Going Down (27 page)

“It’s on Phipps Boulevard, next to Phipps Plaza across from the Ritz Carlton.”

“Impressive, most impressive.”

“You think you can find that, or do you need detailed instructions?”

“Are you comparing me to Brent on the sly, Peggy?”

“Now, Tavarus,” she said, putting her hand on my thigh, “you know I have the highest respect for you.”

“There you go again, taking liberties with my body.”

She squeezed it this time. “Solid, too.” She giggled.

Peggy slept through the short drive to her apartment complex. “Peggy—
yo
, Peg”—I nudged Peggy—“We’re here, where’s your apartment?”

“I thought you didn’t need detailed instructions?”

“Anyway . . .” I smiled. “Which way is it?” Peggy guided me in annoying detail to her apartment. She got out of the car under her own power. “I’m okay; I can walk,” she slurred as she gathered herself together. I was thankful. Carrying a drunk white girl around in
Buckhead
was the last thing I wanted to do.

Peggy semi-staggered toward her door and fumbled for her keys. Once she unlocked the door, I started to say good night. “Well, Peg, I’ll . . .”

“Come on in. I want to show you something,” she said, grabbing me by the arm.

“Okay, but just for a minute.”

“Have a seat,” she said, stepping out of her heels as soon as she walked through the door. I followed her in, looking around the spacious apartment. “Very nice, Peggy.”

“Thank you.”

“What do you want to show me, Peggy?” I started to sit on the couch, but selected a lone chair instead. Peggy handed me two large books and started walking toward the bedroom. “My high school and college yearbooks.”

I flipped a few pages. “Where are all the Black people?” I shouted.

“I told you there weren’t many.” Peggy replied. I heard water running, so I assumed the she was in the bathroom. Then she reemerged from the bedroom, bare legged. From where I was seated, it appeared that she had taken off her bra as well. “You want a drink, Tavarus?”

“What do you have?”

“Citron okay? It’ll have to be; it’s all I have.”

“I guess it will have to be. But just a small one; I still have a long ride ahead of me.” I closed the yearbooks and placed them on the table. I stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Peggy came out carrying the bottle and two glasses. She handed me a glass and then took a step closer. “What should we drink to?”

“I don’t know, anything; so long as it doesn’t involve Brent or anything work related,” I replied, stepping toward Peggy almost out of instinct.

“Let’s drink to this evening. I had a really nice time tonight.”

“I’ll drink to that. I enjoyed the evening, too. We have to hang out again.”

“Do you mean that?” Peggy said, almost in disbelief. “You want to hang out with me?”

“Yeah, you can show me all the hot spots in
Buckhead
.”

“I never got the impression that you liked me very much.”

“Why, because I’m not all over you like everybody else?”

“No, actually I appreciate you not being all over me. I think it’s inappropriate for a work environment. There I go talking about work. Anyway, here’s to tonight. I enjoyed your company.”

We toasted our evening and emptied our glasses. I leaned forward to put my glass on the bar just as Peggy reached for the bottle to refill the glasses. Her breasts brushed softly against my chest, ending all speculation about the bra.

“I mean that, Tavarus; I like the way you carry yourself. Strictly business,” she said, taking the liberty of refilling my glass. “I watch the way you handle yourself. The way you dress. The way you walk. It’s very sexy.” Peggy handed me my glass and stepped to my chest again. She exhaled. I felt her nipples brush my chest.

“I didn’t know you watched me that closely,” I replied, trying to sound unimpressed, but failing.

“That’s because you don’t pay me any attention.”

“You’re wrong. I notice quite a bit about you, Peggy.” My eyes met hers, and then dropped to her cleavage. She followed my eyes. Peggy touched my face and she kissed me. It caught me off guard at first.

Slowly I warmed to the task, putting my body into the kiss. Then I pulled away abruptly. I finished my drink and began to straighten my jacket.

“You’re not getting ready to leave, are you?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly and reluctantly. “I better go before we do something I know at least one of us will regret in the morning.”

“How do you know you’ll regret it?” Peggy asked, following me to the door.

I stopped and faced her. I put my hands on her shoulders to stop her advance. “Look, Peggy, I like you. I had a good time with you tonight. And if I was in a different state of mind . . . I don’t know.” I paused and looked at Peggy again. “Yes I do, if I was in a different state of mind we’d be naked now.”

“I understand.” Peggy opened the door.

“Good night, Peggy. See you in the morning.”

“Tavarus, thanks. I know both of us would have regretted it in the morning. But when you’re in a different state of mind, call me, okay?”

“I just might.” I left the apartment and Peggy closed the door behind me. I walked quickly to my car, got in, and started the engine. I paused before pulling away to reflect.
I can’t believe Peggy just set it out for me and I passed on it,
I thought. However, as I drove home, I was sure I did the right thing.

It’s been almost two weeks since my world came tumbling down around me. I’ve tried for some time, with little success, to make sense of the whole thing. Tried to attach some comic significance to why things happened the way they happened. One thing is for sure: my life is so uncomplicated now.

Uncomplicated to the point where it’s getting boring. I don’t do anything. I’ve tried to hook up with the fellows, but that hasn’t seemed to work out. They all seem to be off into their own thing. Chris said he was having problems with the contract he’s been working on. Once he gets it stabilized, we’d get together and talk about some options for me. “Super salesman like you couldn’t have any problem generating income for himself,” Chris said the last time we talked.

And I don’t know what’s up with Tee. Whatever he’s into is some big secret. I just hope he ain’t doing something dumb. So my days consist of driving Angelique to work, meeting Angelique for lunch, and picking Angelique up from work. In between, I watch a lot of ESPN and workout a lot. Which is cool ’cause I lost the little
gut
I was working on. Angelique’s happy about that, but she hates the beard I’ve grown.

I’ve always wanted to grow one; but Angelique says it tickles, so I guess it’s gotta go. What she’s not happy about is the no-job thing. She thinks I’m getting too comfortable and she’s right. Chris was right—this is the way to live. I’m not talking about chillin’ all day watching TV. I’m talking about control of my agenda. No boss to answer to, no longer tied to that paycheck. But then there’s money. I can’t stay out here without money. Right now it’s not an issue. Ben flew out to
Bandexx
and closed the deal I’d started. Actually, he made more money on the deal than I would have. He called and told me that he revised my figures and presented them with the same deal at a higher price. He told them that I had made a mistake.

“You know niggas don’t know
nuttin
’ ’bout no numbers,” Ben told them. So I got what they call separation pay. To me it was more like lease-don’t-call-your-lawyer-about-us-taking–you-off-an–account-because you’re-Black pay, but I ain’t mad at them, either. But I do have to give some serious thought to making money again.

There was one thing on my agenda that I haven’t been able to accomplish. I haven’t been able to hook up with Tyhedra. We talk just about every day, but much to my regret, Tyhedra is always busy. In the meantime, while I wait for Tyhedra to have time for me, I’ve hooked up with Lana. But to be honest with you, for reasons I can’t explain, Lana has lost some of her luster.

So it was looking like a day like all the rest of my days lately. After I dropped Angelique off at work, I came home and worked out. Once I was done, I took a long, hot shower, and settled in on the couch and flipped on ESPN. Then I heard my cell ringing. “Hello.”

“Hey, Zack, it’s Tyhedra.”

My dick started getting hard as it always does when she calls. “What’s up, Tyhedra?”

“Nothing much. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Nope. Just sitting around thinking about my tongue on your clit,” I said and stroked my crotch.

Tyhedra laughed. “Boy, you need to stop. What you need to be doing is deciding when and how you’re going to get back in the game.”

“As a matter of fact, I have been giving that some thought. I’ve been talking with a friend of mine that owns his own business. We’re gonna get together once he works through some issues he’s been having with a client.”

“You need to tell him about me. I may be able to help him.”

“I’ll be sure to do that, but don’t you have enough to do already?”

“Honey, there is never enough business.”

“True that. So what’s up today? I know you have fifty meetings to go to, as usual.”

“No. Today my day is relatively free.”

“We should get together then.”

“Sorry, I’m having lunch with a friend of mine.”

“Why don’t the three of us get together then?”

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you join us for lunch? My treat.”

“I don’t think so, but you ladies have a good time and think about me.”

“Come on, Zack. You need to get out of the house. Do something other than playing chauffeur to your wife.”

She right about me getting out of the house and doing something. Besides, if she was relatively free, maybe we could get together for a few hours and be done in time for me to pick up Angelique.

We met at La
Parrilla
, a Mexican restaurant on South Marietta Parkway. I stood up when I saw Tyhedra coming toward me. She was looking so damn sexy, and her friend was kind of hot, too, with a set of titties that I’d love to see uncovered. I gave Tyhedra a hug and she kissed me on the cheek. “Maritza, this is my friend Zack,” Tyhedra said.

I gave Maritza a friendly hug. “It’s nice to meet you, Maritza. Please,” I said and extended my hand, “have a seat.”

Once the introductions were made, I reclaimed my seat and Maritza and Tyhedra sat next to each other. The waitress came around to take our order. “Bring us a big pitcher of
Cuervo
Margaritas,” Maritza said, and smiled at me.

When the waitress brought back our pitcher, the ladies ordered
Vegi
Fajitas for two.

“
Vegi
?” I questioned. “That takes all the fun out of it.”

“Maybe,” Tyhedra said. “But it’s so much better for you than all that red meat. It has grilled tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms served on a bed of bell peppers and onions. You should try it.”

“No thanks. I’m gonna have the Tilapia and
Camarones
.” We drank margaritas and the three of us got better acquainted.

“So, what do you do, Zack?” Maritza asked.

I glanced at Tyhedra. “I’m between jobs right now.”