White Lines II: Sunny: A Novel (12 page)

“I don’t think that’s the problem,” he said. “We could get married tomorrow and there’s still gonna be problems. Look at Lamin and Dream.” Zion didn’t want to go down this road again. He didn’t understand what the need for marriage was if two people loved each other and committed themselves to being together. The last thing he wanted now was to revisit the subject of taking a trip down the aisle.

“We’re getting off the topic,” he said. “All I’m saying is you need to spend more time at home with us so we can work on everything as a family.” Zion felt a little bit like a bitch as he said it. He felt like lately he was always nagging Olivia for her time, for her attention; like the roles had been reversed in their relationship.

As if reading his mind, Olivia rolled her eyes. “You don’t even sound like the Zion I know right now.”

He nodded. She was right. He picked his jacket up off the chair and strolled out the door. He wasn’t the Zion she had come to know. In fact, he had no idea what happened to the man he once was. The Zion that made no apologies for who he was and how he made his money; the Zion that answered to no one. He was determined to rediscover that part of himself, now more than ever.

*   *   *

Sunny was in her California hotel suite getting dressed for her reunion with Sean, and was having a really hard time deciding what to wear. The problem was that one never knew what to expect with Sean. He hadn’t divulged where they were going that evening, so she didn’t know what to put on. She decided to wear a tiny, black, strapless silk romper and a pair of black sandals. She wore her hair loose and packed a white bikini into her tiny purse for good measure. It was L.A., after all, and one never knew when a swimsuit would be called for.

She put on a little makeup, spritzed a little Gucci Envy across her body and went downstairs to meet the driver Sean had sent over for her. To Sunny’s surprise, the driver was a rather well-endowed sister who ushered Sunny into the back of a black Maybach. Sunny got comfortable and the woman introduced herself once she was behind the wheel.

“My name is Roxy. I’m Mr. Hardy’s driver and he instructed me to make sure you sit back and relax, and that you arrive with a smile on your face.” Roxy smiled at Sunny as if to demonstrate what was expected of her.

“Where are we going?” Sunny asked, smiling already.

“To HardyHood, Mr. Hardy’s estate in Pasadena. He’s hosting a party tonight.”

Sunny’s own smile started to fade. “
HardyHood
? Well, Roxy, I have to be back here for a breakfast meeting at ten
A.M.
That means you have to make sure to get me back here in one piece.” Sunny knew how Sean’s parties could get. On more than one occasion in years past, she had ushered guests out of his home while he lay passed out upstairs having drank too much.

Roxy winked at her. “I gotcha,” she said. “Don’t worry. You New Yorkers think Pasadena is far away but it’s like going from Brooklyn to Queens.”

Sunny laughed, impressed by Roxy’s knowledge of New York’s geography. “You must be a former New Yorker.”

Roxy nodded. “Mr. Hardy—Sean, as I’m sure you call him—is my cousin.” Roxy smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “I’m from the Boogie Down.”

Sunny smiled back, nodding. “A Bronx girl.” This made sense. She recalled that Sean had always had a steady stream of relatives on his payroll, all of them depending on him for their own livelihood. It had been one of the things he and Sunny had in common. She could see that moving to L.A. hadn’t offered Sean an escape from the trappings of success.

Sunny sat back and listened to Biggie playing on the radio and remembered a time when this would have been unheard of—blasting B.I.G. in L.A. The East Coast/West Coast beef was long gone and so were the days when Sunny had been Bonnie to some man’s Clyde. These days, she was living life on her own terms. At last, she was in control.

Sunny watched the sunset as they cruised through traffic easily. Despite her usual preference for silent drivers, she and Roxy fell into easy conversation as they drove along. They discussed Sean’s search for a new agent, the whole family’s move out to the West Coast on a permanent basis while he weighed his options. Sunny was happy to learn that Sean had kept a low profile upon entering Cali’s society. She had heard how easy it was to get caught up in the fast lane out here.

It seemed that they arrived at Sean’s estate in no time. To say HardyWood was extravagant would be an understatement. The iron gates that shielded the entrance to the opulent grounds swung open at the touch of a magnetized key card Roxy held up to the sensor. They drove up to the front of the mansion and Sunny could hear music pumping, laughter from inside. Roxy turned to her and smiled.

“Okay, well, here we are. I hope you walk in there with a big smile on your face like Sean expects you to. Enjoy yourself, and I’ll see you in the morning to take you back.”

Sunny thanked Roxy and climbed out of the car, adjusting her clothes before trotting up the stairs and through the front door of Sean’s home. As soon as she entered, her jaw dropped.

Waitresses in body paint circled the room and the place was packed with people. The house itself was incredible. A spiral staircase leading upstairs was lined with beautiful people lingering about, drinking and laughing and enjoying themselves. A deejay was set up at the far end of the room, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows providing his scenic backdrop. Sunny drifted into the room and smiled at the faces smiling back at her. She looked around for Sean, but didn’t see him anywhere.

A handsome, European-looking man with a deep tan smiled at Sunny and she returned the gesture. “What a party!” she said. “And what an amazing house!”

He nodded. “Sean’s Realtor is the most sought after in town.” The man extended his hand. “Ross Leon,” he introduced himself. “I’m Sean’s Realtor.”

Sunny’s smile widened. “Well,” she said. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Get your hands off my future wife,” a voice bellowed behind them. Sunny turned to see Sean approaching them with a smile on his face. He greeted her with a big bear hug and smiled at Ross. “Welcome to Cali,” he said to Sunny. “I decided to throw a party to celebrate you coming to town, me getting a new deal—hopefully—and acquiring this fine piece of real estate.” Sean held up his glass to toast and Ross happily joined him. Sunny had no drink yet, so Sean summoned a passing waitress and grabbed a glass of champagne off the platter she held. Handing it to Sunny, he raised his glass in toast once again. “To old friends and new beginnings.”

Sunny clinked glasses with them and sipped her champagne. She looked around the party at all the people dancing and having a good time. “I’m happy for you, Sean,” she said, honestly. “This is a great house. And I’m sure you’re gonna find an agent soon.”

Sean nodded. “I’m not worried about it. I had a bad season, but I’m back stronger than ever. I’m ready to win a ring.” He waved at a friend across the room, flashing his killer smile that had won him a ton of endorsements throughout his career. Sunny wondered what he was really thinking, though, as he spent money the way he was doing now with no football contract to fall back on. She hoped he was being smart.

Sunny sipped another glass of champagne, but what she longed for was something a little stronger. She hadn’t dared to travel with her Percocets since she didn’t have a prescription for them. In post-9/11 America, security at airports was intense. Ever since she’d landed, she had been longing for something to mellow her out, something to help quiet the thoughts in her head.

The deejay was good and the guests danced and sang along, laughing and having a good time. Sean looked at Sunny and smiled.

“You look good, girl!”

“Thank you,” she said. “You look good, too.” She meant it. Sean wore a pair of black shorts, his calf muscles prominent. His wifebeater, black sweat socks and Nike sandals completed his ensemble. “This is a beautiful house!” Sunny said, looking around. “Too big for just you, though,” she observed.

Sean was beaming. “Six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a media room and a grotto. Who could ask for anything more? I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

Sunny smiled and clinked glasses with Sean. But inwardly, she didn’t believe him. She recognized the look in his eyes; the look that told the true story of having money and fame and still coming up empty. She was all too familiar with that feeling.

Sean left her to go and mingle with his other guests. Sunny people-watched in the room she was in for a while before she decided to go on a tour of the expansive house. She started down a long corridor, which led to a pool area. She saw a few “cougars”—older women on the prowl—out there in their bathing suits and was glad she had brought her own bikini, which was tucked inside her little bag. She planned to put it on and shut it down in a little while. Next, she ventured up the long, winding staircase where many of the revelers stood mingling and talking. The higher she climbed, the stronger the smell of marijuana became.

Sunny reached the top of the stairs and saw another long corridor. She surmised that the bedrooms were up here and could tell that at least one of them was the source of the scent wafting through the air. She was about to retreat down the stairs when she heard a voice call out her name.

She turned to see Sean standing near an open doorway down the long, carpeted hallway. He motioned her forward.

“Come here,” he whispered hard at her before ducking back into the room he had emerged from.

Sunny smiled and walked toward him, thinking how naughty it would be to have a quickie with Sean while he had a party in full swing going on just outside the door. She was down for that. It had been too long since she had some good sex, being the choosy lover that she was.

Sunny stepped into the room and was surprised to find another woman already there. She was a tall, brown-skinned sister with a long, flowing weave. Her mocha skin was clearly visible as she wore very little clothing. Her pink strapless minidress was hiked up to her hips and her shoes were kicked off on the floor next to the bed. She appeared to be sleeping, or passed out drunk.

“I don’t know what you think this is, but I’m strictly dickly, Sean.” Sunny was stone-faced.

Sean cracked up laughing. “Relax,” he said. “She’s been out for like three hours, now. I just keep coming up here to make sure she’s breathing. I can’t have this bitch dying in my crib tonight. I don’t need that type of publicity.”

Sunny waited for him to laugh, for some sign that he was joking. But he was dead serious. Sean sat beside the unconscious girl and stared at her chest to make sure that it was rising and falling.

“Who is she?” Sunny asked. The girl looked young—twenty-five at the most—and she wondered what her story was.

“Groupie,” Sean said flatly. “She been here for like three days.”

Sunny frowned. “You let groupies stay for days at a time?”

He shrugged. “My boys like having them around. This one don’t mind being passed around, you feel me?” Seeing Sunny cringe at his words, he shrugged again. “It is what it is.” He lifted her arm in the air and let it go. It fell with a thud at her side. “She likes to party so we made sure she had a good time.”

“Now you’re stuck with her,” Sunny said.

Sean shook his head, helplessly.

“What the hell was she drinking?” Sunny asked, looking around the room for a sign of what had done this poor girl in.

“She wasn’t drinking,” Sean said. Seeing Sunny’s confused expression, he nodded toward the dresser.

Sunny’s gaze fell on the pure white powder the instant she looked in that direction. Her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed hard. Sean was staring at the chick passed out on his guest bed, his back turned to Sunny. He didn’t notice that she was staring at the cocaine on the dresser like it was an old boyfriend she hadn’t seen since their breakup years ago.

“That’s a lot of cocaine,” Sunny said, staring at it.

Sean nodded. “I told her to take it easy, but she got so high that she didn’t sleep at all. I guess she’s crashing now.” He got up and walked over to the dresser. He took a small straw out of the pocket of his shorts, put it to his nose and snorted some of the coke casually.

Sunny was floored. Sean had always been a party animal. When they dated, he drank way too much and partied way too hard. But she had never known him to get high. This was some new shit.

“So,” she said, her heart racing in her chest. “Is this the reason why you had such a bad season?” His being dropped from the Giants roster was making sense now.

He shook his head, the drug taking effect, his eyes wider than before. “Nah, not at all. Just had a bad season, that’s all.”

Sunny scrunched up her lips in disbelief.

“Sean?” Someone called from the hallway. “Sean, are you up here? Where did you disappear to?”

His eyes widened even more and he looked at Sunny helplessly. “I’ll be back,” he said, rushing toward the door. “Come get me if—”

“Don’t leave me in here with her!” Sunny’s voice was loud and Sean hushed her. She lowered her voice, aware that someone was in the hall. “Don’t leave me here with her, Sean!” she repeated. What she wanted to say was, “
Don’t leave me alone with THAT!”
Her eyes darted toward the coke and back to Sean, pleading with him. “I’ll stall whoever’s out there!”

Sean shook his head. “I got a house full of people out there, Sunny! I gotta walk around, keep showing my face. Just give me a minute to make my rounds and I’ll be right back.” He reached for the doorknob. “Try to wake her up while I’m gone.” He left the room, shutting the door behind him. Sunny could hear him laughing with whoever was in the hall and their voices retreated as they walked back downstairs.

Sunny stood near the door and looked at the girl lying dormant on the bed. She was careful to avert her eyes in order to avoid looking at the substance calling her name so loudly she could actually hear it.

“Come get some. You know you want it.”

She could hear those words as if someone were sitting on her shoulder, whispering in her ear.

“… the paralyzing power of addiction.”