Chardonnay: A Novel (11 page)

“Gehvoni...we still kick it.”

“He back?”

“Yeah...don’t tell Zasmyth though.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say it ain’t good.”

We sat on the phone for another minute before he said, “I want to
see you.”

“I—I don’t know. Slim...I need to clear my head. Being with you
and not being over Myron is not fair to you.”

“No, it’s not. It’s just that every time I see you, my heart skips
a beat. If that ain’t love, I don’t know what is. This goes against everything
I stand for. I ain’t ever seen a hard nigga go soft until me.”

I laughed.

“I’ll think about it.”

My line clicked in and I saw it was Micah.

“Hold on Slim, Hello?”

 
Micah let out,

“I have to have your full undivided attention right now!”

“Okay...”

“Is there someone on your other line—you clicked over fast, babe.
Tell them bye!”

I chuckled and did as told. I made plans to see Slim later. When I
clicked over Micah screamed, “GIRL! It’s on—I talked to the CEO of Superior
Ethnic Models! They want you to come to their industry party next Friday—one
week from now and meet with you.”

“At a party?”

“Yes! That’s where most of the long life contacts are made. If you
can fit in—hon you can get in, okay?”

“What are these people names?”

“Oh, Josh Payton, she’s the executive of operations and model
scout, Carney Thompson, MUA to the stars, a host of wardrobe stylist who I don’t
have the time to name off and, Jean Vonseigneur the creator and CEO—hot huh!”

“In one breath...for real huh?”

“Told you I don’t have time to waste.
I live and
breathe fashion hon.”

“Hold on—wait. Is this an intern or model
gig.
”

“Intern...but you just gave me an idea—talk to you later on that
one!”

“Micah no—”

Before I could tell him I didn’t want him to put a word in for me
to model although it was a deep dream of mine, he had hung up.

9

Crossing
Lives

Slim
arrived at eight on the dot in front of Zasmyth’s house. He was silent when we
first pulled off. I felt queasiness in my stomach and pushed the automatic
window button down. It subsided a bit. Once we were five blocks away from
Zasmyth’s house Slim pulled over and parked his car at Loose Park. It was a
beautiful park. Huge in fact, with a pond, rose garden and a field that was so
long and wide there could be many recreational events taking place all at once
ranging from Frisbee, volley ball, kite flying, private picnics and a host of
other things. Today Slim and I wouldn’t be doing any of those things. He
adjusted himself in the driver’s side of his seat and leaned it back. I looked
over at him and he pulled my hand in his.

“I don’t want you staying at Zasmyth’s house.”

“Why not?”

“Just listen to me. I know how she does things and I don’t want
you being influenced.”

“Whatever—I stripped for you and your boys.”

Slim looked out the window and said a faint,

“Don’t remind me. Aye, Nay I need to be real with you.”

“Okay, then be real.”

“I do love you...but, I—I’ve been like a protective guard over
you.” he said looking over at me.

I didn’t understand what he meant. Looking off at the blank green
landscape I asked,

“What are you saying?”

“Well, how can I say this? Chardonnay I’m your body guard.”

I broke out a half smile and ran my hands through my strawberry
red hair.

“Bodyguard?
You mean like Whitney Houston and that white
guy? Oh I get it—it’s a joke since my last name is Hous—”

“I ain’t joking!” he said getting serious.

“Myron is my boy—and I would never stab him in his back. But I am
in love with you...now you understand why you can’t go around jeopardizing my
job?”

We shared stares for all of a minute before I sat back in my seat
and asked, “Who hired you?”

“Who else?
He trusts me with your life like he trusted me
with your heart.”

“Why?”

Slim looked out his window and shook his head.

“I can’t say. But just know you safe.” he said touching my face.

I leaned into him as he froze up.

“It’s okay,” I assured.

“This time I know the real and so do you. And this time he’s not
in middle of us. We’re done.
Nothing to hold us back.”
I said as I kissed his face. Slim began to whisper,

“But there is...you just don’t know it.”

I breathed in and out slowly, feeling the tips of his fingers
trial the middle of my stomach under my blouse. Slim smelled so good. Good
enough to eat.

Before I knew it he was on top of me pushing inside gently. My
legs were rested on the dash board and the seat was pushed back enough so no
one could see us. Where we were parked people seldom walked by.

Slim made me come for every time Myron cheated on me. Meaning Slim
had to put it down. And he did. I let go of the fact I was again being sexed in
a car or the fact that the man on top of me had flaws I was overlooking in
order to be looked over. With reasoning that he was pacifying Myron’s pain, I
never thought once that Slim wasn’t doing this for me, he was doing it for
himself. Enveloped by panic of the realization I was with someone other than
Myron, I hit Slim’s back signaling him to stop. He pulled out of me and placed
his wet and shiny dick on my stomach and let go of his cum as I broke down
crying. He kissed my lips and asked,

“Was it that good?”

My tears had nothing to do with being dicked down it was another
problem I didn’t presume to happen...I missed Myron. I looked up at Slim and
couldn’t place why the simple act of us having sex would get to me this bad.

“Ye—yeah, it was good baby.” I lied as I wiped my eyes.

“Good, let me give you some more. This time I’m a melt in you and
when I do, I want you to say daddy dick me good, a’ight?”

I suppressed the emotions I was having and fed Slim my breast as I
pushed my legs back further. He pumped harder this round and came in no time.
As I felt his flood of cream rush my walls I hollered,

“DADDY DICK ME GOOD!” with tears that couldn’t fight what I was
trying to get Slim’s penis to take away...the memories of Myron. I couldn’t
give Slim what he wanted and that may have hurt me more than it hurt him.

*
 
*
 
*
 
*

In a weeks’
time, I managed to not hear from Myron or my mother. My father called
frequently to check up on me and give me details on my grandfather’s condition.
My girls and I decided to go shopping. I was surviving off a couple credits
cards and some of Zasmyth’s smut money she nicely offered to give. I needed a
treat after all the drama was set and done. I also needed a fly get up for this
industry party Micah was inviting me to. Konstance and Zasmyth were just about
as thrilled as I was about going.

“Who did Micah say was going to be there?” asked Konstance.

“I don’t know who all will be there, but just that the people from
SEM will be there.”

“WORD?”
Zasmyth exclaimed.

“Ya.
Anyway, let’s go to the mall so we can get extra cute.” I said
rushing them out the door.

As we rolled up to the packed Oak Park mall, we spotted Denim
walking out of the west end of the store carrying a Kay Jewelers bag and some other
department store bags. All three of our eyes went of course to the one bag
filled with jewelry.

“Hey baby boy!” Konstance said as she hung out the window. Denim
halted his steps startled by our
unbeknown
presence,
and then gave a subtle smile while walking up to the window.

“What’s up girl? I miss you.” said Denim.

“Nothing.
We just came by to get cute for tonight.” said
Konstance.

I bugged my eyes at her as I turned to look at her in the back
seat. I didn’t want anything leaking to Myron of my whereabouts. She shrugged
her shoulders at me and continued talking to Denim.

“So what’s in that bag?” Konstance asked as if on cue.

“O—oh—um this bag?
It—it was a surprise for you baby—”

Before he could explain the gift he had in store for Konstance she
reach
for the large bags through the window and began
ripping through them like a child on Christmas morning. He looked on nervously
and leaned in the window smirking at us.

“Oh baby! You got me a promise ring!” shrieked Konstance. The ring
was obviously sterling silver, the dullness told us that, and it had half of a
heart with a jagged edge where the other half would meet it. It was like no
other ring he had ever given her...in a bad way.

Denim nodded his head continuing to say,

“I know you’re used to better but I wanted to go simple. I—I gotta
get it sized too.”

She placed the too big ring on her finger and then went for the
Victoria’s Secret bag. She pulled out at least two hundred dollars’ worth of
lingerie and five sets of bathing products. Konstance was so happy

she
had to get out the car and hug Denim.

Zasmyth looked back at me in the passenger seat and we rolled our
eyes at each other. I could hear their faint conversation outside the car.

“Denim, baby, I love everything! You’re so thoughtful. Sometimes I
get so stupid and think silly thoughts about you, but you proved me wrong about
some of the things going through my mind.”

“I’m glad I could baby.”

“It’s all good. We might have to take the Victoria’s Secret back
though.”

“Why?”

“I wear a size five not a ten, baby....You’ll get it right
eventually.”

Denim chuckled and then Konstance moved her hand down his stomach
and then went for his penis tightening her grip around his shaft, hiding their
vulgar actions between their close bodies and the car.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Konstance said.

“Fa sho.” he answered back.

They gave each other a sloppy kiss. Zasmyth honked the horn
scaring the shit out of the both of them. Konstance began laughing and she
jumped back in the car, letting me nurse the shopping bags she took from Denim.
We parked and rushed into the mall deciding to wear sexy dresses since Micah
said this thing was for the grown and provocative.
 

Bebe was
the shopping stop. I picked out a red chiffon dress. The front was cut low to
my navel and the back was halter style. The bottom of my dress flowed like
silk. Konstance picked a shimmering silver number. The sleeves were long, but
the dresses stopped at mid-thigh. The back draped revealing her whole back.
Zasmyth as always wore the barely there dress. It was a powder blue strapless
dress. The sides were cut out on the left and the bottom was cut half off
beaming more of a salsa inspired dress. We knew we were the American dream.
After we left out the store, we ran into Daisy, Shauna, Kimmie, and Carla.
The disturbing the peace of relationships crew.
“Hi Nay, Konnie, Zas.
Where Sheila E. and Iman?” said
Shauna.

She wore shorts that had her butt cheeks falling out and her
cleavage was popping out.

“Hello tramp!” said Konstance.

“For your infor-ma-shun dey names si Fianna and Katura.
And I bet
you anyting Sheila E. and Iman could whoop ya’ ass, chile.” said a pissed
Zasmyth.

“Girl, pu-leeze!
Fuck you,
you ,
and you— who you calling a tramp?” said Kimmie, looking at Konstance.

She was Denim’s ex-girlfriend.

“You!
Scaly wag!”

“You the one who fucked
my
man!” slanted back a jealous
Kimmie.

“I didn’t fuck your man. I took him and he’s not your man anymore,
you grown ass bitch!
Too old to be acting like a child.”

Kimmie was too old. She was damn near thirty and tripping about
some crap that went down five years ago.

“He might be with you, but he still loves me. Ask him about that
tattoo on the side of his back of a moon.”

Kimmie
raised
up her blouse and had the same damn tattoo. I knew
Konstance’s heart dropped because mine dipped for her. Seemed Myron and his
boys liked branding their main girls, because they knew how trifling females
could be from experience. Too bad that didn’t keep me in check. Too bad
Konstance wasn’t Denim’s main girl. She had been with him since she was
fourteen after he left Kimmie for her. Kimmie went on to explain,

“When we fuck in his favorite position where I’m on top and laying
on his stomach with my thighs hunched up, it creates a heart.”

I smacked my hand up to my forehead and thought,
damn...that
fucked up promise ring of a half heart was never meant to be Konnie’s. Some
shit going down now!

Kimmie dangled out her hand, wiggled it and said, “We just came
from Kay Jewelers. Like my four carats?”

And we knew she wasn’t lying because we had just
ran
into Denim. Kimmie went on to say,

“Yeah girl!
We went shopping and everything, so you make
sure you tell Denim I said be at my place at five o’ clock because dinner will
be done at six...I have to give him a little dessert early.”

Zasmyth dropped her head and rubbed her temples. Now that I was
looking at Kimmie, she did look like a size ten. Konstance didn’t know what to
say and stood there with glossy eyes. So I pulled her by her arm and whispered.

“Don’t let this bitch see you cry.” And I flicked her chin up with
my index finger.

“Come on
y’all,
let’s go before we go to
jail.” I insisted.

“Yeah you better walk off.” said Daisy.

“Oh, we ain’t scared. You should know Daisy.” Zasmyth said.

“You need to shut your fat ass up!” I threw in. I couldn’t stand
to look at her since she used to be in our crew—but she messed that up when she
messed around with Myron and Gehvoni. Zasmyth and I beat her down something
fierce.

“Too bad y’all men know how Daisy’s flower bloom.” she darted at
us.

“Yeah, hoeing the whole garden.” said Konstance.

We all laughed and walked off. Even her girls cracked up. When we
got out to the car Konstance threw
 
the
shopping bags, even the jewelry which she had taken the time to take out the
box and off her finger in order for it to be ran over, that she now knew were
never meant for her, out the car and on to the hot parking lot cement. It was
sad to say that for Denim...every kiss
did
begin with Kay.

*
 
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