Single Ladies (14 page)

Chapter 22

Roni

It was Friday night.  It was Roni’s second day off work.  Her back pain was almost completely gone, and she had gone to see her doctor, who lowered her dosage on the metformin.  She felt better when she took the lower dose that evening.  Johnny was at work, and had called twice to check on her.  Daphne left her a voicemail, telling her she needed to talk to her, but would stop by when she left the shop.  She wondered what that was all about.

She was really feeling Johnny a lot and decided to remove her profile from Surelove.com.  When she logged on, she noticed there were no more messages waiting for her from him.  When she clicked on the hyperlink to his page, she saw a message that read, “User’s has deleted profile”.  She hoped that the reason he deleted his page was because he was really feeling her, too.  He was to stop by briefly when he got off work.  She was excited about seeing him.

Daphne knocked on the door, around eight thirty.  She was still dressed in all black and had come straight from the salon. 

“Hey, Roni.”

“Hey, girl. C’mon in.”

“You feeling better?” she asked.

“Yeah, I am.”

“You look like it.  Got your hair all long and down in your face. You got company?” Daphne looked towards Roni’s bedroom.

“Not yet.  Johnny’s coming over, though,” she grinned.

“Oh, that’s why you look so peachy,” Daphne smiled. “Well, I wont stay long. I gotta get home, anyway.”

Roni was tired of her beating around the bush.  “So, what’s going on?  You said you needed to talk to me.”

“Yeah.  Why don’t you sit down for this one.” Daphne said, nervously.  Roni had always been the strong opinionated one, of them all.  Her demeanor sometimes intimidated Daphne.

“Girl, did you murder somebody?” Roni asked.

“No,” she laughed.

“Did you rob a bank?”

“No” she laughed again.

“Did you wear white after labor day, I mean damn, it can’t be that bad, Daph!  What is it?!” Roni shouted, impatiently.

“I’m just gonna come on out with it.  Roni, I’m a lesbian.  I’ve been a lesbian since I could feel attraction toward anybody, man or woman. I never said anything because I--”, she started.

Roni interrupted. “Daphne, I already knew that.”

“What?” Daphne was instantly shocked.

“I already knew you were a lesbian, honey.”

“How?”

“I’ve seen how you look at women before, in ways that a man would.  You were like checking them out.  Like the one Emo chic that works at the Halo.  The butch girl.  I forgot her name, but you know who I’m talkin’ about cuz you can’t miss her.  I saw you give her the eye.  Then, you don’t respond to guys.  I had my suspicions, and you know what?”

Daphne felt an argument coming.  “What, Roni?”

“I don’t give a damn about it!  You are still my girl.  You’ve been more of a sister to me than the two I got.  I don’t care if you are a lesbian.  You are nobody other than Daphne Elliot to me.  Okay?”

Daphne hugged her friend tightly, then kissed her on the cheek. 

“Hey, I don’t play that funny stuff, now, don’t be kissin on me,” Roni joked.

“Girl, shutup, I been kissing all my girls on the cheek for years…and I’m gonna keep on, “ Daphne laughed.

“I’m just messing with you.   So, are you in a relationship?  I wanna meet your girlfriend, if you do.”

“Yeah, I have someone special.  I’m gonna have you guys meet her soon.”

“That would be cool.”

When Daphne walked out of Roni’s house, she felt light as a feather.  So weightless and free.  Her burdens were off her shoulders.  Her friends still loved her, as who she was - Daphne; and what she was - an openly gay woman.

Johnny called about ten minutes before the end of his shift to confirm that she still wanted him to stop by.   She said yes.   In anticipation, Roni made sure her flat ironed hair was in place.  She’d showered and put on her leopard print pajama pants and shirt.  She didn’t want to look too sexy and give him the wrong idea.  She did, however, want him to see her looking tempting, but tasteful.

He’d went home, showered, and changed clothes before he came by.  He wore his shoulder length hair down and it framed his sexy, angular face.  He wore a fresh, white t-shirt, under a blue, gray, and white casual polo,  light blue stonewashed jeans, and brand new white Air Force ones.  He kissed her on the cheek upon entering her home.

“Hey, Miss Lady,” he said.

“Hey, Johnny.”

He sat down on the sofa.  “I see you’re looking all good.  You must be feeling much better, huh?”

“Yeah, I am.  Thank goodness,” she smiled.

She turned the television on and to the Sci Fi channel. 

“Oh snap, I love this one.  This is a good oldie. Firestarter,” Johnny laughed.

“Isn’t that Drew Barrymore?” Roni asked.

“Yep.”

“You want something to drink or some popcorn?”

“Just some water is fine, thank you,” he said.

“I got some Aquafina’s in there, hold on,” she got up and walked sexily into the kitchen, knowing his eyes were glued to her ass.

She handed him the cold bottle of water.  “So, I have a question for you.  When did you start writing poetry?”

“Ever since I could hold a pen in my hand,” he laughed.  “Seriously, around age seven.  I attended magnet schools and my English teacher always gave us writing assignments that included Haiku poems, essays, and short stories. I had a knack for writing poetry and expressing myself through words, so I just took it from there.  When I became a teenager and young adult, it just took off.  It expanded so far and wide, it was unbelievable.  Poetry has gotten me through some tough times.  A lot of my heartaches and deepest emotions went straight from my soul to paper,” he said.

“Wow.  That’s amazing.  I didn’t start writing until around high school.  I don’t think I’m that good at it, but I try,” she said, shyly.

“Oh, you’re good.  I read your beautiful poem,” he smiled mischievously.

She paused and gave him a defensive look.  “What poem?” she played dumb.

“Can I let you in on a little secret?” he asked.

Her heart began to pound.  “What?” she whispered.

“I am JP365 on Surelove.com and I know you are SweetLadyRC1.”

She could do nothing but smile.  “So, why haven’t you said anything all this time?”

“I know you knew who I was, too.  But I wanted to see if you were interested in me, before I looked like a fool.  At first, I didn’t think you were interested,” he said.

“Oh my God, I- I don’t know what to say,” she grinned.

“Let’s just say that we’re far from strangers.  We’ve been actually talking to each other for about three months now.  I’ve always been intrigued with you and the things you would write to me.”  He grabbed her hand.  “I’m just glad to be sitting here.  Next to you.”

She was happy that was over with, but virtually, speechless.

It was well after one in the morning.  They were lying across Roni’s bed.  Johnny was singing old love songs to her.

“I grew up on Luther Vandross.  I loved that song,” she said.

“Yeah, but I can’t sound like Luther,” he chuckled.

“You sound really good.  You have your own sound.  It’s unique.  That’s what sells in the industry right?”

“Well, I just might find out soon.  I sent a few demos out and made a few contacts.  Now, I’m just waiting on someone to call me.”

“Everything will work out fine.  I don’t see why anyone would pass up a voice like yours,” she smiled.

Her room was dimly lit and he could see the sincerity in her eyes.  “You are so sweet, Roni.  I don’t know how any man could’ve done you wrong.”

She didn’t reply.  Tears formed in her eyes, as she thought of all her personal battles and the pain she’d endured in her past relationships.

“Well, it’s all behind me now,” she sniffled.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah.  It just hurts sometimes.  Thinking about what I’ve gone through.”

“The pain of the past makes us appreciate what we have in the present.” he said, still looking into her eyes.

“I just don’t want to be hurt again,” she whispered.

He pulled her toward him.  “I would never hurt you, Roni,” he whispered, as he brushed her lips with his.

They kissed intimately.  Roni felt her body shivering with lust. 

“I want you, Roni. I want to be with you,” he said.

“What about work? What about what people would say? And what-” he smothered her words, by placing his mouth over hers, and kissing her deeply.

She was panting as he sat her up and started to undress her.  He graced each spot that he revealed with a gentle kiss.  All she had on was her panties, when he stood  to undress.  His chest was broad, with fine hair across it.  His abs were ripped and gorgeous.  Her eyes followed the trail of dark hair down to his underwear.  When he removed them,  she gasped internally.  His erect dick was longer and thicker than she’d ever seen in person. 

He resumed the worshipping of her voluptuous body.  He started at the very top, with a sweet forehead kiss.  He made his way down to her rigid, silver dollar sized nipples.  He took each one into his mouth and ran his tongue across them, while sucking them gently.  His hands made love to her hips and thighs, as his tongue continued it’s foreplay down the center of her belly. He kissed around her satin panties, then pulled them down slowly.  His heart raced as he beheld her chocolate, wet rose.  He removed them and spread her thick thighs.  She moaned quietly, as he planted kisses on her slit.  He inhaled the soft aroma of her pussy as he spread it apart.  She was so pink and wet inside and he loved what he saw.  He began to lick and suck each and every spot of her, from her wet hole down to the crevice of her ass.  She quivered underneath him and ran her fingers through his mane of curly, black hair.

He slid on top of her.  She felt his hardness turn to steel as it pressed against her pussy.  He looked into her eyes as she panted and rubbed his back.

“Don’t hurt me, Johnny.  Please,” she had tears in her eyes, again.

“Never,” he whispered, as he entered her deeply.

Her tears rolled onto her cheeks as she cried out in ecstasy.  He made love to her slowly.  He was slow and easy, yet deep and hard.  He rolled her over on top of him and grinded his pelvis against her.  She climaxed right before he did.  Afterward, they lied in each other's arms, enjoying the soft gusts of spring air that sifted through her open bedroom window.

"I could lie here with you forever," he said.

"Me too," she whispered, not wanting to relinquish the warmth of his arms around her body, for anything in the world.

The sheen of the early morning sun was a gentle wake-up call for Roni.  She looked over at her newfound love.  She placed her hand on his chest and rubbed it, gently.

He placed his hand over hers.

“Good morning, sweet lady,” he opened his almond shaped eyes.

She smiled at him. “Mornin.”

“Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming. 

The most beautiful girl in the world is right here with me..” he sang in his mellow, soft tone. 

She blushed, then planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.

There was no doubt in her mind that heart was wide open.  And Johnny Parker was the one who held the key.

Chapter 23

Daphne

Daphne walked into House of Beauty Salon, looking like America’s next top model.  She drew attention from everyone who was there, men and women, alike.  Her body was like a coca-cola bottle.  At 5'9 , 130lbs, with skin the color of a Starbuck's french vanilla capuccino, coal black, shoulder length hair, slanted dark eyes, and measurements of 34-24-36, she was the essence of beauty.   Ironically, the Bose system was playing “Miss Independent” by Neyo, as she walked through the salon.  The song described her to the maximum.  It looked like the scene of a video.   Several of the clients and people working shouted out “Hey Daphne!” or “Hey girl! Long time no see!”  She was down to Earth and always acknowledged people where ever she went. 

She walked over to Jas, who was just ending a phone conversation, and planted an intimate kiss on her lips.  Everyone who’d been just looking at her ,was now staring.  Jas noticed the new attention on them.  Everybody knew she was a lesbian, but she figured nobody would ever think she could land a girlfriend so beautiful and sexy.  Especially, Daphne Elliot.

“Wow, this is a surprise. What’s up, baby?” Jas was elated to see her.

Daphne had a big smile on her pretty face.  “ I told them, baby.  I did it.”

“That’s wonderful!  I couldn’t even tell you how happy I am,” Jas said.

“Everybody is staring at us,” Daphne said without parting her white teeth.

“No, they’re staring at your beautiful ass!” Jas laughed.  “Watch this,” she leaned in and whispered to Daphne.“Oh, everybody, this is my sexy woman!” she laughed.

There was a few approving nods, a few “That‘s wassup”s, and even a few, “Dayum!’s”.  Neither Jas nor Daphne truly cared what people’s reactions were. Good or bad.

“You are a mess!” Daphne laughed.  “So, are we still going to the movies tonight?”

“If we can catch the latest show, yeah.”

“See you tonight,” she kissed the love of her life, again, before walking back down the “runway” of the salon.