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“Fuck is that supposed to mean?” I asked, laughing.
He wiped his mouth. “I thought your emotional ass was saving yourself for Idalis.”
I shook my head, keeping my eyes on old girl as she made her way to the bar. “Nah, man, we just friends, right? You want a drink?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, get me another Bud.”
“Be right back.” I got up and made my way to the bar.
She smiled when she saw me moving toward her. Her fat ass was tucked inside a pair of jeans, which looked like they were made just for her, and a tight tee, which was struggling to contain breasts that seemed too big for her small frame. She was perched on top of heels that added at least five inches to her height.
“Hello, Miss Lady.”
She leaned back against the bar. “Hey, you.”
I bent down next to her ear. “What's your name, baby girl?”
“Onuka.”
I motioned for the bartender. “What are you drinking?”
“A Perfect Ten.”
I smiled. “Of course you are.” I ordered her drink and another round for Phil and me. The bartender popped the caps and set the drinks on the bar. I leaned in close to her and inhaled her fruity perfume before grabbing the drinks off the bar.
“You here by yourself?” I asked.
“Waiting for a friend. You?”
I motioned toward Phil, who gave me a look that let me know he was waiting for his beer.
I turned and headed back toward the table; without me having to say a word, she followed.
It didn't take long for Dugans to fill up with the after-work crowd. The crowd spilled out onto the patio; the waitresses hustled to keep up with the steady flow of wings and fries coming from the kitchen.
It also didn't take long, or very many drinks, before Onuka's friend ended up in Phil's lap. Meanwhile, Onuka was whispering things in my ear that I'm sure she'd whispered in many ears before mine.
“So what do you do?” she asked.
Phil answered, “We catch bad guys.”
“Oh, really?” Onuka ran her fingers up and down my arm. “So that means you're a good guy, then.”
I don't know if it was the beers, the crowd or just her in general, but she was starting to get on my nerves. Still, I had to give it to her—shorty was fine as hell.
Phil asked, “So where you ladies going after y'all leave here?”
Her nameless friend, nameless because I didn't care to remember it, spoke up. “I thought I was coming with you,” she said, smiling and wrapping her arms around Phil's neck.
“Hell yeah, you can come with me,” he said, grinning.
Onuka whispered in my ear, “Can I come with you?”
I leaned back and looked at her. I knew her story without having to ask her a single question. The fake hair, painted-on makeup, tight clothes leaving nothing to the imagination and the way she was giving away the ass.
She was fishing.
I asked, “Why should I let you come with me?”
“Because I know you want to.”
I cracked a smile. “You think so?”
She pressed closer.
I felt her lips on my neck as her hand moved up my thigh.
“It's that easy, huh?” I asked.
I felt myself swell against my jeans as her tongue snaked its way toward my ear. Her lips brushed my cheek, that's when I tapped her leg and grabbed my keys off the table.
“Let's ride.”
I tossed some money onto the table, and Phil did the same. We headed for the door and I had to wrap my arm around Onuka's waist to keep her tipsy ass from falling. She was now wobbling in the high-ass heels she was wearing.
I looked over at my partner. “Phil, you okay to drive?”
“Yeah, I'm good. You a'ight?”
“What about my car?” Onuka asked, checking her hair in her reflection in the window.
“I'll bring you back down here in the morning,” I said, putting my hand on the door pushing it open.
“That's real nice of you, Agent Spencer,” a voice came from behind me.
I turned around.
Idalis was standing behind us with India.
The disgusted look she wore on her face spoke volumes.
“Hey, Trip,” India said, barely above a whisper.
“Hey India,” I spoke, keeping my eyes on Idalis.
“Who is she?” Onuka asked, everyone ignoring her.
Phil walked up and stood next to me. “Hi, how you doin'?” He extended his hand. “I'm Phil, Trip's partner.”
Idalis shook his hand, keeping her eyes on me. “Nice to meet you.”
She turned and headed back into the crowd with India on her heels.
I went after her. “Idalis, wait.”
She stopped and turned around. “What?”
“What the hell is your problem?”
She looked at me, daggers shooting from her eyes. “Go finish what you started with that bitch at your table, Trip.”
She turned around again and walked away.
I was about to go after her again, when Phil grabbed my arm. “Let her go, man. Just let her go.”
Chapter Fourteen
Idalis
“You can't seriously be mad at him, Idalis.”
Tuesday afternoon Dionne dragged me out of the house, trying to cheer me up.
The only reason I agreed to go was because I didn't want to sit around the house, thinking about it all day. That and the fact that she promised me a massage along with a mani-pedi at Spa Sydell.
When India and I first got there and saw Trip at the table with that girl, I wasn't going to say anything because, in all fairness, I didn't have a right to. At first I was gonna go over to the table and speak, maybe introduce myself to his partner and leave, that's it. But when I saw that chick hanging all over him and then them heading for the door, it was like my body was on remote control and I got up and followed. India tried to stop me, but I told her either to stay there or shut up and come with me. Seeing him with his arm around that girl's waist, knowing they were leaving together was more than I wanted to deal with after what I had just went through with Linc and I just lost it. India tried to stop me, but it was too late. And now I was pretty sure his partner probably thought I crazy.
“Idalis, stop beating yourself up,” Dionne said.
“I'm not.”
She lifted her head from the massage table and looked over at me. “I would've probably done the same thing.”
“I can't believe he was leaving with her,” I finally admitted.
“What did you expect? He's single. He deserves a life too.”
At the sound of that, I placed my face back in the little hole in the massage table, hiding the hurt that had crept up on it. “Yeah, I know.”
She kept talking as the masseuse worked on my back. Every area of stress she kneaded out with her strong hands and warm oil was quickly replaced with a new wave of stress as I remembered seeing that chick kissing on Trip's neck. At this rate this masseuse was definitely about to earn her money.
“Maybe it's not what you think,” Dionne continued.
“Dionne, the way she was hanging all over him, I'm pretty sure they weren't on their way to Bible Study.”
As the massage therapist worked my legs, Dionne asked, “What do you want from him?”
“I don't want anything from him.”
“If that were true, then you wouldn't be upset about some hoodrat he was about to take back to his room and bang.”
I lifted my head and looked at her with wide eyes.
She laughed. “What? You know it's true. You and I both know he wasn't trying to wife her up. His dick was just hard.”
I heard the masseuses laugh a little.
“Don't laugh at her. It just encourages her,” I told them, laughing.
“I'm serious. He's a man. What do you expect? He's fine as hell. She was probably pitching him pussy all night.”
“That don't mean he had to catch it.”
“Why do you care?”
I turned my head and faced the wall. I didn't have an answer for that. Or maybe I didn't want to answer that.
“Idalis, you're torturing yourself for nothing. If you're gonna be with Linc, then you need to let Trip go, completely.”
After our massages we wrapped fluffy white robes around our bodies and headed to the manicure and pedicure room. We climbed up onto the huge leather chairs and let the technicians go to work on our hands and feet. I chose OPI's Chick Flick Cherry for my fingers and toes. Dionne went with O'Hare & Nails Look Great.
During lunch I tried hard not to let my gloomy mood hang over the table, but it was hard. I pushed my salad around on my plate with my fork and let Dionne do most of the talking.
“Has India mentioned anything else about California?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No, but I think she's probably scared to say anything.”
“Has she told your mom?”
“Knowing her, no.” I took a sip of my water. “I wouldn't be surprised if she waited until she was on the plane to tell her.”
“Don't be like that, Idalis. She has a right to live her own life.”
I leaned back. “I know, I know. Why can't she live it in some loft downtown like the rest of the single women in Atlanta?”
“Well, I can't really blame her. You're getting married and have a family. She needs to spread her wings. Find out who she is, independent of you.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn't trying to hear anything she was saying. And judging from the look on her face, she knew that.
“Just talk to her. Give the idea a chance before you disown her,” she laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
I gave her a side-eyed glance. “Whatever.”
“Well, all I know is you can't disown me.”
“True. So what's up with you and your girl Stephanie?” I asked. “She hasn't been by 404 in a while.”
She paused for a second, like she wasn't sure how to answer my question.
“We're taking a break from each other.”
“A break?” I asked.
“Yeah, she was getting too clingy for me, and I really ain't ready for all that.”
Stephanie was usually at the club almost every weekend, typically posted up at the bar keeping Dionne company. Dionne claimed she was cool with it, but I knew it irked the shit out of her. If I knew anything about Dionne, it was that she didn't sit still for long, and she definitely didn't like to be crowded, so her cutting that girl loose didn't surprise me.
“Was she mad?” I shoved a forkful of lettuce into my mouth.
She laughed. “She didn't seem to like it. But she won't return my texts either.”
“I'll take that as a yes.”
She nodded. “Yeah, me too.”
After lunch Dionne dropped me back at my mom's. India's car was in the driveway and I could hear Cameron playing in the front room.
I opened the door and Cameron immediately latched onto me. I couldn't help but laugh as I sank to my knees under a barrage of hugs and kisses.
“Where's Mama?” I asked.
India pointed toward the kitchen, never taking her eyes off the paper she was reading.
“What's that?” I asked.
“Offer letter from that company in California.”
I stood there and looked at her in disbelief. “So you're serious about this?”
“Why wouldn't I be serious about my career? Did I say anything about you leaving the Four Seasons to run 404?”
“Whatever, India. I left the Four Seasons to own my own business.”
“No you left to own a business that Linc
wanted
you to own.”
I started to walk to the kitchen, when she stopped me.
“You know what, Idalis. Believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around you.”
I whipped around and looked at her. “What are you talking about? I never said it did.”
“You don't have to. Look at how you're acting. You can't even be happy for me.”
I tossed my purse onto the couch. “Why would I be happy about my sister moving across the country India?”
“Maybe because
I'm
happy.”
“You're happy
now.
What's gonna happen when this little stunt gets old and you're ready to move on to the next thing? Who's gonna have to come bring you back home? Me!”
She stood up from the couch. “
Stunt?
That's what you think this is?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Come on, India. California? You mean to tell me you couldn't find
one
company in the entire state of Georgia to hire you? You jump from one thing to another. You collect degrees like it's a hobby.”
“That's not the point, Idalis, and you know it. Would you be happier if I was being some puppet for a man like you're doing with Linc?”
“Whatever India. So what is the point then?”
“You hate the fact that it's not all about you, Twin, admit it.”
“I never said it had to be about me!”
“You don't have to! You got everybody on edge about this wedding. You got Trip chasing his tail. One minute you want him, and then the next you mad 'cause he with some girl—”
I cut her off. “Whoa. I tell you what. Since it's such a problem, you don't have to be in the wedding. Then you won't have to worry about it! And as far as Trip is concerned, he's none of your damn business!”
She stood there and glared at me. Her eyes were glassy with tears, and hot with anger. Before she could say anything else, my mother appeared in the doorway to the living-room.
“Now, I've listened to just about all that I'm gonna listen to of this foolishness. Stop it. Both of you. Right now!” she fussed.
We stood there, with tears streaming down both of our faces.
Before I could say another word, India grabbed her purse and stormed out the front door. I heard her car start and her pulling out of the driveway.
“Idalis, what is going on?”
“Nothing, Mama,” I said, wiping my face and scooping up Cameron.
“It didn't sound like nothing.”
I looked at my mom. She was a short woman, barely registering five feet. Her jet-black hair was pulled back in a tight bun, the same hairstyle she had worn for the last twenty years. When it hung loose, it was long enough to reach her pudgy waist. Her skin was as smooth as the day she was born, not a blemish anywhere. I always admired that about her. Time, however, had etched a road map of wrinkles around her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.
“I don't want to talk about it,” I said, making my way into the kitchen. Mama followed me and poured a cup of tea before she took a seat at the kitchen table. She motioned for me to sit across from her. I knew what this was about, but I didn't dare say no.
I slid onto the chair and braced myself for my lecture.
“That wasn't
nothing,
Idalis. What is going on with you and your sister?”
My voice was shaky. “Did she tell you about California?”
“Yes.”
“And you didn't say anything?”
“Idalis, I don't want her to go any more than you do, but India is grown.”
I got an attitude and pushed my chair back, standing to my feet. That was not what I wanted to hear.
“Sit. Down. Idalis.” Her voice was stern.
I was probably one of the few women alive who was almost forty and still scared of her mother. So I did as I was told. “Yes, ma'am.”
“You need to apologize to your sister.”
A look of surprise came over my face. “Why do I have to apologize?”
“You were wrong.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“When all this dust settles, she's all you're gonna have, Idalis. Whether she's three miles away or three thousand, you need to make this right. I am not gonna be here forever, and men come and go, but your sister is forever.
“You are twins, rare gifts from God with a bond that is impenetrable when you're at your strongest and right now you're not. You need each other Idalis, you needed each other to thrive in the womb and you need each other now.”
With that, she got up and headed back toward the hall, where Cameron was playing.
There was no point in trying to argue with her because there was no argument. She was right. But I didn't have the energy to deal with India, or anything else for that matter right now.
I went upstairs to check on my grandmother. When I got to her room, I pushed the door open a little. She looked so peaceful, lying in the bed. I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Her face was soft, and her striking Indian features stood out—the high cheekbones and the deep-set eyes.
Mama had braided her hair into two braids, which were resting on her shoulders. I touched her hand and she stirred, but she didn't open her eyes. I could really use some of her words of wisdom right now, but I didn't want to wake her. I knew how precious sleep was to her.
The bone cancer kept her in a lot of pain and she didn't get much sleep. I tucked a stray hair in place and planted a kiss on her forehead before heading back downstairs.
My mother had cleaned up Cameron and his mess and was setting him up in his high chair for dinner.
I heard a car pulling into the driveway. I looked out the window, expecting India and her stank attitude to be coming back, prepared to continue arguing. My heart stopped when I saw Trip's truck pulling up behind mine, instead.

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