Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel (11 page)

“Yeah. There’s just a lot going on.
But besides, Claude’s new office in Laguna Hills opens soon. We went ahead and
got a great house out there and listed our house for sale.”

“How’d you close so fast?”

“Claude handled all that. He paid cash
on a great deal. All I know is it was about to go into foreclosure and was
listed for over nine-hundred-thousand, but we got it for it for a little over
seven. And for that neighborhood in Laguna Hills, it’s called Nellie Gail,
that’s unheard of.”

“You are kidding me. In Orange County?
I thought those homes were way more expensive than over here.”

“They can be. I think you can find
some for about the same, but the closer you get to the beach it gets pricier.
And there are some estates with panoramic views in Laguna Hills for
five-million and more. This house we got originally sold for a million four.
You know the market.”

“I guess so. I know it’s nice. As long
as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

“All I know is we walked in and saw
this amazing spiral staircase that splits off to the left and to the right, and
there are wood built-ins and shiny wide planked floors. I just about fainted.
Skyy’s got this pink bedroom next to ours. I’ll send you some pictures but
you’ll have to come by once we get settled in.”

“I will. Sounds fancy. I’m just
wondering, I thought Orange County was mainly white. There’s black folks out
there?”

“Not a lot. But a few.”

“Just get ready. It won’t be anything
like Ladera.”

“I’m sure. But hey, just hoping
they’ll be color blind like we are.”

“Okay. So what does Cameron think
about it? I mean about leaving Ladera.”

“He’s good. He’s been out there at the
house for a few days, just being there for us so he can let the cable company
folks in, gas company, stuff like that. Plus, he’s setting up his room. I hope
he’ll be able to go to U.C. Irvine or Cal State Fullerton. I guess you heard
about his academic situation at Berkeley?”

“Torino told me. I guess Claude talked
to him. Claude was pretty upset about it.”

“You’re telling me. But, it’ll all
work out. So, how’s TJ?”

“He’s fine. Just growing fast.”

“And how’s everything going with you
and Torino?” Venus asked.

“He’s just working through this
custody suit after Colette went ahead and filed after all these years.”

“Well, if that child does turn out to
be Torino’s, we’d need to have a real celebration to welcome him into the
family.”

“True. I just hope things get decided
and die down.”

“Me too. For everyone’s sake.” Venus
then said, “Well, girl, I’m about to head out of here. I’m at work. I need to
go back home and meet the movers.”

“Okay. I’m about to host a function in
Long Beach. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. Talk to you later.”

~~

By that evening, the moving company
had gotten through the first phase of packing everything up, getting things
ready to go. They would return the next day to physically move the contents to
the new house.

With the room illuminated only by the
glow of the nightlight, Venus sat on Skyy’s twin princess bed and leaned over
to tuck her in and kiss her on her nose. “Goodnight, sweetie. Sleep tight.”

All that was left in the room was the
bed, one pink wicker chair, and one small
Hello Kitty
suitcase.

Skyy turned onto her side and gave a
tiny yawn, and then asked, “Where’s my brother?”

“Cam is at our other house, remember
Mommy told you. We’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Is he in my new room?”

“No, he’s in his room. That pretty
pink room is only for you.”

“Can I sleep there tonight, too?”

“Not just yet. Just one more day.”

Skyy then asked, “Where are my dolls?”

“We’re taking all of your dolls to the
new house. We’ll make sure they’re just fine.”

Skyy’s eyelids looked heavy. She asked
while pulling the sheet up to her chin. “Can I sleep with you, Mommy?”

“Not tonight, Skyy. Now you be a big
girl and go to sleep. Tomorrow’s the big day.” Venus stood and headed to the
door. “Goodnight.”

Claude suddenly stood at the door,
placing his hand on Venus’s shoulder. “Goodnight, pumpkin.”

“Goodnight, Daddy.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, Daddy. Love you, Mommy.”

“Love you, too, sweetie. See you in
the morning,” Venus said, closing the door as Skyy closed her eyes.

Claude and Venus walked down the hall
to their bedroom. He entered his new code into the keypad on the wall and set
the alarm as Venus plopped down on the bed, falling onto her back and sighing
as her head hit the pillow.

“Tired?”

“Heck yes. Plus, I looked around the
house today thinking I can’t believe we’ve accumulated all this stuff. We
should’ve had a yard sale.”

“Anything you want to leave we can
have Goodwill come and pick it up. We just need to get things packed up and
out. I have some guys coming to redo the floors and work on the roof soon so
this place will sell.”

Venus gave him a smile. “You know
what? I’m really excited. I didn’t think I’d be, but I am. I never thought I’d
be able to handle leaving this house. There are so many memories.”

“We should’ve gotten a new house when
we got married, anyway. It was time.”

Venus reminded herself that it was the
same house Fatima lived in before she died. Same bed. Same everything. “Honey,
I wanted to tell you. I talked to my boss, Ann Howard, today at work and I gave
her my notice.”

Claude looked like she had to be
kidding. “You what?”

“I did. I resigned.”

“Wow. What was it that made you
decide? The commute?”

“No. I mean, that would’ve been a
literal trip. But, I just feel like you do so much for us, so much for me and
Skyy, and Cameron. You’ve worked hard. You handle your business. I don’t think
it’s too much to want your wife to be home to raise your young daughter. I know
Cameron is older and he’s on his own, or will be soon, but we’re pretty well
off financially, and I can go back to work once Skyy gets older.”

“Well, needless to say I’m happy.”

“I am too. We have to count our
blessings.”

“I understand how much you love what
you do over there. Just making sure you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“Then I’m good with it. Thank you.” He
stood up and leaned over her to plant a kiss.

“Thank you.” She kissed him back.

“I’m about to take a shower.”

“Oh, okay,” she said, still lying on
her back.

He said from the doorway of the
bathroom, “You care to join me?”

“I’d love to.”

~~

The warm bursts of water sprayed them
down at the same time. Venus was facing the showerhead with her hands pressed
against the limestone shower walls. Claude was right behind her.

The chamomile body wash bubbled up
upon her backside and his chest. Her hair was wet, but it didn’t matter.

It was their last night of making love
in their Ladera home.

And he was inside of her.

Claude had one hand on her hip, one
along her back as he bent over ever so slightly, being taken away by the
feeling, the sensation, and the elation.

He said in a romantic, deep voice.
“So, you know the lady I told you about who works in my office. The one with
the child who can’t seem to get her hours right?”

“Yeah.”

“She told me she and her husband were
swingers.”

Venus stayed in position but wanted to
look back at him. “Swingers?”

“Swingers.”

“Honey,” she said while grinding back
at him, “why are you telling me this?”

“Because she asked if we’d ever done
it. I told her no.”

“Why would she ask you that?”

“Somebody brought it up at work one
night, and she said it was no big deal.”

She ceased her grind. “Oh, so then she
asked you?”

“Baby, you know how we are. Just like
the night we got together with Fatima. It’s no big deal.”

“Claude, wait a minute.” She began to
turn around and he pressed on her shoulder as though trying to keep her in
position.

“You know what? I think it’d be cool
to maybe think about trying a threesome again.”

“Claude.”

“It’s not like we haven’t done it. And
I know you even did it before that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I just know it wasn’t your first
time. And you and Fatima definitely weren’t mine.”

“Good for you. But it was for me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Claude, let’s just stop.”

He leaned in to kiss her back.

She began to cautiously grind back
again.

“You know I’d like to see you and
another woman, enjoying each other.”

“You would?”

“I would.”

“What would we do?” She sounded fake.

“You’d kiss and explore. Come on,
baby, you’d know what to do. I know you’re a freak.”

“If you want me to be, I’m game.” She
tried to play along but her arousal began to subside.

“Good. So, how was Owen? Was he any
good?”

“Owen?” Venus turned back and moved
her body away from Claude. His penetration was halted. She faced him with the
water to her back. “What is your problem?”

Claude just stood there, wet, still
with a hard on, angry, talking. “Maybe you can tell me all about it so I can
really get to understand just how much of a freak my wife is. Just how hard she
tried to get with Owen because Fatima had him first. And how soon it was that
you decided to get your hooks in me before Fatima died. I really hope you
didn’t have anything to do with Owen killing her. Was it to be with him, or to
get her out of the way so we could be together?”

She shook her head at him. “Claude,
you’re crazy.”

“Oh, I’m the crazy one, huh? Or is the
crazy one in prison whose had both you and Fatima turned out?”

“I’m not listening to this.” She
pushed the shower door open and rushed out, grabbing her towel. She looked down
at his still full attention.

“It’s cool though. I’m not mad.” He
closed the door and continued to wash down his body alone. “Believe me, it’s
all good.”

Venus stepped out of the bathroom with
a towel wrapped around her, heart racing, wondering to herself.
Where in the
hell do we go from here?

12

Sequoia

“So why’s he trying to be your best friend again?”

The tangerine sun was generous but not
brutal. The sky was powder blue.

Summer still hung on by its
fingertips, knowing Fall was soon to make its debut.

It was a beautiful day, the Friday
before Labor Day.

Sequoia and Torino spent the afternoon
having lunch near his club Foreplay in Hollywood. The restaurant was called
Cravings on Sunset, an Italian Mediterranean restaurant, chic and popular with
lush décor. Sequoia and Torino loved the ambiance of the sidewalk seating.
Patrons dined outside while sitting on mahogany chairs under large, bright
yellow umbrellas. Whenever the weather was nice and Sequoia and Torino had
time, they made sure to stop by and enjoy the superb dishes.

Torino was casually dressed in jeans.

Sequoia wore a coral and teal striped
dress.

The aroma that wafted outside from
inside the restaurant was of garlic and basil. Torino and Sequoia were quick to
devour their shared order of calamari, and next were their lunch entrees of
almond crusted trout and chicken tarragon.

Taking a big sip of her lemon drop
cocktail, Sequoia brought up the subject she had been wanting to talk about.
“Okay, so I know you kept postponing meeting with Kyle. Did you get to do it
today?”

“We did. We talked,” Torino replied.

“And?” Sequoia asked, then taking a
small bite of her mashed potatoes.

“You and I were right. Colette is
struggling and trying to make money. He made it clear to her that she’s got to
carry her own weight. Well, I guess that’s an understatement.”

“You’re referring to her having gained
weight.”

“Yeah. Don’t act like you didn’t
notice.”

“Well, she is tall.”