White Lines (34 page)

“Yo, who the fuck is they? Salt and Pepa?” The three of them, and some of the other people waiting on line, laughed at Sunny and Jada’s expense.

Sunny turned toward the heifer, and frowned. “You’re a hater, bitch. Don’t be mad ‘cause you ain’t got no clout.” Sunny blew a bubble with the gum in her mouth, and rolled her eyes.

The pudgy, brown-skinned one with the worst weave got all puffed up. “Yo, you better stop trying to be fuckin’ cute—”

“I ain’t gotta try, ho. Some of us get the shit naturally.” Sunny looked her up and down for emphasis. Just as the exchange was about to escalate, Sunny felt a tap on her arm, and P.J. ushered her and Jada inside. P.J. was the best—the top party promoter and club owner in town. He always rolled out the welcome mat for Sunny on the strength of who Dorian was. Sunny loved the VIP treatment he always extended to her.

They strolled inside, and took in the atmosphere. It was a playa’s ball in the truest sense of the word. It seemed that every bailer in Brooklyn was on the scene, and everywhere they looked they saw minks, foxes, leathers, silk, and expensive drinks. The music was bumping, as Jada led Sunny toward the bar. Before she could make it to an empty stool, a tall light-skinned man with freckles offered to buy Jada a drink. She declined, and didn’t pause. Sunny was also swatting men away, as they walked to the bar
with B.I.G.’s “Juicy” blaring from the speakers. They made themselves comfortable at the bar, ordered drinks, and enjoyed the music.

Sunny’s eyes scanned the room, and she saw several of Dorian’s friends. This meant that she was being watched, but also that she was safe. None of Dorian’s boys would let any harm come to Sunny. Over the years she’d played the role of Supreme Wifey to the fullest. Whenever one of his soldiers or family members needed to lay low, Sunny happily accommodated them in their home, never complaining about the unexpected houseguests. She delivered money and picked up packages for Dorian when he couldn’t do it himself, and she was treated with the same respect her man received. She was always strapped, and conducted herself like Dorian’s better half. She was cocky and gorgeous, loyal and grimy if necessary. All of them protected her just out of genuine love for the type of chick she was.

Jada sat on the stool, sipping her Hennessy and looking around. She spotted Raquel at a table in the back with a couple of her friends. Jada chuckled to herself, noticing that Raquel’s friend CeCe—the one who had slept with Dorian—wasn’t around anymore. She pointed Raquel’s presence out to Sunny discreetly.

Sunny scowled, and turned her back. She sipped her drink, and talked with a couple of girls she knew. She introduced Jada to all of them, and once again, Jada tried to keep all the names straight. Once they were done with their drinks, both of them were ready to leave. Sunny didn’t like the fact that all of Dorian’s crew seemed to be on the scene, waiting to report any missteps or stumbles. And she hated that Raquel was there, too. The thought of being in the same room as Dorian’s baby’s mama made her skin crawl.

“Let’s go to Elite. This place is tired.” As they made their way out the door, Raquel followed them outside and tapped Sunny on the shoulder to get her attention. Sunny spun around, looking resplendent in her lynx jacket, and faced her archnemesis.

Raquel grinned. She knew that Sunny was slipping. There had been a time when Dorian acted like no one was good enough compared to
Sunny. But lately Dorian had been giving Raquel more attention, coming by for sex more often, making her feel like there was hope for them after all. She looked at Sunny, and said, “Do you know why Dorian keeps coming back to me for pussy?”

Raquel’s friends laughed at her audaciousness. Jada’s eyes widened, and she waited to see what Sunny would say or do. Raquel didn’t wait for an answer.

“Because you don’t ride him like a
buck
the way I do.” Raquel stood there waiting for Sunny to flip, trying to provoke her. Raquel’s friends snickered behind her, and Jada wondered if she’d have to fight alongside Sunny if shit hit the fan.

Sunny blinked, took a step back, and looked at the bitch before her. “Then keep riding him how he likes it,” Sunny said, calmly. She nodded her head. “I’ll keep riding his bank account.”

Sunny walked away from Raquel, and Raquel laughed. She knew that Sunny didn’t believe her, and she was fine with that. The truth would be revealed soon enough. “Okay!” she called after Sunny. “Remember that you told me that.”

Sunny kept on walking, and Jada was right beside her. But then one of Raquel’s friends said, “Oh, and what’s-your-name, tell Born to stop playing and call me. I want to see if what they say about men with big feet is true. That nigga is fine!”

Jada stopped walking. She stood in place, then turned around suddenly and charged at the bitch who had said it. Sunny was stunned, and she scrambled after Jada. But by the time she got there, Jada had jumped on the shorter girl, and was tearing her up. Raquel and her whole clique set it off on Jada, pulling out razors and jumping her, pummeling her. Jada was outnumbered, and getting fucked up. All Sunny could think about was her lynx and crocodile jacket. Fighting was not an option in this outfit. She pulled out her 9mm and aimed at the nearest bitch.

“Back the fuck up!” Sunny meant business, and all of them backed down. Raquel wasn’t so drunk anymore with a gun in her face. Jada got on her feet, her fur jacket completely destroyed. Sunny brushed Jada off
with one hand, and held the girls at bay with the gun in the other. P.J. came out of the club, and saw Sunny with her heat drawn.

“Yo, what the fuck is goin’ on out here?” he asked, shaking his head. There was always some shit between these two!

‘“Yo, P.J., let me get up outta here.” Sunny eyed Raquel meanly. She wanted to get to her car, and get home to her man. That was all.

P.J. nodded his head. “Go ahead, Sunny. I got you.”

Sunny put her gun away, and led Jada off, while P.J. stood there watching Raquel and her crew to make sure they didn’t do anything crazy. Sunny got Jada inside the truck, and let her have it. “What kinda shit was that, Jada?”

“You heard what she said about Born! I don’t let bitches talk to me like that, Sunny.”

Sunny shook her head. “But look at my outfit tonight, ma.” Sunny looked at Jada as if she was crazy,
“Bitch,
I got on fuckin’ three-inch heels! You don’t start fighting four Brooklyn bitches when I’m in a twenty-thousand-dollar coat and fuckin’ stilettos!”

Jada stared at Sunny, dumbfounded. And then she burst out laughing. Sunny laughed, too, at the absurdity of what they’d just done. Jada apologized. “I’m sorry, Sunny. I didn’t think, I just reacted. She the type of bitch that’ll make me go back to jail. I don’t play when it comes to my man. I don’t need bitches like that checking for him. Now she knows without a doubt that Born is off-limits.”

Sunny shook her head. “Please! Now all she knows is that Born’s bitch is
crazy
and she got one less mink jacket from getting a BK-style ass whooping.” Sunny looked at Jada sideways.

Jada shoved Sunny playfully in the arm, pretending to be offended. They laughed and headed home, with another night to reminisce over in the years to come.

Months passed, and then Jada got a surprise. She got a letter from Ava. It was spring break at U Penn, and she wanted to come back to New York for the vacation. She wanted to know if she could stay with Jada and Born, since they’d recently purchased the new house. Jada was, at first, excited. This would be the first time that she and Ava would have a chance to hang out and catch up since Jada’s release from rehab and Ava’s going away to college. But then paranoia set in, and Jada worried that Sunny might let slip around her unknowing sister that they got high on occasion. This was still Jada’s little secret, and she worried that she would be exposed. She planned to bring Ava along on her excursions with Sunny, to show her off in their inner circle. But suddenly she wasn’t so sure that Sunny wouldn’t let their secret cat out of the bag.

Ava also had another revelation enclosed within her letter. She had reunited with their mother via letters they had written to one another when Ava was away at college. Ava had been the one who had initiated the correspondence, by writing a letter to her mother on the advice of her group home counselor, Mrs. Lopez. Jada was shocked. She thought that Edna’s refusal to defend Ava against J.D. would be unforgivable. Jada was also still bitter with her mother for her own reasons—mainly for throwing her out, and for turning a blind eye while Jada was strung out on crack. Jada felt envious that Edna had responded to the letter Ava had written her
while she’d ignored Jada’s letter to her mother while she was in rehab. Once again, Jada felt rejected.

Not only had Ava made amends with their mother, and forgiven her for the situation with J.D. that had led to Ava’s suicide attempt, but she was going to church with Edna on Easter Sunday. Ava invited Jada to come along, and Jada respectfully declined. She still didn’t want to reconcile with their mother, who Jada felt was heartless and selfish. Jada wasn’t ready to let bygones be bygones. Not yet. She wondered how Ava was able to forgive their mother. Jada hadn’t forgotten that she and her sister had been forced to endure the horror of J.D. while Edna had sat idly by and done nothing. How could that be forgiven? Jada chalked it up to yet another situation where poor, gullible Ava was falling prey to some monster. She could forgive Edna all she wanted. Jada refused to do the same.

Even though she didn’t understand Ava’s willingness to reconnect with their mother, she was still thrilled about seeing Ava again. Jada fixed up one of the guest rooms for her sister’s arrival, and she anxiously awaited the day Ava would be back in her midst. When at last the day arrived, Born went with Jada to the train station to pick her sister up. Penn Station was packed, and they stood among hundreds of people looking for their soon-to-be houseguest. Born only knew that she was Jada’s little sister, whom he had never met. But when Ava stepped off the train, and Jada took off running toward her, Born’s jaw went slack with surprise. Ava was even more beautiful than her sister. Her hair was naturally long and hung down to the middle of her back, bone straight. Her eyebrows were arched to perfection, with eyes just as encompassing as her sister’s. She was clearly Jada’s sibling, but she had a more exotic beauty than her sister possessed. Born was secretly smitten.

Jada excitedly introduced Born to Ava, and they all greeted one another and proceeded to the parking lot. Ava was all smiles, as she took in her sister’s sexy outfit and pricey clothes. Born kept silent as the two women talked nonstop from the terminal to the parking lot. Once inside the car, Jada decided she was hungry, and Ava was also starved after her
trip. They drove through midtown until they found a Popeye’s chicken spot. The ladies asked Born what he wanted, and then went inside to get their food. They had been in there for close to ten minutes when Ava came out alone. She climbed into the backseat, and began explaining before Born had a chance to question anything.

“Jada wanted the Cajun fries, and it’s gonna take them ten more minutes to make them,” she said. She opened up her bag of food and reached in for a drumstick before pausing. “Is it alright if I eat in your car? This is really nice, by the way.”

Born smiled. “Yeah. Thanks. Go ‘head and eat. I don’t mind.” He wouldn’t have denied her much, as pretty as she was. He felt guilty for his feelings, since he was in love with her older sister. But,
damn,
she was so pretty.

Ava bit into her chicken. “So, I guess you’re excited about your new house, huh?” she asked. “I can’t wait to see it.”

Born watched her through the rearview mirror as she daintily chewed her food with her mouth closed, just like Jada. He caught himself staring, and he diverted his gaze and looked out the window at New York City, as alive as ever. “Yeah. Jada fixed it up real nice, too. Sunny helped her do it. It’s real cozy, and all that. You can make yourself at home, you know? How long are you staying?”

Ava shrugged. “I have two weeks to do what I want. I might stay with you guys for the whole time, or I might go visit my mother for a while.”

Born was surprised by this, since Jada hadn’t told him that her sister and mother had reconciled. He was under the impression that Edna was estranged from both of her daughters. He frowned, and Ava noticed.

“I know. She did a lot to hurt me and my sister. But I think, in a way, we did a lot to hurt her, too.” Ava paused, wondering how much Born knew about her sister’s past; about the drugs. She didn’t want to reveal too much. “I know that when we were little, Mommy fucked up. She put us in danger, she compromised our safety for her own selfish reasons. That shit nearly cost me my life. But me and Jada kinda turned our backs on her, and left her by herself. There’s so much about our mother that I didn’t know, and Jada won’t listen. Anyway, my moms got saved, and
she’s all into church now. So I found it in my heart to forgive her. I think Jada should try to do the same thing. But she’s stubborn, and she’s still mad. I understand. But I want her to try to forgive Mommy, too.”

Born nodded. “Yeah. I understand Jada feeling like she does, though. She thinks her moms left her out there when she needed her. It’s hard to forgive your parents sometimes.”

Ava wondered if he was speaking from experience. She looked at him, noticing for the first time how Born seldom smiled, but his eyes were still so soft. Jada came back to the car with her bag of goodies, and off they went to Staten Island.

The conversation along the way consisted mostly of the sisters catching up on what was going on in one another’s lives. Born kept his eyes on the road ahead, and contributed his two cents to the conversation when it was needed. He couldn’t believe that the gorgeous young lady in the backseat had once tried to end her life. What a waste that would have been, he thought. It was hard to keep his eyes off of her. To Ava, Born seemed like a nice enough guy, and he showed affection toward her sister. Even when Jada started nagging Born about getting the toilet in their master bathroom fixed, he took it like a champ, and said all the right things to get her to shut the fuck up. Ava was impressed. She was happy that Jada had found someone who was as low-key and mature as Born seemed to be.