Turned Out Saga (29 page)

Thomas and Zyair were sitting in Thomas' office. They were going out to shoot pool with the boys but there were a couple of things Thomas had to settle. One of his clients had gotten themselves arrested on a DUI.

Into the phone, Thomas said, “I'm not even going to ask you if you were drinking and driving, because I already know the answer.” It was going to be one of the two answers they almost always gave; “I only had one or two drinks” or “I don't know why they pulled me over.” It was always one excuse after the other. Well at least this one didn't do what another one of his clients did a few months back; try to switch seats with his passenger real quick. There is no “real quick” in climbing over someone when you're damn near seven feet tall.

“Tomorrow you're going to issue a statement I'm putting together, donate some money to a charity, and we're going to move on from there.”

Thomas listened to what his client had to say, which must not have been much because a few seconds later he'd hung up the phone.

Zyair just shook his head. “I don't know how you do it.”

“I do it for the money,” he half joked. Thomas loved his job. He loved anything sports related. He loved being able to help young men make it and of course he loved the financial rewards that came with it.

“And that makes your job much easier, huh?”

“And you know this.” Thomas shut down his computer. “Let's get out of here.”

“Man, aren't you going to loosen up some? You all in a tie and shit. We're going to play pool remember.”

“Yeah, I remember. What? You think I'm senile? I'll be right back.” Thomas always kept a couple of sets of clothing at his office in the closet. His office also consisted of a private bathroom, a conference room, a small kitchen, and a seating area. He also had two people that worked for him, a receptionist and an assistant.

When they stepped outside, Thomas noticed that Zyair was following him. “Where did you park?” he asked Zyair.

“I had my driver drop me off. I figured we could ride together,” Zyair told him.

“How do you know I didn't have plans afterward?” Thomas had tried earlier to reach Alexis with no luck.

Zyair stopped in his tracks. “Oh, shit, my bad, I didn't even think about that. I'll call my driver.”

Thomas bumped Zyair's shoulder with his. “Man, I'm just playing with your ass. You don't have to call your ‘driver'.”

“Did you think this would be us?” Zyair asked.

Thomas had no idea what he was talking about. “That what would be us?”

“That we would be two successful black men.”

Thomas looked at Zyair and smiled. “Hell yeah, I knew it. Shit, I didn't know how it was going to happen or when it was going to happen, but I knew it.”

“Really?” Zyair wasn't asking in disbelief. He was asking because even though Thomas had confidence oozing out of his pores when they were in college, it seemed like when they were first starting their businesses everything was a struggle for them both. To make one another feel better they would quote to each other Frederick Douglass who said, “Without struggle there is no progress.”

“Yep, that's why I tried so hard. I knew eventually it would pay off.”

“I hear that,” Zyair said. Zyair knew of Thomas' meager beginnings. After all, he was his best friend; therefore he knew that Thomas beat the odds.

As they were putting on their seat belts, Thomas said, “But you know what?”

“What?”

“There was a time when as long as I had money, as long as I could buy whatever I wanted and whoever I wanted, I was happy, but that's getting old man. I'm ready to settle down and be with one woman and share what I have with one woman.”

“And you want that woman to be Alexis?”

“I do, man. I sure do.”

“What is it about her man? You've been feeling her for a couple of years. She never gave you the time of the day, yet, that didn't deter you. I'm trying to figure out what kind of voodoo she put on your ass.”

Thomas laughed. “Nah man, there's just something about her that gets me going.”

Zyair didn't respond, because although Alexis was fine, he knew that in the past Thomas' women were finer, sexier, and more experienced.

They drove the rest of the way to the pool hall in silence, each consumed with their own thoughts.

Zyair was thinking about what transpired the night before, when Champagne's cell phone was going off.
She was in the bathroom taking a shower and normally he would just let it buzz. But for some reason, a reason he still couldn't put his finger on, he picked it up and saw missed call. He knew he should have just put the phone back down, but he couldn't stop himself. He pressed the button to see who it was. On received calls Sharon's name showed up over four times.

Why the hell is she calling my woman so much? Champagne told me they rarely speak and here she's called her four times in one day.

I wonder why? Is it because of Sharon?
Zyair wondered as he pushed Champagne's legs apart and bent his head down between her thighs to take in her scent.

Zyair waited until he could feel her juices flowing down his chin. When she finished quivering he looked up at her, smiled and thought to himself,
Ain't no need for a woman. Shit, I am the man.

When they pulled into the neighborhood, Alexis couldn't help but wonder how Maya could afford to live in an upscale area on a teacher's salary. Baldwin Estates homes started at three hundred thousand dollars. Alexis looked around and noticed that most of the driveways were empty. She wondered if everyone was out running errands on a Saturday afternoon. Normally that's what she did, especially when it was warm outside. Fall was here and winter was just around the corner. Alexis quickly wondered if she'd have someone to cuddle up with in the winter.

“Damn, your girl must have it going on,” Champagne said.

“I know right. I wonder how she does it?”

“Shit, ask her.”

“Now you know I don't be all up in people's business like that.”

Champagne was looking at the house numbers. “There it is right there.” She was pointing straight ahead toward a brick home that from the outside if one had to guess was over 2,500 square feet.

“Damn, her shit looks better than mine,” Alexis noted as she parked the car.

“You sure this girl is cool?” Champagne wanted to know, “because you know how women are, especially when they don't know you.”

“Girl, don't start with that. That's the problem right there with us women. We talk about one another instead of to one another. We're suspicious on each other instead of being–”

“Oh, Lord, there you go on with your sisterhood, can't we all just get along speech.”

Alexis laughed and opened her car door, “Girl, come on.”

As they walked up the walkway, Champagne asked her if she'd talked to Thomas lately.

“Yes, we talk briefly almost every other day.”

“And?”

“And nothing, we're just friends.”

“Well, according to Zyair, he wants to be more.”

Changing the subject, Alexis told Champagne what transpired between her and Khalil at the gym.

“He's such an asshole. Don't get caught up in his web again girl.”

That was something Alexis didn't have an intention on doing.

It was at that moment that the front door opened. Standing before them was one of the finest, yet thuggish men Alexis had seen in a long time. He was over six feet tall and had on a white T-shirt that fit so you could see every muscle, every cut and some of the packs on his stomach. His hair was in cornrows and his face hairless. His complexion was like chocolate and just as smooth.

“And there she is,” he greeted them. “Just the lady I wanted to meet.”

He pulled Alexis into him giving her a hug, which caught her by surprise. In the meantime, Champagne was standing there wondering what the hell was going on and who was this fine specimen standing before them.

“And you,” he pulled Champagne into his arms giving her a hug as well. “I won't leave you out.”

After he finished giving out hugs, he ushered them in.

“I take it you're the brother,” Alexis said.

“Gavin,” he told her.

“Champagne”, Champagne said, “and it's obvious you know that this is Alexis.”

Alexis nudged Champagne.

“They're having the meeting in the living room. It's straight ahead. Alexis, I'll speak with you afterward.”

Alexis and Champagne watched him walk off. All Champagne could say was, “Wow.”

When they entered the living room, all the women looked up. Alexis did a quick count of twelve and that included Maya who was walking up to them. “Everyone this is my coworker, Alexis and . . .” She looked at Champagne, who told them her name. “Alexis and Champagne, this is everyone. Y'all can introduce yourselves.”

Everyone went around the room and introduced themselves. Maya noticed a couple of women from work but there were several she didn't know.

Alexis and Champagne listened as Maya proceeded to give a rundown on the procedures for the meeting. She asked Alexis if she had a chance to read the book,
Sister Girls 2
by Angel M. Hunter. The truth was she hadn't had a chance to finish it, with her busy schedule and all.

“I started it but didn't get an opportunity to finish.”

“I read all of it,” Champagne told them.

Alexis looked at Champagne, “You didn't tell me you finished it.”

“Was I supposed to?” Champagne joked.

“When did you have time?”

“I didn't have to make that much time. It was a quick read. I read it in like two days.”

“Good, then let's get started,” Maya said.

* * *

An hour and a half later, when they were wrapping up, Alexis was surprised how much she enjoyed the meeting.

It was also obvious that Champagne had enjoyed herself as well because she was standing with a few women on the other side of the room deep in conversation.

Just as Alexis was about to walk up to them, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

“Hey beautiful.” It was Gavin, Maya's brother. “Come in the kitchen and talk to me.”

Alexis looked in Champagne's direction. She wasn't paying her any mind and so Alexis followed Gavin into the kitchen. At first glance he reminded her of Morris Chestnut, chocolate, muscular and intense looking with a pretty-ass smile.

Once inside, he poured himself some orange juice and asked Alexis if she wanted something to drink.

“No, thank you.”

“So, my sister told you I wanted to meet you?”

“Yes.”

“And you decided to come.”

“Yes.”
Damn, why is that all I'm saying?

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you decide to come?”

What kind of question is that?
“Because I had nothing better to do,” she told him with a smirk.

“Damn, it's like that?”

“Well, don't ask a question you might not want the answer to.”

“Duly noted.”

They sat there for a few seconds looking at one another.

“How old are you?” Alexis asked breaking the silence.

“Old enough.”

“No, for real.”

“Does it matter?”

“Yeah, it matters.”

“I'm twenty-nine.”

Had Alexis been drinking she would have choked. She turned to walk away.

“Where are you going?”

“I can't go out with you. You're too young for me.”

“You're in your thirties right?

“Yeah.” She was thirty-two.

“Then what's the big deal? Age ain't nothing but a number and I can do just as much if not more for you than a man twice my age.”

“Oh, really?” Alexis was feeling his boldness. She didn't know about this dating a younger man thing. Even though it was only by a few years, she still wasn't feeling it. She felt like younger men had to be tolerated a little more and she didn't have the energy to do that. However, he was so good-looking she was willing to hear him out.

“Let me take you out one time and if you don't enjoy my company then you don't ever have to see me again.”

“Oh, there you are.” Champagne walked in the kitchen. “You ready?”

Gavin didn't let her answer. “So what's it going to be?”

“Let me get your number and I'll think about it.”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. He opened one of the drawers in the kitchen, got a pen and wrote down a number on the back. He handed the card to Alexis. “This is my personal number. Call me with your decision sooner rather than later. I'm not a man that waits around.”

“I'll do that.”

* * *

Once Champagne and Alexis were in the car, Champagne asked what was up with Gavin.

“Nothing. He saw a picture of me and asked Maya to introduce us.”

“Damn girl, look at you. Thomas, Shamel, and now Gavin. You're on a roll.”

Alexis didn't respond, she was too busy asking herself what the hell was she doing. This wasn't her. Although she was trying to be this bad bitch, did she really want to be that person?

“Just be careful sweetie, because there are some crazy-ass men out there,” Champagne told her as she'd told her a time or two before.

“You ain't said nothing but a word.”