Southern Comfort (9781622863747) (12 page)

Katrina sat in her car in the driveway. She still hadn't completely worked out how to deal with the situation at hand. After the night before she knew she wanted to take the time to really see what was growing between Willow and herself. Saura made her bed, and now she had to lie in it.

Katrina mustered up the strength and headed into the house. Sitting on the couch was Saura with a very angry expression.

“So you just got rid of all traces of me I see?” Saura snapped.

“Sorry; that happened after I saw the photos.” Katrina sat on the barstool. She didn't want to get too close to Saura.

“Well, I guess I deserved that. How was your night?”

“Don't ask questions you really don't want to know the answer to.” Katrina folded her arms.

Saura stood up. She walked over and sat on the stool next to Katrina. “Tree, come on, are you telling me you really want to be with that girl?”

“I like her. I really do.”

“Okay, but like and love are two completely different things.”

Katrina sighed. She stood up and walked back to the room they used to share. Saura followed her. Katrina began pulling out an outfit to change into.

“You don't get it, Saura. You chose to leave. What did you expect me to do, sit around and wait on you?”

Saura folded her arms. “No, but I didn't expect you to jump into a relationship with the first Pop-Tart you met.”

“It wasn't like that. I didn't expect to meet Willow; the shit was real random. We had a connection. I can't deny that. Hell I spent the whole month with her.”

The words cut Saura like a knife. “So you are telling me that you didn't just meet this chick in London, you took her on the rest of your trip with you?”

Katrina could tell it hurt Saura but a piece of her didn't care. She wanted Saura to hurt just as much as she hurt her.

“Saura, how was I supposed to know you were going to come back? You never called me on my cell; you never even gave me your new number.”

“I didn't want to hurt you any more than I already did,” Saura protested.

“Well someone else was there for me when you weren't.”

The two stood in silence. Katrina continued to pick out her outfit while Saura sulked in her corner. Saura didn't know what to say. Truth was, she left, and now she was forced to deal with the reality that she might not get her woman back.

“So are you kicking me out?”

“Saura, you know you can't stay here. Willow came all the way from London. I am not going to make her stay in a hotel.”

“So you are going to make me stay in one?”

“I don't know what to tell you, Saura.”

“This is utter bullshit. This is our house, hell I decorated everything in there and now you are telling me I can't stay here?”

“Well you never should have left.”

Saura threw a shirt at Katrina. Katrina turned around to see the tears rolling down Saura's face. Even though she was upset she knew she couldn't put Saura out on the street.

“Saura, I will go and stay in Devon's guest house with Willow. You can stay here, but you need to find a place to go by the end of the week. No exceptions.”

Katrina threw a few clothes in a duffle bag and headed out the door.

 

 

Teri knew it was a bad idea to drink as much as she did at the party. Even Ming was filling prescriptions with his shades on.

“Is it me or is the light brighter than usual in here?” Ming leaned against Teri's door.

“It's a bit brutal,” Teri said reading over an inventory list.

Ming pulled his shades up, resting them on his head. “So you and Victoria, what happened?”

“None ya.” Teri continued to read.

“Bitch, you better spill the tea.” Ming sat in the chair next to the desk.

“Don't you have some work to do?”

“Nope, I'm all ears.” Ming crossed his arms.

Teri thought about the night. It almost felt like a drunken dream. Victoria was a force to be reckoned with. Teri had never been someone's bitch before; she had to admit she liked it more than she expected.

“We hung out at the party and she went home.”

“To whose home?” Ming stared at Teri.

“Ming, I slept alone in my bed last night.”

Teri knew that Ming could read her when she lied so she decided to tell a partial lie. Truth was she did sleep in her bed alone. Victoria left as soon as they were finished.

“Well that's tragic.” Ming frowned. “I guess there is always next time.”

“I guess.”

Teri continued to work through the afternoon. Things heated up in the pharmacy causing her to actually help Ming with orders. She decided to take a break to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria.

Teri decided to sit outside on her lunch break. She took a bite of the turkey club she got from the cafeteria. She put her shades on and closed her eyes, allowing the sun to soak into her skin.

“That looks good. What is it?”

Teri turned to see Victoria standing next to the bench. She sat down next to Teri.

“Turkey club, want a bite?”

Victoria broke a small piece off of the edge of the sandwich.

“What are you doing here?” Teri questioned.

“Well I decided to come and do a little work. I saw you sitting out here and couldn't resist the urge to come mess with you.”

“Ah is that what you are doing? Messing with me?”

Victoria smirked. “Yes, among other things. You should stop by my office when you have a free moment.” Victoria grabbed Teri's hand. She placed something in it and closed her fist. Teri watched Victoria walk off in her high-priced heels. She opened her hand to find a black lace thong.

 

 

Teri knocked on Victoria's office door. She heard Victoria telling her to enter in her most professional voice. Teri closed the door behind her, locking it and pulling the shade down.

They didn't speak as Victoria sat on top of her desk. Teri walked in front of her asserting her body in between Victoria's legs. Teri's hand grazed Victoria's thigh until reaching its destination. Victoria was more than ready for her, heat pulsated from her legs.

Victoria let out a soft moan as Teri sexed her. Not to be outdone Teri shoved Victoria's thong into her mouth. Victoria body responded with delight at Teri's aggressiveness. Teri didn't care about the bun; she pulled on Victoria's hair until the bun came down. She licked and sucked on Victoria's neck, tempted to leave a passion mark, but knowing that would be highly unprofessional.

Victoria erupted, covering Teri's hand. Teri didn't move, she wanted to feel her until the last drop fell. Victoria panted, trying to catch her breath after the intense orgasm. Teri pulled her hand out, licking the essence of Victoria off of her hand. She took the panties out of Victoria's mouth and wiped her hand with them.

“These go in my new collection.” Teri pecked Victoria on her lips before walking out of the room, leaving Victoria stuck in the same position.

Teri arrived back at the pharmacy to find Ming looking stressed.

“Um, where the hell have you been? I could use a little help here,” Ming bitched.

“No problem; let me just wash my hands.”

Teri walked into their private bathroom feeling a true sense of accomplishment.

Willow loved Devon's house. The one-story house was very open and spacious but still felt very warm and inviting. But the thing Willow loved the most was the backyard. It was an entertainer's dream. The kidney-shaped pool had a waterfall that hid the grotto, which was also a hot tub. There wasn't much grass, just a few patches in between the pool and the patio area. The lawn chairs were also very plush with thick waterproof cushions. In the middle was a fire pit. Farther back was a completely separate residence that used to be a pool house that Devon remodeled to be a guest house.

“Your house is just amazing.” Willow said as she sat on the barstool watching Devon cutting up lettuce.

“Thank you, it's my baby. My parents bought her for me when I graduated from grad school but I did a big remodel on it.” Devon was very proud of her house. It was the main thing that kept her living in Memphis. She pulled a tomato out of the large refrigerator.

“Are you sure you don't want me to help with anything?”

Devon shook her head. “You just sit there and enjoy your wine.”

The women both turned their heads when they heard a key unlocking the front door. Katrina walked in wearing her chef's jacket. She put her bag down and walked toward the living room.

“What's up, chica?” Devon smiled as her friend walked in the living room.

Katrina kissed Willow on her cheek. Willow's face turned pink.

“Nothing much, things are going good at the restaurant. We are booked for dinner for the next two weeks.”

“Damn right.” Devon gave Katrina a high five.

Katrina walked in the kitchen to watch what Devon was doing. She checked the fish, which was sitting in a marinade.

“What did you use on this?” Katrina frowned.

Devon pointed at the store-bought marinade. Katrina scolded her as she pulled out a few seasonings and began seasoning the fish. Devon shook her head at her perfectionist friend.

“So what did you think of that chick Teri was with last night?” Devon said handing the knife to Katrina. She watched as Katrina quickly diced the tomato that was taking her forever to cut.

“She seemed a hell of a lot better than the chickenheads she usually dates.”

“What is a chickenhead?” Willow asked.

The friends laughed explaining the meaning to her.

“I don't know; she seemed a bit dodgy to me.”

“Dodgy?” Katrina and Devon said at the same time.

“Yeah, um like a bit shady.”

Both women shrugged their shoulders.

“I guess we need to pay better attention next time we are around her.” Katrina continued to cut up veggies.

Devon grabbed her glass of wine. “Whelp, looks like you got this here. I'm going to go prepare the grill.” Devon walked out the sliding patio door.

Willow and Katrina smiled at each other.

“How was your day?” Katrina looked at Willow.

“It was nice. We went to the Civil Rights Museum. I learned so much.”

“Cool, cool. Did you do anything else?”

“Just a little window shopping. How about you, how was your day?”

Katrina put the knife down. She knew she had to break the news to Willow. She came from behind the kitchen counter and sat on the stool next to her. Katrina held Willow's hands.

“I don't want you to think anything of this, but we are going to stay here at Devon's for the week.”

“What's going on?” Willow braced herself.

“Saura and I used to live together. So when she came here she didn't expect that I would have someone else. She didn't have anywhere else to go so I told her she could stay at my place for the week but she had to be gone at the end of the week.”

Saura was officially getting on Willow's nerves. She thought of Piper and what she would tell her to do. She didn't see it as a huge threat. Katrina was going to be staying at Devon's with her. That was the most important thing.

“I'm cool. Hell I like Devon's house. I can get an early dip in.”

“Maybe even a skinny dip with me.” Katrina winked her eye.

The two began to kiss.

“Ugh get a room,” Teri said as she walked in the house. She put a bottle of wine on the counter top.

“Where's your date?” Katrina smirked.

“What date?”

Katrina grabbed the tray of fish and the group headed out to the patio. Willow watched as Katrina grilled the fish. Teri and Devon argued about who could cook the best out of both of them. Willow admired the friendship they had. She had schoolmates but no one she was close to outside of Piper.

“So where is Ms. Sexual Chocolate?” Devon joked playfully hitting Teri.

“Why does everyone keep calling her that?”

“Ming said it to me so I thought I'd keep it going.”

Teri threw her middle finger up at Devon over the smart comment.

“So, Willow, what is it that you see in my friend here?” Teri said sitting in a chair next to Willow. Devon joined them, sitting across from Willow.

“What's not to see in her?” Willow blushed.

“How did you guys meet?” Devon asked.

“Well Katrina wasn't ready for London weather. It started raining and she ran into the first place she saw. That just so happened to be the coffee shop I was sitting in. We started talking and we haven't stopped talking since.”

“Aw, that's so sweet.” Devon smiled at Katrina who was grinning from ear to ear while working on the grill.

“I talked her into riding the London Eye with me.”

“Wait, this big scaredy-cat got on the London Eye? Get the fuck outta here.” Teri sipped her beer.

“Oh she was beyond nervous but she did it. But the funny time was the cliff diving in Italy.”

“Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?” Devon joked.

Katrina brought the tray of cooked fish over to the group. They each took a piece. “It was horrible. I will never do it again,” Katrina said as she sat in the chair.

“I just wanted her to experience some of the things that I love about each country.” Willow smiled.

Devon and Teri both noticed the lovesick look in Willow's face. They looked at each other, knowing they had a little bit to worry about.

“It was an amazing experience.” Katrina bit a piece of her fish.

“And look, you found a girl in the process,” Teri joked.

Katrina flipped Teri off.

“So how long are you going to stay here with us, Willow?” Teri asked.

Willow shrugged her shoulders. “I planned for two weeks but I also didn't plan to go around Europe for a month with her.”

“And I didn't plan to spend two extra weeks in London.” Katrina smiled at Willow.

“So we are just going to play it by ear I guess.” Willow didn't care if she ever left. Memphis was growing on her.

“Well well well, looks like the whole gang is here.”

The group turned around to see Saura walking in from the house.

“Saura, what are you doing here?” Katrina stood up.

“Well I missed my friends so I figured I would stop by and join the party. Hi, guys, did you miss me as much as I missed you?” Saura patted Teri on her shoulder. Willow tried not to look at Saura but she could feel her eyes on her.

“Okay, Saura, really, is this necessary?” Devon questioned.

“I think it is. I mean my girl is sitting over here without me. I didn't think that was right.”

“I'm not your girl.” Katrina walked over grabbing Saura by her arm.

Saura quickly pulled away. “No, I want you all to hear this.” Saura stood her ground. “Don't worry, I'm not here to cause a big scene. I just need you all to hear what I have to say.”

“What do you have to say, woman?” Teri snapped.

“As I sat in the house that we shared for two years together I realized that this shit right here isn't right. I am not going to just give up my woman without a fight.”

“I'm not your woman; you need to roll.” Katrina tried to grab Saura's arm again but she jerked away.

“I'm not going to fight you,” Willow chimed in. She wasn't going to let Saura get the upper hand again.

“I am not talking about a physical fight.” Saura rolled her eyes. “Katrina, you know in your heart you are not completely over me. You may tell that lie to her but you, I, and your friends know the business.”

Willow looked at Teri and Devon who were both trying to dodge her glare.

“So I have an idea. Katrina, you want to get to know this girl. Well I feel you should also give me a second chance. So I think you should date both of us.”

“Saura, what the hell have you been drinking?” Teri questioned.

“Nothing, but I'll take some of that wine.” Saura took Devon's glass off of the table.

“Saura, I'm not playing this game with you. Now you need to leave!” Katrina demanded.

“Wait.”

All eyes were on Willow. She sat up in the chair.

“I think it's a brilliant idea.” Willow folded her arms.

The group of friends all protested.

“Look, Katrina, you know how I feel about you, but I know I am not going to be completely happy until I know for a fact that you are over her. And the only way for that to happen is if you get all unfinished business out of the way. People date more than one person all the time. You aren't committed to me, so why not test the waters, figure out where your feelings really lie?”

Saura threw her hands in the air. “See, I kinda like this girl already. Katrina, I'm not giving you up that easy. I deserve my time to show you that I mean business.”

“This is bullshit,” Katrina huffed. “I'm not playing some game. It's not fair to either of you.”

“Well, Katrina, to be honest they both do have a point,” Teri interjected. “Spend time with both of them; see which one you are more invested in.”

“No, I'm not doing this. Willow, why are you okay with this?” Katrina turned to Willow.

“Because I want you to want me and only me, and can you honestly say right now that you don't still have feelings for her?”

The only sound was the sound of the waterfall. Katrina knew it was a bad idea but something also intrigued her about the situation. She could work though her feelings with Saura without hurting Willow in the process.

“I gotta think about this.”

“Well while you think I feel like you shouldn't sleep with either one of us. Actually, date us both, no sex involved.” Saura sipped the wine.

“No sex, oh hell no, that's a terrible idea after all.” Teri folded her arms while shaking her head.

“This whole thing is asinine,” Devon huffed. “No one can truly date more than one person. You won't be giving your all to one.”

“When you realize the one you want to spend the most time with then you will know who you are supposed to be with. And I have no doubt in my mind that will be me.” Saura rolled her eyes at Willow.

Katrina felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She looked at Willow and Saura who were both staring each other down. Both women were beautiful and she had feelings for both of them. Could this crazy idea actually work?

“I have to think about this,” Katrina said. “But as of now you need to go.”

Saura finished the glass of wine, placing the empty glass back down. She stood up. “May the best woman win.” Saura grimaced toward Willow.

“I'm sure I will.”